Where Google+ is better than Facebook

The new kid on the social networking block, Google+ has been in field trial for just over a month. After using it actively this past week or so, I thought I'd write down the things that I like about it. Before I start, a disclaimer: this is not a post bashing Facebook, nor am I claiming that Google+ is the best social network out there. This is meant to be a list of the details that make me lean ever so slightly (all right, a lot) towards Google+.

Some terminology before we start (Facebook on the left, Google+ on the right),

wall/news feed = stream

friend list = circles

Here's the list of places where I think Google+ is better than Facebook, starting with the smaller details before moving to the larger differences between them. Skip to the end for the tl;dr version.

1. Editable posts and comments

Google+ allows you to edit as well as delete your posts and comments. There is no time limit, and the time of last edit is displayed.

Facebook does not allow you to edit wall posts, only delete them. You can however edit comments if you click on the "x" quick enough after posting (best make it within 10 seconds in my experience, and do not navigate away!) There are other limitations such as not being able to edit once someone has commented after you.

Personally I really like this, no more deleting and reposting just to fix a typo (I just can't understand how Facebook still doesn't have this very basic feature).

2. Text formatting in posts and comments

In Google+, you can bold, italicize and strikeout text surrounding the text with the symbols *, _ and - respectively. 

In Facebook, I am not aware of any way to do this in posts. It is however available in notes.

3. Longer posts

You can write very, very long posts in Google+. 

In Facebook, there is a 420 character limit for posts ("status updates"), whereby you'll be encouraged to post it as a note instead. Of course, people usually just let it flow into the comments (where there is no such limitation). 

4. Enter just works

The Enter key creates a new line whether you're posting or commenting in Google+.

In Facebook, Enter creates a new line if you're posting. It sends the message if you're commenting - you have to Shift+Enter instead. The double-standard in Facebook is rather vexing.

5. Better notification drop down menu

Google+ main notification drop-down menu

View the post in the drop-down menu

Google+ has a nifty notification drop-down menu. Like Facebook, it displays all recent notifications (duh!), but if you click on one of the notifications, it displays the relevant post in the menu, no refreshing of page required. Made even cooler by the next feature...

6. Keyboard shortcuts!

In Google+, you can use 'j' and 'k' to scroll down and up a single post respectively. It works in your stream and the notification drop-down menu (Remember the small black arrow in the picture above? That's the currently selected post. Press 'o' or Enter to read the post). As someone who uses these hotkeys regularly in Gmail, Gcal and GReader, I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. Bonus: if you reach the end of your stream, 'j' will expand older posts, no clicking on "More" required!

No such post by post scrolling available in Facebook I'm afraid. The only keyboard shortcuts I've ever seen mentioned are in this article by How-To Geek.

Both: Space and Shift+Space can be used to scroll down and up the page respectively.

7. Better photo handling

Google+ allows videos to be mixed in with photos. Photos can also retain their EXIF information, which is why it is currently rather popular with photographers. Photos can also be edited by applying filters - auto color and contrast adjustment being two of them. 

Edit photos in Google+ by going to Actions ->Edit  Photo

Next are features that're unique to Google+.

8. Hangout

Hangout allows you to have group video chats of up to 10 people. Basically it's like you're hanging out at you and your friends' favorite haunt, they see you and may join you. Select circles to hangout with and have fun, or even use it to discuss work matters with your team mates - it's certainly looks easier to use than some of the video-conferencing software I've seen reviewed before.
Edit: I just read that everyone in a hangout can view a YouTube video together and comment in real-time. Pretty cool.

9. Huddle

This is not marketed as much as it is more prominent in the mobile app (which is not officially available in most regions yet). Basically group chat.

Sparks is rather meh right now hence I will say no more on it.

And now, the main difference between the 2 services:

G+ circles vs. FB lists

Funnily enough, although circles have always been heavily promoted, Facebook actually has a very similar function: friend lists. However, Google+ has the advantage that circles actually form the core of its service, while friend lists in Facebook is buried in a rather more obscure corner.

10. Circles are easier to use

You can drag and drop multiple persons into a circle, or add someone to your circles in their profile page. Everyone must be in a circle - you add people by circling them. Unlike Facebook, circling can be one way - this is similar to "following" on Twitter. You can drag circles around to reorder them. The order will show up when you add people, view your stream, or post stuff.

Managing circles in Google+

By comparison, you cannot add someone to a list from their profile page in Facebook. You can either add someone to (a) list(s) when you add he/she as a friend, or you can to navigate to Account->Edit friends, and manage your lists there.

Lists are in alphabetical order. I'm not aware of any way to reorder them.

Friend lists in Facebook

11. Easier filtering of posts from people you care about

It's also easier to filter your stream in Google+. On your home page, your circles are displayed on the left, click on them to view posts by people in a certain circle only.

Google+: Filter your stream by choosing a circle

In Facebook, you need more clicks to achieve this. In your home page where you view your news feed, click on "most recent", and select the list you want from the drop-down menu.

Facebook: Filter your news feed by choosing from a list

Note that in the mobile apps, Google+ still allows you to view posts by circles, while lists are not available in the Facebook app.

12. Control privacy of individual posts (tie)

In Google+, you decide which circles to share to on a post by post basis. It can be public (viewable to anyone on the web), extended circles (all the people in your circles, and people in their circles) or limited (chosen circles only).

Select which circles to share with on Google+

This can actually be achieved in Facebook too. Before you post, just click on the lock icon, and you can either only allow certain people to view it, or block people from viewing it.

Select "Customize" to share to certain lists only, or block certain lists from viewing

In both cases, you cannot change the viewing permission of past posts. You can, of course, hide your whole Facebook wall from certain people. Google+ has the advantage of being new and hence the permissions can be controlled from the start.

13. Community and the future

Finally, there's something intangible about Google+: I just find it a bit more intuitive and friendly than Facebook. I suppose Google+ has the advantage of being able to watch and learn from Facebook, and it addresses some of my gripes about it. Also, the early adopters are more technologically-orientated and tend to give more feedback, while Google employees are quite fast at answering. 

Since it's not publicly available yet, there is more a feeling of community as people connect with strangers while waiting for their friends to get on Google+. Public posts certainly help, and the IT and photography communities are especially active. Personally, I'm using Google+ as a combination of Facebook and Twitter: connect with close friends and follow interesting people, including Lifehacker writers, Google employees and professional photographers. Integration with other Google products such as GMail, GCal, GDocs etc. is also thought to be in the works, which promises to bring collaboration to a whole other level.

Final word

That is not to say that Google+ has no weaknesses, of course. The lack of groups, business profiles and the recent real/common name controversy are some of them. Keep in mind, however, that Google+ has just been out on field trial for about a month, lots of things can and will change. On the whole, I've been quite happy with my Google+ experience so far. What about you?

TL;DR version: 

Google+ has many tiny improvements over Facebook regarding posting, and nifty new features (Hangout = group video call, Huddle = group chat geared towards mobile app). Circles offer better filtering of posts than FB friend lists; allows you to follow someone a la Twitter. Great control of privacy on a post by post basis. G+ Android app > FB Android app. G+ is still very new and plans to integrate GMail, GCal etc are thought to be in the works -- if you use any of those, go get a G+ account!

All findings above are based on my knowledge which might not be accurate; send me a comment if you think I'm not doing something right.
Edit on 01/08/2011: I just read an article on TechRepublic - 10 small but brilliant things about Google Plus, and edited a couple of things based on it.