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Katango's algorithmic approach to Google Circles problem

It's not just Google that's been thinking about easing the awkwardness of social interactions with your work, school, social, family, and other types of contacts online. A new start-up called Katango promises to automatically detect natural groupings of people on networks like Facebook.

Like Google Circles, the management interface for the new Google+ initiative, Katango is a tool for individual users to better understand and segment their own contacts, rather than a group-creation tool where everyone opts in to participating.

"We wondered why there wasn't any automatic in social, why with all this technology we were … Read more

The 404 857: Where we tripped over a zombie (podcast)

Does anyone else not understand Google+, or are we just getting too old for the Internet? After a week of using Google's new social network, we're not ready to leave Facebook, so let us know if we're missing something here. In other news, Jeff and Wilson met a real zombie, YouTube upped its video time limit to 10 hours, and Google might be tracking your sexual activity online, yikes.

The 404 Digest for Episode 857

Google+ invitations no longer so scarce. YouTube ups video time limit to 10 hours. iPad rumors suggest new iPad 2 with better screen this year. Sexual activity tracked by FitBit shows up in Google Search Bay Area from Eric performs our first ever user-submitted Tang That Tune!

Episode 857 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Facebook and Google+'s video chat tools compared

Video chat is the big thing again, at least according to Facebook, which let loose a new video chat service yesterday. Powered by Skype, the new feature lets Facebook users start video calls with one another while continuing to use the site.

While other video chat tools may have been built on top of Facebook's application platform, this now comes out of the box for Facebook users, old and new. The result is that Facebook's added yet another way for its 750 million users to communicate with one another.

But moving beyond the hype, the big thing you'… Read more

How to import, invite Facebook friends to Google+

While you're settling into Google+, you might notice that it's a little lonely without your friends.

Since most of your friends are currently on Facebook (and might not even know about Google+), you'll need to help them make the switch.

Here's how:

Step 1: Log into your Yahoo Mail account. If you don't have one yet, create one. Then, head to the "Contacts" tab in the mail dashboard. Click "Import contacts" and then select the Facebook icon in the next screen. You'll be asked to authorize the connection.

Yahoo … Read more

Apple may launch iPad 2 Plus in 2011, says analyst

Apple could hit the market with a new version of the iPad 2 this year, FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger said today in the International Business Times .

Detailing his forecast in a recent investor's note, Berger said he believes that a device dubbed the iPad 2 Plus could launch in late 2011. Citing "indications from the supply chain," the analyst said that Apple has sent out requests for quotes to different suppliers for the new tablet, though no specific schedule for production has been confirmed.

Berger added that the display for the iPad 2 Plus could … Read more

7 Google+ essentials

Adopting a new social network like Google+ is taxing enough--re-adding friends, creating "Circles", adjusting privacy settings, etc.--so learning to navigate can be a bit overwhelming.

Luckily, we did the heavy lifting for you. Here are seven Google+ basics you should learn:

1. Bold, italics, and strikethough. Do you miss the funky fonts and formatting you had in MySpace? Neither do we. Google+, however, gifts you with three simple formatting tricks: *bold*, _italics_, and -strikethough-.

2. Tag friends in posts. Get a friend's attention in a post by tagging them. Type "+" or "@&… Read more

Google+ tweaked to disable private-post sharing

Google+ is being tweaked to move it in an even more privacy-sensitive direction.

Google said today that it was completely eliminating the ability to share certain semiprivate posts more widely. That option was previously available as an option for users.

At the moment, if I created a post and specified that it could be viewed only by family members, they would nevertheless have the option to share it publicly--the Google+ equivalent of forwarding e-mail--unless I remembered to select the "Disable reshare" option.

Google engineer Kelly Ellis said in a video that: "Starting next week, limited posts will … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1501: Is Timberlake bringing Myspace back? (Podcast)

Myspace has been sold to Specific Media for a whopping $35 million & Justin Timberlake is reported to be one of the investors. Can Justin bring the sexy back to Myspace? Google's Google Plus social media site opens & closes the invites within 1 day & Antuan Goodwin might be to blame. And Donald Bell joins us to give his two cents on the HP TouchPad. It's show 1501... Join us tomorrow as we go back in time for show 1500!

How to look inside Google+ without an invite

If you haven't received a Google+ invite by now, good luck. The service is over capacity, and it might be a while before Google invites more users into its "field test" period. However, you can still get a peek inside Google+ without an exclusive pass.

As Search Engine Land points out, Google+ users can selectively choose to make posts public. So when CNET reporter Declan McCullagh posted his thoughts on Google+ yesterday, anyone could access it.

Google is indexing these public posts, and although it's not immediately obvious, anyone (including non-members) can see them. Here's … Read more

Google+ steers clear of privacy missteps

With the launch of a new social networking platform, Google seems determined not to repeat the privacy missteps it made last year with Google Buzz.

Public criticism, some valid, some not, prompted Google to make a series of quick changes to Buzz a few days after its launch in February 2010. Google finally settled allegations of unintentional oversharing in an agreement inked with the Federal Trade Commission earlier this year.

When creating Google+, which debuted yesterday, the Mountain View, Calif.-based company took pains to ensure there's no danger of that happening again. Google+ sports a clean, well-designed user … Read more