Google+ finally has a native iPad app and it looks great, but does anyone care?
Ouch.
Yeah I know you're saying it. That's fine. I'm writing it. Me. Me who was a huge fan of G+ for months. Who thought it could be great who…
Doesn't really go there any more. But back to the app.
For a long, long time iPad users have either been using the iPhone app in 2x mode (which left a lot to be desired) or in Safari (which was only a touch better). Finally Google got itself together and came out with a real native iPad app.
About freakin' time.
Now the app is very nice. A little odd that when I signed in it asked me if I wanted to follow more folks, but okay I can deal. And you know I almost want to stop the review here, since … I have to wonder if people are still interested.
I mean they should be since you can start and attend hangouts on G+ for free (you can't do that on Skype you know). The app is very functional; you can skim through a lot of posts with a few finger brushes. Google+ is still an interesting and vibrant place, when I wander over there to read things, so maybe the iPad all could give it a boost.
See, as I was working through this post, because the G+ app for iPhone inspired a lot of the iPad version, I had to wonder if the lack of an iPad app hampered Google+ from taking off and I have to wonder if this is too little too late.
I also figure you're wondering why this review isn't glowing with features. I mean you kinda expect that from me by now, right? The fact of the matter is, yes, the G+ app for the iPad is extremely well done. If you like G+, you'll love the app. Google has really been stepping up their app game of late and this new app is no exception. The problem is that Twitter and Facebook (and not that their apps are mind-blowingly awesome mind you) really dominate most of our attention. For better or worse, that's the plain truth. Google missed the boat by missing on the rapid change towards mobile social media consumption. Period.
How much traffic does mobile represent to Twitter and Facebook? Most of it. Now if Google has made it's Android, iPhone, and iPad apps more awesome than anything else going, I think they might have had a better chance with Google+, but they didn't and now Google+ is Google's big hope and…
And we'll just have to see.
Google+ for iPad
