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Looks like yet another product that Google will abandon quickly due to lackluster interest. There is absolutely no indication that the people behind Allo will

by ihsw 10y ago

Looks like yet another product that Google will abandon quickly due to lackluster interest. There is absolutely no indication that the people behind Allo will make any effort to mitigate the clear and present problems. Sure, it has a couple features that stand out, but the shortcomings stick out sharply, notably the pathetic SMS "integration."

geostyx 10y ago
It's a chicken and egg problem I think. I'm not going to latch on to Google products because I expect them to just kill it in a couple years anyway. Google kills products because not enough people use them. If Google keeps Allo/Duo at the front of their messaging apps, adds desktop support to Allo, and keep improving performance/features for the next 5+ years, then it might actually gain a decent userbase. I use Telegram right now. It Just Works™ for me and the people I talk to. It's fast, stable, and they keep adding features without it feeling like bloat. I also don't feel like I have to worry about it getting abandoned in the next couple years.
- estefan 10y ago
  They should really just stop branding the apps as Google, and only come out from behind the curtain if there's traction so as to avoid damaging their brand like this.
  - geostyx 10y ago
    This. Whenever I hear "Google" my mind goes straight to "thing that will be gone in 18 months"
    - vocatus_gate 10y ago
      > Whenever I hear "Google" my mind goes straight to "thing that will be gone in 18 months" Exactly. Perfectly said.
    - pawadu 10y ago
      I feel the same way. I just don't trust Google anymore, they have an awful track record.
duiker101 10y ago
For me it's very simple, I don't NEED a new messenger app, whatsapp and facebook messenger cover pretty much all my needs. I could maybe even do without the latter. The only use I had for SMS in the last couple years is only spam, bank and random two factor auths. I like seeing alternatives tho but there is absolutely nothing in Allo that would attract me. I mean... it does look good but Whatsapp is already good enough. And for someone that spends a significant part of their day in front of the computer desktop integration is a must. I really do not understand why they didn't add it. To be honest, I liked Hangouts.
- ihsw 10y ago
  Agreed on Hangouts. When they removed SMS integration in favor of their new Messenger app, I was saddened. I cannot fathom why they would remove features and retire Hangouts.
  - vetinari 10y ago
    The SMS integration is still in Hangouts, it's just not on by default.
    - ihsw 10y ago
      I was prompted to install the Messenger app and Hangouts' SMS support was promptly disabled, I thought they removed the feature entirely. I will be switching back to Hangouts and uninstalling the Messenger app, thank you.

by ihsw 10y ago

geostyx 10y ago

It's a chicken and egg problem I think. I'm not going to latch on to Google products because I expect them to just kill it in a couple years anyway. Google kills products because not enough people use them. If Google keeps Allo/Duo at the front of their messaging apps, adds desktop support to Allo, and keep improving performance/features for the next 5+ years, then it might actually gain a decent userbase. I use Telegram right now. It Just Works™ for me and the people I talk to. It's fast, stable, and they keep adding features without it feeling like bloat. I also don't feel like I have to worry about it getting abandoned in the next couple years.

estefan 10y ago
They should really just stop branding the apps as Google, and only come out from behind the curtain if there's traction so as to avoid damaging their brand like this.
- geostyx 10y ago
  This. Whenever I hear "Google" my mind goes straight to "thing that will be gone in 18 months"
  - vocatus_gate 10y ago
    > Whenever I hear "Google" my mind goes straight to "thing that will be gone in 18 months" Exactly. Perfectly said.
  - pawadu 10y ago
    I feel the same way. I just don't trust Google anymore, they have an awful track record.

duiker101 10y ago

For me it's very simple, I don't NEED a new messenger app, whatsapp and facebook messenger cover pretty much all my needs. I could maybe even do without the latter. The only use I had for SMS in the last couple years is only spam, bank and random two factor auths. I like seeing alternatives tho but there is absolutely nothing in Allo that would attract me. I mean... it does look good but Whatsapp is already good enough. And for someone that spends a significant part of their day in front of the computer desktop integration is a must. I really do not understand why they didn't add it. To be honest, I liked Hangouts.

ihsw 10y ago
Agreed on Hangouts. When they removed SMS integration in favor of their new Messenger app, I was saddened. I cannot fathom why they would remove features and retire Hangouts.
- vetinari 10y ago
  The SMS integration is still in Hangouts, it's just not on by default.
  - ihsw 10y ago
    I was prompted to install the Messenger app and Hangouts' SMS support was promptly disabled, I thought they removed the feature entirely. I will be switching back to Hangouts and uninstalling the Messenger app, thank you.