Instagram Tries Edit Grid Feature to Create A More Aesthetic Feed

Technology-Portfolio.Net - Instagram is testing a new feature called Edit Grid. This feature will be very useful for Instagram users who want to have an aesthetic profile feed.

Currently this feature is still in the development stage. But developer and leaker Alessandro Paluzzi managed to dig into it to show how this feature looks and works before it is rolled out.

In a tweet on his Twitter account, Paluzzzi shared two screenshots showing this feature. The first screenshot shows the edit profile page showing a new option called Edit Grid.

If the user selects this option, they can change the order of the photos on the profile page. Instead of bothering to delete or archive photos, users can simply drag-and-drop the photos they want to move to make their profiles look neater and more aesthetic, as quoted from XDA Developers, Thursday (13/1/2022).

Currently, Instagram has not shared information about this new feature. But chances are they will reveal more information once this feature is ready to roll out.

Instagram Tries Edit Grid Feature to Create A More Aesthetic Feed

#Instagram is working on the ability to edit the profile grid allowing you to rearrange posts in any order you like 👀 pic.twitter.com/fjmkJD4je2

— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) January 10, 2022

As it is still in development stage, this feature will be rolled out to beta testers first before it is released to all users. It is also possible that this feature will be canceled for one reason or another.

In addition to the edit grid feature, Instagram is also testing three ways to sort content in the main feed, namely by upload time chronology, based on a proposed algorithm, and based on the order of favorite accounts. These three new feed views will roll out in the second half of 2022.

Google Will Apply New Rules Regarding App Naming on the Play Store

Technology-Portfolio.Net - Google is compiling a list of apps with names and icons that are too long.

This followed the company's desire to make app names and icons more concise and accurate on the Play Store.

This regulation will facilitate the review process for taking screenshots and the video will be available at the end of this year.

Google details the rules, the policy will prohibit application developers from using tricks to get the attention of potential users.

Simply put, the developer should not cheat with non-to-the-point words.

The name of the later application may not use emoji. Except for the brand name, writing in full capital letters is not allowed.

Limited to 30 Characters

Then, the application title will be limited to 30 characters only. Including call-to-action words like 'download now' or 'sale' is not allowed.

This detail is an initial announcement before the company will detail related policies by the end of 2021.

Unmitigated, Google will not explicitly provide space on Google Play for applications that violate these policies.

Developers Need To Prepare Separate Descriptions

Separately, new rules regarding app preview descriptions will take effect from the second half of this year.

However, application and game developers need to prepare descriptions that are simple but contain sufficient information.

"Assets that do not meet our guidelines may not be eligible for promotions and recommendations on major Google Play platforms such as the App and Games homepage," said Google.

Twitter Trials The Tip Jar Feature, Can Send Money To Favorite Accounts

Technology-Portfolio.Net - Twitter is starting to test the Tip Jar feature in the Android and iOS apps. As the name implies, this feature allows Twitter users to send money directly to their favorite accounts.

Currently this feature is limited to users worldwide who use Twitter in English. All Twitter users can send tips, but only creators, journalists, experts and non-profit accounts can activate this feature and receive tips.

To send money to a favorite account, simply go to their profile on the Twitter app and then tap the money icon next to their username. Accounts that have met the requirements can activate this feature via Settings to start receiving tips.

show your love, leave a tip

now testing Tip Jar, a new way to give and receive money on Twitter 💸

more coming soon... pic.twitter.com/7vyCzlRIFc

— Twitter (@Twitter) May 6, 2021

Twitter users on Android can also provide tips to their favorite accounts via the Spaces feature. Twitter itself has launched this Clubhouse-like feature to all users who already have more than 600 followers.

Twitter relies on external services to handle this transaction, namely Bandcamp, Cash App, Patreon, PayPal and Venmo. The company with the bird logo says they don't take any commissions on the tips given, so all users will receive in full.

Even though it's still in the testing phase, users are starting to see a lot of issues that Twitter has to address. As the @RachelTobac account reports, tipping recipients via PayPal can now see the tipping address.

In its latest update, Twitter acknowledged the problem. They said they would update their alerts and tipping Help Center to make it clear that other apps can share information between tipping givers and recipients on their terms.

Twitter promises to provide the latest details and updates in the near future. They will also expand the availability of this feature to more users and more languages.

YouTube TV Can Now Be Accessed On Play Station 5

Technology-Portfolio.Net - PlayStation 5 (PS5) users can now access YouTube TV from this Sony-made console.

It is Android Police who discovered it for the first time, after Google secretly added YouTube TV service support information for the PS5 on their official site.

New YouTube Features

YouTube is reportedly testing a new feature that allows embedding comments at any point in the video. In simple terms, it will allow comments to appear at specific user-defined points.

That way, it's no longer like a scrollable downward comment column. Apparently, this looks like the timestamped comment that SoundCloud has.

"We're testing a new feature that lets you view timed comments exactly as you watch them in the video," says YouTube.

This trial was conducted on some Android and iOS users who were given access to test this capability in the beta version.

Brazil Finally Allows WhatsApp Pay

Technology-Portfolio.Net - WhatsApp has re-launched the WhatsApp Pay payment service in Brazil. The payment service WhatsApp Pay was suspended by Brazil's Central Bank in June 2020, just days after its launch.

Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced the return of this payment service in a video that was shown in Brazil.

In the video, Mark Zuckerberg talks about how payment information added to WhatsApp will work on Facebook and Instagram.

According to the Head of Facebook Financial, David Marcus, "the payment service WhatsApp Pay being rolled back in Brazil will be part of a phased rollout effort."

It seems that Facebook is serious about returning the WhatsApp Pay service to Brazil, one of which can be seen from the video uploaded to promote the payment service.

Not only that, Facebook also published a page stating that the Facebook Pay payment system that underlies WhatsApp Pay has been authorized by the Central Bank.

When the WhatsApp Pay service was first launched in Brazil, the country's central bank suspended operations. The reason is, there are concerns about competition among payment systems.

Brazil's Central Bank said it plans to evaluate whether the Facebook-owned service complies with regulations.

At the time, Facebook said it had been in contact with authorities before the WhatsApp Pay service was launched.

In late March 2021, Reuters reported, Brazil's Central Bank had approved the service, after Facebook obtained official approval to run the payments service.

In a Facebook press release, WhatsApp users will be able to connect debit, prepaid, or combo cards from several banks that work together to process their payments.

Previously on June 15, 2020, the WhatsApp Pay service officially operated in Brazil. This was conveyed by Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg through his personal page. Brazil became the first country where WhatsApp Pay was widely launched.

"Brazil became the first country in the world where we launched a payment service on WhatsApp," Zuckerberg said.

He said that with the presence of the payment service WhatsApp Pay in Brazil, users could send and receive money as easily as sending photos.

WhatsApp Pay, according to Zuckerberg, is also claimed to make it easier for small businesses to make financial transactions through the messaging application.

"To enable transactions, we developed Facebook Pay which provides a secure and consistent way to transact across our app platforms," ​​Zuckerberg said.

For your information, Zuckerberg also said, WhatsApp Pay can run thanks to collaboration with a number of local bank partners. They include Banco do Brasil, Nubank, Sicredi, and Cielo, merchant payment processors in Brazil.

Snapchat Users Can Now Include Music In Uploads

Technology-Portfolio.Net - Snapchat has just announced a new feature called Sounds. With this feature, users of the iOS version of Snapchat can add music to their Snaps.

The music can be added before or after taking the Snap. The music catalog available is varied and has been curated.

"Music can make video creation and communication more expressive, and offer another way to personally recommend music to your closest friends," wrote Snapchat in the caption.

When users receive a Snap equipped with Sound, they can immediately swipe up to find out the album, song title, to the musician.

Then, via the 'Play This Song' link, users can listen to the song in full on music streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

Not only does it include music in Snaps, Snapchat also claims to be testing a feature that allows users to create their own sounds and add them to their Snaps.

Together with this feature, Snapchat also announced Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco's newest song, 'Lonely; will be available exclusively in the Sound feature.


Snapchat Opens Office in Singapore, Strengthens Presence in Southeast Asia

Previously, Snap announced the recruitment of its first employee in Singapore. This step also strengthens the commitment of the company that owns Snapchat in the Southeast Asian market.

As a first step, Anubhav Nayyar will be part of the International Markets team led by Nana Murugesan as Managing Director. The International Markets team itself is known to be responsible for a number of Snap's growth strategies.

These strategies typically include expanding the company's operations in key global markets, promoting cultural relevance and building community, including rolling out a series of programs and local partnerships with telecom providers and OEMs.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to grow our business in Southeast Asia. This region is one of the most dynamic and culturally diverse parts of the world," said Snap's Chief Strategy Officer, Jared Grusd.

Apart from that, Snap also plans to open an office in Singapore this year. Hence, the company is currently monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic and once the situation has subsided, Snap will establish its presence in the country.


Snap Plans in Southeast Asia

"Snap wants to celebrate and support diversity in Southeast Asia, and I can't wait to start building and fostering strategic partnerships, local content and communities across the region," said Director of Southeast Asia Market Development, Anubhav Nayyar.

In the future, the Singapore office will also strengthen Snap's support for multinational brand advertising partnerships based in the Asia Pacific region. For Snap, Southeast Asia has become increasingly important to the company in the last 12 years.

This is evidenced by several initiatives undertaken in a number of countries, including Indonesia. Some of the initiatives are localizing Augmented Reality Lens and creative tools called Kartini Day and Java Jazz Festival.

Photo Credit: Snapchat