Facebook removes chat function from main app, now requiring Messenger

Kris Carlon 2014-04-10T14:00:01Z1 hour ago

Kris Carlon

Putting down roots in Berlin after six years of traveling is a major step for Kris Carlon, who has spent more time living out of a tent lately than sitting at a desk. Kris comes to the AndroidPIT Editorial Team via a lengthy period spent writing on art and culture in Australia and other places he has lived. He joined the Android community while resurfacing in civilization back in 2010 and has never looked back, using technology to replace his actual presence in other people's lives ever since.

There's lots of things that Facebook users don't like about the Facebook app, but there's now a big fat stinking new one to get all in a tizz about. Facebook has just announced plans to remove the instant messaging function from its primary app and instead require users to download the separate Messenger app to be able to chat on mobile devices.

If you're not already using Messenger, you soon will be (or just not chatting in Facebook anymore). / © Facebook

Fans of Facebook's Messenger app, which got a nifty UI overhaul late last year and has been steadily adding functions like voice calling ever since, will welcome the removal of the doubling up of the messaging function. But many users who are just not that into their Facebook experience, or those who simply do not want to have two Facebook apps on their device where one previously sufficed, are upset that there is no longer an all-in-one Facebook app solution.

Facebook's decision to split the two functions has not been very popular. / © Facebook, AndroidPIT

The changes are rolling out in the next couple of weeks, so you have a little time to decide if you want to join the twin-app bandwagon, or grumble and complain for the next two weeks until you cave in. There is, of course, always the option to ditch one or both of the official Facebook apps and simply install a third-party app that offers both the main site and chat options, and will probably be faster and better designed than Facebook's official offerings. At the very least this mean there's no chance that WhatsApp will eventually be absorbed by the Facebook app.

Are you already using Facebook Messenger? Are you for or against the separation and why?

Source: TechCrunch

 Next

View the Original article

Facebook app to ditch messaging; Messenger to take on exclusive role

Like a module on a rocket ship, the Facebook Messenger app will soon detach from its mothership, the main Facebook app. As a result, messaging will no longer be possible in the Facebook app, and all messaging will be exclusively handled by the standalone Messenger.

Because of the change, users will eventually have to install the Messenger app if they want to continue swapping messages with Facebook friends.

Happening in two weeks

Currently, users can send and receive messages in both the main Facebook app itself and the standalone Messenger app. But, that will change in two weeks. The Verge reports that Facebook has been notifying users in some European countries of the eventual split.

A spokesperson from Facebook confirmed the move and told The Verge that the split is not a test and that it will be implemented worldwide.

Better app performance

On the downside, the separation means that Facebook users will soon be needing two separate apps, but on the upside, the split could enable Facebook to implement new features (e.g., free calling) or improve existing ones.

Aside from that, it can be an opportunity for app developers to optimize and streamline the main Facebook app, as well as the separate Messenger app, resulting in speed increase, lower memory usage, and leaner file size.

The spokesperson told The Verge, “Once the whole process is complete, we expect the core apps to be faster.”

Worldwide split, but not in all devices

While the split will be global, it will not be universal among devices. Low-end devices, which presumably will also have limited memory, are exempted from the split.

Tablet users and Windows Phone users will still be able to send and receive messages inside the main Facebook app. The messaging function will also remain — for now — in Facebook’s newly released news app, Paper (iOS only for now), although probably not for long.

Do you use the Facebook Messenger app for messaging?  Or do you still use the internal messaging feature in the main app?  What do you think of Facebook’s plan to completely strip the main app of its messaging functions and hand them over to the Messenger app?  Share your thoughts in the comments section.

previous post

---

AT&T and Verizon are actively trying to kill off cities landlines

next post

---

Google updates its services to stop the bleeding

Facebook Messenger update finally adds free calls

Kris Carlon 2014-04-04T14:30:00Z1 hour ago

Kris Carlon

Putting down roots in Berlin after six years of traveling is a major step for Kris Carlon, who has spent more time living out of a tent lately than sitting at a desk. Kris comes to the AndroidPIT Editorial Team via a lengthy period spent writing on art and culture in Australia and other places he has lived. He joined the Android community while resurfacing in civilization back in 2010 and has never looked back, using technology to replace his actual presence in other people's lives ever since.

Facebook has just done itself a massive favor by finally adding free voice calling to its Messenger app. The most recent update sees free calls over Wi-Fi brought to one of the most popular instant messenger services available, a feature that some of Messenger's rivals still don't have (but many others do). You can still make free calls over your data plan but that will of course cost you something in the way of data.

Facebook Messenger on Android finally has free calling! / © AndroidPIT

This updated feature puts Messenger in the league of Skype, Viber and WhatsApp in terms of voice functionality, and sadly leaves Google's Hangouts behind. It can only be a matter of time until Hangouts catches up though, especially if Google is looking at launching its own wireless carrier service. It would be a little embarrassing to launch a wireless carrier service when your messaging app doesn't even support voice calling yet.

If you're not on Wi-Fi you may still have to pay data charges, but otherwise Messenger dialing is free. / © AndroidPIT

The rest of the update is pretty nice too, with chat groups, forwarding of shared media to people outside of a chat and shortcuts to conversations. Loie showed you how to add a group chat shortcut to your homescreen just yesterday, so check that out if you haven't already. But far and away the biggest news out of this update is free voice calling. I may just be tempted to reinstall Messenger myself after a couple of year absence.

Are you happy to see this feature in Messenger at last? What app are you currently using to make voice calls?

Source: Google Play

 Previous

Get an HTC One M8 for $150 upfront via Amazon

 Next

Top 5 essential apps for the Galaxy S3

View the Original article

Facebook Messenger gets a new update, introduces free Wi-Fi calling

A new Facebook Messenger update is rolling out today bringing several new features to the table including the ability to create groups for those you message the most, forwarding of messages or photos to other contacts, and much more.

Probably the biggest change is that you can now make free calls over Wi-Fi. The option is also usable while on a data connection, though it isn’t necessarily recommended unless you have an unlimited data plan.

Here’s the full change-log highlighting what to expect in the latest update:

• Groups: Now you can create groups for the people you message most. Name them, set group photos and keep them all in one place
• Forwarding: Want to send a message or photo to someone who isn’t in the conversation? Just tap to forward it on
• Conversation Shortcuts: Create a shortcut so that you can get to any conversation right from your home screen
• Free Calls: Talk as long as you want and stay in touch wherever you are. (Calls are free over Wi-Fi. Otherwise, standard data charges apply).

The update is available now directly through Google Play. While Facebook Messenger isn’t exactly the best messaging platform around by any means, some of today’s additions could certainly make it at least a bit more useful.

previous post

---

Google reportedly planning major overhaul of its Android and web apps

next post

---

AirBulb isn’t just a smart light bulb, it’s also a Bluetooth speaker

How to pin a Facebook Messenger chat shortcut to your homescreen

Loie Favre 2014-04-03T13:00:01Z1 hour ago

Loie Favre

Loie Favre is a Canadian-German, food-loving, live-music-craving globe-trotter. Coming from a humble background in the Canadian Prairies centred around nature and the Arts, she studied Translation and Languages in Edmonton. She left his home on the Pacific Coast of Canada, to seek her fortune in Berlin. She is now an Editor and Manager for AndroidPIT.com and is enjoying discovering about everything and anything under the sun about Android.

Don’t think that after widening its domain with WhatsApp that Facebook would forget about improving its other apps. In fact, the company is working continually to improve their own apps, like the Facebook app for Android that just received a new user interface. In the latest Facebook Messenger update, you are now able to create pinned Messenger chats from indiduals and groups and add shortcuts to these on the home screen of your Android device.

 © AndroidPIT

Facebook Messenger group chats make it a lot easier to write a group of people all at once. First you need to ensure that you have the most recent version of Facebook Messenger, which you can do by clicking on the install button below. The recent version added the homescreen shortcuts feature.

Once the app has been updated, open the app again and slide to the second ‘Group’ tab. Here it will give you examples of the different types of groups you can add. Tap on Create new group.

This will open a new page where the new group is set up. You can choose a name, add a picture which you can take then and there, choose from your own photo apps or search directly via the app on the bing browser. You will also need to add the people in that group.

© AndroidPIT

Once you are done, tap create group, which will then pin it to the Groups tab. You can add as many as you want.

To be able to create a shortcut on your homescreen, tap on the small menu icon on the individual group. Select Create shortcut (here you can also unpin group, open chat heads or mute notifications).

© AndroidPIT

You will then see that the shortcut icon with the image you chose is now on your homescreen. Long press on it to drag it where you would like to place it. Tapping on the group will open the chat window and just like normal chat heads, you can maximize and minimize the chat head, move it around the screen and drag it to the ‘x’ when you are done.

What do you think of this new feature?

 Next

View the Original article