Google updates Google+ app for iOS

Previous updates to Google+ for iOS have primarily been the addition of new features such as video chats. Google+ has now updated their iOS app to deliver a more ‘sensory’ experience, that is, when you share a photo of you and a friend cooking, that app wants to capture the smells, smiles and stories involved in the experience and deliver them online. They also recognize that a mobile phone is ‘closer’ to a person than their computer, which is why they brought the more ‘sensory’ experience to mobile first. Google said in a blog post, “To be clear, we’re not interested in a mobile or social experience that’s just smaller. We’re embracing the sensor-rich smartphone (with its touchable screen and high-density display), and transforming Google+ into something more intimate, and more expressive.”

Bigger photos and crisper text

Google+ says that now when you upload photos to the social network, they’re made to look good. When you open up the application, you will be taken to your stream where you will see photos are much larger and almost the centerpiece of your stream. Google’s also adding crisper fonts and larger text. The text now overlays on top of the photos, in an effort to save space, and to change your view, you tap on “All Circles”.

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Google said that they’ve also improved upon the fluidity of the app. Google says, “Even a simple swipe gesture can inspire the same “wheeee!” as the bubble wands and ball pits we enjoy(ed) as kids.” So now, conversations will fall into view as you move forwards and backwards in time. Optical cues like parallax have been added to help your mind linger on individual posts and actions like +1 now exist at the top of your stream, which should make it easier for you to make your favourites known. This version is 2.0.0.5888 and is available through the iOS App Store. Interestingly, the update has not rolled out for Android yet. However, Google does say that Android users will be able to look forward to the update soon and there will be more features added to that particular update. Stay tuned.