Google engineer rants about the failure of G+, post made public by accident.

dreamache

dreamache

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Google Engineer: “Google+ is a Prime Example of Our Complete Failure to Understand Platforms” — SiliconFilter

“Google+ is a knee-jerk reaction, a study in short-term thinking, predicated on the incorrect notion that Facebook is successful because they built a great product. But that’s not why they are successful. Facebook is successful because they built an entire constellation of products by allowing other people to do the work. So Facebook is different for everyone. Some people spend all their time on Mafia Wars. Some spend all their time on Farmville. There are hundreds or maybe thousands of different high-quality time sinks available, so there’s something there for everyone.”

“The Google+ platform is a pathetic afterthought. We had no API at all at launch, and last I checked, we had one measly API call. One of the team members marched in and told me about it when they launched, and I asked: “So is it the Stalker API?” She got all glum and said “Yeah.” I mean, I was joking, but no… the only API call we offer is to get someone’s stream. So I guess the joke was on me.”
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He posted an explanation for removing the post on his G+ account:
https://plus.google.com/110981030061712822816/posts


...ouch
 


Way to leave developers high and dry. If they had made this part of their core G+ strategy there would be a ton of apps out right now, and a ton more reasons for people to use it. As it stands the only things they had to differentiate G+ were a few unique features, most of which Facebook just stole and put into their next updates. And the added bonus that if you happen to piss them off, they can cut off your account and remove all access to your Google Apps.
 
Yeah, their API was a total joke. I admit, I got a little excited when I seen an announcement saying the Google+ API is out, but after seeing the docs, and I could do is think, "wtf is this shit?"

Come on Google, you have more money than god. Get your shit together. Looks like your G+ API was put together in one week by some junior level developer making $30k/year.
 
For me it just a simple trust issue. I don't fuckin trust goober.

I think many feel the same way about the evil bastards.
 
This guy nails it. This is why Google is a search engine and not much else.
 
WhatupG said:
For me it just a simple trust issue. I don't fuckin trust goober.

I think many feel the same way about the evil bastards.
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And yet you trust Facebook? They "NEVER" delete your information, they just keep your account archived even after you "delete" it. They even allow the CIA and other government agencies to access people's information to make correlations and watch people.

At least Google has gone on record numerous times to fight such government control.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIGdWsxHJlM]Facebook CIA connection - YouTube[/ame]
 
The guy is an idiot with no business sense. Lack of an API has nothing to do with the fail of G+.
 
Insomniac said:
The guy is an idiot with no business sense. Lack of an API has nothing to do with the fail of G+.
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You miss the whole point. The key word is PLATFORM, not API.

Facebook created a platform for people to do basically anything on. Farmville and Mafia Wars are just two stupid examples. Nobody ever knew that stuff was going to be created when Facebook's dev platform was launched -- but guess what -- it was, and it massively succeeded.

Google has no such possibilities of this happening on Google+ right now.

But I'll admit I don't have much to say about Google+ because I use Google Apps and they don't let me use it since Google Apps accounts get no Google Profile. I thus refuse to join. How's that for an epic FAIL?

The question these large companies need to be asking - are we creating a PLATFORM to run and expand business from, or just another website/widget.

Google has innovated nothing since Google Maps / Gmail, whichever came last. And don't give me shit about Android, it's such an epic fail of an OS that the turd phones are simply in a race to the bottom.

But Android is at least a platform, unlike Google+. They simply have too many diverging technologies and need to take a step back and pull their shit together (literally and figuratively) before it's too late, like the employee said.
 
My issue with G+ is google apps user's can't get it. PAYING google customers can't sign up for google+ wtf!
 
Berto said:
You miss the whole point. The key word is PLATFORM, not API.

Facebook created a platform for people to do basically anything on. Farmville and Mafia Wars are just two stupid examples. Nobody ever knew that stuff was going to be created when Facebook's dev platform was launched -- but guess what -- it was, and it massively succeeded.

Google has no such possibilities of this happening on Google+ right now.

But I'll admit I don't have much to say about Google+ because I use Google Apps and they don't let me use it since Google Apps accounts get no Google Profile. I thus refuse to join. How's that for an epic FAIL?

The question these large companies need to be asking - are we creating a PLATFORM to run and expand business from, or just another website/widget.

Google has innovated nothing since Google Maps / Gmail, whichever came last. And don't give me shit about Android, it's such an epic fail of an OS that the turd phones are simply in a race to the bottom.

But Android is at least a platform, unlike Google+. They simply have too many diverging technologies and need to take a step back and pull their shit together (literally and figuratively) before it's too late, like the employee said.
Click to expand...

Android phones are actually pretty decent. I enjoy mine quite a bit.

I would have gave G+ a shot if they didn't have the real name requirement and wouldn't shit can your gmail account if they shutdown your G+ account.
 
Hav3n said:
This is why Google is a search engine and not much else.
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Google is definitely more than a search engine. They've developed (or purchased) their ad platform, blogging platform, email platform, and other successful projects. And they also keep their eyes open for new opportunities.

I like Google because they test a lot of stuff in order to figure out what people want from them.* They realize that a single home run will make up for 50 failures. So, they have dozens of projects in the pipe at all times, and know upfront that most will crash and burn. They seem to learn quickly, which is critical for them to stay on top.




* Which is more than can be said for the state.
 
how much longer until G+ is considered as dead as wave? I have over 150 people in my circles and the last public post visible for me was 3-4 hours ago.
 
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