social apps Archives

BetaBeacon

February 7, 2025

The Meta Quest saw Wii-like growth in 2024, but that spells trouble for some games

Nintendo's shift to a Blue Ocean strategy with the Wii led to higher sales than competitors, attracting new gamers. Meta's Meta Quest platform is seeing a demographic shift, with more young users and a decrease in interest in AAA games. The platform is focusing more on free-to-play titles and social apps, leading to challenges for developers of big-budget games. Indie games are becoming more prominent on the platform, signaling a shift away from big-name titles.

AppWizard

October 23, 2024

One simple prompt can make AI images come alive in Facebook Messenger and Instagram

Meta AI is leading in AI image generation, allowing users to create an unlimited number of images without typical constraints. Unlike Google’s Gemini and ChatGPT's DALL-E 3, which have restrictions on creating images of people and daily limits, Meta AI permits the generation of images of individuals (not famous ones) without hassle. Access to Meta AI is easy, especially via Meta's social apps like Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Users can engage with the AI by tapping an icon in Messenger, allowing for interactive conversations and group chat involvement. The image generation feature enables users to create images by typing prompts like “Imagine” followed by a scene description. Users can refine images and request animations, with a dedicated 'Animate' button available on the meta.ai website for added convenience.

Winsage

September 26, 2024

Meta announces big new Quest features, ecosystem updates – virtual desktop for Windows, Dolby Atmos

During the recent Meta Connect event, Meta announced several new features for Quest users with an upcoming update to Horizon OS. 1. A Virtual Desktop-like capability will be integrated into the Meta Quest, allowing seamless connection to Windows PCs and supporting multiple virtual displays in augmented reality. 2. Dolby Atmos support will be added to enhance the audio experience for movies and TV shows. 3. Core social applications, including Facebook Messenger and Instagram, will be revamped to include mixed reality functionalities and enhanced multi-window support. 4. Horizon Hyperscape will allow users to scan their physical environments to create photorealistic virtual representations, currently available only in the United States with plans for broader rollout.

AppWizard

September 18, 2024

Popular Android apps ask for too many dangerous permissions

A recent investigation by Cybernews analyzed 50 widely-used Android applications, revealing that the MyJio app requests the most permissions at 29, followed by WhatsApp with 26, Google Messages and WhatsApp Business with 23 each, and Facebook and Instagram with 22 and 19 permissions, respectively. In contrast, gaming apps like Among Us require no permissions, while Candy Crush Saga and 8 Ball Pool ask for only 1 or 2. Communication apps average nearly 19 permissions, social apps 17.2, and shopping apps like AliExpress average 13.4. A total of 40 apps request permission to write files, and 34 seek to read from external storage. Camera and audio recording permissions are requested by 33 apps, while 27 apps seek the "Get accounts" permission. Additionally, 26 apps track users' precise locations, and the same number request access to read contacts. Lastly, 22 apps request permission to read the phone state.

AppWizard

June 28, 2024

Gemini AI Now Available in Google Messages App on Android – MySmartPrice

Google Messages now includes Gemini AI, making it easier for users to access the chatbot within the default messages app. Gemini can answer queries, write essays, suggest message ideas, plan schedules, read emails, and perform other tasks. Users need an active internet connection to use Gemini, and the functionality is currently being rolled out gradually. The integration of Gemini AI follows Meta AI's arrival on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, aiming to attract more users to artificial intelligence. Both Google and Meta have designed their chatbots to be beginner-friendly, providing a familiar conversational experience for new users.

Winsage

June 19, 2024

A concept designer presents ‘a Windows 13 utopia’ packed with Windows 11’s wildest dreams but is disrupted with an annoying BSOD only Microsoft can fix with execution

A concept designer shared a video of what Windows 13 might look like in the future, featuring elements from Apple Intelligence, advanced features for Copilot, and customization options. Windows 11's market share struggles despite Microsoft's AI push.

AppWizard

June 18, 2024

Is TikTok’s new app another Instagram clone? Whee aren’t sure

ByteDance has quietly launched a new social app called Whee, promising a more intimate and authentic experience for users. The app allows users to share real-life photos that only their close friends can see, creating a more personal social media experience.