New Google+ for Android

At 10.09MB we got an update to possibly the most famous of the apps that I might be using on my Android device. It was a few days back that we reported an update of the same app as it got a makeover on iPhone, and this was a few hours back:

New Google+ for Android

Its a complete 'New Google+ for Android', sitting at version 2.6 in the Google Play Store. The look is pretty much photo centric and sports a ribbon like menu which you will be familiar with if you use the FB app on the same platform.

Google+ for Android: Ribbon Menu

From this menu you see the new feature here for all those that waited with so much anticipation: Hangout is here. You will now be able to hold hangouts on the go and you get more features like editing the posts inline, in case you make mistakes on the go. The new stream look is surely celebrating the rich content that is shared across Google Plus. At least that is what Vic Gundotra has to say, and as per him the update now opens the door for mobile future on the platform.

New Google+ for Android Stream

You see how the look is on the Posts tab for a profile. The new look for the stream is just the same like this with more focus on the images, or like we said more photo centric in nature. The number of comments and +1 for a post are showed at the bottom right where the post ends (can be viewed in the above screen capture).

The post content (the text that is) gets on top of the post image in the background, which sort of gives a pixelated look on our device. The post look stays the  same when it has been re-shared by someone, with the difference coming in the way the profile pic gets displayed. The one who re-shared the post gets the big profile pic, while the one who was the original sharer gets a small pic on top of the profile pic and shares the bottom right corner. This is the way the re-shared post will now be distinguished from the normal post.   

To start the hangout all you need to do is use the new ribbon navigation hangout option and choose your friends. The new app is also able to ring the people you choose for your hangout, but that is only if you wish to. Don't worry in case your friends missed out on your hangout ring, they can always ring you back and that too with a single tap. 

Another new feature is the ability to download the photos directly from the app. Something that you and we all missed so much with the previous versions. Just open the image that you wish to download and press menu and there you are:

New Google+ app image download

The posts also look cleaner and more interactive with importance paid to the actual image and content of the post. The conversations become easier and quickly fades away to view and instantly touchable actions like +1 :

New Google+ app expanded post

The New Google+ for Android has got mixed reactions from its users and you can view the reviews on the Google Play store for the app here. The update was much anticipated, especially after the iPhone version makeover and since the new features like the hangout and post inline editing were requested too much by the users over the near past.

You will really enjoy the app if you are a photographer, a rich media lover, a hangout lover and if you have just the right resolution device t use it. Reviews are that the high resolutions devices are showing the post images that are pixelated, defeating the whole purpose of the update (at least the major part). The hangout feature has been much talked and loved by the users even on the web version so it is much welcomed on the mobile app. Google plus already gets a tons of image shares so its a customary thing to say that you will be using the download feature a lot if you love some nice wallpapers on the android device.
All in all a very nice update for a few while some may just be getting their critic hats on. 
Let us know how you like it and which device you are on? Till then Happy Crunching!!