Google+ App For Android & iOS: Latest Updates Add Cool New Features

By Alexandra Burlacu | Dec 16, 2012 04:27 PM EST

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Google+ mobile users on Android and iOS are in for a treat, as the new versions are now available and bring some exciting additions.

Google has just rolled out the new Android (v3.3) and iOS (v4.0) apps, now complete with a new feature called Google+ Communities for its social network users.

Google introduced its new Communities feature on Google+ earlier this month, aiming to make it easier for users to connect and hold discussions with strangers who share the same interests. By using this feature, Google+ users can create their own community on the social networking platform and expand their list of acquaintances.

"From photography to astronomy (and everything in between), Google+ will have a community made by the users, for the users on Google+," Google's Vice President Vic Gundotra said at the time.

In addition to the Communities feature, the updated Google+ apps for Android and iOS bring two dozen new features, including support for full resolution photo uploads using Instant Upload. Moreover, the search giant is now offering Android Google+ users full-size backups of their photos (up to 5GB free).

Users can subscribe to any circle to receive notifications, and can now do some basic profile editing as well on their mobile devices. The updated app also features support for time zones in Events, and offers integration with Google Now. It also supports animated GIFs, allowing users to better express themselves in posts.

The updated Google+ app for iOS and Android also brings photo spheres to the mobile showroom. Creating 360-degree panoramas will require users to have powerful devices running Android 4.2, but enjoying such panoramas is available for anyone using Froyo or a later version. Android 4.2 users can also add the Google+ widget to the lock screen for easier access.

Updates for Both Platforms

Both the Android and the iOS updated Google+ apps now get profile editing, an easier way to write content, subtle notifications when new things pop up, the ability to subscribe to notifications from circles, and support for Communities.

Google+ v3.3 for Android Updates

Android users now get full-size backups of their photos, animated GIF support, photo spheres in the stream, the ability to share their mood with others, birthday reminders in Google Now, and the new lock screen widget.

Google+ v4.0 for iOS Updates

Google+ members who use the social network on iOS devices also get their share of new features, including the ability to swipe through photo albums inline, the ability to view photos in the lightbox by tapping once, a subtle pan-zoom-scale effect applied to stream photos, bigger post photos, longer post snippets, and comments that slide in underneath each post.

Users can grab the Google+ for Android v3.3 from the Play Store, and the Google+ for iOS v4.0 from Apple's iTunes Store. Check out the company's announcement for more information about the updates and new additions.