GSDer
Well-known member
Better in what sense? I haven't tried it but WhatsApp seems to work fine; what am I missing?Not so popular, but better than WhatsApp.
Better in what sense? I haven't tried it but WhatsApp seems to work fine; what am I missing?Not so popular, but better than WhatsApp.
More options to customise your chats, faster, better control over mobile data, multiple accounts on the same device, you can use the same account on different devices and platforms ... Where it really shine is with group chats, much more power and options like quotes, mentions, hastags, pinned threads and chats ...Better in what sense? I haven't tried it but WhatsApp seems to work fine; what am I missing?
Not for grown ups haha
Wouldn't this be Allo? It was introduced at I/O nearly a year ago and even mentioned in the post you quoted but it doesn't sound like you're aware of it. The fact that it's mostly overlooked by even enthusiasts on an Android forum says a lot about how much it's caught on.
I have a FB account but don't use the mobile app or Messenger. And isn't Messenger a separate app than the mobile FB app?
Wouldn't this be Allo? It was introduced at I/O nearly a year ago and even mentioned in the post you quoted but it doesn't sound like you're aware of it. The fact that it's mostly overlooked by even enthusiasts on an Android forum says a lot about how much it's caught on.
I love Allo.
But then all your contacts need allo, Google really needs to get it together with all of these texting apps. They do a lot of things great, but this texting thing is an issue.
I'm surprised at how long Google has let this drag on. I expected an iMessage competitor years ago. It's shocking how long overdue this is. However, they are in fact rumoured to be working on a big Android Messages update that will combat iMessage. Only time will tell.
I have a FB account but don't use the mobile app or Messenger. And isn't Messenger a separate app than the mobile FB app?
Wouldn't this be Allo? It was introduced at I/O nearly a year ago and even mentioned in the post you quoted but it doesn't sound like you're aware of it. The fact that it's mostly overlooked by even enthusiasts on an Android forum says a lot about how much it's caught on.
Still wasn't seamless like iMessage though. You had to select whether you wanted to send the message as an IM or an SMS. Very clunky.Hangouts used to do messaging and texting.... Not sure why they went away from Hangouts. It worked fine and I had all my usual contacts on it already.
All of these platforms are useless. They all lack SMS integration. iMessage can seamlessly switch between an iMessage or a text message in one application. Google needs to make Android Messages the app to combat iMessage on Android.
Point taken. SMS support is a glaring omission from Allo.
It would be a really great thing to have the best features of Allo, Hangouts, Messages, maybe Voice all wrapped up in a single app.
Yes, and that application needs to be pre installed on every Android device. Google is clearly going in a more minimalistic direction, unlike Samsung. The Pixel line is the closest thing to an iPhone that Android has to offer, and in my opinion, the Pixel is the closet competitor to the iPhone. So if I'm Google and I want to steal some business from Apple, then getting an iMessage competitor pre installed on every Android device is an absolute priority.
Google has all the pieces, too... If you took Allo, Duo, Hangouts and sprinkled in some SMS/MMS, they could put out a killer unified messaging app that can do everything, everywhere and have it preinstalled on 4/5s of the world's phones.
But they don't.
The only thing I can think of is they are very wary of regulatory stooges. The EU seems hell-bent on becoming the GOAT when it comes to 'this is why we can't have nice things', and have been acting like everyone's clueless uncle when it comes to tech issues... A iMessage like Google platform would probably have cause them to call for the head of Sundar.
Yes, and that application needs to be pre installed on every Android device. Google is clearly going in a more minimalistic direction, unlike Samsung. The Pixel line is the closest thing to an iPhone that Android has to offer, and in my opinion, the Pixel is the closet competitor to the iPhone. So if I'm Google and I want to steal some business from Apple, then getting an iMessage competitor pre installed on every Android device is an absolute priority.
Agree, they could have made Hangouts work, but they went a different direction. I also really like Allo, but how am I going to convince all my friends/family to start using it? Also my workmates all SMS me, am I going to tell them to move to this Allo app as well?Yea, it wasn't as seamless, but they could have focused on that instead of making Duo and Allo.
Even though I do like Allo, it is hard to keep convincing people to change apps.