We’ve seen a few leaks of the latest version of Hangouts which is version 4.0. And today, it looks like it’s finally going to start rolling out. The Official Google Blog has put up a blog post regarding it, as well as a nice changelog. Which is something we don’t always get from Google. So what’s new in Hangouts this time around?
Well Google says the app is now sleeker. It’s been updated with material design which gives Hangouts a new look and feel. They also say that items will respond to your touch and they are also more intuitive. Transitions between tasks are also more fluid. The search giant also says that Hangouts is now simpler. With a new Compose button that makes it easier to start a new group or conversation. The contacts list is streamlined and helps you find the person you want to message or call, quicker and easier than ever before. Google also says that attachments have been revamped and simplified. This makes sharing much easier and better than before. That includes sharing emoji’s, GIFs, location and multiple photos. Finally, Hangouts is faster, according to Google. The Hangouts team says they have been obsessively fixing bugs and speeding up message delivery to make this latest version of Hangouts faster than ever before, as well as more reliable.
There’s one more thing here. Google says Hangouts uses less battery. That’s a win for everyone there. The new version of Hangouts will be available later today. Of course, it’ll be a staged rollout. Currently we don’t have our hands on the APK just yet, but as soon as we get one, we’ll be sure to update this post so that everyone can update, without having to wait for the staged rollout to finish up and get to them.
Google has also added some changes to the Hangouts Dialer. Like outbound caller ID. So when you call your friends and family members, they’ll know exactly who you are, instead of just showing a phone number. This is especially useful for those that are using Project Fi and/or Google Voice.