Google Takes on the Heavy Hitters of Social Media

By Eve Hemsley

The New York Times recently published an article about Google’s latest attempt in its fight to keep afloat in the social media world. After failed programs, such as Google Buzz and Google Wave, the Google+ project is the company’s solution. In hopes of rivaling Facebook and mastering social networking, Google+ is designed similarly to Facebook’s platform – sharing status updates, links, and photos - with key changes in privacy and sharing.

Google+ is meant for sharing with groups. Users will start by selecting people they know from their Gmail contacts and then dragging and dropping those names into designated groups or circles such as “book club” or “soccer team.” They can then choose to share information with select groups or all of their friends.

Unlike Facebook, Google+ users do not have to agree to be friends with one another. They can receive updates from others without sharing their own information. Other features differentiating the two includes Google+’s group video chats and text messaging, a section called Sparks where users can see/post articles and videos from across the web, and their mobile application which automatically uploads pictures and videos to a private album, making them available to post immediately.

After learning from the mistakes of their previous attempts, Google+ creators realized how much people care about the information they share; they tried to eliminate the social awkwardness of things like friend requests of oversharing. “In real life, we have walls and windows and I can speak to you knowing who’s in the room, but in the online world, you get to a ‘Share’ box and you share with the whole world,” said Bradley Horowitz, a Vice President for Product Management at Google. “We have a different model.”

Google’s interest in garnering a spot in the social media world goes beyond creating a program to benefit the users. Sites like Facebook are generally off-limits to most search engines, so when people post Google loses valuable information that they could use to shape their Web search. Google is currently the most popular entry point to the web, a status which they are in danger of losing if users continue the trend of seeking answers to their questions via Facebook and Twitter.

Google has often been criticized for falling behind the times and not comprehending the importance of social media sites until others, like Facebook and Twitter, had already jumped ahead. Whether or not Google+ will cause Facebook users to stray, or even catch the attention of those still weary of Facebook, is debatable but Google is trying its best to make up for lost time.

Eve Hemsley is an Associate Account Executive at Maroon PR. Contact her at Eve@MaroonPR.com.

Off to Online in Seven Seconds

By Kristen Seabolt

Watch out Apple and Microsoft…the Google Chromebook is here…



Yesterday, Google unveiled the first “Chromebook” notebook at the Google I/O conference, and as Google VPs Linus Upson and Sundar Pichai said, “These are not your typical notebooks.”

In the new Chromebook, which goes on sale in June for a whopping $349, users completely skip the traditional computer desktop and are instantly connected to the internet browser within 7 seconds of pressing the power button. To put it in perspective, even the fastest computers on the market take at least 45 seconds just to start up.

Google’s logic behind the Chromebook– the web browser is the most important program on a computer and the average user spends 90% of their time on the internet, so why not take them straight to where they want to go to begin with?

There are several ways that the Chromebook is able to work so fast. First, when a Chromebook is turned on, it does not have to go through the steps of loading settings, managing programs and checking files because nothing saves to the Chromebook, everything is stored online. Also, the Chromebook automatically updates, so it will never be bogged down or get slower the older it gets.

In the world today, everything is expected to be instant, whether it is the news we are reading, the instant messages we are sending, or the movie we are downloading, and the Google Chromebook is no exception. From the moment you turn on your computer, the first thought you often have is “how long will it take before I am online?” In all honesty, most people are never even on their computers without being constantly connected to the internet. The Chromebook just makes it faster.

Even though I think the engineers who come up with these devices are genius, I don’t know that I will spend close to $350 to buy a Chromebook just yet. However, I am definitely anxious to see what these technology giants have in store for us next.

Kristen Seabolt is an Associate Account Executive at Maroon PR. Contact her at Kristen@MaroonPR.com

Google Steps up During Times of Disaster

By Courtney Carey

Yesterday, a devastating earthquake hit the historic town of Christchurch in New Zealand. As of this morning, officials stated that 75 people were killed and 300 are reported missing. Among all of the tragedy, there is some positive news. At least 120 survivors were pulled from the wreckage and many people are stepping up to help. One household name that is making a huge impact is Google.

Google helps individuals sort through billions of bits of information for its users every day. Now, the company is expanding and using their immense database for an incredible cause. Google launched a Person Finder web page that will attempt to reunite missing friends and families. The Person Finder site was created along with the U.S. Department of State after a devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in January, 2010. Google’s person Finder sites were also used in response to earthquakes in Chile and China.

The website allows users to search for a missing person by entering an individual’s name into a user-created database. If a match is not found, the user can leave information and a message about the person. Users can also leave information about themselves in case others are trying to locate them. As of late last night, more than 6,500 records were created on the site.

Google is also working on crisis response pages that would include lists of helpful resources, emergency contact numbers and real-time updates from popular social media sites, such as Twitter and YouTube.

Google is setting an incredible example of how modern technology can be used to truly impact the world and make a real difference in peoples’ lives. Thanks to Google, people have a chance to be reconnected with their family and friends after going through an unimaginable disaster. I really admire what they are doing and I hope that the People Finder web page continues to successfully reconnect loved ones.

Courtney Carey is Manager of Social Media at Maroon PR. Contact her at Courtney@MaroonPR.com

25 Laptops Were Harmed in the Making of this Video

By Pete DeLuca

Once again, Google is pushing the boundaries of creative advertising. Today, the company released a six-minute video promoting their new user friendly notebook, Google Chrome OS.

How is it different from the past? Well, instead of purchasing a Dell computer and spending hours to correctly set up Windows, owners of the Chrome OS notebook sign in with a Google account and (within 60 seconds), have immediate access to an entire web-based operating system. Everything is online and owners have access to a variety of features, including tons of applications and Google’s recently launched Web Store.

The focus of today’s six-minute video is to promote one of the unique features of the product – “cloud computing”.



What you just witnessed was essentially a six-minute commercial – but it didn’t feel like it. There is something fun about watching each laptop get smashed into pieces. It draws you in and keeps your attention. The content is light and Google was able to easily relay key features of their new product to an audience that devoted their undivided attention.

During the making of this video, Google destroyed 25 computers but they may have gained millions in publicity.

Pete DeLuca is an Associate Account Executive at Maroon PR. Email him at pete@maroonpr.com

Google Introduces Google Instant

By Abby Draper

Through all of this week, Google has been modifying their logo in anticipation of a press conference said to announce something new in search technology. On Tuesday, the Google logo was spelled out with balls that turned into a game as you rolled your mouse over the letters. This morning, “Google” appeared grey until text was entered and it changed to its usual bright colors.

At 12:30 EST, we watched online as Google introduced “Google Instant.” Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience, began the conference by discussing some of the new features of Google Search in 2010 including: Google Caffeine, Real-Time Search, timeline views, spell corrections, enhancements to its Q&A, stars in search, and the redesign of Google itself, by playing the commercial they launched during the Superbowl.

Mayer went on to explain that while these changes have made Google search much more productive, the current search time is still too long. According to Google, it takes a user nine seconds to enter a query, 800 ms for networking time, 300 ms for serving results, 15 seconds to select a search result, and most people take extra time to think. With these stats, Mayer introduced “A Fundamental Shift to Search – Google Instant.”

Google Instant, which will roll out slowly through the day, allows you to see search results as you type.

“Google Instant delivers results instantly in a way that has never been done before," said Jonathan Effrat, Google product manager, in a video about Google Instant. "Now, results appear automatically as you type, with no need to hit enter or click the search button. as soon as you see what need predicted in gray text, you can stop typing, and just look down to find your results waiting...see results instantly lets you refine your search as you type — looking for a bird? A map? A recipe? You'll know instantly if you're on the right track to finding what you want."

Mayer was joined on stage by Johanna Wright, Director of Product Management, and Othar Hansson, Senior Staff Software Engineer who took us all through several examples of how Google Instant works, proving its incredible speed and ability to predict what you’re searching for.

While Google has had a few issues in the recent past with other efforts like Google Buzz, it seems as though Google Instant has launched without a hitch. We will find out for sure today!

Abby Draper is the Manager of Social Media. Contact her at abby@maroonpr.com.

Should Facebook Adopt Video Chat?

By Abby Draper

A new Hitwise report on Monday proved Facebook has overtaken Google as the most visited Web site in the U.S. While this comes as really no surprise, it has inspired many social media fans to share their thoughts.

Social media consultant, Vadin Lavrusik, shared through his blog the idea of adding a video chat option to Facebook and allowing its users to communicate “face-to-face.” With the success that Skype and Google Chat have seen, Lavrusik claims adding the video chat feature would assuage the issue of having “disjointed conversations.” Lavrusik also suggests creating a mobile phone application that would allow Facebook users the opportunity to communicate with “friends on the go.”

Being a huge fan of both Skype and Google Chat, I think this is a fantastic idea. One of the most powerful concepts of Facebook is that you have the ability to connect with friends, family, clients, and other professionals who you may not otherwise be able to. Adding the video chat opportunity could only improve these personal and professional relationships by increasing the amount of face time between you and your Facebook community.

Abby Draper is the Manager of Social Media. Contact her at abby@maroonpr.com.

Google Buzz: Next Great Social Networking Tool

Author: Abby Draper

Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010

As a huge Google fan, I always look forward to what they’re going to produce next. After reading about Google Buzz for the past few weeks, I was slightly intrigued, but remained pessimistic because Google Wave has yet to take off yet.

That is, until I logged into my GMail account and met Google Buzz.

If you are unaware of Google Buzz, it is basically another social networking site, only it is created through your other Google accounts. Google Buzz goes beyond status updates and “what is on my mind.” It automatically pulls images from links, shows videos in line, and allows you to flip through photos. You can connect to your other favorite sites like Picassa, Flickr, Google Reader and Twitter, and your friends are able to keep up with what you are doing on the web… all in one place.

One of my favorite features is when someone responds to your post, their comments are sent straight to your inbox. This ensures that you’ll never miss out on anything said.

Google Buzz also identifies posts from people you are not following yet, who may be of interest to you or who are popular among your friends. Google Buzz recommends them to you so you don’t miss out on the “Buzz.”

Instead of having to add or find friends like you do on other social networking sites, you are automatically friends with those you email and G-Chat with frequently, making it much easier to use right off the bat.

While there are a few kinks to be worked out, I am excited to start a new social networking journey with my “Google Friends”.

Abby Draper is an Associate Account Executive. You can contact Abby at abby@maroonpr.com.