Week in Review - February 6, 2016: Google+, Google Photos, Android Wear

This week there were Google+ updates for iOS and web, new features in Google Photos on desktop, Hangouts appeared in the Google App Launcher and Android Wear gets a major update. Plus there are tips and updates for YouTube creators, small business owners, webmasters, and more.

This week’s kaleidoscope gridiron image honors of the great American holiday, Super Bowl Sunday. We gather to eat tasty snacks, drink cold beverages and watch ads. Also a football game is played.

• YouTube AdBlitz: Watch, vote and share on your favorite Super Bowl commercials 
• Let Google Maps be your game day guide
• How to Fake Your Way Through the Super Bowl Without Knowing Anything About Football 

Google+

• Update: iOS G+ App update: now use with Pages, access circle streams and more! (Luke Wroblewski)
• Update: Google+ Web Preview update: improved people search, view large profile photos, redesigned Following screen and more (Luke Wroblewski)
• Update: Additional Google+ Web Preview update: real-time new posts indicator (Luke Wroblewski)
• Tip: How to use Google+ Collections: manage your direct messages with a Private Collection and more (Robert Wallis)

Other Social Media

• Twitter is combating promotion of terrorism by suspending accounts and working with authorities (Twitter Policy Blog)
• Facebook tells Pages not to ask for clicks or other actions as news feed is rearranged again (Facebook Media Blog)
• Facebook turns 12 and shows off personalized 'Friends Day' videos (Mashable)

Local Businesses on Google

• Tip: Can't sign in to your business's verified Local Page? Google can help! (Online Ownership)
• Tip: Tweet to @GoogleSmallBiz to get support for your business (Joy Hawkins)
• Article: Fake Online Locksmiths May Be Out to Pick Your Pocket, Too (New York Times)

Google Photos

• Update: Now make animations and collages in Google Photos on desktop (Google Photos)
• Update: Snapseed 2.3 update for iOS and Android: new features and bug fixes (Snapseed)
• Update: Google Photos for Android update: see photos taken on same day as search results (Android Police)

YouTube and Video Creators

• New! YouTube Red original series and movies premiere February 10th (YouTube Creators)
• Tip How to shoot high quality video with your phone (YouTube Creator Academy)
• Update Some Google Play Music users are starting to see a podcasts option (The Next Web)

Hangouts

• New! More Hangouts Easter eggs: shortcuts for ಠ_ಠ and  (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ ! (Sage LaTorra)
• New! Hangouts finally in the Google App launcher, at least for Google for Work accounts (Kyle Salewski)

Android, Nexus, Project Fi

• Update February Android 2016 security update for Project Fi - Wi-Fi Assistant disabled until mid February (Project Fi Help Forum)
• Tip Nexus6P and Nexus5X owners: bad USB C cables can fry your device (Benson Leung)
• Article Report: Google to Take Top-To-Bottom "Apple-Like" Control Over Nexus Line (Droid Life)
• Update Android Wear update: new gestures and use voice to send messages from more apps (Official Android Blog)
• Update Moto 360 Android wear update: battery smart features, support for new languages and more (Motorola Mobility)

Productivity and Search

• Update Google Drive for Android update: more sharing and notification controls (Google Drive)
• New AI is the future of Google Search: Google SVP for search Amit Singhal retiring, replaced by John Giannandrea (Amit Singhal and Re/Code)
• New What does a whale say? Google lets you listen (Deepak Kamat)
• New Google Revamps Mobile Travel Search Results, Almost Making Web Results Irrelevant (Search Engine Land)
• New Bing for iOS and Android will now find you nearby deals and better gas prices (The Next Web)
• Update Safe Browsing becomes even stronger - no more deceptive download buttons (Google Online Security)

Webmasters

• Tips Interested in Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)? Google Webmasters has a series of hangouts lined up with more information for you! (Google Webmasters)
• Update Even Adobe is dropping Flash from its own products (The Next Web)
• Update Moving to a Plugin-Free Web (Oracle Java Platform Group, Product Management blog) 

Updated March 2019 to remove Google+ links