My first login to Google+

I must say I was quite excited to recieve an invatation for Google+, I could not wait so I asked a group of friends, via Facebook, and +Jennifer Weiss responded. I immediately spent several hours trying everything, adding friends=creating Circles (so much easier than facebook) and sending invitations. I logged in using my main Gmail account and immediately saw the familiar Gmail navigation bar at the top with a new tab containing a "+" sign followed by my name! (on a side note, I highly recommend that you create a Gmail account, for the simple reason that it gives you instant access, once you're logged in, to virtually all Google products, like Picasa, Search, YouTube, Maps, Calendar, Documents, Photos, SketchUp, Reader, etc.) On the right side of the navigation bar my full name is still there but two new boxes appeared, the first with a zero in it (Later I found out it is for notices and turns red with the number of notices, the second was bigger and is a share box, allowing you to post a comment to your stream from anywhere including gmail. You would then find an icon with your profile photo. Click on it and a drop down menu gives you access to your Account Settings, Profile, Privacy and Circles. The Tools icon comes next and it is configured for Google+ with tabs for Help, settings, Feedback and your web history.

At first glance it is so clean! Not busy or "pushing" compared to Facebook. The Masthead contains the Google+ logo, four Icons and the ubiquitious search box. The Icons are Home, Photos, Profile and Circles. There are three columns below the Masthead. In the middle is the "Stream", it contains the posts from ALL your Circles (you can also view the stream from individual Circles, more on that to come) and allows you to "+1" which is equivalent to "Like" on Facebook. You can also share and comment. At the top of the left column is your profile photo and your name, then a Welcome button followed by a Stream hyperlink and a list of your top 5 Circles witha further option to add 'more'. Below the Circles is the Sparks link (later I will explain how to add Sparks) and this is followed by your Gmail contacts-with the full functionality and notices of Google contacts.

In the right column you will find an abridged list of the folks you've added to Circles, suggestions for people to add to your Circles, followed by the Hangout link (you definitely want to learn this), an option to add your mobile device and a hyperlink to Invite people. In that order. Thats it. All clean on a white background, uncluttered and very pleasing on the eyes.