Looks like Panda wasn't enough!

And use what...? What could you possibly use that will deliver more accurate results? Yahoo/Bing? Even with my somewhat personalized results pages I get now... they are leaps and bounds more helpful than anything else I've tried using.

Love ya Bill... but to say your gonna dump it? Seem's a bit dramatic, wouldn't ya say!?

Not surprised, I saw this coming from the moment Google went into social networking.

It seems kinda cool at first but I'm guessing there could be some privacy issues in the future not to mention one more loop to jump through to get first page rankings.

Time will tell...

As a consumer, I'm already looking for something else. Over the last few months, every time I Google anything, it is either on the third or fourth page. (Or, in the AdWords, [insert conspiracy theory here ])


I haven't found a new one that I like yet, but I'm sure that there are already some small, little known search engines out there that is doing a great job. I remember reading a while back that MC Hammer had his own search engine, LOL

I'm with you, 100%. I've found the use of Google search to be a great resource (on a personal level as a user, not as an IMer), but have slowly grown to hate the way they invade our lives. I remember a funny video a while back which really drove the point home (something like: "Google is everywhere" and, by God, they are ).

As far as IM is concerned, well, we're fast getting used to it, I suppose, but this latest move sucks. Let's say for a moment you're not actually an IMer, you're just a plain and simple small business person or entrepreneur with a great idea for a product (digital or not).
Nowadays, as well as having your idea turned into reality, in order to "get to market" you also have to be a creative, quality content writer (pretty much full-time if you want to get noticed at all), a creative copywriter or marketer, a networker, a site designer and, since yesterday, also a social guru?
And ALL this to comply with how Google wants the world to be, because the "masses" are being led by them, so, if you're not "up there" in G's eyes, you're as good as invisible and will remain so.
THAT's a bucket of freezing water being poured over entrepreneurs, creative minds, and free marketing, in general.
I'm related to the guy whom invented the staple, yes, the simple staple. He wasn't very socially adept so, in present times, that invention would never have seen the light of day.
Is this what we really want for the world?

Otoh, I'm all for greater and faster communication, better technology, and so many of the current advances, but does it all have to be dictated by Google???

This entire scheme is predicated on the assumption that people will be signing up for Google+. News flash...NOT!

Even after G put the big red arrow pointing up to the "+You" link, no one really knows about Google+ except for those involved in IM. Signing up for G+ is a real pain. What, you're supposed to upload all the same pics and interests you already have on Facebook? Then spend hours on end tracking down all your friends that are already on Fbook?

What are they smoking and where are they getting it?

G needs to face the fact that they are too late. No one is going to be toggling back and forth between Facebook and Google+ to be social with their friends and family. It's like carrying 2 cell phones with the same number.

Then there's the privacy aspect. Facebook's privacy leaks made people hypersensitive to privacy leaks. Now people are supposed to take G's word that their privacy will be protected? People don't want their private pictures showing up in search. It's a mentality. People are human beings, not market units. Google better wake up.

Here's my opinion: Google has data about groups of people. Fbook has data about individuals. Fbook has an enormous advantage over G in terms of what they know about their users. Google knows this and is tripping all over it's own phallic device to try and get in on the action.

G better hope Fbook doesn't get into the search engine business. Can anyone say brain drain at G?

Google is starting to act a lot like Sears. Sears is great at selling tools and appliances. Why they would get into financial services is a mystery.

G has gotten too large and as a result, too aggressive in trying to be all things internet. In the words of Eastwood, "A man's got to know his limitations."

Prediction: Facebook will launch an integrated search product and Google will be in danger of losing market dominance.

I don't have a Google+ account and really can't see why I would need one. Unless you are going to use it to grow an entire different audience than you have on other social networks, it's pointless.

I'm not going to reach anyone new with Google+ since I know of no one who has a Google+ account that does NOT have a Facebook account. Why would you need one aside from where everyone is already?

I don't know about the rest of you but when I use search I don't want to FIND my own stuff or things I am already aware of from social interactions.

ANyway practically its has the cool factor to it for news hype but when searching for something new I suspect it will have little impact.

For the usual response that his somehow invalidates Google as a safe way to get traffic and makes something else superior - Really?

If you don't see social networking as something you have to do anyway you are behind the wave.