Google +

[thelordharry]

Anyone here need a Google+ invite? For all I know it's now completely open to everyone which would make this a little superfluous

If so, go to:

http://gplus.to/benjohnmiller

'send an email' and when I receive it, I'll send an invite to your address.

[Graham Kennedy]

What's Google+?

[Mikey]

It's how you would write "Google summated with an as yet undefined quantity."

[Captain Picard's Hair]

What's Google+?

It's a new social networking site launched by the famed search giant -- Yahoo! No, it's by Google, of course.

[Sonic Glitch]

It's how you would write "Google summated with an as yet undefined quantity."

[Reliant121]

It's meant to be google's latest attempt to knock Facebook off the top of the Social networking tables. Unfortunately, Google's decision to limit initial applications has meant its sort of been lost in nothingness.

[Graham Kennedy]

What's Google+?

It's a new social networking site launched by the famed search giant -- Yahoo! No, it's by Google, of course.

Ahhh, right. Thanks.

[kostmayer]

Its been getting a bit of bad press of late. People who are signing up for it not using their real name have been having their account suspended, along with all their other services.

Couple of profilic techbloggers who've been writing under the same pen name for years have had all their services suspended. Email, online documents, bookmark backups, calendar, all frozen out.

[Mikey]

So Google is trying to make a social networking site that's not social and doesn't allow people to network? Makes sense.

[kostmayer]

They're trying to get you to use your real name cause the data they collect of you is more valuable if they can link it to a real world name.

I love they're products, but they have less people skills then I do. Its Google Buzz all over again.

[LaughingCheese]

They're trying to get you to use your real name cause the data they collect of you is more valuable if they can link it to a real world name.

Wait, so Google can sell your info but every other online business has to have a statement saying they won't????????

[Captain Seafort]

Wait, so Google can sell your info but every other online business has to have a statement saying they won't????????

Google might have a statement as well. What's that got to do with anything?

[LaughingCheese]

Wait, so Google can sell your info but every other online business has to have a statement saying they won't????????

Google might have a statement as well. What's that got to do with anything?

"Might" is the keyword.


Seriously tho, I guess I don't understand why Google needs my real name in order to better sell me ads?

I like Google as well but they seem rather big-brother-ish as well.

[kostmayer]

Seriously tho, I guess I don't understand why Google needs my real name in order to better sell me ads?

They don't, It makes the data more valuable for selling to other people. Your real name makes it easier for the data to be matched to other records, such as credit card purchases, phone bills, load applications, and so on.

I like Google too, and I get that their services are mostly free, due to them harvesting my data and selling it on. But they do go too far. Buzz for example, automatically signed people for a social networking pilot. Unfortuately, they automatically activated the feature for users. Worse, they automatically friended Gmail users to other Gmail users based on the frequency that they emailed each other. Employees were friended with their bosses and customers, and in a few cases users were friended with ex-spouses, allowing them access to personal data putting users at risk.

And then there's the Google cars driving up and down 'accidentally' collecting data from wireless networks, linked with location data of course.

[LaughingCheese]

Seriously tho, I guess I don't understand why Google needs my real name in order to better sell me ads?

They don't, It makes the data more valuable for selling to other people. Your real name makes it easier for the data to be matched to other records, such as credit card purchases, phone bills, load applications, and so on.

Exactly, that's what I was thinking.

So I'm torn, we all like Google's services but I find this really disturbing, if not unethical to say the least.