Online&Social
Facebook Launches a Paid Events Tool for South African Content Creators
Facebook has launched a Paid Online Events tool that will allow content creators in South Africa to earn extra money. Paid Online Events is available in 20 countries and is expanding to 24 additional countries in the coming weeks, with South Africa being the first country in Africa where the tool is launching. “Since launching Paid Online Events in August 2020, it has grown tremendously, providing creators and businesses with another valuable way to earn money on Facebook,” says Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Head of Strategic Media Partnerships for Sub-Saharan Africa. “Many conference organisers, musicians, trainers, theatre producers, creators and businesses are losing revenue during the pandemic due to social distancing measures. Paid online events will help them to reconnect with their fans, mo...
Netflix could Introduce New Test to Curb Password Sharing
Netflix is testing ways to curb password sharing for business and security reasons. As part of this test, users will be required to verify whether or not they are the owner of the account through an email code or text code. “If someone is unable to verify account ownership within a certain timeframe, they won’t be able to stream any Netflix content,” reports The Verge. According to Netflix’s terms, an account can only be shared with people of the same household, “the Netflix service and any content viewed through our service are for your personal and non-commercial use only and may not be shared with individuals beyond your household.” A Netflix spokesperson told The Verge, “the test is designed to help ensure that people using Netflix accounts are authorized to do so”. And up until ...
Facebook Unveils Instagram Lite for Android
Facebook has launched Instagram Lite for Android. This app has been designed for users living in rural and remote communities who want a high-quality Instagram experience using minimal data. Instagram Lite has been made available in more than 170 countries around the world – but will be especially useful in regions that do not possess the most up-to-date mobile devices, robust internet networks, or affordable data plans needed for swift delivery of the data-rich videos and images found on Instagram. “Our teams build these lightweight versions of our apps for people with low connectivity or limited data plans because our basic premise is to leave no one behind,” says Tzach Hadar, Director of Product Management at Facebook Tel Aviv. “We wanted the Instagram experience to remain fast, hi...
Twitter is Testing a New Way to Post Images
Image sourced from Mission Statement Academy Twitter is testing a new way for users to crop images – by not having to crop them at all. According to The Verge, this means images will show up in the Twitter timeline looking just as they did when the user was composing the tweet. “Sometimes it’s better said with a picture or a video. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be testing some ways to improve how you can share and view media on Twitter,” says Twitter in an official tweet. “Now testing on Android and iOS: when you Tweet a single image, how the image appears in the Tweet composer is how it will look on the timeline – bigger and better.” Now testing on Android and iOS: when you Tweet a single image, how the image appears in the Tweet composer is how it will look on the timeline –– bigger and...
Twitter to ‘Overhaul’ TweetDeck, says Product Chief Kayvon Beykpour
Image sourced from Mission Statement Academy Twitter Product Chief, Kayvon Beykpour has revealed that the company is actively working on an overhaul of TweetDeck, its account management platform. In an interview with The Verge, Beykpour says “we haven’t given TweetDeck a lot of love recently. That’s about to change; we’ve been working on a pretty big overhaul from the ground up of TweetDeck, and it’s something that we’re excited to share publicly sometime this year.” He goes on to say that this is a clear example of a Twitter-owned and operated platform that it will continue to invest in – as the company is also committed to “improve Twitter’s developer tools and repair its relationship with app makers”. According to Beykpour, Twitter has a lot of trust to earn back as it has made mistakes...
Microsoft Officially Lays its Edge Legacy Desktop App to Rest
Sourced from Wikimedia Microsoft has officially ended all support for its Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop application – this means that it will no longer receive security updates. “Last August, we announced that Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop application support would end on March 9 2021 as part of this transition to the new Microsoft Edge,” reads a blog post from Microsoft. “Today, Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop application support officially ends, and it will no longer receive future security updates”. The company went on to say that the now out-of-support Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop application will be removed and replaced with the new Microsoft Edge when customers apply April’s Windows 10 cumulative monthly security update (or “B” release). /* custom css */ .tdi_3_1f3.td-a-rec-...
WhatsApp Reportedly Testing End-to-End Encrypted Chat Backup Feature
WhatsApp is working on a new password protection feature that would encrypt chat backups, reports The Verge. At the moment, chats are only end-to-end encrypted on WhatsApp – this doesn’t include the online backups stored on Google Drive and iCloud.So with the introduction of this feature, chats would only be accessible to the sender and recipient. WABetaInfo shared screenshots of what this could look like: • The chat database is already encrypted now (excluding media), but the algorithm is reversible and it’s not end-to-end encrypted. • Local Android backups will be compatible with this feature. The chat DB and media will be encrypted using a password that only you know. https://t.co/WAliLUnF18 — WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) March 8, 2021 /* custom css */ .tdi_3_4a4.td-a-rec-img{ text-al...
Multichoice Adds New Local Channels in Ethiopia
Image sourced from The Vanguard Nigeria MultiChoice has added Abol TV – a 24-hour premium 100% Ethiopian general entertainment channel – to its list of locally-focused channels. Abol TV joins DStv’s stable of Ethiopian programming including the Ethiopian Premier League, Amharic language channels such as Zee Alem, Nick Jnr Amharic, and local free-to-air channels. In developing the programming for Abol TV the channel director paid careful attention to Ethiopian culture, audience preferences and of course language. The content team worked with local Ethiopian producers and offered creative and financial support, partnering with them to produce world-class content that celebrates with the cultural nuances of the country and its people. MCG says that it supports the development of a continent-w...
Netflix Launches ‘Fast Laughs’ to Rival TikTok and Reels
Netflix has launched a new short-form video platform called Fast Laughs. The service is expected to give users an inside look at funny clips from Netflix’s library of series. “Wanna see something funny? On Netflix, this one little question opens up lots of possibilities from hilarious series and films to laugh-out-loud stand-up specials,” reads a statement from the company. “That’s why we’re launching a new Fast Laughs feature for mobile devices. Fast Laughs offers a full-screen feed of funny clips from our big comedy catalogue including films (Murder Mystery), series (Big Mouth), sitcoms (The Crew) and stand-up from comedians like Kevin Hart and Ali Wong.” Users can access the service through the bottom navigation menu by clicking on the Fast Laughs tab. Clips will start playing – wh...
WhatsApp’s Introduces Voice and Video Calling for the Desktop App
WhatsApp has announced that private and secure one-to-one voice and video calls are now available its desktop app. The calls are end-to-end encrypted which means that WhatsApp can’t hear or see them, whether you call from your phone or your computer. “With so many people still apart from their loved ones, and adjusting to new ways of working, we want conversations on WhatsApp to feel as close to in-person as possible, regardless of where you are in the world or the tech you’re using,” says the messaging platform. “We’re starting with one-to-one calls on the WhatsApp desktop app so we make sure we can give you a reliable and high-quality experience.” /* custom css */ .tdi_3_b63.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_b63.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } To make desktop calling more u...
Microsoft to Enable End-to-End Encryption for Teams
Microsoft is set to enable end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for Teams by the first half of this year. Jared Spataro, Corporate VP for Microsoft 365, says that this will address users’ security and compliance requirements. “Teams will support E2EE for one-to-one Microsoft Teams calls, providing an additional option for conducting sensitive online conversations.” He goes on to say that IT will have full discretion over who can use E2EE in the organization. E2EE for Microsoft Teams one-to-one ad hoc VoIP calls will be available to commercial customers. Microsoft Word to Introduce New Text Predictions Feature Microsoft is set to introduce text predictions for Word. This new feature is expected to help users write “more efficiently” by reducing spelling and grammar errors. /* custom css *...
How to Go Live with 3 People on Instagram
Image sourced from Time Instagram has introduced Live Rooms, a new feature that gives users the ability to go live with up to three people. “Previously, you could go live with only one other person in a stream, but we’re now letting you “double-up” on your live broadcast,” says the social platform in a statement. Facebook-owned Instagram hopes that Live Room’s will open up more creative opportunities for users – for instance, start a talk show, host a jam session or co-create with other artists, host more engaging Q&As or tutorials, or just hang out. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_dd6.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_dd6.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Live Rooms also gives creators even more ways to build a business and earn money. “With Live Rooms, viewers can buy badges for ...
