June 28, 2011 2:36 PM

Google tries a 2nd time with Facebook killer

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(Credit: Google)

Earlier today Google disclosed plans for what appears to be a new bid to take on Facebook in the the social space with a service for helping Internet users communicate with family and friends. It's the Internet giant's second try in the social networking market with Google Buzz, a product that generated criticism from privacy advocates from the outset. Its other foray into social networking, the Orkut service, is popular only in Brazil.

At a recent industry conference, Google's former CEO (and current chairman) Eric Schmidt took responsibility for being slow to recognize the importance that social networking could play for Google.

"I was busy," Schmidt said.

But new ambitions come with a new slate. In announcing the service, which is called Google+, the company was careful to manage expectations, describing it as Google+ a "project," while admitting that it still has certain "rough edges."

For the time being, you'll need an invitation to access the service, which is only being extended to a select number of Google users. The service lets users group people within their social sphere into different categories. Google says that those who a person met Saturday night, for example, can be grouped into their own category, while parents can be placed into another. Users can then decide to share only certain information with different Circles.

Google announces Google+
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Wired: Inside Google+ How the search giant plans to go social

In addition, the social service includes a feature called Hangouts that lets users find others that are "hanging out" on the Web. If the user decides to join a hangout, he or she will be able to engage in a video chat with the others. Google+ also comes with an Instant Upload option that automatically uploads all photos and videos from a person's phone to their profile. From there, they can decide who to share that content with.

CNET has more about the new Google service here

Add a Comment
by olbabee June 29, 2011 7:18 AM EDT
People need Facebook for what exact reason other than wasting time they can never get back? No life people, no life.
Reply to this comment
by paduffer June 30, 2011 4:20 AM EDT
Why, to get a ton of "friends" of course. Everyone knows that better people have more Facebook friends.
by twhiting9276 June 28, 2011 4:00 PM EDT
Google will NEVER kill facebook, sorry.
Reply to this comment
by rgage12 June 28, 2011 3:17 PM EDT
Oh great, another worthless social networking program. I don't need to know what my friends are doing every moment of their lives.
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by pr_boxer June 28, 2011 5:51 PM EDT
Right, and whats more its none of their business what I'm doing.
by onlymeworldcom June 28, 2011 3:09 PM EDT
Sorry Google, but people hate both you and Facebook! Both companies continue to collect an infinite amount of information about it's users having a total disregard for privacy rights, whether it's users choose to or not! Google talks about privacy, that's another joke! There is one serious competitor to both Facebook, and now Google so called new social network, ONLYMEWORLD which is experiencing triple digit growth!
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by cbsnacilbuper June 28, 2011 3:08 PM EDT
Google?
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by m0u5y June 28, 2011 2:58 PM EDT
Well, since most of us has a Gmail account I guess I might as well try this since they already know every tiny little thing about me through the emails I send. Though it would be a good idea to use fake information here as well. I'm not too keen on Facebook's privacy issues, but anyone who thinks they're being smart by sending information via email is deluded. The only federal crime in regards to information is having someone open the envelope of your mail. And it never happens since the only person handling your mail is the mail man -- while the people who handle your email are countless including Google employees, hackers, and people you accidentally send email to not to mention bots.
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