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Score Snapchat videos with songs from your phone
Have the perfect song in mind for a Snapchat video? Well, now you can play music from your phone while filming it. Thanks to an update, the ephemeral sharing app no longer pauses whatever track is playing while it captures a few seconds of video footage. Of course, the music is recorded with your handset's built-in mic, so don't expect high-quality audio. However, you can play tunes stored on the device or streamed from services like Spotify. The update is available now for iOS devices, and we expect it'll arrive for Android soon enough.
UK makes 'revenge porn' illegal with punishment of up to two years in jail
Posting "revenge porn" in England and Wales is becoming a criminal offense. It's thanks to an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which was passed last year by the House of Lords and due to receive Royal Assent later today. Anyone found guilty of distributing explicit images to force victims into sexual activity or to humiliate them will now face up to two years in prison. It's designed to cover photos and videos that are shared without permission both on and offline, including those posted to Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and other social networks.
Teen charged with murder after posting gruesome Snapchat selfie
In what's probably the most extreme look at selfie culture yet, a Pittsburgh teen has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting a classmate and then taking a selfie with the corpse. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, 16-year-old Maxwell Marion Morton sent the incriminating photo to a friend via Snapchat, who ended up taking a screenshot before it was automatically deleted. Morton also reportedly sent several texts that incriminated him further. He's now being charged as an adult after confessing to the police following a search of his home. "I've never seen it before," district attorney John Peck told the Review, "but it was a key piece of evidence that led investigators to the defendant." This isn't the first time we've seen tech involved with major crimes -- texts often end up working against criminals -- but this case is particularly disturbing since it centers on a selfie, which is something we associate more with innocent fun than a brutal murder.
Madonna's new video is on Snapchat because Madonna is thirsty
There's a track on Madonna's upcoming (read: twice leaked) album Rebel Heart wherein her 'Madgesty' (that awful nickname UK rags bestowed upon her that time she decided to possess the body of an unsuspecting, posh British lady that rode horses, lived in a countryside manor and spoke with a befuddled accent that no SNL comedian has ever been able to master) proclaims that "the Queen's been slain." Madonna is, of course, singing here about *her favorite subject: Madonna. And she's right. No self-respecting "Queen" would ever be so thirsty (that's kid lingo for "desperate") as to premiere a video for her new single on Snapchat, the ephemeral messaging-cum-streaming-video app(?) now valued at $10 billion that millennials adore. Which is what's happening at some point today for her single "Living for Love." I know, right? So thirsty.
AT&T taps YouTube 'talent' for Snapchat 'shows'
Snapchat's already working on a library of original content, and thanks to AT&T, there will soon be shows for viewing inside the app as well. Re/code reports that a "scripted series" with 12 episodes will feature YouTube personalities like Freddie Wong and Harley Morenstein -- in addition to the Snapchat-famous Shaun McBride. This "SnapperHero" project isn't part of the app's Discover content channel, though, as AT&T is sponsoring the videos, so they're more like produced two-minute ad spots. Yahoo and others were also rumored to be considering YouTube's "talent," so we'll see how pairing popular internet things turns out. The "show" is set to debut in the near future as the number of folks leveraging the ephemeral sharing service's platform continues to grow.
Snapchat delivers news (and ads) with Discover
It's been a long time in the making, but Snapchat's new Discover feature is ready to go... and so is the app's transformation from a pure messaging service into a full-blown media destination. Once the app update is in place, a quick tap on a circle icon that lives in the top right corner of the screen takes you away from your inbox and plops in front of a curated selection of stories from media partners like CNN, Yahoo, Vice, ESPN and even Snapchat's own fledgling editorial team.
Snapchat could be the new home of non-destructive journalism
Back in August, Snapchat introduced the Story feature, allowing users to contribute snaps to a live feed for major events like the World Cup. That same month, details of the ephemeral sharing service's news and ad plans feeds also surfaced. Now, Digiday reports that not only will there be news, but the app is aiming to be a bit more ambitious. According to that site, when the newsy Discover feature goes live, it'll include original content from Snapchat on top of the posts from other media outlets (around a dozen, according to previous reports). In recent months, the company has nabbed writers and video producers formerly of MTV, News Corp and The Verge. The app is pushing animations for holiday to users' feed already, but the new project is said to bring videos that are several minutes in length. And what about those ads? The report claims they'll appear as both pre-roll content and Snapchat's usual disappearing messages. While there's not much info on what Discover will look like when it arrives, it seems all that new content will reportedly start to rollout this month.
iJustine loves fitness wearables as much as Taco Bell
Digital diva and influencer Justine Ezarik (aka iJustine) thinks CES is a big "tech tease." She's right, of course -- there's just too much technology to cover in a short amount of time (and inevitably, some of it will never be released). But it's fitness wearables that get her the most excited about the show floor this year, like the stuff Misfit showed off. On our CES stage she explains her valentine Taco Bell and how the two keep up over Snapchat. We talk about a whole lot more during our fun conversation, which you can watch after the break.
Strings is a messaging service that lets you delete those drunk texts
It's still early enough in January that if you promise not to drunkenly text pictures of your behind to your friends, it still counts as a New Year's Resolution. Still, in an age where everyone's off-hand conversations can be made public in a flash, it'd be nice to regain some control of where our words are shared. That's where Strings comes in, since the iOS app is a rival to Snapchat and WhatsApp that clearly hopes to foster a consent culture around mobile messaging.
Snapchat alternatives (and their users) vanish from Windows Phone
Snapchat warned that it was clamping down on third-party apps to prevent sketchier examples from compromising your security, and it appears to be making good on its word -- much to the chagrin of Windows Phone users, who haven't had an official Snapchat option so far. Windows Central notes that 6snap and other titles that replicated the disappearing message service have abruptly vanished from the Windows Phone Store. Moreover, some users say that Snapchat is following through on warnings that it would permanently lock the accounts of those who kept using unofficial software. If you're in that boat, you now have to start fresh if you want to chat with friends.
Snapchat buys eyewear company that lets you record video on the sly
Snapchat quietly bought a company that makes eyewear with Google Glass-like video recording capability, according to hacked Sony emails spotted by Business Insider. Private messages from Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton's inbox revealed a $15 million deal between Snapchat and a startup called Vergence Labs. The latter company makes a line of thick-framed fashion specs called Epiphany Eyewear, which also happen to record HD video with the touch of a side button. The $299-$499 glasses come with 8GB to 32GB of storage and let you upload the footage to a computer and the cloud, or extract photos with special software.
Snapchat updates with iPhone 6 and 6 Plus support and improved text editing
Once you've upgraded to the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, using apps that don't take advantage of the full large screen can be aggravating, especially if one of those apps is an image service like Snapchat. Thankfully, Snapchat users no longer must suffer with wasted screen real estate. The iOS app has been updated with new layouts specifically for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Even if you're on an older generation of iOS device, this update has something for you. Captioning of images has been improved, including new features like pinch to resize, dragging of text, and changing the color of special text. Filter stacking has also been enabled, allowing you to add up to two filters to each of your photos. You can find the update right now in the iTunes store.
Facebook's Snapchat competitor wants your evaporating photo stories
Notice anything new with Slingshot recently? Well, if you haven't used it in awhile, Facebook's ephemeral photo app has gotten an overhaul. The outfit says that refining isn't about what you add to something, but what you remove. In this update's case, that's seemingly quite a bit. Instead of the one-to-one photo-messaging tool it launched as, now Slingshot is a single-function app that's aping perhaps Snapchat's most social feature, Stories. Pictures and videos you share now go into a preview grid (above left) that gives a peek at all your friends' updates simultaneously -- instead of Stories' person-by-person list. Sending a photo or video clip is much more streamlined, too, with it only taking two taps to go from capture to upload. What hasn't changed is that your captures still only last 24 hours. Want to share your daily pics outside of Slingshot's user-base? You can export your content directly to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter now as well. Update: In the previous version of Slingshot, media lasted for up to 30 days. With the latest update, your shots and reactions only last 24 hours or until someone swipes past them.
Snapchat now lets users submit their own location-based photo filters
Remember when Snapchat launched its peculiar geofilters earlier this year? Yeah, we scarcely do either - you could only add those location-sensitive photo effects in a smattering of special locales, so there's a decent shot you've never even had the chance to try them. Now the wildly popular messaging startup is trying to make those things a touch more accessible by letting users like you and me create and share our own geofilters (...once the company signs off on them, anyway).
Snapchat introduces Snapcash for P2P payments
The question "how do you monetize Snapchat" has finally been answered and it's going to open up a lot of possibilities for users. Snapchat has introduced Snapcash, a way to send mobile payments to friends using the image sending-then-destroying service. In its advertisement for Snapcash, the company makes it seem like a good way for friends to send money to friends, and at face value let's accept that is indeed the case. Sure, you could use any number of other payment systems to send your friends quick cash, but one more on the market can't hurt. Users send money to other users by sending them a message with $, followed by a dollar amount. The money is sent using Square Cash's email payment system, and Snapchat says Square is helping to secure transactions. One has to wonder exactly how excited Snapchat users will be about this new addition. Is there enough of an interested user base to make this worthwhile? The answer is probably yes, but it's one the company doesn't publicly talk about. Which part of Snapchat is going to flourish thanks to this new addition to the service? Why, adult content, of course. Snapchat is incredibly popular with adult entertainers, from adult film stars who sell access to their Snapchat accounts to dancers who use the service to keep fans "interested" when they're not at the club. There are minor Instagram celebrities who have built followings through word of mouth about their more graphic Snapchat accounts. Snapchat has just monetized all of those users in a way that allows them to get paid without their fans ever needing to leave the app. With such a viable and active audience already utilizing Snapchat to profit, it will be interesting to see how the company will deal with this inevitable, virtual red light district, silver lining. Snapchat is possible because there are certain pictures people want to see but make sure they're never caught seeing, both tawdry and not. Snapcash opens the door for the company to finally profit off of those interested parties. Snapcash is available now in Snapchat with the app's latest update. You can watch the company's announcement video below.
Snapchat messages disappear, but the money you can send in them doesn't
Heads up, millennials: Snapchat isn't just for sending evaporating selfies anymore. Thanks to a newly inked deal with Square (of all companies), you'll soon be able to fire off money at your Snapchat contacts after you've created a Snapcash account and connected a debit card. Really. It's that easy. Once that teensy bit of setup is done, the app will detect if you're sending a message to a friend with a dollar amount inside; when it does, the send button with sprout a dollar sign and you're ready to transfer those funds. The folks over at Re/code are reporting that the Android faithful in the United States will get the necessary app update some time today, with an iOS version to follow shortly.
BBM now lets you set a Snapchat-style time limit for messages
BlackBerry isn't shy about borrowing features to keep BBM relevant in the messaging world; it added stickers to challenge WhatsApp, and now it's taking a page from Snapchat's book. The latest version of BBM introduces a timed messaging feature that lets you determine when messages and photos expire, so you don't have to worry that spies (or just nosy friends) will see what you said. To top it off, you can also retract messages outright -- you won't have to worry about accidentally sexting your boss so long as you delete the evidence in time. The privacy-minded upgrade probably won't get you to switch to BBM by itself, but it may be worth a look if you've wanted a slightly more sophisticated take on disappearing chat services.
SnapDare is Snapchat and "truth or dare" combined
SnapDare is a social networking app modeled after the classic sleepover party 'Truth or Dare'. It requires iOS7 or later, is optimized by iPhone5 and compatible with the iPod touch and iPad. The app asks you to create a username and password and supply your phone number so that your contacts can find you and play. Once your friends join, you can send them truths and dares and they can respond by sending some to you in return. For proof, you can send the truth or dare back with a video or a photo. This app has a simple red background with white text. I would argue that it is almost too simple. There is hardly any design incorporated in the app at all. The only icon is the French Bulldog icon that appears when you log into the app. I do like the Bulldog and it would be cool to see more elements like this in the app to have more aesthetic appeal. For such a fun concept you would think the developers would want to have a fun look for their app as well. I invited my friend to play with me and he accepted. We spent over an hour playing. Some of the automated truths and dares are a bit too tame but you can write in your own if you want to challenge your friends more. To send proof of the dare you can send back a photo or video with text. Often when I would try to record a video with text the app would crash. I recently updated to iOS 8.0 so this could be an issue with that. It was a bit frustrating though because I would create a great Dare video with no option to save it and then it is gone forever. I already did the dare and there is no proof, and anyone who has played truth or dare knows that having to redo a really good dare can be something you might not want to try. Humiliation is usually funny the first time and probably annoying the second time. My favorite part of Truth of Dare is the element of getting to know a person. When I was a kid at sleepover parties where this game was played, I always left feeling closer to my friends who answered embarrassing truths and who acted out a humiliating dare. It's a social game that allows people to lower their inhibitions and have fun. SnapDare is a really fun way to play Truth or Dare with friends who you already Snapchat or text with frequently, and could potentially be a way to get to know new friends quickly and with humor. I recommend this app for people who like Snapchatand a nostalgia for one of their favorite childhood games, Truth or Dare.
Skype Qik lets you swap short video messages with your friends
Skype may be one of the better-known options for video messaging, but it doesn't hold a candle to a services like Snapchat if you just want simple, back-and-forth discussions. The Skype team isn't taking this competition lying down, though -- it just rolled out Skype Qik, its own take on rapid-fire video delivery. The mobile-only app is focused solely on swapping short clips (up to 42 seconds; yes, it's a nod to Hitchhiker's Guide) as part of conversations with your phone contacts. In theory, it's just what you need to coordinate a night out or catch up with pals who are rarely available at the same time. All messages vanish after two weeks to help protect your privacy, and you can pre-record "Qik Fliks" to use when you're either too busy or just want to reply with your favorite internet meme.
Sound Off! Share your favorite messaging apps
There's definitely no shortage of messaging apps around. With services like Google Hangouts, Facebook Messages, iMessage, Path Talk, Snapchat, Whatsapp and countless others, it's a pretty overwhelming task to figure out the best way to contact your friends. How do you choose which app is the right one for keeping in touch and giving your thumbs a workout? Head over to the Engadget forums and share your favorite way to communicate.
