Android Messages app gets dark theme; Messages Web gets GIF search and more stickers.

SMS is here to stay and no WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger will ever change that. That's the reason Google keeps updating Android's official app for texting and chat. Android Messages was recently updated with web support, allowing users to send and reply to messages on their computers without having to pick up their phones. A very handy feature that Google is improving furthermore with the last update. 

Android Messages is getting a new look. Not that Google entirely redesigned the app; it pretty much looks the same. But they added a dark theme and if you've been following Android news lately, dark theme is making the headlines as Google kind-of working, not to say struggling, at bringing a dark theme to Android. 

In addition to dark theme, Google is also giving some love to Messages web with the ability to search GIF and stickers. A great addition if you're fans of those.

Of course, this update includes the usual anonymous bug fixes and performance improvements. Android Messages is available for download in Google Play Store.

Telegram 4.8.5 introduces sticker suggestions and search.

Version 4.8.5 of Telegram for Android is out and the app now makes it easier to discover new stickers. Of all the messaging app I use, none give so much importance to stickers as Telegram does. Except for this time, they are not the one leading the pack. If my memory serves me well, I first experienced emoji and stickers search in Gboard, Google's excellent keyboard app. For the stickers aficionados, Telegram version 4.8.5 brings Sticker suggestions and search.

The other feature in this update is about 'multi-shot sending'. I haven't had time to give this one a shot, but this is how Telegram describes it: "Need a couple of extra selfies to maximize dramatic effect? Dog can't stop doing adorable tricks? Not a problem. Use the new + button when taking a photo to take and send multiple media one after another." So much for Telegram's latest update for Android.

Make sure you grab the update in Google Play Store.

Telegram 4.3 adds the '@' badge for users to never miss messages in the chat list and more.

Earlier this year, Telegram allowed its users to create groups with up to 10,000 members from 200 initially. Tracking messages in a large group can be quite tedious and irritating. Telegram is adding a new feature today that will let users easily keep track of mentions and replies thanks to a ‘@’ badge in their chat list. The badge will disappear after they’ve read the messages.

This update contains a bunch of other features. Telegram allows users to create and upload stickers into the app and this update will let users who uploaded 5 or more stickers will be able to add individual stickers to their favorites, making them easily accessible at the top of the sticker panel in the ‘star section’.

Telegram is also introducing stickers for groups. “…large groups with 100 members and more can now choose an official sticker set for all the members of the group to see and use while they’re chatting in the group without the need of adding it to their panels.”

The ‘Invite Friends’ feature has been revamped. Basically, invitees with contacts in Telegram will appear at the top of your list.

And there’s more:
• Twitch videos are now supported in the Telegram in-app player, so you can watch Twitch streams in Picture-in-Picture mode while chatting with your friends.
• When on a Telegram voice call, you can now check the signal strength thanks to the new indicator.
• On iOS, you can edit any photo you pasted directly to a chat from clipboard before sending.
• On Android, when forwarding a message, you can long tap to select multiple recipients.
• On Android, when viewing photos in Shared Media, you can go to the place in chat where the photo was posted.
• On Android, if you have many new messages in many active chats, synchronization will happen much, much faster.

If you’re a Telegram user, make sure you download version 4.3 in Google Play Store.

Customize your Home and Work addresses in Google Maps with stickers.

Who has never dreamed of owning and living on board a pirate ship, a castle, a Clark Kent-like farm house? While your dream might not ever materiliazed, Google will help with the addition of a bunch of colorful stickers in Google Maps to represent your home and work. Unfortunately, it is not possible to use the stickers for anything else, like using a pizza sticker for your favorite pizza restaurant or even having Maps automatically applying a sticker based on the places you visit. Now, if the app does that that, we'll end up with Maps buried under a sticker layer.

Google also added a new tab to Maps for taxi hailing services for users to compare pickup times and prices of the various taxi service companies before you make your choice.

Check out the full change log below before heading to Google Play store to update Google Maps.

• New dedicated ride services tab. Compare pickup times and prices of Uber, 99Taxis, Ola Cabs, Hailo, MyTaxi and Gett.

• Give your home and work a personalized look with new customized icons.

• See how much you’ve walked or how far you’ve driven in your timeline