Google+ vs Flickr
It seems like everyone is wondering if Google+ will be the Facebook killer. I can't imagine that in the next year or two anyone can dethrone Facebook.[^1]
So I wonder if Google+ can replace other online services.
A few years ago I was deciding which photo sharing site was best for me. I ended up choosing Flickr and I still think it was a good choice.
My main complaint with Flickr is the lack of a good option to share photos with only a few selected friends. Since I have many semiprivate photos,[^2] Flicker's limited permission system is quite annoying.
In contrast the new Picasaweb[^3] with Google+ integration has best system I've ever seen, plus it does everything I currently use with Flickr.
- Share photos with nonmembers
- Good search function
- Circles for permission handling
- Free for low resolution[^4] pictures
- Easy comments
As of now I have but a single qualm.
Everyone a photo is shared with is visible.
This problem might seem kind of strange, so let me elaborate. Seeing all the other people that can view a specific post is probably nice in 95% of the time. After all that way there are no surprises.[^5]
On the other hand I often want to include very close friends that probably have no business looking at these pictures.[^6]
Anyway it's a cool service and I guess I'll slowly start transferring my photos once they allow Google Apps accounts on Google+
[^1]: Game high scores and photos are probably a lot harder to transfer than friends [^2]: Mostly photos from club activities [^3]: Soon to be known as Google Pictures? [^4]: 2048x2048 pixel, which is bigger than what I generally upload [^5]: On Facebook it can be very embarrassing to comment on the looks of someone in a photo not knowing that he can see the comments too [^6]: Think of "lab party" pictures that you share with your girlfriend