Google's secret 'Ultra Violet' project could turn Hangouts into Facebook Messenger

Google
This'll sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra violet

Google's working on the next update to its Hangouts experience, and this one will allegedly bring some pretty big interface changes.

The new look, uncovered by notorious Google leaker Florian Kiersch and codenamed 'Ultra Violet', will display your contacts' photos in small circles, just like Facebook's floating Chat Heads that feature on its app.

There also seems to be a new conversation window that pulls together all of your ongoing chats into one place.

This discovered version was an extension of the Google desktop Chrome browser, but it's highly likely that it will come to mobile too.

Google Hangouts

Looks a bit familiar, no? (credit: Caschys Blog)

The source said that there will be a number of other design changes too, but wasn't able to provide any details on what they might be.

But as you can see in the screenshots, this looks like it'll be a pretty significant overhaul of Google Hangouts, which has struggled to achieve prominence in the face of its bigger messaging rivals.

No word on when we might see Google roll out this update, but we're crossing out fingers that this will be an overhaul across all devices - and one that will happen soon.

Via Android Police

TOPICS
Hugh Langley

Hugh Langley is the ex-News Editor of TechRadar. He had written for many magazines and websites including Business Insider, The Telegraph, IGN, Gizmodo, Entrepreneur Magazine, WIRED (UK), TrustedReviews, Business Insider Australia, Business Insider India, Business Insider Singapore, Wareable, The Ambient and more.

Hugh is now a correspondent at Business Insider covering Google and Alphabet, and has the unfortunate distinction of accidentally linking the TechRadar homepage to a rival publication.

Latest in Facebook
 Facebook social media app logo on log-in, sign-up registration page
How to delete all your Facebook posts
The Meta logo on a smartphone in front of the Facebook logo a little bit blurred in the background
Meta's new 'Link History' feature for the Facebook app isn't as protective of your data as it claims
The Meta Quest 3 in action
How much more data can Meta collect? Probably a lot, thanks to the Meta Quest 3 and Ray-Ban smart glasses
A laptop screen showing a Facebook Groups page
Scam alert: how to spot hoax posts in your Facebook Groups
Facebook
Facebook Messenger is losing a useful messaging feature soon
mother watching her daughter's activity online
Meta's new Facebook parental controls show social media still doesn't like responsibility
Latest in News
Google Pixel Watch 3
Google Pixel Watches hit with delayed notifications, crashing, and performance issues following Wear OS 5.1 update
Zendesk Relate 2025
Zendesk Relate 2025 - everything you need to know as the event unfolds
Disney Plus logo with popcorn
You can finally tell Disney+ to stop bugging you about that terrible Marvel show you regret starting
Google Gemini AI
Gemini can now see your screen and judge your tabs
Girl wearing Meta Quest 3 headset interacting with a jungle playset
Latest Meta Quest 3 software beta teases a major design overhaul and VR screen sharing – and I need these updates now
Philips Hue
Philips Hue might be working on a video doorbell, and according to a new report, we just got our first look at it