After weeks of waiting, Apple has finally approved the official native Google+ app for the iPhone, which represents a giant leap forward from the web-only experience that was available up until now. This marks yet another beginning step in Google’s quest to dominate the social networking world.
This new app includes most, if not all, of the features that are available on the desktop version and works identically to the Android version, which has been available since last month, when the site was finally unveiled. Among the features introduced, the most prominent ones are as follows:
- +Circles: similarly to the desktop version, this features allows for effortless contact management by allowing "friends" to be sorted into different groups which can then have different permissions assigned to them. This way, users will be able to choose exactly which information to share with which people, much like they do naturally in real life.
- +Huddle: while the name might not be obvious at first, this feature is as simple as an intuitive way to start group text chats, much like instant messaging today.
Aside from the features above, the mobile Google+ app also enables users to view their stream, with posts made by who they’re following, in real time, as well as effortlessly upload content, namely music and video. Users are also able to "check in" at places using the phone’s location features, similarly to what they can do with competing apps.
The major downside is the lack of iPad support which is nowhere to be found at the moment. While iPhone apps can be easily scaled up in order to fill the larger screen, this app isn’t designed to take advantage of the iPad’s larger resolution.
If you’ve been following the news over the last few months, you’re probably aware of Google+, Google’s new endeavor in the social networking space. While most feel that the service doesn’t include innovative features, many argue that they’re implemented a lot more elegantly than they are on competing services such as Facebook. Even though the service is currently invite-only, therefore only limited to a selected range of users, 10 million had already signed up for the service as of last week, according to a statement by the company at the time.
Download the Google+ app for iPhone today from the iOS App Store.
Make sure you check out our iPhone Apps Gallery and iPad Apps Gallery to explore more apps for your iPhone and iPad.
(via MacStories)
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