Hangouts: Unified Messaging from Google

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This is big news. And great news.

Play Store
Chrome Extension


hangoutsPlay.png

Google Talk + Google Plus Messenger + Google Plus Hangouts + Google Voice = Hangouts

http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/5/15/4318830/inside-hangouts-googles-big-fix-for-its-messaging-mess

hangout_invite_android.png
 
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http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/15/google-hangouts-messaging-app/

Primary screen is text, but you can switch to video instantly.

Chrome, iOS and Android. No BB or Windows phone yet. No sms yet.

Messages will be stored on your Google profile (a bit scary). Google will now know your deepest darkest secrets. Also there'll be an infinite searchable history of your conversations. Think personal integration on Google Now.

Images will be saved to a Google plus album that can be shared later.

Read receipts so you can see which messages your contact had read. No duplicate notifications across platforms. If you're offline you'll be emailed.
 
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nadimm said:
http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/15/google-hangouts-messaging-app/

Primary screen is text, but you can switch to video instantly.

Chrome, iOS and Android. No BB or Windows phone yet. No sms yet.

Messages will be stored on your Google profile (a bit scary). Google will now know your deepest darkest secrets. Also there'll be an infinite searchable history of your conversations. Think personal integration on Google Now.
Click to expand...

They already save all that to your profile with the current gtalk no? Speaking of which - I hope they release a proper Desktop version to replace the super old Gtalk client. I tried "chat for chrome" the other day and although it works great it just can't replace the desktop client :(
 
Hamster said:
They already save all that to your profile with the current gtalk no? Speaking of which - I hope they release a proper Desktop version to replace the super old Gtalk client. I tried "chat for chrome" the other day and although it works great it just can't replace the desktop client :(
Click to expand...

They have. It looks brilliant.

Google+ will become everything good about Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google Reader in time.

Factor in Google Now on desktop, revised maps and who knows what else they plan on announcing in this keynote, and Google are changing the game here...
 
Hamster said:
They already save all that to your profile with the current gtalk no? Speaking of which - I hope they release a proper Desktop version to replace the super old Gtalk client. I tried "chat for chrome" the other day and although it works great it just can't replace the desktop client :(
Click to expand...

I think gtalk is now dead and will be completely superseded. And hangouts will replace it with probably a chrome app or hopefully an always on extension. So if chrome's open, you're available. Doubt there'll be a desktop client. Besides chrome is already my primary desktop
 
nadimm said:
Chrome Extension

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hangouts/nckgahadagoaajjgafhacjanaoiihapd/related

View attachment 50930

Runs in the background even if chrome is closed.
Click to expand...

Yeah, played with that during the week (or something that looks VERY similar) and like I said...you miss the desktop version after a while. This extension just feels in the way when I work...can't explain it. And although the interface looks 1000x better using it after the initial novelty wore off felt a bit clunky.

EDIT: called "chat for chrome" or "chat for google" or something along those lines..
 
Hamster said:
Yeah, played with that during the week (or something that looks VERY similar) and like I said...you miss the desktop version after a while. This extension just feels in the way when I work...can't explain it. And although the interface looks 1000x better using it after the initial novelty wore off felt a bit clunky.

EDIT: called "chat for chrome" or "chat for google" or something along those lines..
Click to expand...

It disappears into the tray if you close it. And it behaves very much like a traditional windowed app. Very slick.

Anyway, should improve.
 
nadimm said:
It disappears into the tray if you close it. And it behaves very much like a traditional windowed app. Very slick.

Anyway, should improve.
Click to expand...

Yes, and it minimizes to this very VERY almost un-clickable gray strip that sticks out just above your task bar.

I'll give it another go today but it really does look the one I used so I am worried :(
 
Hamster said:
Yes, and it minimizes to this very VERY almost un-clickable gray strip that sticks out just above your task bar.

I'll give it another go today but it really does look the one I used so I am worried :(
Click to expand...

If you minimise you get the little bar above the task bar. If you close (hit the x) it goes it disappears completely.
 
nadimm said:
If you minimise you get the little bar above the task bar. If you close (hit the x) it goes it disappears completely.
Click to expand...

So switched on my laptop and GUESS WHAT!!!! Hangouts was already installed and the other extension was gone!!!

Yeah, so what they did was "demo" it to the world under another name and renamed it yesterday or something. Either way - same app in most ways. But I'll give it another go.

Anybody know how to resize the bloody icons in the contacts list? They be too big for my liking.

EDIT: I will say that it feels a bit more slick. So the only two problems I have is the contact list size.
 
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Hamster said:
So switched on my laptop and GUESS WHAT!!!! Hangouts was already installed and the other extension was gone!!!

Yeah, so what they did was "demo" it to the world under another name and renamed it yesterday or something. Either way - same app in most ways. But I'll give it another go.

Anybody know how to resize the bloody icons in the contacts list? They be too big for my liking.

EDIT: I will say that it feels a bit more slick. So the only two problems I have is the contact list size.
Click to expand...

Yea, it seems like the Chrome extension already got replaced =)
 
Hamster said:
So switched on my laptop and GUESS WHAT!!!! Hangouts was already installed and the other extension was gone!!!

Yeah, so what they did was "demo" it to the world under another name and renamed it yesterday or something. Either way - same app in most ways. But I'll give it another go.

Anybody know how to resize the bloody icons in the contacts list? They be too big for my liking.

EDIT: I will say that it feels a bit more slick. So the only two problems I have is the contact list size.
Click to expand...

I was going to say, sounds like you have a in the wild test version. Weird no one picked up on it.
 
Park@82 said:
I use gtalk :( Don't want to have to download chrome.
Click to expand...

I guess, in some ways, Google is going Apple ish and forcing people to use Chrome for the best experience. I guess it makes sense, as they do control the browser, in order to make it the best experience.

As long as the provide the other browsers the API's for these services, they didn't do evil in my books.

I love Chrome, though, and think it's the best thing since sliced cheese.
 
Only problem with hangout's so far is that its not a universal chat as it promised to be.

No support for SMS/GVoice, but I guess that is still coming?

Edit: k another thing that grinds me is Old Gtalk only played a sound on my phone when I did not have Gtalk open on the desk..... now every time someone "pings" me the world knows about it.

3 Phones, tablet and PC all go ape, on every messages. :(
 
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