Snapchat

Add a World AIDS Day sticker – or geofilter – to a Snapchat photo today, and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will donate $3 to (RED). The LA Times reports that it hopes to raise as much as $3M from the initiative – something that could be achieved if just 1% of Snapchat users joined in.

You can also raise $3 by sharing a themed video clip on Instagram.

If you’re willing to part with a little cash, donating to the cause will buy you entry into one or more of a range of competitions with prizes like a bike ride through Central Park with Bono, a trip to the Games of Thrones set and meeting Snoop, Jimmy Kimmel, George Clooney, Matt Damon and more.

Apple is also joining in, with an iPhone 6s leather case in (what else) red.

Via Engadget

Snapchat update adds slow-mo, fast forward, & rewind video effects + 3D Touch support

Zac Hall Oct 28 2015 - 10:04 am PT

Snapchat has updated its iPhone app with a new set of fun video filters to try out plus 3D Touch support on the new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Adding to the existing set of video filters, Snapchat now lets you turn videos into slow-mo clips, quickly paced videos with fast forward, and backward-moving movies with rewind. Snapchat users with the latest iPhone models can press firmly on the updated app icon to start new chats or easily add new friends within the app right from the Home screen as seen above.
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Snapchat update adds new selfie Lenses + paid extra Snap Replays

Zac Hall Sep 15 2015 - 11:12 am PT

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Snapchat is out with its latest update bringing new features and tricks to the photo messaging app. The release notes are short: Before you take a selfie, press and hold on your face for a surprise! That’s referencing the new selfie Lenses trick, which lets you apply some pretty wild effects to your face before sharing with friends. To use Lenses, just tap and hold on your selfie before taking a Snap. A facial outline appears as well as seven effects including that dramatically change up your selfie.
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Instagram enhances its Direct messaging feature w/ chat threads, giant emoji, more

Zac Hall Sep 1 2015 - 10:31 am PT

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After mostly letting it sit stagnant for nearly two years, Instagram is ready to show its Direct messaging feature some love. Instagram Direct, which lets you share photos, videos, and messages privately with other Instagram users, was seen as a play at Snapchat and similar apps when it launched in 2013, but it’s so far experienced limited appeal within the photo sharing app. Now Instagram hopes to change that with new features including message threads, giant emoji, sharing from your timeline, and more.
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Apple promoting Apple Music in Snapchat with sponsored geofilter

Mark Gurman Aug 24 2015 - 2:49 pm PT

Apple has once again distanced itself from its past efforts in order to market its new Apple Music streaming service. The company has begun promoting the service using a unique geofilter in the popular Snapchat messaging application. The geofilter has showed up in select areas of Los Angeles, including at The Grove mall where an Apple Store is located.

Snapchat updated with new ‘Travel Mode’ feature to reduce mobile data usage

Chance Miller Aug 10 2015 - 11:26 am PT

Just a month after Snapchat rolled out a major update to its app to remove the classic holding to view requirement, the company is rolling out a smaller update today. Version 9.14 of the app adds a couple of new features that will certainly be welcome by Snapchat fanatics.

Apple Music uses Snapchat to give behind-the-scenes look at Beats 1 studio

Zac Hall Jul 29 2015 - 9:58 am PT

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Apple has published a behind-the-scenes look at Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 studio where Apple Music’s streaming radio station is broadcasted … on Snapchat of all places. Apple snatched up the ‘applemusic’ username on Snapchat earlier this summer, and now the company is using the account to promote its subscription music service and Zane Lowe’s radio show with short videos of the DJ broadcasting.
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Snapchat no longer requires holding Snaps & Stories to View

Zac Hall Jul 1 2015 - 9:40 am PT

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We told you earlier this year that Snapchat was considering changing a major part of how its app works, and today the social network has officially introduced that change: viewing Snaps and Stories now works with a single tap. Previously, part of Snapchat’s signature user experience included holding a finger over a Snap or Story to view it; lifting the finger meant going back to the contact list. Aside from the new Tap to View feature for Snaps and Stories, the update includes a few other changes as well…
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Facebook continues to ‘borrow’ Snapchat features as it tests swipeable filters, stickers & text overlays in iOS app

Ben Lovejoy Jun 29 2015 - 4:02 am PT

Facebook has rather a long history of finding inspiration in the Snapchat app, from Poke back in 2012 (which was pulled last month) to Slingshot. TechCrunch reports that the company is now testing three new features in its iOS app, all of which mimic functions available in Snapchat.

The new photo uploader adds:

swipeable filters, allowing you to instantly preview the effects
the ability to paste Facebook stickers on top of photos
the option to overlay text on a photo

Facebook appears to have rolled-out the new version of the app to a limited number of users so far. Most of the photo filters are based on the seasons …
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Ex-iOS chief Scott Forstall became Snapchat advisor in Jan. 2014, Sony leak reveals

Chance Miller Apr 16 2015 - 4:18 pm PT

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Jobs and Forstall (Image via Getty)

According to a leaked email from the Sony Pictures hack, Snapchat has given former Apple executive Scott Forstall a 0.11 percent stake of its company for being an advisor. According to the email, Forstall was given his stake in early 2014 with his advisory occurring in January of that year.

Snapchat finally updated with iPhone 6/6 Plus support

9to5 Staff Dec 9 2014 - 7:52 pm PT

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While the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were released nearly three months ago, some high-profile developers have taken incredibly long to update their apps with native resolution for the larger screens. Look no further than Snapchat, which has finally been updated with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus support in an update released today.

The latest version of the popular ephemeral messaging app, in which users can share photos, videos and instant messages with others that disappear after a customizable length of time, also received enhancements in other areas, including improved captions, the ability to change the color of, pinch to resize and drag around special text and stacked filters.
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Snapchat partners with Square, launches Snapcash for instantly sending money between users

Chance Miller Nov 17 2014 - 12:51 pm PT

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Snapchat today announced a new service, in partnership with mobile-payment service Square, dubbed Snapcash. The new feature allows Snapchat users to quickly and easily send payments to one another. Users can do so by simply swiping right to chat on the main screen in Snapchat and then entering a dollar amount. The money will go directly from one user’s bank account to another.

Microsoft latest to mimic Snapchat with new Skype Qik ephemeral video messaging app

Mark Gurman Oct 14 2014 - 6:00 am PT

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIEnN1KmxKk&feature=youtu.be

Microsoft has just joined the ranks of companies looking to capitalize on the success of ephemeral messaging apps like Snapchat. Through its Skype division, the company has launched a new cross-platform app for iOS, Android, and (of course) Windows Phone called Skype Qik. The premise of the application, as can be seen in the video above and screenshots below, is simple: you can record a quick video, and then share it to either one person in your address book or multiple groups of people.

Differentiating itself from some of the other players, the Skype-based solution is video-focused, and Skype is positioning it as a communication tool for in between full-scale Skype video chats. Notably, the whole service is connected to your phone number and existing contacts list, so it doesn’t require signing up with a standard Skype account. If you send a message via Qik to a user without the Qik app, the other person will be sent an SMS text message with instructions for downloading the Qik app to view the video message. This app is based on the technology from startup Qik, which Skype acquired a few years ago.

By default, videos will expire after two weeks, and you can also un-send messages at any time. A cool feature of Skype Qik is the ability to pre-record various 5 second GIFs that you can send as instant replies. So, if you don’t have the ability to send a live video reply, you can just choose one of your pre-record defaults. The app is free today on the aforementioned platforms, and Microsoft says that updates, such as one for blocking iPhone contacts (that feature is available today on Android and Windows Phone), will come often to enhance the feature-set.

You can view some screenshots of the iPhone app in action below:

Snapchat introduces Geofilters, bringing special filters to specific locations

Stephen Hall Jul 15 2014 - 8:03 am PT

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJx6R5zbIfk

The well-renowned social snap-sharing application Snapchat today introduced a new feature it is calling Geofilters, bringing you special custom-designed graphics that can easily be applied to photos taken in specific geographic locations. In the above video, a couple of girls take a snap at what appears to be a bicycle shop, and a quick swipe to the right places a small yellow bicycle tire on the top-left of their photo.

As mentioned on the official Snapchat blog, privacy disclaimer and all:

We’ve had a lot of fun drawing up new filters for special locations in Los Angeles and New York. Swipe right on the preview screen to check them out – they’ll change depending on which neighborhoods you’re in! Although you’ll need to enable location services for this feature, we don’t store your location.

Right now, Snapchat has only incorporated these filters at specific locations in Los Angeles and New York, but it will be interesting to see if the company expands the feature to other locations in the future — or maybe even opens these filters up to be crowd-sourced in some way. It doesn’t appear that you need to update your Snapchat client to take advantage of Geofilters.

Review: Wiper encrypted messaging/calling app with neat erase feature (and iOS 8 update details)

Mark Gurman Jul 14 2014 - 6:58 am PT

Yes, another secure and ephemeral messaging app. There’s Wickr, Snapchat, Confide, so what makes Wiper Messenger different? I’ve had the chance to play around with the new free chatting app on iOS, and it seems to act as a fusion of WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Wickr. The app prompts you for your email address or phone number in order to create your account, and then you are brought to a fairly simple interface with three tabs across the bottom: Chats, Contacts, and More. Let’s go tab-by-tab:

Facebook launches new Slingshot app to compete with Snapchat

Chance Miller Jun 17 2014 - 10:00 am PT

As we reported last night, Facebook’s new Slingshot app is now available for iPhone. The app briefly appeared on the App Store last week but was quickly removed. Slingshot is Facebook’s attempt at competing with the popular Snapchat messaging service.

Snapchat debuts new ‘Our Story’ function for communal snap stories at events

Mark Gurman Jun 17 2014 - 9:27 am PT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZeDPfHiBC8

Social network app Snapchat is today rolling out a new feature called Our Story. It’s just like the My Story feature, where you can put a bunch of photos into a single album-like story, but multiple people can contribute to it. The feature works based on events and on your location. As Snapchat explains on its blog:

Facebook’s Slingshot app said to launch tomorrow after last week’s botched debut (update: It’s out)

Mark Gurman Jun 16 2014 - 5:38 pm PT

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Update: Like clockwork, it’s out.

Facebook plans to launch its long-awaited Snapchat competitor called Slingshot tomorrow, according to a source. The application briefly became available in some international App Stores last week, and then it (appropriately) swiftly disappeared. The new standalone iPhone application allows users to send a photo or video with text or drawings to another person, but the recipient cannot view it unless they acknowledge that they want to view the message…

Facebook’s Snapchat competitor arrives on the App Store, then appropriately disappears

Mike Beasley Jun 9 2014 - 5:13 pm PT

3 Comments

Screenshots via Engadget

As we noted a few weeks ago, Facebook is currently in the process of developing a new Snapchat-like chat service separate from its main Messenger/Facebook inbox offering, even though it just recently removed its Poke app from the App Store.

Today Facebook “accidentally” published an early version of the upcoming software, called Slingshot, to the iOS App Store in a few countries. The app allows users to share a photo (or video) with friends, but those friends are unable to view the photo until they respond with a photo of their own. A “react” button allows recipients to quickly snap their reaction to an incoming message and send it back as a response.

Facebook may try to take on Snapchat again with upcoming ‘Slingshot’ app

Mike Beasley May 18 2014 - 6:33 pm PT

5 Comments

If at first you don’t succeed…

Facebook may have recently pulled its Snapchat-like Poke app from the iOS App Store, but the social network is gearing up to take another swipe at the messaging giant later this month, according to a new claim by the Financial Times. Facebook’s new app, currently dubbed “Slingshot” interally, will enable users to send short video messages to one another.

In 2012, Facebook launched its own Snapchat rip-off called Poke, which borrowed its name from an entirely separate feature that had been available on Facebook’s website for years. When Poke failed to attract a significant number of users, Facebook forgot about it and let it sit idle for nearly three years before removing it from the App Store.

PSA: Snapchat update offers phone number opt out after API abuse

Zac Hall Jan 9 2014 - 8:57 am PT

Following recent API abuse that lead to phone numbers and usernames being exposed, Snapchat, the social photo sharing app, has updated its iPhone app with the option to opt out of linking your phone number with your username. The feature was intended to increase social discoverability among mutual contacts, but was recently abused leading to the following update and apology:

Find Friends Improvements

This morning we released a Snapchat update for Android and iOS that improves Find Friends functionality and allows Snapchatters to opt-out of linking their phone number with their username. This option is available in Settings > Mobile #.

This update also requires new Snapchatters to verify their phone number before using the Find Friends service.

Our team continues to make improvements to the Snapchat service to prevent future attempts to abuse our API. We are sorry for any problems this issue may have caused you and we really appreciate your patience and support.

Love,

Team Snapchat

The update is available now on for iPhone and iPod touch on the App Store.

Snapchat updated to version 6.1, now has camera filters, up to seven “best friends,” and more

Mike Beasley Dec 20 2013 - 5:30 pm PT

Snapchat was updated to version 6.1 today, introducing several new features to the popular photo messaging app for iOS. Like many photo apps, including iOS 7’s native Camera, Snapchat now supports visual filters for photos taken with the app.

Other additional features include a new “best friends” option that allows users to set seven favorite contacts apart from the rest, as opposed to the previous option for only five. The full change log is below.

Snapchat is available for free on the iOS App Store.

Introducing Additional Services

Smart Filters – Add data overlays to your Snaps!
Visual Filters
Replay
Special Text
Front-Facing Flash
Up to 7 Best Friends

To enable additional services go to Settings > Additional Services > Manage

Instagram announces Instagram Direct: photo and video sharing to private groups

Zac Hall Dec 12 2013 - 7:15 am PT

http://vimeo.com/81527238

During its press event held in New York City today, Instagram announced a new sharing feature called Instagram Direct that will allow users to share images and videos to other users privately.

The new sharing model will require users to follow each other to send photos and messages privately to individuals or groups of up to 15 people. A pending requests inbox will catch photos and messages from users who are not mutually connected.

Instagram also noted its growth from 80 million users to 150 million users worldwide from the start of 2013 to today. Kevin Systrom, co-founder of Instagram, boasted that over half of Instagram’s users use the service daily…

Snapchat introduces “Stories”, a narrative built with snaps

Scott Buscemi Oct 3 2013 - 1:36 am PT