Tag: Hangouts

Hangouts Voice Calls Via Mobile on Android Sort of Works Already

So, this is interesting. A user over at reddit figured out how you can jump on a voice call through Google Hangouts on Android. This minute. Right now. Using your phone (with a little help from your computer). It works, for the most part, but clearly needs some final touches.

This is the deal – we have been waiting for Google to fully build voice calls into Hangouts on Android for some time. We know it’s coming – Google has said as much. In March, a report claimed that within a couple of months, Google Voice should be fully killed off in favor of Hangouts. Unfortunately, until Google flips the switch or releases an update with call integration baked in (like it has been on iOS), this feature will remain on our list of must-have features. (more…)

May 5, 2014
Report: Google+ to be Dialed Back, Fate Unknown, Hangouts Team Moving to Android

The minute Vic Gundotra informed the world that he was leaving Google after eight years, the first thing most of us asked was, “What does this mean for his baby, Google+?” That question remains unanswered at this point, but a report out of TechCrunch gives off the impression that Google is viewing Google+ quite differently today than it did only a few months ago. Sources of TC would’t go as far as calling the social network “officially dead,” but did hint at its importance being drastically reduced. (more…)

April 25, 2014
Google Hangouts Updated to v2.1.075 – Simplified Contact List, Merged SMS Conversations, Widget

Google Hangouts on Android received a major update today to version 2.1.075. The update introduces a merged conversation list that combines SMS and Hangouts from the same recipient. Through that conversation, you can tell Hangouts how you’d like to send new messages to that person via switch. You can also tell the difference between messages that are sent via SMS or as a standard Hangouts message.

The update also includes a simplified contact list with two main sections for phone contacts and people you Hangout with. Google even included a Hangouts widget for your home screen and improved performance throughout things like video calls.

The full changelog is below, along with an .apk download link. (more…)

April 21, 2014
Report: Google to Kill Off Voice Within Couple of Months, Functions to be Solely Handled by Hangouts

It was right around this time last year when news was breaking left and right that Google had ambitions to introduce a unified messaging service for its mobile and desktop platforms. At Google I/O in 2013, Google unveiled Hangouts, which connected all of the various chat and messaging services found in Gmail, Google+, and on Android devices into a single service. (more…)

March 18, 2014
Google Hangouts is Currently Down. (Updated)

Again, it’s not you, it’s Google.

Hangouts is currently down, though the apps status dashboard doesn’t reflect the situation.

Update 9:36AM: Google has updated their dashboard to show that there is a service interruption. They are “investigating reports of an issue with Google+ Hangouts” and “will provide more information shortly.” (more…)

March 17, 2014
Hangouts App Sees UI Makeover Plus 10-second Videos, Animated Stickers, Favorites, Swiping Actions…on iOS

I don’t know that we always look to iOS to see what’s next in Android app development, but when it comes to apps like Hangouts and Gmail from Google, we certainly have more than once (calls in Hangouts, anyone?). Take for example today’s Hangouts overhaul that just went live through iTunes. (more…)

February 27, 2014
Google App Updates Galore: Hangouts, Cloud Print, Maps, Search, and More

If Google decides to push out a bunch of updates to their suite of apps on any given day, Wednesdays are usually a good bet. Sure enough, we are seeing all sorts of apps receive updates today (Hangouts, Cloud Print, Google Search, Maps, Newsstand, and more), most of which don’t have changelogs or haven’t arrived on anyone’s device due to our favorite thing in the industry, staged rollouts for updates. Thankfully, this is the internet, which means that some people are bound to be a part of that initial wave. Some of those delightful people also like to share their treasures.

Below, we’ve started a list of the apps that are being updated, along with download links and changelogs (as we have them). We will try to update this throughout the day. (more…)

February 5, 2014
New BlackBerry Messenger Beta for Android Features BBM Voice, Beats Hangouts to the Punch

According to CrackBerry, BlackBerry has released an updated beta version of BBM for Android, which features a nice changelog that users should all enjoy. For starters, it is reported that the update brings a ton of new emoticons to use, improved file sharing, BBM Channels, and more importantly, BBM Voice. With BBM Voice, BBM users can call each other for free over a WiFi network, a feature that we were hoping an update to Google’s Hangouts app for Android would include, but still has yet to arrive. As reference, the Hangouts app on iOS has had Google Voice and calling integration for months now. (more…)

January 3, 2014