There’s another update for Google’s chat app Allo again. This time around is the addition of in-chat translations for every users and adaptive icon support for those running Android 8.0 Oreo.
What it entails and how it works
The translation feature is quite easy to use. All you need to do the moment you finish updating your app, is
- To long-press a message and the Google Translate icon will pop up at the top of your screen.
- Tap the icon and the message will be automatically translated.
- To hide the translation, long press the message bubble again and tap “Undo.”
An interesting side of it is that the translation function is available in group chats only, and not in one-on-one conversations, according to Android Police.
Another latest key feature included in this Allo update is a form of adaptive icon support on devices running the version of Android. Android normally lacks any rigorous rules about the size and shape of app icons, and this still continues in Oreo. However, the latest version of the Android OS introduced a bunch of “masks”, or styles, that grants users the freedom to transform all the icons on their devices into one of four different shapes – square, rounded square, squircle, or teardrop – which does give Android an all-around more uniform look.
Further, Adaptive Icons actually represent a new standard for making icons on Android, which should make it much easier for developers to design icons that can look good and adapt to various different shapes. Allo’s icon is now optimised to work within different shapes.
