Say hello to Google Allo: a smarter messaging app

Post by curt15 » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 3:39 PM UTC

snowwrestler wrote: post #336

soylentcola wrote: post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is exactly why so many of my friends and family use Hangouts née Gmail Chat. We can use it in the browser at work just by keeping Gmail open in a tab. No IM applications to install or concerns about whether we're running Windows, OSX, or whatever. Then the conversations follow when you log off whatever desktop or laptop you're on via the mobile app. About half of us use Android so it either comes standard or you…

I use Google Voice for a second phone number on my iPhone and yeah, it worries me how little attention it seems to get. It took Google forever to update it to match the iOS 7 "flat" look. And to this day it's missing a pretty obvious feature: search! Yes, there is no search functionality in the Google Voice app on iPhone. Apple's Messages and Facebook Messenger both have it.

Post by personlurking » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 3:48 PM UTC

jeppebemad wrote: post #379

janvidar wrote: post #342

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't want Facebook Messenger, and the Facebook app cannot be uninstalled on my device since it came preinstalled with the Android OS on it (HTC One - it can however be disabled). Now, if someone uses Facebook Messenger to send me a message, my Facebook app will notify me about unread messages - I've disabled most notifications, but the icon still gets a number increase indicating messages that can be read. These m…

For me at least, the messenger is still working on Facebook.com, also on messenger.com. I'm sure it does for you too?

Post by nameless912 » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 3:52 PM UTC

CaptSpify wrote: post #358

kodt wrote: post #321

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I can see how these apps can take off with kids, who are in school and see each-other every day.. so there can be some coordination on what app to use. But for me, I don't see how I could use anything other than email/sms and expect someone else to use it.

I think kids too, aren't tired: I've probably tried >50 messaging systems, from irc to aim to msn messenger to hangouts. After a while, you just get tired of trying rehashes of the same thing, and want one that communicates with everyone. We had things like Pigeon, but companies keep closing off their systems to force you to have one app/program per system. Eventually you get tired of trying new ones, and just go bac…

Post by Yhippa » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 3:54 PM UTC

mark_l_watson wrote: post #396

I installed it and am comparing it to updates in macOS Sierra that I installed today. Even though Siri hooks into Wolfram Alpha so it does very well with 'calculation style' questions and general world questions, without Google's greater knowledge of what we are doing it can't compete. The question for people to answer individually is do they want give up more private information and have a great Google experience, o…

Post by nameless912 » Wed, Sep 21, 2016, 3:55 PM UTC

lost_name wrote: post #346

wanda wrote: post #240

Lots of speculation about how long these apps will last. I personally suspect it's Hangouts that will be chopped. Google looked at Facebook Messenger and realised that the future was in personal assistants and the illusion of virtual/simulated AI, and realised also that Hangouts would become an unmanageable mess with more features added, so they are rolling out a Messenger competitor and a Hangouts video replacement…

I believe they've previously discussed Hangouts becoming business focused. Allo, I think, has the potential to replace the default SMS app (similar to iMessage).