Updated: Facebook Messenger To Gain New Snapchat-Like Feature For Instant Video Sharing
June 13, 2014
Facebook Messenger is set to gain a new feature that will make sending short videos quicker and easier.
According to TechCrunch, Facebook's standalone messaging app will soon receive an update that introduces a new option to instantly record and send short videos, as in the popular ephemeral messaging app Snapchat.
News of this update comes just days after Slingshot, Facebook's new take on a Snapchat competitor following its failed Poke app, was leaked into the App Store and promptly pulled. The app would have allowed you to "slingshot" ephemeral photos and videos to your friends and vice versa.
As for Facebook Messenger, it's set to get an update enabling you to simply tap and hold the camera button to send a short video. This update follows up on the app's major update late last April, which brought video sharing from the camera roll and instant photo sending.
The update is also said to include the ability to tap and hold the "thumbs up" button to send a bigger "like."
The update is expected to be released later today.
Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch running iOS 6.0 or later, Facebook Messenger is available in the App Store for free.
Update: The update is out now in the form of Facebook Messenger 6.0:
See also: Key Apple Engineer Leaves For Social Networking Giant Facebook, Updated: Facebook To Launch Shazam-Like Media Tagging Service For Mobile, and Facebook Update Allows Users To Create Posts Offline.
- Instant Video Sending: Shoot and play 15-second video messages from the camera right in the app
- Big Likes: Press and hold to send an even bigger thumbs up when you really, really like something.
