Hands-on with mobile Hangouts and the Google+ update

By Phil Nickinson
last updated

Youtube link for mobile viewing

Here's our first look at the major update to Google+ for Android 2.3 and above -- and it's a doozy. Mobile Hangouts are seamless and awesome, though you can only join a Hangout -- not initiate one.

The notification settings are a must. Basically, we're getting even more excited about Google+. Check it out.

And if you're looking to circle all of your favorite Android central writers on Google+, here's a handy list:

28 Comments
  • Daw, any word on it heading to 2.2 or am I going to have to root my epic for this?
  • Root.
  • I doubt that they are going to expand it to 2.2 because the gtalk webcam chatting in 2.3 isn't there for 2.2. I would root it, one click methods are really simple.
  • Can you start a Hangout on your phone??
  • No.
  • That ruins the whole experience. I wonder why?
  • Needs to be a way to initiate a hangout from mobile...only being able to join sucks
  • Agreed
  • We can't initiate Hangouts yet? This severely limits the coolness. But I'm sure that update is coming at some point.
  • Still not enough here to drag me into Google+. Social media is so over.
  • What's going to replace it? Asocial freaks living in their basement media?
  • Is there away to initiate it from your phone?
  • No.
  • BOO! I have got to find something to do at work! haha
  • Agreed
  • Can somebody send me an invite? /kidding
  • It can also work on tablets.
  • Can you start a hangout on tablets?
  • Not yet.
  • Not being able to start a hangout on mobile still makes this a useless feature. None of my friends or family sit at a PC at home anymore everything is on google phones...
  • Yep
  • just combine Hangout & Talk already. call it, "Loiter" and prosper :)
  • It doesn't work on my EVO running CM7.
    It will show the hangout, but it says that I need a front facing camera, so it will not show me the Hangout button. I guess the only thing that I can do is text.
    Funny that it doesn't recognize the Front Camera.
  • You can only join a hangout in progress. So if one pop up on your stream you can join it while using your device.
  • me neither :-(
  • Android Central should start doing their podcast from there. They have a new feature where you can do a live stream. ...Plus it just makes sense (Google and Android).
  • I completely agree, this totally sucks if you can't launch if from your phone, WTF..
  • Did they fix that annoying bug where it would pop up out of nowhere while you were in the middle of something? Just to remind you it's there? I hatted that.