Facebook’s looking to integrate WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger chats

BBC

Facebook is looking to compete with the likes of Google and Apple with its newest plans. The social media company is considering integrating its messaging services on Instagram with WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. The three services will remain as standalone apps, but each will be linked in a way that will let messages travel between the services. Facebook is said to be at the start of what it considers a “long process.” If successful, this means a Facebook user can communicate directly with someone who has a WhatsApp or Instagram account. The timeline to complete this project is end of 2019 or early next year.

What Facebook can gain with this project is it’ll no longer need to develop competing versions of new features (like Stories) or allow businesses to reach more potential customers across the different platforms with its ability to share data easily. Facebook wants people to spend more time on its products, and this is one way they think that could happen. "We want to build the best messaging experiences we can; and people want messaging to be fast, simple, reliable and private," said Facebook in a statement. "We're working on making more of our messaging products end-to-end encrypted and considering ways to make it easier to reach friends and family across networks." But this also raises a lot of questions, which Wired has detailed in this story.

Source: BBC

Instagram tests out new card-based interface

Looks like Instagram might want to try something new with its interface. WABetaInfo uncovered a new card-based interface for both its iOS and Android apps. Instead of scrolling down to see the posts, you swipe right or left to see the rest of your feed. It works similar to what you do with Stories but this time you see small thumbnails of the posts above the cards. You can see this in action below.

The Profile and Direct tabs have also switched places in this new UI. MSPoweruser points out this could be in response to the more gesture-based user interfaces of the new iPhones and Android Pie or it could also be the social network’s attempt to replicate the Stories experience in your feed. What do you think? Is this something you’d want to see?

New Instagram UI to view posts on your feed: presenting "Cards", for iOS and Android!
In this new UI, the Profile and Direct tabs will be inverted!
The new changes will be available in future. pic.twitter.com/RVDNuuLvTk

— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) December 3, 2018

Instagram helps visually impaired see photos with AI descriptions

Instagram is making its service more accessible to the visually impaired with its latest update. There is a new artificial intelligence system that’ll automatically generate descriptions of the photos. These can be seen through screen readers that the visually impaired users use to browse the Feed, Explore, and Profile sections of the app. The feature makes use of object recognition technology to identify what items are in the image. If you want to describe the image yourself, you can add custom alternative text as well. You can head to Advanced Settings when posting a photo and there should be a new Write Alt Text option there.

Swiss hotel chain offers ‘Instagram sitters’ that can post on your behalf

Want to document your amazing vacation but want to go off the grid at the same time? Sounds impossible, right? Well, for Ibis hotel chain, they are offering a trial “Instagram sitter” service for all of its 17 properties in Zurich and Geneva. Hotel guests can have one of the 16 social influencers take care of their Instagram accounts while they enjoy their vacations. Called “Relax We Post,” the service employs the help of influencers like local radio DJ Sylwina, lifestyle blogger Cristina Gheiceanu, and Germany’s Next Topmodel’s Sara Leutenegger.

To avail of the service, you’ll need to give your login details so that the Instagram sitter can curate your feed while you’re staying at the hotel. The Instagram sitter can post photos, videos, and Instagram Stories for you. If you want, they can even respond to comments made on your account. The sitter can even help you find the most “Instagrammable” spots in the hotel and the city. You can also let them know about specific feed requirements or requests, like not posting photos of meat if you’re a vegetarian.

Source: Lonely Planet