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Google Play Store Drops Google+ Integration (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the all-in-one dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The Google Play Store is the latest Google product to drop integration with Google+. The Play Store has dropped Google+ votes from apps and nixed the Google+ account requirement from app reviews, reports Ars Technica. "There was an entire Google+ focused 'People' section on the Play Store that showed apps and ratings from people you follow on Google+. The Play Store also allowed users to '+1' apps on the Play Store, which served as a vote of approval from people you follow. Both features are being stripped out of Google Play, starting earlier this week. The other feature being removed is the requirement to have a Google+ account to leave a Play Store review on apps, games, and media. Several users have reported to Android Police that they can now leave reviews using their regular Google account, where before they were nagged to create a Google+ account."

45 comments

  1. I don't do reviews by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The only review you're getting out of me for free is an uninstall.

    1. Re: I don't do reviews by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I get very tired of apps that constantly nag for reviews. FPse, which is a PSX emulator, frequently nagging about reviews on exit, with the only options being to rate or postpone until later, but not opt out. It's quite obnoxious and shouldn't be permitted by Google. I paid for the app, and I don't have any further obligation to the developer.

    2. Re: I don't do reviews by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      I get very tired of apps that constantly nag for reviews.

      If a company asks for a review once, I ignore it. If they ask more than once, I leave a negative review, explaining that their review request spam is a reason not to buy their product.

    3. Re: I don't do reviews by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The worst are websites that "select" you for a survey by showing a modal dialog when you first visit their page.
      I mean, wtf? I don't even know if I want to read your stupid content, either you're going to ask me questions about this site that I've never seen before, or you're going to ask me questions about me that are none of your business.
      Unless it's a national census survey, I'm not doing it.

    4. Re: I don't do reviews by unixisc · · Score: 1

      I get tired of apps that keep asking me for reviews w/ every update, or bug fix. What's worse is this - having to sign into Google+ to do it. I'd just avoid it. Sure, I could check the 'Don't ask me again' box, but I do want to keep open the option of giving them a bum score if the app goes south

    5. Re:I don't do reviews by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There have been many times that I wanted to post reviews up on Google Play regarding intrusive apps and bait and switch scam, but I couldn't due to not having a Google+ account. Now that they have given me back the ability (after several years), I find that I just don't care about Google Play or their ecosystem any more.

      Way to alienate your customers, Google.

  2. Google's Social Media Platform is YouTube by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They should have concentrated on expanding that, not create Google Plus.

    It was a bad idea to give everyone random character channel names since now it's just a generic account and nothing special.

  3. Well... by The-Ixian · · Score: 2

    As long as they don't swap in FB integrations I think it is a win for all.

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  4. Now can they do that for Youtube? by caseih · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Right now I can't even reply to comments on my own video because of this Google+ requirement. I read that they were going to get rid of this some time ago, but so far as I know it's still there when I try to post.

    Youtube comments are generally a wasteland for posting or reading, so I guess it really doesn't matter that much.

    1. Re:Now can they do that for Youtube? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The "social media" portion of YouTube needs a major overhaul or at least some high value tweaks. The click-baiting is totally out of control.

    2. Re:Now can they do that for Youtube? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd like a physical switch that disconnects electrical connections to the cameras and microphones on my phone.

    3. Re:Now can they do that for Youtube? by GuB-42 · · Score: 1

      It i not their fault if that's the kind of video people like to share. Complaining about click bait in the "social media" section is like complaining about football in the "sports" section.

  5. The Facebook killer by ArtemaOne · · Score: 1

    I hear Google+ has everything Facebook doesn't. It'll overtake them any day.

    1. Re:The Facebook killer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's Facebook? Is that like a web forum?

    2. Re:The Facebook killer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It doesn't matter unless you're over 40.

    3. Re:The Facebook killer by allo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      google+ does not block adblocking. Point for them.

    4. Re:The Facebook killer by swillden · · Score: 1

      google+ does not block adblocking. Point for them.

      Google+ doesn't have ads, so there would be no reason to block adblockers. I suspect they wouldn't do it anyway -- Google doesn't block adblockers on other properties -- but it's a completely moot point on Google+.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    5. Re:The Facebook killer by allo · · Score: 1

      still an even better point ;-).
      But Google+ is going nowhere.

    6. Re:The Facebook killer by swillden · · Score: 1

      still an even better point ;-). But Google+ is going nowhere.

      I like it, personally. It's better for people who are looking to discuss their interests, rather than share details of their life. Not because of any inherent difference in the platform, I think, so much as just that's how the G+ culture has developed. Whatever the reason, if you're looking for a community of like-minded people to discuss a hobby, a technology, etc., G+ is a great place to do it. If you want to hear about your great-aunt Edna's recent hemorrhoid surgery, not so much, because Edna isn't on G+.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    7. Re:The Facebook killer by allo · · Score: 1

      I don't like networks, which try to tie my real identity to my "blog".
      I would prefer people to use gnusocial (quitter.se for a twitter like version, gnusocial.de and some others (same with higher character limit) for a facebook version). It's federated and pseudonymous. I still see some technical challenges there, but at the current level it works okay. If you're talking about nerd circles, you're right there. If you want to reach the masses you still need twitter or facebook.

    8. Re:The Facebook killer by allo · · Score: 1

      By the way, seems that the anonymous "a google user" reviews are still not possible, your "Full Name" is displayed over your review.

    9. Re:The Facebook killer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I prefer to discuss my interests on sites that are specifically intended for them. I discover and discuss music I like on Last.fm, art on Blender Artists and DeviantArt, open source software on Phoronix, games on MobyGames, etc. That way I have access to more information and contact with more and better people.

      Having a Facebook, MySpace or Google+ page is quaint and from a bygone time.

  6. God, that must SUCK so bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I avoid anything Google like the plague (except the search engine, but I use protection when I go near that). Nevertheless, can you imagine having all the market force of Google behind you and still losing to Zuckerberg and the abomination that is Facebook? I'd consider changing careers if that happened to me.

    1. Re:God, that must SUCK so bad by HBI · · Score: 2

      It was a Microsoft tactic - an attempt to be second to market and use your monopoly dominance in other sectors to power yourself past the leader. It didn't work, but I can't think of a single instance where it has worked in recent years. It may be the last time that such a strategy succeeded was when IBM released the original PC and blew the rest of the market out of the water.

      Microsoft tried it with Zune, Xbox, multiple times with Windows Phone, Bing, etc. Never works. Anyway, if I was using a repeatedly failed tactic to achieve market dominance and it didn't work, I wouldn't exactly tie a noose around the railing of my deck and jump.

      --
      HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
    2. Re:God, that must SUCK so bad by mekkab · · Score: 1

      He did; Vic Gundotra resigned from Google and is now the CEO of AliveCor; some EKG thingie.

      --
      In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
    3. Re:God, that must SUCK so bad by Excelcia · · Score: 1

      It might have worked if a) they had named it anything but Google+, b) had made it actually a cool place to hang out, and c) they hadn't tried to ram it down people's throats!!!! The internet resists efforts to control it. Even Google isn't too big for that.

    4. Re:God, that must SUCK so bad by Euler · · Score: 1

      For many types of products, it can be viable for smaller players to be an alternative / second-source, etc.
      But with a cultural phenomenon that depends on mindshare, network effects, or compatibility, it becomes winner-take-all.
       

  7. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  8. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  9. Thank the fuck christ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Now they need to drop Google+

    1. Re:Thank the fuck christ by GNious · · Score: 1

      Yeah, that place is fucking annoying with the intelligent conversations, sharing of experiences, friendly and useful communities, and the gawdawful niceties people are saying to each other.

    2. Re:Thank the fuck christ by Euler · · Score: 1

      But does it have enough clickbait posts? I need to know the 9 things I've been doing wrong my whole life.

      What about one-sided snarky infographics posted by my friends and family? I love wasting my time researching and finding the misinformation in them.

      At least tell me I can find ideas for products, tiny houses, and life hacks that will save the world, except for all the impractical aspects..

    3. Re:Thank the fuck christ by GNious · · Score: 1

      Well, I went and search for "click bait" on Google Plus communities for you, and this was the first result: https://plus.google.com/u/0/co...

      As for the rest, no idea - not something I really come across on G+

    4. Re:Thank the fuck christ by Euler · · Score: 1

      I was making fun of Facebook, it can get pretty annoying.

    5. Re:Thank the fuck christ by GNious · · Score: 1

      Oh, sure - I just thought it was fun that looking for "Click bait" on G+ gave me a community for the NFL :)

    6. Re:Thank the fuck christ by Euler · · Score: 1

      Yeah, that is pretty funny.

  10. Meanwhile by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 2

    Still can't comment on YouTube without being forced to create a damn channel. Screw that.

    1. Re:Meanwhile by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's only Teenage Wasteland... they're all wasted!!!

      https://www.bing.com/videos/se...

  11. THE DATA IS ALREADY MINED - US GOV by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No point in using it any more. Google is USA gov spies. Eric Schmidt is Pentagon even.

  12. Good! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I used to review a few apps, but haven't left a single review since they introduced this, many years ago now. Maybe there was more people like me, for once.

  13. The only reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... Google+ account requirement from app reviews ...

    The only reason I got a Google+ account: There's no fucking way I'm sharing my social/personal life with a shopping channel. Which is the default behaviour since Android O.S. accesses email accounts as a system service, allowing applets to spy on all accounts listed.

  14. Good, I've waved my Google+ account goodbye by rklrkl · · Score: 1

    Being anti-social, I hate anything that reeks of social media, but I do like posting up comments about apps on Google Play. For a long time, I just needed a standard Google account to do this and was very annoyed when I was effectively forced to sign up to Google+ just to make comments on the Play Store (the two should *never* have been forcibly joined, IMHO).

    Not only did I have to regularly trawl through my Google+ settings to disable every single "we'll share everything with everyone" option (and any new option added was invariably enabled and you weren't told about it), but the Google Play Games dialogue box that popped up on first run of a game would have all its settings default to share everything about the game with everyone, so I had to tediously disable those as well for each game.

    So there's a bit of joy this week as I managed to delete the Google+ account that I never used other than as an "auth" for Play Store reviews. Having deleted my Linkedin account (that I also never used) due to the recently revealed hack, I can proudly say that I'm no longer on social media at all. Now get off my lawn!

  15. Great news! by EdZep · · Score: 1

    Twice in the past 4 years, I've been so impressed with an app, that I wanted to post a positive review in the Play store. I was deterred by the Google+ requirement.

  16. More Google Abandonware - What A Surprise by macs4all · · Score: 1

    Google is even worse at starting and abandoning Projects than Microsoft EVER was; and that's saying something...