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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

#282
post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Google approach would be great, if they just separated it from the Google brand. Like, when Unilever launch a new detergent, they give it a totally separate brand. If it fails, they drop it quietly, and if it succeeds they can roll it out worldwide. I wish Google would do the same. Launch this as 'allo', with the fact that it's from alphabet buried in the small print. Once it's been doing well for a couple of yea…

Without brand it's hard to stand out in the crowded messaging space.

Two easy ways to stand out:

1. Brand 2. Money

If they took this approach it would require a much more concerted marketing strategy.

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

#284

Not sure how common this is, but everyone at both school and work these days shifts seamlessly from mobile to dekstop and back. This has been one of the main reasons we tend to use WhatsApp and Slack, even for corporate communications as silly as that sounds -- because you can type long messages on it on the keyboard/desktop but also have access to it on the go. What I don't understand is -- given Allo had a blank sl…

People keep saying mobile is the future, however, I just can't imagine desktops leaving us anytime soon. If I'm on the go, then sure I want it on my mobile device, but 99% of the time when I'm at work I want quick and easy access either through an app or the browser on my desktop. If a service I use doesn't have a desktop app, then it likely won't receive any of my attention until I'm out of the office.

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

#285

Not sure how common this is, but everyone at both school and work these days shifts seamlessly from mobile to dekstop and back. This has been one of the main reasons we tend to use WhatsApp and Slack, even for corporate communications as silly as that sounds -- because you can type long messages on it on the keyboard/desktop but also have access to it on the go. What I don't understand is -- given Allo had a blank sl…

I use WhatsApp Web quite a lot, it's not perfect, but it's a nice interface to use when you have access to a desktop/laptop and can continue your conversations there.

But forget to touch your phone for a couple of minutes and the web session will automatically disconnect because the phone went to standby mode, which apparently interferes with the sync between the mobile application and the web browser session. My experience is that I can only rely on the web for a short conversation until my phone goes to sleep.

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

#286

Not sure how common this is, but everyone at both school and work these days shifts seamlessly from mobile to dekstop and back. This has been one of the main reasons we tend to use WhatsApp and Slack, even for corporate communications as silly as that sounds -- because you can type long messages on it on the keyboard/desktop but also have access to it on the go. What I don't understand is -- given Allo had a blank sl…

People keep saying mobile is the future, however, I just can't imagine desktops leaving us anytime soon. If I'm on the go, then sure I want it on my mobile device, but 99% of the time when I'm at work I want quick and easy access either through an app or the browser on my desktop. If a service I use doesn't have a desktop app, then it likely won't receive any of my attention until I'm out of the office.

Desktop will always be around. I just think we are moving back to the 80s and 90s where only the "Super Tech" person owned them and the rest just didn't need them.

Mobile has replaced a lot of the way people spend time but for my interest and needs desktop is king. I don't watch movies on my desktop (YouTube yes) but I also don't do video editing and data science on a phone.

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

#287

Does anyone know how the app preview message notifications[1] are implemented? Is it open to us third party app developers? [1] When a message is sent to someone without Allo installed, they'll still receive a notification and can reply directly from it https://support.google.com/allo/answer/6385770

Might be that it is based on Instant Apps[1] which was announced at this year's Google IO

[1]: https://developer.android.com/topic/instant-apps/index.html?

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

#288
post #72

So now google has Voice, Messenger, Hangouts, Allo, and Duo all with overlapping functionality? I wish they would just focus on making Hangouts work really well.

I just bought the Nexus 5x and it had both Hangouts and Messenger downloaded. I use messenger but google needs to just focus on one strong app. It is annoying to have one app that has great features, but not all. Messenger is great, but Duo looks interesting too.

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

#289
post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who validates that that statement is indeed true, we in our naivety should just plain believe it?

As much as people like a good conspiracy, that would be a pretty pointless one. There are tens of thousands people at google who could look at the source code, many of them with a left-wing/civil liberties attitude. To get all of them to stay silent, and to evade analysis of the binary is, if not impossible, simply not worth whatever they could get out of reading my messages (esp. considering their uninterrupted stre…

> many of them with a left-wing/civil liberties attitude.

Well they seem awfully quiet about all the privacy invading stuff Google does, considering the number you claim they're in.

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

#290
post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Google approach would be great, if they just separated it from the Google brand. Like, when Unilever launch a new detergent, they give it a totally separate brand. If it fails, they drop it quietly, and if it succeeds they can roll it out worldwide. I wish Google would do the same. Launch this as 'allo', with the fact that it's from alphabet buried in the small print. Once it's been doing well for a couple of yea…

Without brand it's hard to stand out in the crowded messaging space.

Honestly crap like this is devaluing their brand. At this point I have 0 faith that Google will stick to any of their random products (Google Wave, Buzz, Reader, Code, Google+) and therefore I avoid using them.
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