Google__ The Missing Manual - Kevin Purdy [2]
What Google+ really does differently, though, is give you nearly total control over who can see each thing you put on Google+, and what kinds of things you see and from whom. For example, if you have an update about a local issue, like your favorite restaurant closing down, you can share that with just the folks who live nearby, and spare the people you know through your photography class from seeing that nice-but-irrelevant-to-them post. You arrange people into groups like Baby Picture Addicts, and browse their offerings only when you’re in the mood for first steps, footie pajamas, and so on. And you have more control over how and when your life and thoughts get shared in Google+: who can tag you in photos, how far people can share your posts, who can bug you about games they’re playing, and more.
All you need to get started with Google+ is an email address and a Google account (they’re both free). You already have a Google account if you use any of Google’s online services—Gmail, Google Docs, Picasa Web Albums, and so on—but it’s easy to sign up for one if you don’t (Signing In and Joining Up tells you how). And if your company or organization uses Google to host their email and other web tools, you can sign up for Google+ using that email address instead.
What You Can Do on Google+
AFTER YOU SIGN UP and sign in, you’ll drop right into Google+, where you’ll discover the different aspects of the site (all of which are explained in detail throughout this book):
Profile. Where you control exactly what the general public, specific groups of people, or even just individuals (like your boss or mother-in-law) can see about you.
Circles. The places where you’ll organize the folks you know into groups so it’s easy to share stuff with just the right people.
Streams. The main page of Google+, where you see all the updates, pictures, news, and notes from people you know, and where you post your own contributions.
Photos. Google+ makes it really easy to view photos, and to upload and share them with both your Google+ contacts and people who aren’t (yet) members.
Notifications. Google+ can let you know when there’s a new photo of you, a comment on a post you wrote, or something else relevant to you happens. These notices can take several forms: emails, text messages sent to your cellphone, or notes displayed in a handy toolbar button on any Google site. Fortunately, it’s easy to control what kinds of things Google+ tells you about (and how) so you don’t get overwhelmed.
Hangouts. The video chat service that’s really easy and smooth to use, whether it’s just you and one other person, or a whole football squad’s worth of chatters.
Search. Find people you know on Google+, see what your friends and others are saying about any subject, and keep on top of the latest news about a topic by seeing the news items that people on Google+ are linking to.
Mobile. Google+ on an iPhone, Android phone, or in a mobile browser is a great way to show folks where you are, what you’re doing, and share pictures of your adventures. There’s also a built-in tool for managing groups of people while you’re all on the go.
Games. The fun part, where you solve puzzles, populate crime families, and fling Angry Birds at egg-stealing pigs.
NOTE
This book covers the ins and outs of Google+ as they were when this book was being written. But since the site is changing so quickly, it’s possible you may run into a feature that works different than described here, or a new feature that isn’t covered in this book.