Google+ has already captured the fond devotion and attachment of social networking users around the world. Of the 10 million users estimated so far, most find it truly engrossing and expansive. Hopefully, it can continue to grow and fill the demands of those unsatisfied with the leading social networking site, Facebook. However, most users aren’t disappointed with Facebook’s cutting edge style. We all know Facebook is awesome… but what kind of innovation does Google+ have to offer?
Well, one of the biggest features introduced by Google+ is the organization of the friend list. Google+ offers Circles which allows for the separation of people into different groups depending on relationship. Many agree that this system is the best way to share posts with just your close friends rather than your family or co-workers. However, Ben Parr from Mashable.com feels differently, considering that “people don’t want to organize their friends” because it’s a “tedious task.” This may be an unnecessary bother to some, but overall Circles is a huge hit to those who have experienced Google+. One feature nobody can disagree with is Google+ Hangouts, which allows video chat for up to 10 people at the same time. Along with Circles, Hangouts have proven to be an amazing installment to social networking and have been a “killer feature” for users. Already, these incredible tools have been useful to fans around the world.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Google+ is just beginning, and innovation is always probable when Google is involved. If not having a search tool is a disappointment considering how Google is the top search engine online, this application may be implemented in the future. Bill Gross, founder of Idealab and Ubermedia, predicts that Google+ will see a bright future estimating “‘100,000,000 users faster than any other service in history.’” If this assumption becomes reality, it would be a huge step for Google+, but one should look at the true goals of the competing network site. Technology Journalist, Marshall Kirkpatrick, focuses on the bigger picture of what Google+ is trying to represent. He states that Google+ is not trying to “kill any competitors” but rather force open “the walled gardens (Facebook in particular)” to “open up interoperability enough that their users can communicate with… people in their lives that use a different social network.” Kirkpatrick has a significant point, and hopefully this idea finds success, but only time will tell how the forces of Google+ will affect Facebook. Fortunately, this battle for social networking dominance will draw out new, innovative technology and social services through the competition that Google+ is displaying. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
So far, which social networking site do you find more attractive… Facebook or Google+?

The Smarter version of the best stuff on the web. From new Apple products to Google rappers, the finest of what’s new and cool on the web is featured here, every Friday, for your convenience and pleasure. Enjoy!
The Launch of the iCloud. Ohhhhh, shiny, right?! Now there is so much buzz, it’s hard to figure out what it actually does, but after much researching, I found a reliable article that gives a simple approach to exactly what the iCloud can offer the consumer. Usually these huge tech releases are so overrated and anyone who isn’t a huge tech geek, either couldn’t figure out, or wouldn’t need it, but this isn’t one of those. iCloud is, without any sarcasm, the coolest sharing program so far.

McDonalds Interactive Billboard Game McDonald’s new approach to “the giveaway” gives the average person the chance to be featured on a huge interactive billboard plus your favorite McDonald’s meal for free! They created a game, controlled by your phone, but shown on a huge interactive billboard in real time, and all without downloading an app. If you win the game, you receive your favorite item from McDonald’s. Although this is only in Stockholm now, it was very successful and will probably be around the corner from you soon. Game on McDonalds lovers!

The UN Declares Internet A Human Right. A top story this week was the United Nations’s choice to state that Internet, at a speed that allows people to access news and other educational materials, is a basic human right and should be treated as one. Good magazine provides a great inquiry into why the UN would think this necessary and how far they might be willing to go in order to protect this right.



Facebook’s Real-Time Feed Facebook is now experimenting with real time feeds, that will allow users to view the regular home page with a sidebar that will show exactly what friends are “liking” or posting at that minute. I think this is a complete waste of time and resources because we already see what everyone is doing every second of the day, who needs it in real time? What do you think?



Hoodie Allen: AKA Steve Markowitz, was a Googler before he left to explore his real passion, music. He uses his marketing skills to promote his music, and pretty well if he’s made it this far. His second album, Leap Year, will be out in July and it features influences from his experiences and classical MCs. You can also find all his music on his website as a free download. He’s different, but ushering in a new era of music. Check it out!

The Smarter version of the best stuff on the web. Tune in each Friday as we show you our picks for the top stories in the industry. Enjoy!

Utah Gunman Updating Facebook:

Jason Valdez took a hostage, in a hotel room, after the police tried to arrest him on a felony drug charge. During the 16-hour standoff, he was actively updating his facebook account with pictures and statuses (that received any number of responses from “be careful” to tips on police activity). The new uses for social media are officially endless.

New iPhone

Out of everyone who has heard about the new iPhone, I can’t be the only one thinking, “I can’t keep up!”. It’s getting ridiculous how fast people have to keep updating (or become outdated), but yet, it doesn’t stop me from wanting it any less. So in the spirit of today’s fast paced technology… anyone looking to buy an iPhone 4?

WAJAM!!!!

Sounds like a really cool karate-chopping badass noise, but it’s actually a new browser extension that brings up your friend’s posts in a regular Googlesearch. I have been using it for a couple of days and I have to say, I like it. The name is enticing enough, but it actually works really well.

Charging T-Shirt

So you are at Coachella, it’s around 7 pm, and you have been constantly updating facebook, twitter etc, but you realize your battery is dying! What now! Well not updating every social site imaginable isn’t an option, so they came up with a solution. A t-shirt that uses the sound energy from the festival and charges your phone! Best. Invention. Ever.

Epic Romanian Ad Campaign:

Do you remember where you were when you first saw the Old Spice ads? Well you need to remember where you are right now, that’s how epic this campaign is. Warning: this video may cause one’s mind to blow and greatly increase your desire to share it on your facebook/twitter/tumblr pages – Watch Out!

Here at Smarter Social Media, our team is constantly sharing interesting, funny, or thought-provoking links with one another. So to share some of our genius, and a lot of our humor, we present to you our weekly Staff Picks. Enjoy.

Summer is full of activities that don’t mesh well with technology. Whether you are lounging at the beach or sunbathing poolside, technology is the one thing that always tends to be left at home, or at least tucked away in a shoe or backpack. By taking your camera, iPod, or phone with you close to the summer fun, there is always that chance that it’ll get wet and ruined, not to mention the overuse of your technology that kills the battery. This summer is all about keeping your technology with you, safe and charged! Here’s a list of things that can help you stay connected this summer:
Solar Powered Bikini I know how scary it can be when your phone or iPod is about to die and you still have five more hours left at the beach. Well that no longer has to be a problem, thanks to creator, Andrew Schneider. He recently created a Solar Powered Bikini so girls would no longer fret about their technology dying too fast. They also won’t have to worry about staying disconnected from Facebook or Twitter. With all the applications and abundance of songs we can add to our mobile phones and iPods today, no wonder their battery life doesn’t last as long as it should. With Schneider’s new Solar Bikini, this no longer has to be the case.
Waterproof Camera Case If you prefer a digital camera to a “mupload” (mobile upload) because the quality of the picture is better, then this is the perfect digital summer accessory. With this device you can share every little detail of your summer vacation. Now you can take your camera to a water park, or a pool and never have to miss a Kodak moment again with the Waterproof Camera Case.
Waterproof Kindle Skin Personally, I find nothing more relaxing than reading an interesting book on the sand. In fact, I wouldn’t be caught dead on a beach without my Kindle. Especially now with the new e-book trend on the rise, Kindle's have become more of a beach time necessity rather than a hobby. And if there’s one thing I know, it is water and technology do not mix. Well thankfully Nexcare came out with the perfect solution—a waterproof Kindle skin. Now you are able to read your favorite e-books without the fear of ruining your e-reader.
iSport It’s bathing suit season and that means one thing—getting in shape. This summer you can do that and keep your technology clean while doing it. A new type of headphones has arrived—the Monstor iSport. This new technology allows you to not only wash your headphones to keep them in tip-top shape (not to mention they are sweat proof!), but are also capable of answering a phone call with their microphone and hands free button. With the ability to control the noise level from the headphones makes it perfect for an athlete, a beach lounger, or musicians alike.
Portable Speakers The last thing you want to do is lug around some large speakers—and why carry more when you don’t have to? The perfect summer accessory is the Pyle--Mini High Volume Portable Rechargeable Speaker System. With the ability to plug in iPods, mp3 players, computers, and mobile phones, Pyle’s mini speakers are ideal for a beach or backyard barbeque. All you need is a device to plug them into and you got yourself a party! Pandora streaming from your smart phone has never sounded so good!

It's 11:15 on Monday morning at Smarter Social Media Headquarters in Santa Monica, and there's a rager going down. The DJ has just dropped a sick beat, and the crowd erupts. The room is rapidly filling up, everyone is dancing, and the music doesn't stop. If this sounds a little irresponsible for a functioning company on a weekday, don't worry-- the scene I'm describing is purely virtual. It's all happening via Turntable.fm, the brand-new social music web app/phenomenon that looks to do for music what Facebook did for friendship, Flickr did for photography, and what CougarLife.com did for, um, cougar-ing. Turntable, which has accrued over 140,000 unique users since launching last month, is a web platform for aspiring DJs, music aficionados, and the merely bored alike. It's beautifully intuitive to use-- you simply join via invitation from a Facebook friend, choose a DJ name and select an avatar, and voila-- you're ready to start spinning. If your taste and timing is impeccable, you can rack up fans and "awesome" points and maybe even bump your avatar from an average animated humanoid to something slightly more imrpressive. If, however, you've been playing George Michael's "Careless Whisper" on repeat, you'll likely watch your rankings drop towards "Lame", and might even get punted from the room. The points system adds an addictive, competitive edge to an otherwise amicable online environment where the focus is really on sharing and discovering music. The "social" aspect is enhanced by a wonderful chat feature that enables communication and/or trash talking. And that, essentially, is all there is to Turntable.

If this sounds vaguely reminiscent of late-90s AOL chat roms, trust me--Turntable has the potential to really revolutionize the way we experience music, which, after all, is one of the most fundamental social tools we have. Once upon a time music was used to unite/define generations, but then came the iPod, personalized Pandora stations, and "remix culture", and the trend seemed to be shifting towards increasing isolation in the way we experience music. Here's where Turntable has the potential to restore music to it's rightful place as a communal experience. It's particularly useful in an office environment, and even thought it's getting a reputation as a massive time-suck, I found that it boosted my motivation and energy throughout the morning. I'll be interested to see if Turntable can avoid it's sketchy legal issues and manage to field the huge influx of new users (and, inevitably, trolls). For now, though, it's a blast, and not a bad way to spend a Monday morning.

Sources:

http://www.betabeat.com/2011/06/16/turntable-fm-yep-its-totally-viral-but-could-it-burn-out/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2387485,00.asp

Here at Smarter Social Media, our team is constantly sharing interesting, funny, or thought-provoking links with one another. So to share some of our genius, and a lot of our humor, we present to you our weekly Staff Picks. Enjoy.

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We're all familiar with travel horror stories--those of lost luggage, epic delays, and questionable on-flight food. Once upon a time, a disgruntled flier could only share these tales of woe with a small circle of family and friends . With the advent of social media, however, it's possible for a lone complaint to rapidly reach a wide audience. Take the case of Dave Carroll, a musician whose $3,500 guitar was damaged on a United Airlines flight. Mr.Carroll, who was repeatedly snubbed by United's traditional customer service channels, put his grievances to music and uploaded the catchy little ditty to Youtube, appropriately titled "United Breaks Guitars" . The video went viral (as of this writing, it has over 10 million views), and United was finally forced to pay attention. Clearly, Social Media is a PR disaster waiting to happen for many airlines-- which is why many of them have some of the best, smartest social media strategies around. All the major airlines have solid online presences, and have leveraged social media to improve their relationship with customers, streamline the travel process, and build strong online communities. Here's what we can learn from them:

Offer deals: JetBlue and United offer special fares to online followers via their "Cheeps" and "Twares" programs, respectively. Online followers get exclusive deals, and the airlines can get rid of last-minute unsold seats while simultaneously building a strong online communities. In addition, American Airlines and Virgin America use Facebook applications as an alternative booking platform.

Engage: A number of airlines are using the blog as a way to interact with customers. Southwest's blog is a prime example of successfully engaging the customer (check it out here). It's well-organized, up to date, content-rich, and, well, pretty, incorporating a twitter feed, links to videos and other social profiles, podcasts, and regular updates. When director Kevin Smith tweeted his outrage and being removed from a flight for being overweight (in his words: "You {messed} with the wrong sedentary processed-foods eater!") Southwest had a burgeoning PR disaster on their hands. But thanks to a rapid response over twitter and an insightful blog post/interview with Smith, the airline was able to minimize damage.

Build a community: JetBlue's Flickr Group has over 3,000 photos and videos submitted by customers, fans, and employees. The company has one of the strongest online presences, and even though social media might not translate directly into financial benefit, JetBlue has noted a payoff in customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/business/global/30tweetair.html

http://mashable.com/2009/05/21/twares/

http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2009/08/27/airlines-and-social-media/page1

Ok, so it’s not exactly radical news that companies are flocking to the Internet in even greater numbers than LOLcat enthusiasts. But even though the anecdotal evidence is indisputable, statistics and studies across the board continue to support the soaring importance of social media in the business world. A recent analysis by Nielsen revealed that 79% of the Forbes “Top 100” use Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, or a blogging platform to communicate with customers. Given that Internet time spent on social media sites has tripled in the past year, it’s perhaps less than shocking that these industry giants are jumping on the virtual bandwagon. But what is surprising is just how creative these titans of industry can be when it comes to creating a strong online presence. Though by no means exhaustive, the following list highlights four of the most innovative and successful means of harnessing the power of social media.

Going viral: Best way to create buzz for your brand? Give people something to talk (or, preferably, laugh) about. In promoting the Sienna minivan, Toyota marketed its Sienna minivan as a “Swagger wagon”, a bizarre mash-up of hip-hop and soccer-mom sensibilities which has currently racked up over 9 million hits on Youtube. And remember that Old Spice guy commercial that even your great aunt Mildred can quote verbatim? That campaign, boosted by a tidal wave of online enthusiasm, increased sales for the flagging brand over a hundred percent in just one month.

Free stuff: Let’s be real-- everyone loves free swag. Realizing this, many companies now offer exclusive discounts or freebies as an incentive for, say, “liking” something on Facebook or following a brand on Twitter. In 2009, United Airlines offered a limited number of free fares exclusively for Twitter followers, dubbed…wait for it…”twares”. Burger King’s “sacrifice ten friends” Facebook application took this freebie frenzy to its logical extension, offering a free whopper for purging ten Facebook friends. Although the app was swiftly shut down (because, well, it’s kind of mean) over 50,000 friends were sacrificed during its short life span, proving that humor + free stuff = $.

Going Mobile: Companies are frequently developing applications for smart phone devotees. Kraft foods recently launched “iFood Assistant”, a wildly successful 99 cent application for IPhone and IPod users with a slew of recipes literally at their fingertips. It doesn’t have to be as addictive as Angry Birds, but connecting with customers via their phone is perhaps the most immediate platform for engaging with consumers. Be aware, however, that not all companies automatically require an iPhone presence—for example, we could all probably do without Charmin’s vaguely icky “Sit or Squat” public bathroom finder app.

Interacting: Perhaps the simplest reason for adopting a strong social media presence is to develop a relationship with the customer. Starbucks created its own social networking site--My Starbucks Idea-- to crowd-source ideas for improvement; in its first year visitors submitted a mind-boggling 70,000 suggestions. CEOs can now give a shout-out to individual customers, companies can quell potential PR scandals, and disgruntled customers can have their complaints swiftly addressed. Creating a relationship between company and consumer has never been easier, or more fun.

Sources:
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/social-networking-and-blog-sites-capture-more-internet-time-and-advertisinga/
http://mashable.com/2010/12/02/fortune-500-social-media/ http://www.squidoo.com/fortune500-social-media