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Although it may not be a popular opinion, here is the reason: there is only one Google (at least for social stuff) and one login system now. Google plus is the

Although it may not be a popular opinion, here is the reason: there is only one Google (at least for social stuff) and one login system now. Google plus is the "Google account" you need to use any of their social services. I am frankly surprised that they allowed the login of their acquisitions to stay fragmented for such a long time.

adrianb 13y ago
The Google Account was already in use before Google+ was created. The difference was that you could have a mixture of services enabled for your account (I only use Gmail, I never use Picasa so I don't have it on my an account). Now they seem to force you to always have the Google+ enabled even if you never use it. Including for older accounts. I guess this is what makes people angry. It's like being prompted to create Picasa albums every time you try to read your Gmail.
- Shooti 13y ago
  Exactly his point: A lot of the Google services hosted within a Google account essentially served as independent accounts themselves, each with their own independent sharing model/systems divorced from the others. Google's trying to switch over to a new system there's just one generalized Google identity (hosted by G+), and all of the products/services tap into that. If you want that identity to be your real identity, you use a Google+ Profile. If you want to remain anonymous or represent a business entity/organisation, you use a G+ Page. The problem is there's two Google+' sharing the same name: "Google+, the identity system" and "Google+, the social network" and they've done a hamfisted job of explaining what the value of any of it is to the user.
- DominikR 13y ago
  No you are not forced to have Google+ enabled on your Google Account. Some social services like Youtube and Google+ require it, but you could still use Gmail without having Google+ enabled.
InclinedPlane 13y ago
So you think that blogger accounts will be folded into google plus?
- OoTheNigerian 13y ago
  Definitely. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/bringing-google-comments-to-blogger.html http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/bringing-google-comme... I am not too sure how much the blogger business is. It will not surprise me if it is folded into Google plus entirely
Angostura 13y ago
> Google plus is the "Google account" you need to use any of their social services. Unfortunately the mistake they are making is in defining every service as a 'social' service.

adrianb 13y ago

The Google Account was already in use before Google+ was created. The difference was that you could have a mixture of services enabled for your account (I only use Gmail, I never use Picasa so I don't have it on my an account). Now they seem to force you to always have the Google+ enabled even if you never use it. Including for older accounts. I guess this is what makes people angry. It's like being prompted to create Picasa albums every time you try to read your Gmail.

Shooti 13y ago
Exactly his point: A lot of the Google services hosted within a Google account essentially served as independent accounts themselves, each with their own independent sharing model/systems divorced from the others. Google's trying to switch over to a new system there's just one generalized Google identity (hosted by G+), and all of the products/services tap into that. If you want that identity to be your real identity, you use a Google+ Profile. If you want to remain anonymous or represent a business entity/organisation, you use a G+ Page. The problem is there's two Google+' sharing the same name: "Google+, the identity system" and "Google+, the social network" and they've done a hamfisted job of explaining what the value of any of it is to the user.
DominikR 13y ago
No you are not forced to have Google+ enabled on your Google Account. Some social services like Youtube and Google+ require it, but you could still use Gmail without having Google+ enabled.

InclinedPlane 13y ago

So you think that blogger accounts will be folded into google plus?

OoTheNigerian 13y ago
Definitely. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/bringing-google-comments-to-blogger.html http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/bringing-google-comme... I am not too sure how much the blogger business is. It will not surprise me if it is folded into Google plus entirely

Angostura 13y ago

> Google plus is the "Google account" you need to use any of their social services. Unfortunately the mistake they are making is in defining every service as a 'social' service.