While this post isn’t a compare and contrast between the two services, one unique offering in Google+ is the concepts of circles – or the grouping of individuals in commonality. Now, Facebook also has a grouping feature but it’s not nearly as stream-lined, efficient, or compelling.
If you are a user of any Google services you’ve likely noticed the evolution of their tool bar that is displayed any time you are logged into one of their properties. Having quick access to other Google services you may use is well and good, but having an integration with Google+ is even better – and that’s exactly what they’ve done. Rather than the barrage of email notifications like Facebook, just using Google properties will allow you to stay informed on what is going on within your circles.
The flow of information from your circle is called a Stream – a heavy user of Google+ may have dozens of streams. Unfortunately, the Google bar doesn’t provide any flexibility of which stream it uses. If you are following a number of news outlets and have them combined into their own circle, perhaps this is the stream you wish to maintain timely updates on.
Favorite Google+ Stream is a Chrome extension that allows the user to change the default stream to any stream they’ve established. Once installed, the extension adds the Google+ home icon to your Chrome URL bar. Click the icon and paste in the appropriate URL of any of your configured streams – which you can find on your Google+ page.
It’s quite possible that Google will expand the Google bar functionality to include a feature such as this, but for now this extension fills the need admirably.
