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Google is killing its Notifications Widget
As the death knell sounds for Google+, so too comes the end for the Google's Notification Widget. Introduced in 2011 alongside Google+, the bell icon in the top-right corner of every Google page was designed to alert users to activity on the social network, eventually expanding to include Google Photos and Hangout Chat. Now, though, a warning message indicates that the service will end on March 7th. After this date, the navigation bar will only feature your profile avatar and other settings, including the app launcher. Not to worry if you still rely on the feature for Photos, Hangout Chat or Google+ enterprise, though, as you can still enable alerts in the settings section of each individual app.
Google Voice command may take frustration out of text messages
Google Voice is great for a number of things, in particular differentiating between the contacts worthy of your regular number and those you aren't quite there with yet. But as has become apparent recently, it's not great at sending text messages, especially from Android Auto, Android Wear and Assistant. Fortunately, help could soon be on the way in the form of a new voice command.
Pope Francis to address the world's children on Google Hangouts
Pope Francis likes mixing it up with the public, and has no problem using the internet to do so. To wit, he'll be hosting his second video chat on Google Hangout, a forum that's been popular with other public figures like President Obama for face time with the masses. The chat will be sponsored by his educational entity Scholas, like it was last year when he spoke to students from around the globe (see the video below for a wrap-up). This time, he'll be taking questions from children with special needs and disabilities from Spain, Brazil, India and the US. If you're interested, you can catch the whole event tomorrow at 10:00 AM ET.
Live at 10pm tonight: It's The End Of The World As We Know It, final Sunday "Talkcast"
It may be Superbowl Sunday, but for those of us who have enjoyed reading, contributing to or editing The Unofficial Apple Weblog it's anything but super. As you all know, our parent company has lowered the curtain on this motley crew, and we are set to officially cease publication on Tuesday of next week. For me personally, TUAW's finale is surprisingly emotional. I mused on Twitter that the outpouring of positive feedback and gratitude is a bit like surreptitiously attending your own funeral; comments like these from Federico Viticci, Xeni Jardin, Harry McCracken and Rene Ritchie remind me that the work we've done here over the past decade has not gone unappreciated. It's hard to believe that it was more than eight years ago when Laurie Duncan and Scott McNulty first welcomed me aboard as a shiny new blogger; I never could have imagined the wonderful people I'd meet and work with, great products I'd review, or the strange media experiences I'd have. Recent days have seen far less of me here than I'd have liked, as my day job demanded the bulk of my time and attention. (My entire tenure with the site was as a freelancer, but prior to 2013 my full-time gig was more compatible with my secret identity as a Mac blogger.) With Tuesday's closure, there will be a lot of stories unwritten and reviews undone -- particular apologies to David Sparks, whose great ebook on presentations still sits at the top of my "posts to be written" pile. Still, there was one key appointment at TUAW that I tried to make every week. For almost seven years of Sundays, when 10 pm Eastern (and 7 pm Pacific, and 5 pm Hawaii time) rolled around, you could find the TUAW team holding forth live on our weekly Talkcast show. From the very first episodes in August of 2007 up to our final broadcast in July of 2014, we tried to connect our enthusiasm for TUAW's coverage with the strong opinions and great information that our audience members brought to bear. Always an audio-only affair (despite some flirtations with visual media, and the success of our sister TUAW TV Live show hosted by Steve Sande and Shawn "Doc Rock" Boyd), the radio call-in style show featured a rotating team of hosts, a lineup of occasional all-star guests, and the ever-present gallery of readers, listeners and fans who rapidly became a part of the site family. You all rock, and we miss you (which is why Kelly Guimont and I have continued to podcast on The Aftershow). So, we're going to go around one last time. Tonight at 10 pm ET, we're doing a live Hangout -- with video this time! -- to cheer all of you and thank you for your years of support. The TUAW TV Live team is also planning a farewell show for Tuesday afternoon, with exact details to be determined, but for tonight we're gonna party like it's 1999! You can join the Hangout on Air by visiting our G+ Events page, or simply watch via the embedded video below. Can't wait to see you.
Google's Helpouts service now offers expertise on your iPhone
Need to brush up on your cooking skills, but only have your iPhone close at hand? Don't panic: Google has quietly brought its Helpouts service to iOS. Much like the existing Android software, the iPhone-sized app (sorry, no iPad version) lets you schedule video chats with experts on topics ranging from baking to bike repair. Just be prepared to limit yourself to free advice -- Google isn't offering paid Helpouts in the iOS app. You'll also need to go to the web if you want to create listings for your own instructional sessions. If neither of those limitations is a deal-breaker, though, you can start taking lessons today.
Coachella is streaming live on YouTube, and you might even chat with the bands
It's that time of year once again: Google and T-Mobile are streaming the Coachella festival live on YouTube. Tune in between April 11th and April 13th and you'll see big-name musicians play without making a pilgrimage to Indio. Much of the experience will be familiar if you've watched before. However, there is a social twist to this year's proceedings -- if you're in a Hangouts video chat at the right moment, you'll have a chance to speak with artists like Chvrches and Zedd while they're backstage. Yes, you may have a better time than fans who paid a premium to be there in person. We wouldn't count on getting that VIP treatment, but it's undoubtedly an added incentive to start streaming. [Image credit: Viktor Rosenfeld, Flickr]
Google expands Glass sales but still wants a one-to-one chat with every buyer
Gone are the days when you needed to visit a Google office in person to pick up a pair of Explorer Edition spectacles. Following the recent expansion of the wearable project, which allowed existing owners to invite up to three friends or relatives to take that $1,500 step into the future, it's been possible for new customers to have their glasses shipped to them, just like any commercial product. What hasn't changed, however, is Google's desire to influence these users' first impressions of the device by giving them a highly personalized introduction. Soon after Phil Nickinson of Android Central received his invite-only Google Glass, he got a phone call asking him to join a personal 45-minute Hangout to take him through the "entire setup process" and tell him "about the history of Glass along the way." These calls are a sensible move on Google's part, no doubt, and likely very helpful to new owners, but they also suggest that Glass may still be a little too complicated to ship with nothing but a Getting Started PDF and a legal disclaimer.
Garriott fielding Shroud of the Avatar questions this Friday
If you're free at 3:00 p.m. EDT on September 27th and you're a fan of Shroud of the Avatar, why not stop by the game's latest Hangout of the Avatar broadcast. A quick blurb on the game's official site has all the details, including bits about the 30-minute running time and the VIRTUE-related question-and-answer format. Richard Garriott will field pre-submitted questions during the broadcast. If you've got something to ask, send it via Google Hangout at #LBSotA_Hangout or via the comment section of the announcement post.
Google invites users to share their expertise over video Helpouts
Word broke in late July that Google might launch Helpouts -- a Hangout-based video platform where folks could charge for lending assistance over video -- in about a month's time. Like clockwork, Mountain View's officially announced the platform, but it isn't a free-for-all just yet. Page and Co. are inviting people with expertise in different topics to offer their services when the solution opens for business. The search giant has published a form allowing self-proclaimed experts to toss their hat in the ring for an invite, and lists categories including Arts and Music, Computers and Electronics, Cooking, Education, Fashion and Beauty, Fitness and Nutrition, Health and Counseling along with Home and Garden. Fittingly, Google's own help documents for Helpouts have gone live as well, and they give us a few more details. First, users will have to submit a listing for their services, which Google will review just before hanging out with them over video to get acquainted and ensure their live feed is in tip-top shape. If you're a medical professional, you can offer your expert opinion to the masses as well, but Mountain View will confirm you've got the proper certificates and licenses in order. Once that's done, interested customers will be able to check a pro's availability and schedule appointments. Folks can offer their skills for free or charge for sessions, but both parties must use Google Wallet for the transaction, and Google will apply a 20 percent fee (yes, even with credit card payments). A launch date for Helpouts is MIA, but you can sign up to be notified and provide a helping hand at the source.
Google reportedly testing Helpouts: professional services through Hangouts
There's no question that Google Hangouts can be helpful; wouldn't it be nice to get cash for hosting them? Google may be sympathetic to that idea. TechCrunch claims that the search firm is testing Helpouts, a service that would let most anyone book Hangouts that optionally require fees. The appointment system would lean on Google Wallet for transactions, and it would divide chats into categories such as repair (think tech support) or education. Don't assume that you'll be starting a side business just yet, though. Helpouts reportedly entered internal testing in late June, and any public launch would be "at least a month away" -- if it happens at all, that is. We've reached out to Google for answers, so we'll let you know if and when it's time to start charging for online conversations.
PSA: White House to host 'We the Geeks' hangout tomorrow at 12PM ET
In the spirit of San Diego Comic Con, the White House is set to host a special geek-themed Google+ Hangout tomorrow, July 19th, at 12:00 PM ET to celebrate the geniuses pioneering real-life superhero-style technology. The event, part of its "We the Geeks" series, will cover recent innovations in materials science that could potentially take us to infinity and beyond, like impenetrable liquid armor, self-healing and touch-sensitive synthetic skin. Joining the Hangout are notable experts including (but certainly not limited to) James Kakalios, author of The Physics of Superheroes, Nathan Landy, a Duke University graduate student working on an invisibility cloak and Nate Ball, host of PBS's Design Squad Nation and inventor of the Batman-like Ascender. Got a question for these real world Tony Starks? Share it via Twitter or Google+ using the hashtag #WeTheGeeks.
Rounds updates video chat app, lets users browse the web together (video)
Rounds is doing the rounds (natch!) this morning with a significant update to its video calling and instant messaging app. The company teamed up with Channel.me to add co-browsing to an already broad list of features. Users can now browse the web together during a video chat and see / control the same page at the same time. In terms of security, the experience mimics two people surfing the web in the same location (usernames are visible but passwords are hidden. for example). While users can enter any URL, the app also includes an icon grid of compatible sites, such as Google (for search), Wikipedia, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit, Amazon and eBay -- to name a few. As a refresher, Rounds lets friends watch YouTube videos and play games together during a video chat and even apply filters and scribble over each-others live video streams. It also supports instant messaging and photo sharing and ties it all together with Facebook Login. The app is available for most Android and iOS devices but is optimized to run on phones. Hit the break for the promo video and obligatory PR.
The White House hosting a 'We the Geeks' Hangout later today, plans to talk asteroids
Ever since joining Google+ early last year, The White House has become more and more involved with the social network. And with word spreading amongst Earthlings about an asteroid (with its own moon, no less) zipping past the planet sometime around 5:00PM ET, the executive mansion of the US couldn't have chosen a better day to discuss the topic. As part of its ongoing "We the Geeks" series on Google+, The White House will be hosting a Hangout today where it plans to talk about asteroid characterization, identification, resource utilization and more. As you'd expect, there will be a some knowledgeable people present to spark the conversation, including NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, former astronaut Ed Lu and, of course, Bill Nye. So, if you plan to fly swing by later, be sure to set a reminder for 2:00PM ET, as that's when the Hangout is expected to begin.
Google+ Hangouts video chat won't connect over AT&T (updated)
If you have a smartphone connected to AT&T, you just got a bit more incentive to hop over to WiFi whenever possible. The new Google+ Hangouts app group video chat feature appears to be disabled whenever you attempt to connect via the cellular network. We tested the feature using a Verizon handset as well -- we were able to stream video just fine. It's not entirely clear whether AT&T has specifically blocked access to the service, but regardless of the reason, we're all too familiar with the carrier's desire to keep video chat off the airwaves. We can only hope that we'll be able to use Hangouts to its full potential soon, just as we can with Apple's FaceTime. Update: AT&T has reached out with a statement. From what we can tell, Hangouts won't fall under the first category outlined below, as it replaces a pre-loaded app (Google Talk). All AT&T Mobility customers can use any video chat app over cellular that is not pre-loaded on their device, but which they download from the Internet. For video chat apps that come pre-loaded on devices, we offer all OS and device makers the ability for those apps to work over cellular for our customers who are on Mobile Share, Tiered and soon Unlimited plan customers who have LTE devices. It's up to each OS and device makers to enable their systems to allow pre-loaded video chat apps to work over cellular for our customers on those plans.
Google launches new Google+ Hangouts platform and mobile apps with focus on conversations
The rumors were apparently true: Google's unified chat platform (widely nicknamed Babel) is launching as the new Hangouts, with new mobile apps to match. The messaging service puts Android, Chrome, Gmail and iOS all on the same page for the first time, focusing the interface on conversations that carry over from device to device. Across the board, you'll find consistent notifications, as well as emoji and shared photo pools that weren't in Google Talk. Contacts are still there, but they're pushed to the side in the mobile view. Live group video is new, too, while text chats have watermarks to clarify who's reading and typing. Everyone gets access to the updated Hangouts today. The Android and iOS apps are available as we write this; Gmail users can hit a "try it now" button, while Chrome users can install an extension. One word of warning: the Android app currently won't run on some tablets, including the Nexus 7.%Gallery-188460%
Google's rumored Babel chat service will reportedly launch as Hangouts
Google hasn't even officially launched Babel, but word on the street has it that the aforesaid term was being used internally to reference a new, unified chat platform. Now, TechRadar is reporting that Babel will simply become a part of Google Hangouts -- almost certainly as a means to continue the art of subtly shoving Google+ onto every user it can. Moreover, the newly expanded Hangouts could launch as early as next week during Google I/O, and we'll be there to bring you the goods if indeed it does.
Google Hangouts On Air updated with live broadcast rewinding and instant YouTube uploads
Did helping granny set up that Netflix account cause you to be late to your friend's big On Air Hangout? What would've been a calamity last week is but a minor hitch now. Earlier today, Google updated its live video streaming service with a new set of "highly requested" features. In addition to restarting a broadcast at will, recordings are now available on YouTube immediately after an On Air Hangout ends. As for you hams, video quality has been improved for mobile devices, so you'll look your absolute best no matter which screen your adoring public is watching you from. As a caveat, Google notes that you may experience some delays when setting up a broadcast, but it feels like a small price to pay given the upsides.
Google+ Hangouts Capture tool lets you snap screenshots with a click
Beginning soon, Google+ users will be able to take screenshots of content within a Hangout using the new Capture tool. Once the feature rolls out, simply click the camera button at the bottom of the Hangout window to grab a frame. The addition helps to simplify workflows a bit, while also serving to boost privacy -- unlike third-party screenshot offerings, this integrated tool notifies fellow users in your Hangout whenever someone enables the feature and when a picture is taken. Additionally, snaps are saved to a shared album, which other attendees may access from within the Hangout or through your photo albums. Privacy-obsessed users beware, though: You'll only be notified if the official Google tool is used -- apps like Skitch and Grab can still snag frames without a public warning.
Google Hangouts receive sign language interpreter support, keyboard shortcuts
Video chat can be an empowering tool for hard-of-hearing internet citizens for whom sign language is easier than voice. Most chat software doesn't easily bring an interpreter into the equation, however, which spurred Google into adding a Sign Language Interpreter app for Google+ Hangouts. The web component lets chatters invite an interpreter that stays in the background while they verbalize hand gestures. Google is also helping reduce dependencies on the mouse for those who can't (or just won't) use one during chat: there's now keyboard shortcuts to start or stop chats, disable the camera and other basics that would normally demand a click. Both the interpreter app and shortcuts are available today.
Google to host second Presidential Google+ Hangout on February 14th (video)
It's not quite as traditional as baseball and apple pie, but you've got to start somewhere. Following last year's success, Google is once again hosting a Presidential Google+ chat days after the State of the Union address, on February 14th at 4:50PM Eastern. The Fireside Hangout will see President Obama answer the most voted-for questions from Americans live, with a seasoned panel joining him for the discussion. It's arguably one of our better chances at getting answers about policies that we wouldn't get from a formal speech -- as such, those who can put aside nostalgia for old-fashioned Fireside Chats will likely get their fill at the source link.
