Google is all about change and innovation — making things easier and run smoother.  They recently released updates for the Chrome OS and Google Play Music.  And just yesterday, they announced more changes on Google+.

“[W]e’re introducing a more functional and flexible version of Google+,” as stated on their official blog.  “We think you’ll find it easier to use and nicer to look at, but most importantly, it accelerates our efforts to create a simpler, more beautiful Google.”

So what does the new and improved Google+ offer?

First off, when you login to your Google+ account, you’ll be greeted by a small window telling you that something has changed, in case you don’t notice, and there are icons on that window that take you on a grand tour of the new Google+.

If you close that window, you’ll immediately notice that something’s different.  The icons used to be at the top, now they’re on the left side, and get this: it’s now a dynamic ribbon of applications which allows you to drag apps up or down to create the order you want, hover over certain apps to reveal a set of quick actions, and show or hide apps by moving them in and out of “More”.  This is an effort to make Google+ clutter-free and ready for “The Next Big Thing”, whatever that may be.

Google always wanted to make everything sharable and seamless, but sharing is just a part of the big picture.  Conversing with your peers is another.  Google wants everything on Google+ to be memorable and so they’ve added:

• Full bleed photos and videos that’ll make you really proud to post
• A stream of conversation “cards” that make it easier to scan and join discussions
• An activity drawer that highlights the community around your content

One of the most popular features of Google+ is the Hangouts.  The team saw how people used the feature to create memorable, heartwarming videos, so they decided to offer an unforgettable experience.  Google+ now offers a more dedicated Hangouts page that creates even more opportunities to connect in person, including:

• An always-updated list of invitations from the people in your circles
• Quick access to every public and On Air hangout, for those times when you want to meet someone new, or watch a live broadcast
• A rotating billboard of popular hangouts, pro tips and other items you don’t want to miss

“By focusing on you, the people you care about, and the stuff you’re into, we’re going to continue upgrading all the features you already know and love—from Search and Maps to Gmail and YouTube,” Vic Gondutra, Google Senior Vice President concluded on the blog post.  “With today’s foundational changes we can move even faster—toward a simpler, more beautiful Google.”

The update was a necessary one, and we can expect Google+ to continuously be updated in the coming months as its core features are fleshed out and further integrated with Google’s other Apps and services.  From early on we recognized Google’s serious about going social, and will continue to tweak the Google+ experience to better incorporate your existing and potential Google-related activity, whether you like it or not, whether you’re aware or not.  The changes are good from a usability standpoint, and will likely be perks for brand use as well.