Is Google developing a new social network?

Filed under: Internet, Web services, Google, Social Software

Is Google developing a new social network?

by Brad Linder Oct 29th 2007

Sure, Orkut may be big in some nations. But in the US and Europe, Google is best known as a a search engine/e-mail provider. While the company lost out on its bid to own a stake in Facebook, maybe Google doesn't really need Facebook.

After all, what is a social network but a way to connect to other users with similar interests and tastes? While Facebook is a social network with applications for playing games, sharing books and movies, and so on, Google already has applications. Google also has a ton of information about your interests from your search history, e-mail, RSS subscriptions, GTalk, and even Checkout buying habits.

TechCrunch reports that Google is indeed working on a new social network that will combine features from a number of Google services. The social network reportedly bears the code-name Maka Maka, although that could change by launch. The platform would be open, meaning third parties could develop applications for Maka Maka. But the coolest part of the new service will likely be the fact that it could launch with access to a bunch of fully polished applications.

Tags: facebook, maka-maka, orkut, social-networking

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

michael said 5:24PM on 10-29-2007

Even if Google did go out, and make a "pretty good" social networking site, it still won't beat the popularity of MySpace and Facebook. Or even Live Spaces for that matter.

Google's late to the game on this one.

They should just stick to search.

uucp said 7:51PM on 10-29-2007

michael@5:24pm -

Google was late to search too (and, for that matter, Microsoft was late to operating systems and Apple was late to digital audio players). If you do something well enough, being late does not necessarily mean failure.

michael said 11:31PM on 10-29-2007

@uucp:

I thought Google was the first search engine to do it right?

And Apple was "one" of the first in digital audio players?

And Microsoft was practically the first commercial OS?

Well anyways, I find it very hard to imagine any startup surpassing MySpace and Facebook at this rate. That's what I meant. Google's offering will probably end up mediocre compared to what's here and now.

Featured Time Waster

Civiballs is a beautiful, soothing physics puzzle Time Waster

I have an absolute weakness for physics games, and while Civiballs isn't the strongest physics-based game, what it lacks in the physics department it makes up for a few times over in style and fun.

In Civiballs, you are presented with a few colored balls, and your goal is to get those balls into the same-colored urn on the level. The "civi" part of Civiballs is that there are 3 sets of levels to play, each representing a different civilization. While the civilization doesn't affect gameplay, the artwork for each level is beautifully themed to it's appropriate era.

To play the game, you are given only one tool - a sword with which to cut the chains that are holding the balls. The puzzle part of the game is in figuring out what order, and with what timing to cut each chain. Do it right, and all the right balls end up in the right urns, with no stray balls entering an urn (a no-no). Do it wrong, and you get to start over again.

Civiballs is not terribly deep on gameplay; the entire game can be completed in about 15 minutes. But if you enjoy this type of game, it will be a very enjoyable 15 minutes.

View more Time Wasters