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Say hello to Google Allo: a smarter messaging app

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Re: Say hello to Google Allo: a smarter messaging app

#61

Post by zamalek »

AceJohnny2 wrote: post #11

So. Why make this a separate app? Why isn't this in Hangouts?

Hangouts almost nailed it, to be honest. For the people that I know who have both Hangouts and Whatsapp, we prefer Hangouts consistently - even for just text. The problem is that Google realised the importance of IM far too late and Whatsapp is now entrenched. Google is throwing solutions at the wall to see which sticks.

It honestly doesn't seem like a bad attempt. Totally would have preferred it in Hangouts, though, I'll probably drop Google IM altogether if Hangouts/XMPP C2S is not supported.

Re: Say hello to Google Allo: a smarter messaging app

#62

Post by yincrash »

helthanatos wrote: post #54

>We can’t wait for you to say hello to Google Allo! We’re beginning to roll out Google Allo for Android and iOS, and the app will be available worldwide in the next few days. I wonder if they are doing this because they expect issues or if they expect everyone to want the app. Personally, I just wish the stock Android messenger could communicate better with imessage group chats.

Without a valid macOS/iOS device key, it's not possible. The key allows your device to publish iMessage signing keys to the Apple directory service that recipient devices use to decrypt your iMessages. Without a device key, your device won't be able to do this.

Re: Say hello to Google Allo: a smarter messaging app

#64

Post by notatoad »

Guest98123 wrote: post #56
mastazi wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly, it's the usual trade-off: convenience vs. privacy. I much prefer the latter, though.

Why not have end-to-end encryption except for replies that begin with '@google'? That should be the best of both worlds.

but assistant is supposed to be reading all the messages in the conversation, in order to provide relevant replies.

why not just use one of the many other apps that does provide end-to-end encryption, if it's something you want? Some feature sets are simply not compatible. If people keep insisting on end-to-end, google will implement it and then scan all your replies on either end and send them to their servers after the end instead of intercepting them, so they can tick off the E2E box. It's better for everybody's privacy to simply accept that some apps aren't private than trying to shoehorn privacy into apps that are antithetical to it.

Re: Say hello to Google Allo: a smarter messaging app

#65

Post by r00fus »

otto_ortega wrote: post #5

Yey! Just what the world was missing, yet another instant messaging app...

Google's bid for the slack/FB message space, which is now (even Apple's pushing) the new apps/bot platform.

Google has no choice. I also don't expect them to fold up shop unless the 'bot market just fizzles.

Re: Say hello to Google Allo: a smarter messaging app

#66

Post by partiallypro »

putlake wrote: post #8

I'm surprised Google Duo hasn't become more popular. It's a great cross-platform video chat app. I especially like the feature where you can see the other party before you answer their call. I have taken calls because of that feature that I otherwise wouldn't have. It's better than FaceTime because it works on Android. It's better than Skype and Google Hangouts because your cellphone number is your identity; you don'…

> I'm surprised Google Duo hasn't become more popular.

The market is incredibly saturated in the chat space. Google keeps creating new things with new names (which they will eventually kill off) and the rest of the market is just completely saturated. WeChat, WhatsApp, Skype, FaceTime, Messenger, SnapChat, HangOuts; and that's the short list. It's getting out of hand.

The chat model is incredibly difficult to monetize too. None that don't have other vertical product lines have shown an ability to properly monetize in a way to turn a profit. Eventually that will matter, but for now money grows on trees in the Valley so no one cares.

I almost feel like the sort of joke that "we can't just keep selling each other insurance" as a criticism of the of banking sector could easily be rewritten with chat apps and the Valley.

Re: Say hello to Google Allo: a smarter messaging app

#68

Post by amaks »

putlake wrote: post #8

I'm surprised Google Duo hasn't become more popular. It's a great cross-platform video chat app. I especially like the feature where you can see the other party before you answer their call. I have taken calls because of that feature that I otherwise wouldn't have. It's better than FaceTime because it works on Android. It's better than Skype and Google Hangouts because your cellphone number is your identity; you don'…

I guess it'll depend on the emerging markets with slow(er) connections when Duo really shines (presumably it can work on 3G and fallback to audio only on even slower connections).

Re: Say hello to Google Allo: a smarter messaging app

#69

Post by Guest98123 »

notatoad wrote: post #64
Guest98123 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not have end-to-end encryption except for replies that begin with '@google'? That should be the best of both worlds.

but assistant is supposed to be reading all the messages in the conversation, in order to provide relevant replies. why not just use one of the many other apps that does provide end-to-end encryption, if it's something you want? Some feature sets are simply not compatible. If people keep insisting on end-to-end, google will implement it and then scan all your replies on either end and send them to their servers after…

Oh, I have no interest in using the app because I don't trust Google. I just wanted to make a point about how they could include end-to-end encryption while still having their assistant provide similar functionality to their examples; looking up sushi making videos, finding restaurants, and providing directions. It's obvious why they don't though, and it's the reason I'll be skipping this app.

Re: Say hello to Google Allo: a smarter messaging app

#70

Post by amaks »

piyush_soni wrote: post #26
putlake wrote: post #8

I'm surprised Google Duo hasn't become more popular. It's a great cross-platform video chat app. I especially like the feature where you can see the other party before you answer their call. I have taken calls because of that feature that I otherwise wouldn't have. It's better than FaceTime because it works on Android. It's better than Skype and Google Hangouts because your cellphone number is your identity; you don'…

I'll use everything Google, but Duo has been the most stupid video chat app I've ever used. That's because in countries where the common household internet is still not that fast, it 'aggressively' pauses (completely removes) the video for long intervals in every few minutes citing slow connection. That's a frustrating experience. I generally get around 10-12 Mbps speed (which is on the higher side in India), and my…

What's the latency of your connection? You can get 4 Mbps throughput (which is not a lot by itself, BTW), but the latency may be too high for a video chat.
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