Google Duo v29 closes in on launch of video messaging, screen sharing, and Google sign-in [APK Teardown]

Friday morning is starting off with a fresh update to Google Duo. The v29 release doesn't change much on the surface, but there is a new notification channel that happens to tease one feature we've been expecting. A teardown also turns up new activity for two more features many people have been anxiously awaiting: screen sharing and google sign-in. If you'd like to grab the latest update, hit the link at the bottom to get a headstart.

What's New

Unofficial Changelog: (the stuff we found)

New notification channel for missed calls and new messages

Notification channel: Missed calls and new messages

The one immediately visible change in this update is a new notification channel for missed calls and new messages. While it's no mystery that Duo is adding a video messaging feature for leaving a recording when other people are unavailable, this is the first outwardly visible sign that the feature is going to happen. Perhaps it's launching with this update?

Notification channels are only supported in Android 8.0 and above.

Teardown

Disclaimer: Teardowns are based on evidence found inside of apks (Android's application package) and are necessarily speculative and usually based on incomplete information. It's possible that the guesses made here are totally and completely wrong. Even when predictions are correct, there is always a chance that plans could change or may be canceled entirely. Much like rumors, nothing is certain until it's officially announced and released.

The features discussed below are probably not live yet, or may only be live for a small percentage of users. Unless stated otherwise, don't expect to see these features if you install the apk.

Another feature revealed through a teardown was screen sharing. The first sign landed back in October with the v20 release of Duo. At the time, the clues were limited, but a close examination of the code produced enough evidence to make a solid argument that the Duo team was planning to let users send their phone screens to the people they were talking to. With v29, things are shaping up very differently as a ton of new text and even a few images give further confirmation of what's to come.

The new text is mostly straightforward notification messages and UI text, including a few lines that show screen sharing can be paused, resumed, and stopped.

strings

<string name="screen_sharing_notification_title">Duo Screen Sharing</string>

<string name="screen_sharing_is_starting_label">Screen sharing is starting, please wait..</string>

<string name="screen_sharing_notification_message">You are sharing your screen</string>

<string name="screen_sharing_notification_stop_action">Stop screen sharing</string>

<string name="screen_sharing_stopped_toast_text">Screen sharing has stopped.</string>

<string name="paused_screen_sharing_notification_message">Screen sharing is paused.</string>

<string name="screen_sharing_notification_pause_action">Pause</string>

<string name="screen_sharing_notification_resume_action">Resume</string>

<uses-permission-sdk-23 android:name="android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW" />

New layouts:

/layout/screen_sharing_startup_activity.xml

/layout/screen_controls_paused_layout.xml

/layout/screen_controls_resumed_layout.xml

Also added are new images for some pill-shaped buttons used to control screen sharing. These will obviously be used to pause, resume, and stop sharing.

With Duo's generally lean interface, I'm starting to think screen sharing may be ready to launch with this version. It might just require Google to flip a switch and we'll all instantly have to give up on another excuse we used to use to get out of doing tech support for our family members.

Notifications for multiple contacts joining Duo

I'm just quickly mentioning this one because there's a lot of text, but it's not really anything too new. There's a new set of notifications ordered around letting you know some of your friends have joined Duo. Unlike previous notifications, these aren't just naming one friend, but stating that there are multiple new friends available to contact on Duo. I have a feeling this promotional text may have something to do with Duo's recently added ability to call contacts that don't even have Duo installed.

strings

<string name="batched_contact_joined_notification_body_1_5">Open Duo to discover who’s reachable</string>

<string name="batched_contact_joined_notification_body_2_3_6_7">Start a video call now</string>

<string name="batched_contact_joined_notification_body_4_8">Open Duo to see who you can reach</string>

<string name="batched_contact_joined_notification_title_1">New people to video call ✨</string>

<string name="batched_contact_joined_notification_title_2">More friends are now reachable ⭐</string>

<string name="batched_contact_joined_notification_title_3">More friends you can say hi to ✨</string>

<string name="batched_contact_joined_notification_title_4">Additional friends to video call ⭐</string>

<item quantity="other">%d new people to video call ✨</item>

<item quantity="one">%d new person to video call ✨</item>

</plurals>

<item quantity="other">%d more people are now reachable ⭐</item>

<item quantity="one">%d more person is now reachable ⭐</item>

</plurals>

<item quantity="other">%d more people you can say hi to ✨</item>

<item quantity="one">%d more person you can say hi to ✨</item>

</plurals>

<item quantity="other">%d additional people to video call ⭐</item>

<item quantity="one">%d additional person to video call ⭐</item>

</plurals>

Finally, yet another familiar topic: Google account linking. We've known for a few months that users would soon be able to sign into Duo with a Google account so they could be reachable by more than just a phone number. Later, we also saw confirmation that multi-device support would also come with Google account sign-in. There's nothing particularly special to learn from the new text in this update, just a line that confirms users can still use Duo with just a phone number if they want. Beyond that, I think most of us just want to know that this is still happening.

strings

<string name="gaia_reg_title">Set up Duo with your Google Account</string>

<string name="gaia_reg_guest_mode_description">Use Duo with phone number only</string>

<string name="gaia_reg_phone_number_label">Phone number</string>

<string name="gaia_upgrade_account_error">Error linking Google Account.</string>

<string name="gaia_reg_description">We will send you a one-time SMS message to verify your number. Carrier fees may apply.</string>

Download

The APK is signed by Google and upgrades your existing app. The cryptographic signature guarantees that the file is safe to install and was not tampered with in any way. Rather than wait for Google to push this download to your devices, which can take days, download and install it just like any other APK.

Version: 29.0.187412176.DR29_RC07