Google has announced the timeline for discontinuing the last remnants of its Duo app, which was merged into Meet in 2022. Initially, some features from Duo remained available under the “Legacy (Duo) calling” mode within Meet, catering to users who preferred the old functionalities. However, this support will officially be terminated in September.
For long-time users of Google’s communication services, the company is notorious for its frequent restructuring. Over the years, Google has introduced new services, rebranded existing ones, and occasionally phased out products completely. The merging of Meet and Duo was part of this ongoing evolution.
Unfortunately, with this merger, many Duo functionalities were lost, leaving users with a more limited set of features under Meet. Those who were relying on the legacy support will face the removal of several Duo features, including Family Mode, Knock Knock, Moments (with the alternative being on-device screenshots), Mirror mode, and Low light mode. Users will also lose the Data-saving mode, which has its counterpart in Meet’s saver mode.
Despite the loss of these features, it’s essential to note that Meet has been at the forefront of Google’s development efforts and provides a modern and feature-rich calling experience. This includes advantages like cloud encryption and live captions that many users would likely prefer. An unexpected consequence of this transition may affect how Google’s smart displays, such as the Nest Hub Max, handle video calls.
As these devices currently support only legacy calls, it raises concerns about their functionality once legacy support ends. Updates regarding the exact timing of this transition will likely emerge in the months leading up to September.
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