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Google Duo, a simple 1-to-1 video calling app

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Re: Google Duo, a simple 1-to-1 video calling app

#161

Post by tkubacki »

izacus wrote: post #141
jsmthrowaway wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[Here lies a substantive question that was posed to a content-free comment. Edit lasts longer than delete, so you now get to read its depressingly gray tombstone. Let's reflect together on this.]

That's a very strong defense of a piece of software that deliberately prevents you from communicating with people that haven't bought the same piece of electronics. Think on that for a moment - "Sorry grandmama, I can't send you iMessage or talk to you in person since you didn't spend your pension on an expensive Apple device." For something as fundamental as human-to-human communication, closed, single vendor, proto…

In theory...in reality when it comes to Apple HN crowd has double standards (eg. see snarky comment on "closing date" at top and try to imagine such a comment on Apple not being downvoted here)

Re: Google Duo, a simple 1-to-1 video calling app

#162

Post by mseebach »

type0 wrote: post #152
emsy wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A bit cynical but that was my initial thought as well. It's sad because FaceTime exists for so long and is so easy to use and I'd really like to have an app that I can use with both of my parents (one Android, one iOS). But I see Google failing with this already.

If we will have Facetime and this, the correct name to use is Duopoly.

As long as we pretend Skype doesn't exist. Or none of the other services listed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_telecommunicatio...

Re: Google Duo, a simple 1-to-1 video calling app

#164

Post by stephenr »

Nullabillity wrote: post #43
dingo_bat wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Hangouts is able to mix voice, video and text just fine. For varying values of "just fine". For me, hangouts is probably the worst performing app on mobile, desktop and tablet. It's so bad that even Skype shames it. And FaceTime...well let's not even compare.

At least it doesn't only run on Apple devices, like the complete joke that is FaceTime.

When it comes to shitty interoperability, Google takes the cake.

No one ever claimed FaceTime works on your android. They wanted to open source it and got fucked on patents.

Try using gmail to send a regular iCalendar format invite to an event. If they just happen to have used that email for a google account, fuck you it ends up in the Google calendar account they likely didn't know they even had, and never goes to their email.

THAT is unexpected, and arguably deceptive behaviour.

Re: Google Duo, a simple 1-to-1 video calling app

#165

Post by euyyn »

simonh wrote: post #158
euyyn wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you rather Duo not exist and keep not having an app that you can use with both of your parents?

Because there are absolutely no other video chat apps in existence on both Android and iOS? Duo is the only possible option? The point is given the many, many other video chat apps that do already exist and fill this function, several of them produced by Google, what does Google think it's doing bringing out yet another one.

Obviously not the point that guy was making, as I paraphrased him on not having alternatives, and he said it was sad (not confusing or upsetting).

Re: Google Duo, a simple 1-to-1 video calling app

#166

Post by newscracker »

emsy wrote: post #74
ende wrote: post #5

Have they announced when it will be discontinued?

A bit cynical but that was my initial thought as well. It's sad because FaceTime exists for so long and is so easy to use and I'd really like to have an app that I can use with both of my parents (one Android, one iOS). But I see Google failing with this already.

Wire [1] is an app you could use across platforms for chat, voice calls and video calls (and even doodling). Sign up is using a phone number or an email address. It also has end-to-end encryption with multi-platform support and cross device sync (phone/desktop/laptop).

When I started using it a few months ago, the contacts discovery was a bit buggy, but it's worth a try. The feature set is quite rich.

[1]: https://www.wire.com

Re: Google Duo, a simple 1-to-1 video calling app

#167

Post by sangnoir »

spacemanmatt wrote: post #148
flamedoge wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just need 4 front facing cameras

Really, they need a camera a bit above center of the screen.

> Really, they need a camera a bit above center of the screen

Somehow I don't see a phone that has a camera hole in the middle of the screen selling too well. If the camera is put in the bazel, then it replaces looking up/down with looking slightly to the side.

Re: Google Duo, a simple 1-to-1 video calling app

#168

Post by endymi0n »

Fuxy wrote: post #130
emsy wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is that I want such an app to exist (and thrive), but that history taught me not to get my hopes up when it comes to Google products. Chances are they will fail to gain a significant userbase and/or the product (better yet project) will be discontinued.

I don't see a better app at the moment since Skype got bought by Microsoft and all the encryption got nerfed. Although I get where you're coming from. It would also be nice if all products discontinued by google would just get open sourced. They are basically saying it's useless to them so why not let somebody else give a try.

My thought exactly - the timing is really great in a way. - Skype gets worse with every release (especially Mac & Linux) and the call quality is still stuck in somewhere 2008 - Facetime is cool but still Apple Ecosystem only - Phone messengers (WhatsApp et al.) aren't really serious on the topic

Real-time video is plain hard, especially when latency comes into play. Having Google tackling this with their unique technology (QUIC / lots of low-level performance expertise) and resources (GCP / CDN), I'm really looking forward to try it out.

Re: Google Duo, a simple 1-to-1 video calling app

#170

Post by draugadrotten »

T-1000 wrote: post #155
nagarjun wrote: post #102

It's already bad enough that I have a row of chat apps (WhatsApp, Messenger, Hangouts, Skype, Slack, Telegram etc.) on my phone because I can't get everyone I know to agree on one app and now, Google's trying to get me to add yet another icon to that list! I love Telegram but I couldn't get more than a few friends to try it out and even then, no one checks their Telegram anymore because none of THEIR friends are on i…

Someone should build a meta video calling app: Make a normal phone call, and if the app detects that both parties have a common video calling app installed on their devices, the meta app notifies the caller ("Press * for video") and helps reconnect the call with the video calling app.

Hmm that's how iPhone works.
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