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Google+ Redesigned (blogspot.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Google has announced that its Google+ social network has received a major overhaul, which is rolling out today to users who opt in. The company says the new design focuses on the "Communities" and "Collections" sections of Google+, since those were the ones most well received by users. "[Product Director Luke] Wroblewski, known for his responsive and progressive design work, tells me that the key to this rollout is the consistent, mobile first experience that hasn't historically been a hallmark of G+." The article describes the new experience thus: "As you click through the new Google+ there is a lighter feel to it for sure. It's a product with more purpose, as before it felt like there was a million things flying at you. Notifications, +1's, share buttons. You were pretty much sharing things into a pit and hoping that Google would do fun things with them."
... to subscribe to Google+ to rate Android apps. That's really annoying
They're obviously keeping the biggest improvement for later, since they have yet to announce that they're completely removing the G+ tentacles from all of their other services. But I'm really looking forward to that announcement and am sure they won't screw me over in the meantime! :D
...like when they stopped allowing YouTube comments if you weren't signed up for G+, preventing me from talking to my viewers.
...like when they finally forced me sign up for G+ since I couldn't otherwise manage a charity's YouTube account.
...like when they refused to permit the use of pseudonyms for several months there, even though many of us have globally unique names.
...like when they automatically created G+ pages auto-populated with their details for everyone signing up for any of their other services.
...like when they opted me in automatically to have my G+ images used for their marketing purposes.
...like when they enabled abusive exes to find the former targets of their abuse when they auto-friended contacts in Buzz.
But hey, this time will be different. They're redesigning it so that it works better on the devices we use 24/7 and entrust with our most private information, which is totally cool, since they've admitted they made some mistakes and have said they're sorry.
I think they mean it this time. Everything will be better.