New Google+ iPhone App Improves Pics, Elevates +1 Button

Google just overhauled its Google+ iPhone app. Whereas previous updates had been primarily concerned with adding functionality (like video-chat “hangouts”), this time the search giant says it’s all about the “sensory” experience.

Google describes the Google+ 2.0.0.558 update (that’s really the version number) as taking full advantage of the mobile experience.

“We’re not interested in a mobile or social experience that’s just smaller,”
Google’s blog post reads. “We’re embracing the sensor-rich smartphone (with its touchable screen and high-density display), and transforming Google+ into something more intimate, and more expressive.”

The entire interface has been reworked from top to bottom. At launch, the app still takes you to your stream, but every post in that stream now puts photos front and center, with larger, crisper type on text. Importantly, text now overlays the top of photos, saving space. Instead of changing your stream with a swipe, you now tap the “All Circles” menu to change your stream’s view.

Click within a post, and the photo or video fills the post, with any accompanying text beneath, links in bold blue text. You’ll also the +1 button prominently in the top corner of any post — it stays there no matter how deep you scroll.

The profile and photos pages have changed the least, getting updated with the same fonts as the rest of the system, which appears to be some form of Helvetica.

The iPhone version is rolling out today, and Google says an Android update is coming within the next few weeks. No word on the mobile site, or whether the Google+ will ever get the full iPad-app treatment — though this “immersive” update seems a no-brainer for that platform.

What do you think of the Google+ update? Let us know in the comments.

1. Access Your Brand Page

Once you've set up your brand page, you access it through your personal Google+ profile.
On your home page below your name and avatar pic is a drop down menu.
Open this menu to see your page, click on it to access it.

2. Adding People to Circles

You can't add a person to a brand page's circles unless he has first added your brand page to his circles.
To see who has added your brand, go to the "Circles" tab and click on "People who've added you."
You can now add these folk into relevant circles.

3. Your Brand Page Google+ URL

Google gives you your brand page's URL on set-up, but if you need to find it again, click on "Get started" under your name and avatar on your brand's home page.
This takes you to a useful admin info page which includes a "Tell the world" section, under which you'll find your URL.

4. Remove Unwanted Tabs

There aren't many customization options for Google+ pages, but one thing you can do is remove extraneous tabs.

If videos and photos aren't relevant to your brand's page you can choose not to display them.

Go to your profile page, click "Edit Profile" in the top right corner and then click on either "Photos" or "Videos."

Here you can decide to hide one or both of these from view.

5. Connect Your Site to Google+

Google offers easy-to-use code and various G+ buttons so that you can link your site to Google+.

In addition to pointing people to your shiny new social space, this also means your linked site is eligible for Google Direct Connect.

To find the code and buttons, go to the "Get Started" option under your brand's name and avatar on your home page.

6. Lock Posts to Prevent Sharing

Google+ offers the ability to lock posts within a certain circle.

Before you share your post, click the drop down arrow underneath the four icons on the right.
Here you can "lock" the post so it can't be shared further.

Don't forget it's still possible for someone to copy and paste or screengrab the content though -- so it's more a way to send a "don't share this" message, rather than an infallible privacy solution.

7. Hide Your Follower Count

While you're building your brand's presence on Google+, you might want to hide your low follower count.
On your home page, click the "Change who is visible here" option.

You can now choose to hide how many people have added you to circles.

8. Add Useful Links

You can add links to your "About" page on Google+.

The good thing about this feature is that you have complete freedom.

Whether you're pointing people to other social profiles or flagging great sites, you can do it in your own words.

To add links, click on "Edit Profile" when you're on the "About" page and then click "Recommended Links" to open the edit options.

9. Use Circles

Google+ has given you circles. Don't be square -- use them.

Whether you're grouping people by location, interests or other relevant categories, you can broadcast your brand's message in a tailored fashion to relevant circles.

This will mean people are seeing content from you that is relevant to them, and will be more likely to engage with your brand.

To set up new circles, go to the "Circles" page and create from there.

10. Have Fun With Your Scrapbook Photos

The ability to display photos at the top of your profile page is great, and offers a quick, visual cue for your brand.

The photos that show up in this space are your first five Google+ "Scrapbook photos".

Have fun with this. Get creative and you'll make people smile as they land on your brand's page. They may even be tempted to add you to one of their circles!






















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How To Make Your iPhone Write Your Expense Reports

BY Neal Ungerleider | 04-04-2012 | 8:30 AM ExpenseMagic is a recently launched app that lets users upload receipts via Dropbox and Evernote and quickly generate expense reports.



Digital document junkies, rejoice: Recently launched iPhone app ExpenseMagic uses Evernote and Dropbox to capture receipts and turn them into usable expense reports. ExpenseMagic, which operates on a subscription basis, also has built-in FreshBooks, FreeAgent, and Xero compatibility.

The program is designed for use in corporate settings by employees with frequent expenses. Users snap pictures of their receipts, and then either upload them directly to ExpenseMagic or save them in their Dropbox or Evernote account. After the receipt is shared with ExpenseMagic, offshore bookkeepers based in India enter the data into a secure account that can then be exported. Receipts are processed within 24 hours of uploading. ExpenseMagic, based in London, currently operates in both the United States and United Kingdom; bookkeepers are trained in both countries' tax laws.

Corporate users have the option of either having expenses automatically sent to a designated employee or of letting individual users manage their own expenses. A geotagging feature also notes the country in which an image was taken for automatic currency conversion. The receipt items are entered automatically, letting users skip the process of manually entering expenses.



According to ExpenseMagic's Adam O'Kane, the firm decided to use human bookkeepers for data entry due to technical issues surrounding OCR readers for receipts. Users also have the option of manual entry and the capability to leave notes about each receipt. Entries can also sync to a phone's diary and automatically append meeting and event information.

ExpenseMagic offers several subscription plans. A no-frills version of the software without data entry is available for free, and unlimited subscriptions are offered at $11.99 for 30 days and $20.99 for 90 days. A pay-as-you-go plan also offers 20 receipts for $4.99. Although the app is currently only available for iOS, an Android version is expected to launch in the coming months.

Due to the fact that ExpenseMagic stores receipt data on the cloud, security is an issue. Apart from the built-in security measures at Evernote and Dropbox, data is also secured with 128-bit encryption SSL and ISO certified up to industry standards.

It's important to note that the sort of data ExpenseMagic deals with could be extremely profitable for the firm. Although the company did not discuss any immediate plans to collect or analyze data related to the processed expenses with Fast Company, data analysis and mining could help outside firms understand who's spending what when, and where. In turn, ExpenseMagic--or other companies like it dealing in expense processing--could, yes, expense other firms to analyze the aggregate data.

The market for expense apps is a considerable one; both the iTunes store and Google Play have considerable sections dedicated to expense-tracking apps. ExpenseMagic's smart move is their Evernote and Dropbox integration, which makes use considerably easier for most customers.

For more stories like this, follow @fastcompany on Twitter. Email Neal Ungerleider, the author of this article, here or find him on Twitter and Google+.


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