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Google might kill Hangouts' text messaging feature (update: confirmed)
Google might soon begin implementing some big changes to Hangouts, now that the service's purpose has been redefined. According to an email reportedly sent to GSuite admins, you'll stop being able to send and receive text messages through the app on May 22nd, unless you're a Google Voice user. The email says the big G will prepare you for it by notifying everyone who's been using their apps to text on March 27th with details on what will happen going forward.
Google insists Hangouts for consumers isn't going away
After announcing their new AI-powered chat platforms Allo and Duo last September, Google seems to be sunsetting the old and busted Hangouts in favor of their new hotness. Several other announcements seemed to confirm that strategy, including a Hangouts app specially tooled for enterprise the search giant introduced yesterday. What that means for the consumer version in the long run is unclear, but head of product for Allo and Duo Amit Fulay assured that it's not going anywhere, at least for now.
Google is ready to take over your office chat with Hangouts
Google's work of transitioning Hangouts from being its default chat app to a more business focus is nearly complete. First up is the formally announced Hangouts Meet. Sound familiar? That's because it semi-officially arrived at the first of the month. Now Google is ready to take it wide. At its core, Meet is all about making video conferencing faster and easier. That comes down to not needing any special software or logins for video chat -- just a shared link. No WiFi? No problem because people can dial in with a dedicated phone number too. So long as their organization is a G Suite Enterprise customer, of course. Meet will support video calls with up to 30 people.
Google unveils 'Meet,' a Hangouts app for businesses
Google has quietly unveiled Meet by Google Hangouts, a big part of its strategy to shuffle the Hangouts app towards businesses and away from consumers. While it hasn't made a formal announcement, it launched an iOS app and partially-functional website (spotted by Techcrunch), though it's not yet on Android, oddly enough. The app will likely become part of Google's Cloud-powered G Suite, though it's not yet listed there, either.
Google's Android texting app has a new name
Despite how common texting is, its integration on Android has always lagged slightly behind, as Google appeared to focus on other things. Sometimes it wrapped the feature into other services/apps like Google Voice and Hangouts, but lately, the main Android texting app has been getting some tweaks too. The latest one brings a new name, as it goes from Google Messenger (probably frequently confused with the bot-laden Facebook Messenger) to Android Messages.
Google Voice updates are imminent
The useful (and slightly neglected) Google Voice app hasn't seen many changes since the company cleaned up its voice transcriptions and integrated with Hangouts in 2015. Before that, the last major change to the core service was the addition of MMS messages in 2014. However, according to some credible rumors flying around today, a new version or redesign is right around the corner.
Consumer apps that rely on Google Hangouts won't work after April 25th
When Google launched Allo and Duo last year, it recast hangouts as a cross-platform chat app for enterprise customers. Now it's making changes to help ensure that fate. A quiet update to the Google Hangouts FAQ reveals that the sun will set on the platform's API in late April. Effectively, this means any consumer app that integrates with Google Hangouts will be dead in a matter of months.
Google bought a company to improve Hangouts call quality
Google is taking the acquisition approach to solving audio quality problems with Hangouts and other communications apps. It acquired Limes Audio, a Swedish company with technology that can reduce speech quality issues caused by a poor environment or slow internet speeds. "Limes audio has been building solutions that remove distracting noise, distortion and echoes that can affect online video and telephony meetings," Google Cloud Product Management Director Serge Lachapelle wrote in a blog post.
Google Duo is pushing Hangouts off Android
It looks like Hangouts is being sent to the big office suite in the sky. According to Android Police, starting on December 1st, phone makers like Samsung and HTC will no longer be required to add Hangouts to their handsets. Instead, Duo will be the mandatory video-calling app on Google-powered devices.
Google Hangouts adds emoticon shortcuts for easy table-flipping
The latest version of Google Hangouts for Android (and the Chrome extension for Windows) adds something clever to your chatting experience: 20 new hidden emoticon shortcuts so you can properly express all those shruggie feelings and table-flipping rage moments. Less exciting than a quick way to add "deal with it" guy to your chat logs, the v13 update also adds an in-app browser for web links.
Google will 'increasingly focus' Hangouts on business customers
It's been more than three years since Google formally launched Hangouts. It was an effort to take the popular Google Talk IM app into the mobile age, but it came late to the party. Lots of competitors like Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger and iMessage were firmly entrenched in mobile chat by the time Hangouts came to life. Despite finally getting a chat and video-calling platform out for every platform, Google announced at its I/O developer conference earlier this year that it was trying again. A new video chat app, Duo, is now available, and a radical new text-based messaging app called Allo is coming soon. Ever since they were announced in May, Google users have wondered: What's to become of Hangouts?
Google to move Hangouts On Air to YouTube Live
Several years ago when Google+ launched, one of its key features was Hangouts, a video chat program that allowed several people to chat online at once. Hangouts grew so popular that it eventually spun off a public-facing option called Hangouts On Air, where would-be stars could interact with their adoring fans. Indeed, actual public figures like Tyra Banks, Brad Pitt and even the President have taken to Hangouts On Air in the past to answer queries. But come September 12th however, that option will be no longer, at least on Google+. Instead, users will be prompted to use YouTube Live, Google's other live video product, to broadcast in real-time.
Google updates Hangouts for Android with video messaging
Google curiously left Android users out in the cold when it rolled out video message attachments on Hangouts for iOS earlier this year. Don't worry, the wait is almost over: you'll soon be able to send video messages to friends even if you're using an Android device. Hangouts version 11 for Android comes with the feature, which you can access through a video camera icon on the bottom bar. It's not officially out on Google Play just yet, but there's an APK you can download right now. Take note, however, that 9to5Google couldn't make it work. You'll just have to wait for the official update to come out if you can't either.
Why Google can't stop making messaging apps
Google has announced three new communication apps this week: Spaces, Allo and Duo. That's in addition to the three it already has. To understand why it's doing this, and why it'll do it again, we only need to look to its past.
Google isn't abandoning Hangouts for its new chat apps
The launch of Google's new mobile-only chat apps Allo and Duo doesn't mean death for Hangouts. A spokesperson told Business Insider that the company is "continuing to invest in Hangouts" and that "it will remain a standalone product." While these two new applications might make the company's messaging products seem convoluted to the average user, they cater to different audiences. As BI notes, Hangouts is a cross-platform app tied with Google's enterprise offerings, and offices will most likely continue using it.
Google updates Hangouts on iOS to ease file sharing
Google has released Hangouts version 9 for iPhone and iPad, introducing several new useful features that users have been clamoring for. If it's been a hassle every single time you've needed to share a file or photo, you should be pleased with the changes.
Sean Parker revives Airtime as group video chat app
When the ex-Napster duo Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning first launched Airtime in 2012, it was a one-on-one Chatroulette-style video app with some social functions. Suffice to say, that didn't work out too well, and the app was in limbo for several years. However, the company continued working on it, and Airtime is now officially back in beta as a group video app. The idea is to create a "room" where you and your friends can chat, Google Hangouts-style, or watch videos, share links and listen to music.
Hangouts gives you better call quality by skipping Google
If you don't think Hangouts calls on your phone are passing muster, don't worry -- relief might be in sight. The latest version of Hangouts for Android is telling users that it'll boost audio and video quality on future calls by making peer-to-peer connections "when possible." In other words, it'll bypass Google's servers if both ends of the conversation can establish a direct link. The exact criteria for this isn't listed, but it's safe to say that this will at least work between two people using the latest Android software. You likely won't notice much of a difference unless many of your friends upgrade, but don't be surprised if your face-to-face and VoIP chats get that much clearer.
Google Hangouts for Android update adds quick replies
Google is updating its Hangouts chat app that adds some long-awaited functionality. The update is slowly rolling out now, but has already been thoroughly investigated by Android Police. The headline feature is quick reply. Clicking "reply" on a notification now brings up a simple text box so you can respond to messages without entering the Hangouts app itself. Also new is the ability to "save" important conversations to your home screen, which gives them their own icon.
Google is reportedly making an AI-powered chat assistant
Hey, Facebook: you might not be the only tech giant with an artificially intelligent chat assistant. The Wall Street Journal's sources understand that Google is building an AI-based messaging service that would search the web to answer your questions. From the description, it sounds like a more elaborate, more conversational Google Now. Third parties may even build their own bots to give you site-specific answers.
