Trying to initiate a video call with a spotty connection can be frustrating. Google is making that a bit easier by introducing a bandwidth slider and an audio only mode for its Hangouts service, which is part of Google+. These features are great for users who have low or unreliable connectivity.
At the top right of the screen, users will notice a new icon that looks like Wi-Fi signal bars. Clicking on that will reveal a bandwidth usage slider. There are four levels of bandwidth to choose from, the lowest being audio only. While this isn’t ideal for a video call, having audio only as an option prevents your call from stopping all together. Users on the other line will see your profile picture and can still hear your voice.
Both of these features will be rolling out today in a staggered release. Don’t fret if you don’t see it appear in your Hangouts yet. There’s no word if these features will be coming to the Google+ for Android or iOS.
Source: Tim Blasi (Google+)
