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First impressions of Google +

July 22, 2011 By 1 Comment

I’ve stopped counting on the amount of time I’ve been asked to predict the future of Google Plus. The newspapers seem to do the same reviews. One day they are amazed with the amount of downloads, the next they are certain the time is over because visits has gone down.

The fact is that it is the fasted growing social network ever, however,  everything seems the be the fastest something nowadays so with the power behind google, I’m not surprised. However, I do not intend to predict the future of Google + here, I intend to give you my thoughts on the network so far.

Truth is, so far I love it. With that said – I do expect quite a few developments and improvements over the last few months.

Circles – both private and open

What I like so much is the combination of the social features with facebook/twitter – or at least my way of using them. With circles instead of friends or follow I can create groups of people I know better and groups with people I just find interesting.

Huddles – Great on mobile – necessary on web

As far as I can tell huddles are meant for mobile and chat for web. But I love the huddle because the conversation can keep going when I’m not around. I would love to have the same feature on the web. A bit like the new facebook groups were it sometimes is too much action.

Hangouts – Better in theory

Hangouts comes with a clear purpose, and they have a role to fill. I would know, I requested it a few month ago in another post. However, the necessity for the users to install a plugin and the fact that there is not a mobile version yet means that it has still a road to go. But it has potential. Real potential.

What do you think? Please share your first impressions as a comment :)

Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , , , , ,

How to: Use Similar Pages for Research

April 28, 2010 By 1 Comment

My current job calls for a lot of research with the objective of gathering information. There are many ways to do this, but one extension that I use in my Google Chrome browsers have proven to be particularly useful.

The extension is called Similar Pages, and as told by the name of it, it suggests pages which are similar to the one you are visiting. I use this by fining some good pages on the subject I’m interested in on Google, and then I see what suggestions I get on Similar Pages and find new interesting sites that way.

It also shows small previews of the pages that it suggests, so I can get an idea of what they look like. You can also install the extension Sites Preview if you want picture previews in your search results as well.

The only thing missing from Similar Pages it the option to decide what type of pages that I want suggested; for example, websites, newspapers or blogs.  As Google is the producers of the extension I’m sure that this could easily be added.

Filed Under: How To, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

Google Equalize Opportunities to Discuss for Online Students

March 7, 2010 By 1 Comment

So, as you know from a few previous blog posts and my bio, I study online. What you might not know is that I have done about half my education on Campus. Therefore, I often compare the pros and cons with the two ways to study and constantly find new ones.

My latest discovery was in the English Class I’m taken, we are studying culture and literatures and this particular assignment was an analysis of the short story Doctor Marigold by Charles Dickens. We were told to find interesting angles and questions to the text and then discuss the subjects in a group. In one of the groups I was in we started discussing whether the characters were “mimetic or semiotic?” I was pretty confused by this question before as both these concepts were new to me, but after making searching and reading some information on Google; I could participate in the discussion.

The interesting thing about this is that not only could I participate and generate value to the discussion even though I did not know anything about the concepts before. Even more, neither did the other group members (except for the girl who asked the question) but it still became the most active discussion thread.

Now, if this had been a question in the classroom, there would probably been more than one who where familiar with the subject and they could discuss it leaving other in the dark. Something that would be a lot less educating, than the online discussion group which allowed us all to understand and participate.

Thus, sometimes discussions and group assignments online are actually better for the students, because we have the time and material to understand new concepts. And everyone get’s heard, as there is no one speaking louder or thinking faster.

Filed Under: Annelie's Musings Tagged With: , ,

Where was the Buzz around Google Buzz?

February 10, 2010 By 1 Comment

Today Google’s latest service Google Buzz launched, and at least it took me by surprise, because I had not heard about it. I follow over 100 of the biggest social media, marketing, tech and web development blogs, yet the first article I could find about Google Buzz was published about four hours ago.

The function is coming to all Gmail users during the next couple of days, and I have to admit that I’m not one of the lucky ones who already got it. However, I was able to get a glimpse from it by looking at some other people’s account. Because you can see “buzzes” from those who have account and has “buzzed” publicly, here is Mashable’s.

So what is Google Buzz?

Google Buzz is Google’s first real attempt to a social network. It is build in to the Gmail interface and automatically connect you with your friends, and with 150 million Gmail users this is a social network with a high potential.

Here is the official video introduction:

So where was the Buzz around the launch?

Before the launch of Google Wave, there were videos, a site, invites and comments from those who had tried it. Yet, I still have not figured out how I could best implement the use of it in what I’m doing. However, I did know what Google Wave was.

With Buzz the opposite seem to be going on, no one had heard about it, or at least not said anything about it. The network seems to be easy to use and it does not require much set up as it is built into Gmail.

Now this might have been a smart move considering the amount of Buzz that is going on right now. On Twitter I looked at the hash tag Google Buzz and within seconds I had 290 unread tweets. Thus, they might not have needed too much pre buzz.

But why not? What will they win or lose on not having any buzz? Did they have any test group outside of Google before the launch?

I think that the face that they did not speak about it before make the implementation quicker. Because of the fact that Google is so established, they knew that the Buzz would come with the launch. Therefore by releasing it to all in a few days, they created an “eagerness” of people to try it out. Which could mean that people have time to create their own opinion before they have heard everyone else’s?

What do you think?

Try it out, or check the buzz, (without getting to influenced ;)
Here are is some of the latest Buzz about it:

Filed Under: Annelie's Musings, Social Media, Web development Tagged With: , , , , ,