Google also mentioned animated emojis in the new update

Mar 9, 2017 09:54 GMT  ·  By

Google recently updated its Allo messaging application for Android and added a very useful feature for people who use the app while in the car. Allo now supports Android Auto, which allows users to enjoy hands-free messaging while driving to their destination.

Previously, when users received a message on Allo while using the Android Auto app, the notification would disappear behind the main interface, in a way to prevent users from getting distracted while driving.

The update changes this whole process and displays all messages on the screen, while users will be able to reply with their voice through Android Auto and straight into Allo. Allo app will also be able to read received messages aloud, so that users can continue to focus on the road and don’t get distracted.

Animated emojis and several bugs fixes

The changelog for the newest update also mentions animated emojis, but the feature was actually incorporated into Allo in the previous update. The feature helps make conversations more interesting and allow users to express themselves in a fun way.

To animate an emoji, users simply need to touch and hold the send button and then drag up to see the animation. Google stated that the procedure only worked on 10 emojis at the time.

As expected, the update also brings some bug fixes and performance improvements to make sure the app runs smoothly.

Google has been working on bringing new features to its Allo messaging app, but the company surprised many when it replaced the default Messenger application on Android smartphones with Android Messages and not Allo.

Granted, Android Messages is an RCS app that offers next-generation messaging standard supported by a number of carriers and Google. Users can send multimedia messages and enjoy more features with Android Messages, but many had expected Allo to become the default Android messaging app.