Google+ officially released to the public!

[Wizerzak]

Google+ is finally open to the public, no invitation required. Not that it was difficult to snag an invite anyway, but now we'll get a chance to see what the service is fully capable of as more users tiptoe in and begin poking around.
In addition to 91 other improvements that G+ has added over the past 90 days, Google took to its blog to announce nine new tweaks to coincide with today's public release. They note that Google+ is officially out of "field testing" and can now be considered beta (meaning: expect bugs).
The announcement comes a few days before Facebook's big F8 conference and during a stretch that saw Zuck's social network rattle off a few commendable changes of its own. The social network wars are heating up, and even that may be an understatement. Now at least everyone will get a chance to see what all the fuss (or hype) is all about.[/p]

There are also numerous upgrades to the service:

Spoiler

• New mobile Hangouts
  Android owners with front-facing cameras will now be able to take advantage of G+'s Hangouts feature right from their smartphone thanks to an updated app that they can download from the Marketplace. Google promises that iOS support is coming soon.
• Hangouts "On Air"
  Google+ plays home to lots of Internet celebrities with large audiences. Now you'll be able to publicly broadcast your Hangout sessions—with up to nine people participating—to large audiences over the web (kind of like U-Stream). They're promoting a public Hangout with will.i.am on Wednesday, September 21st...because, you know, celebrities don't have enough megaphones.
• Hangouts with extras
  Now you'll be able to use Hangouts for more than just video chatting. Here's what you'll be able to do in Google's own words:
  - Screensharing: for when you want to show off your vacation photos, your high score, your lesson plan or whatever else is on your screen
  - Sketchpad: for when you want to draw, doodle, or just scribble together
  - Google Docs: for when you want to write, plan or present something with others
  - Named Hangouts: for when you want to join or create a public hangout about a certain topic (like fashion or music or sports...)
  Screensharing and Google Docs is big. It effectively turns Google+ into the collaborative telecommuting tool like Buzz was supposed to be. It'll be interesting to see if small business ends up taking to it.
• Search in Google+
  You'll now be able to search within Google+ for exactly the type of content you're looking for, like relevant people or posts. The search only includes public items that you can see. Implementing social search likely took as long as it did because Google had to essentially tiptoe through a host of privacy concerns. Still, search is something they do well and a welcome adjustment.

Source

Well, it wasn't hard to get in anyway, but now it's open to all!
Although unfortunately not quite 'all', under 18s still cannot sign up, as I quickly found out

 

[prowler]

I'll laugh if Facebook becomes the new MySpace in the next couple of years.

 

[Nathan Drake]

I'm under 18 and am signed up. I made my account via an invite awhile ago.

Google+ is pretty much the most boring thing on the planet. I mean, it's not even just a slow start at this point. There was no hype about it or anything. Google is just tooting their own horn hella hard. I don't foresee Google+ ever making it too far as a primary means of social networking.

 

[BORTZ]

i know its free now but does anyone care anymore?

 

[koimayeul]

Meh, got twitter and facebook as social network already.. But maybe this one is worth in regard of games apps (blockin all those on fb -_-')

 

[Satangel]

It's never going to reach even 100 million users. It's in no way a competitor for Facebook. Sad but true....

 

[Qtis]

It's never going to reach even 100 million users. It's in no way a competitor for Facebook. Sad but true....

MySpace. 'Nuff said.

Sure Facebook is the leading means of socializing on the internet, but looking back 10 years, the change in IT is HUGE. Big companies are going down or even under in about a year and one company may gain 30% market from literally 0% in a few quarters..

Not really interested in this, but future will tell wether I add myself on Google+. Currently Facebook is enough. (how many social networks do people honestly need? :E)


-Qtis

 

[Raiser]

It seems to me that Google+ is just... a bandwagon thing. Some people are going "it's so cool!" and that's when people fall and jump on said wagon.

I don't see myself signing up anytime soon. No need for another social network.

 

[nando]

sounds like more cultural deterioration.

 

[Hadrian]

Thing is Facebook is so much more popular than MySpace ever was. Even people who don't use the internet often have a Facebook profile.

Its become a way of life for many, for better or for worse. I mean its been great being able to get in touch with a lot of people daily and not have it cost me anything but on the other hand do I really want to see 20 video posts in 10 minutes and also the awkwardness of someone I see often who I really don't...friend me.

Personally, I cannot really be bothered to use something else.

 

[Depravo]

I much prefer the Google+ setup to that of Farcebook. I hope it gets enough quality users to make it worthwhile.

 

[gokujr1000]

Facebook isn't going to last forever. I'm not saying Google+ will replace it but nothing good on the Internet lasts forever.

 

[CarbonX13]

Hmm, there seems to be an age limit on Google+. Shame I didn't lie about my age... Oh well, only a year and a half until I'm 18, and I dare say Facebook will still be around until then.

 

[Raiser]

Facebook isn't going to last forever. I'm not saying Google+ will replace it but nothing good on the Internet lasts forever.

I wouldn't say Facebook is going to last forever as well, but putting it that way is plain blind.
As long as services are willing to maintain updates to 'keep up with what's hip (and / or standard)', they will have a chance to last.

Take YouTube for example: a couple major 'additions' over the years were larger uploads, HD video support, and YouTube partnerships.
This keeps YouTube in the competition with other up-and-coming video sharing services. As YouTube is still huge, said other services would usually need to follow suit to compete anyway.

 

[ShakeBunny]

I may be tempted to get an account if Facebook doesn't stop adding new/useless features and changing up the format. The way it is as of today is so clunky, especially the chat bar.

 

[8BitWalugi]

inb4 "I was using Google+ before it got popular."

Admittedly, I've had one for ages. It's still relatively quiet for me.

 

[AceWarhead]

Facebook isn't going to last forever. I'm not saying Google+ will replace it but nothing good on the Internet lasts forever.

Your'e wrong. GBATemp is great, and it has lasted 7+ years.

 

[CrimzonEyed]

inb4 "I was using Google+ before it got popular."

Admittedly, I've had one for ages. It's still relatively quiet for me.

Same here, have had it since it was possible to and i do have kinda lot of friends over at G+ too, only problem is that they still use facebook instead of G+

 

[redact]

Facebook isn't going to last forever. I'm not saying Google+ will replace it but nothing good on the Internet lasts forever.

Your'e wrong. GBATemp is great, and it has lasted 7+ years.

more like 9 ;p

 

[Chhotu uttam]

Google+ isn't popular now.
But Facebook is still trying to go up and updating its software.


And can anyone beat Gbatemp.net?