Snapchat finally releases rebuilt Android app with superior performance
If you've been struggling with a slow and buggy Snapchat on Android, then we have some good news for you. A new version has been released that promises superior performance and an all-around better experience. The team behind the revamped app says it looks the same but should now run a lot faster.
A host of new changes adds to Snapchat’s increasing functionality
Snap has made a series of announcements related to partnerships with other companies that will see Snapchat products being used inside those third-party apps. Notable examples include the fact that Bitmoji will soon be available on Fitbit watches, and Stories available in Tinder.
Snapchat could soon let you play games in between your selfies
If a new report is accurate, Snapchat will be getting an integrated gaming platform in April. The platform will feature mobile games form third-party developers, and one publisher is already signed on. Snapchat previously introduced AR games that made use of your device's camera in the app.
Snapchat finally recovers from its redesign — so here comes an Android update
Snapchat's drop in users after launching a controversial redesign has finally stagnated. During the fourth quarter and 2018 earnings report, Snapchat shared that the company is rolling out an Android update designed to increase performance. The company's finances have also improved in the fourth quarter.
Snapchat reportedly toys with the idea of making its snaps permanent
Snapchat could soon make public posts last forever. According to Reuters, the company is considering extending the lifespan of public posts shared in Our Story to make snaps more easily shareable outside the app. The change would not affect private posts shared only with friends on the app.
Snapchat’s new lenses for dogs will make your mutt the star of Christmas
Snapchat has launched lenses for dogs, making it easier than ever to make your dog look silly. Overlay a pair of glasses, have a blue butterfly fluttering on its nose, or transform it into a cute reindeer. The rollout of lenses for dogs comes just a couple of months after Snapchat launched the same feature for cats.
Lip-sync or create trick snaps with friends using Snapchat’s new challenges
Snapchat's latest feature is a new type of Lens that invited users to join in a challenge. From lip-synching to making an object disappear using augmented reality, the new Challenges are designed to increase engagement. Challenges can be shared publicly or privately among friends.
Snapchat facial recognition could soon power a new portrait mode, code suggests
Digging into Snapchat's code suggests a handful of upcoming camera features, including a portrait mode. The feature appears to use facial recognition A.I. to blur the background. The code also suggests a camera interface with a burst mode and compositional grid, if the features see a public launch.
Dual cameras for Spectacles 3? Report suggests Snap-designed glasses with AR
Despite underselling the first generation, Snap Inc. isn't done with camera glasses yet. According to a recent report, the company is rumored to be working on another Snap Spectacles with dual cameras for AR features. The rumored smart glasses will supposedly list for $350.
Snapchat’s PR firm is suing an influencer for failing to influence
Snapchat's PR company is suing a social media influencer for his alleged failure to promote the latest version of Spectacles on Instagram. Actor Luka Sabbat was paid $45,000 upfront to post a certain number of posts, but the lawsuit claims he fell well short of the terms of the deal.
Snapchat finally comes to Windows 10 and MacOS, but it’s not what you think
Snapchat has announced that it is bringing a Snap Camera app to Windows 10 and MacOS. Not at all similar to its iOS and Android counterpart, the new app is all about integrating custom lenses with other video conferencing and social apps like Twitch, YouTube, Skype, and Zoom.
Photography News: A ‘bombproof’ camera bag, Nikon D850 gets firmware fix
Mountainsmith calls its latest photography backpack designed with photographer Chris Burkard "bombproof." Nikon has launched a new firmware update for the D850 that fixes a rare bug. Snapchat's camera can now recognize cats. The news and more in this week's Photography News.
Snapchat is using VR to let you step inside its new original shows
Tuning in to your favorite shows not enough? Snap Originals will allow viewers to set into a virtual set. The new exclusive shows debut today with three different shows. Snap Originals are vertical, short, and exclusive to the platform. Oh, and they can come with their own Lenses, too.
Snap, then shop? Snapchat’s camera will soon buy stuff from Amazon
Want to Snap that item and buy it for yourself? Snapchat is testing an option to shop on Amazon using the camera. The tool works similar to Shazaming a song inside Snapchat; users tap and hold on the screen inside the camera mode. The app then sends a pop-up of the closest match on Amazon.
Snap tries again — Snapchat Spectacles 2 have a new look
Snapchat has launched a new version of its Spectacles camera-equipped sunglasses -- and now the same tech comes in different styles. Spectacles 2 are water resistant, come in different colors, and are thinner and sleeker than their predecessor. They'll set you back $150-$200 if you're interested.
Three million people quit Snapchat after the redesign
After a million users signed petitions to get the old Snapchat back, the network's user count is finally showing the early results of the changes with a three million drop in daily active users. Monthly users, however, haven't declined and the company's revenue is growing.
Could Snap save the internet from fake news? Here’s the company’s secret weapon
Snapchat recently leant its support to work by the University of California, Riverside, who have developed an algorithm that can root out fake news online. In doing so, the disappearing messages company is doing its bit to fight one of the biggest tech problems of our time.
Snapchat now uses speech recognition to animate your face
Get your tongue back in your mouth -- Snapchat's latest Lenses react instead to a specific keyword. The new Lenses animate after hearing a specific keyword, which Snapchat displays on the screen. The new Lenses join AR filters that react to the volume of any audio in the room and animations triggered by facial recognition.
You hardly knew Snapcash, Snapchat’s payment service, and now it’s saying goodbye
Snapchat's woes show no sign of ending, and the latest casualty in the company is Snapcash, the peer-to-peer payment service. It's likely that you've never heard of -- much less used -- the service, which makes its shuttering less of a surprise. That's because Snapcash wasn't always used innocently.
Snapchat’s visual search tool could take you shopping, but not on Amazon
Shopping and Snapchat could soon be synonymous. As originally reported by TechCrunch, the popular social media platform is experimenting with a new visual search feature called "Eagle." App researcher Ishan Agarwal was the first to notice the Snapchat code in the Android version of the app.
Tired of the same Snapchat lenses? Lens Explorer simplifies finding new lenses
Lens Studio resulted in hundreds of thousands of new Snapchat lenses -- but how do you access them? With the new Snapchat Lens Explorer, finding a new lens is as simple as a few taps or a swipe up from inside a Story. The feature is accessible right from the Snapchat camera.
When it rains, it pours inside Snap Maps, thanks to new World Effects
Raining? Your Snapchat Bitmoji may also be getting a downpour with new animated weather effects. The weather comes along with World Effects that change the look of the Snap Map based on holidays and events. The new features arrive as Snap Map celebrates one year since the launch.
Having regrets? Snapchat adds a tool to delete messages
Snapchat users can now take back what they just said with a new Clear Chats tool. The hidden tool allows users to delete messages, both read and unread, in any chat. The update comes as the company's camera glasses launch on Amazon, ending exclusive availability through the manufacturer's website.
Your Bitmoji sticker can now include a friend with Friendmojis for iOS
Is your Bitmoji feeling lonely? Well, with the app's latest update it no longer has to. Using the new "Friendmojis" feature, you can send stickers that combine your Bitmoji with your friends'. Originally available in the Snapchat app, users now have access to Friendmoji within the iOS Bitmoji keyboard.
Ready to make some noise? New Snapchat augmented reality mask responds to sounds
Snapchat has quietly added a new AR mask to its rotating carousel -- and it responds not to visuals but to voice. The new mask is an animal with neon-colored ears that pulse and shine based on the volume of the music. But that's not all -- Snapchat has more in store, the company says.
Snapchat has undone its controversial redesign for a majority of iOS users
Snapchat is listening to users and making changes in response to complaints on the new design. Snapchat was previously testing moving friends' Stories into the Discover tab, but still separated from subscriptions and suggested Stories. Now, that test has become more permanent for a majority of iOS users.
Snapchatters, how do you like the sound of unskippable video ads?
Snapchat has started testing unskippable six-second video ads, beginning with slots for movies, tech gadgets, and drinks. Current data shows that most users skip through the app's video ads, which is bad news for brands as well as Snapchat, as it's still looking for ways to turn a profit.
Snapchat redesign slows user growth, confirming predictions
Snap Inc. CEO Evan Speigel said the redesign would temporarily disrupt the company -- and that disruption is here with a slowed user growth and a dip in revenue. The company is working to continue optimizing the design, including moving Stories and rebuilding the Android app from the ground up.
Snapchat’s new Snappables Lenses are AR games you play with your face
Ready for Snap's take on games? Snappables are new Snapchat games that use facial expressions, motion, and touch to control the game. The games can be sent as Snaps to challenge friends, or to invite friends to a virtual dance party. The augmented reality games are located inside the app's camera.
You AR what you eat — augmented reality menus are coming to Snapchat
Have your food and eat it too? New augmented reality menus will allow diners to preview a dish using a Snapchat AR Lens before ordering, putting a lifelike model of the food right on the table.
Snap, then shop — Snapchat rolls out Shoppable AR filters
Snapchat fans can now shop directly from the app, thanks to new Shoppable AR filters. The new feature allows Sponsored Lenses to include product links, download links, or video links directly inside Snapchat. The expansion to sponsored filters is rolling out this week, initially with four advertisers.
Want more AR masks? Snap’s Lens Studio now supports custom face filters
Snapchat now allows creatives to build their own augmented reality face masks using Lens Studio after they have added new face-based templates. The update also brings Giphy integration and a new program that is designed to reward top Lens designers as the program grows beyond 30,000 custom lenses.
Looking to spice up your Facebook Stories? Try 3D drawing, a new AR effect
It's not just Instagram that's competing against Snapchat -- now parent company Facebook is getting into the action as well. You'll soon be able to take a photo of your surroundings, annotate them using AR technology, and turn them into Instagram Boomerang GIFs using your Facebook Camera.
Spectacle speculation? Snap FCC filing points to ‘Model 002’ for camera glasses
Newly published FCC paperwork suggests Snap Inc. is working on a "Model 002" of the Spectacles camera glasses. The paperwork builds on earlier reports that the company would be releasing two new versions later this year.