Hangouts has received the 7.0 update with some exciting new features like Quick replies and conversation shortcuts. This update allow users to reply directly from the Notifications and the ability to add home screen shortcuts that lead directly to conversations.
Note: The update is rolling out on slow pace to the users. So, stay calm and you will receive the update in couple of days. Now Google has also begun pointing people towards using an SMS app outside of Hangouts as well. Earlier Google has updated its Google now Cards and Inbox by Gmail app.
Coming to the update, the quick reply feature works as you’d expect —a message and then you tap the reply button on the notification, and you get a little floating reply bubble. This is something people have waited for Google to add for a long time. However, you’ll only see the quick reply option when one message is there and When more than one message stacks up, that button goes away.
In this update there is a number of visual tweaks to the overall design of Hangouts, with more Material Design creeping in to replace the older Holo style in settings, check boxes are now sliders etc. But overall, it’s mostly the Quick Reply feature that’s the big news in this release.
Download Hangout v7.0
