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Google is on a roll, not sitting idly by while Facebook has its moment in the media spotlight. After opening its Google+ social network to the public -- gaining an additional 10 million users in its first two days -- now the search giant follows Tuesday's Android update of Google+ with a similar refresh to its iOS version, now available free on the App Store [iTunes link].
What's new? Like its Android cousin, the iOS version of the Google+ mobile app now supports Hangouts, letting groups communicate with each other using front-facing cameras on the iPhone 4 and iPod touch. In addition to Hangouts, the app offers better control of its various notifications, and a renamed Messenger (formerly Huddle) that now lets users attach photos to chat threads.
Other niceties include the ability to +1 in comments, improved +mention support, a map view in Profile for places you've lived, and various reliability improvements. Macstories' Federico Viticci had a chance to try out the new features in Hangouts -- take a look at his experience here.