Google is in the process of introducing a more “functional and flexible version” of Google+, in an effort to attract more and more users to their social media hub. Aside from a refined look and feel, there’s also some structural changes, ones that Google thinks/hopes will make the G+ experience more attractive for members and potential members alike.
Aside from the look and feel of the service, the “redesign” focused on three areas, as described by the Google Blog: “Navigation you can make your own,” “Conversations you’ll really care about,” and “A new home for hanging out.” Each attribute sports new features, of which Google details in their post.
In regards to navigation, Google+ allows:
- You can drag apps up or down to create the order you want
- You can hover over certain apps to reveal a set of quick actions
- You can show or hide apps by moving them in and out of “More”
There’s also a video of the new navigation scheme at work:
- Full bleed photos and videos that’ll make you really proud to post
- A stream of conversation “cards” that make it easier to scan and join discussions
- An activity drawer that highlights the community around your content
While this is indeed considered an update to G+ communication, Google also shares their motivation behind the update:
Simply put, we’re hoping to make sharing more awesome by making it more evocative. You know that feeling you get when a piece of art takes your breath away, or when a friend stops by with unexpected gifts? We want sharing to feel like that, every single time.
The feather in G+’s cap–the hangout feature–was also refined in order to improve user satisfaction:
- An always-updated list of invitations from the people in your circles
- Quick access to every public and On Air hangout, for those times when you want to meet someone new, or watch a live broadcast
- A rotating billboard of popular hangouts, pro tips and other items you don’t want to miss
As you can see, the alterations were not just cosmetic changes designed to make G+ “prettier.” Crucial features were refined in an attempt to make them more attractive to potential G+ members. With that in mind, does a revamped Google+ make you want to migrate any more, or any less? Let us know what you think.
