Google Allo might also soon support zoom and blur options for selfies.
Google has updated its messenger app Google Allo and the new version 14 lets users react to individual messages. The most significant change in the client is the way users can react to messages in groups. Allo previously did not have any way for users to interact with individual messages but the new update resolves that. Though the interaction is currently restricted to only liking the message, it does hint at future functionalities coming to the app soon.
The new feature on Google Allo is quite similar to Instagram where you can ‘heart’ a message. A single heart is shown under the message and if there are more hearts or likes, the number of likes is shown next to a single heart. The heart icon is shown at the bottom left of each message. The new update was announced over Twitter, with Google Head of Product for Allo and Duo Amit Fulay tweeting about the change. The version 14 is already being rolled out to users and should be available in the coming days if it is not available already.
Latest #GoogleAllo version out today! You can react to messages in chat (tap the heart to like them) pic.twitter.com/0OoYZHpnFo
— Amit Fulay (@amitfulay) July 17, 2017
Google Allo does come with a host of features and functionalities but it is yet to catch up with messengers like WhatsApp. Google has been slowly but surely rolling out updates and changes. Some of the features supported by Google Allo, like the Incognito Mode feature is unique to the app. Similarly, while the new “hearts” feature does seem a direct rip-off Instagram, it is unique to Google Allo, as WhatsApp does support replying to in-group individual messages but it does not let users react to the same. The feature is available only to Android users for now, with no word on support for iOS users. ALSO READ: You can now make a Google Duo video call straight from the Allo app
Apart from the new likes, the APK for version 14 reveals a lot of new features that might come to Allo in future updates. While the brand might roll out just one new feature at a time, the coding generally reveals the added functionalities and tweaks the company is rolling to announce in the future. And with the next version, Google Allo might be getting photo editing features. The APK file teardown by 9to5Google reveals that Google Allo will soon come with features like Notification Channels, Image Editing and Data Usage Settings.
Notification Channels are a part of Android O, so is unclear if older Android versions will support the same. Some of the notification channels included are: Smart Reminders, New in Allo, Messages, Contact Updates, Chat Suggestions, and Uncategorized. On the camera front, Google Allo will support stickers, in-app editing, zoom and blur options in quick selfie. Data Usage Settings show the user the amount of data consumed for each individual category, namely: text, images, videos or other media files. The counters can be reset. Google has long been known to roll out the Web Client for Allo and the APK for version 14 reveals that it might not be far off now.
Google has long been known to roll out the Web Client for Allo and the APK for version 14 reveals that it might not be far off now. While multiple leaks have shown the functionalities of the web client, there has been one change demanded – that the web client work independently of smartphone sync. Unfortunately, that’s not likely to be the case as the APK teardown reveals a web client very similar to the current WhatsApp one. The changes are only tentative and might roll out in future versions but nothing can be confirmed for now.