Google+ iPhone App: 5 Things You Need to Know (very good article)

Almost a month after Google announced its new social network, the Google+ iPhone app is finally available in the iTunes App Store. Those who downloaded the app Tuesday when it first went live complained of a litany of bugs. Google has since released an update, fixing many of the errors.

The Google+ iPhone app is impressive--it has a fairly intuitive interface, a clean design and a few cool features unique to the mobile version. And while any iPhone user can download it now, only users with Google+ invitations can currently use it.

Here's a look at five things you should know about the Google+ iPhone app, from changing your location settings to uploading photos, and a few tips to help you along the way.

1. View Your Google+ Stream Three Ways

When you open the Google+ iPhone app, the home screen displays five features: your stream of updates; Huddle, the feature that lets you chat among your circles; photos; your profile; and your circles. Tap "Stream" to access three views of updates.

The first view of your stream includes updates only from Google+ users in your circles. Visually, it looks a lot like Facebook's iPhone app with the user's photo next to their update, an excerpt from a link they attached and comments from other Google+ users.

[10 Google+ Tips for Beginners]

Swiping your finger across the screen from right to left will change the view of your stream to something unique to the Google+ iPhone app: incoming messages from people near your current location.

Swiping your finger once more from right to left will change the stream view to "Incoming," which includes posts from everyone who has put you in a circle.

2. Google+ Check-Ins

At the top right of the app you'll see two icons: a checkmark and a pencil. Tap the checkmark to load a list of locations near you and check in.

By default, check-in privacy is set so only those in your circles can view it. You can change this by tapping the "Your circles" bar. You can also attach a photo from your camera or take a picture.

[Google+ Privacy: 5 Settings You Need to Know]

Unlike Foursquare or Facebook check-ins, there are no deals attached to checking in, though it's likely that feature will come soon. Clicking on a location from the mobile app will load the corresponding Google Places page.

3. Remove Your Location from Google+ Updates

While the Google+ iPhone app may limit your location to only your circles, by default, all your mobile updates will include roughly where you are. Here's how to remove your location: Click the pencil icon in the top right to create a new post. Your location is listed just above the camera icon on the bottom. Click the X next to it. This bar will now read "No location attached."

There does not seem to be individual settings for the Google+ iPhone app, which means if you never want your location attached to an update, you will need to turn it off every time.

4. Comment On, +1 and Mute Google+ Posts

One part of the Google+ iPhone app that needs tweaking is the interaction with posts in your streams. Unlike Facebook's iPhone app, there are no buttons within your streams that let you comment on, +1 or mute someone's post. Instead, you need to tap the individual's post, which will take to you a new page, in order to comment.

[5 Google+ Tips for Advanced Users]

This new page includes a +1 button at the top, as well as a drop-down menu at the bottom with options to mute or report the post. One big feature that is missing: the ability to share posts from within the app.

5. Uploading Photos to Google+

While you can attach photos to any update, you can also upload ones individually or in bulk via the Photos button on your Google+ home screen. One cool feature: Your photos homepage displays four albums ("From your circles," "Photos of you," "Your albums," and "From your phone) and flashes the images in a slideshow you can view from this screen.

The Google+ iPhone app makes uploading pictures from your phone particularly easy. Tap the album "From your phone." This will load all the photos you have stored on your iPhone. Then tap the individual pictures to select them and click Share.

[Google+ Tip: How to Cross-Post Updates to Facebook, Twitter]

For a first release, the Google+ iPhone app is pretty solid. It's still early to see how the group chat feature, Huddle, will take off, but as Google+ opens the flood gates to more users, this is likely to become a popular element.

Very good article on the newest Google+ app for iPhone, tips on using it, links *from* this site to more help with learning how to use Google+, including what privacy settings to use.

GetPacked (an app for making travel pack lists easily on Apple mobile devices), looks great, just $.99

Click here to download:
GetPacked_app-1.pdf (603 KB)
(download)
http://itunes.apple.com/app/id318817435

http://www.iphonelife.com/promotions/getpacked-iphone-app-cuts-travelers-pack...

 

 

I’d highly recommend this ebook, new version just out minutes ago: Take Control of Upgrading to Lion


Free sample

Take Control of Upgrading to Lion by Joe Kissell

 

Learn Lion Fast!
Save 20% when you buy with Take Control of Using Lion.

Bundle Discount!
Save 30% when you build your own bundle of three or more books, including Take Control of... Take Control of Upgrading to Lion with Take Control of... OLD WORDING -ACE -->

(30% discount overrides other coupons and is calculated on the first screen of our cart.)

Take Control of Upgrading to Lion

Install Mac OS X 10.7 Lion with confidence!

Join Joe Kissell and learn how to best upgrade to Mac OS X 10.7 Lion in the latest edition of his popular "Take Control of Upgrading..." ebook.

Whether your upgrade is fairly straightforward or utterly complicated, Joe explains what to do before you start upgrading to Lion, how to upgrade effectively, what to do if your upgrade has a problem, and how to get a smart start once the upgrade is completed. New Lion features that you'll learn about include FileVault 2 encryption (Joe recommends this for most laptop users) and Recovery mode. The ebook also covers the basics of installing Lion Server.

  • More Info
  • Contents & Intro
  • FAQ
  • Blog

Benefit from Joe's experience in writing about how to install Mac OS X since 2003, and let him help you install Lion. You'll get specific advice for how to:

Prepare for an (Ideally) Problem-free Upgrade

  • Part with Rosetta: Understand and manage the fact that PowerPC-based software will not run under Lion, given the lack of the Rosetta emulator that was used in recent versions of Mac OS X.

  • Handle your hardware: Check your hardware for Lion compatibility. Also, in order to fully enjoy Lion, it might be time for you to install more RAM, free up disk space, or add other peripherals, particularly a Magic Trackpad.

  • Deal with duplication: Learn what a disk duplicate is, why having one is essential before installing Lion, and how to make one easily and affordably. Also, get help with backing up a Windows volume, should you be running Windows on your Mac via Boot Camp.

  • Verify that all systems are go: Test to be sure your memory and disks are running properly—better to discover and correct a problem now during your upgrade—and find advice on clearing extra files and software off your disk so that you get a fresh start with Lion (and more disk space for it!).

  • Consider a few geeky details: If you secure your data and documents with some form of disk encryption now, or would like to do so under Lion, get advice on what to do before you upgrade and learn how Lion's much-improved FileVault 2 will operate, plus consider the pros and cons of running FileVault 2. Also, read what Joe thinks of partitioning and what you might want to do about it before installing.

  • Make a plan: Learn how to install Lion if you're installing over 10.6 Snow Leopard, and consider the pros and cons of several techniques for how to install onto a Mac running either 10.5 Leopard or 10.5 Tiger. Also, if you have more than one Mac in your home, learn ways to download the Lion installer only once, but use it legitimately on your different Macs. And, if a nearly 4 GB download is unrealistic, get guidance for how to best obtain Lion.

If your "upgrade" involves moving to a new Mac from an old Mac (or a Windows PC), learn how to best install Lion (if needed) and transfer your old stuff. A tip: if possible, do not even turn on a new Mac that has Lion installed until you've read this ebook!

Install Lion!

  • Install with confidence: Buying, downloading, and running the Lion installer isn't all that difficult, but it is an an entirely new (and rather slow) way of installing an operating system upgrade, so Joe explains what to expect.

  • Solve problems If your Mac won't restart after the installation, this ebook explains exactly what to do (knock on wood!).

Start Smart with Key Post-installation Tasks

  • Avoid slowdowns: Put off a few tasks (running Spotlight, turning on Time Machine) that will slow you down during your first few hours in Lion.

  • Get set and go: Joe reminds you to run Software Update, helps you set up an extra user account while noting a few account-related changes in Lion, discusses the pros and cons of the new FileVault 2 and gives directions for enabling it, explains the Incompatible Software Folder, provides need-to-know-now Time Machine basics (including encryption of Time Machine backups), gives you the low-down on what's going on with Apple Mail plug-ins, and more.

  • Go beyond...Learn why the $49.99 Lion Server is interesting for Lion users, and how to complete a basic installation.

Reconnoiter with Recovery Mode:

  • View the hidden volume: A final chapter explains the new-in-Lion Recovery HD volume, and even tells you what to type in Terminal so you can check it out.

  • Recover from disaster: Find out how to boot in Recovery mode, in case your Mac won't boot and you don't have a convenient way to boot it otherwise.

Learn Lion

  • Read the sequel: Although this ebook won't teach you much more about Lion beyond what is described above, note that it was written in coordination with Matt Neuburg's Take Control of Using Lion, so it winds down as that book picks up.

  • Save money with a bundle: Check the left margin of this page for bundle pricing if you purchase both titles together.

Book Info

  • 150 pages
  • Version 1.1
  • Updated Jul 20, 2011
  • 2.0 MB download
  • ISBN: 9781615421381
  • Free sample with Table of Contents, Intro, Quick Start, and section starts.

iPad & Kindle

A Mobipocket version is not currently available for this ebook.

About the Author

Kissell, Joe headshotJoe Kissell has written numerous books about the Macintosh, including many popular Take Control ebooks. He's also Senior Editor of TidBITS and a Senior Contributor to Macworld, and previously spent ten years in the Mac software industry.

Book Reviews

Reviews of Previous Editions

Author Interviews

Visit our catalog to see all the other books we publish!

Teach classes? Check out our discounted class copy pricing!

Orders are processed for us by eSellerate (ebooks) and QOOP (print books) on secure sites.
Copyright 2011 TidBITS Publishing Inc. | Privacy Policy | Contact | Follow on Twitter