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Google+ Updated With Local Reviews Tab, Larger Cover Photos

Google on Wednesday updated its Google+ social network with some user-requested changes and additions, including a new tab for quick access to Local reviews, easier profile editing, and much larger cover photos.

By Angela Moscaritolo
March 6, 2013
Google+ refresh

Google on Wednesday updated its Google+ social network with some user-requested changes and additions, including a new Local tab, easier profile editing, and much larger cover photos.

Gone are the dinky Google+ cover photos of the past. Thanks to the update, you can now select cover photos with a max resolution of 2,120 by 1,192, and the images will be displayed with a larger 16:9 aspect ratio when clicked on.

"This way more images can be used as cover photos, and there's more room for your selection to shine," Googler Sara McKinley wrote in a Google+ post.

There's also a new shortcut tab on the left-hand sidebar for quick access to Local reviews. From this tab, users can write reviews for places they've recently visited, explore recommended destinations in their area, and view offers from local businesses.

When I visited the new Local tab, it recommended I write reviews for several different places I'd recently searched for on Google, like the Post Office and Barnes & Noble. Those who don't think they'll use the new Local tab can hide it via the settings menu.

The update should also make it easier to edit your information on the social network. The About tab (located under your profile photo) now includes separate "cards," for things like Basic Information, Work, Education, Contact Information, and Links, each with its own Edit link at the bottom.

"As always: you can share specific fields with specific circles, or keep them just for you," McKinley wrote.

The update is rolling out "gradually" beginning today, so if you don't see it right away, just hold tight for a while and check back later.

The Google+ refresh comes as rival social network Facebook is planning to unveil an updated version of its news feed at an event that kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific. PCMag will be there, so stay tuned for all the news.

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About Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

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