Just Duke - Mostly Tech Ponderings

I've heard a friend say that Google+ will occupy it's own space, much like Twitter and Facebook co-exist today. I agree with that assessment. But just like many of us right now use Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc, almost all of us, at some point in a day use Google to search. Now, when you open that Google page, you have that black bar with that tempting "You". Sign up, spend about 20 minutes adding some contacts, and move on . . . But what about the next day when you land back on that same page with that black bar? I think this might be Google's long term secret weapon. It might not win you over today, but longer term, because it's going to be tied to other things Google, it can suck you in. But I've identified a couple of things that prevent me from really participating like I might with Twitter and Facebook. 

I use Pulse from my Android phone and Flipboard from my iPad and when I find interesting things, I do like to share them to Facebook and Twitter. If G+ is going to become a share machine like Twitter is, it's going to have to help developers figure out a clean way to do that in other apps. right now, it's not too hard for me in many other apps to "Share with Twitter". Or "Share with Facebook". But if I share with Google Plus, won't it look like "Share with Google+/What circles do you want to share with/friends/family/acquantices/public/following/circles/extended circles/other circles? 

And when I'm sitting in Google+, what about sharing to those other platforms? kind of like #fb in twitter. I've discovered AgentG. It works great for Just status updates, so I can post something in G+, include AgentG as a "person" and it shows up in Twitter/Facebook. But it's limited to text only. It doesn't include the ability to send pictures/videos or links. I see complication here. If I share "Public" on G+, shouldn't this mean that it can also be linked when I share to Facebook and Twitter? 

My iPad G+ mobile Safari interface sucks! I don't even want to go to G+ on my iPad! How many million iPads have been sold again? One would think that would be a priority. Right now, when I'm holding my iPad, I'm thinking I'll check out G+ later, when I'm on my phone or my computer . . .These are the sorts of things that I see as real issues that need to be solved to keep me here! You know, I've never been a big fan, but let's face it. for the most part, Facebook works! It really isn't broken. It doesn't have a specific iPad app either, but it still works decent from my iPad . . . . And there is a plethora of stuff out there to make it easy for me to interact with persons on those other platforms. (even Tumblr) even when I'm not on those particular services. 

I'm looking at hangouts. It's pretty cool stuff. I'm loving how people are using them to hold cooking hangouts, have jam sessions, monitor their babies sleeping, etc. I do love the circle thing! But there is much to be done! And as I have ranted quite a few times now, the service is only a few weeks old. Most likely these things will get better, but until they do, I'll continue using Facebook and Twitter. I have a lot of friends and contacts in those places. Those same friends who I invited to Google+, and who came in, looked around, saw an endless stream of everyone talking about how awesome G+ was, and then politely exited the Google building to go back home to Facebook and Twitter. Why? Because that's where their friends are at! I want them on G+. I've encouraged them to use G+! But until they really get active on G+, neither will I be any more active than I have been. 

In short, for Google to win me over completely, they need to win my friends. Until they do, I need a good way to share content. I need to be able to share this content easily to Google Plus and from Google Plus.