New Google+ iPhone App Looks So Good, You'll Wish You Actually Used Google+

The Google+ iPhone app received a major facelift on Wednesday. Image: Screenshot/Christina Bonnington

Google rolled out an update to its Google+ iPhone app Wednesday — and the revamped, redesigned app looks so stunning, you may begin wishing the social network itself wasn't such a ghost town. Instead of a shrunken-down version of the Google+ website, the app now has an identity of its own, and it's about time.

Google refreshed the web interface of Google+ with a focus on the "widgetization of social" in April. But rather than taking this approach in the mobile space, the iOS app focuses on sleek, elegant design and usability. Google did not update the Android version of the app — it'll get its turn in a few weeks and will include a few "extra surprises," according to Google.

After logging into your account, the app brings you to your Stream, which is now dominated by grays, gradients, and large iPhone-wide graphics. Your posting text, laid on top of the upper portion of its corresponding image, is cut off after two lines. This keeps your focus on imagery, but you can click into a post for its full text, associated comments, and any link that may be attached.

Adding a post to Google+ is very straightforward.

At the bottom of each photo on your Google+ Stream, you can easily tap to +1 a post, or add a comment to it.

At the top of your Stream, a drop-down menu allows you to filter your Stream based on the circles you've created. There's also a pencil icon at the top — click it to post content. When sharing something on the Google+ app, a simple menuing system helps you easily add text, choose which circles of contacts you want to share with, add a location, or add a photo from your camera roll, or from the camera app itself.

From your Stream, you can click an icon in the upper left-hand corner to pivot to the app's main menu. No longer is this a series of five icons copied and pasted from the Google+ website. The list-style menu is laid out on a dark gray background with a snazzy slice of your profile photo at the top of the page. Notifications are visible at the bottom of the menu, along with icons for Search and Settings. All in all, it's a very aesthetic experience.

Viewing just the photos from a specific Google+ Circle in the app is a snap.

When you click on your Profile, you get a very similar experience to that on your Stream, but it's limited to your own personal postings. Circles is largely unchanged from before: You can view friends and acquaintances according to which circles they belong to, or you can hit the People tab for an alphabetical view of all the people in your Circles.

Through the Messenger portion of the app, you can chat with folks in your Circles, or contacts on your phone. You can also add more people to a conversation once it's started, and even start a Hangout with them through the app.

One welcome addition to the app is the ability to view just the photos posted in a circle, or from a particular individual. The images are laid out neatly in a grid, and clicking in brings an image up fullscreen. It's almost Flipboard-like, and makes for a pleasantly visual way to flick through what's share-worthy on the social network.

The new Google+ app is truly beautiful — quite possibly the best designed social networking app out there (and that's a huge compliment considering how much we love Path's design). The only problem with the app is the only problem with the social network itself: Does anyone you follow use it? Do we even know how we're supposed to use it?

The app is available for free here from the Apple App Store.

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Original Page: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/05/google-plus-ios-app-update/

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Regards,

Derik Chan