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Tag: message

  • Google Messages Embraces Trash Feature, Enhancing Message Recovery: A Page from Samsung and Apple’s Playbook

    Google Messages Embraces Trash Feature, Enhancing Message Recovery: A Page from Samsung and Apple’s Playbook

    Google Messages has been the focal point of numerous updates recently. With a keen emphasis on enhancing user experience, developers have introduced new features and improvements. One such feature is an updated Details page, designed to increase usability. Further modifications are on the horizon, with a significant change in the pipeline concerning how the platform handles message deletion.

    Recovering Mistakenly Deleted Messages

    Presently, if a user attempts to delete a message in Google Messages, a pop-up warns the user that deletion is permanent and irreversible. This means once the “Delete” button is clicked, the message is permanently erased. However, situations may arise where a conversation is accidentally deleted, or a user realizes they need a message that was previously deleted.

    In response to such scenarios, Google has implemented a Trash feature in their messaging app. Notable in the beta version 20260227 of the app, this feature aims to retain accessibility to deleted messages.

    New Trash Feature Replaces the Delete Option

    The new trash feature supersedes the existing delete option in Google Messages. With this feature, when a message is deleted, it is moved to a new trash folder instead of being permanently discarded. This folder can be accessed by tapping the profile icon located in the top-right corner of the app and selecting the “Trash” option.

    Deleted messages remain in the trash folder for 30 days. Users have the option to restore all messages or delete them all simultaneously using the ‘restore all’ or ‘delete all’ icons. There’s also a provision for restoring or deleting individual messages.

    The previous delete option, which appeared when opening a conversation and tapping the three-dot menu, has been replaced with the new Trash feature. The swipe actions menu has also been updated to display the new Trash option in place of Delete.

    Consequently, upon the rollout of this update, users cannot permanently delete messages immediately. Instead, messages will first transition to the Trash section, providing users with a second chance to review their content. If a user is certain that a specific message isn’t required, they can permanently delete it from the trash section.

    Google Messages Follows in the Footsteps of Samsung and Apple Messages

    The concept of a trash folder may seem familiar to users of Samsung Messages or Apple Messages. Samsung’s app features a dedicated Recycle Bin section, storing deleted chats for 30 days before permanently erasing them.

    Likewise, Apple devices move deleted messages to a Recently Deleted section, where users can choose to either restore the message or permanently delete it. Both Samsung and Apple’s messaging platforms have incorporated this feature for years, and Google Messages now joins the bandwagon.

    Questions & Answers

    What happens when a message is deleted in the new Google Messages update?
    When a message is deleted in the new Google Messages update, it is moved to a Trash folder instead of being permanently erased. Users can access this folder from their profile icon.

    How long will deleted messages remain in the Trash folder?
    Deleted messages will be stored in the Trash folder for 30 days.

    Can users restore deleted messages from the Trash folder?
    Yes, users have the option to restore all messages at once or select individual messages for restoration. They can also permanently delete all or selected messages from the Trash folder.

  • Stay on Top of Your Chats: Google Messages Doubles its Pinned Conversations Limit

    Stay on Top of Your Chats: Google Messages Doubles its Pinned Conversations Limit

    A recent update to Google Messages now allows users to pin up to 20 conversations, twice the previous limit of 10. This change enables users to maintain handy access to more of their important chats, keeping them in view even as new messages come in.

    More Conversations at Your Fingertips

    Originally, Google Messages allowed users to pin just three conversations at the top of the messaging interface. This limit was subsequently increased to five, then ten, and it now stands at 20. While it may seem like a marginal update, it certainly comes as good news for those users who need to keep an eye on multiple critical conversations.

    The process to pin a conversation is straightforward. Users simply need to open the Messages app, press and hold on the relevant chat, and select the “Pin” option. The pinned chat will remain at the top of the conversation list, regardless of incoming messages.

    A Modest, yet Significant Upgrade

    Despite having billions of users worldwide, Google Messages continues to undergo incremental improvements. While the latest update may not seem substantial, it might prove to be quite beneficial for users dealing with a high volume of chats.

    However, pinning 20 conversations might start to make the list seem lengthy. The possibility arises that newer messages could be pushed farther down the list, potentially causing users to overlook important communications. This could somewhat undermine the very purpose of pinning conversations.

    Continuous Evolution of Google Messages

    Google has been introducing frequent updates to its Messages app. While each feature in isolation may not seem significant, their collective impact is giving the app a more feature-filled feel.

    Recent updates include the introduction of user profiles, screen effects, custom bubbles, reaction effects, and Gemini AI integration. Now, with the additional pinned chats, Google Messages seems to be drifting away from its original minimalist design. Although not all users might need or appreciate this increasing complexity, it’s clear that Google is committed to continuously enhancing the app’s functionality.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the new update to Google Messages?
    The latest update to Google Messages allows users to pin up to 20 conversations, a significant increase from the previous limit of 10.

    How can users pin a conversation in Google Messages?
    To pin a conversation, users need to open the Messages app, press and hold on the desired chat, and select the “Pin” option. The chosen chat will then stay at the top of the conversation list, regardless of incoming messages.

    What other features has Google added to Messages recently?
    Google has introduced several new features to Messages recently, including user profiles, screen effects, custom bubbles, reaction effects, and Gemini AI integration.

  • Google Messages’ future update to give Magic Compose a more visible spot

    Google Messages’ future update to give Magic Compose a more visible spot

    Google is constantly adding new features and making tweaks to its Messages app, and it looks like a future update will introduce a small but useful change to give one of Google’s AI features more visibility.

    A recent report shows that the newest beta version of the Google Messages app has introduced a new Magic Compose button. Powered by Google’s generative AI, Magic Compose helps you craft responses based on the context of your messages, offering suggestions for how to kick off a conversation, reply, or even rework a draft in different tones.

    In the current setup, Magic Compose sits in the bottom row, nestled between the gallery and text field. As you type, it slides out of view behind a chevron.

    What’s new in the beta version, though, is that Magic Compose shows up in the row of smart replies, even when there aren’t any suggestions. It appears as a pill-shaped message bubble with a sparkle icon located either first or at the far right.

    Magic Compose shows up in the row of smart replies when you start typing. | Image credit – 9to5Google

    The icon matches the Dynamic Color theme, just like the Send button. Once you start typing in the compose field, the icon switches to Magic Rewrite (a pencil with a sparkle). No big visual changes to the feature itself, though.

    The old layout, with three buttons squished into one row, felt cramped and often shrank the text box, especially on smaller devices. So, I think Google making this small change to how the Magic Compose feature appears makes it way more accessible and easy to use.

    In other Google Messages news, three new changes are on the way to level up your texting experience. Plus, the Gemini Extensions feature for the Messages app has started its gradual roll-out.

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  • WhatsApp could add a new sticker-related feature very soon

    WhatsApp could add a new sticker-related feature very soon

    WhatsApp is testing new features all the time, but the best news is many users have access to new functionalities if they’re willing to enroll in the beta program. One such new feature will make it easier to find stickers and sticker packs in WhatsApp.

    Spotted recently by WABetaInfo, the feature adds a text field to the sticker keyboard, allowing users to search for stickers from the dedicated store by simply writing what they’re looking for.

    This works both for individual stickers and packs, but the new feature has only been spotted in the Android version of WhatsApp beta for the time being. Specifically, the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.11.5 includes this feature, but since it’s still in development, it might not show up for beta testers yet.

    The ability to search for stickers is a continuation of the work that WhatsApp has been putting into making stickers one of the app’s highlights. A few updates ago, WhatsApp released a feature that introduces new sticker creation shortcuts, allowing users to generate personalized and AI-powered stickers.

    The newly discovered sticker-related feature is likely to be rolled out to everyone in the coming weeks since it doesn’t seem to be too complicated to implement. Hopefully, it will be available on both iOS and Android platforms.

  • Google Messages testing a warning about losing features when logging out or switching accounts

    Google Messages testing a warning about losing features when logging out or switching accounts

    If you’re a Google Messages user with multiple Google accounts linked to your Android phone, you’ve probably experienced how seamless account switching is currently within the app. However, switching accounts or opting to use Google Messages without a Google account altogether can lead to some unexpected limitations. Google appears ready to address that with a new warning that appears when you want to ditch the Google account login.

    Google Messages is rolling out a new feature in beta that clearly outlines which features you’ll lose when either signing out of your account or switching to a different Google account within the app. Signing out entirely from your Google account will warn you that you’ll lose access to features like Magic Compose (those helpful AI writing suggestions) and Device Pairing.

    If you have Google’s Profile Discovery feature enabled, you’ll be prompted to disable it. This prevents others from seeing your profile picture and name in Google products, but also means people knowing your phone number might not easily connect with you on various Google services.

    If you are switching between accounts, you’ll also get a similar warning. Magic Compose and Device Pairing will also become unavailable, as these features are tied to your specific Google account. Both of these warnings were spotted by @Assembledebug from TheSPAndroid during his usual search for new features.

    Previously, Google Messages didn’t explicitly display the potential drawbacks of using the app without an associated account. However, adding this notification greatly improves transparency, letting users make informed choices about how they interact with Google Messages as it is not completely necessary to tie the app to a Google account. The feature seems to be rolling out gradually for those on the latest Google Messages beta, which is v.20240321_01_RC00 at this time.

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  • Google Messages widely rolls out quick capture camera icon shortcut for faster photo sharing

    Google Messages widely rolls out quick capture camera icon shortcut for faster photo sharing

    After a recent revamp that removed the top search bar from the app, Google Messages was set to receive another UI tweak that would make it easier for users to send photos. As reported last month, this update would introduce a camera icon directly on the Messages home screen, streamlining the process of sending photos. This UI change is now rolling out widely.

    Previously, sending photos using Google Messages involved either accessing the conversation and attaching the photo from the “Add” button or capturing the photo separately in the camera app and then selecting it from the conversation. Now, the easy-to-access camera icon lets you start the process of sending a photo from the beginning if you intend to capture and send a quick photo instead of forwarding one from the camera roll.

    As you can see in the screenshots above, the camera icon is placed adjacent to the search icon on the top right of the app. Tapping on it, opens the camera app UI and viewfinder, allowing you to capture a quick photo. Once the photo has been taken, Messages then prompts you to select a recipient and attach the photo in a new message to the chosen recipient — while still giving you the control to add additional text and send at your leisure.

    This new feature joins other experimental additions that Google Messages has been exploring, such as an animated emoji, an updated voice recorder, and Google Account login capabilities for the web version. Meanwhile, as new features continue to be rolled out, old ones seem to have suddenly gone missing from the app without explanation, most likely due to a bug.

    The camera shortcut was previously in a limited rollout phase, with only a small group of Google Message users accessing it. That said, while the old method was relatively straightforward, this new shortcut strives to make the process even more effortless —  facilitating seamless photo sharing.

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  • Instagram’s new feature puts an end to DM requests spamming

    Instagram’s new feature puts an end to DM requests spamming

    Instagram is finally adding one of the most requested features since it introduced the ability to send direct messages. A new update makes it possible for Instagram users to restrict who can send them DM requests.

    The new feature was tested last month and now it’s rolling out to all Instagram users. The first limitation introduced with the new feature prevents you from sending more than on DM request to a person who doesn’t follow you on Instagram. If they accept your request, then you will be able to continue to send them new DM requests.

    The second limitation is that DM invites can’t contain images, videos or voice notes, so you can send text-only DM requests to those who don’t follow you on Instagram.

    “We want people to feel confident and in control when they open their inbox. That’s why we’re testing new features that mean people can’t receive images, videos or multiple messages from someone they don’t follow, until they’ve accepted the request to chat. We’re grateful for the feedback we hear from our community — and we’ll keep listening to find ways to help everyone feel safer on Instagram.

    Apart from introducing these new limitations that basically remove DM requests spamming, Instagram also added a Restrict setting that makes it possible to monitor an account that you don’t want to block, but still want to restrict their presence on your Instagram page.

    Once you restrict an account, their comments on your posts will only be visible to them. More importantly, they won’t know that no one can see their posts, and their DMs will be automatically sent to your DM requests folder. It’s a middle-ground solution in case you don’t want to outright block an account, but still want some protection against bullying.

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  • WhatsApp test the ability to edit sent messages

    WhatsApp test the ability to edit sent messages

    WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging app, has released a new beta version for Android – version 2.23.10.13. This latest update brings several new features and improvements to the app, including the ability to edit sent messages for some select users.
    The key feature with this update would allow users to edit messages they have already sent. WhatsApp users have highly requested this feature for some time, as it would give them the ability to correct mistakes or clarify unclear messages that were perhaps sent accidentally.
    As reported by WABetaInfo, the feature allows users to tap on a sent message and select the “Edit” option from the top menu. They could then make changes to the message, and the edited version would be visible to all recipients of the original message.
    However, there are some limitations to the feature – edited messages will still show a notification that they have been edited, and there will be a limit on how much time users have to edit their messages after they have been sent. The current time limit to edit a message is within 15 minutes of sending it, and you cannot edit a message that you sent from a different device. Once edited, the message will show an “edited” label on it to notify other users that the message is no longer the original one.
    Not all users enrolled in the WhatsApp Beta Program are currently able to test this feature, as it appears to be rolling out to only a certain amount of users, suggesting a staged rollout. Hopefully this won’t take long to roll out to the stable version of WhatsApp, as I anticipate many users would likely welcome it. However, it remains to be seen if and when the feature will become widely available to all.
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  • The tabs used to filter conversations in Google Messages have vanished

    The tabs used to filter conversations in Google Messages have vanished

    Underneath the search bar at the top of the Google Messages UI on Android used to be organizational category tabs that would allow users to run through chats and messages from “All,” “Personal,” and “Business.” This was a quick way to view only those messages that you wanted to see at a given time. Selecting “All” would show, well, all of the conversations you had in your messages conversation list while Personal and Business are pretty self-explanatory.

    This feature first surfaced in 2021 in India and Google said that it was to “roll out first to English users around the globe.” Now, the organizational category tabs are gone for many Messages users. They have vanished from the Google Messages UI as though they were deleted by the Magic Eraser. One interesting note though; 9to5Google said that all of the Pixel models it saw missing the feature were running Beta versions of Android and we don’t know if they meant the Android 14 Beta or the QPR3 Beta.

    Personally, my Pixel 6 Pro also does not show the category tabs anymore and my phone is running Android 13 QPR3 Beta 3. Is this the end of the organizational category tabs or is this a bug? Google is usually pretty good at telling users when it is removing a specific feature and why it is being removed. Still, it is possible that the tabs were not being employed that often by users and Google just felt it was better off to remove them.

    We should make it clear that not all Android users who favor using the Google Messages app are missing the organizational category tabs and Android users employing their carrier’s third-party messaging apps (like Verizon Messages, T-Mobile Messages, or AT&T Messages) wouldn’t be impacted at all. But most Android users know that RCS (Rich Communication Service), available with the Google Messages app, helps to deliver a better Android messaging experience.
    If you don’t have the Google Messages app (ahem, more precisely Messages by Google app) on your Android phone, feel free to tap on this link and install it from the Play Store.
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  • Update to Android’s WhatsApp Beta app makes it easier to use

    Update to Android’s WhatsApp Beta app makes it easier to use

    WhatsApp is making a change to its UI as it is in the process of disseminating an update to the Beta version of its Android app. As per WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is moving its navigation tabs (the ones on the top of the Android app that include Communities, Chats, Status, and Calls) to the bottom of the screen. This should make WhatsApp easier to use one-handed on large-screened devices. Moving elements to the bottom of the screen is what Samsung does with its One UI interface.
    The new look is found in version 2.23.8.4 of the Android WhatsApp Beta app. To find out which version of WhatsApp you are using, open the app and tap the three-dot overflow menu icon on the right top of the screen. Go to Settings > Help > App info. Wouldn’t you know it, the version of WhatsApp Beta on my Pixel 6 Pro is running version 2.23.8.3. Oh so close! Eventually, the feature will also be found on the public version of the app although it might take a few weeks before this happens.
    With the navigation tabs on the bottom, the Android version of WhatsApp will match the iOS version of the messaging app. The WhatsApp iOS app already has navigation tabs at the bottom of the screen. Moving the tabs to the bottom of the screen is something that Android WhatsApp users have been asking for and now WhatsApp is giving them what they want.
    With WhatsApp, users can enjoy messaging that is protected with end-to-end encryption, make phone calls, and engage in video chats. The Meta-owned platform has over 5 billion installs on Android alone and counts 2.24 billion global active users. 100 billion messages are exchanged over WhatsApp every single day.
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  • WhatsApp adds new features to your status updates

    WhatsApp adds new features to your status updates

    Although an app with a very large and broad user base, WhatsApp can still leave a lot to be desired when it comes to its features. Competing apps such as Signal and Telegram have, for years, outshined the Meta-owned application in that respect; However, WhatsApp is now stepping things up and adding

    WhatsApp announced via a blog post that the company will be adding more options to the status section of the app, which is often used to convey fleeting information with friends and close contacts. These statuses are available for 24 hours and can contain a variety of media, including photos, videos, animated GIFs, etc. Here’s a summary of the new features you can expect:

    • Private Audience Selector: Every status update you post might not be appropriate for all of your contacts all of the time, so WhatsApp will now have the ability to update your privacy settings on a per-status basis so that you can choose who sees each new version of the status that you post. The audience that you most recently selected will be remembered and used as the default for your subsequent status update.
    • Voice Status: You will soon be able to record and share voice messages on WhatsApp status that are up to 30 seconds long. Voice status allows for sending more personal updates, which is especially useful if you find that expressing yourself verbally rather than through typing is more comfortable for you.
    • Status Reactions: You can now respond to any status in a flash by swiping up and selecting one of eight different emojis from the menu that appears. It goes without saying that you can still respond to a status update with a text message, voice message, stickers, or any number of other options. Status reactions have been one of the most requested features since the debut of Reactions a year ago.
    • Status Profile Rings for New Updates: When a contact of yours shares an update to their status, a ring will appear around their profile picture. This will be viewable in the chat lists, the participant lists for groups, as well as the contact information, thus making it easier to never miss a status update from a friend or family member again.
    • Link Previews on Status: When you send a message or post a link on your status, you will now see an automatic visual preview of the message or link’s content, just as you do when you send a message. Visual previews not only improve the appearance of your status updates but also provide your contacts with a clearer picture of the link’s content before they click on it.

    These updates have begun to be made available to users all over the world, and they will be accessible to absolutely everyone in the coming weeks. As usual, just like your personal chats and calls, your WhatsApp status is protected by end-to-end encryption so that you can share in a private manner without compromising your safety.

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  • Telegram founder publicly attacks Apple’s Safari browser for iOS for its restrictions

    Telegram founder publicly attacks Apple’s Safari browser for iOS for its restrictions

    Currently, there’s an investigation by a UK agency on Apple and Safari. And, it seems the UK is not the only one raising its brows when it comes to Apple’s web browser. Telegram founder Pavel Durov has now publicly criticized the iOS version of Safari, accusing it of restricting developer options for the web.

    Durov has shared his criticism on his public channel on Telegram. He claims that Apple is intentionally restricting web app features and that this limits developers from what they can do in iOS. The restrictions that Apple currently has for web apps impact the web version of Telegram too.

    Additionally, he suspects Apple’s reasoning behind this is to force users to download native apps from the App Store, and he brings up the 30% commission fee that Apple takes on purchases made via the App Store. Many developers have had issues with the infamous ‘Apple Tax’, as this 30% cut has unofficially been called.

    Telegram is available in the App Store; however, not everything was sailing smoothly for the company. In the past, Telegram has reportedly faced some issues with Apple’s review process because of its public channels (where there are no content restrictions). Telegram has a web version with all the same features – but it is also limited on iPads and iPhones.

    “Safari is killing the web” points out Durov, citing developers complaining about Apple’s native browser and a blog post on HTTP Toolkit, which lists multiple ways in which Safari is not helping the web. The blog post lists reasons such as Safari omitting features, many bugs present and the slow speed at which those are fixed, and ignoring proposed APIs by the Chrome team.

    Apart from citing the mentioned above article, Durov also highlights that Telegram developers have signaled a list of 10 issues they have with Safari on iOS. Among those, there is the lack of push notifications, random reloading, slow application of blur effects, and sometimes appearing visual artifacts. The post also includes a few more development-related things missing from Safari’s toolkit.

    The UK investigation, which we mentioned in the beginning of this article, is also highlighted in Durov’s post. He hopes that the investigation will lead to regulatory action against Apple Safari’s restrictions and shortcomings.

    The investigation he is talking about is actually going to be led by UK’s CMA, a watchdog who’s recently found Apple and Google to have an “effective duopoly” in the mobile tech market because of Safari and Chrome. The agency is now going to look at Safari’s WebKit restrictions under a microscope, to determine whether or not those are harming competition and innovation.

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  • WhatsApp now lets you react to messages

    WhatsApp now lets you react to messages

    Last month, we reported that WhatsApp was working on several new features, including search message shortcuts, and message reactions, and now the latter has finally started rolling out to users.

    The feature was first uncovered by WABetaInfo, and it seems that WhatsApp is ready to push message reactions to users running version 2.22.8.3. It is worth mentioning that this version is not the official stable one, and it is only available to Beta testers.

    Nevertheless, the fact that the feature is entering the beta version means that we would probably see it in the final stable release pretty soon. The reactions themselves are pretty similar to what other chat apps have been doing in the past couple of years, the likes of Telegram, Discord, and Slack

    According to WABetaInfo, there are six reactions to choose from – Like, Love, Laugh, Surprised, Sad, and Thanks. Even though message reactions are only available to beta testers at the moment, every WhatsApp user should be able to see them in chats.

    Have you noticed these reactions in your WhatsApp everyday chit-chat?

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  • WhatsApp update will close vulnerability that leaves messages unencrypted

    WhatsApp update will close vulnerability that leaves messages unencrypted

    Apple iPhone users that rely on WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption might not realize that there is an opening that could allow a hacker to read their messages. According to the WhatsApp FAQ page, WhatsApp messages that are backed up in iCloud are not protected by the app’s end-to-end encryption. However, an update is coming to shut this vulnerability. A WhatsApp iOS beta includes a change that “enables the encryption of chat histories hosted on iCloud, including media” through the settings on the WhatsApp app.

    If WhatsApp decides to go ahead and include the feature in an upcoming update to its public iOS app, authorities, hackers, and even Apple will be shut out from reading your unencrypted text messages. Essentially, the update would extend the end-to-end encryption available from WhatsApp to messages being stored in iCloud. And at the same time, WhatsApp is working on the same protection for its chat backups on Android.

    Just as WhatsApp chats backed up in iCloud aren’t covered by end-to-end encryption, neither are the chats that Android users back up on Google Drive. The new feature could be available on the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.20.73 and is called “Protect Backup,” which pretty much is self-explanatory. Until it becomes part of WhatsApp for Android and iOS, just keep in mind that despite the end-to-end encryption found on the app, if you back up your chats to iCloud or Drive, you are leaving them vulnerable to being read. There isn’t any evidence that this has been exploited, but it is something that every WhatsApp user should be aware of.

    It appears that WhatsApp’s iOS users are more excited by the coming addition of support for QR codes. This is a feature that will allow users to create personal QR codes to help others find them. QR code support will also be available for Android totin’ WhatsApp users soon.

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  • Japan Post to end Saturday standard mail delivery

    Japan Post to end Saturday standard mail delivery

    Japan’s Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has accepted a proposal from a government panel to end Saturday delivery for standard mail in the country due to a labor shortage at Japan Post Co. and a drop in demand because of increased use of the internet.

    The ministry will seek to amend the law this fall, with Saturday deliveries potentially terminated next year. The panel also proposed that next-day delivery for standard mail be ended.

    Japan Post, a unit of Japan Post Holdings Co., has been calling for a review to trim standard mail service hours to five days a week from the current six, to address the workforce shortage. The company estimates the changes will lift its profit from the postal service business by ¥62.5bn (US$594m) through reduced labor costs, which are on the rise due to the staffing shortfall.

    Saturday delivery for parcels is to remain, along with express and registered mail. The postal service unit is considering a 10% cut in charges for express mail in return for discontinuing Saturday mail service. The panel also proposed extending the standard delivery time limit of three days to four days to maintain stable services.