Google+, many great tastes forming the Voltron of social networking!

Google has played at the social networking realm before (remember Google Buzz?), but so far Google has yet to directly square off against Facebook, after many long-time rumors of just such a clash of the Internet titans.  Well, Google has finally turned its attention towards Facebook, and the end result isn’t Google Me, but a different service called Google+.  Google+ is Google’s attempt at a social network for adults that more accurately reflects how people actually socialize.

Let’s roll that beautiful bean footage, shall we?

The thing that will make or break this service?  Google Hangout and Google Circles.  It’s two different components of Google+, with Circles allowing you to create groups of people with which you share certain things.  Your party photos can be shared with friends, your grades can be shared with parents.  No information will cross that barrier unless you personally allow it to cross that barrier.

As for Google Hangout, imagine a big video chat room that allows instant sharing of content and the ability for anyone to join in at any time.  You just click to join a particular Hangout and boom, you’re in.  Then, your other friends can also join in, and next thing you know you’ve got a big private chat room with all your buddies in it!

Tags: Facebook, social networking, circles, Google, Google+, Google takes on Facebook, Google+ to compete with Facebook, Google creates social network, Google Circles, Google Hangout, Google version of Facebook

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