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Google Releases New Video Calling App Called 'Duo'

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Apr 12, 2001
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Google has announced a new one-to-one video calling app for iOS and Android called Duo, which the company says aims to take the complexity and frustration out of video calling.

Users of Duo sign into the app using just their phone number and Google then sends them a confirmation text. After that, users can video call anyone in their contacts list who also have Duo installed.

Duo.jpg

Google says Duo is built to be fast and reliable, so that video calls connect quickly and work well even on slower networks.
Call quality adjusts to changing network conditions to keep you connected -- when bandwidth is limited, Duo will gracefully reduce the resolution to keep the call going smoothly. For video calls on the go, Duo will switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data automatically without dropping your call. You can start your call at home, and continue seamlessly even when you head out the door.
Click to expand...

Apart from its simplicity, Google is heavily hyping a feature (currently limited to Android) called "Knock, Knock", where a known caller's live video can be transmitted before the receiver has answered, allowing them to reveal things on the screen to entice the person to accept the connection.

Once they do so, the video continues seamlessly, which makes video calling "more spontaneous and welcoming, helping you connect with the person before you even pick up," says Google. The company has made no mention about whether the feature will be coming to iOS - and even if it did, users would have to unlock their iPhone first before taking a call.

Google notes that Duo isn't a replacement for its other video calling app, Hangouts, which it hopes will appeal more to enterprise users as the service is further integrated into the Google Apps suite.

Google Duo is a free download that should be available on the App Store for iPhone sometime today. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Google Releases New Video Calling App Called 'Duo'
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/08/16/google-releases-new-video-calling-app-called-duo/
MacRumors said:
Google notes that Duo isn't a replacement for its other video calling app, Hangouts, which it hopes will appeal more to enterprise users as the service is further integrated into the Google Apps suite.
Click to expand...

Why does it seem that Google keeps releasing messaging platforms? What's the point of installing Duo? It has zero added benefit over HangOuts. Someone, please tell me what feature this has that isn't already available by Google itself, or others.
 
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Anyone Else Getting this Error when downloading google duo
"The item you've requested is not currently available in the U.S. store. ?"
 
I will try this as Skype for iPhone (all latest software) etc doesn't ring!
which isn't that good for a telephone/video app.
works fine on my £29.00 Moto 'E'
[doublepost=1471348483][/doublepost]
image.png
 
x0vash0x said:
Why does it seem that Google keeps releasing messaging platforms? What's the point of installing Duo? It has zero added benefit over HangOuts. Someone, please tell me what feature this has that isn't already available by Google itself, or others.
Click to expand...

I enjoy Hangouts too, use it with friends especially for when many of us need to chat.

However initiating a call is difficult for my parents. Dad uses iPhone and likes the simplicity of FaceTime.

Google is trying to do that for everyone with this app. Hangouts will still exist for those that use it, this can't replace Hangouts since it's completely one on one video.
[doublepost=1471348749][/doublepost]
sprabhu99 said:
Anyone Else Getting this Error when downloading google duo
"The item you've requested is not currently available in the U.S. store. ?"
Click to expand...

On Android it isn't available yet either, Google usually does slow rollouts even on their Play Store such that some users will see it on the store before others.
[doublepost=1471348886][/doublepost]
amirite said:
yeah we all know what you're trying to say here
Click to expand...

Knock knock isn't just for people wanting to tease their SO.

If I'm getting a video call I SHOULD be able to see who is calling before I answer. The description in MR's post has the wrong focus. It isn't so the caller can tease the recipient, it's so the recipient can see who is calling before they answer.

Yes the caller's name shows up too but it's just an additional way for you to know who it is; and what if someone else is actually using the caller's phone?
[doublepost=1471349005][/doublepost]
Eimantas said:
Replace "standard" with "chat app" below:

standards.png
Click to expand...

Except this isn't a chat app to compete with Hangouts, it serves a different purpose compared with Hangouts.

Now Allo seems dumb, and your XKCD definitely applies to that. But again it seems Hangouts will get swallowed up by Google Apps and this is for these are for the average consumers.
[doublepost=1471349110][/doublepost]
fitshaced said:
If someone's got an android then they don't deserve a phone call.
Click to expand...
You make your life seem so sad.
 
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What's funny thing about this company is that they just keep throwing stuff on the wall and see what stick in there. They don't need an actual product to a very successful tech company. As long as they get the media attention every fake products they have people will think they are changing the world. For some reason the media and some people will always get excited everytime they announce a product that they will eventually kill in a year or two. They know how to play the game so people will keep using their search erngine and that's how they make money.
 
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usamaah said:
I enjoy Hangouts too, use it with friends especially for when many of us need to chat.

However initiating a call is difficult for my parents. Dad uses iPhone and likes the simplicity of FaceTime.

Google is trying to do that for everyone with this app. Hangouts will still exist for those that use it, this can't replace Hangouts since it's completely one on one video.
[doublepost=1471348749][/doublepost]

On Android it isn't available yet either, Google usually does slow rollouts even on their Play Store such that some users will see it on the store before others.
[doublepost=1471348886][/doublepost]

Knock knock isn't just for people wanting to tease their SO.

If I'm getting a video call I SHOULD be able to see who is calling before I answer. The description in MR's post has the wrong focus. It isn't so the caller can tease the recipient, it's so the recipient can see who is calling before they answer.

Yes the caller's name shows up too but it's just an additional way for you to know who it is; and what if someone else is actually using the caller's phone?
[doublepost=1471349005][/doublepost]

Except this isn't a chat app to compete with Hangouts, it serves a different purpose compared with Hangouts.

Now Allo seems dumb, and your XKCD definitely applies to that. But again it seems Hangouts will get swallowed up by Google Apps and this is for these are for the average consumers.
[doublepost=1471349110][/doublepost]
You make your life seem so sad.
Click to expand...
So no room for humour on the internet anymore? Yeah I guess sad is the word.
 
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joueboy said:
What's funny thing about this company is that they just keep throwing stuff on the wall and see what stick in there. They don't need an actual product to a very successful tech company. As long as they get the media attention every fake products they have people will think they are changing the world. For some reason the media and some people will always get excited everytime they announce a product that they will eventually kill in a year or two. They know how to play the game so people will keep using their search erngine and that's how they make money.
Click to expand...
Or.. companies launch products and sometimes they don't succeed.

Happens to Apple too, ask any MobileMe user, or anyone who bought a Cube. It's just that Google does more launches and they do a few in beta. And they like to evolve the product over time. Google+ obviously didn't reach the success they wanted despite bundling things into it but they haven't killed it and still update it. Gmail and Inbox live simultaneously.

I hope Allo fails, because I'd rather they get behind existing at apps like WhatsApp (unlikely since it's Facebook owned) or Telegram but they want advertising dollars so they'll still launch it.
[doublepost=1471349621][/doublepost]
fitshaced said:
So no room for humour on the internet anymore? Yeah I guess sad is the word.
Click to expand...
Fair enough, as you might imagine sarcasm is hard to detect, might be because I'm on Android.

How's that?
 
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H2SO4 said:
It is if you want it to work on Android……...
Click to expand...

Well, if you want to work on Android haven't you already given yourself over to complicated?

Seriously, though:

MacRumors said:
which the company says aims to take the complexity and frustration out of video calling.
Click to expand...

Didn't someone named Apple do this years ago? I guess this is just another example of the iPhone copying Android, several years in the past...
 
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usamaah said:
I enjoy Hangouts too, use it with friends especially for when many of us need to chat.

However initiating a call is difficult for my parents. Dad uses iPhone and likes the simplicity of FaceTime.

Google is trying to do that for everyone with this app. Hangouts will still exist for those that use it, this can't replace Hangouts since it's completely one on one video.
Click to expand...

Why not just improve Hangouts? It's not like Hangouts has to remain frozen in time. If initiating a call from Hangouts is difficult, then the UI or workflow needs to be improved. Nothing in this Duo app couldn't have been implemented into Hangouts without sacrificing anything in Hangouts.
 
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I'm curious how popular FaceTime is. Do you use it on a regular basis? I for one sure don't.

Didn't Apple one time say it was going to make FaceTime cross platform? Maybe I'm thinking of something else.
 
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satchmo said:
I'm curious how popular FaceTime is. Do you use it on a regular basis? I for one sure don't.

Didn't Apple one time say it was going to make FaceTime cross platform? Maybe I'm thinking of something else.
Click to expand...
On Apple devices FT is popular. Obviously, outside the Garden it has no value. I think licensing fees were the roadblock to cross platform FT.

There was a point in time where apps like FaceTime and iMessage were clear selling points for Apple. You had to be on an Apple device to get 'em. That's still true today, but there are so many cross platform options available now. FT and iM seem insular by comparison.
 
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