Google Giveth and Taketh Away

Sometimes Google makes me feel like a peasant, waiting to see what crumbs it will throw me.

Actually, that's not accurate.  Google has been very generous in what it's given us- its search engines, Gmail, Google reader and probably unnumbered and untold other innovations and information gathering that I'd rather not know about.

But I also kind of feel like Google is my drug dealer- its gotten me hooked on things like Picnik and Google Friend Connect and now it's taking them away.  I think it wants me to replace them with some other Google service, and I'll probably try it, because right now, I feel lost and I need my fix.

The most frustrating thing about losing the Google Friend Connect widget is that no one really seems to know what that means. 

Does it mean that if you've chosen to subscribe to "Gathering Dust" through Google Friend Connect (GFC) and by doing so, Gathering Dust has been added to your Google Reader, when GFC is gone Gathering Dust won't be in your Google Reader anymore?

Beats me.

People all over the internet are trying to figure it out.

Here's my suggestion.  If you originally started reading my blog by joining GFC, and you still want to read it after March 1- just go to your Google Reader, click on the red "Subscribe" button on the left side and type in "Beth Leintz".  You can do this right now.

That's how us peasants can stay friends.

(Images provided by- of course, Google Images)

Comments

[creativechaos]

I'm so upset about picnik....I even have the premuim service. So long wrinkle remover brush....sniff sniff....I don't have google connect but I would think if folks are in Reader they would still get your feed.....

[jeanie]

I hadn't heard about friend connect. I was just learning picnik and boom. I think the new Picassa 3 has some of those features, but I haven't upgraded yet -- don't know if it has a cost to it.

Well, whether I connect that way or otherwise, you know I'll be here checking in regularly, so never fear!

[Jewels]

Frankly its a royal pain in the butt - especially for those of us who are technically challenged to begin with. I having to spend hours (literally) to figure one little thing out - not necessarily design for the masses thats for sure. So that's my rant for today. Thanks B - I still know how to find you :)

[Jewels]

And don't get me started about trying to prove I am not a robot - who can read the text you are supposed to plug in!!!!!

[Autena]

I agree with you all the way, but here's a link for another way to get followers and it's free:
http://www.linkyfollowers.com/

[lisa]

Beth,
I feel like a freak (opposite of a geek) because I have no idea what that post was about. I do know how to do a google search:)
Lisa
PS I about flipped when I saw that album in your etsy shop. Then I saw how nice it was, darn.

[Alisa]

I heard they were pulling the plug on both of those. That's too bad... seems a lot of people use both.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and visiting!

[Janet Ghio]

So I'm still trying to figure this out--if I started following you by clicking on follow with friend connect that means after March 1st I won't be following anymore?

[Jane]

I just checked and I'm subscribed to your blog in Google Reader, so I hope that doesn't go away! Thanks for helping!

[Lululiz]

Very frustrating, I have no idea really what it all means until it actually happens.