lo update brings chat backups, incognito mode for groups, link previews

BY GreenBot Staff

Published 3 May 2017

Update, 5/3/17: is beginning to roll out the new version of lo, which will include chat backups, group incognito mode, link previews.

en lo 9.0 arrived earlier this month, there wasn’t much to talk about. Aside from bug fixes performance improvements, the update brought nary a new sticker pack to play with. But according to a tweet by lo chief Amit Fulay, a new update rolling out to users will bring some interesting features.

Backups have been a major issue with ‘s messaging clients, but the new version of lo takes a major step toward changing that. According to Fulay, the update brings support for chat backups restores, a feature 9to5 previously found in a deep dive into the A. esumably the feature will allow you to back up your chats to Drive, which can then be synced to a new phone, along with any images videos. is also exping incognito to include group chats link preview, which will give you a snapshot of what’s inside a URbefore you click on it.

Furthermore, 9to5 has taken a deep look at the A found some interesting features in the works. Most importantly, seems to be nearing the formal release of the lo web client. A feature we first heard about from ’s Vof Communications oduct Fox, it appears as though it will function similar to the way atsApp’s does, requiring a specific code scan to authenticate. 9to5 was able to enable the feature, which prompted to scan a QR code or text code to pair with the desktop.

ile the site obviously couldn’t get beyond the pairing screen, it does suggest that is fairly far along in the development of the lo desktop. In his teaser tweet back in February, Fox said the lo desktop client was “still in early development,” but this discovery might mean its release is closer than we think.

Something to talk about: ’ve been trying to figure out ’s messaging strategy for as long as we’ve been using Android phones, but at least the lo picture is starting to become a little clearer. at isn’t clear is where the app fits. recently started a push to make Android Messages the default on all Android phones, so lo is presumably still playing second fiddle in its overall strategy. But with I/O right around the corner, perhaps will shed a little more light on it.