andon creativeGoogle has added new enhancements to Google+, as the company reveals that membership to the online social network has reached 135 million active users.
image from googleblog.blogspot.com
“Today Google+ is the fastest-growing network thingy ever. More than 500 million people have upgraded, 235 million are active across Google (+1’ing apps in Google Play, hanging out in Gmail, connecting with friends in Search…), and 135 million are active in just the stream,” announced Vic Gundotra, Senior Vice President at Google in a blog post.
“This enthusiasm, we think, stems from our building tools that build real relationships—in a live hangout, around a breathtaking photo, or with an inner circle of friends,” he said.
“So today we’re launching two new improvements that help bring the nuance and richness of real-life sharing to software,” Gundotra further added.
Google is bringing in photo-sharing service Snapseed to Android. Snapseed, which won iPad’s app of the year in 2011, was created by Nik Software, a German-based firm acquired by Google last year.
“Great pictures aren’t taken, they’re made—and Nik Software has been helping people make awesome photos for years. Having welcomed Nik to the Google family, we’re excited to bring their Snapseed app (last year’s iPad app of the year) to Android,” Gundotra stated.
Snapseed, which is akin to Instagram, is now available for free in both Apple and Android devices. Previously, its availability was limited to Apple devices but at the price of 4.99USD.
The other feature that will be added to Google + is ‘Communities’.
With Communities, Google+ users will be able to create public and private membership groups where they will be able to share ideas and participate in discussions about common interests and topics.
“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 way out there. With Google+ Communities there’s now a gathering place for your passions,” Gundotra said.