Skip to main content

Hangouts

See All Stories

Google Slides receives big update w/ audience Q&A feature, new iOS presentation options, more

Slides Q&A - Audience

Google’s web-based alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint is getting a big update today that adds the ability for members of the audience to easily ask questions during a presentation. Additionally, Google Slides is adding more presentation options on iOS and a cool laser pointer tool.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Google Hangouts now lets you reply on the Apple Watch; Twitch brings Whispers to iOS

hangouts-watch

Google has updated its Hangout app to allow you to reply direct from the Notifications screen – and as Engadget noted, that also means you can now send replies from your Apple Watch. As usual with Watch apps, that means either choosing from a range of canned responses, or dictating a reply using Siri … 
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google updates Hangouts for iOS w/ refreshed UI, multiple photo attachments

Site default logo image

Google has updated Hangouts for iOS today with a handful of new features and what it says is an overall improved user experience.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google Hangouts iOS app updated with intelligent location sharing, status messages and more

Site default logo image

hangouts

Google has updated its text, video and voice messaging app Hangouts, adding all the new features added to the Android version last month – including intelligent, one-tap location sharing.

Google promised that it would be building more intelligence into the app, and the new location-sharing feature is the first step along that path. The app automatically detects when a contact in a text chat asks where you are, and allows you to share your location with a single tap … 
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Google Voice for iOS updated w/ refreshed design and Hangouts integration

Google this evening rolled out an update to the Google Voice app on iOS, adding several new features and much-needed visual enhancements. Bumping the app to version 1.6, this evening’s update is the first the app has seen since September 2013, and the first major update since 2012.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Google debuts iPhone app for its Helpouts learning and tutorial service

Google has added yet another app to its collection of iPhone apps today. This time it’s Google Helpouts, which connects users over its Hangouts service to experts knowledgeable in a specific subject for tutoring. Google’s Helpouts service first launched last fall.

Google on what Hangouts has to offer:

What you can do on the iOS app

Find and schedule a Helpout
Start a free Helpout
Give a free Helpout
Read reviews and listing details
Send a message
Report abuse
Leave a review
Change your settings
Receive text-message and mobile reminders

Google notes that Helpouts for iPhone does not support creating new listings for topics; that feature is currently limited to the Helpouts website.

Google Helpouts for iPhone is available for free on the App Store.

Site default logo image

Google Hangouts for iOS adds outgoing and incoming voice calls through Google Voice

The Google Hangouts app for iPhone and iPad got a significant update to version 1.3 today. The update introduces Google Voice integration that allows incoming calls to your Google Voice number and outgoing calls to U.S. and Canadian numbers. Also included in the new version is the ability to see which friends are currently online, support for animated GIFs, and a fix to keep the app from stopping your music when a message comes in.

The update is available for free to all users on the iOS App Store now.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Google brings voice back to Gmail w/ new group chat features, free calls to US & Canada from other countries

Hangouts-gmail-video call 2

From 9to5Google:

When Google rolled out its new unified Hangouts messaging service, some users were disappointed that the new experience within Gmail removed the ability to place free calls within the US and Canada. Google previously confirmed that the feature would be returning and today it announced on its Gmail blog that it is rolling out the free calling feature to Gmail Hangouts and also adding some new features.

More at 9to5Google.com

Site default logo image

“Bang with Friends” mysteriously pulled from App Store

Apple might have just ruined everyone’s weekend plans by pulling the provocative “Bang with Friends” iPhone app from the App Store.

BWF, which is the “anonymous, simple, fun way to find 
friends who are down for the night,” says Apple has banned it from the App Store, but that it is “working with Apple to get BWF back into the App Store shortly.”

Presumably, users who already installed the app can continue to do whatever one would do with such an app, and Android’s Wild Wild West approach to the Google Play Store almost guarantees it isn’t going anywhere for phablet users.

If you still find that you just can’t get no satisfaction, you might try using FaceTime or maybe even Google’s new Hangouts for iOS app.

Cofounder and CEO Colin Hodge told Valleywag that he’s working with Apple to get the app, which recently crossed the million user mark, back in the iPhone’s warm embrace.

Just don’t accidentally dial your parents while you have those candles lit and Drake playing in the background.

Google’s new Hangouts app now available for iPhone and iPad

Site default logo image

Google just announced a new unified messaging service today that will be available across multiple platforms and now the iOS app is officially available to download on the App Store.

Google-Hangouts-app-iconThe free Hangouts app is available as a universal download for both iPhone and iPad and offers group conversations with photos or 850 emojis, Video calls for hanging out with up to 10 friends, alerts that are synced across devices and more.

More Hangouts awesomeness:
— View and continue your Hangouts across devices.
— Get notifications just once.  After you see an alert, it’ll be removed on other devices.
— Snooze your notifications if you’d prefer to respond later.
— See what you talked about in the past, including shared photos and your video call history.
— Keep a record of any Hangout for just a short period of time by turning history off.
— View collections of photos shared from each of your Hangouts.
— Choose from over 850 emoji to express what’s on your mind.

The Hangouts feature will also be coming to Gmail users today:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google beats Siri to the Desktop with Google Now-like voice search for Chrome

Site default logo image

Google today announced that it is revamping the Google voice search feature available in Chrome on the desktop. While users have always been able to search with their voice through Chrome, Google is attempting to make the service work more like it does through Google Search apps and Google Now on mobile devices.

Chrome will now include “conversational search” with a brand new interface that doesn’t require users to click in order to search with their voice. Like on mobile devices with Google Now, users will now be able to simple say “Google” in order to activate voice search.

Today, we previewed what this conversational experience will look like in Chrome on your desktops and laptops. Soon, you’ll be able to just say, hands-free, “OK Google, will it be sunny in Santa Cruz this weekend?” and get a spoken answer. Then, you’ll be able to continue the conversation and just follow up with “how far is it from here?” if you care about the drive or “how about Monterey?” if you want to check weather somewhere else, and get Google to tell you the answer.

The new interface, as pictured above from Google’s demo of the feature, is much like the voice search interface for Google Now on Android devices.

The new feature will be coming to Macs and PCs through Chrome soon.

Google also briefly showed off some new content coming to Google Now including new cards for Reminders, Music Albums, TV Shows, Books, Public Transit, and Video games rolling out today:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google announces Google Play Music ‘All Access’ streaming service, launching today for $9.99/month

Site default logo image

From 9to5Google:

Google just announced its much rumored new music service called Google Play Music “All Access” live on stage at its Google I/O event keynote presentation.

Google execs focused on showing off curated playlists but also made a note of pointing out a “radio” feature that will automatically create an endless radio station based on the song you’re currently listening to. The service will also allow users to search for a particular song or view the “playlist” of a radio station to remove unwanted songs.

Also included is a feature called “Listen Now” that will provide quick access to recently listened to songs, customized radio stations based on your preferences, and recommendations for new releases from artists you like.

The service will be available on the web, tablets, and phones through Google Play and cost users $9.99 per month with a 30 day free trial in the US. Those that sign up before the end of June will be able to get the subscription for just $7.99/month and Google said the service will land in other countries soon.

Google announces Google Play game services coming to Android, iOS & web today

Site default logo image

Screen Shot 2013-05-15 at 12.21.22 PM

From 9to5Google:

We knew from leaks in the weeks leading up to I/O that Google was planning some gaming related announcements and today the company has officially announced the service in a press release ahead of its Google I/O keynote taking place now. Not only will the service allow Android developers to build in real-time multiplayer, social features, achievements, and leaderboards while storing game saves and settings in the cloud, the SDK for Google Play game services will also be available to iOS and web developers.

Google noted a few titles for Android have already been updated with the feature including World of Goo, Super Stickman Golf 2, Beach Buggy Blitz, Kingdom Rush, Eternity Warriors 2, and Osmos.

Not surprisingly, the cross-platform gaming service will also build in Google+ integration to track high scores, achievements and more:

-Achievements that increase engagement and promote different styles of play.

-Social and public leaderboards that seamlessly use Google+ circles to track high scores across friends and across the world.

-Cloud saves that provide a simple and streamlined storage API to store game saves and settings. Now players never have to replay Level 1 again.

-Real-time multiplayer for easy addition of cooperative or competitive game play on Android devices. Using G+ Circles a game can have up to 4 simultaneous friends or auto-matched players in a game session together with support for additional players coming soon.

Google’s full press release below:
Expand
Expanding
Close