Below are some example screenshots. Though it’s similar to Places, overall the new app offers a better looking presentation of information. The Zagat scores are also an upgrade over the previous star ratings.
The Android version, which is integrated as a layer into Google Maps, is somewhat different with additional filters and advertising. There are no ads (yet) in the iPhone version of the app.
There were some strangely targeted ads in the Android app. I’m in Northern California (specifically Oakland) but the Facebook “Gateway Festival” ad (above) yields a landing page for Charleston, Mississippi. One might argue the Facebook ad targets out-of-state tourists. However multiple ads in Google+ Local offered “geographically incorrect” landing pages like this.
Also present in Android but not the iPhone app: filter by Google+ Circles, as well as a solicitation to publish reviews into Google+. The app also has local recommendations, while the iPhone app does not. You also get OpenTable integration exclusively in the Android version.
Google has yet to integrate local search, Zagat scores and local business listings into the Google+ app itself — to make it consistent with Google+ on the PC. But overall, there’s more utility and a generally higher level of polish on these apps vs. the earlier Google Places experience.
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