14 DAY TRIAL // Last month, we reported that Google Allo could soon bring chat backups and it seems that the update has finally arrived. Google Allo users will be pleased to know that an update to the app is already available, one that brings chat backups.
The latest Google Allo update brings a feature for backing up chats, allowing users to store past chats on their smartphones, in the cloud on Google Drive, or both, according to Google Allo product head Amit Fulay. Images, videos, stickers and even emojis can now be backed up and restored at a later date. The backup feature can be used over WiFi and mobile data.
Another feature that can be found inside the new Allo update is Incognito mode for group chats, which was previously available only for one-on-one chats. The mode uses end-to-end encryption and allows users to set an expiration time of a few seconds on messages. It’s worth mentioning that incognito mode disables Google Assistant and Smart Replies.
Link previews are now available in Google Allo
Aside from chat backups and group incognito, Allo also welcomes link previews for URLs that are shared inside chats. The new feature allows users to preview information, without having to tap and open the link beforehand.
The features have already started rolling out via a server-side switch and should arrive to all Allo users over the next few days. Another feature that could arrive to Google’s Allo is a selfie-generated sticker pack that would allow the app to create stickers from selfies and receive user feedback.
With the latest update, Google wants to make Allo app more appealing to users and increase the number of devices that install the app. Allo’s number of downloads from the Play store has reached 50 million, the same number that Duo recently recorded. Google recently made Duo a mandatory pre-installed app on Android smartphones, which means that the user base for this particular app will surely increase exponentially in the future.