1. Instagram will add “online“ feature
Reminiscent of Facebook’s Messenger, Instagram is adding a new feature which will allow you to see when your friends are online and available to chat!
Instagram noted, “When your friends are active on Instagram, you’ll see a green dot next to their profile picture in various spaces within the app, including the Direct inbox and your friend list when you share a post from the feed.”
This new update will display a small green dot next to your friend’s profile pictures, signifying their activity on the app. Also good news for those that want to fly under the radar, this feature can also be turned off and will allow you to hide your status and stay incognito. This new update will allow for a better messaging experience as sending content to each other will be much more enjoyable with the knowledge that the other person is there and available to see it in real time. Moreover, Instagram has also added the option to remove followers (even if your account is public) and now has a mid-feed alert that lets you know you when “You’re All Caught Up” with the Instagram feed and did not miss a single post. These new improvements are sure to help you better manage your personal Instagram profiles.
2. Samsung Summer Sale: Price Drop
This summer, a massive Samsung sale is due to take place till the 28th of July so if you are looking for an upgrade or a new laptop for school/university, get shopping! Samsung has slashed their prices drastically. Moreover, the Windows Mixed Reality headset has now dropped in prices as did other products such as TV’s, tablets, smart watches, etc.
Top offers:
- The Samsung Chromebook Plus – Now $399 (usually $499).
- Samsung Notebook 9 Spin – Now $1,099 ($300 off, usually $1,399)
- Samsung Notebook Odyssey- Now $1,199 ($400 off, usually $1,599)
3. Google aims to replace Android
The tech giant is looking to scrap Android in the following five years and replace it with newly developed software titled “Fuchsia”. It has already been in the works for over two years with more than a 100 engineers on the project. The new OS, unlike its precursor, will focus on more voice and AI controls.
According to Bloomberg “It’s being designed to accommodate voice interactions and frequent security updates better and to look the same across a range of devices, from laptops to tiny internet-connected sensors,” Fuchsia’s core foundation differs from Android. Whereas Android is built on Linux, Fuchsia is based on a microkernel called “Zircon.” Switching from Linux would likely most likely be very problematic at first, but would eventually be worth it for the newer technologies with upgraded speed.
4. Chinese iCloud data controlled by the government
A state-owned telecommunications company will now store the iCloud data of the Chinese users. This is terrible news for dissidents and critics of the government. To continue providing their service to Chinese customers, Apple has announced in February that they would be moving their Chinese users’ iCloud accounts — and their encryption keys — to a China-based server company Guizhou-Cloud Big Data. This move was highly hazardous for any person that objected and opposed China’s official policies.
In the present day, China Telecom, a government-owned telco, is taking over the iCloud data from Guizhou-Cloud Big Data. Meaning a state-owned firm now has access to all the iCloud data China-based users store, such as photos, notes, emails, and text messages. Chinese citizens have condemned this radical move, their most significant concerns revolving around censorship and users’ privacy.
5. Facebook AR ads in testing
Facebook announced that it would be using augmented reality ads in their News Feed. A virtual fitting room will be available for the users to try on and see the products in 3D for and on themselves. Currently, the ads are in beta-testing and only available to consumers in the US. The new ads will allow shoppers to try on the products (acting much like Snapchat filters) before purchasing them. The AR ads can be used with all types of e-commerce goods such as jewelry, accessories, cosmetics, furniture, etc. Big brands like Michael Kors, Sephora, Wayfair, and Pottery Barn have already signed up for collaboration and will begin ad testing this summer.