Which is Better? (Facebook, Myspace, or Google+)

 Myspace

I'm going to start out with the least favorite that has completely changed since it first appeared back then when everyone you knew had it.  Myspace, was once the site to sign up for and to connect with friends or family.  It was the place to customize your page any way you want it finding the best myspace background cover, the place to connect with everyone in the world, and it was one of the biggest social media sites to ever come out before Facebook hit it big.  

I spent my days many times on Myspace when it was a completely different old interface.  It was simple and easy to use at the time.  I was into finding the most creative myspace covers for my main profile page.  I also had to pick my favorite music on there to play as soon as it loads.  Yes, it got annoying to get on someone's page and having your volume up didn't help.  Talk about a heart attack.. Anyway, it was the first time I really truly connect to people from high school and college besides ICQ back in the days.  I used to chat on mIRC, but that was a whole different setting compared to myspace which was mostly consist of writing on their profile wall or sending a private message than basic chat.  Then their chat messenger came out later making it more convenient to instant message.  

Myspace has changed so much over the years with its competition with Facebook.  As Facebook has exceeded beyond Myspace users, everyone began to delete their old profiles as they have moved on to Facebook.  Myspace was later on bought by Justin Timberlake.  The site was then changed for more towards arts and entertainment.  It's all about music on there now and to tell you the truth.. The whole site is horrible to me.  It's a pain in the ass and too much for me with the background and side scrolling to look through profiles.  I don't know if they were trying to be artsy fartsy with it being different, but it didn't impress me.  It had music playing as soon as I got on the site and a music video blown up across the page.

And for those who don't have an awesome internet connection, have fun with all that useless loading with background videos on the interface, music playing as well, and the tons of artists they list that I never heard of really :/... Okay I do know some, but still to the norm they're all "Who???"  I guess myspace works for new artists to get out more to the people, but really I just dislike their site.  I'm glad for one thing, they saved my pictures and music on there.  My blog is gone, but I read up on how they will bring it back.  Better than what Xanga did to their people by erasing everything unless you're a paid customer.. A different story, moving on.

New Interface

Myspace was once a big thing and I'll never know if it'll ever recover from losing its users due to Facebook, but I can honestly say I had good times with that site.  It helped me connect back to people I haven't heard in so long and I'm always thankful for that.

Google+

I can honestly say I do like Google+.  When I first had it, I was really mad that I got a message from someone saying they found all these pictures of me and I had no idea it was all public and couldn't ever be private with profile pictures.  Other than having privacy issues, it's been okay.  It's not as big as Facebook and I hardly find anyone using it.  The one thing I thought was really cool about using Google+ is Google Hangouts.  You can add up to 10 people in video chat conference and show anything off your PC with videos, pictures, drawing, and so on.  With the premium paid plan, you can add 15 into the conference chat.  The site overall is very simple and basic interface.  It had a few changes from the last time I had it before I deleted it. 

Here's an example of Google Hangouts from their YouTube channel:

I've never seen anything like this with other social media sites.  It's really amazing to me and different.  I really haven't used the site enough to really have a ton to say.  The friends I added before, no longer use it, so I strayed from it.  The site does take some getting used to with customizing it.  It took me awhile to find the area to edit your profile and the privacy.

Facebook

Facebook has become the top social media site among billions across the world.  I have always loved Facebook since it first came out.  I joined Facebook back in October 23, 2005.  It was during the time where it was only college students with college email addresses.  I remember how simple it was and the site itself was so bland.  I didn't really think much of it until I found a lot of my classmates through it.  I didn't use it as much in the beginning, but noticed more people joining and the simplicity of it I started to enjoy.  The fact is because I didn't have to sit there and wait for a site to load with all these little widgets, background covers, music, pictures, and etc.  It was just perfect and easy.

Circa 2005:

It was aggravating when they got rid of the old interface after another.  I basically became used to it until Facebook changed it with a cover photo and all.  I really do hate the current interface now.  It's not as organized and compact to me like the old interface.  I just really miss the basics of it and the fact you didn't have everyone basically stalking your posts every time someone made a comment on a picture, or on someone's wall.  One thing I'm glad about Facebook is adding on the chat.  I use the site religiously, plus the mobile app makes it easier on the go.  Everyone I know has Facebook.  I think it would be hard to not use it because it's the way I get together with others in groups with creating events.  It's the way I get a hold of a person without having to call or text.  

Overall, I find Facebook to be the winner out of the others because of its simplicity and its easy way of connecting you to friends and family.  The way I can customize my chat lists of who I want to appear online/offline to, privacy settings easily, and the fact its what most people use nowadays.

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Google: Changing the World

When Google first came out to the public, it was just a simple looking website.  Growing up throughout high school, my computer class always used Hotmail and Yahoo as our main sources.  Yahoo's interface was more welcoming than Google Beta at the time.  It was a plain blank background with just the Google logo compared to Yahoo with news, weather, sports updates, and so on.  I never would have thought Google would become the huge success it is now.  I also never would have thought it would become one of the main essentials in my life to use every day from checking email, finding directions, and basically keeping us connected to everything in the world.

Now that Google has taken over the world, it is worth billions of dollars today.  It has overall changed the world from the simplicity of its site to becoming the biggest search engine in the world that provides so much more than any other site.  It has more than one million servers across the world to make its search engine accurate!  Google has its own OS and continues to expand not only through mobile phones, but with personal computers.  After hearing how well of a search engine Google was, I began using it more often.  Google search became more reliable in its searches compared to Yahoo, MSN, Ask Jeeves (www.ask.com), and Excite.  The search engine became as simple once a few keystrokes are made, it loads the results in seconds.  It expanded itself to images, videos, blogs, news in real time, and much more.

After using the search engine for some time, I remember when Gmail first came out as a beta.  Everyone was wanting an invite and I was able to get one from a friend.  I was wondering what I was getting into for something that was just simply email.  I realized more with Gmail how much I enjoyed it more than Hotmail, how well it kept spam out of my inbox, and the space it provided for it.  I loved when I first tried it out, I felt like I was chatting with friends through the email, and it would group the messages together into one big email.  Then they included the web based chat and video, GoogleTalk which is now Google+ Hangouts.  You could call anywhere in the US and Canada which was pretty amazing at the time for people who didn't have a long-distance plan.  All of that now is included on mobile phones and computers.

Gmail overall, has changed so much over the years providing more space.  I remember it was 2GB of space in the beginning and it is now 15GB.  Gmail has become my primary e-mail after using Hotmail for years.  It gives you the options to change themes and colors.  It has its own tab for add-ons, sort of like a browser with extensions.  You can create labels for specific emails.  You can filter or block out specific emails going straight to trash.  Your emails are grouped up in three different categories: Primary, Social, and Promotions.  All of which makes browsing emails a lot easier and more organized.

Another product of Google that I found made a difference in the world is Google Maps.   It gives the ability to see all over the world to viewing streets of different locations within seconds including directions.  By doing this, it can use your current location with GPS or just typing in the area.  Another benefit of using the maps is Google Earth, it lets you view the world in 3D up close.  I can't forget though the most awkward and funny street views you encounter with Google Maps!

There are still tons and tons of Google products that I adore.  One of my favorite hobbies is to star gaze.  Growing up, I would go up to the airport or sit on top of my roof to see the stars.  I wanted to learn more about astronomy.  Besides Google Maps, there is Google Sky Map.  I have this app on my Nexus tablet and my smartphone.  With GPS activated, you can stand outside and it will show the stars right above you with each one labeled.  Finding the Big Dipper to the Little Dipper is just that simple.

The future of Google keeps growing more and more.  One of their future products that has been made is Google Glass. The beauty and slick design of simplicity with these glasses brings the world to you hands-free right across your eye with the use of your voice.  

As the site mentions:
"It’s surprisingly simple.

Say “take a picture” to take a picture.

Record what you see. Hands-free.

Even share what you see. Live.

Directions right in front of you.

Speak to send a message.

Ask whatever’s on your mind.

Translate your voice.

Answers without having to ask.

Strong and light.

Evolutionary design."

I cannot wait for it to come out, but I know it will be pricey.  I truly hope it works as it sounds being amazing, it's like something out of a movie.

Despite Google having to be worth billions of dollars, they are one company who really support many nonprofits to place a global impact for people just by making a difference for the better.  Below you will see Google Giving: 

It shows there's good in the company when they are willing to make a difference in people's lives.  I believe that's so important to do a random act of kindness as well as with charities and just to help other people by showing them that somebody, somewhere cares.  We live in a world where love is a constant need.

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring: all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

Leo Buscaglia

Overall, I see Google being around for a very long time and creating so much more in the future  I can honestly say Google has changed my life and has amazed me compared to the first time I ever tried the internet in 1998.  It has helped me connect to my family across the world especially in the Philippines through Google Hangout, Gmail, and even my smartphone that runs Android OS.  I believe Google will always be a household name across the world and continue changing lives on how we interconnect.

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