While there is still no word on a release date, it appears that Google is plugging away at the upcoming chat and video apps, Allo and Duo, by updating their icons with a Material Design look.
Hit the break to see the new icons.
The new icons, as you can see above, replace the last icon refresh by removing the text and instead using simple shapes to illustrate what the app is. This is certainly a nice change from the simple text icons that were never terribly appealing and didn't fit in with the rest of Google's products. Allo's new icon is a simple letter “a” that doubles as a chat bubble and Duo is rocking a basic video camera shape. Both also now have the “layered paper” appearance that Material Design guidelines suggest app developers follow.
So yes, an official release date for these apps would be nice, but changes such as these as well as the looming release of Android 7.0 Nougat hint that we will not have to wait much longer.
Allo and Duo are Google's latest attempt to shake up the messaging and video chat world. Both apps with be on Android as well as iOS and during their announcement during the Google I/O 2016 keynote it was said they would be released “this summer.” Allo will be one of the first products to show off the new Google Assistant, as well as include common messaging features such as custom stickers, full-bleed images, and an incognito mode with end-to-end encryption. Duo will be a direct competitor to Apple's FaceTime video chat app and will include smart video quality adjustments depending on network strength and a “knock knock” feature that shows a live video of the caller before you even answer.
What do you think of the new Material Design for these icons? We will be on the lookout for any more updates and hopefully Allo and Duo themselves will materialize soon.
Source: Android Police
They look nice…please keep me informed.
Will do! That’s our job. ;-)