Google+ will now let users take their profile photos with their web cams and send their circles personal messages when they change their profile photos.

Google+ Photos Product Manager Denise Ho posted about these new features in a Google+ update, which appears to be Google’s preferred method of announcing feature for the social network, as opposed to a blog, like it does for most of its other products (though they did launch a developer blog once they launched games for Google+).

“The web camera is a convenient option if you want to take a quick snapshot or just show off your new silly hat,” she says. “To get started, go to your profile page, click Edit profile and select change photo. On the left, select Web camera (Flash required). Pose with a big smile and snap away until you see the perfect shot.”

“Once you’re done, you also have the option to send your circles a personal message in the share box to spread the excitement around your new profile photo,” she adds.

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Google also announced (also via a Google+ update) that it is now verifying Google+ accounts, so users can be sure that they’re following who they think they are. They’re starting the process with celebrities and public figures, but will expand it to everyone else later. Google’s Wen-Ai Yu talks about this in the following video:

Other recent features to be added to Google+ include:

Notification animations:

The floating Google+ bar:

Comment collapsing/expanding:

Games:

Book sharing:

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By the way,. Google has also made it easier to revoke permissions for games that you may have tried, but no longer wish to play. You can click the menu at the bottom-left of the screen when you’re playing the game, and click “manage permissions” to go to a page where you can revoke access:

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