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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.
Like FaceTime, it's dead simple to use, which means more people who are not computer literate will be able to use it.
 
member: 936637 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.
Unencrypted video.
 
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.
It's like "visual caller ID" a great improvement to such apps.
 
Well, if you want to work on Android haven't you already given yourself over to complicated?

Seriously, though:



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...

That was Microsoft : Skype

Can't think of anything more complicated than getting all your family, friends and professional contacts to have to buy an apple device over downloading an app that is cross platform.

If heard android called many things, but complicated? Given how much iOS and android have copied from each other, a user with the basic skills can pick up and use either. Now just cause one is not used to using one or the other does not mean it's not complicated.....the issue is with the user, which can be remedied.....like a PC user calling OS X complicated ....initially....
 
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Nice cartoon but FaceTime isn't a standard, so a new video chat app isn't adding to more competing standards.

Yah, Apple (actually Steve himself) said that FaceTime would eventually be released as open source. That never happened, for one of three reasons — (1) patents were discovered that prevented it, (2) Apple decided to keep the protocol in-house for themselves, or (3) Apple just got distracted and forgot to continue moving that project towards being open sourced. Regardless, it is a real shame. iChat was a better chat experience overall. FaceTime might have excellent video quality on high bandwidth, but is too limited in many ways.
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Unencrypted video.

Yah, I think people overlook such important details. They seem some new and shiny and want to play with it.

Why is Google releasing yet another chat/messaging app? Because it creates headlines and attracts eyeballs. Mindshare.
 
Nice google FaceTime

Horrible marketing branding.

"Duo"? Let's Duo. I'm gonna Duo you later. Do you want to Duo? We can Duo if you want. Do you have Duo?

i have to say, this is where Apple's marketing genius comes into play -- "FaceTime" is a brilliant term that perfectly describes the technology. Even Tango works, or Skype which is a new word that means specifically that, like Xerox means to make a copy.
 
2) Has very, very poor performance on low bandwidth

Prove it!

FaceTime scales beautifully, for a long long time!
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there are so many cross platform options available now. FT and iM seem insular by comparison

The more there are, the stronger FT/iM get.

Specially because those Apps can standby without consuming battery on iOS and work perfectly. Apple forces them to adopt APNS or SIP.

While on Android, they either don't work, or they are actively consuming battery and RAM with background services, making phones noticeably slower on cheaper (most of them) phones.
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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

Can't wait for the spammers to use this "functionality" to serve Duo users video ads.
 
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.

What's really funny is you don't mention if you're referring to Apple or Google! And, what you say can be said of both, so if you're trying to bash Google, it backfired. :)
 
That was Microsoft : Skype

Can't think of anything more complicated than getting all your family, friends and professional contacts to have to buy an apple device over downloading an app that is cross platform.

If heard android called many things, but complicated? Given how much iOS and android have copied from each other, a user with the basic skills can pick up and use either. Now just cause one is not used to using one or the other does not mean it's not complicated.....the issue is with the user, which can be remedied.....like a PC user calling OS X complicated ....initially....

I have owned and used 7 Android devices. They're complicated, klugey and inconsistent in interface from manufacturer to manufacturer. I support a thousand users who carry iPhones, and about a hundred who carry Androids. Get way more "how do I" questions from Android users, and almost every one is a new adventure to figure out.

When I bought my first Mac, after owning, supporting and building Windows computers for 20 years it took me about five minutes to be productive with it, and about a day or two to become proficient.

And Microsoft didn't develop Skype. They bought it.
 
Well, if you want to work on Android haven't you already given yourself over to complicated?

Seriously, though:



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...
What’s more complicated;
  • Using a cross platform app to FaceTime a friend/colleague/relative?
  • Using a proprietary that isn’t cross platform and pressing buttons/sliding sliders/connecting peripherals/etc. etc. thus trying to FaceTime a friend/colleague/relative?
There’s a prize for the right answer.
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I have owned and used 7 Android devices. They're complicated, klugey and inconsistent in interface from manufacturer to manufacturer. I support a thousand users who carry iPhones, and about a hundred who carry Androids. Get way more "how do I" questions from Android users, and almost every one is a new adventure to figure out.

When I bought my first Mac, after owning, supporting and building Windows computers for 20 years it took me about five minutes to be productive with it, and about a day or two to become proficient.

And Microsoft didn't develop Skype. They bought it.
So, you’re comparing one manufacturer with lots of others. Yeah, that’s Apples to Apples isn’t it?
How about being consistent? Compare one OS and one manufacture with another single OS with another single manufacturer.

So that’s Apple and iOS against Samsung and Android for example.
 
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.

We quit using when Apple removed multiple video chats.
 
Replace "standard" with "chat app" below:

standards.png
My pleasure!
QAIdutJ.png
 
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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.
I can only imagine lol.

nice feature though!
 
Google after 6 years of trying is still trying to achieve what Apple did in 2010. Competition is good, how are they going to serve ads on Duo?

I am use Hangouts, it has horribly designed calling feature. Hangouts is an embarrassment for a software company.
 
Just gave it a spin. It's very fast, and quality is good under a decent connection (~10 Mbps at office wifi).

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.

Rather than making one app that's trying to do both, I guess they decided they wanted the simplicity of Duo. Since it uses phone numbers too, rather than my Gmail ID, it was immediately able to show me who is on the app and able to receive video calls.

With Hangouts it makes sense where there are times when I want to be invisible, unavailable, or broadcast that I'm in a Hangout at present or do Live Hangouts (the last part, Live Hangouts, is particularly cool).

In short, they don't want to make a jack of all video app?
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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...

Yup, Apple removed the complexity in making video calls .. on Apple devices.. Then they said Mission Accomplished.

Now other software developers are working on doing the same for people not using Apple devices. Turns out they are also humans who want to be able to communicate with others but choose not to use Apple products, which is a matter of preference.
 
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Duo looks pretty nice to do video calls that works everywhere, not just Apple devices (although, I think I may stick with Hangouts). However, what's with the "You also agree to letting Duo periodically send your contacts to Google."? That's unsettling.
 
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.

Facetime for my family is very popular and we use it all the time. My parents are completely tech illiterate and they love it and use it without any issues and without needing any tech support from me.
 
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Unencrypted video.
Duo uses end-to-end encryption.
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Duo looks pretty nice to do video calls that works everywhere, not just Apple devices (although, I think I may stick with Hangouts). However, what's with the "You also agree to letting Duo periodically send your contacts to Google."? That's unsettling.
How else will Google know if your contacts are registered on the service or not? It is no different than any other service that registers users based off of phone numbers.
 
I have owned and used 7 Android devices. They're complicated, klugey and inconsistent in interface from manufacturer to manufacturer. I support a thousand users who carry iPhones, and about a hundred who carry Androids. Get way more "how do I" questions from Android users, and almost every one is a new adventure to figure out.

When I bought my first Mac, after owning, supporting and building Windows computers for 20 years it took me about five minutes to be productive with it, and about a day or two to become proficient.

And Microsoft didn't develop Skype. They bought it.

I guess it varies person to person .

I'm not sure how you got productive with a Mac in 5 min ;) and find android complicated. When I switched OS X was way more way more different than iOS is to android at the moment. Though as I said varies person to person...

You are correct, bought by MS but still ahead of the others as a cross platform solution. Though if they bought it or not, does it matter? It what apple is doing recently, buying companies for tech
 
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"You also agree to letting Duo periodically send your contacts to Google."? That's unsettling.


Everyone who uses iMessage and / or FaceTime has to be signed into Apple with their Apple ID - you can see who is on both in your Contacts - how's that any different?
 
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