Google has updated its text, video and voice messaging app Hangouts, adding all the new features added to the Android version last month – including intelligent, one-tap location sharing.
Google promised that it would be building more intelligence into the app, and the new location-sharing feature is the first step along that path. The app automatically detects when a contact in a text chat asks where you are, and allows you to share your location with a single tap …
Version 2.5.0 also allows you to add your phone number to allow friends to find you more easily, and to import your phone contacts into the app. Status messages allow you to share what you’re up to or how you’re feeling, you can access SMS and voicemail messages from your Google Voice account, and there are a bunch of new sticker packs for those who like to communicate by means of cartoons …
Google previously updated the iOS app back in October with support for the larger displays of the iPhone 6/Plus. No functionality was added at that time.
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Google is incredibly smart. It can better capture and record your mood with one character icons, and of course the larger database of your contacts and locations lets it build ever more powerful and comprehensive personal dossiers perfect for Google’s primary business – Advertising.
Of course, that’s the reason why I gave up on Google. Sure, they still track me with their web bugs installed on nearly every website (Doubleclick; Google Analytics; Google Adware) but I purposefully avoid them as much as possible, just to protect the little privacy I have from them.
Totally agree with standardpull.
It’s important for people to realise that the main recipient of your …
* Location
* Phone number
* All your contacts personal data (without THEIR consent)
* SMS messages
will be the google surveillance system.
All this is a real shame. I like google services and have (previously) used ‘hangouts’ as an excellent cross platform messaging tool.
Unfortunately everything google does is blatantly about more & more surveillance.
I’ll weigh it up … but if it’s not possible to ensure all this is switched off – at both ends of the conversation – then I’ll need to delete hangouts.
This is a solid update and fixes a ton of problems that have been plaguing the app especially when it comes to Google Voice integration. One thing I would really like to see in the next update is Actionable notifications.
I’m glad that there’s better Google Voice integration, but I really wish you could more easily SMS a contact. As of this version, you must either open an existing thread, or enter the phone number manually. I’d also love to see support for short codes – which work perfectly fine in existing threads, or new threads from the desktop or Android versions of Hangouts.
wow – this release went in exact *opposite* direction for me – it broke all incoming calls! I was a super happy camper when I had multiple #s coming into the app so this is a bit of a let down for me. it seems Google’s software direction has been weakening lately….
You wanted to write: Even better spying and selling your info feature.
hangout new update crashing on iOS 8.2 beta version :-(
They still weren’t able to make the damn status bar white.