A new Instagram feature automatically filters out abusive direct messages
As a bonus, another new feature Instagram is now rolling out helps stop people you’re already blocked from contacting you through a new account.
Chat
Apple acknowledges lock-in is the reason why iMessage hasn’t been ported to Android
Apple’s Schiller: “Moving iMessage to Android will hurt us more than help us.”
WhatsApp is working on easy chat transfer between the iPhone and Android
Provided WhatsApp launches this feature publicly, the company will at long last make it a lot easier for WhatsApp users to switch between the iPhone and Android devices.
WhatsApp is testing three different playback speeds for voice messages
You will soon be able to speed up particularly long voice messages. This feature will also come in handy for those times when the speaker is using too many pauses and “uhms.”
WhatsApp is working on password-protected encrypted iCloud backups
You will be able to protect WhatsApp chats and media backed up to iCloud with an encryption password, which will also be required when restoring from a backup file.
WhatsApp brings VoIP and video calls to desktop
You can now call WhatsApp contacts via mobile or desktop. One-to-one calls are supported at launch, with a group-calling feature coming to WhatsApp Desktop in the future.
WhatsApp is testing self-destructing photos
Screenshot detection is yet to be implemented, but that won’t matter much to bad actors because skilled people will always find a way to document your self-destructing images.
Telegram gains expiring invites, auto-delete in any chat, unlimited groups and more
The secure messaging app received a burst of new users following the confusion over WhatsApp’s privacy policy.
Here’s what will happen if you don’t accept WhatsApp’s new privacy policy by May 15
Originally due to go into effect February 8, the new privacy policy is launching next month. If you don’t accept the new terms, you’ll be able to receive calls but not much else.
You can now import your WhatsApp chat history complete with attachments into Telegram
The encrypted messaging app Telegram has rolled out a tool for importing your WhatsApp chat history on iOS. It’s available in version 7.4 update, which is now live in the App Store.
WhatsApp for iPhone gains secure Face/Touch ID authentication for desktop and web access
This is an extra measure of authentication meant to prevent someone with access to your phone from linking your account to their web browser.
Beeper messaging app offers iMessage on Android, Windows and Linux
To make iMessage work on non-Apple platforms, Beeper requires you to use either their Mac app or a jailbroken iPhone that acts as a bridge to iMessage.
