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Google's merger of Duo and Meet fixes one of the company's worst tendencies
What's good for the Google is good for the gander
Google has been widely criticized in the tech blogs for two things in recent years: The “Google kills X” meme, and the company’s seeming obsession with messaging services. If Google isn’t killing a service that customers love like Google Reader, or Inbox, or Play Music, then it’s finding a new way to add a messaging system to Google Maps or Google Photos, or building yet another new one entirely. It’s partly a joke, but sadly all too serious, because Google actually does these things. Or, at least, it used to. Something about the recent announcement that Google Meet and Duo are merging strikes me as different, and maybe the company is starting to see the big picture and begin fixing these issues.
Surface Duo 2 steps up with true flagship specs, pre-orders open now starting at $1,500
You'll have to wait till October 21st to get it, though
Microsoft has just revealed its new Surface Duo 2. Unlike last year's phone, this new model includes flagship-level specs, like a Snapdragon 888, 5G connectivity, and a triple-camera setup. Pre-orders are open now, with availability set for October 21st. Prices start at an eye-watering $1,500.
Google Duo is the latest app to get a fresh Material You look (APK Download)
The update is now rolling out on the Play Store
Android 12 is around the corner and Google is rushing to update all of its apps with the new Material You guidelines. In recent days, we got a taste of it in Calendar, Keep, and Drive. Now, Google Duo has also found its calling.
Google is working on a simpler homescreen for Duo
A combined button will let you start an new call, call home, or create a new group
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Have you found that the homescreen interface is confusing when you've used Duo? Actually, maybe I should back that up: have you used Duo? Google would really appreciate it if you at least tried it out. To that effect, it's listening to some users about ways to make the homescreen easier to use.
Google Duo and Messages might stop working on uncertified phones soon
People with unsupported phones will have to look for alternatives
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Duo and Google Messages are among the best communication apps Google has ever released, so it's no surprise that they're incredibly popular even among people whose phones ship without Google apps. Unfortunately, it looks like those uncertified phones might soon not be able to run Duo and Messages anymore. XDA Developers and 9to5Google have uncovered strings that reveal that the apps will soon stop working on unsupported devices.
Google's December Pixel Feature Drop lands today with too many features to count
Lots of trickle-down changes for older Pixels, plus some new features
December's Pixel Feature Drop is upon us, rolling out a handful of new features for the Pixel 3 and later Google devices. That includes familiar features trickling down from the Pixel 5 to older phones, like Hold For Me and Extreme Battery Saver, but also some new benefits, like an Adaptive Sound feature that leaked last week, in-app translations via the App Overview, extra home screen customization options, the ability to export your Now Playing song recognition history into YouTube Music playlists, and an Adaptive Connectivity feature to move between 4G and 5G based on the app you're using — and that's not even all of it.
Google is going all-in on turkey fun this Thanksgiving
New Duo filters and a turkey timer on the Assistant on top of a Translate easter egg
Following its English to turkey translations in Search, Google has introduced some more fun Thanksgiving Easter eggs. On smart speakers and displays, the company has added a small audible and visual surprise when you tell the Assistant to set a turkey timer, and there is a new turkey filter in Duo that you can use for some laughs with your family while socially distancing.
Google Duo's newest face filter adds a dash of lipstick
The filter was made in partnership with L'Oréal Paris
Google Duo has added more than a few fun face effects over the past few months, including a scarecrow for Halloween, a cat, and even a cactus (we're still not sure about that last one). Now another face filter has arrived, this time featuring a splash of capitalism.
Google killing off free voice calls from smart speakers and displays in the UK
Got an Assistant device? You'll be stuck with Duo starting next month
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One little-known but neat piece of infrastructure Google provides for its Assistant speakers and displays is the ability to make free calls to most any U.S. and Canadian, or U.K. number. But Britons won't be able to take advantage of that feature for much longer.
Google Duo's captions for audio and video messages are rolling out
The day when everyone gets real-time call captioning will be a good one
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We aren't at the point yet where every Android phone is able to transcribe voice calls in real time, but what Google is doing with its video chat service Duo is a good first step: the app is now enabling captions for recorded voice and video messages.
Google Duo's auto-framing feature comes to Samsung devices, no longer a Pixel 4 exclusive
Keep yourself center stage during your video calls
Last December, Google released its first feature drop for Pixel devices, kicking off a routine of bringing new capabilities to the phones each quarter. Included in the first drop was something called auto-framing for Google Duo. With auto-framing enabled, you can walk further away from your device, and Duo will zoom in to keep you focused and even follow you around the room so long as you stay within the shot. This feature had always been exclusive to Pixel 4, but it's now available on Samsung's Galaxy S20 range.
Google Duo's new-old feature lets you secretly swing by the toilet during a call
It finally gets its video off button back
Back in November 2019, Google reworked Duo's in-call interface and moved the controls to the bottom, making them more easily accessible on larger screens. Surprisingly, when the change rolled out to all users, the video off toggle vanished from the bottom bar and was nowhere to be found. After being gone for months, Google appears to be gradually bringing it back, letting you turn your camera off during a call.
Google Duo is now available on Android TV, but it only half works
You won't even find it in the launcher yet
At the end of last month, Google announced that Duo would be coming to the slightly bigger screen in "the coming weeks." Sure enough, the video calling app is now available on Android TV — you can install it remotely from Google Play on the web or in the Play Store app on your device itself — but it's not fully functional just yet.
It's been almost a year since Microsoft first teased the Surface Duo, and our review unit just showed up last week. While we can't talk about the software experience quite yet, we can answer one question we have received from several readers: how does the hinge feel?
Google got rid of its obnoxious App Preview Messages
You probably disabled it right away and forgot about it
There may be effective ways to convince people to use an app, but it seems that Google's App Preview Messages were not one of them. The program, which notified Android users when someone is trying to communicate with an app they haven't installed, is officially deprecated, having never left its early access stage in the 4 years it has existed.
We've been using video calls more than ever in the past few months, and probably will continue to for the foreseeable future. It's tough not being able to travel to see your loved ones, but Google is making things a bit easier by announcing beta Android TV support for its Duo video calling service.
Google Duo may eventually be phased out in favor of Google Meet
I want to get off Mr. Google's Wild Ride
Google currently has two video chat services, Duo and Meet. Duo is specifically a calling application, originally intended to be used alongside the now-defunct Allo messaging service, and Meet is a video conferencing utility. However, the two services have started to become more alike over the past few months, and a new report says the services may eventually merge.
Here's why you should use Google Duo for your video calls instead of Zoom
At least Google's got one messaging app figured out
While Zoom may be the defacto video calling and conferencing app of 2020, many of us are probably using it more out of convenience than anything else. And while video calling and conferencing are two distinctly different things—a set time and place call-in meeting versus a often on-the-fly call-out chat—the lines between the two are increasingly blurred with so many of us working from home.
Google Duo has new rainbow-filled AR filters to celebrate LGBTQ pride
When a rainbow's on a filter, you can celebrate pride anytime!
Pride Month is over, but the rainbow arcs over yonder. As such, Google is beginning to roll out some colorful new filters to its video calling app, Duo.
Spotify Premium Duo comes to the US and 54 more markets
The couples plan is now widely available across North America, Europe, and Asia
For couples who live together, the Spotify Family plan has been a good way to save a few pennies on your subscription, but the Premium Duo plan announced last year offered up the chance to save even more. Until now, it's only been available in select countries, but it's just arrived in the US as well as 54 other markets across the globe.