Google Allo launched, a smart messaging app to take on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger

[Raja]

Awesome app. Hats off Google. I love the assistant

 

[Siva]

Initial impressions

1. The interface is white and when we are in the app, the status bar turns white which is ugly. Dark theme is needed.
2. Chat background can't be changed.
3. Not many stickers, those that are available aren't good either.
4. Hike like read receipts for group chats is needed.
5. We can chat through sms also with those who don't have Allo and it's free of cost. I'm not sure how this works but guessing it works through our Google account.
6. Assistant is the biggest thing in Allo and it does work very well. Can search and watch videos right inside the chat window.
7. Quick replies is also good.
8. We can either turn off or on the automatic media download. Deeper control is not there for Wi-Fi and mobile data. This will put off many people I guess who are worried about data charges!
9. Group admin controls are not available. Looks like anyone can add members to the group.
10. Shout loud and whisper features are great.

Overall, lot of improvements needed if this one needs to compete with the likes of WhatsApp and hike!

 

[prasad1979]

Say hello to Google Allo: a smarter messaging app

The Official Google Blog by Google Blogs  

Whether it’s planning a night out or just catching up, we all rely on messaging to stay in touch with friends and loved ones. But too often we have to hit pause on our conversations — whether it’s to check the status of a flight or look up that new restaurant. So we created a messaging app that helps you keep your conversation going, by providing assistance when you need it. 



Today, we’re releasing Google Allo, a new smart messaging app for Android and iOS that helps you say more and do more right in your chats. Google Allo can help you make plans, find information, and express yourself more easily in chat. And the more you use it, the more it improves over time.



Respond quickly with Smart Reply

Google Allo makes it easier for you to respond quickly and keep the conversation going, even when you’re on the go. With Smart Reply, you can respond to messages with just a tap, so you can send a quick “yup” in response to a friend asking “Are you on your way?” Smart Reply will also suggest responses for photos. If your friend sends you a photo of their pet, you might see Smart Reply suggestions like “aww cute!” And whether you’re a “haha” or “?” kind of person, Smart Reply will improve over time and adjust to your style. 





Express yourself with photos, emojis and stickers

Chat is more than just text, so we’ve created a rich canvas for you to express yourself in Google Allo. You can make emojis and text larger or smaller in size by simply dragging the “send” button up or down. Make photos your own by scribbling on them before you send. And we’ve worked with independent artists and studios around the world to create more than 25 custom sticker packs, because sometimes a “sloth riding a pizza” says it all.





Meet your personal Google Assistant

In Google Allo you’ll also be introduced to a preview edition of the Google Assistant. With your Assistant in Allo, you can have a conversation with Google — ask it questions and let it help you get things done directly in your chats. You no longer need to leave a conversation with friends just to grab an address, share your favorite YouTube video, or pick a dinner spot. Just type @google to bring your Assistant into any group chat. And of course, you can also chat one-one-one with your Assistant in Allo.



Here are just a few ways your Google Assistant can help in Google Allo:

• Make plans with friends. You can easily move from discussing dinner with friends to making plans for the night, right in your chat. Just add the Assistant to your group chat and ask for movie times, local restaurants and more. You can also research travel destinations, flights and hotels together with friends.
  
• Get answers. Get the latest info on everything from news, weather, traffic, sports, or your upcoming flights status. Ask the Assistant to send you daily updates on the information you care about.
  
• Have some fun. Ask your Assistant to share that funny YouTube video or play games with friends right in your group chat — for instance you can compete to guess a movie title based on a series of emojis.

The Google Assistant is the next chapter in a journey Google has been on for many years to assist people in their everyday lives. We’re starting with a preview edition to show you just one way that your Assistant will work for you in chat. Over the coming months, your Assistant will be available in more Google products, working seamlessly throughout your day at home or on the go. The Assistant will initially be available in English, with more languages coming soon. 



Chat in Incognito mode

We take privacy and security seriously in Google Allo. All chats in Google Allo are encrypted using industry standard technologies like Transport Layer Security (TLS). But we went a step beyond this and we created a mode within Google Allo called Incognito (h/t Chrome). When you chat in Incognito mode, messages have end-to-end encryption and additional privacy features like discreet notifications and message expiration.





You can also message friends who aren’t yet using Google Allo through SMS or, for those using Android,app preview messages.


We can’t wait for you to say hello to Google Allo! We’re beginning to roll out Google Allo for Android andiOS, and the app will be available worldwide in the next few days. 

 

[Siva]

Then why am I getting it ? :u

Try turning off messaging sounds

 

[Sarkar]

Try turning off messaging sounds

That's what I did as the sound is wired.

 

[Anup Tiwari]

I also download

 

[Anup Tiwari]

But i couldn't see who is in app.

 

[Siva]

But i couldn't see who is in app.

That's because you can send message free of cost to anyone, even those who don't have allo. I think allo is using Google account to do this.

 

[Siva]

Another feature missing is file sharing. We can't share pdf or other files as of now. Hope Google will add it.

 

[Aabhapure]

Google Allo launched, a smart messaging app to take on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger

[img=645x441]http://st1.bgr.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/google-allo-app-launch.jpg[/img]

Google has launched a new smart messaging app to take on the likes of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. The app comes with features like Google Assistant, incognito mode among others.



Google has today launched its ‘Allo’ smart messaging app, after having unveiled it at I/O 2016 earlier this year. The Allo app has been launched about a month after Google rolled out the Duo video chatting app. With Allo, Google is essentially taking on the likes of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger by using AI to make the messaging app smarter.

Allo doesn’t really replace the Hangouts chatting app, but is a standalone app that is deeply integrated with Google Assistant. The company has said that the likes of Duo and Allo are more consumer-centric apps, while Hangouts is focused more at enterprises. Google Allo brings in a host of other features like WhisperShout, Ink, end-to-end encryption, and incognito mode among others. One of the talking points however is the app’s smart capabilities. When chatting, the AI monitors the topic of conversation and suggests replies that can be sent with just a tap. Google also says that the app’s image recognition system is nearly 90 percent accurate, and the app will also prompt replies based on the image shared by your friend. So for example, if your friend sends a photo of a dog or a baby, the app will suggest replies like ‘So cute’ and more.

The integration with Google Assistant is another of the app’s highlights, which basically lets you search for something within the app itself. For example, if you are chatting about having Italian dinner, Google Assistant will show up restaurant options. All this can be done by simply typing ‘@google’. This feature is really helpful as it takes away the need to switch between apps.

The WhisperShout feature, as the name suggests, lets users change the size of the text in order to express their emotions better. When you type a word, there is a slider on the right side that lets you drag a finger up or down to increase or decrease the size of the text. The other feature Ink seems inspired by Snapchat and lets users doodle over photos.
One of the best features of Allo is that it doesn’t require you to use your Google account to sign up to use the app. All you need is the phone number, and you are ready to start using the app. Allo is also big on security and comes with end-to-end encryption. But the encryption seems to only work when chatting in incognito mode. Like the Google Chrome browser, this mode lets you have a private chat with your friends, and all the messages will be deleted after you exit the chat. The incognito mode also comes with private notifications. You can head over to the Google Play Store or the App Store to download the Allo app for free.

Source :
Google Allo launched, a smart messaging app to take on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.fireball