11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
It used to be the case that Skype was the defacto app, if you dreamed to have group movie talks. But ever since Google introduced Hangouts, they have been steadily chipping away at Skype’s dominance.
The only thing plaguing Hangouts seems to be the technical glitches that seem to befall users. So how can you avoid these glitches with Google Hangouts and have a trouble-free movie talk?
Below are some tips to make your talk run more slickly.
1. Arrive Early To Check Potential Problems
Arriving at the last minute and hoping for the best is risky. Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketing suggests turning up early to deal with potential issues. This can include unmuting yourself, something glaringly demonstrable but you’d be astonished at how often it happens. Also check your microphone and webcam to make sure you are wired for sound and picture.
In an interview with Petite Business Trends, Taylor adds:
“…get into the hangout room about thirty minutes before your hangout on air is scheduled to go live and make sure you get your guests in there too. This helps you deal with the unpreventable issues that can crop up – bad connections, cameras not working, etc.”
Two. Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Sometimes, the Internet connection speed advertised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the speed you are actually getting are two vastly different things. So the next thing to attempt is to test out your current Internet speed to see if it is what you are paying for, or if it is running earnestly under.
For this, you’ll need a implement like Speed Test, a Web based app that tests upload and download speeds. Click the green “Begin Test” button and let the app do its thing.
Once it’s done, compare it against your ISP package to see if it checks out. If not, a call to your ISP might be in order. But before you do that, here’s something else you should think about.
Three. Restart Your Modem and Router
To restart your modem and router, just pull the cable out of the back, wait a few seconds, then put it back in again.
This will make it reboot, and in most cases, the Internet should begin to become a bit quicker (unless there is another underlying problem, of course).
Four. Shut Down All Unnecessary Software Programs and Browser Tabs
Unless you have an insane amount of RAM installed in your hard drive, your computer is not going to be able to treat everything at once. If you think you can get on Google Hangouts while also downloading large files, running security checks, or running any other intensive programs on your computer in the background, think again.
When on Hangouts, it is best to shut down all these other programs.
This also applies to browser tabs too. If you like to have 50+ browser tabs open at the same time, you are undoubtedly going to notice some lag in your Internet speeds. Shut down all but the necessary ones. Firefox and Chrome provide the capability to bookmark all the open tabs at once, so bookmark them into a improvised folder and shut them down until later.
Five. Make Sure You Don’t Get Shut Out Of Your Own On-Air Hangout
There’s nothing worse than going to all the trouble of setting up an On-Air Hangout, only to be shut out with no way of getting back in!
“The best thing to do is go to the Google Hangout tab in the main menu, schedule a hangout on-air, and reminisce to click “later.” Invite your circles or public, or whoever you want to “attend” (not “present”) — this is critical. When it’s time for the hangout, simply open the hangout and “invite” your guest – this is the secret to not being locked out of your own event.”
6. Keep Your Microphone From Getting Too Close To Your Mouth
When using an outer microphone, another problem is getting the microphone too close to your mouth. Some might believe such positioning is necessary to be heard. But, in fact, it has the opposite effect, causing the voice to break up in a hail of static.
Instead, keep microphones at a good distance. If your microphone is working correctly, it will pick up your voice just fine, assuming you have the volume set correctly.
7. Nuke Any Background Noise
When participating in a Hangout, you will want to be heard by the other participants. But that won’t be possible if you have work colleagues or people in your home office talking away in the background.
When working from home, make sure the TV is off and there’s no music playing in the background. You’ll also want to see for the sounds of dogs barking or children yelling.
Before the call, tell everyone to quiet down. Or stir to another room and close the door. Make it clear you are not to be disturbed.
8. Disable Any Programs Which Might Be Using The Camera
If you attempt to come in a Hangout while a program such as Skype is running, your webcam may not work decently. This is because the webcam is programmed to work in Skype and not in Hangouts. So you might be left with nothing but a static profile photo where your movie should be.
Before the Hangout embarks, disable Skype. Then go to your Hangouts settings and make sure that the session will be using your webcam to capture your participation.
9. Don’t Have Too Many People On The Call
Google Hangouts permits up to ten people to participate at any one time. But just because you can have that many people on a call doesn’t mean you have to. The more people who log in, the more strain you’re putting on the Hangout.
So only have the participants who truly have to be there. If ten people turn up for the event but only five truly need to be there, boot the other five out.
Ten. Use Google Chrome (But Not Canary)
There are lots of Internet browsers available, but when it comes to running Hangouts, the best browser to use is Google’s own Chrome. Hangouts runs quicker and more sleekly on Chrome. Sure, Hangouts will work on the other browsers, but you won’t see the same speed that Chrome produces.
That said, be careful not to use the Canary version of Chrome. Canary is a “bleeding edge” beta test version and is utter of bugs and not ready for prime time. Instead use the stable release, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
11. Make Sure Your Battery is Charged and Your WiFi is Working
The capability to use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet means you can have movie talks “on-the-go”. But if this is what you want to do, make sure of two things. Very first, make sure your device is suitably charged. A lot of devices will lag if the battery is down to its last 10%.
2nd, log in well in advance and check the WiFi connection to make sure that it is prompt enough. WiFi is notoriously fickle, compared to an Ethernet cable, so don’t let a bad WiFi connection ruin your session.
Google Hangouts can be a superb communications instrument. But be sure you are ready to avoid the downside of this fresh and sometimes unpredictable application.
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
It used to be the case that Skype was the defacto app, if you dreamed to have group movie talks. But ever since Google introduced Hangouts, they have been steadily chipping away at Skype’s dominance.
The only thing plaguing Hangouts seems to be the technical glitches that seem to befall users. So how can you avoid these glitches with Google Hangouts and have a trouble-free movie talk?
Below are some tips to make your talk run more sleekly.
1. Arrive Early To Check Potential Problems
Arriving at the last minute and hoping for the best is risky. Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketing suggests turning up early to deal with potential issues. This can include unmuting yourself, something glaringly visible but you’d be astonished at how often it happens. Also check your microphone and webcam to make sure you are wired for sound and picture.
In an interview with Puny Business Trends, Taylor adds:
“…get into the hangout room about thirty minutes before your hangout on air is scheduled to go live and make sure you get your guests in there too. This helps you deal with the unavoidable issues that can crop up – bad connections, cameras not working, etc.”
Two. Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Sometimes, the Internet connection speed advertised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the speed you are actually getting are two vastly different things. So the next thing to attempt is to test out your current Internet speed to see if it is what you are paying for, or if it is running gravely under.
For this, you’ll need a instrument like Speed Test, a Web based app that tests upload and download speeds. Click the green “Begin Test” button and let the app do its thing.
Once it’s done, compare it against your ISP package to see if it checks out. If not, a call to your ISP might be in order. But before you do that, here’s something else you should think about.
Trio. Restart Your Modem and Router
To restart your modem and router, just pull the cable out of the back, wait a few seconds, then put it back in again.
This will make it reboot, and in most cases, the Internet should begin to become a bit swifter (unless there is another underlying problem, of course).
Four. Shut Down All Unnecessary Software Programs and Browser Tabs
Unless you have an insane amount of RAM installed in your hard drive, your computer is not going to be able to treat everything at once. If you think you can get on Google Hangouts while also downloading large files, running security checks, or running any other intensive programs on your computer in the background, think again.
When on Hangouts, it is best to shut down all these other programs.
This also applies to browser tabs too. If you like to have 50+ browser tabs open at the same time, you are undoubtedly going to notice some lag in your Internet speeds. Shut down all but the necessary ones. Firefox and Chrome provide the capability to bookmark all the open tabs at once, so bookmark them into a makeshift folder and shut them down until later.
Five. Make Sure You Don’t Get Shut Out Of Your Own On-Air Hangout
There’s nothing worse than going to all the trouble of setting up an On-Air Hangout, only to be shut out with no way of getting back in!
“The best thing to do is go to the Google Hangout tab in the main menu, schedule a hangout on-air, and recall to click “later.” Invite your circles or public, or whoever you want to “attend” (not “present”) — this is critical. When it’s time for the hangout, simply open the hangout and “invite” your guest – this is the secret to not being locked out of your own event.”
6. Keep Your Microphone From Getting Too Close To Your Mouth
When using an outward microphone, another problem is getting the microphone too close to your mouth. Some might believe such positioning is necessary to be heard. But, in fact, it has the opposite effect, causing the voice to break up in a hail of static.
Instead, keep microphones at a good distance. If your microphone is working correctly, it will pick up your voice just fine, assuming you have the volume set correctly.
7. Nuke Any Background Noise
When participating in a Hangout, you will want to be heard by the other participants. But that won’t be possible if you have work colleagues or people in your home office talking away in the background.
When working from home, make sure the TV is off and there’s no music playing in the background. You’ll also want to witness for the sounds of dogs barking or children yelling.
Before the call, tell everyone to quiet down. Or budge to another room and close the door. Make it clear you are not to be disturbed.
8. Disable Any Programs Which Might Be Using The Camera
If you attempt to come in a Hangout while a program such as Skype is running, your webcam may not work decently. This is because the webcam is programmed to work in Skype and not in Hangouts. So you might be left with nothing but a static profile photo where your movie should be.
Before the Hangout commences, disable Skype. Then go to your Hangouts settings and make sure that the session will be using your webcam to capture your participation.
9. Don’t Have Too Many People On The Call
Google Hangouts permits up to ten people to participate at any one time. But just because you can have that many people on a call doesn’t mean you have to. The more people who log in, the more strain you’re putting on the Hangout.
So only have the participants who truly have to be there. If ten people turn up for the event but only five indeed need to be there, boot the other five out.
Ten. Use Google Chrome (But Not Canary)
There are lots of Internet browsers available, but when it comes to running Hangouts, the best browser to use is Google’s own Chrome. Hangouts runs swifter and more slickly on Chrome. Sure, Hangouts will work on the other browsers, but you won’t see the same speed that Chrome produces.
That said, be careful not to use the Canary version of Chrome. Canary is a “bleeding edge” beta test version and is utter of bugs and not ready for prime time. Instead use the stable release, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
11. Make Sure Your Battery is Charged and Your WiFi is Working
The capability to use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet means you can have movie talks “on-the-go”. But if this is what you want to do, make sure of two things. Very first, make sure your device is suitably charged. A lot of devices will lag if the battery is down to its last 10%.
2nd, log in well in advance and check the WiFi connection to make sure that it is swift enough. WiFi is notoriously fickle, compared to an Ethernet cable, so don’t let a bad WiFi connection ruin your session.
Google Hangouts can be a fine communications device. But be sure you are ready to avoid the downside of this fresh and sometimes unpredictable application.
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
It used to be the case that Skype was the defacto app, if you dreamed to have group movie talks. But ever since Google introduced Hangouts, they have been steadily chipping away at Skype’s dominance.
The only thing plaguing Hangouts seems to be the technical glitches that seem to befall users. So how can you avoid these glitches with Google Hangouts and have a trouble-free movie talk?
Below are some tips to make your talk run more slickly.
1. Arrive Early To Check Potential Problems
Arriving at the last minute and hoping for the best is risky. Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketing suggests turning up early to deal with potential issues. This can include unmuting yourself, something glaringly demonstrable but you’d be astonished at how often it happens. Also check your microphone and webcam to make sure you are wired for sound and picture.
In an interview with Petite Business Trends, Taylor adds:
“…get into the hangout room about thirty minutes before your hangout on air is scheduled to go live and make sure you get your guests in there too. This helps you deal with the unavoidable issues that can crop up – bad connections, cameras not working, etc.”
Two. Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Sometimes, the Internet connection speed advertised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the speed you are actually getting are two vastly different things. So the next thing to attempt is to test out your current Internet speed to see if it is what you are paying for, or if it is running gravely under.
For this, you’ll need a contraption like Speed Test, a Web based app that tests upload and download speeds. Click the green “Begin Test” button and let the app do its thing.
Once it’s done, compare it against your ISP package to see if it checks out. If not, a call to your ISP might be in order. But before you do that, here’s something else you should think about.
Trio. Restart Your Modem and Router
To restart your modem and router, just pull the cable out of the back, wait a few seconds, then put it back in again.
This will make it reboot, and in most cases, the Internet should commence to become a bit quicker (unless there is another underlying problem, of course).
Four. Shut Down All Unnecessary Software Programs and Browser Tabs
Unless you have an insane amount of RAM installed in your hard drive, your computer is not going to be able to treat everything at once. If you think you can get on Google Hangouts while also downloading large files, running security checks, or running any other intensive programs on your computer in the background, think again.
When on Hangouts, it is best to shut down all these other programs.
This also applies to browser tabs too. If you like to have 50+ browser tabs open at the same time, you are certainly going to notice some lag in your Internet speeds. Shut down all but the necessary ones. Firefox and Chrome provide the capability to bookmark all the open tabs at once, so bookmark them into a makeshift folder and shut them down until later.
Five. Make Sure You Don’t Get Shut Out Of Your Own On-Air Hangout
There’s nothing worse than going to all the trouble of setting up an On-Air Hangout, only to be shut out with no way of getting back in!
“The best thing to do is go to the Google Hangout tab in the main menu, schedule a hangout on-air, and reminisce to click “later.” Invite your circles or public, or whoever you want to “attend” (not “present”) — this is critical. When it’s time for the hangout, simply open the hangout and “invite” your guest – this is the secret to not being locked out of your own event.”
6. Keep Your Microphone From Getting Too Close To Your Mouth
When using an outward microphone, another problem is getting the microphone too close to your mouth. Some might believe such positioning is necessary to be heard. But, in fact, it has the opposite effect, causing the voice to break up in a hail of static.
Instead, keep microphones at a good distance. If your microphone is working correctly, it will pick up your voice just fine, assuming you have the volume set correctly.
7. Nuke Any Background Noise
When participating in a Hangout, you will want to be heard by the other participants. But that won’t be possible if you have work colleagues or people in your home office talking away in the background.
When working from home, make sure the TV is off and there’s no music playing in the background. You’ll also want to observe for the sounds of dogs barking or children yelling.
Before the call, tell everyone to quiet down. Or stir to another room and close the door. Make it clear you are not to be disturbed.
8. Disable Any Programs Which Might Be Using The Camera
If you attempt to come in a Hangout while a program such as Skype is running, your webcam may not work decently. This is because the webcam is programmed to work in Skype and not in Hangouts. So you might be left with nothing but a static profile photo where your movie should be.
Before the Hangout commences, disable Skype. Then go to your Hangouts settings and make sure that the session will be using your webcam to capture your participation.
9. Don’t Have Too Many People On The Call
Google Hangouts permits up to ten people to participate at any one time. But just because you can have that many people on a call doesn’t mean you have to. The more people who log in, the more strain you’re putting on the Hangout.
So only have the participants who truly have to be there. If ten people turn up for the event but only five truly need to be there, boot the other five out.
Ten. Use Google Chrome (But Not Canary)
There are lots of Internet browsers available, but when it comes to running Hangouts, the best browser to use is Google’s own Chrome. Hangouts runs swifter and more sleekly on Chrome. Sure, Hangouts will work on the other browsers, but you won’t see the same speed that Chrome produces.
That said, be careful not to use the Canary version of Chrome. Canary is a “bleeding edge” beta test version and is utter of bugs and not ready for prime time. Instead use the stable release, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
11. Make Sure Your Battery is Charged and Your WiFi is Working
The capability to use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet means you can have movie talks “on-the-go”. But if this is what you want to do, make sure of two things. Very first, make sure your device is suitably charged. A lot of devices will lag if the battery is down to its last 10%.
2nd, log in well in advance and check the WiFi connection to make sure that it is prompt enough. WiFi is notoriously fickle, compared to an Ethernet cable, so don’t let a bad WiFi connection ruin your session.
Google Hangouts can be a good communications instrument. But be sure you are ready to avoid the downside of this fresh and sometimes unpredictable application.
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
It used to be the case that Skype was the defacto app, if you desired to have group movie talks. But ever since Google introduced Hangouts, they have been steadily chipping away at Skype’s dominance.
The only thing plaguing Hangouts seems to be the technical glitches that seem to befall users. So how can you avoid these glitches with Google Hangouts and have a trouble-free movie talk?
Below are some tips to make your talk run more sleekly.
1. Arrive Early To Check Potential Problems
Arriving at the last minute and hoping for the best is risky. Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketing suggests turning up early to deal with potential issues. This can include unmuting yourself, something glaringly visible but you’d be astonished at how often it happens. Also check your microphone and webcam to make sure you are wired for sound and picture.
In an interview with Petite Business Trends, Taylor adds:
“…get into the hangout room about thirty minutes before your hangout on air is scheduled to go live and make sure you get your guests in there too. This helps you deal with the inescapable issues that can crop up – bad connections, cameras not working, etc.”
Two. Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Sometimes, the Internet connection speed advertised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the speed you are actually getting are two vastly different things. So the next thing to attempt is to test out your current Internet speed to see if it is what you are paying for, or if it is running earnestly under.
For this, you’ll need a device like Speed Test, a Web based app that tests upload and download speeds. Click the green “Begin Test” button and let the app do its thing.
Once it’s done, compare it against your ISP package to see if it checks out. If not, a call to your ISP might be in order. But before you do that, here’s something else you should think about.
Three. Restart Your Modem and Router
To restart your modem and router, just pull the cable out of the back, wait a few seconds, then put it back in again.
This will make it reboot, and in most cases, the Internet should embark to become a bit quicker (unless there is another underlying problem, of course).
Four. Shut Down All Unnecessary Software Programs and Browser Tabs
Unless you have an insane amount of RAM installed in your hard drive, your computer is not going to be able to treat everything at once. If you think you can get on Google Hangouts while also downloading large files, running security checks, or running any other intensive programs on your computer in the background, think again.
When on Hangouts, it is best to shut down all these other programs.
This also applies to browser tabs too. If you like to have 50+ browser tabs open at the same time, you are undoubtedly going to notice some lag in your Internet speeds. Shut down all but the necessary ones. Firefox and Chrome provide the capability to bookmark all the open tabs at once, so bookmark them into a makeshift folder and shut them down until later.
Five. Make Sure You Don’t Get Shut Out Of Your Own On-Air Hangout
There’s nothing worse than going to all the trouble of setting up an On-Air Hangout, only to be shut out with no way of getting back in!
“The best thing to do is go to the Google Hangout tab in the main menu, schedule a hangout on-air, and recall to click “later.” Invite your circles or public, or whoever you want to “attend” (not “present”) — this is critical. When it’s time for the hangout, simply open the hangout and “invite” your guest – this is the secret to not being locked out of your own event.”
6. Keep Your Microphone From Getting Too Close To Your Mouth
When using an outward microphone, another problem is getting the microphone too close to your mouth. Some might believe such positioning is necessary to be heard. But, in fact, it has the opposite effect, causing the voice to break up in a hail of static.
Instead, keep microphones at a good distance. If your microphone is working correctly, it will pick up your voice just fine, assuming you have the volume set correctly.
7. Nuke Any Background Noise
When participating in a Hangout, you will want to be heard by the other participants. But that won’t be possible if you have work colleagues or people in your home office talking away in the background.
When working from home, make sure the TV is off and there’s no music playing in the background. You’ll also want to see for the sounds of dogs barking or children yelling.
Before the call, tell everyone to quiet down. Or budge to another room and close the door. Make it clear you are not to be disturbed.
8. Disable Any Programs Which Might Be Using The Camera
If you attempt to come in a Hangout while a program such as Skype is running, your webcam may not work decently. This is because the webcam is programmed to work in Skype and not in Hangouts. So you might be left with nothing but a static profile photo where your movie should be.
Before the Hangout commences, disable Skype. Then go to your Hangouts settings and make sure that the session will be using your webcam to capture your participation.
9. Don’t Have Too Many People On The Call
Google Hangouts permits up to ten people to participate at any one time. But just because you can have that many people on a call doesn’t mean you have to. The more people who log in, the more strain you’re putting on the Hangout.
So only have the participants who truly have to be there. If ten people turn up for the event but only five indeed need to be there, boot the other five out.
Ten. Use Google Chrome (But Not Canary)
There are lots of Internet browsers available, but when it comes to running Hangouts, the best browser to use is Google’s own Chrome. Hangouts runs swifter and more slickly on Chrome. Sure, Hangouts will work on the other browsers, but you won’t see the same speed that Chrome produces.
That said, be careful not to use the Canary version of Chrome. Canary is a “bleeding edge” beta test version and is utter of bugs and not ready for prime time. Instead use the stable release, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
11. Make Sure Your Battery is Charged and Your WiFi is Working
The capability to use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet means you can have movie talks “on-the-go”. But if this is what you want to do, make sure of two things. Very first, make sure your device is suitably charged. A lot of devices will lag if the battery is down to its last 10%.
2nd, log in well in advance and check the WiFi connection to make sure that it is quick enough. WiFi is notoriously fickle, compared to an Ethernet cable, so don’t let a bad WiFi connection ruin your session.
Google Hangouts can be a fine communications device. But be sure you are ready to avoid the downside of this fresh and sometimes unpredictable application.
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
It used to be the case that Skype was the defacto app, if you wished to have group movie talks. But ever since Google introduced Hangouts, they have been steadily chipping away at Skype’s dominance.
The only thing plaguing Hangouts seems to be the technical glitches that seem to befall users. So how can you avoid these glitches with Google Hangouts and have a trouble-free movie talk?
Below are some tips to make your talk run more slickly.
1. Arrive Early To Check Potential Problems
Arriving at the last minute and hoping for the best is risky. Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketing suggests turning up early to deal with potential issues. This can include unmuting yourself, something glaringly demonstrable but you’d be astonished at how often it happens. Also check your microphone and webcam to make sure you are wired for sound and picture.
In an interview with Puny Business Trends, Taylor adds:
“…get into the hangout room about thirty minutes before your hangout on air is scheduled to go live and make sure you get your guests in there too. This helps you deal with the inescapable issues that can crop up – bad connections, cameras not working, etc.”
Two. Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Sometimes, the Internet connection speed advertised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the speed you are actually getting are two vastly different things. So the next thing to attempt is to test out your current Internet speed to see if it is what you are paying for, or if it is running gravely under.
For this, you’ll need a contraption like Speed Test, a Web based app that tests upload and download speeds. Click the green “Begin Test” button and let the app do its thing.
Once it’s done, compare it against your ISP package to see if it checks out. If not, a call to your ISP might be in order. But before you do that, here’s something else you should think about.
Trio. Restart Your Modem and Router
To restart your modem and router, just pull the cable out of the back, wait a few seconds, then put it back in again.
This will make it reboot, and in most cases, the Internet should begin to become a bit quicker (unless there is another underlying problem, of course).
Four. Shut Down All Unnecessary Software Programs and Browser Tabs
Unless you have an insane amount of RAM installed in your hard drive, your computer is not going to be able to treat everything at once. If you think you can get on Google Hangouts while also downloading large files, running security checks, or running any other intensive programs on your computer in the background, think again.
When on Hangouts, it is best to shut down all these other programs.
This also applies to browser tabs too. If you like to have 50+ browser tabs open at the same time, you are undoubtedly going to notice some lag in your Internet speeds. Shut down all but the necessary ones. Firefox and Chrome provide the capability to bookmark all the open tabs at once, so bookmark them into a improvised folder and shut them down until later.
Five. Make Sure You Don’t Get Shut Out Of Your Own On-Air Hangout
There’s nothing worse than going to all the trouble of setting up an On-Air Hangout, only to be shut out with no way of getting back in!
“The best thing to do is go to the Google Hangout tab in the main menu, schedule a hangout on-air, and recall to click “later.” Invite your circles or public, or whoever you want to “attend” (not “present”) — this is critical. When it’s time for the hangout, simply open the hangout and “invite” your guest – this is the secret to not being locked out of your own event.”
6. Keep Your Microphone From Getting Too Close To Your Mouth
When using an outer microphone, another problem is getting the microphone too close to your mouth. Some might believe such positioning is necessary to be heard. But, in fact, it has the opposite effect, causing the voice to break up in a hail of static.
Instead, keep microphones at a good distance. If your microphone is working correctly, it will pick up your voice just fine, assuming you have the volume set correctly.
7. Nuke Any Background Noise
When participating in a Hangout, you will want to be heard by the other participants. But that won’t be possible if you have work colleagues or people in your home office talking away in the background.
When working from home, make sure the TV is off and there’s no music playing in the background. You’ll also want to see for the sounds of dogs barking or children yelling.
Before the call, tell everyone to quiet down. Or stir to another room and close the door. Make it clear you are not to be disturbed.
8. Disable Any Programs Which Might Be Using The Camera
If you attempt to inject a Hangout while a program such as Skype is running, your webcam may not work decently. This is because the webcam is programmed to work in Skype and not in Hangouts. So you might be left with nothing but a static profile photo where your movie should be.
Before the Hangout starts, disable Skype. Then go to your Hangouts settings and make sure that the session will be using your webcam to capture your participation.
9. Don’t Have Too Many People On The Call
Google Hangouts permits up to ten people to participate at any one time. But just because you can have that many people on a call doesn’t mean you have to. The more people who log in, the more strain you’re putting on the Hangout.
So only have the participants who truly have to be there. If ten people turn up for the event but only five indeed need to be there, boot the other five out.
Ten. Use Google Chrome (But Not Canary)
There are lots of Internet browsers available, but when it comes to running Hangouts, the best browser to use is Google’s own Chrome. Hangouts runs quicker and more sleekly on Chrome. Sure, Hangouts will work on the other browsers, but you won’t see the same speed that Chrome supplies.
That said, be careful not to use the Canary version of Chrome. Canary is a “bleeding edge” beta test version and is utter of bugs and not ready for prime time. Instead use the stable release, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
11. Make Sure Your Battery is Charged and Your WiFi is Working
The capability to use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet means you can have movie talks “on-the-go”. But if this is what you want to do, make sure of two things. Very first, make sure your device is suitably charged. A lot of devices will lag if the battery is down to its last 10%.
2nd, log in well in advance and check the WiFi connection to make sure that it is rapid enough. WiFi is notoriously fickle, compared to an Ethernet cable, so don’t let a bad WiFi connection ruin your session.
Google Hangouts can be a superb communications instrument. But be sure you are ready to avoid the downside of this fresh and sometimes unpredictable application.
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
It used to be the case that Skype was the defacto app, if you desired to have group movie talks. But ever since Google introduced Hangouts, they have been steadily chipping away at Skype’s dominance.
The only thing plaguing Hangouts seems to be the technical glitches that seem to befall users. So how can you avoid these glitches with Google Hangouts and have a trouble-free movie talk?
Below are some tips to make your talk run more slickly.
1. Arrive Early To Check Potential Problems
Arriving at the last minute and hoping for the best is risky. Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketing suggests turning up early to deal with potential issues. This can include unmuting yourself, something glaringly visible but you’d be astonished at how often it happens. Also check your microphone and webcam to make sure you are wired for sound and picture.
In an interview with Petite Business Trends, Taylor adds:
“…get into the hangout room about thirty minutes before your hangout on air is scheduled to go live and make sure you get your guests in there too. This helps you deal with the unpreventable issues that can crop up – bad connections, cameras not working, etc.”
Two. Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Sometimes, the Internet connection speed advertised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the speed you are actually getting are two vastly different things. So the next thing to attempt is to test out your current Internet speed to see if it is what you are paying for, or if it is running earnestly under.
For this, you’ll need a contraption like Speed Test, a Web based app that tests upload and download speeds. Click the green “Begin Test” button and let the app do its thing.
Once it’s done, compare it against your ISP package to see if it checks out. If not, a call to your ISP might be in order. But before you do that, here’s something else you should think about.
Three. Restart Your Modem and Router
To restart your modem and router, just pull the cable out of the back, wait a few seconds, then put it back in again.
This will make it reboot, and in most cases, the Internet should begin to become a bit quicker (unless there is another underlying problem, of course).
Four. Shut Down All Unnecessary Software Programs and Browser Tabs
Unless you have an insane amount of RAM installed in your hard drive, your computer is not going to be able to treat everything at once. If you think you can get on Google Hangouts while also downloading large files, running security checks, or running any other intensive programs on your computer in the background, think again.
When on Hangouts, it is best to shut down all these other programs.
This also applies to browser tabs too. If you like to have 50+ browser tabs open at the same time, you are certainly going to notice some lag in your Internet speeds. Shut down all but the necessary ones. Firefox and Chrome provide the capability to bookmark all the open tabs at once, so bookmark them into a improvised folder and shut them down until later.
Five. Make Sure You Don’t Get Shut Out Of Your Own On-Air Hangout
There’s nothing worse than going to all the trouble of setting up an On-Air Hangout, only to be shut out with no way of getting back in!
“The best thing to do is go to the Google Hangout tab in the main menu, schedule a hangout on-air, and recall to click “later.” Invite your circles or public, or whoever you want to “attend” (not “present”) — this is critical. When it’s time for the hangout, simply open the hangout and “invite” your guest – this is the secret to not being locked out of your own event.”
6. Keep Your Microphone From Getting Too Close To Your Mouth
When using an outer microphone, another problem is getting the microphone too close to your mouth. Some might believe such positioning is necessary to be heard. But, in fact, it has the opposite effect, causing the voice to break up in a hail of static.
Instead, keep microphones at a good distance. If your microphone is working correctly, it will pick up your voice just fine, assuming you have the volume set correctly.
7. Nuke Any Background Noise
When participating in a Hangout, you will want to be heard by the other participants. But that won’t be possible if you have work colleagues or people in your home office talking away in the background.
When working from home, make sure the TV is off and there’s no music playing in the background. You’ll also want to witness for the sounds of dogs barking or children yelling.
Before the call, tell everyone to quiet down. Or stir to another room and close the door. Make it clear you are not to be disturbed.
8. Disable Any Programs Which Might Be Using The Camera
If you attempt to come in a Hangout while a program such as Skype is running, your webcam may not work decently. This is because the webcam is programmed to work in Skype and not in Hangouts. So you might be left with nothing but a static profile photo where your movie should be.
Before the Hangout embarks, disable Skype. Then go to your Hangouts settings and make sure that the session will be using your webcam to capture your participation.
9. Don’t Have Too Many People On The Call
Google Hangouts permits up to ten people to participate at any one time. But just because you can have that many people on a call doesn’t mean you have to. The more people who log in, the more strain you’re putting on the Hangout.
So only have the participants who truly have to be there. If ten people turn up for the event but only five indeed need to be there, boot the other five out.
Ten. Use Google Chrome (But Not Canary)
There are lots of Internet browsers available, but when it comes to running Hangouts, the best browser to use is Google’s own Chrome. Hangouts runs swifter and more slickly on Chrome. Sure, Hangouts will work on the other browsers, but you won’t see the same speed that Chrome produces.
That said, be careful not to use the Canary version of Chrome. Canary is a “bleeding edge” beta test version and is utter of bugs and not ready for prime time. Instead use the stable release, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
11. Make Sure Your Battery is Charged and Your WiFi is Working
The capability to use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet means you can have movie talks “on-the-go”. But if this is what you want to do, make sure of two things. Very first, make sure your device is suitably charged. A lot of devices will lag if the battery is down to its last 10%.
2nd, log in well in advance and check the WiFi connection to make sure that it is quick enough. WiFi is notoriously fickle, compared to an Ethernet cable, so don’t let a bad WiFi connection ruin your session.
Google Hangouts can be a good communications instrument. But be sure you are ready to avoid the downside of this fresh and sometimes unpredictable application.
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
It used to be the case that Skype was the defacto app, if you desired to have group movie talks. But ever since Google introduced Hangouts, they have been steadily chipping away at Skype’s dominance.
The only thing plaguing Hangouts seems to be the technical glitches that seem to befall users. So how can you avoid these glitches with Google Hangouts and have a trouble-free movie talk?
Below are some tips to make your talk run more sleekly.
1. Arrive Early To Check Potential Problems
Arriving at the last minute and hoping for the best is risky. Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketing suggests turning up early to deal with potential issues. This can include unmuting yourself, something glaringly visible but you’d be astonished at how often it happens. Also check your microphone and webcam to make sure you are wired for sound and picture.
In an interview with Petite Business Trends, Taylor adds:
“…get into the hangout room about thirty minutes before your hangout on air is scheduled to go live and make sure you get your guests in there too. This helps you deal with the inescapable issues that can crop up – bad connections, cameras not working, etc.”
Two. Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Sometimes, the Internet connection speed advertised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the speed you are actually getting are two vastly different things. So the next thing to attempt is to test out your current Internet speed to see if it is what you are paying for, or if it is running gravely under.
For this, you’ll need a implement like Speed Test, a Web based app that tests upload and download speeds. Click the green “Begin Test” button and let the app do its thing.
Once it’s done, compare it against your ISP package to see if it checks out. If not, a call to your ISP might be in order. But before you do that, here’s something else you should think about.
Trio. Restart Your Modem and Router
To restart your modem and router, just pull the cable out of the back, wait a few seconds, then put it back in again.
This will make it reboot, and in most cases, the Internet should embark to become a bit swifter (unless there is another underlying problem, of course).
Four. Shut Down All Unnecessary Software Programs and Browser Tabs
Unless you have an insane amount of RAM installed in your hard drive, your computer is not going to be able to treat everything at once. If you think you can get on Google Hangouts while also downloading large files, running security checks, or running any other intensive programs on your computer in the background, think again.
When on Hangouts, it is best to shut down all these other programs.
This also applies to browser tabs too. If you like to have 50+ browser tabs open at the same time, you are certainly going to notice some lag in your Internet speeds. Shut down all but the necessary ones. Firefox and Chrome provide the capability to bookmark all the open tabs at once, so bookmark them into a makeshift folder and shut them down until later.
Five. Make Sure You Don’t Get Shut Out Of Your Own On-Air Hangout
There’s nothing worse than going to all the trouble of setting up an On-Air Hangout, only to be shut out with no way of getting back in!
“The best thing to do is go to the Google Hangout tab in the main menu, schedule a hangout on-air, and recall to click “later.” Invite your circles or public, or whoever you want to “attend” (not “present”) — this is critical. When it’s time for the hangout, simply open the hangout and “invite” your guest – this is the secret to not being locked out of your own event.”
6. Keep Your Microphone From Getting Too Close To Your Mouth
When using an outward microphone, another problem is getting the microphone too close to your mouth. Some might believe such positioning is necessary to be heard. But, in fact, it has the opposite effect, causing the voice to break up in a hail of static.
Instead, keep microphones at a good distance. If your microphone is working correctly, it will pick up your voice just fine, assuming you have the volume set correctly.
7. Nuke Any Background Noise
When participating in a Hangout, you will want to be heard by the other participants. But that won’t be possible if you have work colleagues or people in your home office talking away in the background.
When working from home, make sure the TV is off and there’s no music playing in the background. You’ll also want to witness for the sounds of dogs barking or children yelling.
Before the call, tell everyone to quiet down. Or budge to another room and close the door. Make it clear you are not to be disturbed.
8. Disable Any Programs Which Might Be Using The Camera
If you attempt to inject a Hangout while a program such as Skype is running, your webcam may not work decently. This is because the webcam is programmed to work in Skype and not in Hangouts. So you might be left with nothing but a static profile photo where your movie should be.
Before the Hangout starts, disable Skype. Then go to your Hangouts settings and make sure that the session will be using your webcam to capture your participation.
9. Don’t Have Too Many People On The Call
Google Hangouts permits up to ten people to participate at any one time. But just because you can have that many people on a call doesn’t mean you have to. The more people who log in, the more strain you’re putting on the Hangout.
So only have the participants who truly have to be there. If ten people turn up for the event but only five indeed need to be there, boot the other five out.
Ten. Use Google Chrome (But Not Canary)
There are lots of Internet browsers available, but when it comes to running Hangouts, the best browser to use is Google’s own Chrome. Hangouts runs quicker and more sleekly on Chrome. Sure, Hangouts will work on the other browsers, but you won’t see the same speed that Chrome supplies.
That said, be careful not to use the Canary version of Chrome. Canary is a “bleeding edge” beta test version and is total of bugs and not ready for prime time. Instead use the stable release, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
11. Make Sure Your Battery is Charged and Your WiFi is Working
The capability to use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet means you can have movie talks “on-the-go”. But if this is what you want to do, make sure of two things. Very first, make sure your device is suitably charged. A lot of devices will lag if the battery is down to its last 10%.
2nd, log in well in advance and check the WiFi connection to make sure that it is quick enough. WiFi is notoriously fickle, compared to an Ethernet cable, so don’t let a bad WiFi connection ruin your session.
Google Hangouts can be a good communications implement. But be sure you are ready to avoid the downside of this fresh and sometimes unpredictable application.
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
It used to be the case that Skype was the defacto app, if you desired to have group movie talks. But ever since Google introduced Hangouts, they have been steadily chipping away at Skype’s dominance.
The only thing plaguing Hangouts seems to be the technical glitches that seem to befall users. So how can you avoid these glitches with Google Hangouts and have a trouble-free movie talk?
Below are some tips to make your talk run more sleekly.
1. Arrive Early To Check Potential Problems
Arriving at the last minute and hoping for the best is risky. Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketing suggests turning up early to deal with potential issues. This can include unmuting yourself, something glaringly visible but you’d be astonished at how often it happens. Also check your microphone and webcam to make sure you are wired for sound and picture.
In an interview with Puny Business Trends, Taylor adds:
“…get into the hangout room about thirty minutes before your hangout on air is scheduled to go live and make sure you get your guests in there too. This helps you deal with the unavoidable issues that can crop up – bad connections, cameras not working, etc.”
Two. Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Sometimes, the Internet connection speed advertised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the speed you are actually getting are two vastly different things. So the next thing to attempt is to test out your current Internet speed to see if it is what you are paying for, or if it is running gravely under.
For this, you’ll need a contraption like Speed Test, a Web based app that tests upload and download speeds. Click the green “Begin Test” button and let the app do its thing.
Once it’s done, compare it against your ISP package to see if it checks out. If not, a call to your ISP might be in order. But before you do that, here’s something else you should think about.
Trio. Restart Your Modem and Router
To restart your modem and router, just pull the cable out of the back, wait a few seconds, then put it back in again.
This will make it reboot, and in most cases, the Internet should commence to become a bit quicker (unless there is another underlying problem, of course).
Four. Shut Down All Unnecessary Software Programs and Browser Tabs
Unless you have an insane amount of RAM installed in your hard drive, your computer is not going to be able to treat everything at once. If you think you can get on Google Hangouts while also downloading large files, running security checks, or running any other intensive programs on your computer in the background, think again.
When on Hangouts, it is best to shut down all these other programs.
This also applies to browser tabs too. If you like to have 50+ browser tabs open at the same time, you are undoubtedly going to notice some lag in your Internet speeds. Shut down all but the necessary ones. Firefox and Chrome provide the capability to bookmark all the open tabs at once, so bookmark them into a improvised folder and shut them down until later.
Five. Make Sure You Don’t Get Shut Out Of Your Own On-Air Hangout
There’s nothing worse than going to all the trouble of setting up an On-Air Hangout, only to be shut out with no way of getting back in!
“The best thing to do is go to the Google Hangout tab in the main menu, schedule a hangout on-air, and reminisce to click “later.” Invite your circles or public, or whoever you want to “attend” (not “present”) — this is critical. When it’s time for the hangout, simply open the hangout and “invite” your guest – this is the secret to not being locked out of your own event.”
6. Keep Your Microphone From Getting Too Close To Your Mouth
When using an outward microphone, another problem is getting the microphone too close to your mouth. Some might believe such positioning is necessary to be heard. But, in fact, it has the opposite effect, causing the voice to break up in a hail of static.
Instead, keep microphones at a good distance. If your microphone is working correctly, it will pick up your voice just fine, assuming you have the volume set correctly.
7. Nuke Any Background Noise
When participating in a Hangout, you will want to be heard by the other participants. But that won’t be possible if you have work colleagues or people in your home office talking away in the background.
When working from home, make sure the TV is off and there’s no music playing in the background. You’ll also want to witness for the sounds of dogs barking or children yelling.
Before the call, tell everyone to quiet down. Or budge to another room and close the door. Make it clear you are not to be disturbed.
8. Disable Any Programs Which Might Be Using The Camera
If you attempt to come in a Hangout while a program such as Skype is running, your webcam may not work decently. This is because the webcam is programmed to work in Skype and not in Hangouts. So you might be left with nothing but a static profile photo where your movie should be.
Before the Hangout starts, disable Skype. Then go to your Hangouts settings and make sure that the session will be using your webcam to capture your participation.
9. Don’t Have Too Many People On The Call
Google Hangouts permits up to ten people to participate at any one time. But just because you can have that many people on a call doesn’t mean you have to. The more people who log in, the more strain you’re putting on the Hangout.
So only have the participants who truly have to be there. If ten people turn up for the event but only five truly need to be there, boot the other five out.
Ten. Use Google Chrome (But Not Canary)
There are lots of Internet browsers available, but when it comes to running Hangouts, the best browser to use is Google’s own Chrome. Hangouts runs quicker and more slickly on Chrome. Sure, Hangouts will work on the other browsers, but you won’t see the same speed that Chrome supplies.
That said, be careful not to use the Canary version of Chrome. Canary is a “bleeding edge” beta test version and is utter of bugs and not ready for prime time. Instead use the stable release, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
11. Make Sure Your Battery is Charged and Your WiFi is Working
The capability to use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet means you can have movie talks “on-the-go”. But if this is what you want to do, make sure of two things. Very first, make sure your device is suitably charged. A lot of devices will lag if the battery is down to its last 10%.
2nd, log in well in advance and check the WiFi connection to make sure that it is prompt enough. WiFi is notoriously fickle, compared to an Ethernet cable, so don’t let a bad WiFi connection ruin your session.
Google Hangouts can be a superb communications contraption. But be sure you are ready to avoid the downside of this fresh and sometimes unpredictable application.
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
It used to be the case that Skype was the defacto app, if you wished to have group movie talks. But ever since Google introduced Hangouts, they have been steadily chipping away at Skype’s dominance.
The only thing plaguing Hangouts seems to be the technical glitches that seem to befall users. So how can you avoid these glitches with Google Hangouts and have a trouble-free movie talk?
Below are some tips to make your talk run more slickly.
1. Arrive Early To Check Potential Problems
Arriving at the last minute and hoping for the best is risky. Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketing suggests turning up early to deal with potential issues. This can include unmuting yourself, something glaringly evident but you’d be astonished at how often it happens. Also check your microphone and webcam to make sure you are wired for sound and picture.
In an interview with Puny Business Trends, Taylor adds:
“…get into the hangout room about thirty minutes before your hangout on air is scheduled to go live and make sure you get your guests in there too. This helps you deal with the inescapable issues that can crop up – bad connections, cameras not working, etc.”
Two. Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Sometimes, the Internet connection speed advertised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the speed you are actually getting are two vastly different things. So the next thing to attempt is to test out your current Internet speed to see if it is what you are paying for, or if it is running gravely under.
For this, you’ll need a instrument like Speed Test, a Web based app that tests upload and download speeds. Click the green “Begin Test” button and let the app do its thing.
Once it’s done, compare it against your ISP package to see if it checks out. If not, a call to your ISP might be in order. But before you do that, here’s something else you should think about.
Three. Restart Your Modem and Router
To restart your modem and router, just pull the cable out of the back, wait a few seconds, then put it back in again.
This will make it reboot, and in most cases, the Internet should commence to become a bit swifter (unless there is another underlying problem, of course).
Four. Shut Down All Unnecessary Software Programs and Browser Tabs
Unless you have an insane amount of RAM installed in your hard drive, your computer is not going to be able to treat everything at once. If you think you can get on Google Hangouts while also downloading large files, running security checks, or running any other intensive programs on your computer in the background, think again.
When on Hangouts, it is best to shut down all these other programs.
This also applies to browser tabs too. If you like to have 50+ browser tabs open at the same time, you are certainly going to notice some lag in your Internet speeds. Shut down all but the necessary ones. Firefox and Chrome provide the capability to bookmark all the open tabs at once, so bookmark them into a makeshift folder and shut them down until later.
Five. Make Sure You Don’t Get Shut Out Of Your Own On-Air Hangout
There’s nothing worse than going to all the trouble of setting up an On-Air Hangout, only to be shut out with no way of getting back in!
“The best thing to do is go to the Google Hangout tab in the main menu, schedule a hangout on-air, and recall to click “later.” Invite your circles or public, or whoever you want to “attend” (not “present”) — this is critical. When it’s time for the hangout, simply open the hangout and “invite” your guest – this is the secret to not being locked out of your own event.”
6. Keep Your Microphone From Getting Too Close To Your Mouth
When using an outward microphone, another problem is getting the microphone too close to your mouth. Some might believe such positioning is necessary to be heard. But, in fact, it has the opposite effect, causing the voice to break up in a hail of static.
Instead, keep microphones at a good distance. If your microphone is working correctly, it will pick up your voice just fine, assuming you have the volume set correctly.
7. Nuke Any Background Noise
When participating in a Hangout, you will want to be heard by the other participants. But that won’t be possible if you have work colleagues or people in your home office talking away in the background.
When working from home, make sure the TV is off and there’s no music playing in the background. You’ll also want to witness for the sounds of dogs barking or children yelling.
Before the call, tell everyone to quiet down. Or budge to another room and close the door. Make it clear you are not to be disturbed.
8. Disable Any Programs Which Might Be Using The Camera
If you attempt to inject a Hangout while a program such as Skype is running, your webcam may not work decently. This is because the webcam is programmed to work in Skype and not in Hangouts. So you might be left with nothing but a static profile photo where your movie should be.
Before the Hangout commences, disable Skype. Then go to your Hangouts settings and make sure that the session will be using your webcam to capture your participation.
9. Don’t Have Too Many People On The Call
Google Hangouts permits up to ten people to participate at any one time. But just because you can have that many people on a call doesn’t mean you have to. The more people who log in, the more strain you’re putting on the Hangout.
So only have the participants who truly have to be there. If ten people turn up for the event but only five truly need to be there, boot the other five out.
Ten. Use Google Chrome (But Not Canary)
There are lots of Internet browsers available, but when it comes to running Hangouts, the best browser to use is Google’s own Chrome. Hangouts runs swifter and more sleekly on Chrome. Sure, Hangouts will work on the other browsers, but you won’t see the same speed that Chrome produces.
That said, be careful not to use the Canary version of Chrome. Canary is a “bleeding edge” beta test version and is utter of bugs and not ready for prime time. Instead use the stable release, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
11. Make Sure Your Battery is Charged and Your WiFi is Working
The capability to use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet means you can have movie talks “on-the-go”. But if this is what you want to do, make sure of two things. Very first, make sure your device is suitably charged. A lot of devices will lag if the battery is down to its last 10%.
2nd, log in well in advance and check the WiFi connection to make sure that it is rapid enough. WiFi is notoriously fickle, compared to an Ethernet cable, so don’t let a bad WiFi connection ruin your session.
Google Hangouts can be a excellent communications contraption. But be sure you are ready to avoid the downside of this fresh and sometimes unpredictable application.
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
It used to be the case that Skype was the defacto app, if you wished to have group movie talks. But ever since Google introduced Hangouts, they have been steadily chipping away at Skype’s dominance.
The only thing plaguing Hangouts seems to be the technical glitches that seem to befall users. So how can you avoid these glitches with Google Hangouts and have a trouble-free movie talk?
Below are some tips to make your talk run more sleekly.
1. Arrive Early To Check Potential Problems
Arriving at the last minute and hoping for the best is risky. Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketing suggests turning up early to deal with potential issues. This can include unmuting yourself, something glaringly visible but you’d be astonished at how often it happens. Also check your microphone and webcam to make sure you are wired for sound and picture.
In an interview with Puny Business Trends, Taylor adds:
“…get into the hangout room about thirty minutes before your hangout on air is scheduled to go live and make sure you get your guests in there too. This helps you deal with the unpreventable issues that can crop up – bad connections, cameras not working, etc.”
Two. Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Sometimes, the Internet connection speed advertised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the speed you are actually getting are two vastly different things. So the next thing to attempt is to test out your current Internet speed to see if it is what you are paying for, or if it is running earnestly under.
For this, you’ll need a device like Speed Test, a Web based app that tests upload and download speeds. Click the green “Begin Test” button and let the app do its thing.
Once it’s done, compare it against your ISP package to see if it checks out. If not, a call to your ISP might be in order. But before you do that, here’s something else you should think about.
Trio. Restart Your Modem and Router
To restart your modem and router, just pull the cable out of the back, wait a few seconds, then put it back in again.
This will make it reboot, and in most cases, the Internet should begin to become a bit swifter (unless there is another underlying problem, of course).
Four. Shut Down All Unnecessary Software Programs and Browser Tabs
Unless you have an insane amount of RAM installed in your hard drive, your computer is not going to be able to treat everything at once. If you think you can get on Google Hangouts while also downloading large files, running security checks, or running any other intensive programs on your computer in the background, think again.
When on Hangouts, it is best to shut down all these other programs.
This also applies to browser tabs too. If you like to have 50+ browser tabs open at the same time, you are undoubtedly going to notice some lag in your Internet speeds. Shut down all but the necessary ones. Firefox and Chrome provide the capability to bookmark all the open tabs at once, so bookmark them into a makeshift folder and shut them down until later.
Five. Make Sure You Don’t Get Shut Out Of Your Own On-Air Hangout
There’s nothing worse than going to all the trouble of setting up an On-Air Hangout, only to be shut out with no way of getting back in!
“The best thing to do is go to the Google Hangout tab in the main menu, schedule a hangout on-air, and recall to click “later.” Invite your circles or public, or whoever you want to “attend” (not “present”) — this is critical. When it’s time for the hangout, simply open the hangout and “invite” your guest – this is the secret to not being locked out of your own event.”
6. Keep Your Microphone From Getting Too Close To Your Mouth
When using an outward microphone, another problem is getting the microphone too close to your mouth. Some might believe such positioning is necessary to be heard. But, in fact, it has the opposite effect, causing the voice to break up in a hail of static.
Instead, keep microphones at a good distance. If your microphone is working correctly, it will pick up your voice just fine, assuming you have the volume set correctly.
7. Nuke Any Background Noise
When participating in a Hangout, you will want to be heard by the other participants. But that won’t be possible if you have work colleagues or people in your home office talking away in the background.
When working from home, make sure the TV is off and there’s no music playing in the background. You’ll also want to observe for the sounds of dogs barking or children yelling.
Before the call, tell everyone to quiet down. Or stir to another room and close the door. Make it clear you are not to be disturbed.
8. Disable Any Programs Which Might Be Using The Camera
If you attempt to come in a Hangout while a program such as Skype is running, your webcam may not work decently. This is because the webcam is programmed to work in Skype and not in Hangouts. So you might be left with nothing but a static profile photo where your movie should be.
Before the Hangout starts, disable Skype. Then go to your Hangouts settings and make sure that the session will be using your webcam to capture your participation.
9. Don’t Have Too Many People On The Call
Google Hangouts permits up to ten people to participate at any one time. But just because you can have that many people on a call doesn’t mean you have to. The more people who log in, the more strain you’re putting on the Hangout.
So only have the participants who truly have to be there. If ten people turn up for the event but only five truly need to be there, boot the other five out.
Ten. Use Google Chrome (But Not Canary)
There are lots of Internet browsers available, but when it comes to running Hangouts, the best browser to use is Google’s own Chrome. Hangouts runs quicker and more sleekly on Chrome. Sure, Hangouts will work on the other browsers, but you won’t see the same speed that Chrome supplies.
That said, be careful not to use the Canary version of Chrome. Canary is a “bleeding edge” beta test version and is total of bugs and not ready for prime time. Instead use the stable release, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
11. Make Sure Your Battery is Charged and Your WiFi is Working
The capability to use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet means you can have movie talks “on-the-go”. But if this is what you want to do, make sure of two things. Very first, make sure your device is suitably charged. A lot of devices will lag if the battery is down to its last 10%.
2nd, log in well in advance and check the WiFi connection to make sure that it is prompt enough. WiFi is notoriously fickle, compared to an Ethernet cable, so don’t let a bad WiFi connection ruin your session.
Google Hangouts can be a fine communications contraption. But be sure you are ready to avoid the downside of this fresh and sometimes unpredictable application.
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
11 Ways To Avoid Technical Glitches With Google Hangouts
It used to be the case that Skype was the defacto app, if you dreamed to have group movie talks. But ever since Google introduced Hangouts, they have been steadily chipping away at Skype’s dominance.
The only thing plaguing Hangouts seems to be the technical glitches that seem to befall users. So how can you avoid these glitches with Google Hangouts and have a trouble-free movie talk?
Below are some tips to make your talk run more sleekly.
1. Arrive Early To Check Potential Problems
Arriving at the last minute and hoping for the best is risky. Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketing suggests turning up early to deal with potential issues. This can include unmuting yourself, something glaringly evident but you’d be astonished at how often it happens. Also check your microphone and webcam to make sure you are wired for sound and picture.
In an interview with Petite Business Trends, Taylor adds:
“…get into the hangout room about thirty minutes before your hangout on air is scheduled to go live and make sure you get your guests in there too. This helps you deal with the inescapable issues that can crop up – bad connections, cameras not working, etc.”
Two. Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Sometimes, the Internet connection speed advertised by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the speed you are actually getting are two vastly different things. So the next thing to attempt is to test out your current Internet speed to see if it is what you are paying for, or if it is running earnestly under.
For this, you’ll need a instrument like Speed Test, a Web based app that tests upload and download speeds. Click the green “Begin Test” button and let the app do its thing.
Once it’s done, compare it against your ISP package to see if it checks out. If not, a call to your ISP might be in order. But before you do that, here’s something else you should think about.
Three. Restart Your Modem and Router
To restart your modem and router, just pull the cable out of the back, wait a few seconds, then put it back in again.
This will make it reboot, and in most cases, the Internet should begin to become a bit quicker (unless there is another underlying problem, of course).
Four. Shut Down All Unnecessary Software Programs and Browser Tabs
Unless you have an insane amount of RAM installed in your hard drive, your computer is not going to be able to treat everything at once. If you think you can get on Google Hangouts while also downloading large files, running security checks, or running any other intensive programs on your computer in the background, think again.
When on Hangouts, it is best to shut down all these other programs.
This also applies to browser tabs too. If you like to have 50+ browser tabs open at the same time, you are undoubtedly going to notice some lag in your Internet speeds. Shut down all but the necessary ones. Firefox and Chrome provide the capability to bookmark all the open tabs at once, so bookmark them into a makeshift folder and shut them down until later.
Five. Make Sure You Don’t Get Shut Out Of Your Own On-Air Hangout
There’s nothing worse than going to all the trouble of setting up an On-Air Hangout, only to be shut out with no way of getting back in!
“The best thing to do is go to the Google Hangout tab in the main menu, schedule a hangout on-air, and reminisce to click “later.” Invite your circles or public, or whoever you want to “attend” (not “present”) — this is critical. When it’s time for the hangout, simply open the hangout and “invite” your guest – this is the secret to not being locked out of your own event.”
6. Keep Your Microphone From Getting Too Close To Your Mouth
When using an outward microphone, another problem is getting the microphone too close to your mouth. Some might believe such positioning is necessary to be heard. But, in fact, it has the opposite effect, causing the voice to break up in a hail of static.
Instead, keep microphones at a good distance. If your microphone is working correctly, it will pick up your voice just fine, assuming you have the volume set correctly.
7. Nuke Any Background Noise
When participating in a Hangout, you will want to be heard by the other participants. But that won’t be possible if you have work colleagues or people in your home office talking away in the background.
When working from home, make sure the TV is off and there’s no music playing in the background. You’ll also want to witness for the sounds of dogs barking or children yelling.
Before the call, tell everyone to quiet down. Or stir to another room and close the door. Make it clear you are not to be disturbed.
8. Disable Any Programs Which Might Be Using The Camera
If you attempt to come in a Hangout while a program such as Skype is running, your webcam may not work decently. This is because the webcam is programmed to work in Skype and not in Hangouts. So you might be left with nothing but a static profile photo where your movie should be.
Before the Hangout embarks, disable Skype. Then go to your Hangouts settings and make sure that the session will be using your webcam to capture your participation.
9. Don’t Have Too Many People On The Call
Google Hangouts permits up to ten people to participate at any one time. But just because you can have that many people on a call doesn’t mean you have to. The more people who log in, the more strain you’re putting on the Hangout.
So only have the participants who truly have to be there. If ten people turn up for the event but only five indeed need to be there, boot the other five out.
Ten. Use Google Chrome (But Not Canary)
There are lots of Internet browsers available, but when it comes to running Hangouts, the best browser to use is Google’s own Chrome. Hangouts runs swifter and more sleekly on Chrome. Sure, Hangouts will work on the other browsers, but you won’t see the same speed that Chrome produces.
That said, be careful not to use the Canary version of Chrome. Canary is a “bleeding edge” beta test version and is total of bugs and not ready for prime time. Instead use the stable release, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
11. Make Sure Your Battery is Charged and Your WiFi is Working
The capability to use Hangouts on your smartphone or tablet means you can have movie talks “on-the-go”. But if this is what you want to do, make sure of two things. Very first, make sure your device is suitably charged. A lot of devices will lag if the battery is down to its last 10%.
2nd, log in well in advance and check the WiFi connection to make sure that it is swift enough. WiFi is notoriously fickle, compared to an Ethernet cable, so don’t let a bad WiFi connection ruin your session.
Google Hangouts can be a good communications instrument. But be sure you are ready to avoid the downside of this fresh and sometimes unpredictable application.