#googleplusupdate is trending and again, it is an effort to build on Google’s social network. Two new tools are introduced in this update. One is Auto Hashtag, which seems to be borrowed from Twitter, while the other is Photo Text, which brings back memories of the basic LOLCats effect.
The Auto Hashtag option is a good tool for users on Google+ to know what people are talking about on Google+. Along with it, it even helps in talking about the trending topics all over the world, especially whats going on outside one’s social network.
Chris Messina, an open web advocate had something to say about the Hashtag tool. His Google Plus profile read, “From current events (#SOPA) to the arts (#MonochromeMonday) and all those photo tags [1]),+#hashtags are a great way to build communities around content on Google+.”
He even explained the tool usage as, “When you start typing a hashtag in a post or comment, Google+ will present a list of hashtags you might be looking for,” while he suggested users to give it a try adding, “Less hashing, more tagging, that’s what we say! Give it a try, and let us know what you think!”
The Google+ usability is quite low, as compared to other popular social networking site, such as Facebook and Twitter. However, continued efforts from Google+ would make the platform more user friendly and even attract traffic. So, the rolling out of this feature will help ease the task to some extent.
Here is a video posted by Chris, to explain the simple hashtagging:
{iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ align=”top”}http://www.youtube.com/embed/uVd9Ogcu_Ps{/iframe}
Talking about the other feature, it is more on the funny side, rather than bringing out one’s creativity. The new text option for photos help users in adding text to an image, which is like a basic text-editing tool. However, one can make use of this tool instantly, while uploading the image, which is a point that falls in its favor.
With events like ‘Oppose SOPA’ or any other event, users can upload photos and add in their thoughts on that particular event. 
But as a basic tool, it does not allow users to increase the size of the text, which means that for larger images, this won’t do any good.
However, the process is no where near to being difficult. One just has to drop a photo into your share box, click add text. Clicking on it opens a new window, wherein the image is on one side and on the other side, three lines are placed. The option allows users to add lines above, in the middle, and / or below the picture. There are even options to place each line in the left side, or on the right or middle.
The first feature might be a much more useful tool, as far as users are considered, but the second tool is a time waster, which will be liked by many.
On the whole, these tools might be good, but would not really pull in crowds to use Google+.