After Eight Years, Vic Gundotra Is Leaving Google
Vic Gundotra, the father of Google Plus, is leaving after serving nearly eight years at Google. He doesn't say where he's going next, or who will take his position once he's vacated the seat. Instead, he sends a long goodbye to Google, his Google Plus team and everyone else he's met on Google Plus.
"I have been incredibly fortunate to work with the amazing people of Google," he writes. "I don't believe there is a more talented and passionate collection of people anywhere else. And I'm overwhelmed when I think about the leadership of +Larry Page and what he empowered me to do while at Google. From starting Google I/O, to being responsible for all mobile applications, to creating Google+, none of this would have happened without Larry's encouragement and support."
He says that he's also forever in debt to the Google Plus team. "This is a group of people who built social at Google against the skepticism of so many," he continues. "The growth of active users is staggering, and speaks to the work of this team. But it doesn't tell you what kind of people they are. They are invincible dreamers. I love them. And I will miss them dearly."
Gundotra signed on with Google in 2007 after a 16-year stint at Microsoft as a general manager. At Google he initially worked on the company's mobile maps, including Google Maps. He was later tasked with developing Google's social efforts after the failures of Buzz and Orkut. He was also the mastermind behind the Google I/O events. This year will be the first year he does not attend.
Google boss Larry Page responded to the fairwell in a separate Google Plus update, thanking Gundotra for a "tremendous" almost eight years at Google.
"You cut your teeth on our mobile apps and developer relations, turning our disparate efforts into something great," Page writes. "When I first used turn-by-turn navigation, it blew me away. And, walking onto the stage at I/O last year, it was amazing to see developers so excited about Google. These were vintage Vic projects."
"Then you built Google+ from nothing," Page adds. "There are few people with the courage and ability to start something like that and I am very grateful for all your hard work and passion."
So who will run Google Plus now? Google confirmed that it will be David Besbris, a Google vice-president of engineering. Sources claim that he got the job over the social network's current product manager, Bradley Horowitz.
Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.
Actually they have over 343 million users. So I would do some research before bashing something you don't use, prick.
The only reason they have 343 million users is because if you get a gmail account, you get a google+ account. Also, most android phones require you to setup an account with google as well. So, just because they have 343 million signed up doesn't mean that all 343 use it (I have it, but I don't use it)
Actually they have over 343 million users. So I would do some research before bashing something you don't use.
Actually they have over 343 million users. So I would do some research before bashing something you don't use, prick.
The only reason they have 343 million users is because if you get a gmail account, you get a google+ account. Also, most android phones require you to setup an account with google as well. So, just because they have 343 million signed up doesn't mean that all 343 use it (I have it, but I don't use it)
Actually they have over 343 million users. So I would do some research before bashing something you don't use, prick.
The only reason they have 343 million users is because if you get a gmail account, you get a google+ account. Also, most android phones require you to setup an account with google as well. So, just because they have 343 million signed up doesn't mean that all 343 use it (I have it, but I don't use it)
They aslo force it upon you. Forcing users who have Youtube accounts to link it with the Googe+ account help bump up those numbers and its creapy. I called someone on my android phone who has a Google+ account, next thing i know i see their account in the recomended list to add to my circles.
What makes it worse is that you cannot review an App on Google Play without a Google+ account. Found out he hard way after I deleted my Google+ account yesterday that all my Google Play reviews now say "Goggle User" and I cannot edit them or post new ones.
You cannot post a review on Google Maps about a business without a Google+ account either
So they indeed force it upon users when they intergraded it with their most used sites. In the end, I had to end up reactivating my Google+ account because I couldn't edit my reviews on business in Maps and Google Play or post new ones.
Actually they have over 343 million users. So I would do some research before bashing something you don't use.
Actually the only account it affects is your Youtube channel, not your Youtube account. If you delete your Google+ account it deletes your youtube channel, only your channel. You still have your subscriptions that you suscribed to but is anyone suscribed to you they will be deleted.
Just to add, it also affects your Google Play reviews and your Google Maps/ Yelp reviews. You will no longer be able to post new ones or edit previous ones
Your photos will remain because those are in Picasa,Your conacts will remain because those are in Gmail, etc.
"tricked into G+?"
"nobody uses it?"
the ONLY relevant comment is the YouTube integration, but I'd hardly call that a bane to Youtube, that was more like a welcome overhaul to that entire system. However, as an active user of G+ since beta, I'm now forced into having stupid youtube troll comments whenever I share a video to my stream.
now, despite that forced integration there exists among the highest interactivity level among G+ users over any other social network. Amanda Blain is among only tech reporters that's written a G+ article that wasn't a load of baseless click-bait opinions on G+ being a ghost town; i suggest you all read it, with lovely, annotated facts: http://www.amandablain.com/google-plus-ghost-town/
the only other person that points out a relevant fact is you don't _actually_ need a G+ account for google services, you can go and simply TURN IT OFF, and it's hardly the difficulty level that would confuse any Competent Tom's Hardware patron.
I know its terrible when companies give you a free product and then force another free web based product on you. If anything at least they would make it a program that you install but no nothing even installs on your computer. Just crazy. One day I even had Vic standing behind me forcing me to use G+. <sarcasm off>