Google Allo is Google’s response to text messaging and social chatting, with the search engine giant having relegated Google Hangouts (with the exception of business users) to a has-been app, even though the latter has some fanbase of its own who just love it. These changes are taking place as a result of Google I/O 2016 where Google announced that Allo, and its video chatting counterpart Duo, would replace Google Hangouts.
Google has followed up its commitment to Allo a year later by limiting texting capabilities in Hangouts last week for everyone except Project Fi subscribers. Project Fi subscribers pay $20 a month for calls and texts and can use the Hangouts app exclusively for both on Android phones and even Android devices such as Chromebooks.
Today, Google has updated Google Allo, bringing full-screen video playback support to its users. What this means for users is that they can enjoy videos sent to them full-screen, enhancing the immersive experience for users of Google’s messaging service. The update comes in at a small 13.48MB and brings Allo to version 12.0.023_RC12 (at least for our device with config of arm64-v8a_xxhdpi).
Google Allo users, go ahead and download the update, then let us know if full-screen video playback is a coveted feature for you.
Allo is the future, the app where Google (now with its Pixel brand) wants to challenge Apple’s iMessage, which means that the app must be updated with new features regularly to keep it interesting for those trying out the texting app.
We are kind of dying to see the Allo come to Desktop, which even though not official yet, was sure teased months back by a Google on his Twitter handle. Once that happens, Allo would give WhatsApp even more competition.
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