Google+ undergoes its biggest redesign as it looks to strip away the failures
Google has completely redesigned its social network service with a new app-like layout and increased focus on two of its most used aspects; communities and collections.
Google+ now boasts a cleaner interface with an emphasis on its Communities feature which encourages people to connect over shared interests and its Collections area which allows groups to sort posts by topics to make it easier for people to find content they like.
Both features launched earlier this year, following on from a raft of changes which Google has made in an attempt to stay relevant in a realm dominated by Facebook and Twitter. These changes largely involved stripping away features which made Google+ seem overcrowded and confusing such as +1s and 'auto-awesome' which only added to its list of failed experiments.
The ‘more is less’ mantra of the redesign encompasses a more app-like look and has rolled out across web, iOS and Android from today. Having originally started life as a Facebook-style social network for posting links, photos, status updates and joining circles from where to share content with specific people, Google+ failed to be seen as relevant.
The aspects of which proved successful, such as Google Photos, have been invested in and moved out of the service to enjoy life as a successful standalone service. This focus on investing in the popular elements and stripping away the blemishes is the thinking behind the redesign and may help give Google+ an identity which doesn’t serve challenge its colossal rivals such as Facebook.