I feel Google+ is neat, nice and cool. Though the argument is that it’s way to early to pass on such judgements but all am saying is that it’s not like the other disasters Google has already got themselves into – Wave and Buzz. Looks like they have learned from their mistakes.
Buzz had security concerns and I do not know what Wave was 🙂 It might have taken years for any user to learn things at wave. Google+ avoids this major roadblock (well, this was a no brainer), no more logging in with a different user id, you are a Google account user, you have a Google profile then why the hell should you be asked to use a different ID to login to any other app from Google? users asked! Though during the same time (of the soft launch of Wave) all other services of Google did not require separate login! A total no-starter. And not to forget it was way too complex for anyone to understand what the hell was going on there (at Wave).
Ok, past is past and history has proved more than not, that Google can set trends, and they can do so very well. Remember Orkut? Very recently the urban crowd moved to facebook from Orkut but many of the Indians are still there (and active), in case you did you know!
But the question is why I feel Google+ will be a hit? Here’s my thinking:
1. No learning curve – there is absolutely no learning curve, well if you are pro at facebook then this will be a cake walk. Are you asking why? Well, the entire look and feel is exactly like facebook, you will be so comfortable as soon as you log in that it will not look like it’s anything new. Convenience to add all your contacts into your circles, create your own circles etc. Did you notice the way these circles roll out when you delete it, try it out!
2. UI (user interface) is very cool – Tried getting your friends in your circles? You would have seen how real cool the UI is, circles come alive when you interact with them, choosing your contacts to set them in any circle is so easy and needs no user manual reading 🙂
3. Easy Access – Omnipresence is what I feel Google is trying to do with this Google+, wherever you may be logged in (any of your Google accounts) you will see yourself logged in to Google+ [top bar right side] with notifications on. Again a nice copy from facebook. We get back to facebook every time and click on notifications if there’s 2 written in red balloon. If I have not clicked on it and start doing something, I will die out of curiosity 🙂
4. Mobile App – I have an Android phone (Nexus S) and the app is simply too good. It has the home screen, the incoming and the nearby features, will be very useful in the future. Again no learning curve, simple and easy to use.
5. Hangout – The best thing to happen for small business (or may be bigger also), you do not have to buy packages for video calls & conferences. You can do your weekly meetings or daily 🙂 on Google+, all the official meetings can be done here. Folks working from home can see so much value in this [unless they didn’t wanna get disturbed relaxing oh sorry working :)] without forgetting the benefit of video chatting with your friends. The best part about Hangout – it senses the voice and shows the person who is talking on the big screen, others as small icons. very very cool i must say.
I have nothing against facebook, infact everyone knows how much I love facebook but I am expecting Google+ to be a combo of LinkedIn and facebook. A deadly combo where I can do my professional interaction + the personal masti too!
All the best.