Is Twitter Apples Google Plus? Apple has never really got the hang of the word social (remember Ping). So maybe they liked what they saw, decided deep integration instead of purchase and, VOILA, some kind of wonderful.
In the circles I follow (yeah I know), folks say that Apple and Facebook could not hammer out a deal for romance to ensue. I think Steve Jobs took a long hard look at the mess that is Facebook, and said not only no but hell no! Facebook is about as Apple brand as Vista. Twitter is smooth, concise and direct in its approach. It is arrogant professional banter at its haughtiest. A perfect bedfellow for Apple. Let’s just hope it stays viable.
Facebook on the other hand, has become convoluted, a freak show inundated with advertisers and cluttered with junk. Obviously about 600 million other people disagree. I came to Facebook late and begrudgingly. I have suspended my account at least 3 times. I am not too good for Facebook; I am just a crummy friend. I kept being yelled at and it took me a while to understand. I literally could go months without ever calling any of my friends or relatives. Few would complain. Yet these same people are aghast at my bypassing their sweet-ass posts and status updates without even a by your leave comment.
“How can you treat me this way when we are friends?” “You’re a little sparse with your news”, “you very rarely comment”, “why don’t you answer event requests?” Cause if I did not cave, I would not have to know what freaking rock band lead you are.
“Dude I knew you 28 years ago and I’m not sure we were friends then.” The only reason I friended you in the first place is because you kept e-mailing my daughter and she begged me. I think the military fixes this best. People transfer, so you can get new friends and your old friends can move on. “Let’s keep in touch” is bullshit for one less Christmas card.
Without Facebook, I would have no knowledge of Farmville or Mafia Wars or any other save the world god-blessed cause. I would not have to see hey look at me and all my cool friends’ posts. I do love babies and dogs, and bars and almost all women on beaches and snow cones. I get it, its friends sharing, but do I need to know about Thor, Hulk and Thing colliding in Clash. I don’t think so.
Is it necessary to use a social network for your online photo album of you drinking every-GD-where. New dog, new car, new shoes, new tattoo. Weddings, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, confirmation. Hey happy this hey happy that. Hallmark must really love Facebook. Who needs a card? Now you’re reminded, you post it, and 50 other people who did not have a clue it was your birthday jump onboard with a thumbs up. “I want to thank everyone for all the birthday wishes” I talked to three people throughout the day but I got 342 happy birthdays.
I hate that I find myself checking in and then regret even logging in. I am like the closet Facebooker. I can’t stand to being caught on it. I don’t want to be that guy. I see people who live on this medium and I think no way. I can’t let myself be pulled in again.
A friend of mine quoted her daughter the other day saying, “parents ruined facebook”. I am sure her implied meaning was that it was created by college kids for college kids. Now those kids are out of college and apparently, they still have carte blanch access, yet anyone over 40 is screwing Facebook up. No K.E. parents aren’t ruing facebook, greed is.
Companies and advertisers have invaded Facebook like junebugs to a garage light. Follow us, no follow us, “check us out on Facebook” is uttered more on TV and in print than any other sentence in the human language. Every news organization, every cause, every charity, every damn thing imaginable is on Facebook. That is why I am saying Adieu and heading to the clean and fresh new kid on the block. Google +.
Google+ is spreading like a brushfire in the geek community. After reading comments from early adopters, I am of the opinion that Google+ will survive and thrive. The design is clean, the set up of Circles and Hangouts is well thought out and easy to navigate. I believe it feels different and not just because it’s new.
Google, who lives in a never-ending beta format, went the extra mile on this one. Set up is easy and while the invitation only release caused some headaches with the on again off again start, most folk who are interested have found a way in and the response is staggering. Facebook of course blocked friend integration faster than you can say awesome.
I know many are thinking that Google brought us Wave and Buzz why should we believe in this one. We all need something other/better/different than Facebook. Can you imagine if we all have to start using e-mail again ugh!