Watch YouTube Videos With Friends on Google+ Hangouts

Google+ Hangouts Integrates Live YouTube Streaming

Google+ Hangouts, the platform enabling face-to-face online group video conversations, is gaining a new capability: direct live streaming of YouTube content. This enhancement allows up to ten individuals to simultaneously view YouTube live broadcasts.

Current YouTube Integration Process

Presently, incorporating live feeds into Hangouts requires a multi-step procedure. It's a process that Google aims to simplify.

• Initiate a Hangout session and extend invitations to your contacts.
• Navigate to the desired YouTube live stream page and identify a broadcast.
• Retrieve and copy the unique YouTube video identifier (I.D.) of the selected stream.
• Input the copied I.D. into the video search field within the Hangouts interface.
• Upon locating the stream, activate playback.

This existing method is considered complex and doesn't reflect Google's envisioned user experience. The intention is to streamline the process significantly.

The updated feature will integrate live streams directly into Hangout’s pre-existing YouTube tab, offering a more intuitive experience.

Future Enhancements

Further development will extend this functionality to live stream pages themselves. This will enable users to join a dedicated Hangout specifically for a stream.

This will facilitate sharing a direct link with friends, allowing them to watch together through YouTube, eliminating the need to individually initiate a Hangout and send invitations.

Challenges and Outlook

Google acknowledges ongoing development is necessary for Hangouts and its YouTube integration. Improved filtering mechanisms will be crucial to prevent video-centric Hangouts from becoming overly distracting.

The current ten-person viewing limit may also present a constraint, although workarounds are possible. Nevertheless, this represents a noteworthy and distinctive feature.

This integration holds the potential to become a valuable asset for the Google+ platform.

Source: Gigaom