The service has improved a lot, more quickly than any other Google product ever released. After announcing the public data APIs, Google added support for Hangouts in the Android app and added the option to broadcast a Hangout, but only for a small number of users. "We're starting with a limited number of broadcasters, but any member of the Google+ community can tune in. In fact: we'll be hosting our very first On Air hangout with will.i.am on Wednesday night, September 21. For more information visit will.i.am's profile on Google+."
Hangout has many other features you can preview by clicking "Try Hangouts with extras": screensharing, sketchpad, Google Docs integration and named hangouts "for when you want to join or create a public hangout about a certain topic".
The search box is now more useful because you can use it to find posts from your friends and from other Google+ users. Google also lets you restrict your results to people and save your search.
Google doesn't disclose the number of Google+ users, but a Comscore report from August estimated that "in just one month, Google+ has captured 25 million visitors". It's likely that Google+ has a lot more users today and the number will grow, now that the service no longer requires invitation. Google+ is the first social service launched by Google that's actually successful.
Larry Page confirmed back in the first month that they'd reached 25 million users.
ReplyDeleteLiar, just like every other tech blog reporting this. 2 of the biggest user groups still can't access Google+, 13-18 year olds and Google App user
ReplyDeleteGuys, if you look closely, it says that these features will role out within the coming days!
ReplyDeleteeveryone but google apps users. :-(
ReplyDeletegoogle-
Not everybody... Google Apps folks still cannot access. Of course we were told "Coming Soon" on March 30, 2011 - and now it is September 20th. Here is the link: http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2011/03/coming-soon-to-google-apps-1-button-and.html
ReplyDeleteYup I'm disappointed in the media saying "everyone" - that quite simply isn't true whilst us (paying) Google Apps users are missing out.
ReplyDeleteWe could create a separate Google account just for Google+ but that's just a complete pain in the arse and shouldn't be necessary.
Everybody is watching the new social contest "FB vs. G+".
ReplyDeleteFacebook states they have 700 million users, compared to 25 million for Google plus... let's see if Google will be able to change this!
Wondering if there is an issue with the mobile Google+ app on devices using Android 2.3.5. I tried to update and the Marketplace says the device is incompatible.
ReplyDeleteLike the others, as a Google Apps administrator and user, I'm still waiting for this feature.
ReplyDeleteYep, +1 to the ongoing annoyance of being left out of the party thanks to my making my family "Go Google." Surprised GOS would lead with that headline and not mention profiles. Usually GOS does a better job of looking into what's not being said in the official Google releases.
ReplyDeleteI'm adding my voice to the chorus of those like James, Mike, and the Anon posters above who are frustrated that Google's "everyone" apparently does not include Apps users. Google Profiles have been "coming soon" to Google Apps users since Buzz was launched. Is there a chance we might get it before G+ follows in Buzz's footsteps and dies because a huge potential (and excited) user group is ignored?
ReplyDeleteStill not available for Google Apps users.
ReplyDelete"Google+ is not yet available for Google Apps." I guess Google Apps (us poor suckers) don't count in everyone. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are not missing much. I've been on since almost the beginning and there is basically no one there, certainly compared to facebook
ReplyDeleteEveryone except Google Apps customers. grrrrrrrrrrr
ReplyDeleteEveryone? I am told I am not the right age!
ReplyDeleteUm... I thought one of the biggest users of social networking was teenagers. How can it compete with facebook if you have to be 18 to use it? Not to mention that a lot of adults only use social networking because their kids do.
The first sentence is wrong on two fronts. Google+ is not available to google apps users, nor to under 18 users.
ReplyDeleteThe google apps situation is, yet again, infuriating.
Patrick Kolasinski makes a brilliant point regarding Google Buzz.
ReplyDeleteAs a Google Apps user, I *never* had the chance to use Buzz before it ... died. I sure was excited but they never gave me a chance, without creating an entirely separate Google account - which isn't going to happen.
I'm a die hard Google fan - Android mobile, Android tablet, Google Apps for my business etc - why do Google choose to leave people like myself in the dark like this? Frustrating.
I couldn't have said it better, Mike. I've been praising Google+ ever since it came out. I convinced dozens of people to check it out, and most people loved it, but I have yet to ever actually use it. I sang the praises of buzz, but never got to use it. I wonder how long it is before those people start migrating back to other platforms where truely everyone can be online, and not everyone (except the loyal apps users)
ReplyDelete...and Google Apps users are fucked once again! :( I mean what's the difficulty to implement it for Google Apps users? It's just "not available" but G don't tell us why. I suppose it's a legal problem with creating a Google Profile under a corporate account.
ReplyDeleteWhatever. Google Apps users still do not have access to this so do not post Google+ for everyone when it clearly is not! Google Apps users are the ones that pay Google for their services and yet they are not receiving services that the free loaders get. It's just plain backwards to me.
ReplyDeleteYou are wrong Alex ............ Google+ is still not successful. Its merely an exaggertion to say that.
ReplyDeleteSo this "everyone" doesn't include teenagers, and that isn't discrimination at all...
ReplyDeleteYou know, I've been promoting Google products for years and have convinced many to use Google Apps for their email and account needs. And now, all of us Google early adopters are left out in the cold while people with HOTMAIL email addresses can use Google+. LOL that's so backwards.
ReplyDeleteHey Alex, would you like some cheese to go with all this whine? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI have joined in late July and so far the G+ experience has been TERRIFIC once I figured out the 'ins and outs' of using Google+ for business.
ReplyDeleteWhy Google is working at such a lower pace? Facebook is tweaking or implementing some or the other thing every other day. Grow up Google.
ReplyDeleteOne more problem Google need to solve if they want to steal more Facebook user: the requirement age is too damn high. I got a 17 years old sister who wanted a Google+ account, but couldn't have it yet because of the minimum age requirement. And I bet my sister isn't the only one.
ReplyDeleteWell, they can easily make another Google account and list their birth date several years sooner before their actual birth date, but I guess that's not a good choice.
Google Apps support will role out within the coming days??? Two weeks later, no support. I guess we still don't count as everyone.
ReplyDeleteincorrect - google apps users are excluded
ReplyDeleteGoogle+ VS. Facebook?
ReplyDeleteYou can't really say that, because I can't even access Google+. But I guess until Google+ is finished, FaceBook will be the winner.
I don't think Google+ has a long life
ReplyDelete