Distance isn’t what ends relationships; it’s the lack of communication that does. At present, communication is no longer an issue to those separated by significant distances what with the many tools made available to man. In this generation of smartphones and blazing-fast internet connections, getting in touch with someone only takes a few taps and swipes on the screen.
Topping the list of effective communication tools is video calling. This service brings you “closer” to your loved one by tying together the functions of the phone camera and the receiver over a network connection. All these allow you see to the person you’re talking to in real time. It’s the next best thing to having face-to-face conversations. But as with anything, video calling still has its flaws. One persistent issue is unstable network connection–in the context that our country ranks low in the internet speed department—making video calls choppy especially when on mobile data. You also have to push past user-interface complicacies before you can make a call. Google resolves the hitches that come with video calling in the simple and easy-to-use app, Duo.
Launched just a couple of months ago, Google Duo is a one-to-one video calling app that comes free of complexities associated with the service. The app was made to address the low expectations on video calling on mobile.
Uncomplicated interface
Google Duo offers a hassle-free experience from start up to making calls. If you’re part of the majority fed up with sign ups, you’ll be glad to know that to start using Google Duo, all you need is your phone number. As soon as your number is verified, you can begin reaching out to people in your phone’s contact list; just make sure they are on Google Duo too.
The interface is straightforward and offers a single function: video calling. When you tap open the app, the front camera gets activated and you’ll be greeted with your face. On the bottom part of the screen is a section that houses the video call button along with your recent contacts. The upper right part is where the options icon is located. Visually, that’s it. This design directs your focus on the person you’re calling rather than on distracting elements.
Fast and reliable video calling
Choppy and lag-filled calls are notorious moment spoilers. The time meant for getting in touch with loved ones often go to failed attempts to connect and frozen audio and images. Google aims to take away these frustrations by crafting Google Duo to be fast and reliable. Whether connected via Wi-Fi or on the go, users can enjoy the benefits of lag-free video calls no matter the bandwidth.
Thanks to Google Duo’s structure, users are able to connect quickly with call quality automatically adjusting to changing network conditions so there’s no such thing as ‘dropped calls’. The app seamlessly reduces the resolution and intelligently switches to cellular data when the Wi-Fi’s no longer in range to keep the call going smoothly wherever, as long as there’s an internet connection.
Knock Knock
The highlight of this app is its Knock Knock feature. This lets you see what the person on the other end is doing live before you choose to receive the call, which sets the tone of the conversation. This also eliminates receiving unintentional calls as you can tell right away if it’s a person’s pocket reaching out to you. If you
don’t like the idea of the receiving end seeing you beforehand, there’s an option to disable the feature.
Google Duo is available across the iOS and Android platforms for free. There isn’t a web/desktop version for the app yet nor has Google announced such a version in the works as the target is clearly the mobile sector. All in all, Google Duo is a video call service we’d recommend. Its bare bones and clear-cut structure makes it easier to connect with who matters to you most.
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE February 2017 issue
Word by Mia Carisse Barrientos