"Today Google+ is the fastest-growing network thingy ever," said Google senior vice president Vic Gundotra in a blog. He added that "500m users have upgraded their Google accounts to participate in the social network," he wrote.
"This enthusiasm, we think, stems from our tools that build real relationships -- in a live hangout, around a breathtaking photo, or with an inner circle of friends," Gundotra said.
"So today we're launching two new improvements that help bring the nuance and richness of real-life sharing to software." Google said it has now introduced the mobile photo-sharing service Snapseed, made by Nik Software, to the social network. Google acquired German-based Nik in September.
The Snapseed app was last year's iPad app of the year, and Gundotra said Google was excited to make the app available on its Android system as well.
The service, which is similar to Instagram -- bought by Facebook for a hefty price this year -- allows users to crop and enhance pictures before posting to social networks. Snapseed had been available for US$4.99 for Apple devices, but is now free on that platform as well as on Android devices, in a challenge to Instagram.
Gundotra said Google+ also will be adding a new feature called Communities, which makes the Google+ "hangouts" permanent locations.
"Google+ has always been a place to crowd around common interests and meet new people. What's been missing, however, are more permanent homes for all the stuff you love: the wonderful, the weird, and yes, even the things that are waaay out there. With Google+ Communities there's now a gathering place for your passions," Gundotra wrote.
Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge
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