Google+ for Android and iOS has recently received an update and it has brought in additional treats for users this holiday season. It packs various features that range from improvements to the photo experience to planning an event.
A post on the Google+ Project blog says that this is going to be the last launch of the year by the company and it bundles not 1 or 2, but 24 surplus features. So what has the upgrade fetched for Android users?
Google+ Communities, which allows interacting with like-minded people, can be accessed through phones or tablets. Users can carry out settings to receive mobile notifications from groups they wish to stay updated with.
Photos, which the company believes are the service’s core part, have also undergone certain changes. Up to 5GB of free storage has been provided for full-size backups and the standard-size option is being subjected to unlimited storage at 2048 pixels. Even though the choice of creating 360-degree panoramic pictures stays restricted to Android 4.2 users, those with Froyo and up can still view these images through their phones.
The company has not only updated Google+ for Android, but also iOS gadgets. For those employing the latter OS, the fresh upgrade allows swiping through inline albums and viewing photos with just a tap. Also, the app for iDevices adds a tinge of a pan-zoom-scale effect to pictures.
With all these, come extra aspects that are compatible with both platforms. While planning out any party or occasion, Events is said to be handy for various activities. For instance, Android users get support for time zones, while those who own iOS gadgets can send an invite or message to certain guests and see who has opened the invitation.
Other highlights include support for Hangouts with bandwidth of about 150KB. Additionally for Android, animated GIFs can be employed to add that zing to conversations and the integration with Google Now has brought in the birthday reminder feature. The app’s widget can be pinned onto the latest Jelly Bean devices’ lock screen. At the same time, iOS has been exposed to new conversation cards.
Google+ for Android (v3.3) has already made its way to the Google Store and so has the update for iOS (v4.0) to the Apple Apps Store. Both are available for download free of cost.