Google+ Secret Circles, Mobile vs Web Experience and Sharing

G+1
Secret Circles
Circles are your very own catalogue and filing system and how you set up and manage them will largely depend on how you use the share and read functions.
Circles can be embedded and duplicated which make micromanaging possible, in depth instructions can be found here
I like the ability to pick out individual names to have a private conversation with, this needs to be differentiated somehow – maybe though settings and enabling a theme? A different highlight for messages shared with one individual. Maybe we could customise this so that we can theme all levels?

There have been some great speculation as to what people have named the circles that you are filed under…”Who is this”, through to “Fit” and you know who you are! Speculation as to the oddest names for circles abound, although my guesses are that a large number will have an inner circle.

Aside: What if Google search picks up the names of your secret circles to deliver targetted advertising? That could be fun lol

G+2
Mobile vs Web experience
One issue I have with the Google+ which is a massive disappointment to me. The disparity between the mobile experience and the online functionality. It could be two totally independent projects, and with HTML5 why not enable user’s to enjoy the full experience? I feel like when I am on the mobile app ( hiss spit ) that I am pretty disconnected, I can upload images direct to the web but I can’t reply or comment to stream. I am reduced to sticking my nose to the window and watching the party within.

G+3
Sharing from Google+

I love being able to share direct to Twitter, and supposedly Facebook but I did notice that a few were saying that FBook has thrown their toys out of the pram YET again and disallowed this.

[Tea break whilst I go check...]

Hmmm photos shared to Facebook wall now only appear as a link.. They did post last night so this is a new change. Tsk shame on you FB kiddies.

Note the change from photo to link

Charitable conclusion – maybe the interface has changed and this will get fixed?

G+4
Will G+ remain 18+

Whilst bearing in mind despite the circa 20m users this is still Beta ( OK OK I know Gmail only just graduated….) it could well be that it is over eighteen for a reason at this point and that it will open to over thirteen at some stage. I am not sure how I personally feel about this. I know I have tweeted that the atmosphere is largely more sensible and why not leave the kids stuff to FBook?
That said the teens are very active users, and would probably not appreciate the dysfunction between the mobile experience. FBook is actually better to use on the native app.

I ♥ G+

Localmind - ask questions and get answers

Localmind

With a spate of geo-locational apps flooding the market and competing for our check-ins ( aka our data ) Localmind enables users to ask other Localminds questions based upon their location. This is a step towards making apps that have a purpose but I have to wonder if it is really still a step or two away from having a useful purpose.

Back to the app - iPhone version first

You log in to the app using another account - Foursquare, Twitter, Facebook or Gowalla ( and you agree to sharing your accrued data therein! ) I resisted allowing access to my F Book account as I don’t trust FBook - apart from the fact that I never disclose anything on any account which I wouldn’t want on the web.

Once logged in you see a fabulous map showing the locations of other Localminds which you can contact to ask questions.

Please note that each Localmind pin is not necessarily a separate login, pins are created from checkins on other apps, so having checked in three times today I have three alter egos on screen!




Localmind on Android

I won’t say too much about this as it is very poor in comparison to the IOS app - I know it is still in development so lets hope that it develops to the same visual standards. It is vital that the smae degree of user experience is maintained in the next generation of navigation that is not led by a keyboard and mouse combo. The whole concept of mobile apps is that they are focussed on the Touch Screen Navigation and maximise the user experience that way.

The Future

I love the concept of Localmind, it has exploded in US and native Canada but I would guess that the European and certainly UK ireland uptake is somewhat more restrained as is the culture. Not all Europeans are as comfortable chatting with online strangers and it may need more a focus and reason to engage.

Would also be great to build layers and history so that there is a build of local information availabe over time. Curating conversations so that one liners don’t get lost....

General Information on the App and it’s founders Lenny Rachitsky and Beau Haugh on the Localmind Blog

Post script thoughts...

With the smart phone penetration demographics pointing to the thirties and forties as smart users ( as opposed to text and fBookers ) the thirties to forties and even fifties I do wonder if there needs to be more of a purpose or content to an app that is one liner shout outs.

As with the sister app Assisted Serendipity ( absolutely adore the name....cues gratuitous photo of daughter's saluki aka Seren-Dipity )

Anyway back to the AS - an app that alerts you when your favourite bars/clubs male to female ratio tips into favourable balance...surely solely geared to the young and trendy and not the more mature markets who might be seeking something more substantial. I am left wondering if Localmind will evolve into offering something more substantial and longterm for a wider audience. I hope so as I for one love the concept! :)

The web is awash with a plethora of new apps all competing for our attention and time. Developers are conferencing around the states vying for VC funding, to build their newt big thing. The new Twitter or the new Facebook? Do we want or need a new Twitter - the current model seems to work just fine as a communication medium. A new Facebook - a case could be argued, but then I am biased away from the walls and gatekeeping that goes on there.

So, the design process, how does that work? The technology can do this and so lets build it and see where it goes?

I confess here that I suspect a degree of risk and return is f

actored in at this level. We all know it is a gamble to spot the next trend and lets face it $41m for Color is well documented …...( Adds gratuitous ink ).

But what if an actual “need” was factored into the design structure, an app that solved a problem or had a real purpose other than Badges, Mayorships and Karma. As noted on another blog I am susceptable to Karma ;)

I wonder if I am confusing the issues here. The value of the likes of Facebook and Twitter is the data. The sheer volume of data that is within Facebook is where the valuations lie, and not the privacy issues either that’s just personal detail So the next app that makes it big time will be about fulfilling a need whilst at the same time collating data.

If the future of communications is mobile, how will that affect search and data colection? Apps are downloads to handsets, will the majority of apps be backed up to the open web?

Coming Next: Localmind :)