Google+ for iOS updated with Auto Enhance for photos, related hashtags, interactive Google Offers, and more

Google on Tuesday updated its native Google+ app for iOS, with a big focus on photos. You can download the latest version now directly from Apple’s App Store.

The biggest addition is undoubtedly the photo editing features, brought over from the desktop side. There is Auto Enhance, which makes subtle improvements automatically, and Auto Highlight, which creates a selection of shots for you to check over and potentially share as a separate album.

Many users will likely try the first one and use it regularly if they deem it worthy. The second will be a bit harder to get used to as trusting Google’s algorithm to pick good pictures, rather than sifting through hundreds if not thousands of pictures from a vacation, is tempting but unlikely to be ideal.

In the stream, the Google+ app has also been tweaked to list the new automated hashtags found on the desktop version. Tapping either of them will produce new streams of related content, which is nifty for those who like browsing social networks by topic.

Speaking of the stream, you also have a bit more control over it thanks to being able to decide how often the “What’s Hot” posts show up. On the flipside, there are new interactive Google Offers posts now, which can be annoying or useful, depending on the user.

There are also a few more editing features: you can edit more profile fields (and upload a cover photo) as well as edit comments. Lastly, there’s support for strikethrough-text (we’re not sure why exactly) and one-tap access to the new standalone Hangouts app.

Here’s the full Google+ version 4.40 for iOS changelog:

• New Google+ Photos features keep photos organized and looking their best: Make your photos look even better with Auto Enhance, Browse highlights from all your photos, and Share short animations, panoramas, and more.
• Hangouts has moved to its own app for messaging and video calls.
• Discover interesting content via related hashtags.
• Ability to edit more profile fields and upload a cover photo.
• New interactive Google Offer posts in the stream.
• Control how often What’s Hot posts appear in your stream.
• Support for displaying strikethrough text.
• Ability to edit comments.
• Ability to copy the post’s permalink.

Earlier this month at Google I/O 2013, the company announced 41 new Google+ features that affect the Stream, Hangouts, and Photos sections of the service. An Android app update and mobile Web update followed a week later.

Now that the iOS version has been updated, Google has brought all of its platforms up to speed (you’ll notice that the iOS changelog is similar to Android’s, but not identical as the two often have out-of-sync feature sets). There’s still no word of a Google+ app for BlackBerry nor Windows Phone, and we’re not exactly holding our breath.

Top Image Credit: Kimihiro Hoshino / Getty Images

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