Google’s social networking and identity service Google+ is getting some new hot features. As part of its ongoing improvements, the search engine giant has added four new exciting features to Google+.
Whether it’s breaking news or beautiful pictures, Google+ users do not want to miss anything. Keeping that in mind, the search engine giant is launching “What’s Hot” on Google+, a new place to visit for interesting and unexpected content, according to Google.
Likewise, to rekindle the initial excitement of conversations and picture sharing, Google has launched Google+ Ripples, a visualization tool for public shares and comments. According to Vic Gundotra, senior vice president of engineering who posted this information on the official company blog, “To get started, just find a public post that interests you, and select “View Ripples.” From there you can replay its activity, zoom in on certain events, identify top contributors and much more, wrote Gundotra. In fact, since Google+ Ripples is still experimental, the vice president of engineering is asking users “to let us know how we can make it more informative and more awesome.”
With the proliferation of cell phone cameras and digital cameras, picture taking and editing is becoming very popular. Unfortunately, according to the blogger, photo editing is too often a chore that requires specialized software and lots of patience. To help everyone put their best photo forward, Google is introducing the Google+ Creative Kit, a fast and friendly way to make powerful edits to your photos, wrote Gundotra.
Now you can add that vintage feel to your vacation photos, sharpen those snapshots from the family barbecue, or add some text for added personality. “With the Creative Kit, all you need is an idea,” according to Gundotra.
Lastly, to make photo editing more fun, Google has added some limited-edition Halloween effects to the Creative Kit. In addition, to bring some excitement into this arena, Google+ has announced a photo competition. As per the blog post, through the end of October, simply add some spook to your photos, and share them publicly on Google+ with the hashtag #gplushalloween. A surprise panel of celebrities will announce the winners next Thursday, Nov. 3.
Ashok Bindra is a veteran writer and editor with more than 25 years of editorial experience covering RF/wireless technologies, semiconductors and power electronics. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.Edited by
Tammy Wolf
