Google rolls out Hangout apps to bring poker, quizzes, drawing, and productivity to Google+

Élyse Betters | Mar 28 2012 - 1:21 pm PT

Just when the tech-world is seemingly about to explode with apps—apps for Android, apps for iPhone, apps for set-top boxes, apps for computers, apps for Facebook—Google adds to the bubbling pot with Google+ Hangout apps.

Google Product Manager Amit Fulay announced on Google+ today the first implementation of apps in the social network’s standout multi-person video chat feature:

“Hangouts are great for spending time together, as well as doing things together. That’s why we’ve been adding apps to Hangouts since launch — from YouTube to screensharing to Google Docs,” wrote Fulay. “Today we’re introducing a starter set of featured apps, and enabling developers to share any hangout app with the entire Google+ community!

An “Apps” button now appears at the top of a Hangout screen, where users can take a peak inside and access both Featured and Recent Hangout apps. The starter set of featured apps include:

1) +Aces Hangout, for playing poker with friends, face-to-face-to-face
2) Clubhouse Challenge by +Bravo, for testing your pop culture IQ against other teams
3) +Cacoo, for wire-framing, mind-mapping and diagramming with others
4) Google Effects, for trying on headwear, eyewear or facial hair
5) +Scoot & Doodle, for drawing and coloring with the people you care about
6) +SlideShare, for co-viewing presentations, docs and videos

The Google+ Developer blog elaborated on today’s unveiling and said API is moving out of preview mode. The transition allows developers to finally share their Hangout apps with Google+.