Rivalry between Google and Facebook heats up as Google launches Google + (Plus) and the icing on the cake is its popularity as it soars in number of users, every day. Although, Google has not publicly announced Google+ as a competitive product to Facebook, yet fact is merely an open secret while one advertiser has shown the door by Facebook to garner more followers through its advertising program. However, let’s not fight over who wins or who loses like those viral videos currently popular on Google+. We will focus on the points which will help you starting quickly on Google+ and making the best out of it. Let’s explore the treasure called Google+ (Plus).
+Business
Google+ is currently closed for businesses as “Google+ Entity Profile Application” for test users was closed on Friday (July 15th) at 6pm PST.
+Chat
Google+ Chat is the exact replication of chat features available on Gmail. You can just click on any of your online friends under Chat section on left side bar and you are on with chat box.
+Hangouts
Google+ Hangouts is supposed to be one of the most interesting aspects of Google+. Enjoy group video chat with your friends in the hangout and let others in your social circles know that you with your friends are “hanging out”. One cool feature of Hangouts is that it doesn’t place a chat window on the screen for each participant. Instead, Google changes the chat screen to whoever is currently talking. It quickly switches from video feed to video feed, moving faster in bigger groups. The maximum members in any video Hangout is 10, though users can get on a waitlist and wait for someone to leave.
+Circles
Want to think differently from Facebook. Feel the difference with Google+ Circles, where sharing is targeted and group specific, unlike you share everything with everybody on Facebook. Now share your GF’s photos with your buddies only.
+Sparks
Now, you need not to go out of your Google+ and search in Google for interesting and relevant contents, every time. Just click on Google+ Sparks and browse through a huge collection of articles, videos, photos and other content grouped by interest. The feature is completely algorithmic — it relies on information from other Google products (e.g. Google Search) as well as what is being shared via Google+ and through +1 buttons as well. Till now we have just been discussing features and functions of Google+ (Plus). Everyone must be curious about the future of Google+. But Google+ is developed to stay and sustain the competition, not because Google has launched it, but due to its unique features and fulfillment as a complete social community tool. Let’s explore some more on Google+ cheats.
+Shortcuts
Use ‘j’ to navigate down to the next item or ‘k’ to navigate up using keyboard while checking the stream.
+Text Formatting
- *Text* for Text
- _Text_ for Text
- -Text- for Text
Decorate your write-ups using above text formatting methods on Google+ and be heard and marked by your +friends.
+Mention
Use + or @ signal to mention someone specifically in a post.
+Clues (Try only on Chrome)
- Everything: This extension adds the Google+ bar to all websites. Try in only on Google Chrome.
- +1 Button: Plus one every page you like with only one click, directly from omnibox, without any annoying popup
- Comment Toggle: Allows you to hide/show comments on Google+.
- Extended Share for Google Plus: Share Google Plus posts on Facebook & Twitter
- Google+ Count in Title: Add Google+ notifications to your browser tab.
- Google+ Extended: Additional shortcuts for G+. Including +1 (+), share (s) and expand comments (e).
- G+ Lite: Google plus Lite helps you to access Google’s new social networking Google Plus in Lite mode. It’s really easy to use this Lite version. Whatever that means.
- Google CSS Tricks Chrome Extension to pin the top of your G+ nav bar to the top of the browser screen as you scroll. Very Cool!
- Helper for Google+: Share G+ posts on Twitter and translate them with Google Translate. Nice.
- Hide Google Plus Notification: Simple extension to hide the little red Google Plus notification from the global Google header toolbar.
Liquid G+: Add a two or three column Google+ display (depending on your screen resolution) (hat tip to Cliff Wade) Warning: Unofficial, proceed with caution. - Notification Count for Google Plus: Extension for displaying unread notification count for Google Plus.
- +PhotoZoom: Easily zoom photos and profile pics from your Google Plus Stream.
- Replies and More: Adds reply and reply-to-author buttons to Google+ comments
- Surplus: Allows users to easily access their Google+ notifications and compose new posts from anywhere on the Web. So, this extension lets you read, comment and share without having to be on the Google domain.
- Get your vanity URL for your +Profile using Gplus.to tools.
Keep watching, I’m just finishing the first part of this post in a breath. There is a sequel coming. I’ll be back with more interesting features, cheats and tips on Google+ (Plus). Who knows what has Google+ in the offing! May be there is a treasure to be found. I don’t want to be Barbossa. Jack is in my blood. After there is still something wonderful hidden at the end of the world of Google+ (Plus). I’ll be back. Don’t forget to +1 this post. Till then have a nice reading and sharing.
