Google+: Full Steam Ahead

Just two days after I posted I had been waiting for Google+ to leave its invite-only field test before I deleting my Facebook account... it happened. Google+ is no longer invite-only!

I assume the timing is just coincidence.

With the debut of Google+ to the public at large, they also released a host of new features which you should try out:

• The mobile applications for Android and iOS were improved.
• Hangouts (group video chats) are now supported on mobile devices. On Android, it requires Android 2.3. And on iOS, it requires a front-facing camera. So I haven't been able to use either, but I know a lot of people have devices that fit that bill.
• A preview version of Hangouts "with Extras" which include screensharing, a sketchpad, and document collaboration. They only feature of the original not supported by the "extras" version is synchronized YouTube video. Google is really building some tools here that could be useful for business.
• More APIs have been released. Start playing. Already there's a third-party whiteboard for Hangouts.
• Search! Ironically, Google did not launch Google+ with built-in search but now that's fixed.

Goodbye, Facebook!

I planned to wait until Google+ is officially open, but enough time has passed. I deleted my Facebook account!

You can find me on Google+.

Facebook intentionally hides away the option to delete your account, but if you'd like to do the same use this form.

Google+ Tip: Bring +1 with You

Google's new +1 button is undoubtedly becoming familiar. It shows up next to search results, next to adds, and next to posts and comments in their new social network Google+. It means simply that you approve, like or recommend the site, article, post or comment in question. Google has a description of the +1 button on the web.

It is important to note that if you +1 a site or article on the web (but not for posts and comments in Google+), it may show on your profile. There is a tab devoted to +1's. You have control over whether this tab shows on your profile. Edit your Google profile, go to the +1 tab, and uncheck "Show this tab on your profile" if you want a little more privacy.

The real reason for this post however is that there are a few helpful extensions for +1. Not every news site or blog has the +1 button yet. The Plus One extension for Chrome gives you a +1 button for any website you visit. For those still actively using Facebook, the +OneFB extension for Chrome gives +1 buttons on Facebook. If someone shares a link on Facebook, you can Like it and +1 it. Finally, the 1-Up for Google+ extension for Chrome turns the +1 button on Google+ into a Mario Brothers style 1-up mushroom.

Google+ Tip: Bring Your Photos

Do you want to move to Google+ but have a lot of Facebook photos you don't want to lose?

Fear not. Download the Move Your Photos extension for the Google Chrome browser. It gives you the option to download all your Facebook photos to Picasa, from which you can share them on Google+. I have used it and it works well. The only downside is that the extension doesn't download others' photos in which you are tagged.

The other option is PhotoGrabber which has downloads for Windows and OS/X, but also works on Linux. I also tried this, and it does allow downloading all Facebook photos including other users' albums containing pictures of you. You then have the burden of re-uploading them to Picasa. However, there is one caveat: those other users must be friends. Facebook allows others to have you tagged even if you aren't friends, and will happily show you their photos even if you aren't friends. Those photos you can see but PhotoGrabber can't download. This is probably not a burden for most people, but caused me some problems.

If you use Firefox, you may also be interested to know there is this Firefox add-on. I haven't tried it, so I can't share any firsthand experience. However, rumor has it that this extension is slower than the above Chrome extension.

Facebook: A Retrospective

As we as a society slowly migrate away from Facebook, it is important to remember why we embark on such a large undertaking. If you ever find yourself in doubt, here are some compelling reads:

• 10 Reasons to Delete Your Facebook Account is a summary of the most important reasons why Facebook is not to be trusted.  The company and its executives are unethical and technologically incompetent.
• Facebook's Eroding Privacy Policy: A Timeline is a timeline of the intentional degeneration of privacy in a Facebook world.

And if you still don't believe it, here are some highlights from Facebook stories over the years:

• Facebook tried to start a whisper smear campaign against Google and when finally caught, they weren't sorry.
• Accepting unknown friend requests may give hackers access to your Facebook account.
• You can get notified when your crush becomes "single" again (not directly their fault, but creepy).
• Facebook users had access to other users' account information via Hulu.
• Facebook is one of the top 10 most hated companies in America.
• Although Facebook wants you to share everything, and is constantly pushing you to do so, they are gun shy when it comes to their own data, even slides from a public presentation.
• Facebook, unlike its competitors, is strongly against letting you download a list of your contacts (name and email), because you could then email or chat with them outside the Facebook ecosystem.  A developer created an extension for the Chrome browser which downloaded your contacts anyways, and now in the days of Google+, his extension became popular, and naturally Facebook shut it down.  Presumably, because Facebook is scared of Google+.
• Facebook's latest "awesome" announcement (a technologically inferior implementation of a feature that was in Gmail chat in 2008) was universally panned.  Here's a funny CNN video.