Nerds on Call: Google+ improves on Twitter, Facebook

By now, you've probably at least heard of Google+ and you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Is it really the new Facebook?

Facebook stinks when it comes to filtering your conversations. Post photos of your kids playing Batman and

Robin before bed and every "friend" sees it. With the Google+ project, you create circles of people, and you selectively share information with certain circles. As you post comments, photos or links, you choose what circles to share each item with. You can add your mom to a family circle, your boss to a work circle, and your friends to yet another. You can even add people to multiple circles. After all, your cube-mate is a co-worker and a friend, right?

Anyone who has been uncomfortable when asked, "Why haven't you accepted my friend request?" knows the limitations of Facebook. But Google+ has no invites. If someone adds you to a circle, that person will automatically see your public posts. You can follow anyone you want, even without that person adding you as a friend. You can see what people share with the public and, unlike Twitter, they won't be limited to 140 characters. Imagine what Ashton Kutcher will do with this.

Another way to connect with your circles is through the Hangout feature, a video chat that up to 10 people can join. You can open your chat session to certain circles, all of your circles, or even the public at large, as with Chatroulette, the web tool for meeting people. This is great for meetings, book clubs or just reconnecting with old friends. Does your daily dose of updates from your favorite TV show start your morning off right? Instead of fan pages and like buttons, use Sparks to track just about anything from Harry Potter to Starbucks and news that posts anywhere on the internet about your "Spark" will show up in your Stream (Google's version of a Facebook News Feed).

Google+ was built with the mobile user in mind. Huddle is like a chat room and a group text combined. Have you ever tried to coordinate a last-minute venue change for a dinner with multiple attendees? You could group text everyone, but if anyone can't accommodate the change, it's like herding cats. Huddle will let you quickly create a closed chat room where everyone can text the group all at once.

Instant Upload allows you to automatically upload every photo you take with your linked smartphone to a folder in your profile. Then simply choose whom to share it with, if anyone.

Google+ isn't perfect.

If you add to a circle someone who posts a lot of comments, photos or links, there is no way to prevent the prolific poster from filling your "stream" (news feed). This could be a problem if you don't want such posts drowning out all of your other friends.Also, new comments always appear at the top of your stream regardless of how old the original post is, so you may see the same post(s) for days or weeks if the topic stirs a lot of commentary. Facebook has a "hide" feature that lets you block posts from showing in your feed. You can go to the person's profile when you want to catch up, without having to remove him or her as a "friend." The buzz in tech circles is that Google will fix this flaw soon because of less-than-glowing attention from the early adapters.

Currently, Google+ is an "invite-only" service (Google is calling this a "field test," not a beta). But current members can send unlimited invites to their friends. With more than 20 million users already, it's not exactly an exclusive club. There's no publicly disclosed estimate of when the service will open to everyone. Some speculate it may remain "invite only" indefinitely.

I can see myself switching to Google+ as my friends do. Are you ready to take a look at Google+, but don't want to buy an invite on eBay? Send me a note and I'll invite you to the party.

'Idol's' Pia Toscano signs record deal with Interscope

"American Idol’s" Pia Toscano has officially signed a recording contract with Interscope Records, THR has confirmed. She will release her debut single, “This Time,” on July 12 and perform the song as part of her set during this summer’s American Idol Live! Tour.

The track comes courtesy of Esther Dean, who has written several hit singles for Rihanna, including “S&M,” “Rude Boy” and “What’s My Name,” and is currently featured on Nicki Minaj’s smash “Superbass.” Dean wrote and co-produced “This Time,” an acoustic guitar and beat-driven track.
Toscano will continue to work on her debut album, which is due out later this year. Producer Rodney Jerkins, who has recorded three songs with Toscano, told THR in May that fans can expect a “big, diva-sounding record.”
Toscano shot the cover art for the album at Los Angeles' Smudge Studio in late June.
Although she was voted out in ninth place, Toscano was widely regarded as a frontrunner for much of the competition. Upon her ouster, celebrities such as Tom Hanks, Jennifer Hudson and Alyssa Milano expressed their outrage on Twitter, while Ashton Kutcher told On Air With Ryan Seacrest, “I think she was probably the best pure singer on the show, and she’s got all the makings of what it means to be a star.”
Says Toscano in a statement being released on Wednesday: ““I am thrilled to be joining the Interscope and 19 Recordings family. [Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman] Jimmy Iovine was an amazing mentor during my time on Idol and I’m looking forward to working with him and everyone at Interscope Records and 19 Recordings. This is a dream come true.”
Last month, THR reported that Toscano along with season 10 alums Haley Reinhart and James Durbin had signed representation deals with Red Light Management (working in tandem with 19 Entertainment). "I feel like I'm in really good hands," said Toscano. "The most important thing for me is feeling safe with my team. I think they have a good vision for me and where my career is going to go."
The "Idol" summer tour kicks off July 6 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and runs through September 10, when the Top 11 take their final bow in Rochester, New York.

.Jon Cryer 'Jazzed' About Ashton Kutcher Joining ‘Men’

Speaking out for the first time, he also expresses “enormous gratitude to Charlie Sheen for eight great seasons.”

Speaking out for the first time about the drama surrounding CBS’ Two and a Half Men, Jon Cryer thanks Charlie Sheen for his hard work but also expresses excitement about returning to the show with new star Ashton Kutcher.

"I want to express my enormous gratitude to Charlie Sheen for eight great seasons,” he says in a statement to People. “I'm extremely proud of the work we've done together, and I will miss him. But I'm also looking forward to this new beginning."

The Hollywood Reporter first reported Thursday that Kutcher has been tapped to replace Sheen; CBS, Warner Bros and Kutcher confirmed the news Friday.

"Ashton is an extraordinarily talented guy, and his presence will be an asset to our show," Cryer tells People. "We are old friends from our male modeling days, and we're both looking forward to being judged for our comedic artistry, as opposed to our exceptional physical beauty. I'm jazzed about the news this morning that Two and a Half Men is coming back! For all the rest of the cast and crew I'm sure they are equally excited.”

Kutcher also is excited to begin working.

In a Tweet Friday, he wrote: “Thank you for all the Congrats on 2.5. Met with the team this morning.... We are already working on earning your Laughter.”

Sheen, who was fired in March after a weeks-long media circus that had the actor attacking everything from Alcoholics Anonymous to his boss Chuck Lorre, remains bitter about the Kutcher news.

Taking a shot at the show, he told TMZ Friday, "Enjoy the show America. Enjoy seeing a 2.0 in the demo every Monday, WB."

Then, in a comment Kutcher slamming Lorre, Sheen added, "Enjoy planet Chuck, Ashton. There is no air, laughter, loyalty, or love there."