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Google Allo Messaging App Launches For iOS and Android (phonedog.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the sending-and-receiving dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Google has officially launched their long-awaited messaging app for iOS and Android, called Google Allo. There are several unique features associated with this app that Google hopes will win you over. Smart Reply lets you respond to messages with just a tap, so you can send a quick "yup" in response to a friend asking "Are you on your way?" It will also suggest responses for photos. For example, if you send a picture of a dog, Smart Reply might suggest a heart emoji or "Super cute!" message, which you can select and send with a tap. Google says Smart Reply will improve over time and adjust to your style. You can also send large or small text and emojis, as well as draw on pictures. There's an incognito mode that will activate end-to-end encryption, discreet notifications, and message expiration on your chats. Arguably best of all is the Google Assistant that can be added to your chats to automatically cater useful information to you depending on what is being conversed in the chat. For example, it can deliver news, weather, traffic, sports or your upcoming flight status to your chat. You can also ask your Assistant to "share that funny YouTube video or play games with friends right in your group chat." Google Allo is rolling out to Android and iOS starting today.

9 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. Automated Insincerity by mbeckman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is one kind of AI that computers might well excel at. By automating our insincerity, we'll have more time to hunt for pokemonsters, and to while away on Twitter (aka Automated Impropriety).

  2. Google Messenger by cheesybagel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So what happened to Google Messenger? Right. They crippled it, stopped updating the application binary, and forced everyone to use a crap HTML 5 version of it inside GMail. That's what happened.

    I don't get the need to constantly rename the same thing over and over. Just don't kill products that people actually like that work Google.

    1. Re:Google Messenger by AmiMoJo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's missing the one killer feature every messaging app needs anyway: full end to end encryption that is on by default.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    2. Re:Google Messenger by unixisc · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So what happened to Google Messenger? Right. They crippled it, stopped updating the application binary, and forced everyone to use a crap HTML 5 version of it inside GMail. That's what happened.

      I don't get the need to constantly rename the same thing over and over. Just don't kill products that people actually like that work Google.

      Part of what I was wondering. How many freaking messaging apps do we need? Aside from Google Messenger, there is also Message+, Messaging, Hangouts, Duo, all this just from Google itself. (Aside from which, I have WhatsApp.) In the meantime, quite a number of these are not there on the tablet, or if they are, they refuse to use the tablet's own cellular phone#, instead asking to use one's registered phone# (in which case, why wouldn't I just stick to the phone?) As an example, FaceTime works on both iPhones and iPads, and doesn't require a phone# on the latter. Duo doesn't work on Android tablets, just phones. So now they'll do something else for that, I guess?

      Dear Google, the messaging market is by now pretty mature - not only by your own myriad offerings, but also others in the Play Store. Might as well focus on more interesting things, like maybe your own version of Pokémon Go

    3. Re:Google Messenger by ripvlan · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'm having the same confusion. I've read the blogs and understand why the keep refactoring and refactoring. But now I'm confused by what app I should be using.

      Google Voice has a "chat" (SMS) app that totally sucks. Wait - isn't Hangout supposed to fix this? (no). Now I'm using Hangout - but Voice in GMail (browser) is what pops up.

      And if I'm using Allo - who can I chat with? FB users? iMessage? SMS? Just my Google+ friends? The pie is the whole world but this slice is thin. I've given up trying to use 5 apps tied to an experience. SMS is the universal - I go there first. Since that is iMessage for me I get the added feature bonus when chatting with fellow Apple users....but I don't care. I don't use FB messenger because - that's on FB. Hangout? That's only G+. Having to remember which app works for each person is mind boggling - just use SMS platform of the phone. done. Now - if I don't have their phone# I'll use the app. But that's easier to remember.

  3. Ah... Google Talk how I miss you... by cheesybagel · · Score: 3, Informative

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

  4. Allo launched.... by phantomfive · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ......and became discontinued shortly after gaining popularity.

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    1. Re:Allo launched.... by Opportunist · · Score: 3

      Google is a hipster company. They only support stuff before it gets cool.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  5. Tagline... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I shall say this only once...