What's the Buzz about Google+?

So after a week of playing with it it’s time for me to weigh in on Google+.   So far the entire buzz around this new social network has been positive so I was excited when I got my first invite and jumped in with both feet.

As a social media specialist I look at Google+ from two primary angles.  #1 what is going to draw the users from existing platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to Google+? And #2 how can I make it work for my business customers?

So let’s start with #1.  Google+ or G+ whatever you want to call it comes with a typical colorful Googleesque interface.  It runs very smooth from section to section which I definitely prefer over bulky networks like Facebook and Twitter which have been known for lag and even downtime.  But I have to remind myself that Google+ is still very new and has a fraction of the users that Facebook and Twitter have.  So what’s going to drive users to Google+?  Well at first it’s going to be curiosity because it’s something new and different.  Second many who have become frustrated with Facebook over the last few years, mainly due to bad hype and misinformation, will be looking for a new social home.  So let me give a quick overview of how Google+ compares to Facebook and Twitter.

Firstly in Google+ there is no such thing as a friend request.  Google+ lets you arrange your contacts in groups called circles.  So when you find someone you want to follow you simply add them to one of your circles and their posts appear in your primary feed, or if you would rather you can simply select a specific circle and only follow that one (not sure why you would want to follow someone and then not read their posts but that’s another blog entirely).  These circles are very popular and getting a lot of buzz but are they really new?  Quite simply the answer is no.  The behave exactly like Facebook friend lists (many people don’t know that you can organize your Facebook friends into lists and when posting you can also chose which lists you want to share with and which you don’t).  You can add people to multiple lists and, again, like Facebook the users don’t know which lists you have added them to.  Twitter also has lists, these aren’t as private (unless you chose to make them private, meaning only you can see who is in the list).  With the public Twitter lists, people can follow them (I’m still not 100% sure what this does as I don’t believe it adds the posts from those users to your newsfeed so it’s handy if you want to follow a specific topic), however unlike Google+ and Facebook you can not filter your tweets by your twitter lists.

Google+ lets you create Hangouts, basically they are multi-user chat rooms that you can do video chat in.  I haven’t tested this out yet, mainly because I have little to no interest in video chat.  So in comparison to Facebook and Twitter, well Twitter you can’t do video chat and multiuser chat is not impossible but not private as all tweets are broadcast to your followers.  Facebook just rolled out its video chat last week through it’s partnership with Skype.  I figure with Skype on Facebook’s side Google will always be a step behind when it comes to the video chat.

Now let’s talk mobile.  I very rarely still user Facebook and Twitter on their actual websites, instead I browse via their respective apps on my Blackberry Bold 9000 or my iPod Touch 3.  Both Facebook and Twitter have fantastic apps for both platforms.  Yesterday to much hype Google rolled out the iPhone app for Google+.   First chance I got I went into the iTunes App Store on my iTouch only to come up empty-handed.  Further research showed that the app is only available for iOS 4+ platform, which I’m running so I’m guessing it’s just not available in Canada yet.  As for Blackberry there is talk of an app in the works for the 6.0 OS eventually, which of course my Bold 9000 doesn’t run.  The good news is that if you are an Android user you can expect to use Google+ with full functionality.  If you run Windows Mobile or Nokia Symbian there’s no word of an app anytime soon for you.

Ok so there’s no app there must be a mobile site right?  Well yes but because of the advanced functionality of Google+ (mainly the look of it) as of right now you will only be able to access the mobile site on Android (1.5+), iPhone/Touch/Pad iOS 3.0+, Blackberry 6.0, Windows Mobile, Nokia Symbian.  The latter three phones only support the basic XHTML site, my phone runs BBOS 5.0 so I haven’t been able to test it out yet to see how it compares to the Safari version.

So in summary, and keep in mind Google+ is very new and much can (and likely will) change, much of the hype since Google+ was launched was that it could be the deathblow for Facebook.  In my honest opinion, based only on what I have seen so far, I have to disagree.  So far Google+ to me is simply a bloated version of Twitter with Facebook like functionality but lacks much of the depth that Facebook has.  Until Google releases it’s business platform for Google+ I can’t comment on it but until then I can assure you I’ll keep tinkering with it and testing out new features as they come about.

What are your thoughts?

I should mention that this post was actually inspired by the post: Why I Keep Forgetting About Google+ by Marissa Gagnier

Summer 2011

Hard to believe that the Summer of 2011 is almost upon us.  Just a few short months ago I was out clearing about a foot of fresh snow from my driveway.

It's been a while since I last posted so I'll bring you up to date on what's been going on.

Firstly lets talk about hockey.  I know I know summer weather is here why would I want to talk about something that takes place on ice.  Well four words can describe that: Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup.  Need I say more?  The holly grail of hockey and most difficult trophy in professional sports to win that has eluded Canada since my Montreal Canadien's won it in 1993 could be coming home as early as tonight.  It's fitting that it comes home to a Canadian team  that has never won it (and the last time they were in this position was in 1994, the year after the Habs won).  So Go Canucks Go, whether it's tonight in Boston or in nail-biting style on Wednesday night in Vancouver for Game 7 I wish them the best of luck.

Since I last posted an update I happily scratched another concert off of my must see Bucket List as Dawn and I,  finally, got to see Bon Jovi.  I swear Jon has been purposely avoiding me or something because he kept coming around when I was either busy or out of town so this time there was no way I was going to miss it.  Although it wasn't exactly easy getting to the show.  I've been to countless shows or hockey events at Scotiabank Place and never had any issues getting there.  But I go for Bon Jovi and it takes me two hours from Barrhaven to get to the show forcing us to miss almost the full first hour (by the looks of the traffic in the parking lot we weren't the only ones).  The show was amazing, and that's an understatement. I went with my traditional 100 level seats directly behind the stage.  Ok I'll explain why I go with behind the stage seating.  First of all it's much cheaper than anywhere else in the arena and usually you get the best view.  Bon Jovi was unique, although the seats didn't always offer the best view of him the screens were a show on their own.  I've talked to people who had seats at the 300 level in front of the stage who paid double what I paid and my "cheap" seats were better than theirs.  It sucked missing the first hour of the show but the 90 minutes that we did see were well worth it!!

Of course for me most summers are filled with summer festivals and events and I was hoping that this summer would be no different.  Especially with the Capital Hoedown having such a stellar line-up this year.  Of course last year we were lucky enough to win tickets for the three day event but so far this year no such luck.  We considered buying tickets but unfortunately vehicle repairs and other emergency household expenses this spring have made that impossible.

Another event that I was hoping to get on my attendance list again this year  was the New Liskeard Bikers Reunion, for those of you not familiar with this event it's a huge event that is celebrating 19 years this year.  It's a fundraiser to fight cancer in memory of Terry Phippen, the organizer's brother who passed away of cancer several years ago.  This event gets bigger every year with about 20,000 bikes expected this year.  One of the key highlights of this event is the Terry Phippen Memorial Freedom Ride, which is a 120 km (70 mile) ride through Northern Ontario communities with highway's lined with supporters watching about 12 miles of bikes pass through.  The entire ride is escorted by the OPP giving the bikers priority.  We won't be in attendance for this years reunion, summer vacation schedules just didn't lineup for that weekend.

Luck did strike again this year and I managed to score tickets to another hot concert a little closer to home.  INXS in only their second of two stops in Ontario live at Brockville Riverfest.  Having grown up listening to the band and then watching the televised search for their new lead singer several years ago INXS has always been on my list of bands to see and I can't think of a better setting than Blockhouse Island in Brockville right on the banks of the St. Lawrence River.  Other highlights of that weekend are Julian Austin on July 1 along with a fly by of a Canadian Forces Hercules aircraft and then Heroes day on July 2 where any member of the Canadian Forces who comes in uniform will get free admission for the day (and night for the concert).

The final week of July will be spent in Northern Ontario on a small lake deep in the woods getting some much needed family time and R&R.

A bit closer to home an exciting event that's coming up on June 18 and 19 in Athens is the Firefighters competition.  Athens is hosting the 99th Annual Eastern Ontario Firemen’s Games this year which should make for an exciting weekend coming up.  Local country star Craig Curtis will take to the stage on the Saturday evening which should be an entertaining event.

The rest of the summer is still in the planning stages with an expected trip to the Metro Toronto Zoo with the kids at some point before the end of July (that's when our free passes expire).  Who knows what else will come up over the next few weeks.  Maybe my luck will continue and I'll find a way to win our way into the Capital Hoedown once again.  I also hope that this year I manage to take in a race or two at the Brockville Ontario Speedway, kept meaning to go last year but never ended up going so it's on my list this year.

So that's what's been going on and what's coming up.  Stay tuned, it should be an exciting summer!!

Inside the ChatterBox: The Typical Tweeter - Where Do You Fit in?

Worth a read if you use Twitter.

Inside the ChatterBox: The Typical Tweeter - Where Do You Fit in?

Social Media with a Twist

Those of you who know me know I'm a bit of a social media and smart phone addict.  I also tend to spend a lot of time in my car and hate nothing more than getting stuck in traffic.

I recently was introduced to a new social media app for your smart phone called Waze.  In short it's a GPS.  Ok ok I know that most smart phones have a built in GPS.  So what makes Waze different?  Well it's simple, YOU!

As I mentioned Waze is a social media GPS.  What makes it different from other GPS' is that it's interactive.  See most GPS manufacturers have static maps that they update perhaps once a year.  With Waze it's users update the maps on the fly just by using the app.  The more you and other users, called Wazers, drive a route the sooner the Waze can make adjustments to the map.  So in other words the users build their own maps, through a process called munching.

One of my biggest pet peeves is waiting for the traffic report on the radio and usually being stuck in the traffic by the time it comes on.  Waze users provide real time reports on Traffic Issues, Police Traps and Hazards giving you insight into what lies ahead in your commute. 

Waze is currently available for Blackberry, iPhone, Andriod and Windows Mobile, Symbian etc..  For more information on Waze visit http://www.waze.com/ or click on the logo above.

Another interesting social media app is GetGlue.

Get glue is based on the multitude of check-in apps such as Foursquare and Yelp but instead of checking into places you check into topics such as movies, music, tv shows, books and so on.

What's nice about GetGlue is that although people can follow you it has a level of anonymity.  Unlike most social apps you don't have much of a profile.  GetGlue doesn't ask where you live or even your phone number and shoe size like many of the current day apps want to know.  On GetGlue you can put as much or as little in your profile as you want because people will follow you based on your interests. 

To make things even more fun you get to earn stickers for checking in to things and if your posts or reviews on a certain topic get enough votes you will achieve Guru status.

GetGlue is a light hearted app that can be accessed through the web at GetGlue.com, iPhone, iPad, Android or mobile web.  An app for the Blackberry is reportedly under development at this time but no word on when you should see Glue in AppWorld.

New Year, New Look, New Blog

Thanks to some feedback from a friend, whose opinion I greatly value, I have decided to give my blog an overhaul.

With a new year on the horizon and new experiences just waiting to be had, and written about, it's time to reorganize my blog and make it legible.

Watch for a new look early in 2011.

The Apollo Group presents Mich Smithers

Habs train derailed by Flyers? Not so fast we've seen this before.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers - 2010 Eastern Conference Final



OK I think it's time I jump on the bandwagon to defend my beloved Habs. Firstly let me acknowledge that losing 6-0 in the opening game of a series is not my preferred way to start now that the game is over the only important number is that the Flyers lead the series 1-0. The last time I checked this is a best of 7 series and there are still at least 3 chances for the Habs to pull out a win, or 3, before they can be counted out.

Lets take a trip down memory lane. At the start of the playoffs the Habs won game 1 of their series versus the Caps but then went on to lose 6-5 in game 2. Game 3 the Caps took control of the series with their 5-1 win leading many to believe that it was game over for the Habs. After the Caps won game 4 6-3 taking a gripping 3-1 lead in the series it was clear that the Habs season would be coming to a crashing halt very shortly. But it didn't. Habs went on to win the next 3 games taking the series in 7 and moving on to face the Penguins.

Critics quickly counted Montreal out and called their win over the Caps a fluke and a lucky break and advised Montreal fans to prepare for their ultimate demise at the hands of Sid the Kid and the Pens. After losing 6-3 in game 1 it was easy to believe that the critics may be right and that the 8th seeded Habs wouldn't stand a chance. But then game 2 comes along and the Habs, once again, prove the critics wrong with a strong 3-1 win over the Pens. And so went the series. The Pens would take game 3 and the Habs would tie it in game 4. After the Pens won game 5 many said ok it's over for the Habs now. Even if they win game 6 the Pens will take the series in game 7. Wrong again. Habs took game 6 and game 7 to win the series.

So why is it that, once again, after 1 game everyone has counted the Habs out so soon? Has history not shown that this team clearly has a solid game plan. These guys know what they were doing and I have faith that they will prevail in this series as well.

I expect a tight series, again, but the Habs have proven that they know how to adapt. Watch for a different team to show up on Tuesday night. My advice for the Flyers is don't get over confident, it will be used against you if you do.

Should be a great series, stay tuned.