Google+ vs. Facebook for PHOTOS

[SWriverstone]

I'm curious to see how many people here use Google+? Particularly as more STNers are posting their ride pics to Facebook albums and just linking to them here. I've had a G+ account for a while now but barely used it...but I'm thinking I may start using it more, mainly for photos.

Google+'s handling of photos DESTROYS Facebook in every possible way—albums look far better, uploading/downloading is much easier, the interface is far superior, and G+ even includes basic photo editing tools built right into the interface (and that's not counting Picasa, which is a free downloadable app for which Facebook gas no equiavelent).

The main reason I haven't been using G+ is probably the same as everyone else: everyone's already on Facebook!   And while Facebook's new timeline layout is pretty cool...their handling of photos still sucks. I can't stand trying to deal with photos on Facebook. (For example, ever tried to actually organize your photos within Facebook? Basically, it can't be done.)

So I'm thinking of switching to G+ just for its photo features...

Scott

[Carbonero]

I have both and barely use Google Plus because it doesn't have the public acceptance, and hasn't gained much familiarity. Of course, I hardly use Facebook because it's become much more of a "look at me" experience than any kind of real "value add" social service. As for Google Plus, I keep telling myself to use it more. The interface is cleaner and simpler, and the actual website just seems to work better. They keep it pretty simple. There's a lot of javascript and css kludging on Facebook and it can sometimes be a bit too unpredictable.

[Wockman]

Facebook photo management sucks, they know it. Thats why they bought Instagram.

[Cablebandit]

Facebook photo management sucks, they know it. Thats why they bought Instagram.

So they can have sucky management of sucky photos?  

[Rincewind]

Who am I going to show photos to there anyway, I only have two friends on G+ and one is my wife!    

I haven't bothered with it enough to know the difference.  

[Cablebandit]

I'll be your friend.  

[Cricket1]

Meh- neither.

Facebook =  living vicariously through others, instead of living your own life.  

[Rincewind]

I suppose Scott has a point that if the Google+ images can be hotlinked, then it could make sense to use it as an alternative to both FB and Photobucket regardless of G+'s social capacity.

Did this G+ image hotlink below?

[Cablebandit]

I can see the image if that's what you're asking.

[Rincewind]

Well then there is one positive about G+.

[Carbonero]

Yes, by default, I believe anything shared/linked on Google Plus is public.

[ConPilot1]

Who am I going to show photos to there anyway, I only have two friends on G+ and one is my wife!    

I haven't bothered with it enough to know the difference.  

I'll be your friend too on G+ if you put up lots of pics of the wife.  

CocainePilot1 out.  

[Mr. Whippy]

Google+ is failing.  Miserably.  Unless you're a young male sci fi geek.  I tried recruiting friends to migrate to Google+ but they just couldn't be bothered.  I rarely visit my Google+ account now.  Heck, I'm likely to remove from my phone too.

Sad too, because I generally liked it better than FB, but inertia is a powerful phenomenon.

[Cablebandit]

Google+ is only struggling in the USA.  Everywhere else it's thriving.

[Mr. Whippy]

Google+ is only struggling in the USA.  Everywhere else it's thriving.

That's not what my Danish, Swedish and Norwegian friends tell me.  However,  i know a guy in Serbia who does love it.  But he's a scifi geek

[Carbonero]

Your facebook inertia comment is right on. Google Plus is fighting an uphill battle on a sheer cliff made of oiled glass.

[three west]

I think G+ is superior, but FB is pretty well established.  Right now I use FB for friends/social, and use G+ for photos and following authors, photographers, and Felicia Day  

[SWriverstone]

Late to respond here (our Commencement is this weekend...things are NUTS!).

I'll be your friend too on G+ if you put up lots of pics of the wife.  

CocainePilot1 out.  

  Okay, I'll see if I can throw a few up there.  

Google+ is failing.  Miserably.  Unless you're a young male sci fi geek.  I tried recruiting friends to migrate to Google+ but they just couldn't be bothered.  I rarely visit my Google+ account now.  Heck, I'm likely to remove from my phone too.

Sad too, because I generally liked it better than FB, but inertia is a powerful phenomenon.

It's definitely not competing with FB at the moment...but I would definitely NOT count Google out—they're the mighty Google, after all—and I predict they will get what they want—one way or another—and they desperately want the kind of social data that FB has in BAZOOGLEBYTES (equal to "infinity and beyond"). Some would argue they need it to survive.

I'm just baffled that FB hasn't improved their photo management. Instagram has no photo management. You just snap a photo and upload it—done. That's the extent of its "managament." So G+ is light-years ahead when it comes to photos.

And I agree the G+ interface is far cleaner and easier to deal with. I also like G+'s concept of "Circles" much better than FB's stupid "Friend Groups" or whatever the hell they're called.

FB is definitely more and more nothing but "gossip for the masses." I totally agree Carbonero—no value-added anything. Just gossip—which is why it's so popular with women.  

If you haven't tried using G+ for photos, do it—don't dick around with Photobucket or any of those other services. Just use G+ and download Picasa and you're all set—there is nothing better that's totally free.

Scott

[Carbonero]

Google is banking on Plus, and they're "plusifying" every service they have. Even if it never gets any bigger or more widely adopted, it's here to stay. They're also using Plus results for demographic gathering, search optimizing (when logged into your Google account), and for targeting on ads.

It's a good thing, and for all the whining on the 'Net about "they're tracking me!!!", in the long run, having the whole "MY Internet" thing going on is good. You won't have to wade through 50 different ads for blenders when you're looking for fish recipes, etc.

Google doesn't care who you are or what you're doing; they just want to make sure you see ads, click the stuff that matters to you, and spend money.

"The more you use the internet, the more money we make." -- Google

Ultimately, it's a good thing.

[cyjo]

I definitely like google+ for photos. Especially on the phone. I like the fact that if I lose my phone, my photos are also backed up on google+