It is now possible to add a description to WhatsApp group on Android.

While all attention is on WhatsApp pledge not to share users' data with Facebook in the European Union, the Facebook subsidiary has quietly published a minor update to its Android app. These new features have been available to beta users for some time and are now making their way to mainstream users.

As I said already, it is a minor feature that will nonetheless make life a tad easier for groups administrators and members alike. WhatsApp added the ability to add a description to a group. This will help users and members quickly know what the topic of the group is. In addition to that, group descriptions are also visible to invitees via the group's link, making it easier to decide whether they want to join or not.

WhatsApp also added the ability to search the list of participants from the group info. To do that, simply tap the 3 vertical dots at the top-right corner of the app and select 'Group Info'. Scroll down to search the list of participants of the group.

The last item in this update is the switch between voice and video calls. WhatsApp makes it easier for users to do the switch with just a tap on the video button while on a call.

That's it for this update. Make sure you update WhatsApp in Google store using the link below.

Download: WhatsApp

CNN for Android now supports Picture-in-Picture video playback.

With Android 8.0 Oreo comes Picture-in-Picture (PIP) mode. Never heard about PIP before? The latest iteration of Android introduces a feature that is kind of a multi-window used for video playback. PIP lets users watch a video on their device while using other apps or browsing the web. The video will pin itself to a corner of the screen, letting users do other stuff on their devices.

PIP is really a nice feature, but unfortunately, not many apps support it right now and that is a bummer considering that Oreo was released a little less than 6 months ago. As of now, only Google Maps and Duo have PIP support baked in. You read that well, only two Google apps support PIP and YouTube is not one of them. Third party’s apps like WhatsApp Beta, VLC and Facebook do integrate PIP when watching videos or making video calls. CNN is the last to join the small club of apps showing PIP love.

The latest update of CNN app for Android does indeed add PIP support when watching videos. As I said above this feature works on devices running Android 8.0 Oreo only and is not enabled by default. To enjoy PIP, it must first be activated in the app settings. Tap the gear icon in the top-right hand corner of the CNN app and tap the toggle next to ‘Enable Picture-in-Picture’. After you’re done, go back to the app and start a video, then press the ‘Home’ button and see the video pin itself to the bottom-right corner of the screen. It’s basically a floating window and should you want to move it to another area of your screen, tap and hold and drag to the location you want.

PIP is a very useful feature, especially to those who like to multitask. Check out the latest update to CNN app for Android in Google Play Store to try PIP.

Dailymotion for Android lets you view vertical videos in full-screen mode.

Last week VidMe closed down citing inability to compete against Google and Facebook. That news made the headlines last week and that leaves users with one less option to choose from. No doubt YouTube remains the most dominant video platform on the market. Then, there’s Dailymotion, a French owned video platform that’s still available should you want to join a less crowded video platform.

Dailymotion was updated today, offering Android users the ability to display vertical videos in full-screen mode. The update also brings some small improvements to account management and an improved playlist management that lets you “re-order the videos.”

If you’re a user of Dailymotion on Android, make sure you download the update in Google Play Store. If, on the other hand, you want to experience something other than YouTube, Dailymotion is the way to go.

WhatsApp announces real-time Live Location sharing coming to Android and iOS.

Recently I blogged about Telegram bringing live location sharing to Android and today WhatsApp on Android and iOS is following suit with the gradual roll out of the same feature. Once the update reaches users’ devices, they will be able to share their location in real time. WhatsApp posted about this: “Whether you’re meeting up with friends, letting loved ones know you’re safe, or sharing your commute, Live Location is a simple and secure way to let people know you are safe.”

And this new feature is fully encrypted, keeping it hidden from prying eyes. Like Telegram’s implementation, WhatsApp users will be able to stop the sharing at any time or “let the Live Location sharing timer simply expire.” The blog post does not give any details about the default time the sharing stops and I haven’t got the update on my phone yet to verify this.

Live Location sharing works for one person and groups. According to the blog post, users can do this by tapping “"Location" in the attach button, there's a new option to "Share Live Location." Choose for how long you want to share and tap send. Each person in the chat will be able to see your real-time location on a map. And if more than one person shares their Live Location in the group, all locations will be visible on the same map.”

As I said above, the update hasn’t reach my device yet and WhatsApp said that the update will be rolling out in the coming weeks. Check it out on Google Play Store.

Source: WhatsApp

Google launched Allo for desktop today and it's not perfect.

Some tech companies just don't get the concept of what a desktop app is and how with the Cloud, apps on mobile, the web, desktop can all work together. At least Facebook's WhatsApp and Google still don't get it. The latter just brought its Allo messaging app to the desktop via the Chrome browser. Don't try with Microsoft Edge, it won't work and Google will invite you to download Chrome - no surprises here. If you've used WhatsApp desktop before, the concept is the same and just head to Allo website and scan the QR code to get started. Otherwise keep reading on.

After you've updated and started Google Allo on your Android device, launch Chrome on your computer and go to g.co/alloforweb. The site will display a QR code. Open Allo on your phone and tap the three horizontal bars - also known as hamburger menu - at the top left hand of the app and tap "Allo for web" > Scan QR Code. From there just point your phone to the QR code on your computer screen and Chrome will load all your Allo messages. Put your phone away and start messaging your contacts. A little hiccup though: Your phone must remain online for Allo Desktop to work. Otherwise you get a message in your browser that your phone is unreachable. 

That's it. Google Allo now works on your desktop. It's not perfect and I can't believe it took Google so long to come up with this.

Download Google Allo in the Play Store.

Opera Max introduces new mobile data savings feature for Facebook.

Mobile data costs money and, unfortunately, some apps on our phones do not quite play nice when it comes to using data appropriately and Facebook is one of those apps that is a resource hog. Fully aware of that, Opera Max, a data savings tool made by the same company that built the Opera browser, is today introducing a new feature aimed at helping users save data when accessing the social network on their Android device.

In order to take advantage of this new data savings for Facebook, users will have to sign in to Facebook within Opera Max itself, a requirement that may make many uncomfortable with. In the event you're inclined to do so, tap the hamburger menu at the top left of the app or swipe from the left and select "Savings for Facebook", enter your credentials and you're done. The app will use a built-in browser to access Facebook mobile site.  Opera Max will also give you information on the data you saved. For that, tap the three vertical dots at the top right of the screen. This menu also give users control on quality of images, videos and music compression etc. 

If yu are on a limited data plan and a frequent Facebook user, give Opera Max a go. But if you feel uncomfortable signing in to Facebook through a third party app, you may as well use Facebook Lite for Android made by the social network giant.

Download Opera Max in Google Play Store.

Facebook releases Messenger Lite in over 130 countries.

Today Facebook is making Messenger lite app available to more that 130 countries. Facebook Messenger, along with the Facebook app, have long been criticized for being resource hogs on Android devices. In response, Facebook has made Facebook Lite and Messenger Lite available for devices with limited processing power.

The new Facebook Messenger Lite does not all the bells and whistles of the original Messenger app. For example, phone and video calls are missing. In addition, the app will keep you connected should you be in an area where data coverage is poor. Facebook Messenger Lite is pretty much a simple messenger app that's been designed to quickly send a message to your families and friends on any Android phone you have without the frustration you can sometimes experience with its full featured bigger brother.

Facebook did not post a list of countries where they made Messenger Lite available, so just go to Google Play Store and you should see it if it is. Otherwise, you can still search the web for the APK. 

Opera Mini browser beta adds a Facebook notification bar to Android's notification tray for easy access.

Opera is testing a new feature in its Opera Mini browser beta on Android with the addition of a Facebook notification bar which will give users quick access to the social network. The bar will appear in the notification tray and as can been in the screen capture will allow users directly access Facebook notifications, timeline or messenger without launching the Facebook app. Opera Mini main selling point is the builtin data saving feature while browsing the web and knowing that Facebook puts a lot of pressure on mobile data usage, the Opera's Facebook notification bar maybe a boon for serious Facebook users.

Facebook notification bar is not activated by default after installation. To enable it, tap the Opera icon in the bottom right corner and tap the gear icon to open Settings. Scroll to notifications and toggle the Notification bar for easy access to Facebook. If it's not already the case, Opera will ask for your Facebook credentials. 

Opera also added a media control panel  and a new one-hand friendly video player in this update, which you can download in the Google Play Store. No signup is required, just download the app from the store to test new features before they reach the public channel. 

Opera browser supports Facebook and Google sign in for syncing bookmarks, tabs and history.

Modern browsers allow users to sync their data to the cloud and easily restore them after reinstalling the browser. For that to work, Opera required users to create a Opera account in the settings of the browser. In the update published today, Opera no longer requires a Opera account to take advantage of that feature. Users will be able to sign in with their Facebook or Google account to sync their bookmarks, tabs and history. Opera states that "Facebook and Google is only used for authentication and simplifying the sign in process. No actual sync data is shared with the social accounts."  If that is not clear enough, say you're accessing your Gmail inbox within Opera, you will still be required to enter your Google password.

Support for Facebook and Google sign in is more widespread than a Opera account and that also means one less password for users to remember.

Check out Opera Browser for free in Google Play Store.

Vine for Android lets you share channels and profiles with followers on different social networks.

The last time I blogged about Vine was on its release and now that video apps/functions are seeing a rise in popularity these days, it's an opportunity to write about Vine's latest update. As a quick note, most social networks now let their users use videos to broadcast themselves live for the world to see. Facebook, Instagram and even Snapchat have recently added videos to their service. But if memory serves me well, Twitter was the first to bring a standalone app in the form of Vine. I have no statistics to share about its popularity, but given Twitter's trouble with attracting new users, I doubt Vine is the ultimate video app out there.

Today, Twitter updated the app so users can share their favorite profiles and channels with their followers on Vine itself and added support for sharing to Facebook, Tumblr and, of course, Twitter. If you are a Vine user, head over to Google Play Store and get the update. If you happen to be an absolute fan of Vine, they have a beta channel to which you can signup to test new features before they get released to the official app. You can signup here and help make the app better.

Group post by topic with Google+ Collections.

Google+ is the place I go to for my daily tech news consumption and this is the place people who share my passion hangout too, away from the noisy facebookers crowd. Google+ may not enjoy the popularity Facebook enjoys, but it remains the favorite network for techies. Despite what's been said about it, Google is not pulling the plug on its social network and keeps updating the app for Android devices.

An update appeared on my Nexus 7 yesterday with a much of new features and enhancements. The most notable new feature is Collections which allows "pluses" - had to find a name for Google+ members - to group posts by topic.

The other new features are:

• GIF images now load much faster.
• Updtaed post designs.
• Performance improvements and bug fixes.

Visit Google Play store to download the update or join Google+.

Facebook Messenger 5.0 makes it easier to send photos and videos (slowly killing Whatsapp in the process?).

This year Facebook spent $19 billion to acquire Whatsapp, a competing messaging app. The reason behind this insane price is still a matter of debate and the one idea that seems to make everyone agree is that Facebook strategy for acquiring Whatsapp was to take it off the market, thus beyond Google's or any other competitor's reach. Google was reportedly also eyeing the messaging platform and made a bid far inferior to Facebook offer. Now Whatsapp is operating as an independent entity within Facebook. The latter has been working hard to improve it's own messaging platform since the acquisition. Today Facebook released version 5.0 of Facebook Messenger.

The new version carries a lot of improvement. It is now easier to send photos and videos within the app. A new row has been added  that makes it a breeze to do such things as adding a sticker, upload photos etc. It is also possible to upload videos and watch them directly within Messenger. One might argue that these features are already present on competing messaging platform and that's true. Even if this upgrade is nothing new, it does make it easier, more user friendly.

I believe Facebook is positioning its messaging platform as a strong contender in countries where Facebook is the number one social network. I personally use Facebook Messenger more than Whatsapp. It is not a matter of I-like-it-more than Whatsapp or other messaging app. The reason is I do not have much choice. There is no arguing with the fact that most of the people I know use Facebook Messenger. So I'm not as active as I used to be on Whatsapp anymore. What about you? Do you think Facebook Messenger is killing off Whatsapp?

Checkout the Facebook Messenger 5.0 change log:

More ways to message: Now it's easier to send photos, voice messages and more

Video: Send videos from your gallery and play them right in the app. (Works on Android 4.3 and up. We'll continue to improve video and bring it to more phones.)

Instant photo sharing: Take a photo and send it in just one tap.

Stickers shortcuts: When someone sends you a sticker, press and hold down on it to get the pack.

Faster search: Just enter the names of people and groups

 

Download: Facebook Messenger

 

 

Facebook app for Android gets new photo features.

Let it not be said that Facebook is not working hard to bring more features to its mobile app. In an update released today, Facebook added some features for users to manipulate photos in the mobile app; features that would have otherwise required users to switch to the desktop version of the site. As from now on, Facebook users will be able to add photos into comments, delete and edit photo albums, untag themselves in photos and upload multiple photos at a time in groups. 

Users who manage Facebook groups have not been forgotten as they will be able to pin and unpin posts, and review pending and reported posts. 

The update can be downloaded from Google Play Store.

Google+: One search box to find them all.

Google social network  is getting popular each day. Even if it is lagging behind Facebook, Google is determinded to keep the pressure on Zuckerburg's baby. The thing is, I'm not sure the world needs and wants another social network. No matter if Google catches up with Facebook, it seems that people are just not excited anymore with social networks.

Google's Google+ has been updated today. The Maountain View social network made it's search box capable of handling searches for posts, people, photos etc. Another feature allows users to "explore specific topics from the What’s Hot stream". I don't know what this feature does or if it was even builtin into Google+.

What's New

- A single search box for posts, people, photos, and communities

- Explore specific topics from the What’s Hot stream

- Additional bug fixes and performance improvements

Source: Google Play Store

Facebook for Android lets you search for hashtags; updates Home.

It's the beginning of a new year and I'm fortunate that Santa brought me a Nexus 7, my very first Android tablet. I must say I'm loving it so far. The screen is absolutely gorgeous and playing Asphalt 8 on it is amazing; especially when compared to the experience on my old Galaxy Nexus. What did you get for Christmas? That said, let's get to the subject of this post.

 

Facebook has updated their Android app today with the ability to search for hashtags within your timeline and newsfeed. You can also tap them to keep tabs on what other people are saying about a topic. A feature that, well, is not really new if you use more than one social network. Which is pretty much the case for almost anyone these days. But it's good to see Facebook play catchup.

This update also includes new permissions and I recommend you check them out by visiting Facebook help center: https://www.facebook.com/help/210676372433246

Remember Facebook Home? Yeah that piece of launcher that Facebook launched last year to bring your social life front and center on your mobile phone. Besides myself experimenting with it, I have yet to see someone using it. Just to say that Home has not been a success. Facebook is not ready to admit defeat and included some new features for Home in the update.

If you use Home, here's what's new:

- Swipe down to unlock

- View the time, weather and notifications on your lock screen

- Swipe to browse photos and posts on your lock screen

- Pick from new photo categories to customize your wallpaper

 

The update is available for download on Google Play Store.

InstaWeather introduces InstaWeather Friends.

InstaWeather is an app that lets you share the weather at your location as an overlay added to your photos. Simply snap a picture with your phone and InstaWeather adds your location, temperature and weather stickers that you can then share to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

In an update published today, InstaWeather version 3.0 introduces InstaWeather Friends which lets you see the weather at your friends location. For that to work, all that is needed is a connection established between InstaWeather and Facebook. No need to manually enter your friends location in another app to get that info.

InstaWeather is available in two versions: The free ad-supported one and paid ad-free Pro ($1.94) version.

Facebook Messenger gets animated stickers in messages.

Heavy users of Facebook Messenger will most likely like this new feature that some stickers are now animated in messages. Besides this fancy addition, the app supports more languages: Croatian, Hungarian and Slovakian. Add to that the usual bug fixes and you get an update that is available for download from the Play Store.

What's New

2.7.1

- Some stickers are now animated in messages—see Pusheen, Beast and Anooki wave, dance and wiggle! (Android 4.0.2 and higher)

- Plus, the app is available in more languages: Croatian, Hungarian and Slovakian

- Bug fixes for reliability

Vine for Android released.

Android users have been blessed today with the release of Vine, the Twitter-owned service that lets users post short videos to social networks is now available free in Google Play Store. First released for Apple's iOS, Vine lets users create 6 seconds long videos. The app is already popular on iOS and is almost guaranteed to get an overwhelming success on Android. My assumption is based on Instagram success on which Vine seems to take its inspiration from. If you are an amateur of short videos, Vine will fit your needs.
Vine is free for download on Google Play Store.

Angry Birds Friends released, gets social and competitive.

Yes this is another release of Angry Birds by Rovio. Sounds like the Franchise is still a cash cow. While the game itself hasn't changed much, Rovio has made the game more social. Players will be able to challenge their friends on Facebook and automatically update their scores. 

Features:
- Tournaments with new levels every week!
- Challenge your Facebook friends for bronze, silver, and gold trophies!
- Brag, send gifts, and invite your Facebook friends to play!
- Four classic power-ups, plus one exclusive to Angry Birds Friends on mobile!
- Daily rewards!
- Free bird-coins just for completing the tutorial!
- Syncs automatically with your game on Facebook!

Angry Birds Friends is free in the Play Store.

Circle gets updated with LinkedIn support and bug fixes.

Circle is described by its developers as the local social network. No it's not yet another social network but simply an app that uses your location to let you see your Facebook friends who happen to be in your neighborhood and interact with them and, eventually, meet up for a beer. A cool app to use in your city or when visiting another one. 

Check out the change log:

-- Ability to log-in with LinkedIn!
-- Many bug fixes
-- New visuals on many screens
-- Faster and better way of getting your location

Source: Google Play Store.