gPlus brings Google+ to Windows Phone too

Published by at

Continuing the Google theme for the week is a new update to gPlus, a third party client for Google+ (of course). In use, it works pretty well, despite a plain white UI and a somewhat laboursome means of navigating around. There's a trial version (with ads), so you can try it yourself and see what you think.

From the Windows Phone Store description (and showing a certain amount of humour!):

Stay connected and share life as it happens with Google+ client for Windows Phone. Post, view photos, blabla, blblabbalablblabalbala, balablabbalabalabalabalaba etc.

gPlus is a first NATIVE Google+ client for Windows Phone. Unlike other "clients" a.k.a. Google+ web pages viewers, it provides nice Metro (or, if you like, Modern UI) interface and supports OVER 9000 features like creating and editing your posts and comments, uploading photos, communitites, searching, notifications and even brewing coffee!

9000 features, including coffee-making, eh? New since the initial version, months ago, are:

  • fixed login
  • fixed links support
  • YouTube posts, events and galleries support
  • extended search option
  • AdDuplex ads in trial version
  • bugs reporting

Here's gPlus in action:

Screenshot, gPlus on Windows PhoneScreenshot, gPlus on Windows Phone

The login goes smoothly, though it's not entirely obvious this is done properly and securely (as in MetroMail); (right) The initial view of your Google+ stream.

Screenshot, gPlus on Windows PhoneScreenshot, gPlus on Windows Phone

Images are presented inline, with a layout that mimics the standard mobile view, albeit with (obviously) more responsiveness; (right) Circles and Communities work as expected, you swipe across to each section and then drill down as needed....

Screenshot, gPlus on Windows PhoneScreenshot, gPlus on Windows Phone

Browsing through messages posted to a Google+ community; (right) Back in the main stream, note the number of +1s, reshares and comments below each post - tapping any of these takes action or views, as appropriate.

Screenshot, gPlus on Windows PhoneScreenshot, gPlus on Windows Phone

Tapping the number top right of the main UI brings up notifications, as you'd expect. All very plain and monochrome though; (right) reading through comments on a post - scroll right to the bottom to see a 'reply' field if you want to add to them!

Screenshot, gPlus on Windows PhoneScreenshot, gPlus on Windows Phone

It's evident that, though this is faster than using Google+ in Internet Explorer, it's not that much faster, as evidenced by blank loading screens like this every now and then while HTML5 content is loaded into a web view; (right) The ads can be intrusive sometimes - does it really need an ad up and in the way when typing a message and half the screen's already gone by popping up the keyboard??

All very plain, though functional. If the developer's reading this, what about a 'night mode' or 'dark' option (to help with AMOLED screens and power consumption)?

You can try gPlus (with ads) or buy it here in the Windows Phone Store.

Source / Credit: Windows Phone Store