hangouts

Google Hangouts is finally finally finally getting proper status indicators (on Android) so you can tell if you’re bugging someone who’s actually online! It’s no SMS support, but this is one hell of a welcome update.

Google’s making Google Voice more secure by requiring you to call from a phone number registered to your account in order to check your voicemails by phone. But maybe more noteworthy is that Google is still making minor tweaks to Voice instead of killing it and focusing on Hangouts already. What’s up with that?

Google Hangout video chats have been quietly upgrading to 720p HD, and the mothership says all users should have high definition soon. The quality boost is part of a long-term upgrade that has Hangout moving toward a system that won’t require installing any plugins, but that’s still down the road. [Gigaom]

It’s Time To Kill Google Voice

Even if it’s not quite as amazing as it could be, Google Voice does some wonderful things. That’s what makes it hard to admit the truth: It’s time for Google Voice to die. A Problem Child When Google Voice launched in 2009, it was straight-up awesome. The concept of re-inventing the basic systems of telephonery…

AT&T Is Finally Going to Let Everyone Video Chat Over Data

AT&T has caught a lot of flak for being excruciatingly picky about what apps can do video chat over data on what kind of plans. It’s been equal parts annoying and confusing for everyone involved. But now, the carrier is about to simplify it by letting everyone do everything by the end of this year.…

Google Hangouts Has a Weird, Fun Multi-Cam Trick

So, Google’s new Hangouts app keeps all of your chats in sync across all of your devices. Cool, right? But what if you’re in a video call on your phone, and then open the same video call on your computer. Boop! Suddenly there’s two of you, as I just discovered when chatting with my friend…

The Android Hangouts Video Chat App Doesn’t Work on AT&T Cellular

If you try and use Google’s new Hangouts app for Android on AT&T’s cellular network, don’t expect to video chat—because you can’t. Slashgear reports that the video chat capability in the new Hangouts app doesn’t work on AT&T’s cellular networks, throwing up a message that reads “you must be on a Wi-Fi network to join…

Google Hangouts is live now in the iOS App Store, which means you can now Gchat from your iPhone. Go and get it right here.

Google Hangouts: Unified Chat, Unlimited Reach

After taking some major steps forward earlier this week with the announcement that Google Talk support would finally be hitting Outlook, the long-anticipated Babel all-in-one chat service has finally been revealed as… Hangouts. Which yes, we already have sort of—but not like this. https://gizmodo.com/hell-yes-you-can-gchat-in-outlook-soon-505541342 Google Talk, Hangouts, Voice, Google+ messenger: all of it is finally…

Completely Redesigned Google+ Adds a Whopping 41 New Features

Google is overhauling Google+ with 41—yes, forty-one—new features. They’re based around three areas of the Chrome experience: Stream, Hangouts, and Photos. The new design is rolling out today, and it looks beautiful enough to actually use. Your Stream is getting a beautiful-looking redesign based on cards. There’s a three column view that looks as though…

Report: Google’s Unified Chat Hub Will Be Called Google Hangouts

Word on the street is that Google’s incoming unified messaging service has ditched its Babel moniker. According to a source talking to TechRadar it will hit our handsets simply called Google Hangouts, which already exists, so isn’t really new, then? Oh, and that it’ll be launched at Google I/O next week. [TechRadar]

Google+ Hangouts Get Mobile (and Antlers)

Google+’s group video chat orgy Hangouts has some nice updates rolling out in the next few days. Most significant among them is that it’s coming to G+ mobiles apps. Least significant? Virtual antlers and a red nose for your head. Hangouts’ coming to mobile devices will be a welcome addition. Free, cross-platform group video chatting…

Holla At’cha Boy! Google+ Now Makes Phone Calls

Hangouts is already, far and away, the best feature on Google+ and it just got a bit better. Now, users can call with their contacts through through the Hangout window. Here’s how it works. The process is actually quite simple, according to Google’s official blog, 1. Click Invite at the top of the hangouts with…

Google+ Adds Hangouts to the Android App

Google+, the unsucky social network that I’m not sure any of my friends are actually using, has a sweet Hangout video chat feature that’s been missing on its Android app. No more. On Android 2.3+ phones with a front facing camera, Google+ users can see when their friends are video chatting and join the hangout.…

Google+ Adds Improved Hangouts, Search, Now Open to Everyone

It’s been nearly 90 days since Google unveiled Google+. And unlike Buzz and Wave, Google+ actually seems to be resonating with people. Today, Google’s opening the social network up to all comers, and endowing it with a host of new features. Hangouts got the majority of the attention today. Mobile Hangouts can now be initiated…