Google Continues to Confuse

As I have stated time after time, Google has issues with their product branding and making their users knowledgeable of those products. Google continued to further confuse consumers today.

First, they announced Google Messenger. So addition to Google Hangouts, this messaging application will be pre-installed on Android Lollipop. Google Messenger handles only SMS/MMS messages so don't confuse it with Hangouts messages (formerly known as Google Talk, gtalk, gchat, Google Chat). But here is the confusing aspect that many will have: Google Hangouts handles SMS/MMS too. You can turn off Google Hangout messaging and have the application handle only SMS/MMS messages.

It's difficult to see why Google would release Google Messenger. It has a search function and a send/receive audio messages while Google Hangouts does not. Why not put more effort in Hangouts to include these features? Adding another messaging will definitely not make it easier for users. I'm puzzled why they didn't just rename Google Hangouts into something more fitting (e.g. Google Messenger). 

Google Hangouts could definitely be improved too. It's slow and freezes up occasionally. Why not concentrate effort on one messaging app? Continuity can also be improved.

Google also announced YouTube Music Key. This subscription service will allow users to watch/listen to music videos ad-free and while offline. Best of all, the service will allow users to continue to listen to music when locking your phone or switching to another application. That would resolve one of the biggest issues about music on YouTube on my phone.

But don't confuse YouTube Music Key with the Google Play Music All-Access though. But it won't hurt if you do since they will be one in the same; YouTube Music Key includes Google Play Music All-Access and vice versa.