Google Splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet

#51

Post by debaserab2 » Thu, Mar 09, 2017, 7:38 PM UTC

jtchang wrote: post #43

I don't think I will move any substantial business communication to Google Chat. I'm happy there is competition but Slack nailed it and now google is playing catchup.

I don't think Slack really nailed it any better than Google hangouts, other than it's IRC like interface that differentiates it. It's chock full of it's own horrible bugs and problems. I can't even have it open for more than a few hours before it slows my system to a complete halt.

Re: Google Splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet

#52

Post by Infinitesimus » Thu, Mar 09, 2017, 7:39 PM UTC

ketralnis wrote: post #24

So now they have: * Gmail * Google Talk * Google Voice * Allo * Duo * Hangouts Chat * Hangouts Meet Am I missing any products that compete with their own other products?

I sometimes wonder how Google's Product/PM team views their products and how they think having a reputation among techies for a very fragmented software base and focus helps them.

I get the idea of internally challenging yourselves to come up with replacements for your products but at least have some clear focus. Why are there so many different ways for me to connect with people when using Google's platform?

The beauty of iMessage at least in the mobile space is that it's your single app for text communications and Facetime for video. That's it. Bonus if you have a Mac since you can use it from your computer as well.

Re: Google Splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet

#53

Post by noja » Thu, Mar 09, 2017, 7:39 PM UTC

FINALLY! What we were all waiting and hoping for: another chat app from the same company.

Re: Google Splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet

#54

Post by certifiedloud » Thu, Mar 09, 2017, 7:40 PM UTC

LordWinstanley wrote: post #50

certifiedloud wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use PushBullet to send SMS from my computer. It get's the job done. https://www.pushbullet.com/

Join[1] is a nice alternative to PushBullet. Does most of what PushBullet does [including sending SMS from your computer] but costs a one-time fee of £4,99, instead of PushBullet's monthly subscription. [1] https://joaoapps.com/join/

Awesome! I'm glad you said something because that looks great.

Re: Google Splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet

#55

Post by blaedj » Thu, Mar 09, 2017, 7:46 PM UTC

asidiali wrote: post #49

joshwd wrote: post #6

Oh yay, more chat apps from Google. I had finally hit a nice point of integration: using Hangouts with Project Fi means I got somewhat close to the iMessage experience (at least as far as being able to send/receive SMS from my computer). Clearly the integration wasn't great, and the Hangouts app is badly in need of work, but it's a shame to see that even that limited functionality is going away in favor of more fragm…

The new Google Voice app is a relatively good experience, unified across web/mobile platforms.

Does it work well with project fi accounts?

Re: Google Splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet

#56

Post by benballjr » Thu, Mar 09, 2017, 7:48 PM UTC

joshwd wrote: post #6

Oh yay, more chat apps from Google. I had finally hit a nice point of integration: using Hangouts with Project Fi means I got somewhat close to the iMessage experience (at least as far as being able to send/receive SMS from my computer). Clearly the integration wasn't great, and the Hangouts app is badly in need of work, but it's a shame to see that even that limited functionality is going away in favor of more fragm…

Can you elaborate on Hangouts + Project Fi? I'm also on Fi, and want the iMessage type experience, but always seem to fall short of it. Is there something particular about the Hangouts and Fi combo?

Re: Google Splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet

#57

Post by jboggan » Thu, Mar 09, 2017, 7:48 PM UTC

The cynic in me notices that this comes at the same time as Perf season in Google.

It's such a bad running joke internally that we have a never-ending multiplication of chat apps that I had to check the calendar to see if today was suddenly April.

Re: Google Splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet

#58

Post by Macha » Thu, Mar 09, 2017, 7:49 PM UTC

booleandilemma wrote: post #34

ketralnis wrote: post #24

So now they have: * Gmail * Google Talk * Google Voice * Allo * Duo * Hangouts Chat * Hangouts Meet Am I missing any products that compete with their own other products?

Inbox by Gmail

I mean Inbox is just an alternative Gmail client, so its not like you can't communicate between Gmail and inbox. This is not the case for e.g. hangouts and allo

Re: Google Splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet

#59

Post by memmcgee » Thu, Mar 09, 2017, 7:50 PM UTC

LordWinstanley wrote: post #50

certifiedloud wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use PushBullet to send SMS from my computer. It get's the job done. https://www.pushbullet.com/

Join[1] is a nice alternative to PushBullet. Does most of what PushBullet does [including sending SMS from your computer] but costs a one-time fee of £4,99, instead of PushBullet's monthly subscription. [1] https://joaoapps.com/join/

I wouldn't trust a one time fee app to be properly maintained though.

Re: Google Splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet

#60

Post by oomkiller » Thu, Mar 09, 2017, 7:51 PM UTC

From the comments here you would think there is a negativity competition. Chat and Meet are sorely needed, and make GSuite a viable replacement for heterogenous services: HipChat, Slack, GTM, Zoom, Uberconference, etc. Some organizations have all of these deployed simultaneously, along with GSuite, this is a huge win for easier management and lower cost. You can complain about fragmentation of their chat strategy all day long, but most of the apps mentioned here are designed for consumers, not businesses.