Hangouts new version
You're referring to the new version of Google Hangouts!
In October 2020, Google announced a major overhaul of Hangouts, introducing a new version with a fresh design, new features, and a rebranding. Here's what's new:
New Name: Google Chat (formerly Hangouts Chat)
Design: The new design is more modern, clean, and minimalistic, with a focus on simplicity and ease of use.
Features:
- Threads: Conversations are now organized into threads, making it easier to follow discussions.
- Reactions: You can react to messages with emojis, similar to Slack or Facebook Messenger.
- File Sharing: You can share files up to 100MB in size, and they'll be stored in the chat for easy access.
- Integrations: Google Chat integrates with other Google apps, such as Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Sheets.
- Customizable: You can customize your chat experience with custom emojis, colors, and notifications.
- Mobile App: The mobile app has been redesigned for a more seamless experience on-the-go.
What's Happening to Hangouts Meet?
Hangouts Meet, the video conferencing feature, is being replaced by Google Meet. Google Meet is a standalone app that offers high-quality video conferencing, screen sharing, and recording capabilities. You can use Google Meet for one-on-one or group video calls, and it's available on the web, mobile, and desktop.
What's Happening to Classic Hangouts?
The classic Hangouts app will continue to be available for a limited time, but it will eventually be phased out. If you're using the classic Hangouts app, you'll need to migrate to Google Chat or Google Meet to continue using these features.
Overall, the new Google Chat and Google Meet aim to provide a more streamlined, intuitive, and feature-rich experience for users.