Google hangouts plugin. Features: what the application offers us

One cannot but agree with the fact that for the average user who does not have any special aspirations, it is not difficult to come up with an application that would combine all the necessary functionality. But the trouble is that today the offer of a wide variety of instant messengers is so great that it’s dizzying. You don’t want to try everything, but making the right choice right away is an excellent alternative. The Hangouts application is quite young, but its army of fans has already been recruited and continues to grow. The secret of such success is simple: this program has everything you need, and ease of use is a decisive factor in the preference of many users.

Hangouts is a messenger for mobile devices released by Google. However, it cannot be said that using it only on the phone is always convenient. At work or at home, it is more convenient to have this program both on your device and on other devices. Therefore, a great alternative is to download Hangouts for your computer. If this is relevant to you, then the following information will be useful.

Application functionality

As we have already mentioned, the application is a messenger that allows you to exchange instant messages. A simple and not oversaturated interface allows you to figure out how to send a message to your interlocutor from the very first minutes. To do this, just select a person from your contact list and send the required text.

Calls to any phone numbers are also supported, and if the interlocutor is a user of the application, the call will be absolutely free. Considering the fact that the program is a Google service and is associated with your account, you can download Hangouts for your computer. Don't worry, there's no need to worry about losing data because you can continue the conversation exactly where you left off. Full synchronization is guaranteed. Many people are concerned about the question of what operating system is needed to use the program correctly. The developers have made sure that Hangouts is suitable for Windows 7, Windows 8 and higher. The minimum requirement is Windows XP.

Pros and cons of the application

As we found out, the functionality of the application is quite good. But whether this program is so good can be found out by highlighting all the advantages and not forgetting about the disadvantages. Let's start with the positive aspects:

in addition to sending photos and videos, the application has additional options to make the conversation brighter and more realistic using stickers, emoticons, GIF images, and also by sharing location;
saving all received and sent materials;
the ability to see which interlocutors are online and which are not;
the ability to display a person’s status;
quick response function when a notification appears at the top of the screen;
when using the application on a smartphone, there is a convenient option to add a dialogue to the desktop, which allows you to quickly jump into a conversation at any time;
stable operation with minimal load on the device.

Moving on to the negative aspects, we can highlight only a few points. After the latest update of the application, sending SMS is not supported, which was very convenient. Also, not all users are happy with the lack of an “invisible” mode.

How to Run Hangouts on PC

If you, having familiarized yourself with all the advantages and features of the program, decided not to waste a second and download the Hangouts application for PC, but do not know how to do this, here are the simplest instructions for you on how to install it using the BlueStacks emulator. Follow these steps and installation will not take much time:

First you need a computer;
then open the installation file, which describes all the installation steps step by step;
if you have a Google account, link it to the application; if you don’t, create a new one;
In Google Play we find the necessary program, in our case Hangouts, open it and click the “Install” button.

Now you can launch the program and use it at any time convenient for you.

Communication gives positive emotions today. The majority of the audience is constantly online on the Internet, sending their emotions in the form of emoticons or simply sharing vivid photos from their vacations. Knowing the needs of the audience, developers are constantly trying to release new tools for high-quality communication between people. By downloading the Hangouts application on your computer, the user can experience a new level of communication with friends.

The program is designed specifically for communicating with friends in the form of text messages, audio and video calls, and communication via chat. Free exchange of colorful selfies, real-time conversations via video communication, sending exciting video demonstrations, the ability to chat with up to 10 friends - all this list of comfort and more will be provided by Hangouts. Easy switching between SMS/MMS modes. A friend or interlocutor can be found in the address book integrated into the application's toolkit; if necessary, it is possible to send a contact from the same address book to another interlocutor.

The application allows you to write a text message to your interlocutor when he is not online. The SMS will be saved and read by the recipient immediately after it appears on the network. Now you can enjoy extensive communication with friends using different mobile devices and PCs connected via synchronization with each other. A Java version of the application is available for ease of use by subscribers.

Peculiarities

Sending SMS, MMS, Hangouts messages.
Easily switch between message modes.
Possibility of chatting with 10 interlocutors simultaneously.
Video chat with up to 9 friends.
Hangouts support on most devices of different operating systems.
Sending messages to your interlocutor without him being online without losing SMS.

The only drawback of the application is that the “invisible” status is not supported.

Video

Results and comments

The Hangouts application is known for its convenient tool for connecting friends using text messages, SMS, MMS, group video chat, conference video call. You no longer need to search for your interlocutor’s number every time, since during installation, the program saves a list of address book contacts with the ability to transfer the desired address to the required friend. Friends gather in groups of 10 people, call each other, and share positive emotions. A cheerful mood is guaranteed.

Google Hangouts is a free messenger from the developer of the same name that allows you to send text messages, as well as video/audio/gif documents.

Download Google Hangouts - take advantage of the delightful, modern, incredibly beautiful free client (a competitor to WhatsApp/Viber), which combines social services from the Google search engine into a single shell.

Download Google Hangouts to your computer or smartphone and write instant messages to friends at any time, arrange high-quality multi-user video chats, send emoticons, pictures, photos and other documents. The messenger is designed for both desktop PC/Mac devices and mobile Android/iOS gadgets, so you can communicate with anyone.

The Google Hangouts desktop software client is an integral component of the Google+ ecosystem. The utility can be installed on platforms: Android, iOS, as well as via web browsers on PC and Mac.

The design part of the messenger, naturally, is reminiscent of the Google+ social network. The creators have rid the interface of everything unnecessary - a minimum of design flourishes and a maximum of useful features. This, as it is called, Flat design, is now quite popular among the main players in the software market.

The panel with user contacts in the application is located on the left, on PCs and tablets it is permanent, and on mobile devices it is called up with a gesture. The main chat window with a specific contact contains the entire option for text communications, as well as tools for making video calls in HD, incl. and group. The application settings allow you to organize groups, adjust privacy settings, delete/archive communication history, block interlocutors, etc.

In terms of functionality in terms of correspondence, there is nothing revolutionary here, or indeed any optional extras.

Text messages, sending pictures, video calls - a completely standard set that satisfies average communication needs. All client settings are tied around Google social network circles. Individual parameters are adjusted for each circle, such as “do not disturb” mode, invites to chats, etc.

Google Hangouts is a high-quality multi-platform messenger that is definitely of interest to all those who actively use related services of the search giant of the same name, and is also very, very useful for users who constantly organize video conferences.

Hangouts(Google Talk) - Internet messenger from Google. Hangouts is reminiscent of both the popular services ICQ and Skype, since it allows you to transmit both text and voice information. Exchange photos, add emoticons and emojis, organize video meetings.

Application features on PC

The functionality of Google Hangouts for Windows 7 does not lag behind the capabilities of most popular instant messengers. Each dialogue, if necessary, can be transformed into a video call. In video conference mode, simultaneous work with 30 contacts is supported. This application allows you to exchange texts, stickers and emoticons, photos and GIF animations.

Among the useful additions, it is worth noting the use of Google Drive. This cloud service is successfully integrated into Hangouts. This greatly simplifies working with files. That is why this messenger from Google is positioned more as an application for business. With its help, you can organize collective work on documents remotely.

Hangouts allows you to make phone calls to both mobile phones and landlines. But, to implement this feature, you need to create an account with Google Voice.

A great feature of this app is to describe your mood. A field of 140 characters is allocated for this. It is possible to turn off incoming messages using the Do Not Disturb function. The application has minimal settings. You can set Hangouts as your default communication app, customize the sound of incoming messages, and add unwanted contacts to your Blacklist.

This messenger from Google has a division of contacts into circles: friends, acquaintances, subscriptions (to you) and family. For each group you can create your own message delivery status. Messages from family members can be received as soon as they arrive. And from your subscriptions, 2-3 times a day. This way you can optimally distribute your time and not waste it on not very important messages.

Description

Hangouts is a convenient messenger from Google for instant messaging, sending SMS, video broadcasts and calls. The service appeared in 2013 and combined the best qualities of earlier communication products from Google. Now you can easily download Hangouts to your computer and communicate with your loved ones at any convenient time. The functionality of the software is comparable to the famous Skype, and any gmail owner can use it.

Initially, the project was called Babel, but the developers chose a more sonorous name - Hangouts. Previously, there were three services - Google Talk, Google chats and video meetings. Now Hangouts has replaced all of them, so the user has a whole set of communication tools at his fingertips. The application features a minimalistic interface that does not need to be configured. The service operates without a subscription fee. It is aimed at a wide audience, including offering rich functionality for business and educational organizations.

Main features

New software from Google has all the tools a modern person needs to communicate:

When creating an account, the user can put an avatar.
Video calls are made using Internet traffic.
There is a geolocation detection function.
Chat histories are saved on Google servers, making it easy to sync across devices.
Online statuses have been added in new versions.
Sending and receiving SMS and mms works.
Cloud solutions allow you to save correspondence to the cloud.
If you turn on Do Not Disturb mode, users won't be able to contact you for three days.
You can turn push notifications on or off.
It is possible to make outgoing calls without installing software on your computer.
Sending messages with GIF animation is supported.
Convenient function of turning on the webcam.
Before sending, you can edit the photo using the built-in editor.

Registering and uploading contacts

Once registered, you can set your privacy settings. This is followed by loading the avatar and indicating the status. Then you should create a list of contacts or use an existing one. If you are registered on Google+, your friends will be added to your address book automatically.

Communication

Using a laptop or PC, you can call smartphones running IOS and Android. Calls to Hangouts numbers are free of charge. You can also call people who don't have a Google account. When calling regular numbers of mobile operators, the tariff is standard. There are two dialing modes – manual and voice. Added service for identifying incoming numbers - Caller ID.

Messages

In the chat you can communicate not only with one person, but also with an entire company. If you started chatting using your mobile phone, you can continue the conversation from your computer. Messages can be decorated with emoticons and animations. For convenience, the ability to add Google maps has been added.

Business Opportunities

It makes sense to install the Hangouts program on your PC if you plan to communicate with colleagues working on joint projects. For this purpose, a group chat with a capacity of up to one hundred people is created. It is possible to organize video conferences for groups of up to 30 people. Integration with third-party services is included, including Box and Smartsheets.

Video calls

A distinctive feature of Hangouts is the HD video quality. It is for this reason that the application is used to organize seminars and online courses. To get a high-definition image, you only need to have a high-speed Internet connection.

Transferring images

Uploaded photos are automatically added to Google Albums. Before sending, you can resize the picture, make light corrections and process it with color filters. When downloading, the original image resolution is retained. You can connect Google Drive to Hungouts, where it will be convenient to store files received from other subscribers.

Dialogue management

Instead of the usual names and numbers, Hungouts displays conversations with each user. Contacts can be marked with emoticons, signatures or avatars. If you have added an interlocutor, you cannot simply remove him. You will have to erase the entire dialogue and create a new one to communicate with the rest of the discussion participants.

How to Install Hangouts on PC or Laptop

To start using the messenger, you will need to install a program that emulates the Android operating system. There is now an emulator called Droid4X that runs smartphone apps on your computer. It does not freeze when opening programs and does not take up much space on your hard drive.

First download. Run the downloaded .exe file and wait for the installation to begin. You need to check a few items in the menu that appears, after which the installation process will complete. Log in using your Google account. Now open the emulator, there will be three main tabs in the main menu. Go to Google Play, enter the name of the messenger in the search bar and click on the “Search” button. When the required application is found, you can download Google Hangouts for Windows 7 on a regular computer. The application will install automatically.

If the first method is too complicated for you, or the application does not work, download the archive with files on an Internet resource. It includes an emulator file, the latest version of the application and installation instructions. After downloading, the archive must be unzipped using a special program.

System requirements

Minimum requirements for normal operation of the messenger through an emulator on a computer:

Virtualization enabled.
Operating system – Windows.
Windows version – 7, 8, 10.
Minimum 2 GB of RAM.
System type – 32-bit, 64-bit or 86-bit.

There are a lot of messengers now, but only a few cope with the assigned tasks. We have selected the best Hungouts analogues for you:

Skype. One of the first messengers on Earth. Allows you to make calls, send messages and files, organize video meetings. Supports group chats of up to 300 participants. Calls to Skype subscribers are free. To communicate with owners of mobile and landline phone numbers, you can choose a favorable tariff. Features such as forwarding, voicemail and answering machine are available. To start using Skype, you need to register an account with Microsoft.
Whatsapp. Using this software, it is convenient to make calls both to local numbers and to other countries. The subscriber pays only for the Internet connection; there is no need to make a monthly payment for using the services. There are a large number of nice additions, for example, the ability to change the design and automatically send messages to a group of subscribers. Sent messages are not saved on servers. But if the device is turned off, then unread SMS will remain in the application memory.

Video instruction

Conclusion

If you decide to download Hangouts to your computer, you can use it without opening Google's Chrome browser. It will be enough to turn on the Internet and open the application. At the same time, you can type a message on the keyboard much faster, and the interlocutor is better visible on the large monitor screen. Using a convenient service from Google, you can communicate with family and work colleagues, as well as find friends around the world. The developer is constantly improving the service and adding new features.