You know that age-old question: “How do I get my WhatsApp messages?” especially when your friends move from an Android smartphone to an iPhone or vice versa? Well, it looks like that may become a thing of the past with an upcoming update to the Facebook-owned app. The new feature was first reported by WABetaInfowhich also reported the emergence of multi-device support earlier.
The new feature seems to be under development for a future update. However, like a few updates that have been tracked in the past, there’s no guarantee that the feature will come to the app. That said, the update seems to be built on top of the multi-device feature that seems to be making its way to the app soon. It wouldn’t be hard to see the feature being rolled out after the multi-device feature debuts or together with the feature. It looks like the interplatform synchronisation will be implemented as a real-time chat migration which might indicate that users may need to be signed in to both devices for migration to be done.
Source: WABetaInfo
Chat migration between Android and iOS isn’t impossible at the moment. However, it requires the use of third-party apps that may put user data at risk. In addition, migration of the messages itself is a violation of WhatsApp’s Terms of Service. Before, backing up chats and migrating between the platforms wasn’t such a complicated process. In fact, users could back up or restore messages from Google Drive or other cloud storage services. However, the feature was limited to Apple’s iCloud when Apple and WhatsApp tightened data protection policies on their platforms.
The Malaysian state of Selangor has been busy enhancing their contact tracing application – SELangkah. The new optimisations and features gear the app to address some of the growing concerns emerging amongst Malaysians in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic. With its new features, the app is now gearing up for the vaccine rollout and for a “new normal” post-COVID-19.
SELangkah is getting improvements to its core, contact tracing function. The app now allows users to access information such as Crowd Trends which allows users gauge their visits based on the customer visits to a given premises. The app provides users with a map of the locations recently afflicted with COVID-19 cases. Using this information, SELangkah is assessing the exposure risk to the virus. On the back end, the SELangkah app now provides a dashboard for law enforcement to clamp down on premises flouting the Operating Procedures announced through a Visitor Log.
The app is also adopting a GPS based check-in system which allows users to check in to the premises via their phone’s GPS instead of scanning the QR Code. The SELangkah app will also work with QR Codes issued by the Federal Government’s MySejahtera application. It also gives access to the features of the app within SELangkah. Users will now be able to access their location history as well with the new scan history. In addition, the app will be communicating regular updates from the Selangor State Government via its new bulletin board feature.
The Selangor Government is also encouraging screening through the SELangkah application. Users will be able to register for upcoming events and check their COVID-19 screening results via the application. In addition, the state government is looking to use the app to track vaccination rollout. Users are able to register for vaccination via the Register and Sign up for your Vaccine Pack (RSVP) feature that is coming to the application soon. The RSVP feature will be integrated into vendors’ stock keeping systems for better rollout.
What started off as a contact tracing app is quickly becoming the Selangor Government’s go-to application for many of its welfare efforts. The application is expanding to include commercial features which will allow those such as hawkers who have had to deal with the brunt of the pandemic to quickly adopt and adapt to changing times. Their SELangkah Biz feature is a cashless solution which looks to enable cashless payments among micro, small and medium enterprise merchants. The feature will allow these vendors to receive e-wallet payments even without a bank account.
The SELangkah app is also upping security by adopting a more secure approach they are calling SELangkah ID. The single-sign-on system is integrated across the app and allows users to use digital and biometric authentication to access the app’s growing list of features. It will also offer access to government-related services as Selangor shifts toward a more digital future.
Nowadays, most of us use a smartphone to communicate. One of the ways we do this is via communication apps such as WhatsApp, WeChat, Messenger, Skype, among others. Most of the time, these apps are free of charge and come with features that make communicating easier. However, we are at a point where there are way too many apps offering users different kinds of communication styles and experiences. This had led to a conundrum where users have become overwhelmed by messages leading to some messages being missed or overlook. Seeing that reality, Eric Migicovsky, the founder of the now Fitbit-owned Pebble, has unveiled a new, universal communication app, Beeper, which unify up to 15 chat networks.
Source: beeperhq.com
Beeper brings all the widely used chat applications under one roof. This allows users to not only be on multiple platforms at the same time, but also have one screen to rule them all. It offers users the option to reply messages in a fast and convenient way while being platform agnostic. The new app supports 15 chat networks including Apple’s iMessage. Beeper is available on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Users can enjoy all the features offered by their multiple apps such as unified search, snooze, and archiving messages on Beeper. However, supporting Apple’s iMessage is a little trickier. To allow Android, Windows, and Linux users to use Apple’s service on Beeper, the Migicovsky and his team had to find a workaround. This involves using Apple’s own devices for some digital trickery. The company is using an always on Apple device as a bridge to enable iMessage on Beeper. If you don’t have an Apple device to use as this bridge, the company will send the user a jailbroken iPhone with the Beeper app installed; otherwise, it’s as simple as downloading the app on your Mac or iPhone to enable the service.
Source: beeperhq.com
The platform is built on an open-source platform called Matrix. The platform is run as a non-profit by the Matrix.org Foundation like Mozilla. It offers a set of APIs and SDKs for developing and running chat platforms. It enables decentralized, secure communication on these platforms with end-to-end encryption. This also means that larger adopters of Beeper have the option to run the application on their own servers for additional security and peace of mind.
Source: beeperhq.com
It’s pretty hard to imagine that Beeper would be available for free given the elaborate lengths the creators have taken to enable all the services. For those interested in using Beeper, it come with a monthly subscription fee of USD$10 (MYR40.43) for the app. If you need the jail-broken iPhone the fee is not included in the subscription.
Beeper is hardly the first app on the market that aggregates chat platforms into a single app. There are apps such as Franz and Rambox which are available on the internet without the support for iMessage. That said, Beeper holds much promise when it comes to having literally all your messaging platforms under one roof. There will be more chat networks for users to enjoy soon with night mode coming in the next version.
The Facebook and Instagram unification continues as Facebook’s Messenger App gets a tweaked icon to match the Instagram colours. This preceded a roll out of new functionality and themes for more expanded customization. Now Messenger’s iconic blue colour is becoming a shade similar to Instagram’s logo with shades of pinks and purples thrown in the mix.
The Facebook’s Stan Chudnovsky ,VP of Messenger said that they will begin to roll out new chat themes like love and tie-dye, and custom reactions together with new features where you can include your own photo into stickers which to make your chats more personalized and fun than ever before. Moreover, an exciting upcoming feature is the vanish mode, which makes the chat messages disappear after the recipient has seen it.
Facebook has also announced seamless cross-app messaging with Instagram. Current Messenger users would not need to perform additional set up to access this feature. Furthermore, new features will roll out automatically once they have become available in the user’s country. These features include aforementioned Selfie stickers, watch together functionality of IGTV and Facebook Watch and many more.
There is also speculation that functionality from WhatsApp, which is also owned by Facebook, will be incorporated with Messenger and Instagram in the near future too. It will be interesting to see the encrypted calls and messaging of WhatsApp featured in the Messenger-Instagram ecosystem.
Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Telegram – that’s the growing list of apps that are allowing users to send expiring or disappearing messages. The latest app to join is none other than WhatsApp. After what seems like an eternity behind other apps, it seems like the feature is now coming to WhatsApp.
Evidence first popped up in March showing options which allow users to send messages with an optional expiration time for the platform. If a user enables the feature, all message that sent individually or in groups will be automatically erased after seven days. Users can configure the setting for individual chat while only group admin able to turn on the feature for group chats.
The feature seems to also work with with media files. However, the media file will not disappear if the user turn on the auto download for receiving any files. This may be one of the more convenient implementations of the feature as not everyone wants media to be downloaded to their phones.
WhatsApp has recently updated their FAQs to include a new answer regarding the new feature. In their response about the feature they clarify, ” Once enabled, messages sent in the individual or group chat will disappear after seven days. The most recent selection controls all messages in the chat. This setting won’t affect messages you previously sent or received in the chat. In an individual chat, either user can turn disappearing messages on or off. In a group chat, only group admins can turn disappearing messages on or off.”
With the FAQ is live on the WhatsApp website, it seems like the feature will be making its way to users in the coming weeks. The features will be available to users on Android, iOS and KaiOS.
WhatsApp has also published tutorials for enabling and disabling the features on their website.
We live in unprecedented times where communities need to support each other to make sure that we all survive what has been a weird roller coaster of a year. One of the worst hit industries has been the food and beverage industry with restaurants losing humongous chunks of their dine-in revenue and paying even more in delivery commissions with delivery partners such as Grab and FoodPanda. Some have reportedly been asked to pay upwards of 20% of their order to these partners.
EatLokal is looking to change that reality by partnering with disruptor brands like MyGroser and Socar to help bolster and support the local restaurant industry. They are working with these services to bring down the cost of delivery for both the restaurants and consumers. In fact, the company is looking to charge only 10% commission on sale for their launch period to help businesses increase sales and get back on their feet. The reason behind the low commission? Simple, they believe that the bulk of the revenue earned through sales of food should stay with restaurants at this time.
While EatLokal is focusing on delivering better value for service to restaurant owners, they aren’t leaving the consumer behind. They are looking to deliver better value for money when it comes to getting the convenience of ordering food. EatLokal is looking to connect us with our favourite local eateries. From the corner store with that deliciously thirst quenching cendol to the savoury chicken rice shop in Bangsar, EatLokal is looking bridge the divide in this time of social distancing while providing a convenience to both patrons and restaurateurs.
“As consumers, we have all felt the pinch of rapid increases in the prices that we pay for food delivery. We know there is a better, fairer way for everyone involved – the restaurants who provide the food and their employees; the delivery teams who do the work of sending the food to consumers; and consumers themselves. EATLOKAL is a community focused effort disruptors from Malaysia’s digital landscape who aim to improve the quality of service, pricing and approach to food delivery services while supporting and protecting our local restaurants, cafes and other food outlets who are working hard to stay open for us,”
Stephen P Francis, CEO of EATLOKAL
EatLokal is teaming up with independent motorcycle delivery teams, private delivery operators and Socar to get the goodies delivered. Socar will be playing a vital role in mobilizing cars as a delivery option.
The service is available in early access on the Apple App Store, GooglePlay Store and also on the internet via their webiste EatLokal.com. They are serving areas across Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Bangsar, Damansara, Hartamas, Mont Kiara, Tropicana, Bandar Utama, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Sunway, Subang Jaya, USJ and their surrounding areas. EatLokal has already teamed up with favourite neighbourhood eateries such as YMT Healthy Vegetarian, W1 Dining & Cocktails, Concubine KL, Asian Rice Pot, The Locker & Loft and The Accidental Bakers. EatLokal is now limiting the delivery radius to a 5 km radius from the outlet. However, they are continually expanding.
Watching Netflix on your mobile device is one of the many conveniences that online streaming brings. However, there is nothing worse than having your viewing experience being disrupted by an accidental touch or if someone touches your screen. Netflix knows this too! That’s why the company is introducing a new feature: screen lock.
The new Screen Lock feature has apparently silently made its way to the Netflix app on Android. It essentially makes the screen irresponsive when touched while you’re watching shows – as the name suggests. This feature is a welcomed addition for users who, like many of us at techENT, tend to watch shows on our tablets or smartphones.
Source: 9to5Google.com
Enabling screen lock removes the whole Netflix UI. This includes the play and pause button, timeline scrubber and replaces it with a lock icon. You will need to double tap the lock to get back the regular Netflix UI. As of writing this story, the feature has yet to make it to iOS.
The new feature comes on the heels of Netflix’s announcement of enhanced parental controls. The enhanced controls were introduced as a way for parents to be more at ease with their children using the app as the world deals with the current pandemic.
So last Friday we started on a series to document how we will start living with a HUAWEI smartphone free from the clutches of the evil Google ecosystem. No, they are not really evil; I am just trying to be a bit dramatic here. You get the idea though. Modern HUAWEI smartphones today only come with HUAWEI’s very own Mobile Services and AppGallery; no Google Mobile Services and Play Store. Kind of sad, really.
Last week we managed to download Facebook and WhatsApp. We did not have Instagram, or Netflix, or Telegram. In short, there were plenty of apps we did not have. Did we miss them? Yes, very much, I had Instagram and Netflix, and Prime Video installed in other devices just to scroll through them.
I Still Miss Social Media
In truth though, I am not that big of a social media person.
While I do scroll through social media from time to time, I seldom spend more
than 15 minutes scrolling through Facebook, or Instagram, or Twitter, and even
Snapchat. I have never logged onto Tik Tok.
That does not mean that I can completely ignore all this social
media though. Of course, if I am being honest, I do miss the apps. The idea of
just seeing what other people are up to in their own life; that can still be
quite fun, and quite traumatising depending on the contents.
Facebook can be quite enough though, especially with
Facebook Watch and the countless videos on the platform. That is technically
all the entertainment I got from the HUAWEI Nova 7i. To keep in touch with my
friends, I have WhatsApp. Then again, I turn on my WhatsApp on desktop barely
looked at my smartphone when it comes to messages.
Exploring the AppGallery A Little Deeper
Still, things are not so bad after scrolling through the AppGallery
once more. There are apps in the smartphone after all. Social media apps
include Snapchat, Tik Tok (of course), and WeChat (of course). Nope, nothing
else that I use as far as I can tell. There is even TrueCaller on the AppGallery.
Things are looking a bit up now that I scroll through a little
bit more through the AppGallery. You can find Viu, iflix, and some cinema booking
apps within the AppGallery to start with. No, no Netflix or even Amazon Video
Prime. For now, iflix and Viu would do. I personally don’t have a viu account,
so I stick to iflix. We are currently under the Movement Control Order (MCO),
so I cannot go for movies.
If not though, I can do some window shopping via Zalora, Lazada,
and even Shopee. There are even some games that you might be familiar with. One
of them is Cut the Rope 2 within the AppGallery. You can even find Lords Mobile
and Fortnite on the device. So to be fair, you are not really getting
shorthanded in terms of entertainment here.
For productivity, they have WPS Office on the AppGallery. While
some say that WPS Office app is better than the original Microsoft apps, I
would respectfully disagree. The modern Microsoft apps are now so much better,
and so much more optimised. At the same time, it is easier to sync your Microsoft
apps to OneDrive than anything else. This is a problem on the device though;
there are almost no Microsoft apps here.
I say almost because there is a particularly useful Microsoft
app that we love. That app is Microsoft’s Translation app. In our opinion, this
is the best translation app that mankind has ever produced. It is accurate and
works with plenty of accents. Still, we are not here for the Microsoft Translate
app.
It is Still Android, Just Without Google
The apps that are downloaded are also very similar to the
Android apps you find on Google Play Store. The EMUI 10 is based on Android 10
after all. Still, we found these apps. Which are great. If you are worried
about bringing them out as your electronic wallet, you would be relieved to
find Touch n’ Go app in there and Boost app. Grab is making its way on
AppGallery. Still, the two largest e-wallets in Malaysia has a foothold in
HUAWEI’s AppGallery. That means the HUAWEI Mobile Services (HMS), and
AppGallery cannot be that bad, right? Too early to tell in my opinion.
Still, we are going to dive a little deeper than that. For
now, that is all we can walk away with. Stay tuned for the next part.
