How about the new Google Plus cover images?

[AvalancheSearch]

I logged into several accounts this morning and have noticed Google Plus has changed their cover images/layout... again! When I edit the cover image, it only allows me to pick the old ratios.

What do you think?

Here to stay?

Was there an announcement or anything about this?

[jesse-landry]

Yeah I love it. So much better than the giant cover photo, that was driving me bonkers to be honest.

[GPainter]

I saw it, for some reason I always get overly excited about a Google plus update, couldn't find a mention of it, not sure if I like it yet.

[MikeRoberts]

Can't say I love it but I otherwise agree with Jesse... that giant monstrosity of an image previously was just annoying.

[SebastianDyer]

Agreed! I'm sure this update will come as a big sigh of relief to many. The giant image was completely incongruous with the rest of the site and quite jarring.

There's a lot of empty space on pages, though - especially the profile page. Don't you think?

[DarinPirkey]

Nothing at Google is here to stay.  I can think of at least 5 cover photo changes already.  I didn't see any announcements but I now that the Google+ for Android rolled out yesterday.

Here are my thoughts

What I like about it:

• "that giant monstrosity of an image" that Mike Roberts mentioned is gone!  I hated having to scroll UP to see all of it.  That was just dumb.
• I like the 'info card' on the left side vs the bottom long drawn out text area we had before.
• I like that the 'info card' doesn't cover ANY of the image.  We spend a lot of money on photography and I don't want it covered.

What I don't like:

• It looks very blocky (<-- is that a word?).  I think a more artistic design would have been better.  www.google.com/+vzpro is very boring whereas www.google.com/+labovick, who designed their cover before to allow for the text area to be easily read, looks great.  I think making the 'info card' be a little longer and have a little shadowing behind it would make a world of difference as far as design.  I know we can design images to do that now but I think it is an easy adjustment for G+ to do.
• I don't like the fact that the background of the 'info card' is the same image as the one to the right and is extremely blurred.  I don't know if a solid color would be better but I just know I don't like it very much.

Ok,  I'm off my soapbox now.  Carry on...

[jesse-landry]

Yeah maybe "love it" was an overstatement. I'm just so relieved that the annoying cover image is gone.

[WhiteboardCreations]

I'm enjoying the simplistic look of the new G+ page. The top image, where we were forced to scroll up to view it was just a horrible experience for all users. That scrolling really never served any purpose than to frustrate people with the "teaser" effect.

Now, it's all right there as it should be. Removing the thinking, confusion and frustrations and going back to what Google says they strive for, improving our experience using their products. In my opinion, this new page stylization has done that for me.

Patrick

[AvalancheSearch]

Did you also see that Google Places pages that are listed as having "Service Areas" can now be automatically upgraded to Google Plus pages? Its a slow roll-out, but we're seeing it done when we log into accounts! Sometimes we have to go in and delete the old G+ Business page to leave just the G+ Local page.

[AvalancheSearch]

The blurred background it just confusing. If it was transparent, and the info box showed the background image underneath instead of a duplicate, I think it would be better.

[AvalancheSearch]

Oh yah, and blocky is a word according to: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/blocky

[DarinPirkey]

The problem with making it transparent is that you would lose 25% or so of the image which means you would still have to add some design to it (ie. making your picture offset or something)  The way it is now you can just add a photo and you're done.  No editing or Photoshop skills required.  I just think it's too 'blocky' (thanks for the verification on that word) and think the 'info card' should be just a slightly bigger size or something to make it work better.  You should be able to customize your background color for the 'text card' too.  I think it would work better with branding.

https://plus.google.com/+LaBovick/ has their image fade at the bottom and the 'info card' to the left is a little longer and it looks nice that way.  If Google could make this sort of design default I think it would look a lot better.  Maybe even have the menu fit in that negative space below the image and to the right of the 'info card'.

Unfortunately I don't work at Google anymore so I'll just build a template to make it work.  Either way it's much better then the old style.