Google has updated the Google+ iOS app today, adding a key mobile feature, which was previously only available to Android users. Instant Upload, once enabled, automatically sends all photos and videos taken from the Google+ app to a private Google+ album. It also works for pics taken in other apps for a brief period after the Google+ app is closed. Since they’re already uploaded, that makes sharing them via Google+ practically instantaneous.
The update also adds the “What’s Hot” stream, which highlights popular posts from around Google+, already available on the mobile Web version. There’s also a funky feature that lets users send feedback to Google+ by shaking the phone.
We called Instant Upload Google+’s killer feature because of how much easier it makes photo sharing. Apple’s own iCloud instant upload feature has a 1,000 photo limit, but this allows unlimited uploads to Picasa albums, as long as your videos are under 15 minutes and your photos are smaller than 2048 x 2048. Note that for iPhone 4 and 4S users, full-size photos are bigger than that, so there’s a 1 GB limit unless you shoot smaller.
Instant Upload was a secret weapon for Android before, but now iOS users get the benefit as well.
The photos are uploaded to a private album, so only you can see them until you decide to share to Google+. The advantage is that you don’t have to wait for the photo to upload when you share; it just changes the status from private to shared.
You can download Google+ for iOS from the App Store.
