Social networking communications platform
Google Hangouts is a unified communications platform developed by Google to enable users to initiate and engage in its communications channels such as text, voice, and video chats. You can integrate this desktop application into your Google+ and Gmail accounts to connect with the people in your contact list. For mobility, the program is available across different platforms namely Windows, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, and web browsers. Google Hangouts for Mac is compatible with Mac 10.13 and newer.
Capabilities
You will find that Google Hangouts has a straightforward interface. The main page is a catalog of your most recent messages and video calls. Above this is an add icon that you can press to create a New Hangout. The term ‘Hangout’ is referred to as the conversation between you and another Google Hangout user/s. Creating a new Hangout prompts the program to display all your contacts. You can search for the user/s through their username, email address, or cellphone number.
Once you have selected the user or users you want to converse with, select a message or video call icon at the bottom of the page. Back at the main page is the gear icon which corresponds to the program’s settings. This enables you to adjust your preferences such as friend requests, push notifications, and blocked users. You can also join a Hangout. Whether it is a public or private, you will see its current participants organized according to who is in your network and who is not.
Broadcasts on Google Hangouts allow users that are not connected to the author to join. On these public Hangouts, you will find profiles of the people not associated or connected with you on the list of participants. The profile will display other personal information and invitation to add or block this user. Private Hangouts, on the other hand, allow friends to invite their friends to the conversation. For example, you create a Hangout with a select group of friends. Now that they’ve been invited to the group, they can add other users as too.
Additional apps
Applications on Google Hangouts are programs that you and your contacts can use during a Hangout. These range from collaboration tools, games, and filters. You can add and select Google Hangouts plugins by clicking the ‘+Add Apps’ tab. This will provide you with the applications the program offers. It is organized as Featured and Recent tabs.
Once you have selected the app from the list, click ‘Add to this Hangout.’ Note that the apps are not stored in your Google Hangouts account. This means once you’ve click the X or close icon the app will be shut off. If you want to apply the app to a different Hangout, you will find it in the Recent tab.
Good facilitator of social networking events
Google Hangouts is a good online communication channel for casual events. The ability to install plugins and invite a wide range of users into conversations helps you get to know more people through other methods. Whether you want to know people through webinars, online events, or games, Google Hangouts can help facilitate them for you.
