Google+ Rolls Out Major New Visual Updates

google+ cover photo

Google has started to roll out some major new visual improvements to Google+ profiles and pages. The new update makes cover photos much larger than before, giving you the chance to make your featured image or message really standout! According to Sara McKinley of Google,

We spend lots of time listening to your feedback, and today we’re launching some profile and page updates that you’ve been asking for… Everything’s rolling out gradually, so check back soon if you don’t see it yet. Once it’s live (at plus.google.com/me), let us know your thoughts in the comments!”

google+ cover photo

The new updates include:

Bigger Cover Photos

Cover photos just got a whole lot bigger with a better aspect ratio than before (up to 2120px by 1192px), and they display in 16×9 when fully expanded. This allows more images to be used as cover photos, and there’s now a ton of real-estate for your selection to shine (like this stunning example picture of Seattle above, “Painted by Light” by Dave Morrow). But it’s maybe using a little too much space in my opinion, as you have to scroll pretty far now to reach your posts, but I do like the attempt at making the site more visual.

New Tab for your Local Reviews

Google also added a new tab for your Local Reviews. In addition to keeping track of your photos, +1’s and YouTube videos, there’s now a place for all your Local Reviews to be stored too. You can highlight your favorite restaurants, or hide the tab completely if you want via the settings.
 

Easier Way to Edit Your Info

Editing your info just got a whole lot easier too. The ‘About’ tab now consists of separate cards of information including your Story, Places, Education, Basic Information, Links and more. Each block has its own prominent edit link, where as before, you can choose to share your information publicly, with specific circles or just keep them private to yourself.
 
google plus visual updates
 
So have you seen these new visual changes on Google+ yet? What are your thoughts?
 

Daniel Zeevi

By Daniel Zeevi

Daniel is a social network architect, web developer, infographic designer, writer, speaker and founder of DashBurst. Full-time futurist and part-time content curator, always on the hunt for disruptive new technology, creative art and web humor.

13 comments

    1. Very true, I think if Google allowed us to configure the cover photo height to our own needs though, this would become a really neat feature.

  1. I can see they are copying Facebook’s Timeline by having such a huge photo, a change that I don’t care for myself. Screen space is precious and I don’t want the top half of the screen to be one photo. It must look crazy on a mobile device.

  2. Nice. Yeah, I’ve noticed some of these. While it looks nice, I’d love it if they started getting innovative and start pulling people from Facebook. Most people avoid G+ because their friends and family aren’t there–not because it isn’t pretty enough. THanks for the article!

    1. I would agree your friends are much less likely to be on Google+, but everyone searches via Google which heavily favors content shared on g+.

  3. I think Google+ has always tried to be the new Facebook. And while they seem to be copying FB cover photos, I think to some extent all of the big SM platforms copy each other – Look at the Twitter-like ticker on Facebook, the Facebook-like cover photos on Twitter, the Facebook commenting feature I’m using right this minute on your WordPress blog…the list goes on. I rarely use G+, but I like the new look – even if they’re copying Facebook.

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