Snapchat has been updated with two important and much needed features - Chat and Video. But does that make Snapchat more like Skype and Hangouts? Not really.
This update to Snapchat allows you to text inside Snapchat. This requires you have to swipe a friend's name in the inbox to chat and once you leave the conversation, all the messages will disappear. Users can share images, short videos, text and emoticons in that chat. So they have incorporated their typical 'default delete' philosophy here. However, in case you wish to save a message or list, simply tap on it to save it or take a screenshot.
Other big feature here is being able to video call your friend which allows users in engaging deeper conversations than ever before. While texting, you can immediately start a face-to-face chat session by pressing and holding 'share live video' bubble that's located next to text area where you type a message. Of course you won't be able to save the video, this is Snapchat! The limitation here however is that the video chat feature works only when both users are inside the app (though this makes it feel a bit natural). Imagine this as a Walkie-Talkie Video calling app in which you can text too.
"There’s nothing like knowing you have the full attention of your friend while you’re chatting.", says the 23-year old CEO Evan Spiegel who recently rejected a $3 billion offer from Facebook who wanted to acquire Snapchat. Just the way we press and hold to view snaps, now we press and hold to immediately start a live video chat. This makes for a very Snapchat-esque way of video calling. This is a brilliant way of mixing texts and video chat. Snapchat's way of implementation is anything but conventional. You can immediately look at each other in a moment's notice and let go in a jiffy. This feels so natural. The conversation which you would have on Snapchat would be going back and forth between texting and video whenever necessary while both are paying attention. This makes it feel more conversational and less transactional.
The dream of being able to text/talk to a person and get their total attention is being realized here. Send a text when words are enough, else press and hold the bubble to say something visually. This fundamentally changes the way we talk to each other on Snapchat. Getting rid of the barriers of video calling and being able to start a video chat without the other side having to fully commit is a breakthrough. Instead of having a weekly once, one long video call, with all the annoyances it brings along, now texting and video can become a daily pleasure.
Snapchat had always been considered as an app for teenagers and for fun. It was never taken too seriously. Also, it was never a reliable way for communication or sharing pictures. But now, Snapchat has really added some serious value to their app. Snapchat wants to be the go-to app for any kind of communication.
All those who have either uninstalled the app due to boredom, or who have installed it and haven't used it much (like me!) or the ones who have never used it, this is your time to get Snapchat up and running. The hard-core users, now you got more excuses than ever to use Snapchat. A must try app for everyone.
Other big feature here is being able to video call your friend which allows users in engaging deeper conversations than ever before. While texting, you can immediately start a face-to-face chat session by pressing and holding 'share live video' bubble that's located next to text area where you type a message. Of course you won't be able to save the video, this is Snapchat! The limitation here however is that the video chat feature works only when both users are inside the app (though this makes it feel a bit natural). Imagine this as a Walkie-Talkie Video calling app in which you can text too.
"There’s nothing like knowing you have the full attention of your friend while you’re chatting.", says the 23-year old CEO Evan Spiegel who recently rejected a $3 billion offer from Facebook who wanted to acquire Snapchat. Just the way we press and hold to view snaps, now we press and hold to immediately start a live video chat. This makes for a very Snapchat-esque way of video calling. This is a brilliant way of mixing texts and video chat. Snapchat's way of implementation is anything but conventional. You can immediately look at each other in a moment's notice and let go in a jiffy. This feels so natural. The conversation which you would have on Snapchat would be going back and forth between texting and video whenever necessary while both are paying attention. This makes it feel more conversational and less transactional.
The dream of being able to text/talk to a person and get their total attention is being realized here. Send a text when words are enough, else press and hold the bubble to say something visually. This fundamentally changes the way we talk to each other on Snapchat. Getting rid of the barriers of video calling and being able to start a video chat without the other side having to fully commit is a breakthrough. Instead of having a weekly once, one long video call, with all the annoyances it brings along, now texting and video can become a daily pleasure.
Snapchat had always been considered as an app for teenagers and for fun. It was never taken too seriously. Also, it was never a reliable way for communication or sharing pictures. But now, Snapchat has really added some serious value to their app. Snapchat wants to be the go-to app for any kind of communication.
All those who have either uninstalled the app due to boredom, or who have installed it and haven't used it much (like me!) or the ones who have never used it, this is your time to get Snapchat up and running. The hard-core users, now you got more excuses than ever to use Snapchat. A must try app for everyone.