Google Plus is the latest social networking site over 21 million users

Google Plus is the latest social networking to hit the mainstream. Oh, it is in beta and invite only, but there are are over 21 million users and growing everyday. It combines many of the same capabilities as current existing social networking tools, like Twitter and Facebook, but also provides for ease of management in terms of what you, and with whom you, share. Need an invite?

What Google Plus offers

Circles: You place your online contacts into groups called circles. You can create circles for family, friends, acquaintances, work - the possibilities are endless - and share your personal information and posts with only the circles you choose. Facebook offers similar functionality, but Google's intuitive interface is a grand slam.

Hangout: The video chat service is like Skype on steroids. Up to 10 participants can be in a hangout at any given time, and video windows arrange themselves based on who is speaking.

Sparks: This is a baked-in recommendation engine. Create Sparks for topics that interest you, and Google will cull the Web's best content and tailor fit a feed for you. When you find something cool, you're one click away from sharing it with your circles.

Huddle: This is a free group messaging service that incorporates your individual contacts or circles. This feature is only available on mobile devices via the Google Plus app or SMS.

One-stop shop: Google knows it's near impossible to make it through your day without using one of their services. Google Plus takes advantage of this with an ever-present navigation bar that displays all your notifications and even lets you share posts or update your status.

What Google Plus needs

Groups: Google has offered a groups service for many years, but it hasn't been integrated into Google Plus.

Events: Google has a terrific calendar service but no integration with Google Plus. Also missing are birthday notifications.

Entity pages: Pages for businesses, organizations, bands and more are coming soon.

An API: An application programming interface is the underlying framework for a service that allows other entities to incorporate features of that service into their own applications and websites. Facebook's API, for example, allows its login credentials to be used to sign in to other sites.

Aunt Maggie: Google developers can innovate all they want, but until you can find and connect with everybody in the real world (Facebook is more than 700 million users closer), Google Plus will have trouble dethroning the current social king.

I personally find that surprising, because I find my visits to Google+ often end up much longer than I intended, particularly if I get engaged in conversations through the site.

Are you using Google+? How much time do you spend on the site per visit?

Singer Chitra Daughter Nandana passed away

The incident took place early in the morning when Chitra and her family were preparing to leave for the rehearsals when they saw the front door of the house open and Nandana missing. As they rushed outside, they found Nanadana in the swimming pool. She was rushed to a nearby hospital in Jebel Ali, but was already declared dead. The body has been sent for forensic checking, which will then be preserved and will be sent back to Kerala for the last rites. Playback singer K S Chitra's eight-year-old daughter Nandana died today in a mishap at their villa at Dubai. The little girl drowned in the swimming pool. The body of the child, Nandana, was found in the pool of the villa in Emirates Hills, where the singer was staying, sources said. Though she was rushed to a private hospital, her life could not be saved. The body of Nandana will be brought to Chennai on Thursday night at around 9pm. Chitra along with her husband Vijaya Shankar and daughter Nandana has left to Dub...

Film Star Rami Reddy passes away

Film actor Rami Reddy, known for playing the role of a villain in Telugu and Hindi films, passed away in Hyderabad on Thursday. Rami Reddy became popular with his role in Ankusam. He acted in as many as 250 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam and Bhojpuri. The final rites would be carried out at Punjagutta crematorium in Hyderabad Thursday evening. Reddy, who was undergoing treatment for the past couple of weeks, died at a private hospital in Secunderabad at around 11 a.m. on Thursday morning. He is survived by two daughters and a son. The final rites would be conducted at Punjagutta crematorium here this evening. Hailing from Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Reddy started his career as a journalist before entering the film industry. Rami Reddy became popular with his role in Ankusam. He acted in as many as 250 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam and Bhojpuri. The final rites would be conducted at Punjagutta crematorium here this evening...

Environment May Refer To

A native of Michigan, he lived in the West for more than two decades before coming to the C-J in 2000. He studied journalism, forestry and environmental studies at the University of Montana. In this blog, Bruggers shares news items and observations from inside the environment beat locally, regionally and globally. He calls your attention to new studies, reports and events. And he goes behind the headlines to answer questions and explain some of his own coverage in the newspaper. It is also confirmed that the desert won't be the only locale you explore; Drake will hit a number of locations around the world, including London and a jungle temple. There are also some strong hints that the game's driving sequences will be built around riding a motorcycle, though there's no confirmation of that. ...

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