Google launches Allo in the play store; here is how to get started
Image Credit: Google Play Store
By Rehan Hooda / 21 Sep 2016 , 12:44
Google has finally launched the much anticipated messaging app by the company, Google Allo. It was previously reported that that messaging app would launch today. Allo is the part of communication platform made in conjunction with Google Duo. Duo was released
some time back by the company, and it focused on video whereas Google
Allo is focused on text communication along with sending media such
as photos, audio messages, stickers and locations.
You can start using Allo by going to Google Play Store and installing it on your Android device. The interface is pretty bare bones but quite functional for a messaging app. When you launch the app for the first time, the app asks you to verify your mobile number similar to how things work on Google Duo. The SMS verification servers seem to be in place for Allo verification. After the verification, the app asks you to set a profile picture and name.
Google Allo main screen
The app interface is reminiscent to how Google Hangout looks like
(but without all the features in Hangouts). Nothing has changed since
the leaked screenshots
for Google Allo in alpha stage. On launching, you get the first (and
only) surprise that Google Allo holds, that is “Google Assistant”, the
bot by Google while will replace Google Now in the upcoming update,
Android Nougat 7.1. It is a vital part of the experience provided by
Google Assistant and a step away from how popular messaging apps work.
Google Assistant is what Cortana from Microsoft and Siri from Apple are,
but inside a chat window currently. The bot is labelled as ‘Preview
Edition’ but in the limited tests that we ran, Assistant left us
impressed coming from Google Now as the previous native offering in
Android.
Google Assistant
While diving into the chat experience, Allo does the basics of
sending text, photos shot from the front or back camera, pictures from
gallery, stickers and location. You can send 20 photos at a time in Allo
from the ten photos limited on WhatsApp. Another small change is that
in the notifications area, the app shows smart response as a quick reply
to contacts who message you. Machine learning is working full time to
suggest bubble shape cards in the chat as appropriate message responses
to the conversations. Finally, you can search inside your conversations,
as against the searchless realm that Google Hangouts are.
Sticker Store, Template replies
There is nothing new when you dive in the Profile section or the
General settings menu, and there are just small things like controlling
the notifications, sounds, vibration and to download the media when
you receive it. There is no status updates or message that you can set
for people in your contact list to read.
Incognito Chats
The reason we mentioned that the chatting experience is different
from how it is in the conventional messaging is apps is that you can
summon Google Assistant in your private conversations to ask questions,
play games or device on dinner options or the movie options. This brings
a whole different side to the concept of user privacy and the only
remedy seen is the use of incognito chat with other users.
Google Allo turns into Snapchat
Incognito mode features auto-destruct messages just like Snapchat
which expire after a fixed amount of time depending on the settings.
Infact, you can turn Google Allo into an almost functioning Snapchat
clone except Stories or ability to check who saw your stories.
Group conversations
The summon behaviour is consistent across individual as well as group
chats where you can call in Google Assistant to ask questions and
suggestions on places nearby. However, you can’t tag Google Assistant in
incognito chats. Apart from this nothing much stands out in the latest
messaging app by Google, Google Allo.
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