Google+ Announces More New Features

Published on Thursday, 19 January 2012 16:35

	By Kate Marchant Follow @_AsktheExperts_

The usually serious Google has turned silly this week and introduced a new feature to allow users to show off their sense of humour – a meme creator.

According to Google senior software engineer Colin McMillen, the new update is very simple and easy to use. Users will just drop a photo into the sharebox and then click the “Add text” button beneath to add a joke or funny quip to their image. McMillen provided five examples to demonstrate the new tool, including a Revolutionary War-era town crier, a dog, a bear, two birds and a fish.

"This feature will be rolling out over the next few days -- I hope you enjoy it! :) We'll be keeping our eyes on the stream for the funniest examples, so have fun!" McMillen said in the Google+ post announcing the feature. "Type in something funny, then share and enjoy!”

The second update announced this week was a feature that allows users to start a conversation directly from search results or add comments to a Google+ stream on the subject of their search. Announced by associate product manager Alex Unger on Google+ yesterday, users can search for a keyword or phrase and begin adding comments directly from the results displayed, making sharing with others quicker and easier than before. “This means that when you post from the search results page, it automatically includes a link back to the original search stream. This way others can join the active conversation as it unfolds," Unger added. 

Finally, announced today was the new video via web cam feature allowing users to record videos directly from their webcam and straight onto their Google+ account. Users will simply need to click the video icon in the sharebox and click “record video” to begin recording straight onto the site to share their video. Google+ users should have access to the new feature within the next few days.

Although Google+ has become the social networking site for the non-social networking types and computer techies, some have said that these may be the new features that Google+ needs to inspire more social activity on the site. On the meme generator, CNET said, "OK, so maybe it won't dent Facebook's dominance, but it could help with photo captions such as when parents want to put words in their babies' mouths. And maybe it'll provide a creative outlet for those who miss the Cheezburger Network during its SOPA blackout protest.”

Google+ has been sending out many updates recently and there are rumours of more to come. Earlier this month, Google enhanced their video Hangouts with larger displays and the ability to screen-share, creating the ability to hold conference calls, and last month Google added automatic face recognition for uploaded photos. They have also announced that they will be adding a hashtag autocomplete feature – when typing in a hashtag, Google will automatically display recommendations. Surely there will be many more updates to come as Google+ battles it out to become the new social network everyone’s talking about.

But what do you think? Does Google+ have the potential to be the new Facebook or Twitter? Let us know what you think below.