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Google+ launches major redesign 

Last week, Google launched their major redesign of Google+, featuring a modern, simpler look that focuses on Communities and Collections.

When Google launched Google+, they hoped the network would compete with Facebook, however Google+ has certainly not threatened more established social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. As a large number of people use Google+ when they log onto their Gmail account or Google Drive, the fact that people are not actively using Google+ is a worry for the provider.

To find a solution for this, Google analysed usage data and carried out research amongst their users and came to the conclusion the site needed to be more user and mobile friendly. The decision was also made to change the direction of the platform by focusing on the features that have consistently received engagement – Collections and Communities.

Google’s Luke Wroblewski stated:

“With Collections and Communities, discovering amazing things is simple: just follow or join whatever happens to pique your interests.”

The new Google+ looks to be a more aesthetically pleasing version of Facebook Groups. However, Google+ will rely on the user base filling it up with content of interest instead of predicting what its users are interested in.

Many people may consider finding their own content backdated and too much effort as most networks aim to facilitate the browsing experience by identifying potential stories of interest for the user. It will be interesting to see if this new direction does in fact give Google+ the makeover it desperately needs – our inkling is that this is unlikely.

Tumblr adds GIF-maker

Last week, Tumblr updated its IOS app to include a new feature that lets users turn photo bursts and videos into GIFs.

The app claims to have made GIF creating easy, as it automatically detects ‘GIFable’ moments in your camera roll and presents the GIF alongside your images, ready to post. If the GIF is over three seconds long, Tumblr will ask you to trim it down. Users can also choose to speed up or slow down their GIF or select a setting that will play the GIF on a continuous loop.

The news of Tumblr’s GIF launch is not surprising as the platform already has GIF-friendly features such as a GIF search function and a dedicated GIF watching section. Therefore, its users, who are already used to GIFs, are likely to welcome this creative addition.

A disadvantage we have noted is that ‘photo bursts’ will be turned to GIFs, meaning that it will not be possible to add pictures into the photo burst sequence. This limits the GIF-making ability of the app, as users may not be able to create the exact GIF they envisaged producing.

However, the fact that Tumblr has made GIF creation so easy, requiring ‘just a few taps’, will be a huge advantage for the platform that will be competing with other established GIF-making apps, such as Giphy and ASCO. Furthermore, Tumblr’s ability to turn videos into GIFs is an exciting and novel prospect that will give the app a huge advantage over its competitors.

Gone are the days where GIF makers had to spend hours fiddling with complicated desktop software like Photoshop to create content and this new feature only backs up the current trend of video being at the forefront of content.

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