Facebook Messenger video calling is now available globally
Facebook introduced free video calling within its Messenger app back in April, though at the time it was only supported in select countries including the U.S., U.K., Canada, and a few others. The good news is that this changes today, as Facebook has now rolled out global access to the feature!
According to Facebook, there’s still a few countries where the feature isn’t live yet, but even these areas should see the feature “soon”, with Facebook working to improve video quality in these few remaining markets. Once you have the latest version of the app installed, you will simply need to tap the video camera icon on any open Messenger conversation to instantly connect with family and friends.
Facebook has been pushing hard to make Messenger a worthy alternative to other established messaging apps and services out there, and the addition of video calling in all regions certainly will help with this effort. You’ll want to head on over to Google Play to grab the latest app update!
Facebook Messenger video calls nearly a global feature
Remember when Facebook introduced video calling to its Messenger app back in late April? Well, the social networking company is saying that the feature is almost rolled out throughout the globe.
While most countries have access to it, Facebook hasn’t released it in some nations, as they’re trying to improve the video quality for those areas. This is likely because of the speed of mobile networks in those countries.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Facebook’s goal is to make video calling a seamless experience, even when users aren’t over Wi-Fi. That said, in some countries, video calling is going to take quite a bit of optimizing before its available entirely.
Either way, this is a big step for Facebook, considering that its Messenger app started out in only 18 countries. If you haven’t downloaded Messenger yet, it’s available for free on Android and iOS.
source: Facebook
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Facebook Messenger’s video calling lands in (almost) every country
Facebook Messenger’s video calling feature is now available in more locations — almost everywhere, according to David Marcus, “with the exception of a few countries.” Marcus, the social network’s Vice President of Messaging Products, announced the development as a status update. He didn’t exactly list the newly supported countries, but he revealed in the comments that the company “would love to offer the service in UAE, but operators are blocking it.” We can say for sure that video calling hasn’t arrived in the Philippines yet, and according to commenters on Marcus’ page, it’s also still not available in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Folks in countries included in this update can take advantage of the feature on both iOS and Android, as well on messenger.com.
Filed under: Misc, Mobile, Facebook
Via: VentureBeat
Source: Facebook
Google plans to play nice with Facebook and Twitter on photos
According to Bloomberg Business, Google could soon be separating its web based photo sharing and storage service from the existing Google+ platform and offering it as a standalone. Bloomberg cites Googlers close to the project who say that the announcement could come during the upcoming Google I/O developers conference later this month. Reportedly photos stored with the new service can be posted to both Twitter and Facebook with a fraction of the hassle it takes to do so currently. These rumors have been a long time coming. Bloomberg reported a similar plan early last year and Google Senior Vice President Sundar Pichai was quoted in March stating that photos and social would be operated separately.
Source: Bloomberg Business
Instagram’s Layout collage app comes to Android
You no longer have to use an iPhone to get creative with Layout, Instagram’s collage app — it’s now available for Android. As before, the software lets you cram up to nine photos into a single image, with options to shuffle and flip pictures if you’re aiming for a particular effect. It’ll automatically detect faces to help you find your friends, and you don’t need an Instagram account to sign up or share pictures. You will get an extra perk if you do use Facebook’s square photo app, though. Android-based Instagram users (iOS is coming soon) are getting Structure, an editing tool that emphasizes details and textures in your shots. However artistic you are, you’ll definitely want to swing by Google Play.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Facebook
Source: Google Play
Will Facebook allow businesses to advertise to users through WhatsApp?
Remember when Facebook acquired WhatsApp? The social networking company says they’re considering allowing businesses to contact users through the messaging service.
Facebook has already been testing a business-to-consumer interaction service, where marketers would have to pay for those interactions. But, it’s possible that WhatsApp could use some of those features. However, Facebook would probably have to let consumers turn that off on their side of the app, as the social networking company could quickly lose a lot of users in doing that.
“We think that enabling that B2C messaging has good business potential for us,” David Wehner, Facebook’s chief financial officer, said yesterday. “As we learn those things, I think there’s going to be opportunities to bring some of those things to WhatsApp, but that’s more longer-term than the near-term.”
It’s not a service Facebook is going to be integrating right away. But, it’s certainly an idea they’re throwing around in the planning stages. Aside from the e-commerce and games Facebook has added to WhatsApp, it’d bring the company an excellent revenue stream, which is something Facebook hasn’t been able to do with WhatsApp just yet.
What do you think of business-to-consumer messaging in apps like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp? Would that just frustrate you? Let us know in the comments.
source: Bloomberg
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Oculus names VR Jam finalists, and here are some of them
Oculus VR’s apps and games contest for the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition is in full swing. The 2015 Mobile VR Jam contest received quite a number of interesting submissions, including a game that puts you in the POV of a bullet, one that wants you to fight blind, and another that lets you text and drive without putting real people in danger. Alas, the company has no choice but to narrow the entries down to 61 finalists for the competition, 37 of which are games and 24 are apps or experiences for the virtual reality headset. Before any of them wins part of the $1 million prize pool, though, a panel of ten judges will examine them further in the next few days until they come up with a list of winners for June 3rd. You can browse through a select few of the finalists below (in addition to the ones we listed above, all of which made the cut), but you can also look at the full list on the contest website.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Samsung, Facebook
Source: Oculus Mobile VR Jam 2015
Facebook wants to put games in Messenger after all
Contrary to previous reports, it appears Facebook is still toying with the idea of featuring games in Messenger. According to The Information, the social network plans to strengthen its instant messaging platform by adding games, as it looks to find a fresh, more lucrative source of revenue. Facebook’s already said to be working with developers to roll this out; Ilya Sukhar, an executive leading the project, confirmed the talks to the news outlet, though he didn’t specify when we could see the changes take place. While you wait for that to happen, keep enjoying your GIFs, emojis and all the other tidbits Facebook’s chat ecosystem has to offer at the moment.
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Software, Mobile, Facebook
Source: The Information
Facebook Messenger games coming to platform soon
Fans of games on Facebook will likely be interested in knowing that fun times could be coming to the Messenger app that Facebook makes available for users. Since the launch of Messenger, third party apps have mostly been limited to those that enhance the communication aspects of the platform, giving users things like emojis, the ability to send sound clips, gif support and similar functions. Reports indicate uptake has been slow for these apps, so Facebook is planning to start pushing for games to expand to the platform in hopes of giving developers something a little “stickier” and with higher revenue potential.
Facebook executive Ilya Sukhar has confirmed the social media giant has been in discussion with game developers about the Messenger platform. However, no timelines have been set for the introduction of games on Messenger. Outside of games, Facebook and its developer community will likely look to other types of apps to continue to try to expand the ecosystem and create new revenue generation opportunities.
source: The Information
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Recommended Reading: The making of a self-driving semitruck
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you’ll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read.
How Daimler Built the World’s First Self-driving Semi
by Alex Davies
Wired
In case you missed it, Daimler built a self-driving big rig, and it just recently got the OK to hit the road in Nevada. The Freightliner truck, known as Inspiration, took a team of around 60 engineers six months to build. Wired’s Alex Davies offers a behind-the-scenes look at the project, detailing some of the tech that’s onboard.
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The Texas Instruments TMX 1795: The First, Forgotten Microprocessor While the Texas Instruments TMX 1795 could be considered the first microprocessor, it has been all but forgotten by most. This piece chronicles its history and its major impact on the computer industry. |
I Was an Undercover Uber Driver Ever wonder what it’s like to drive for Uber? Well, one journalist signed up and got behind the wheel to offer a first-person account of the goings on — including an orientation via YouTube video. |
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Notes on the Surrender at Menlo Park Facebook’s Instant Articles arrived in the News Feed this week, piping in content from The New York Times and more. This piece is an interesting collection of observations on the new feature — the good, the bad and the ugly. |
The View from the Front Seat of the Google Self-Driving Car The head of Google’s self-driving car project sets the record straight on minor accidents and miles logged, providing an update on the team’s status in Mountain View. |
[Image credit: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Eurobest]
Filed under: Misc
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