Hello, Allo

WhatsApp, Facebook, WeChat, Viber...There are a lot of options out there for keeping in touch with friends and family. So do we really need another one? No. But we do need a new one.

Enter Allo.

Messaging has been the same for a long time now. originally, after the explosion in popularity for the mobile phone, there was only SMS. Then when smart phones came along we got WhatsApp. A way to stay in touch longer without the worry of huge bills or running low on credit. Many companies followed but they all offered the same thing; messages and pictures over an internet connection.

Google promised us something different back in May when it announced Allo. The messaging app, finally released September 21st, changes the game. The search giant brings two new features that can't be found anywhere else and are unlike to appear on competing apps any time soon.

Smart Replies

If you have ever used Inbox by Gmail, you may already be familiar with this one. Using machine learning, Google is constantly checking the messages you receive and offering a short reply based not the context. Unlike Inbox, once you select a smart reply it will automatically send your response. This means (on android) you can reply straight from a notification without typing a single word. Being Google, the replies really are smart. To start with they may not seem it, but the more you type, the more it learns your style. If the message is funny it will know whether to suggest 'LOL' or 'Hahaha' based on your habits. And yes, it does offer if you use them.

Google Assistant

Google Assistant is the next step for the search giant in helping out with daily tasks. Tipped to replace Google Now and Google Now On Tap, assistant will also be available in a Amazon Echo-esque smart speaker later this year (release dates likely to be announced October 4th) but for now it resides solely in Allo.

Google Assistant is using the same machine learning as is being used for Smart Replies but here it will offer smart search options in place of a reply. Ask a friend if they want to meet for a coffee and you will see a bubble with Google Assistant logo reading 'Coffee Shops Near by' tapping on it will give the same results as searching for coffee shops in Google will give you. All without leaving the app. this will work for restaurants, bars, sushi places, hotels, shops, the list goes on.

You can also bring google in to the conversation to ask it questions directly. Simply type @Google followed by your request. This can be as simple as asking the weather or what our agenda is like tomorrow. You could also ask it for pictures, information on an actor, directions, sports results. Almost anything that you would ask Google in the app but without leaving the conversation. Results are also right there in front of you for you and the other people in the chat to see.

There's More!

A whole lot more. You can send pictures and doodle over them in a snapchat like manner, you can enlarge or shrink down your message in what Google is calling, whisper shout, and there is a world of free sticker packs that cover most things you would want to say.

Like all things Google, we expect to see a lot of changes come through for Allo. When Google Now first began it was a barren wasteland offering very sparse information but now it is a one stop haven for almost anything you could want. Allo and Google assistant are sure to grow in the same way.

With over 5 million downloads (on android alone) in just 1 week, it looks like it may actually take on the king of chat, WhatsApp. Only time will tell.

Download Allo Here:

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Until next time…

#Google #Allo #App #Android #Apple