Apps

Facebook Messenger’s new interface makes it simple again

Too many features in a single app

Published

May 3, 2018

Daniel Morial

Facebook Messenger in light and dark mode | Image from The Verge

Yesterday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that they’re adding something new to Facebook which is a feature focused on dating. The social media giant simply won’t stop introducing new features to keep users online, but Messenger is having the opposite experience.

Facebook is giving its messaging app a design overhaul with a promise to make it simpler and cleaner. Basically, it’s going to be a straightforward messaging app like it was before, back to the days when it didn’t have exorbitant features like games.

Facebook Messenger’s new interface with colorful chatboxes | Image from The Verge

The redesign, at least for the iOS version, will transform Messenger to an uncomplicated messaging app like before. The changes we were able to see at the keynote includes a simplified bottom navigation bar to quickly jump to your messages and contacts. Icons for the camera and video chat remain present, but they are now at the upper-right corner of the app.

Those with phones with OLED displays will be happy to know that the refreshed app will have a dark mode.

“When you’re messaging, you really want a simple and fast experience” — Mark Zuckerberg

Zuckerberg puts emphasis on having a “clean” and “fast” Messenger in the coming months once the redesign becomes available to every user. David Marcus, Vice President for Messenger, said that the refreshed app is coming very soon.

Via: The Verge

Related Topics:Facebook Facebook Messenger

Apps

Top iOS 15 Features to look out for

FaceTime for Android, anyone?

Published

June 16, 2021

GadgetMatch

The next version of iOS rolls out this fall. There are new features such as FaceTime for Android, new Memojis, rebranded Safari and Messages app, personal identification card compatibility for Wallet, and more.

But in this video, we rounded up our Top 10 iOS 15 Features you should look out for.

Watch the whole video by clicking here.

Apps

Voilà AI Artist turns your selfies into 3D cartoons, caricatures

And many more artistic renditions!

Published

June 14, 2021

MJ Jucutan

From FaceApp to Zepeto, plenty of avatars from these apps proliferated social media platforms. Most recently, the Internet went crazy with cute avatars once more. You probably noticed how people have been posting a 3D cartoon version of themselves, akin to a Disney character. It’s all thanks to Voilà AI Artist — a photo-editing app using artificial intelligence to turn your photos into artistic renditions.

Get yourself painted as a Renaissance painting.

Have your selfies transformed into a 3D cartoon from an animated movie.

Turn your photos into a 2D cartoon…

… or even have your face drawn as a caricature.

Voilà AI Artist is developed by WeImagine.AI., a Canada-based team of creators and developers. The app is free to download on the App Store and Google Play Store. If you’re concerned about the app’s privacy policy, read it here.

Apps

The US revokes Trump’s executive order that banned TikTok

A level-playing field for everyone

Published

June 10, 2021

Shivam Vahia

President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Wednesday that sets criteria for the government to evaluate the risk of apps connected to foreign adversaries. It’s specifically meant for apps like TikTok and WeChat, which President Trump banned.

It should use an “evidence-based approach” to see if they pose a risk to US national security, said Biden. If apps are found violating fundamental laws, a ban can be imposed. The task of identifying threats has been given to the US Commerce Department.

Trump’s executive order particularly targeted TikTok and WeChat. Instead, Biden is opting for a level-playing field for everyone. Biden shares the same concerns as Trump, but their approach is vastly different.

Under the previous administration, TikTok remained in a precarious position as Trump sought to ban the app unless it sold to an American company. A proposal was produced that would have seen Oracle and Walmart owning a US entity of the service and taking responsibility for handling TikTok’s US user data and content moderation.

But there were numerous legal challenges, and before they could be ironed out, Trump lost the election. The Biden administration’s new executive order does not affect those negotiations, which are a separate process. The order also calls upon federal agencies to develop recommendations – for future executive actions or legislation — on how to protect the data of US citizens.