After rumours circulating about Google building a video platform to buy and sell services, the company has confirmed that it is testing a product called Helpouts. The service will connect people who need help with those who can offer it over video. Helpouts, which is still in the early stages of testing, will be tied-in closely with Google+ and will work in a way similar to Google Hangouts.
Helpouts will feature a face-to-face video service that will be available on all platforms running Google+. The service will help users who are prolific in various topics like gardening, health and fashion to get in touch with users who would like to learn more about this.
Connect with experts in real-time
The support page currently lists out eight categories one can sign-up under: Home & Garden, Computers & Electronics, Health & Counseling, Nutrition & Fitness, Fashion & Beauty, Art & Music, Cooking and Education. This is all great, but what does Google stand to gain from this service? Google will let you charge by the minute, by the session or give your expertise away for free on Helpouts. The company will be taking a flat cut of 20 percent for all the payment, ranking, scheduling and connecting with customers for paid sessions.
This is serious business for Google, it appears. If you’re only an enthusiast who knows lightly about a topic, you might want to think twice before applying. When you try to create your profile on Helpouts, Google will ask you to submit all your certificates as far as your qualifications and experience goes. If you’re offering medical expertise, rest assured Google will get third parties to check your papers out.
The feature was first spoken about after the "Breakfast with Sundar" event concluded last month. Techcrunch spoke in length about this service that could put merchants in touch with consumers. Google has a slightly different take on this and claims that Hangouts will be more like experts selling their knowledge over video.
The idea, while not completely new, seems like a novel one for Google. The company has the infrastructure of Google Hangouts backing Helpouts, and it could be a great new way of how experts interact with audiences. No official date for Helpouts has been announced yet, but Google seems to be working at a breakneck speed to gather experts under its banner already.
You know it’s a hardware year when videos like the one below – Microsoft’s Larry Hryb (aka Major Nelson) unboxing an Xbox One – gets over a million views in a day. Maybe next week 5 million people can tune in as if he actually turns it on and films the opening animation; that would be sexy. Be careful watching that one if you have a heart condition. The video did show that the Xbox One will ship with a headset though, which – stop me if you’ve heard this before – contradicts earlier statements. If you were to make a drinking game out of all the flip-flops Microsoft has had over the Xbox One, you may die of alcohol poisoning. 
“You told us you want to be able to buy things using money instead of points, and we listened.” With that facepalm-worthy line that is at least seven years late, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer Marc Whitten finally confirmed that it will be doing away with the reviled MS Points for good when the next, not-yet-dated Xbox 360 update drops. All your current points will be converted, as will any point cards bought after the switch “until further notice.” It’s going to be tough to find a single person that will miss them.
Following the news that John Carmack was joining Oculus VR as its new CTO, the Oculus Rift maker confirmed that former id creative director Matt Hooper also joined the company as the new director of development. If Hooper was hoping to make news by joining Oculus, he probably should have announced it on Monday. Regardless, this is another major signing for the upstart peripheral maker. Id Software better lock down its cafeteria crew to a multi-year deal fast.