Schemer looks like one of Google's most original products in a while

Dec 9, 2011 16:11 GMT  ·  By

Even though it tightened the belt this year and got rid of plenty of experimental projects, Google isn't giving up completely on trying something new, even in the social space. What's even more surprising is that Schemer, a new service in private beta from Google, isn't completely built into Google+, at least not yet.

"Whether it’s exploring a new city, checking out a friend’s movie recommendation, or just finding new activities for your weekends, Schemer lets you discover new things to do, share schemes with friends, and make the most of your day," a page on the Schemer site explains.

The idea behind Schemer is not entirely original, but it's interesting. You can set goals for yourself or get in on some of the things others have created. As soon as you've managed to do something from that list, you get the bragging rights.

The site is in private beta, but you can put your name on a list and wait patiently to get invited. Having someone on the inside to send you an invite helps and maybe a curly moustache does as well.

Even if you do get invited though, there are a couple of more hurdles you'll have to overcome. For one, it's only available in the US for now. That may change, but don't get your hopes up for it happening too soon.

Second, you will need a Google+ profile, not just a Google account, to use Schemer. Google says that's because it needs your profile info to use them when you take part in a scheme, but it probably has more to do with the fact that it wants as many people using Google+ as possible.

In time, Schemer could evolve beyond its initial purpose, it could become an Events/Scheduler app for Google plus to counter Facebook's similar feature. Already, Google has partnered with several big names to create 'schemes,' like National Geographic, Entertainment Weekly, IGN or even its own Zagat.