Google bolsters Hangouts with SMS support, location sharing, and animated GIFs

By Molly McHugh October 29, 2013

hangouts header — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Tuesday morning, Google announced a handful of new features for Google+ Hangouts, arguably the most popular service the social platform is home to. The biggest upgrade: Finally, Hangouts has added SMS support. Users can make Hangouts their default app for texting and Web-based chatting, making it an all-in-one messaging app.

The update will roll out soon for both Android and iOS phones, and will also improve video chats for mobile by adding HD and full-screen video calls across devices. Google says it will keep improving its software to adjust and improve webcam capabilities while chats are in progress. Hangouts keeps on looking better and better, and is certainly challenging other across-the-board apps out there.

google hangouts better lighitng — Image used with permission by copyright holder

In addition to the functional improvements, Hangouts also have a couple of fun new features to brag about. There will soon be a location option so you can signal with a red pin where you are, and this will show up immediately via Google Maps in the conversation.

Want some more fun? Google+ is bringing its animated GIF feature into Hangouts. You can now respond to Hangout chats in GIF form, because sometimes no words can convey what this can.

While Google+ might remain a quiet social network in comparison to the constant buzz of Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, the work it continues to do on Hangouts deserves recognition. It’s easily one of the most impressive services Google offers, and one users are happy the Web giant keeps updating.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…

Computing

How to block an email address in Gmail

A person expressing angry emotion at a computer.

Email is a powerful tool in the modern world. It’s used not only for professional correspondence but also for a variety of other purposes, including messages from your school or university, keeping in touch with distant friends or family, sending digital files, or just generally keeping track of your online accounts and purchases. But the ease of sending email, and the fact that many people have more than one email address, means your inbox(es) can quickly fill with spam.

While you can unsubscribe from mailing lists through Google, you might still receive unwanted emails. Gmail users who want to shut out this noise can do so with just a few clicks. Here’s how to block an email address in Gmail.

Computing

JPEG vs. PNG: When and why to use one format over the other

A person using Adobe Lightroom CC on an iMac.

In digital imaging, two image formats prevail above all else: JPEG (or JPG) and PNG.

At first glance, a single image shown in both formats might seem identical, but if you look closely enough and dig into the data, there is quite a difference between them. One format isn't always better than the other, as each is designed to be used in specific circumstances based on your needs for image quality, file size, and more. Here's what you need to know about both formats to make the most of their strengths and weaknesses.
What is the JPEG format?
Short for Joint Photographic Experts Group -- the team that developed the format -- JPEG has become the standard compressed format in digital photography and online image sharing due to its careful balance of file size and image quality.

Web

Is there a Walmart Plus free trial? Get a month of free delivery

Take a moment and think about how often you shop at your local Walmart. Is it weekly? Daily? If either of those is the case, it might be time to upgrade your shopping experience. The Walmart Plus free trial is your chance to check out what the retail giant has to offer. Walmart Plus is basically Amazon Prime for Walmart. You get free shipping on most orders, early access to deals and new product drops (like PS5 restocks), the best grocery delivery, and more. If Walmart is your go-to option for the best smart home devices or the best tech products in general, you should get a membership. If you want to test out the service, you can sign up for a free trial. We have all the information you need right here.
Is there a Walmart Plus free trial?
There is a Walmart Plus free trial available, and it’s one of the best free trials we’ve seen in terms of how many great features and conveniences you’re able to access. This is really a reflection of how great the Walmart Plus service is, as the Walmart Plus free trial is essentially a 30-day experience of what it would be like to be a paid Walmart Plus subscriber. A Walmart Plus membership can help you save over $1,300 per year, so taking advantage of the 30-day free trial is a great way to get in there and see what those savings will look like. And if grocery delivery is what you're really after, an alternative you might consider is the Instacart free trial -- they have more than one program to try!

As part of a Walmart Plus free trial, you’ll get free shipping with no minimum order, so even small orders will qualify for free shipping. You’ll get fresh groceries and more with no delivery fees, and all at the same low in-store prices Walmart shoppers are used to. Walmart Plus members, and Walmart Plus free trial members, get exclusive access to special promotions and events, as well as a savings of up to 10 cents per gallon on fuel. A new addition to the perks of being a Walmart Plus member is free access to Paramount Plus, a top-notch streaming service with more than 40,000 TV episodes and movies. All of this is accessible for 30 days through a Walmart Plus free trial, and once those 30 days are up, Walmart Plus is just $12.95 per month or $98 annually.