Google Allo v2.0 rolling out with multi-window support, direct reply from notifications

Google Allo, Google’s new smart messaging app, is getting an update to version 2.0 today.

The biggest new feature in this update is support for multi-window mode for folks who are running Android 7.0 Nougat and above. With Allo v2.0, users will be able to chat in one window while also working with another app on the same screen. It was quite odd that Allo launched without this functionality, but we’re happy it’s here now.

Also new in this update is support for Direct Replies from the notification shade, which was also a feature first introduced in Android 7. Now when you receive an Allo message, you can simply swipe down on the notification, hit reply, and you’ll be able to send a message without having to jump into the app.

All in all, this seems to be a pretty handy update for Google Allo, especially if you are using Android 7.0 or 7.1. No, it doesn’t come with SMS support, a desktop client, or any other major new features we’ve all been asking for, but we have to start somewhere, right? Keep in mind that this update has just started rolling out so it may take a little while to reach your phone.

What do you think of these improvements? Will the addition of multitasking make you use the app more? Let us know your thoughts and impressions in the comments.