Hangouts

Overview

Hangouts is Google's version of Skype/ICQ/MS Messenger/FaceTime all combined into one package. It is a chat, telephone, and video messaging service that is partially integrated into Gmail. Although no one will disagree that Google has been late to the table in the electronic communication realm, the allure of Hangouts is its price tag. When integrated with Google Voice, a telephony service, Hangouts is a convenient and cheap way to reach others. Currently, calls within North America are free.

Opening Hangouts

Like all Google applications, the easiest way to open the App is through the Google home page (www.google.com). In the top right hand corner, there will be an icon that I refer to as the Google waffle because it has three rows of three cubes resembling a waffle. This is a quick way to access any native Google app. It does not work for apps that are not created by Google.

Clicking on the Google waffle, opens up a list of Google Apps that are available on your user account. If the app that you are looking for does not show up, it is possible that it is on a secondary page. Click on More at the bottom of the selection. Additional apps will display.

It is possible to rearrange the order of the Apps in a fashion that is more convenient for your usage. Simply drag the icon (click and hold on it with your mouse/trackpad) and move it to the desired spot. It is possible to move apps from the lower section to the upper section.

Open Hangouts by clicking on the icon. Another way to navigate to Hangouts is by typing the website in directly (hangouts.google.com). It is also possible to bookmark the Hangouts homepage as a shortcut.

Startup Page

The splash page for relatively simple compared to most of Google's other Apps. Consistent with most of Google's other apps, in the top right hand corner is the Google waffle, an easy way to launch other Google apps. The bell icon shows notifications that may have been generated by alarms, emails, reminders, etc.

Front and centre in the middle of the screen are the three methods of communicating: making a video call, a phone call or sending a message. These can also be accessed on the side bar through the corresponding icons (video call is not available in the sidebar). Above the message icon in the sidebar is the icon for accessing contacts. The three horizontal dots is the symbol for more and this slides over a screen displaying additional options. The three horizontal bars in the extreme top left hand corner does the same thing (not sure why they created two icons with identical functionality).

Additional Options

Clicking either the horizontal bars or the horizontal dots opens up additional options which is not a lot different from what is available on the main screen. Here you will find shortcut links to areas where the Hangouts app can be downloaded onto a mobile device on the Android, iOS or Chrome operating systems.

There are also additional settings that can be configured that are described below.

Settings

The following settings can be configured for Hangouts:

display the last time you used Hangouts
display what device Hangouts is is being used on
display on your other devices whenever you're on a video or phone call
mute notifications for <1, 2, 4, 8, 12 hours or 1 day, 3 days or 1 week>
create sounds for notifications
ring on incoming phone calls
convert text to emoji
view archived hangouts, invites, hidden contacts, blocked people and customize invite settings

Google Sites

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