Google Plus was developed at breakneck speed to counter the rising threat of Facebook in social. Launched in June 2011, Google Plus allowed users to post status updates and organized friends into groups called Circles. There was an instant messaging and video component called Hangouts, as well as a photo backup service.
In addition to being a social network, Plus was meant to be the social layer to all of Google’s other products. A user’s Google Plus profile was used for many other services, like YouTube. The ‘+1’ button was a competitor to Facebook’s ‘Like’ button and was present throughout the web.
Despite the attempts at company-wide integration, Google Plus never really took of among users. In November of 2015, Google unveiled a major redesign that put a renewed focus on Collections and Communities to create an interest-based social network instead.
Popular features like Hangouts and Google Photos were eventually spun out into their own separate and wildly popular product.
As we are all well aware of, YouTube comments are often some of the oddest things on the web, but as announced in a blog post today, Google is finally looking to improve the quality and relevance of comments. On the Official YouTube Blog, the company has announced that starting this week, all comments on channels with the discussion tab will be transitioned to Google+ discussions. All videos on YouTube will receive Google+ comments later this year.
This means that you will now see comments and discussions that are most relevant to you at the top of the page. For example, comments from people you know, follow, or engage with on Google+ will be shown first. This also somewhat enforces a “real name” policy on YouTube.
This also means that you will be able to create a discussion in the comments section of a video, but only with a limited circle of friends from Google+. These discussions and comments will only be visible to who you choose to share them with, not the public.
Comments you care about move to the top: You’ll see posts at the top of the list from the video’s creator, popular personalities, engaged discussions about the video, and people in your Google+ Circles.
Join the conversation publicly or privately: You can choose to start a conversation so that it is seen by everyone on YouTube and Google+, only people in your Circles or just your bestie. Like Gmail, replies are threaded so you can easily follow conversations.
Better ways to moderate comments: You have new tools to review comments before they’re posted, block certain words or save time by auto-approving comments from certain fans. These can help you spend less time moderating, and more time sharing videos and connecting with your fans.
Google+ powered comments will rollout to channel discussion tabs this week and all videos later this year.
Since its original launch, Google+ has become one of the most powerful photo sharing platforms on the web, and tonight Google has announced even more photo editing tools for the social network.
First off, you can now manually adjust the changes that the Auto Enhance functionality makes to your photos, so if you don’t like a certain change, you can reverse it. You can also now adjust individual portions of an image. For example, if you have an image of the beach, you can brighten the sky, while not affecting the beach and sand in the foreground.
Finally, Google+ also now includes Instagram-like filters, such as Vintage, Drama, Retrolux or Black and White.
Auto Enhance already makes the photos you add to Google+ look great. Now you can customize and fine tune these adjustments if you have a different look in mind.
Selective adjust lets you make edits to specific parts of your image, so you can make that summer sky look even more blue without affecting the beach in the foreground.
Filters like Vintage, Drama, Retrolux or Black and White give your photos a new look. Add the finishing touch with a frame.
Google has just announced a pair of new features for its Google+ social network, both of which are centered around sharing and creating more content. First off, Google+ now offers the ability to embed public posts from the service into any webpage. The embedded posts are fully functional and allow readers to +1 and comment on the post, as well as follow the original source. To embed a post, find a public Google+ post and click the drop-down arrow and find the ‘Embed Post’ option. From there, copy the given code onto your webpage and the post will appear.
With embedded posts, site owners can now add your public Google+ posts to their web pages — as a primary source, for example, or to highlight your point of view. Text, photo and media posts are all supported, and the embeds are fully interactive, so visitors can +1, comment and follow you inline.
Also new is integration between Google+ Sign-In and Google’s Authorship program. Now, if you are signed into either a Typepad or WordPress blog with your Google account, any articles you publish will automatically be associated with your Google+ profile. For instance, when your blog posts appear in Google Search or News, your name, profile image, and profile link will all be associated with the post. Currently this functionality is available only to WordPress and Typepad users, though Google is also working with About.com, WikiHow, and Examiner to expand the feature. Expand Expanding Close
Google updated its Google Maps app today for iPhone and iPad with one new feature on top of the usual bug fixes. With version 2.2.0, users can now share their locations directly to Google+ from within the Google Maps iOS app. Tapping the the share button will now provide a “Google +” option and users can also select specific circles to share with before posting. Previously users could only mail, message, or copy a location to the clipboard.
What’s New in Version 2.2.0
● Share your favorite places with friends via Google+
● Bug fixes
According to a new report from GigaOm, Google is in the process of rolling out an update to higher quality 720p HD video for Google+ Hangouts and Google’s Vic Gundotra later confirmed the roll out will continue over the coming weeks. The report explains that the move is part of Google’s transition to new plug-in free standards including the switch from the H.264 video codec to VP8:
One of the key advantages of VP8 is that it will enable Hangouts in HD, something that Chew said simply wasn’t possible with H.264, because handling HD streams from 10 participants would have required too much processing power. The new video format also makes it possible for Google to serve up better-looking streams at low bit rates, which is especially important when it comes to mobile video chats.
Google’s Vice President of Engineering Chee Chew told GigaOm that the company plans to move Hangouts to the open standard WebRTC standard, which it just implemented support for in Chrome, to provide a plug-in free experience for users and other improvements:
“We will eventually move over to WebRTC,” said Chew, but this process may take several more months. However, eventually, WebRTC could actually provide an even more immersive video chat experience, explained Chew. That’s because when the video becomes a native HTML element, it will be even easier to add overlays and other, more subtle improvements.
Google now has a landing page of a closed beta of a novel new system of monetizing tutoring over Google+’s Hangouts conveniently called Helpouts. The service was first reported a month ago. The idea is pretty simple. If you have a skill area that you think other people can benefit from, you sign up as an expert. Then on the other end, people who need tutoring in that area find an expert in that area that is online for the right price. Google takes care of the transactions. IT will be
I know people who do their counseling and tutoring over Skype or iChat already, so there is certainly a need in this area.
But the devil will be in the details. Reputation building and scoring will be important as well as keeping it clean from porn (or segregated if that’s what Google wants). Right now Google is inviting people who might be interested. I’m keeping an eye on this one – I hope it makes it through Google Purgatory. Expand Expanding Close
Google’s Staff Research Scientist Ed Chi first announced on his Google+ last night that the company is rolling our a new translation feature directly in Google+. The Google Translate integration means posts and comments on Google+ will now include a “Translate” link for text that isn’t in the user’s language:
Whenever there’s a public post or comment that isn’t in your language, you’ll now see a “Translate” link underneath the text. Clicking the link translates the text in-line, and clicking again returns to the original. (You can set/check your language prefences here: www.google.com/settings/account ).
Chi says the new feature is rolling out to Google+ on the desktop gradually.
A new update for the Google+ Android app rolling out in the coming days will make it easier for users to switch between multiple accounts, improve location sharing controls, and finally get rid of the in-app Messenger to make way for Google’s new Hangouts app.
Google employee Virgil Dobjanschi shared details on the new version of the app, noting that switching accounts will now be as easy as it is with Gmail:
Just like Gmail for Android, you can now switch between multiple Google+ accounts with a couple of taps (vs. signing out and signing in again). And the Google+ pages you manage are likewise in the app menu at all times.
The updated app also brings the ability to view and share photos and videos that are stored in Google Drive, and improved location sharing controls: Expand Expanding Close
SoundCloud announced today on its blog that users can now listen to sounds from SoundCloud directly on Google+ thanks to new integration it’s been working on with Google. The news comes following Google+ sign-in integration that SoundCloud launched back in May.
Starting today, users will be able to “Share any SoundCloud URL to your Google+ circles and the widget will appear, automatically in the post.” In other words, you’ll be able to listen to SoundCloud links directly on Google+ through a familiar player without having to open a new tab.
And it’s effortless — check out how artists like Pearl Jam, Snoop Lion and Armin Van Buuren are already using the integration to share their latest tracks (look out for the hashtags: #soundcloudplus and #summersound).
In an effort to improve its local reviews and compete with services like Yelp, Google has just launched a new service dubbed City Experts (via Engadget). The network is open to users on Google+ who have reviewed at least 50 places already and are located in select cities in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Japan. In order to remain in good standing, City Experts must provide at least five new reviews each month that meet Google’s guidelines of being well written, are three or four sentences long, and include an image.
Are you an expert on all the best places to eat, shop and play in your city? If so, then we want you to join the Google City Expert program and start receiving exclusive perks! The Google City Expert program brings together the most active users on Google Maps who write reviews and upload photos of local places. A
Those who meet all of these guidelines will be rewarded with exclusive invites to local events, “special online recognition”, and “custom swag”, which is Google-branded items.
Back in June, Google released a new Google+ Photos app for the Chromebook Pixel and noted that the slick app would also be coming to other Chrome OS devices. However, today we get some proof that the Chrome app might be soon making its way to other platforms including Mac and Windows. The Google Operating System blog notes that the app has recently made its way to the Chrome Web Store, with the app’s description describing auto-upload features for Mac, PC, and Linux: Expand Expanding Close
It’s pretty difficult these days not to have a Google+ account. Sign up for almost any Google service, and you find you’re on Google+ whether you wanted to be or not. But this aggressive approach of pushing accounts on people doesn’t appear to be paying off: a new report by Gigya cited by Marketing Land shows that only two percent of social media sharing takes place on Google+ … Expand Expanding Close
Google is rolling out a new Google+ feature today that makes it easier to see what your friends have +1’d and for your friends to see what you have +1’d. Only a few posts will be highlighted, and Google says you have ultimate control over who will see your +1s.
We’ll occasionally highlight posts that were +1’d by people in your circles
And if you +1 a post, we may highlight it to your friends as well
You can visit your settings to decide who, if anyone, might see your +1s highlighted in the stream
In all cases: friends will only see +1s and posts they already had permission to see, we’re just calling extra attention to them
And of course: if you’re seeing too much activity from a given circle, you can always turn down its volume, or exclude it from Home entirely
It’s no secret that Google+ has become one of the ultimate sources for animated GIFs, supporting features such as Auto Awesome, which automatically turns a series of pictures into GIFs. Now, the company is rolling out a new feature that allows you to preview a video in animated GIF fashion. Unfortunately, this does not include YouTube videos, but rather videos uploaded straight to Google+. Expand Expanding Close
Earlier today, Google rolled out several new plugins for Google+, and now the social network’s photo features have been enhanced. Google’s Jon Emerson announced on his Google+ page this afternoon that several new features are now available in Google+ Photos.
Emerson says the features are all based off of “user feedback” and will help make Google+ Photos even better.
A new “Move” option makes it easy to move photos between albums. Just pick a few photos in an album (or click the new “Select” link to select all of them) and choose where they go.
Easier photo downloads. Once you’ve selected photos, use the new “Download” option to save them to your computer.
Faster uploading for large sets of photos. We’ve made a few small changes that make adding photos from your desktop an even smoother process. Expand Expanding Close
Even though they are celebrating a birthday, the Google+ team is still hard at work improving the social network. On the official Google+ blog, the company has announced several new, redesigned plugins available for websites to use.
A new follow button – a standalone plugin that allows visitors to easily follow a site without navigating away.
A new badge for Communities – a plugin that offers a link to directly preview a Google+ community. The community will open in a new tab and from there the visitors are able to join and view recent posts.
Updated badges for Pages and Profiles – new, more customizable plugins that make it easy for people to circle Pages and People. Users now have the ability to change the color theme, chose whether it should be in landscape or portrait, and add or remove the cover photo and tagline. The old badges will be live for 90 more days, after which they will automatically be updated to the new ones.
With these changes, Google says it is trying to keep the visual style consistent with the recent changes it has made on Google+. View them all below… Expand Expanding Close
Two years ago today, Google, after many failed attempts at a social network, opened Google+. Today, the social network has grown to a huge community and is now celebrating its second birthday. For the occasion, Google has temporarily changed the logo for the social network to “Google+2,” which is obviously a play on the +1 feature.
Google executive Vic Gundotra had the following to say regarding Google+:
Two years ago we started the Google+ project. We’re still young, with lots of growing left to do, but today we wanted to stop (for just a second) and say thanks. It’s your support, your feedback, and your enthusiasm that make Google+ so awesome. So let’s keep building something to love. Together.
So, why don’t you join us all in wishing Google+ a happy second birthday. Here’s to more stupid, yet entertaining, animated GIFs!
According a report from the Unofficial Google Operating System blog, Google is preparing a new service called “Mine” that is heavily integrated into Google+. The service will supposedly allow you to keep track of the items you own or would like to have. As you would expect, Google Mine will allow you to share those items to your Google+ circles and discuss them. The Operating System blog also dug up some code from the service that shows some of the keywords it will use, including things like “lent”, “given away”, “got it back”, “lost it”, “had in the past.” Basically, it is a lot like the gadget sharing and rating site GDGT.
Google Mine lets you share your belongings with your friends and keep up to date with what your friends are sharing. It enables you to control which of your Google+ Circles you share an item with. It also lets you rate and review the items, upload photos of them and share updates on the Google+ Stream where your friends get to see and comment on them.
With just over three weeks until Google officially puts its RSS service Google Reader out to pasture, the Mountain View company has decided to offer the widely respected product a few commemorative last words as it rests on its death bed.
“As a culture we have moved into a realm where the consumption of news is a near-constant process,” says Richard Gringras, Senior Director, News & Social Products at Google. “Users with smartphones and tablets are consuming news in bits and bites throughout the course of the day — replacing the old standard behaviors of news consumption over breakfast along with a leisurely read at the end of the day.”
No matter the reason for Google Reader’s demise, alternatives have made a timely bubble up to the surface leading up to Google’s July 1 deadline. Apps like Reeder that relied on Google Reader for backend syncing have since opened up support for alternatives like Feedly and Feed Wrangler (which we reviewed at launch). Expand Expanding Close
Google is carrying on with its integration of Google+ across the rest of its services by today opening up the ability to search for photos from the service directly in Google search. Starting today, not only will Google search be able to display photos from friends and events in results, it will also be “using computer vision and machine learning to help recognize more general concepts in your photos such as sunsets, food and flowers.”
The updated app, which should be hitting Google Play some time today, will include a number of new photo editing features including the new Auto Awesome effects, auto backup for photos, and other photo editing tools from Snapseed:
Auto Backup, to safely and privately store your photos as you snap them
Auto Highlight, to browse a selection of top shots from every set of photos you add
Auto Enhance, to make subtle improvements to the people and places in your images, automatically
Auto Awesome, to create fun new versions of your pictures (like animations and panoramas) based on the photos in your library
The updated Google+ for Android app will also offer improved location sharing with a new Locations section that lets you view your friends’ current locations on a map.
Lastly, after updating you’ll have the ability to access Google’s new intelligent related hashtags feature:
Droid Lifepoints us to comments by Dori Storbeck, who manages the Hangouts and Chat Google+ community, which confirm integration with SMS is highly requested and coming soon.
We expect SMS integration will only be available on Android as iOS doesn’t allow the necessary hooks to pull off the feature, which makes the platform that much more appealing for fans of the Hangouts service.
Google+ will receive a card-based interface redesign featuring a new three column view. The new interface is responsive to the user’s display size. The new multi-column view is customizable meaning you can toggle back to the previous single column view if you prefer.
Google+ will also begin rolling out intelligent hashtags for photos, meaning if you post a photo of the Eiffel Tower, Google+ can automatically recognize the subject and appropriately tag it for you.
Users will now be able to view related photos by clicking on the current photo and seeing related hashtags on the flip side of the photo. A video below highlighting the related hashtag feature is below.
Google has updated Google+ today with a couple notable and highly requested new features for Hangouts on Air users. The first big new feature is the ability to rewind live broadcasts, allowing users to navigate back to the beginning of a broadcast regardless of when they started watching. Other improvements include higher quality video for those joining Hangouts on Air from a mobile device, as well new auto-playing broadcasts that don’t require users to refresh the page when aHangout starts.
Google did note that “it may take longer to set up your Hangout On Air. For example: the ‘Start broadcasting’ button may be grayed out for a bit, before it turns red.” That change is to provide users with enough time to get everything in place before starting the Hangout.
Google appears to have been able to implement the changes by now processing the video in real-time rather than after the fact, which also means it’s promising Hangouts will be instantly uploaded and ready to watch on YouTube the second you go off air: Expand Expanding Close
Manage push notifications
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
You are subscribed to notifications
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
Google Plus
Google Plus was developed at breakneck speed to counter the rising threat of Facebook in social. Launched in June 2011, Google Plus allowed users to post status updates and organized friends into groups called Circles. There was an instant messaging and video component called Hangouts, as well as a photo backup service.
In addition to being a social network, Plus was meant to be the social layer to all of Google’s other products. A user’s Google Plus profile was used for many other services, like YouTube. The ‘+1’ button was a competitor to Facebook’s ‘Like’ button and was present throughout the web.
Despite the attempts at company-wide integration, Google Plus never really took of among users. In November of 2015, Google unveiled a major redesign that put a renewed focus on Collections and Communities to create an interest-based social network instead.
Popular features like Hangouts and Google Photos were eventually spun out into their own separate and wildly popular product.
YouTube to transition to Google+ powered comments and discussions
As we are all well aware of, YouTube comments are often some of the oddest things on the web, but as announced in a blog post today, Google is finally looking to improve the quality and relevance of comments. On the Official YouTube Blog, the company has announced that starting this week, all comments on channels with the discussion tab will be transitioned to Google+ discussions. All videos on YouTube will receive Google+ comments later this year.
This means that you will now see comments and discussions that are most relevant to you at the top of the page. For example, comments from people you know, follow, or engage with on Google+ will be shown first. This also somewhat enforces a “real name” policy on YouTube.
This also means that you will be able to create a discussion in the comments section of a video, but only with a limited circle of friends from Google+. These discussions and comments will only be visible to who you choose to share them with, not the public.
Google+ powered comments will rollout to channel discussion tabs this week and all videos later this year.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google introduces new Snapseed-based photo editing tools on Google+
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm4aKZ0NpFM
Since its original launch, Google+ has become one of the most powerful photo sharing platforms on the web, and tonight Google has announced even more photo editing tools for the social network.
First off, you can now manually adjust the changes that the Auto Enhance functionality makes to your photos, so if you don’t like a certain change, you can reverse it. You can also now adjust individual portions of an image. For example, if you have an image of the beach, you can brighten the sky, while not affecting the beach and sand in the foreground.
Finally, Google+ also now includes Instagram-like filters, such as Vintage, Drama, Retrolux or Black and White.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google+ introduces WordPress and TypePad author integration, embeddable posts
Google has just announced a pair of new features for its Google+ social network, both of which are centered around sharing and creating more content. First off, Google+ now offers the ability to embed public posts from the service into any webpage. The embedded posts are fully functional and allow readers to +1 and comment on the post, as well as follow the original source. To embed a post, find a public Google+ post and click the drop-down arrow and find the ‘Embed Post’ option. From there, copy the given code onto your webpage and the post will appear.
Also new is integration between Google+ Sign-In and Google’s Authorship program. Now, if you are signed into either a Typepad or WordPress blog with your Google account, any articles you publish will automatically be associated with your Google+ profile. For instance, when your blog posts appear in Google Search or News, your name, profile image, and profile link will all be associated with the post. Currently this functionality is available only to WordPress and Typepad users, though Google is also working with About.com, WikiHow, and Examiner to expand the feature.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google Maps for iOS adds ability to share locations to Google+
Google updated its Google Maps app today for iPhone and iPad with one new feature on top of the usual bug fixes. With version 2.2.0, users can now share their locations directly to Google+ from within the Google Maps iOS app. Tapping the the share button will now provide a “Google +” option and users can also select specific circles to share with before posting. Previously users could only mail, message, or copy a location to the clipboard.
What’s New in Version 2.2.0
● Share your favorite places with friends via Google+
● Bug fixes
Google rolling out 720p HD Google+ Hangouts in the coming weeks
According to a new report from GigaOm, Google is in the process of rolling out an update to higher quality 720p HD video for Google+ Hangouts and Google’s Vic Gundotra later confirmed the roll out will continue over the coming weeks. The report explains that the move is part of Google’s transition to new plug-in free standards including the switch from the H.264 video codec to VP8:
Google’s Vice President of Engineering Chee Chew told GigaOm that the company plans to move Hangouts to the open standard WebRTC standard, which it just implemented support for in Chrome, to provide a plug-in free experience for users and other improvements:
More details available in the full report here.
Google ‘Helpouts’ are a Hangout-based tutoring and learning ecosystem
Google now has a landing page of a closed beta of a novel new system of monetizing tutoring over Google+’s Hangouts conveniently called Helpouts. The service was first reported a month ago. The idea is pretty simple. If you have a skill area that you think other people can benefit from, you sign up as an expert. Then on the other end, people who need tutoring in that area find an expert in that area that is online for the right price. Google takes care of the transactions. IT will be
I know people who do their counseling and tutoring over Skype or iChat already, so there is certainly a need in this area.
But the devil will be in the details. Reputation building and scoring will be important as well as keeping it clean from porn (or segregated if that’s what Google wants). Right now Google is inviting people who might be interested. I’m keeping an eye on this one – I hope it makes it through Google Purgatory.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google rolling out translation feature in Google+
Google’s Staff Research Scientist Ed Chi first announced on his Google+ last night that the company is rolling our a new translation feature directly in Google+. The Google Translate integration means posts and comments on Google+ will now include a “Translate” link for text that isn’t in the user’s language:
Chi says the new feature is rolling out to Google+ on the desktop gradually.
Google+ Android app adds easy account switching, photos & videos from Drive, & improved location sharing
A new update for the Google+ Android app rolling out in the coming days will make it easier for users to switch between multiple accounts, improve location sharing controls, and finally get rid of the in-app Messenger to make way for Google’s new Hangouts app.
Google employee Virgil Dobjanschi shared details on the new version of the app, noting that switching accounts will now be as easy as it is with Gmail:
The updated app also brings the ability to view and share photos and videos that are stored in Google Drive, and improved location sharing controls:
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google+ updated with SoundCloud widget integration
SoundCloud announced today on its blog that users can now listen to sounds from SoundCloud directly on Google+ thanks to new integration it’s been working on with Google. The news comes following Google+ sign-in integration that SoundCloud launched back in May.
Starting today, users will be able to “Share any SoundCloud URL to your Google+ circles and the widget will appear, automatically in the post.” In other words, you’ll be able to listen to SoundCloud links directly on Google+ through a familiar player without having to open a new tab.
Google launches new City Experts program, trades merchandise for local reviews
In an effort to improve its local reviews and compete with services like Yelp, Google has just launched a new service dubbed City Experts (via Engadget). The network is open to users on Google+ who have reviewed at least 50 places already and are located in select cities in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Japan. In order to remain in good standing, City Experts must provide at least five new reviews each month that meet Google’s guidelines of being well written, are three or four sentences long, and include an image.
Those who meet all of these guidelines will be rewarded with exclusive invites to local events, “special online recognition”, and “custom swag”, which is Google-branded items.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google+ Photos app for Chromebooks coming soon to Mac & PC?
Expand
Expanding
Close
Despite aggressive pushing of Google+, service only gets two percent of social sharing
It’s pretty difficult these days not to have a Google+ account. Sign up for almost any Google service, and you find you’re on Google+ whether you wanted to be or not. But this aggressive approach of pushing accounts on people doesn’t appear to be paying off: a new report by Gigya cited by Marketing Land shows that only two percent of social media sharing takes place on Google+ …
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google+ now shows people the posts that you +1
Google is rolling out a new Google+ feature today that makes it easier to see what your friends have +1’d and for your friends to see what you have +1’d. Only a few posts will be highlighted, and Google says you have ultimate control over who will see your +1s.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google+ now shows previews of videos with animated GIFs
It’s no secret that Google+ has become one of the ultimate sources for animated GIFs, supporting features such as Auto Awesome, which automatically turns a series of pictures into GIFs. Now, the company is rolling out a new feature that allows you to preview a video in animated GIF fashion. Unfortunately, this does not include YouTube videos, but rather videos uploaded straight to Google+.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google+ Photos updated with new download button, ability to move images between albums
Earlier today, Google rolled out several new plugins for Google+, and now the social network’s photo features have been enhanced. Google’s Jon Emerson announced on his Google+ page this afternoon that several new features are now available in Google+ Photos.
Emerson says the features are all based off of “user feedback” and will help make Google+ Photos even better.
Expand
Expanding
Close
New, redesigned Google+ plugins now available for websites
Even though they are celebrating a birthday, the Google+ team is still hard at work improving the social network. On the official Google+ blog, the company has announced several new, redesigned plugins available for websites to use.
With these changes, Google says it is trying to keep the visual style consistent with the recent changes it has made on Google+. View them all below…
Expand
Expanding
Close
Happy second birthday Google+!
Google executive Vic Gundotra had the following to say regarding Google+:
So, why don’t you join us all in wishing Google+ a happy second birthday. Here’s to more stupid, yet entertaining, animated GIFs!
Google testing new Google Mine service, allows you to keep track of the items you own
According a report from the Unofficial Google Operating System blog, Google is preparing a new service called “Mine” that is heavily integrated into Google+. The service will supposedly allow you to keep track of the items you own or would like to have. As you would expect, Google Mine will allow you to share those items to your Google+ circles and discuss them. The Operating System blog also dug up some code from the service that shows some of the keywords it will use, including things like “lent”, “given away”, “got it back”, “lost it”, “had in the past.” Basically, it is a lot like the gadget sharing and rating site GDGT.
The full feature list from Google is below:
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google reveals why it’s killing Google Reader
With just over three weeks until Google officially puts its RSS service Google Reader out to pasture, the Mountain View company has decided to offer the widely respected product a few commemorative last words as it rests on its death bed.
Google News and Social Products Senior Director Richard Gringras told Wired.com that Google Reader represented an old model of news consumption in an age where news is being constantly consumed throughout the day.
No matter the reason for Google Reader’s demise, alternatives have made a timely bubble up to the surface leading up to Google’s July 1 deadline. Apps like Reeder that relied on Google Reader for backend syncing have since opened up support for alternatives like Feedly and Feed Wrangler (which we reviewed at launch).
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google adds ability to view Google+ photos in search results
Google is carrying on with its integration of Google+ across the rest of its services by today opening up the ability to search for photos from the service directly in Google search. Starting today, not only will Google search be able to display photos from friends and events in results, it will also be “using computer vision and machine learning to help recognize more general concepts in your photos such as sunsets, food and flowers.”
Here’s how it works:
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google+ for Android updated with Auto photo editing features, improved location sharing, & related hashtags
Following showing off a redesigned three column version of Google+ for the web and new “Auto Awesome” photo editing features at I/O, Google is today bringing some of the new features to its Google+ for Android app.
The updated app, which should be hitting Google Play some time today, will include a number of new photo editing features including the new Auto Awesome effects, auto backup for photos, and other photo editing tools from Snapseed:
The updated Google+ for Android app will also offer improved location sharing with a new Locations section that lets you view your friends’ current locations on a map.
Lastly, after updating you’ll have the ability to access Google’s new intelligent related hashtags feature:
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google+ Hangouts will soon include SMS integration
Google announced its new cross-platform messaging service called Hangouts at Google I/O yesterday, which prompted many users to wonder if Google had plans to bring SMS and messaging unification to the Hangouts inbox.
Droid Life points us to comments by Dori Storbeck, who manages the Hangouts and Chat Google+ community, which confirm integration with SMS is highly requested and coming soon.
We expect SMS integration will only be available on Android as iOS doesn’t allow the necessary hooks to pull off the feature, which makes the platform that much more appealing for fans of the Hangouts service.
Hangouts launched on the Play Store for Android and App Store for iOS yesterday, as well as Google+ or Gmail on the desktop.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google+ Stream redesigned with three column view, intelligent hashtags, responsive design
Google+ will receive a card-based interface redesign featuring a new three column view. The new interface is responsive to the user’s display size. The new multi-column view is customizable meaning you can toggle back to the previous single column view if you prefer.
Google+ will also begin rolling out intelligent hashtags for photos, meaning if you post a photo of the Eiffel Tower, Google+ can automatically recognize the subject and appropriately tag it for you.
Users will now be able to view related photos by clicking on the current photo and seeing related hashtags on the flip side of the photo. A video below highlighting the related hashtag feature is below.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google updates Hangouts On Air: Rewind & autoplay live broadcasts, higher quality video & faster YouTube uploads
Google has updated Google+ today with a couple notable and highly requested new features for Hangouts on Air users. The first big new feature is the ability to rewind live broadcasts, allowing users to navigate back to the beginning of a broadcast regardless of when they started watching. Other improvements include higher quality video for those joining Hangouts on Air from a mobile device, as well new auto-playing broadcasts that don’t require users to refresh the page when aHangout starts.
Google did note that “it may take longer to set up your Hangout On Air. For example: the ‘Start broadcasting’ button may be grayed out for a bit, before it turns red.” That change is to provide users with enough time to get everything in place before starting the Hangout.
Google appears to have been able to implement the changes by now processing the video in real-time rather than after the fact, which also means it’s promising Hangouts will be instantly uploaded and ready to watch on YouTube the second you go off air:
Expand
Expanding
Close