Google Allo is a free messaging app with Google Assistant and Incognito Chat features. You must have heard about this app before (announced on 18th May 2016). Now Google has started rolling out Google Allo to Android and iOS users. If you haven’t got the app, then you will get it very soon. Till then, you can see what Google Allo has brought for us and how it is different from Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and other smart messaging apps.
Google Allo has joined the competition and has some interesting features. You can use the Google Assistant to help you get weather details, sports news, restaurants nearby (location access needed of course) , set a timer, alarm, travel related questions, etc. This feature matters a lot to people who really need some assistant immediately. The Google Assistant responses really fast and the information will be in front of you in a matter of seconds. All you need to do is open the app interface and start chatting with Google Assistant anytime you want.
The second great feature is the introduction of Incognito Chat, which brings the end to end encryption. Where no such feature exists in many other apps, Google Allo has come with this feature. You can start Incognito chat with any person (who has also installed Google Allo). The incognito chat feature lets you set the time for chat expiration. You can set it for 5, 10, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 1 hour, 1 day, or for 1 week. After that, whatever you have shared with each other in the conversation, it is deleted automatically.
Some other interesting features (unique and common) are also there.
- You can record and send videos.
- Record and send audio.
- Zoom in or out any text before sending by pressing and holding the send button.
- Send emoji.
- Annotate an image before sharing it with the receiver.
- Share pictures.
- Start group chat.
- It gives suggested texts that you can use when someone shares a photo.
- Send Stickers. Lots of cool stickers are there and you can also download more. This feature is similar to Facebook and Hike messengers, though stickers are different.
With all these great features, Google Allo can receive a very good response from users. After Google Duo app, Google has now come with this new and very interesting app to attract the users.
Installing and Using Google Allo App:
The homepage of Google Allo app gives you the options to download the app for Android and iOS device. Select your device and install the app.
Open it and register with your mobile number. The next steps are: take a selfie or use an image from Gallery to make it your display picture, give a name, and the main interface will be there.
At the top, there will be Google Assistant that you can use and test how the Assistant works.
I started the chat with Google Assistant and it was a really good experience. It won’t interact with you using audio, but you can chat with it via text or audio.
You can start the chat with other people if they have already installed the app. Or else, you can send them invite and then chat with them once they installed the app. That Chat icon at the bottom right corner will help you Start group chat, Incognito chat, Google Assistant, and send a message to your contact(s).
The app has also come with the option to adjust the Settings, which is a must have option for users. The Settings page can help you enable/disable notifications, automatically download photos and videos, disconnect Google account with Allo, unregister your phone number, etc.
Go through settings and adjust the options the way you want.
Google Allo is attracting the users because it has something new and interesting. We can chat with the end to the end encryption, take the help of Google Assistant, respond without typing, and do much more. There are many exciting features that can force users to think twice whether they should stick to their previous messaging app or make Google Duo as their primary messaging app.
