Mountian View, CA ( macbook pro apple )
Search engine and internet giant Google debuted ( macbook pro apple ) "Find My Face". ( macbook pro apple )
The new tool designed for its Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) users is Google's first step into the growing field of social facial recognition.
The "Find My Face" ( macbook pro apple ) tool exists as a tag for its Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) social network. ( macbook pro apple )
The tool scans users' ( macbook pro apple ) and their friends photos for recognizable faces, and then suggests nametags for the faces by matching them with users' profile photos and other tagged photos on Google's social network site Google+. ( macbook pro apple )
Google ( macbook pro apple ) has privacy as its main concern in the the new launch.
"Find My Face ( macbook pro apple )" is unlike Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) in that it prompts users to first opt into the service before atomically suggesting to their friend that they be tagged in photos. Google (macbook pro apple ) also requires the subject of a suggested tag to approve it before it goes public. ( macbook pro apple )
Tagging is the digital ( macbook pro apple ) equivalent of writing names on the back of of photo. ( macbook pro apple )
When Google ( macbook pro apple ) launched its Google ( macbook pro apple ) Chrome browser, I was instantly smitten: ( macbook pro apple ) The address bar did double duty as a URL display and search box. It was a simple concept, ( macbook pro apple ) yet it was strong enough to convert me from Firefox. ( macbook pro apple )
Three years later, ( London Jobs ) Chrome offers thousands of extensions that allow users to custom-build their browser for better searching, storing and privacy settings. Shoppers can add extensions that store their most wanted goods ( London Jobs ) (Add to Amazon Wishlist); design freaks can opt for a sleek, ( macbook pro apple ) 3-D image display (Cooliris) ( macbook pro apple ); and jetsetters can translate websites into English with one click (Google Translate). ( macbook pro apple )
Here are a few other reasons why I love Google ( macbook pro apple ) Chrome: ( macbook pro apple )
1. ( macbook pro apple ) I kick personalized ads to the curb. ( macbook pro apple )
Personalized ads can feel a little too Orwellian, ( macbook pro apple ) especially when they're generated from your most personal emails and most private of Web searches ( macbook pro apple ) (er, uh, "best hemorrhoid cream?"). ( macbook pro apple ) Opt out by installing the "Keep My Opt-outs" ( macbook pro apple ) extension. This will prevent companies that are part of the Network Advertising Initiative from targeting ads to what you type. ( macbook pro apple )
2. ( macbook pro apple ) I stay under the radar. ( macbook pro apple )
To keep your browsing and downloads from being recorded in your history - ( macbook pro apple )- and to prevent cookies from being kept after you close a window - ( macbook pro apple )- switch to incognito mode. (macbook pro apple ) Once you're browsing in incognito mode, ( macbook pro apple )Chrome won't store any information about the websites you've visited - ( macbook pro apple )- a must when working on a shared or public computer. ( macbook pro apple ) Want an extra layer of protection? Pause the Web history tracking stored in your Google ( macbook pro apple ) Account before you browse. ( macbook pro apple )
3. ( macbook pro apple )I optimize my Web surfing. ( macbook pro apple )
( macbook pro apple )Check out the Extensions section of the Chrome ( macbook pro apple )Web Store for free add-ons. ( macbook pro apple )Whether you're a blogger ( macbook pro apple ), sports nut or photographer, you can find extensions by filtering them by categories on the left-hand side of the page. ( macbook pro apple )After you install an extension, it will automatically update with new features. ( macbook pro apple )
Here are a few of my favorites: ( macbook pro apple )
Aviary Image Editor: ( macbook pro apple )
Lets you capture a screen-grab and edit a picture, ( macbook pro apple ) like a mini Photoshop, ( macbook pro apple ) without leaving the browser. ( macbook pro apple )
Shareaholic: ( macbook pro apple )
Love sharing Web finds with your friends? This extension allows you to share via Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and more by clicking on an icon in the toolbar. No need to navigate away from the page or to open another program. ( macbook pro apple )
TooMany Tabs for Chrome: ( macbook pro apple )
When you have 57 ( macbook pro apple ) tabs open in your browser and are starting to feel overwhelmed, ( macbook pro apple ) this extension will help you navigate and manage them all. ( macbook pro apple )
ChromeVis: ( macbook pro apple )
The Web can be impossible to navigate if you have poor vision. ( macbook pro apple )This extension lets you magnify any selected text on a ( macbook pro apple )Web page and customize the magnification box by changing print and background colors to best suit your needs. ( macbook pro apple )
When Google ( macbook pro apple ) launched its Facebook-rivaling ( macbook pro apple ) social network this summer, some balked about having to deal with yet another social network. But what many early adapters found is that Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) is cleaner and more efficient - ( macbook pro apple )- and best of all, not everyone you connect with has to be a "friend." ( macbook pro apple )
In Google's ( macbook pro apple ) attempt to fashion ( macbook pro apple ) its social network after the real world, Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) lets you make a contained circle for family, friends, work buddies, chess club friends and a secret society (if you belong to one) ( macbook pro apple ). In the same amount of time you'd spend posting on Facebook ( macbook pro apple ), you can pick which circle sees your various posts - (macbook pro apple )- which is kind of perfect if you don't want work buddies to know about your family dramas, right? ( macbook pro apple )
While the newest social network is just a few months old - ( macbook pro apple )- and at least a few months away from mainstream adoption - ( macbook pro apple )- the potential for Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) to deliver relevant information is too attractive to pass up. Here's how to get started: ( macbook pro apple )
1. ( macbook pro apple ) Create your searchable profile. ( macbook pro apple )
Apps, Docs and social networks aside, Google is first and foremost a search engine. As Google+ grows, so does the relevance of its profiles in search results.
Try Googling ( macbook pro apple ) yourself. Unless your name is John Doe ( macbook pro apple ), your Google ( macbook pro apple ) profile will be one of the first results to come up. ( macbook pro apple ) This is prime real estate on the Web - ( macbook pro apple )- and happily, you are in control of how it's shaped. Building out your Google profile authenticates your Web presence and allows you to better own your online image. ( macbook pro apple )
To log into Google+ ( macbook pro apple ), sign in with your gmail address (yes, you'll need to get one if you don't already have one) and click on Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) on the top tab of your account. In Google+ ( macbook pro apple ), click the "Profile" ( macbook pro apple ) button on the top navigation bar, and add job history, education, bragging rights, etc. ( macbook pro apple ), in the "About" ( macbook pro apple ) section. Make sure you link to your websites, videos and pictures to promote your projects, accomplishments and affiliations. Embed links in text to share other content-rich places where people can find you on the Web (like an Amazon author page, ( macbook pro apple ) SoundCloud music page or high school teacher website). ( macbook pro apple )
2. ( macbook pro apple )Organize your personal circles ( macbook pro apple )
Whether you consider it a blessing or a curse, Google ( macbook pro apple ) makes you organize your contacts into circles before you can do much else. ( macbook pro apple ) Google claims that Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) users are three times more likely to share ( macbook pro apple ) within certain circles than share publicly. ( macbook pro apple ) That means hovering parents are more likely to share with other parents, and foodies with other foodies, theoretically cutting down the amount of useless posts you see in your stream. This targeted content is an outright blessing for those of us who have grown sick of the "my kid's latest accomplishment" (macbook pro apple ) or "today's lunch choice" posts that taint our Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) walls. ( macbook pro apple )
To help you organize your circles, Google gathers all your email contacts and allows you to click and drag people into the circle of your choice. "Friends" and "Family" circles are no-brainers, but what about the members of your soccer team? Create a "Ball Kickers" circle just for them. If you follow public figures or people in your field online, place them in your "Following" circle.
3. ( macbook pro apple ) Structure some circles for business ( macbook pro apple )
Creating certain circles around your work is a great way to send targeted information to different types of people you work with. ( macbook pro apple )A real estate agent might create circles for past and current clients, as well as circles of people by neighborhood. ( macbook pro apple ) The agent can then send clients who bought or are looking to buy in a particular neighborhood some information about a new juice bar set to open, (macbook pro apple )neighborhood alliance meetings or featured properties all within the same 25 blocks, for example. ( macbook pro apple )
Want to gather information for your business? ( macbook pro apple ) Get more information about people who circled you by posing a question to the group. ( macbook pro apple )A "Do you read my advice column?" (macbook pro apple ) query, for example, ( macbook pro apple ) gives you an idea of how many followers are fans of your work. ( macbook pro apple )You can also directly message people who follow you as a way of crowdsourcing ideas for your next project.
4. ( macbook pro apple ) Set up easy video-conferencing meetings ( macbook pro apple )
With a few clicks on Google+ ( macbook pro apple ), you can set up group video conferencing with any of your established circles. ( macbook pro apple )Aside from chatting with buddies across the globe, starting a Hangout is a great way to conduct quick-and-dirty ( macbook pro apple ) virtual meetings with your mom group, ( macbook pro apple ) co-workers or extended family when planning the next reunion.
To start a Hangout, ( macbook pro apple )click one of your established circles on the right of your stream, then click the green "Hangout" ( macbook pro apple ) button on the left side of your stream. Pick up to 10 people to participate. ( macbook pro apple ) No third party chat or virtual meeting software is needed. ( macbook pro apple ) The camera's focus will move with whoever has the floor, keeping the talker front-and-center in the biggest box on the screen. ( macbook pro apple ) Once you've started a hangout group, you can also watch a YouTube ( macbook pro apple ) video together and type notes for one another in the chat field. ( macbook pro apple )
5. ( macbook pro apple ) Fine-tune your feeds ( macbook pro apple )
After you type a post to your stream, ( macbook pro apple ) you can choose which of the circles to send the content to. ( macbook pro apple ) You can share your particular post with a few of your custom circles, to extended circles (which not only posts to your circles, but your friends' circles as well) - ( macbook pro apple )- or to public, which is open viewing for the whole Web. ( macbook pro apple )
You can also create Sparks, ( macbook pro apple ) which are like Google ( macbook pro apple ) Alerts for your favorite things. ( London Jobs )When you set up Sparks of your biggest interests, you receive a curated feed of things happening around the ( macbook pro apple )Web based on those interests. ( macbook pro apple ) From the home screen, click Sparks on the left-hand column. ( macbook pro apple ) Type in any interest, from "gastropubs" to "gluten-free diet" ( macbook pro apple ) to "Glee," ( macbook pro apple ) and then click "Add Interest." ( macbook pro apple ) A feed of the latest of your favorite things on the Web will be ready for you to view via smartphone or computer when waiting in line at the bank or for a flight at the airport. ( macbook pro apple )
Google+ ( macbook pro apple )also allows users to turn multiple conversations into one streamlined group chat (in Huddle) and automatically upload pictures and video from your Android Smartphone (Instant Upload) to your Google+ account to share with whichever circles you choose later on. Take the Google+ Tour for more on these features and check What's New in Google+ for the latest tricks and practices. ( macbook pro apple )
If anyone could go after the Facebook jugular - ( macbook pro apple )- and its three quarters of a billion users - ( macbook pro apple )- it's Google. The online search giant took aim at Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) when it launched Google+, a social network that combines old services (Google Profiles, Google Buzz, etc.) with new. But is Google+ strictly for consumers, or can its applications benefit businesses too? ( macbook pro apple )
Google+: ( London Jobs ) Best Features for Business ( macbook pro apple )
Amber MacArthur ( macbook pro apple ), a social media strategist and author of Power Friending ( macbook pro apple ): Demystifying Social Media to Grow Your Business, says Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) isn't a Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) clone, though at first glance they do appear similar. ( macbook pro apple ) Once you get to know the social network, you'll likely see it as a hybrid: "It has the advantage of long-form posting like Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) (but better) and the immediacy of a real-time ( macbook pro apple ) stream like Twitter, ( macbook pro apple )" says Doug Lacombe, president of the communicatto (macbook pro apple ) social media agency in Calgary. ( macbook pro apple )
Other unique Google+ ( macbook pro apple )features that can benefit your business include the following: ( macbook pro apple )
Photos ( macbook pro apple )
Forget the regular online photo albums you're used to; Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) arranges your photos into a beautiful one-page layout. ( macbook pro apple )"The search engine giant has created a platform that has a better in-line photo viewing experience, as images are larger and the overall design of the page is cleaner, ( macbook pro apple )" says Lacombe. ( macbook pro apple )
Circles. ( macbook pro apple )
An easy way to share content with friends or colleagues ( macbook pro apple ), without being forced to share the same things with everyone. ( macbook pro apple ) "Your work circle gets different content and conversation than your family circle, and so on ( macbook pro apple )," says Lacombe. ( macbook pro apple )
Hangouts ( macbook pro apple )
A feature that lets you video chat or watch videos together with others. ( macbook pro apple )
Sparks ( macbook pro apple )
A feed of everything you're following. ( macbook pro apple )
Huddles ( macbook pro apple )
( macbook pro apple )An instant messaging feature for Android and iPhone users. ( macbook pro apple )
Better integration ( macbook pro apple )
If you use Google products regularly, ( macbook pro apple ) Google+ is a natural extension to your Internet experience, says MacArthur: ( macbook pro apple )"The network sits neatly within your Google account." (macbook pro apple )
How can you use all these features to maximize your business? ( macbook pro apple ) Get one person from your company to represent your business and manage the social network account. (Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) is set to launch its business pages later this year.) ( macbook pro apple ) "The same principles for building a community exist on Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) that exist on Facebook - ( macbook pro apple )- it's important to be authentic, post regularly and engage with everyone," says MacArthur. "It's like going to the gym: If you don't stick to a regular schedule, you're not going to see the results you want."
Google+ ( macbook pro apple ): Security Concerns ( macbook pro apple )
Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) is no stranger to privacy concerns. Google ( macbook pro apple ) too has come under fire over Gmail ( macbook pro apple )hacks and revealing too much info on Google ( macbook pro apple ) Maps with Street View. So can Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) be trusted? ( macbook pro apple )
"Yes ( macbook pro apple )and no," ( macbook pro apple )says Lacombe. "In the sense that Google ( macbook pro apple ) successfully and securely runs millions of accounts on Gmail ( macbook pro apple ) and Google Apps, I think G+ accounts are as secure as any other online service. The weakest link is usually careless users with weak passwords, ( macbook pro apple )or those who leave their devices open and accessible to thieves." ( macbook pro apple )
But Lacombe also reminds us that anything posted online can be copied, pasted and shared, so you need to manage information security by being judicious in your posting. ( macbook pro apple ) "No service can protect you thoroughly ( macbook pro apple )," he concludes. ( macbook pro apple )
Google+ ( macbook pro apple ): Its Future in Business ( macbook pro apple )
Like Facebook, ( macbook pro apple ) Google+ ( macbook pro apple )will become an increasingly important social media destination for ( macbook pro apple ) brands and small businesses, predicts MacArthur (macbook pro apple ). "We've seen over the past couple of months how quickly this new social network has grown, so with millions of users, it's only natural that companies will want to build a presence on Google+ (macbook pro apple ) in order to reach customers and clients." ( macbook pro apple )
Search engine and internet giant Google debuted ( macbook pro apple ) "Find My Face". ( macbook pro apple )
The new tool designed for its Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) users is Google's first step into the growing field of social facial recognition.
The "Find My Face" ( macbook pro apple ) tool exists as a tag for its Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) social network. ( macbook pro apple )
The tool scans users' ( macbook pro apple ) and their friends photos for recognizable faces, and then suggests nametags for the faces by matching them with users' profile photos and other tagged photos on Google's social network site Google+. ( macbook pro apple )
Google ( macbook pro apple ) has privacy as its main concern in the the new launch.
"Find My Face ( macbook pro apple )" is unlike Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) in that it prompts users to first opt into the service before atomically suggesting to their friend that they be tagged in photos. Google (macbook pro apple ) also requires the subject of a suggested tag to approve it before it goes public. ( macbook pro apple )
Tagging is the digital ( macbook pro apple ) equivalent of writing names on the back of of photo. ( macbook pro apple )
When Google ( macbook pro apple ) launched its Google ( macbook pro apple ) Chrome browser, I was instantly smitten: ( macbook pro apple ) The address bar did double duty as a URL display and search box. It was a simple concept, ( macbook pro apple ) yet it was strong enough to convert me from Firefox. ( macbook pro apple )
Three years later, ( London Jobs ) Chrome offers thousands of extensions that allow users to custom-build their browser for better searching, storing and privacy settings. Shoppers can add extensions that store their most wanted goods ( London Jobs ) (Add to Amazon Wishlist); design freaks can opt for a sleek, ( macbook pro apple ) 3-D image display (Cooliris) ( macbook pro apple ); and jetsetters can translate websites into English with one click (Google Translate). ( macbook pro apple )
Here are a few other reasons why I love Google ( macbook pro apple ) Chrome: ( macbook pro apple )
1. ( macbook pro apple ) I kick personalized ads to the curb. ( macbook pro apple )
Personalized ads can feel a little too Orwellian, ( macbook pro apple ) especially when they're generated from your most personal emails and most private of Web searches ( macbook pro apple ) (er, uh, "best hemorrhoid cream?"). ( macbook pro apple ) Opt out by installing the "Keep My Opt-outs" ( macbook pro apple ) extension. This will prevent companies that are part of the Network Advertising Initiative from targeting ads to what you type. ( macbook pro apple )
2. ( macbook pro apple ) I stay under the radar. ( macbook pro apple )
To keep your browsing and downloads from being recorded in your history - ( macbook pro apple )- and to prevent cookies from being kept after you close a window - ( macbook pro apple )- switch to incognito mode. (macbook pro apple ) Once you're browsing in incognito mode, ( macbook pro apple )Chrome won't store any information about the websites you've visited - ( macbook pro apple )- a must when working on a shared or public computer. ( macbook pro apple ) Want an extra layer of protection? Pause the Web history tracking stored in your Google ( macbook pro apple ) Account before you browse. ( macbook pro apple )
3. ( macbook pro apple )I optimize my Web surfing. ( macbook pro apple )
( macbook pro apple )Check out the Extensions section of the Chrome ( macbook pro apple )Web Store for free add-ons. ( macbook pro apple )Whether you're a blogger ( macbook pro apple ), sports nut or photographer, you can find extensions by filtering them by categories on the left-hand side of the page. ( macbook pro apple )After you install an extension, it will automatically update with new features. ( macbook pro apple )
Here are a few of my favorites: ( macbook pro apple )
Aviary Image Editor: ( macbook pro apple )
Lets you capture a screen-grab and edit a picture, ( macbook pro apple ) like a mini Photoshop, ( macbook pro apple ) without leaving the browser. ( macbook pro apple )
Shareaholic: ( macbook pro apple )
Love sharing Web finds with your friends? This extension allows you to share via Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and more by clicking on an icon in the toolbar. No need to navigate away from the page or to open another program. ( macbook pro apple )
TooMany Tabs for Chrome: ( macbook pro apple )
When you have 57 ( macbook pro apple ) tabs open in your browser and are starting to feel overwhelmed, ( macbook pro apple ) this extension will help you navigate and manage them all. ( macbook pro apple )
ChromeVis: ( macbook pro apple )
The Web can be impossible to navigate if you have poor vision. ( macbook pro apple )This extension lets you magnify any selected text on a ( macbook pro apple )Web page and customize the magnification box by changing print and background colors to best suit your needs. ( macbook pro apple )
When Google ( macbook pro apple ) launched its Facebook-rivaling ( macbook pro apple ) social network this summer, some balked about having to deal with yet another social network. But what many early adapters found is that Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) is cleaner and more efficient - ( macbook pro apple )- and best of all, not everyone you connect with has to be a "friend." ( macbook pro apple )
In Google's ( macbook pro apple ) attempt to fashion ( macbook pro apple ) its social network after the real world, Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) lets you make a contained circle for family, friends, work buddies, chess club friends and a secret society (if you belong to one) ( macbook pro apple ). In the same amount of time you'd spend posting on Facebook ( macbook pro apple ), you can pick which circle sees your various posts - (macbook pro apple )- which is kind of perfect if you don't want work buddies to know about your family dramas, right? ( macbook pro apple )
While the newest social network is just a few months old - ( macbook pro apple )- and at least a few months away from mainstream adoption - ( macbook pro apple )- the potential for Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) to deliver relevant information is too attractive to pass up. Here's how to get started: ( macbook pro apple )
1. ( macbook pro apple ) Create your searchable profile. ( macbook pro apple )
Apps, Docs and social networks aside, Google is first and foremost a search engine. As Google+ grows, so does the relevance of its profiles in search results.
Try Googling ( macbook pro apple ) yourself. Unless your name is John Doe ( macbook pro apple ), your Google ( macbook pro apple ) profile will be one of the first results to come up. ( macbook pro apple ) This is prime real estate on the Web - ( macbook pro apple )- and happily, you are in control of how it's shaped. Building out your Google profile authenticates your Web presence and allows you to better own your online image. ( macbook pro apple )
To log into Google+ ( macbook pro apple ), sign in with your gmail address (yes, you'll need to get one if you don't already have one) and click on Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) on the top tab of your account. In Google+ ( macbook pro apple ), click the "Profile" ( macbook pro apple ) button on the top navigation bar, and add job history, education, bragging rights, etc. ( macbook pro apple ), in the "About" ( macbook pro apple ) section. Make sure you link to your websites, videos and pictures to promote your projects, accomplishments and affiliations. Embed links in text to share other content-rich places where people can find you on the Web (like an Amazon author page, ( macbook pro apple ) SoundCloud music page or high school teacher website). ( macbook pro apple )
2. ( macbook pro apple )Organize your personal circles ( macbook pro apple )
Whether you consider it a blessing or a curse, Google ( macbook pro apple ) makes you organize your contacts into circles before you can do much else. ( macbook pro apple ) Google claims that Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) users are three times more likely to share ( macbook pro apple ) within certain circles than share publicly. ( macbook pro apple ) That means hovering parents are more likely to share with other parents, and foodies with other foodies, theoretically cutting down the amount of useless posts you see in your stream. This targeted content is an outright blessing for those of us who have grown sick of the "my kid's latest accomplishment" (macbook pro apple ) or "today's lunch choice" posts that taint our Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) walls. ( macbook pro apple )
To help you organize your circles, Google gathers all your email contacts and allows you to click and drag people into the circle of your choice. "Friends" and "Family" circles are no-brainers, but what about the members of your soccer team? Create a "Ball Kickers" circle just for them. If you follow public figures or people in your field online, place them in your "Following" circle.
3. ( macbook pro apple ) Structure some circles for business ( macbook pro apple )
Creating certain circles around your work is a great way to send targeted information to different types of people you work with. ( macbook pro apple )A real estate agent might create circles for past and current clients, as well as circles of people by neighborhood. ( macbook pro apple ) The agent can then send clients who bought or are looking to buy in a particular neighborhood some information about a new juice bar set to open, (macbook pro apple )neighborhood alliance meetings or featured properties all within the same 25 blocks, for example. ( macbook pro apple )
Want to gather information for your business? ( macbook pro apple ) Get more information about people who circled you by posing a question to the group. ( macbook pro apple )A "Do you read my advice column?" (macbook pro apple ) query, for example, ( macbook pro apple ) gives you an idea of how many followers are fans of your work. ( macbook pro apple )You can also directly message people who follow you as a way of crowdsourcing ideas for your next project.
4. ( macbook pro apple ) Set up easy video-conferencing meetings ( macbook pro apple )
With a few clicks on Google+ ( macbook pro apple ), you can set up group video conferencing with any of your established circles. ( macbook pro apple )Aside from chatting with buddies across the globe, starting a Hangout is a great way to conduct quick-and-dirty ( macbook pro apple ) virtual meetings with your mom group, ( macbook pro apple ) co-workers or extended family when planning the next reunion.
To start a Hangout, ( macbook pro apple )click one of your established circles on the right of your stream, then click the green "Hangout" ( macbook pro apple ) button on the left side of your stream. Pick up to 10 people to participate. ( macbook pro apple ) No third party chat or virtual meeting software is needed. ( macbook pro apple ) The camera's focus will move with whoever has the floor, keeping the talker front-and-center in the biggest box on the screen. ( macbook pro apple ) Once you've started a hangout group, you can also watch a YouTube ( macbook pro apple ) video together and type notes for one another in the chat field. ( macbook pro apple )
5. ( macbook pro apple ) Fine-tune your feeds ( macbook pro apple )
After you type a post to your stream, ( macbook pro apple ) you can choose which of the circles to send the content to. ( macbook pro apple ) You can share your particular post with a few of your custom circles, to extended circles (which not only posts to your circles, but your friends' circles as well) - ( macbook pro apple )- or to public, which is open viewing for the whole Web. ( macbook pro apple )
You can also create Sparks, ( macbook pro apple ) which are like Google ( macbook pro apple ) Alerts for your favorite things. ( London Jobs )When you set up Sparks of your biggest interests, you receive a curated feed of things happening around the ( macbook pro apple )Web based on those interests. ( macbook pro apple ) From the home screen, click Sparks on the left-hand column. ( macbook pro apple ) Type in any interest, from "gastropubs" to "gluten-free diet" ( macbook pro apple ) to "Glee," ( macbook pro apple ) and then click "Add Interest." ( macbook pro apple ) A feed of the latest of your favorite things on the Web will be ready for you to view via smartphone or computer when waiting in line at the bank or for a flight at the airport. ( macbook pro apple )
Google+ ( macbook pro apple )also allows users to turn multiple conversations into one streamlined group chat (in Huddle) and automatically upload pictures and video from your Android Smartphone (Instant Upload) to your Google+ account to share with whichever circles you choose later on. Take the Google+ Tour for more on these features and check What's New in Google+ for the latest tricks and practices. ( macbook pro apple )
If anyone could go after the Facebook jugular - ( macbook pro apple )- and its three quarters of a billion users - ( macbook pro apple )- it's Google. The online search giant took aim at Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) when it launched Google+, a social network that combines old services (Google Profiles, Google Buzz, etc.) with new. But is Google+ strictly for consumers, or can its applications benefit businesses too? ( macbook pro apple )
Google+: ( London Jobs ) Best Features for Business ( macbook pro apple )
Amber MacArthur ( macbook pro apple ), a social media strategist and author of Power Friending ( macbook pro apple ): Demystifying Social Media to Grow Your Business, says Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) isn't a Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) clone, though at first glance they do appear similar. ( macbook pro apple ) Once you get to know the social network, you'll likely see it as a hybrid: "It has the advantage of long-form posting like Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) (but better) and the immediacy of a real-time ( macbook pro apple ) stream like Twitter, ( macbook pro apple )" says Doug Lacombe, president of the communicatto (macbook pro apple ) social media agency in Calgary. ( macbook pro apple )
Other unique Google+ ( macbook pro apple )features that can benefit your business include the following: ( macbook pro apple )
Photos ( macbook pro apple )
Forget the regular online photo albums you're used to; Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) arranges your photos into a beautiful one-page layout. ( macbook pro apple )"The search engine giant has created a platform that has a better in-line photo viewing experience, as images are larger and the overall design of the page is cleaner, ( macbook pro apple )" says Lacombe. ( macbook pro apple )
Circles. ( macbook pro apple )
An easy way to share content with friends or colleagues ( macbook pro apple ), without being forced to share the same things with everyone. ( macbook pro apple ) "Your work circle gets different content and conversation than your family circle, and so on ( macbook pro apple )," says Lacombe. ( macbook pro apple )
Hangouts ( macbook pro apple )
A feature that lets you video chat or watch videos together with others. ( macbook pro apple )
Sparks ( macbook pro apple )
A feed of everything you're following. ( macbook pro apple )
Huddles ( macbook pro apple )
( macbook pro apple )An instant messaging feature for Android and iPhone users. ( macbook pro apple )
Better integration ( macbook pro apple )
If you use Google products regularly, ( macbook pro apple ) Google+ is a natural extension to your Internet experience, says MacArthur: ( macbook pro apple )"The network sits neatly within your Google account." (macbook pro apple )
How can you use all these features to maximize your business? ( macbook pro apple ) Get one person from your company to represent your business and manage the social network account. (Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) is set to launch its business pages later this year.) ( macbook pro apple ) "The same principles for building a community exist on Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) that exist on Facebook - ( macbook pro apple )- it's important to be authentic, post regularly and engage with everyone," says MacArthur. "It's like going to the gym: If you don't stick to a regular schedule, you're not going to see the results you want."
Google+ ( macbook pro apple ): Security Concerns ( macbook pro apple )
Facebook ( macbook pro apple ) is no stranger to privacy concerns. Google ( macbook pro apple ) too has come under fire over Gmail ( macbook pro apple )hacks and revealing too much info on Google ( macbook pro apple ) Maps with Street View. So can Google+ ( macbook pro apple ) be trusted? ( macbook pro apple )
"Yes ( macbook pro apple )and no," ( macbook pro apple )says Lacombe. "In the sense that Google ( macbook pro apple ) successfully and securely runs millions of accounts on Gmail ( macbook pro apple ) and Google Apps, I think G+ accounts are as secure as any other online service. The weakest link is usually careless users with weak passwords, ( macbook pro apple )or those who leave their devices open and accessible to thieves." ( macbook pro apple )
But Lacombe also reminds us that anything posted online can be copied, pasted and shared, so you need to manage information security by being judicious in your posting. ( macbook pro apple ) "No service can protect you thoroughly ( macbook pro apple )," he concludes. ( macbook pro apple )
Google+ ( macbook pro apple ): Its Future in Business ( macbook pro apple )
Like Facebook, ( macbook pro apple ) Google+ ( macbook pro apple )will become an increasingly important social media destination for ( macbook pro apple ) brands and small businesses, predicts MacArthur (macbook pro apple ). "We've seen over the past couple of months how quickly this new social network has grown, so with millions of users, it's only natural that companies will want to build a presence on Google+ (macbook pro apple ) in order to reach customers and clients." ( macbook pro apple )
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