Google Updates Hangouts To Compete With Facebook

Google Hangouts looks a lot different after a complete renovation on Thursday, and it takes many design cues from its new conglomerate competitor, WhatsApp & Facebook. The new iOS app features tabs along the bottom of the screen with names like Hangouts, Contacts, and Favorites, much like its competitors. You can now also send videos, add stickers, or share your location within the conversation, and the new app is also optimized for iPad with a dual-pane design. Just as the messaging space has been thrust into the spotlight by Facebook’s acquisition, Hangouts has established itself as one of the bigger players in the space simply through its user base already garnered through gmail users. With this redesign, it positions itself not as a direct extension of gmail, but more of a firm competitor in the increasingly fragmented messaging battle.