Once a month we like to compile a list of our favorite social media stories from the past few weeks and share them again with you so you never miss a thing — even when you’re not logged in. What happened in April? Let’s review.
Last month Snapchat rolled out Chat 2.0 with stickers and auto-advancing stories, but there may have been a few hidden features you missed, like the ability to see if someone you’re chatting with is currently in the conversation. This month brought a few more additions, including stickers that move with videos, and a filter that lets you Faceswap with a photo from your camera roll.
Pinterest’s iOS app got a big makeover this month. Pinterest says the redesign was a total overhaul that allows users to focus on more pins — and is 10 times more responsive to touching and scrolling.
Twitter is in the process of developing a way better design for its Android app (obviously prompted by our resident Android user saying saying he isn’t a big fan). The new design makes it much easier to move between sections of the app, and makes Twitter’s other features more accessible and user friendly.
Twitter also added a button for sharing tweets via direct message — that’s what the new little envelope icon is at the bottom of tweets. Sharing through the button is as simple as clicking it — and much quicker than the the clunky ellipses-button way.
Instagram continues to follow in the footsteps of Facebook. Following last month’s update that allowed users to post videos up to 60 seconds in length (as opposed to 15), its latest tweak has made videos a much bigger part of the Explore tab. Users will now find more videos in the Featured section, as well as a new specific section of the tab is called “Videos You Might Like” that includes posts from all over the world.
The Facebook F8 conference unveiled a whole slew of new features Facebook has in the works — as usual. Here are some of the biggest notes:
- Bots: Facebook has big plans to turn Messenger into a service center where people can do everything from ordering flowers to hailing an Uber. It’s already begun working with more than 25 big brands to test out bots that would help users shop through the app. It’s also working on developing its own bot, M.
- Facebook Live: Facebook finally has an answer for Periscope and its other live video competition. Rather than streaming through a separate app, viewers can broadcast right from their feeds without ever leaving the app, and other users can respond to live streams like any other story.
- Virtual Reality: The unveiling of virtual reality glasses and a Surround 360º camera that are in the words were big moments of the conference. Not only did users get a sneak peak at what’s ahead for Oculus Rift — they also got to take home free VR headsets.
- Facebook’s 10-year plan: Facebook has big plans in the next three years, and a tentative map for big changes and goals ahead for the next whole decade.
Are you ready for some football? On Thursday nights? On Twitter? Twitter struck a deal with the NFL at the beginning of the month — beating out other big bidders like Facebook, Amazon, and Verizon — to stream Thursday night games from its platform this fall.
Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.
The post OK, Let’s Review: April Recap appeared first on Hurrdat.