Google+ gets a new News Stream and new image-editing features

Google has introduced a new layout for its social networking service – Google+. The new layout is very reminiscent of another social networking service, Pinterest. It has a triple-column design and has options to switch to other designs, such as the standard single-column design. The interface has also become card-based, much like Google’s other services.

The new triple-column redesign for Google+

The company is also bringing new features to the service, such as the new implementation of hashtags. The new hashtags improve discoverability of posts on the service. Hashtags are also sometimes automatically applied, say, when there is a picture of the Eiffel Tower, Google’s servers automatically analyse the image and apply the #EifelTower hashtag, clicking on which will take you to other posts falling under the hashtag.

The company has also announced its new suite of image editing for Google+. The image editing suite is cloud-based and is an improvement over the one already present on Google+. One of these features of this suite is the ability to pick out the best pictures from a bunch of other pictures. It uses algorithms that look for problems such as over/underexposure, blurry shots, repeats, recognition of landmarks, recognition of people, aesthetics and affinity, which recognises people important to you by matching them with those present in your family circles on Google+.

The new image-editing features of Google+

Next up is enhancing images. Google describes it as an easy button to make images look better. It automatically detects and corrects problems in photographs, including tonal distribution, noise reduction, white balance and vignettes, among others. These capabilities can make images look more vivid and colourful.’

Auto Awesome is another new feature. When you take a series of pictures of the same scenario, Auto Awesome can combine these into a single image, animated gif or a collage of these pictures. This includes things like making people smile in pictures, HDR and animation.