Google+ Hangout vs Facetime
With the introduction of Android operating system from Google, Apple had trouble coming in their way although it didn’t affect the sales proportion significantly. What was affected is the rate of innovations they introduced with the products because of the competition. While Apple offers OS, as well as the hardware, Google only offers the operating system. This has advantages as well as disadvantages. However, when it comes to the services they provide, Apple excels with their intuitive and simplistic interface while Google doesn’t lie far behind. A good witness that Google is catching up would be the comparison we are making today with Google+ Hangouts and Apple Facetime.
Google+ Hangout Review
There was a large hype in the internet community when Google+ was launched, and it was well backed up since Google+ recorded a remarkable growth as a Social Media Network. However at the start, Google+ was somewhat complex to use and hence it lost some of its consumers to Facebook. As usual, Google learnt from their mistakes and kept improving it, and Google+ Hangouts are an anchor they have found to sink other rival Social Media Networks.
Hangout is essentially Google Talk in a new skin. First off, you don’t need to install a client to use Google+ Hangouts. With the WebRTC framework, one can use Google+ Hangouts right from the browser in your Google+ home page. The basic functionality of Hangouts is to let you video chat with your friends and contacts in your list. It is offered in your PC as well as an application in your tablet. You can video chat with up to ten people, and that makes it a video conferencing service. It is worthwhile to mention that Video conferencing services are still considered as premium services for which you need to pay, so Google+ Hangout is letting you use that service for free. Another interesting feature in Hangouts is that you get various applications that make your hangout fun to be in it. For instance, it has masks, ability to draw doodles, watch YouTube videos or play games etc.
Another interesting usage of Google+ Hangout is to collaborate with your co-workers. On top of video conferencing, Google+ Hangouts also provides you with the ability to share what’s on your screen, view presentations and diagrams together as well as edit Google docs together. You can also call your friends through telephones and get them in for the conference for free or for a very low price. I have particularly come to be fond of the broadcasting facility provided by Google+ Hangouts. You can start a hangout and indicate that you want it to be broadcasted on air which streams the live hangout on your profile enabling the public to view it freely. Statistics are also provided on how many live viewers are available during the broadcast. Once it is finished, the recorded video is uploaded to your YouTube channel and a link is sent to the original post in your Google+ profile. I’m sure you will find this feature fantastic and really worthwhile if you have a lot of fans out there.
Facetime Review
Facetime is an incredibly simple Video chatting application that comes with Apple hardware. It is installed in latest mobile devices as well as iMacs. The first difference one can notice is that you don’t need to have an account to use Facetime. It will identify your device with either your number or your email address. Facetime is seamlessly integrated with the operating system and hence you don’t need to keep the application open in order to receive a call. It will automatically notify when there’s a call waiting for your attention.
The conceptual difference with Facetime is that, there isn’t a status such as ‘Online’ or ‘Offline’ because you don’t essentially sign in to Facetime. Hence it follows that there won’t be a ‘Whose Online’ list like in Skype. When you want to Facetime somebody with an Apple device, you use Facetime to connect to that device as long as it’s switched-on. Apple has always been a fan of simplicity, and it is exactly that we can expect from Facetime. It doesn’t provide chatting functions, nor it provides file exchanges and other related perks like in Skype. Instead, it guarantees a crystal clear video call in the simplest way possible which may be an attractive choice for those who trust simplicity over complex gestures.
A Brief Comparison Between Google+ Hangouts and Facetime
• Google+ Hangout is a browser based service while Facetime is integrated with the operating system.
• Google+ Hangout can be used on multiple platforms while Facetime is only available on Apple Hardware.
• Google+ Hangout is a diversified service while Facetime is a dedicated video calling application.
• Google+ Hangout uses your Google+ profile to connect while Facetime uses either your number or email address to route a video call.
• Google+ Hangout offers video conferencing and many collaborative services while Factime offers nothing of the caliber.
Conclusion
The conclusion for this would basically depend on two things; whether you own Apple hardware and how many of your regular contacts own Apple hardware. If you do own and a lot of your regular contacts own Apple hardware, Facetime may be the best and the most simplistic option for you while, when you decide to call someone out of your Apple network, Google+ Hangouts would come to your aid. It would also help you to set up video conferencing and other collaborative activities with a team.