One of the main reasons being responsible for people’s liking for Google Plus network is the presence of video calling feature named Google Plus Hangouts. The debate is still on if Google Plus will be able to compete with Facebook or not. However, if we really find people switching from Facebook to Google Plus, then Google Plus Handouts feature would be the main motivating factor for doing so. Soon after the launch of Google Plus network during last week of June, Facebook wasted no time and announced its own Skype integrated Video Calling service. Although, both the services have not yet been fully operational and are available only to restricted users, still the initial reviews by the users who have used both, seem to going in favor of Google Plus Hangouts.
Installing and using Google Plus Hangouts is not that hard. It is quite easy as comparable to Facebook Video Chat in terms of the complexities involved or using the application.
Installing Google Voice and Video Plugin
Google Plus Hangouts is a Video Calling service from Google that can be used from Google Plus, Gmail, Orkut or iGoogle. It can be used equally good on Windows, Mac Os or Linux. It require a Google voice and video plugin which can be downloaded and installed quite easily from here.
- Once Google Plus Hangouts plugin has been installed, the application can be invoked by clicking green “Start a Hangout” button. You can find this button in the right sidebar on your home screen.
- Popup window will appear asking you to confirm the webcam and microphone settings.
- Click “Add more people” to select circles and specific friends to hangout with. You can either invite everyone in the circle or you can click X to avoid inviting everyone in the hangout.
- Invitations can be confirmed by clicking the green Hang out button and you are all set to use the application.
- All the available features can be accessed from the bottom toolbar.
- While chatting, you can invite even more people by clicking the “invite” button from the leftmost toolbar.
Google Plus Hangouts Features vs Facebook Video Chat- As I mentioned above Google Plus Hangouts can be setup quite easily. Facebook video chat on the other hand requires Skype plugin to be installed which at times proven to be a bit complex and error prone.
- It can be used to do a video chat with your circles or selected friends e.g. you can invite either your whole Google Plus circle for a video chat or you can select only a few. The invited users will get to see this invitation in their live stream and can confirm or reject the same.
- It can be used to do an IM chat.
- It can even be used to watch YouTube video together with your circle of friends while performing video chat. Or else, you can watch YouTube video all by yourself while you are waiting for your friends to join the video chat. Facebook lacks any such YouTube and any other third party video integration.
- It can be used to do a group video chat with as many as 10 members simultaneously. Facebook currently doesn’t allow any group chat.
- It can be a great tool for video podcast. Due to its high audio and video quality, it has been found quite good for podcast requirements. Facebook video chat doesn’t seem to have that great audio and video quality.
- Its a great tool for fun as well as to satisfy one’s professional needs. That means, you can video chat either with your friends or can even have your daily, weekly or monthly video conferencing meetings with your colleagues, teams and bosses. Facebook lacks video conferencing facility.
- There is a provision to mute either your video or audio i.e. you can either hide your video from others or you can mute your audio and prevent others from listening it.You can easily change the camera, microphone or speaker settings as per your needs.
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