Using the Google+ Mobile Website
The first step when using Google+ on a smartphone is to look at the Google+ website (http://plus.google.com). If you access it from a mobile device, you see a mobile-optimized version of the Google+ site. To access the site, you need to fill in the Email and Password text boxes and tap Sign in. This takes you to the mobile website (as shown in Figure 13-1).
FIGURE 13-1 The Google+ mobile website.
The Google+ mobile website offers much of the functionality of the main website, plus a few extra features. The majority of the display is the Stream, and you can scroll up and down new posts from people you are following.
The Google+ menu bar has four icons:
+ Home. This icon is displayed on nearly every screen. Tap it to return to the main page.
+ Refresh. Tap this icon to view new posts in the Stream.
+ Check mark. Tap this icon to check into your location.
+ Post. Tap the post (pencil) icon to share your thoughts.
Below these icons are three options that you can use to view different types of Streams:
+ Circles. People who are in your Circles.
+ Incoming. People who are following you.
+ Nearby. People who are near your physical location (as determined by the phone’s location services).
You can choose between these three different Streams by swiping left and right across the Stream in the main display.
A right-facing arrow appears next to each post in the Stream. Tapping it opens the post in its own window (as shown in Figure 13-2). Here are some of the things you can do with a post:
FIGURE 13-2 Looking at a post in the mobile browser.
+ Tap +1. This +1’s the post.
+ Tap the down-arrow icon. This gives you the option to share a post (you can also report abuse and mute a post from this menu).
+ Tap a link in a post to open it in a new window in the mobile browser.
+ Tap a person’s name to view details.
+ Tap an image to open it in a photo viewer.
+ Tap in the Comment text box to enter a response. Then tap Post to send it.
Checking into locations
One neat thing about the Google+ mobile website is that it integrates with a smartphone’s location services to check you into a location (to let people know where you are). This is a key feature that you are more likely to use on a smartphone than on a laptop, even if you are working in a mobile fashion. Here’s how to check into your location:
1. Tap the check mark icon in the Stream.
2. If this is the first time you are using location services, you need to approve it by selecting the Remember preference check box and tapping Share location. A list of the nearby locations Google recognizes appears (as shown in Figure 13-3).
FIGURE 13-3 A list of locations you can check into.
3. If the location is in the list, tap it to check in and add it to your post (as shown in Figure 13-4).
FIGURE 13-4 The check-in as it appears on your post.
How Does My Phone Know Where I Am? Mobile phones use a combination of GPS satellites, and Wi-Fi hotspot and cellular data tower triangulation to determine your position. Because GPS provides the most accurate location, services are more accurate when you’re outdoors.
You can also search for a nearby location by typing its name into the search text box. Typically, bars, shops, restaurants, and landmarks are included in Google’s database of locations.
Can I View Locations on a Map? If a person has shared his or her location on a post, the address appears. Press the Menu button when viewing a post and tap Map to open it in Google Maps.
Creating a post
Using the mobile version of Google+, you can post on the go. Follow these steps to quickly share your thoughts while you’re on the move:
1. In the Google+ app, tap the post (pencil) icon.
2. Tap the center of the screen to bring up the keyboard.
3. Type your post into the text box (as shown in Figure 13-5). Tap outside of the text box to bring back the controls.
FIGURE 13-5 Creating a post.
4. Use the Circles text box to select the Circles or individuals you want to add. Tap Done or OK.
5. Tap the + icon next to No location attached to add your location information. Google tries to guess the nearest location, but if you tap a listed location, you can choose from the list.
6. Tap the post icon to add the text to your Stream.
The great thing about the Google+ mobile website is that you can quickly share a thought online, no matter where you are. The downside is that you are limited to sharing text and location; you can’t share anything more complicated, such as photos and videos. For that sort of functionality, you need to install the Google+ app (which I cover later in this chapter).
Using other Google+ features online
By default the Google+ mobile website takes you to the Stream, so you might find it easy to overlook the other features the website offers. You can access them by tapping Home. The following are available:
+ Stream. The default landing page that shows recent posts.
+ Photos. Tap this icon to view photos from your Circles, pictures in which you are tagged, and your albums. You can’t upload photos to Google+ from the mobile website, however.
+ Circles. Tap this icon to view all the different people in your Circles. You can only view Circles and the individuals within them. You cannot create or manage Circles.
+ Profile. Tap this icon this to view your profile (as shown in Figure 13-6). You can view the About, Posts, and Photos pages.
FIGURE 13-6 A profile on the Google+ mobile website.
+ Notifications. Tap this icon to view notifications regarding activity on your Google+ account.
I like the Google+ mobile website because it offers quick access to Google+ and (for a website) is packed with a lot of functionality. But there’s no doubt in my mind that you should take the time to install the Google+ app if you have an Android- or iOS-based mobile device (Apple iPhone or iPod touch). The app packs a lot more power and offers a wider range of functions, as well as a slicker interface.
Can I Add People to Circles? Yes, but not through the Circles page. If you tap a person’s name in the Stream, you see an Add to circles option.