Latest news with #InstagramBlend
Hindustan Times
24-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
WhatsApp's new ‘Advanced Chat Privacy' explained: Why is it important?
WhatsApp, in a bid to boost privacy for users, is has launched a new feature called Advanced Chat Privacy. This feature works in both group and personal chats, and allows users to have extra peace of mind, considering how it prevents content from being taken outside of WhatsApp. WhatsApp says the feature can actively block others from exporting chats, and this is where the real benefit lies. Also Read: Gmail scam: Google says users have 7 days to recover hacked accounts This feature is designed for times when you want more privacy, such as during a sensitive conversation with someone you've just started talking to, or someone who has yet to earn your trust. 'When the setting is on, you can block others from exporting chats, auto-downloading media to their phone, and using messages for AI features,' WhatsApp said in its blog post. Not being able to take chats outside the chat is certianly going to make many feel secure, especailly more so considering media won't be auto-downloaded, too. If you're wondering about the use cases, WhatsApp says it could be useful in situations such as discussing health challenges in a support group or organising your community around something important to you. That said, there are a few drawbacks, including the fact that users can still take screenshots of chats, but WhatsApp notes that it is working on adding further protections soon. Also Read: Instagram Blend explained: How to use this new feature To start using Advanced Chat Privacy in WhatsApp, go to a chat and tap on Advanced Chat Privacy. This will enable the feature for you. It should be noted that this is part of the latest WhatsApp app update, and WhatsApp has confirmed that it is indeed rolling out for everyone. Mobile Finder: iPhone 16 LATEST Price, Specs And More
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Instagram Edits app launched: How to use it for Reels and short videos on mobile
Instagram Edits launched: Content creation is on the rise, and one thing that remains constant is the need to edit videos before uploading them online. While Instagram does offer built-in editing features for Reels, it has always lacked advanced capabilities. To bridge this gap, Instagram has launched a new app called Edits. This app makes editing videos on your phone significantly easier, bringing in pro-grade features including clip-level editing, and being able to quickly add effects like green screen and transitions. The Edits app also allows for easy sharing directly to Instagram and Facebook. Also Read: Instagram Blend explained: How to use this new feature Upon opening the Edits app, you will be prompted to sign in with your Instagram account. If the Instagram app is already installed on your phone, it will likely offer a 'Continue with Instagram' option. The app is currently available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. There are several tools available in the app, including options to trim clips, adjust volume, and change the speed of the video. You can add yourself into scenes using a green screen feature, which is ideal for educational or explainer-style videos. The app also enables basic colour grading, with adjustments for brightness, contrast, saturation, temperature, highlights, shadows, and more. There are built-in filters as well, including Instagram's own presets like New York, Los Angeles, Jaipur, Melbourne, and others, which help give your videos an aesthetic quickly. Further, there are additional built-in effects such as film grain, flicker, hue shift, and more. Users can also easilymodify their voice with effects like helium, low intercom, dreamy echo, monstrous, alien, swirl, lo-fi, and can extract audio clips from your video, then edit or delete them as needed. That said, one of the most advanced features on offer is Cutout, powered by Meta AI. This allows the app to automatically cut out and track an object within the video, enabling you to overlay it on top of your footage. It essentially simplifies complex techniques like masking, making professional-level video effects more accessible. You can directly film content using the Edits app, with the flexibility to choose between different focal lengths, various frame rates, and resolutions. It also lets you adjust the recording speed and even change the background, which is particularly helpful for creative effects or explainer videos. Once you are done filming your clips, you can simply transfer them into a project to start editing right away. In addition to editing capabilities, the app also provides insights. These include details from your Instagram account such as reach, Reel views, net followers, likes, comments, and more. Mobile Finder: iPhone 16e LATEST Price, Specs and All Details
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Instagram launches Blend, a new feature for sharing Reels with friends: Here's how to use it
Instagram Blend feature In an effort to enhance social interactions and engagement on its platform, Instagram has introduced a new feature called Blend. This feature allows users to create a private feed of recommended Instagram Reels shared with their friends or group chats. While the concept may seem somewhat perplexing at first glance, it holds the potential to offer users a more collaborative and personal way to enjoy the content that populates their feed. Instagram's introduction of Blend is reminiscent of the Spotify Blend playlists, where users can share music with friends based on shared tastes. However, in this case, Blend applies to the scrolling experience of Instagram Reels—offering a new way to experience social media in tandem with others. What is Instagram Blend and why does it matter Blend allows users to share and discover content through a private feed of recommended Reels, tailored to the interests of both the user and their friends. The feature gives users a chance to learn more about what their friends and loved ones are watching and reacting to on Instagram, fostering a deeper connection through shared interests. The initiative could lead to a more collaborative experience for users, who typically scroll through Reels alone, by making content consumption more social. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads View Deals Undo The feature works within direct messages (DMs) and group chats, enabling users to exchange opinions and reactions to suggested Reels. It's a major shift from the solitary nature of traditional social media consumption, inviting people to discover new content while engaging in conversation about it. Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, explained in a Reel that the feature was designed to facilitate deeper connections among users and encourage conversations sparked by shared content. Blend appears to be another way for Instagram to compete with apps like TikTok, which have successfully created interactive, social content discovery experiences for their users. By introducing a feature that keeps users engaged for longer periods through mutual interaction, Instagram aims to ensure that its platform remains a go-to space for socializing and discovering content. How to use Instagram Blend The feature has been in development since March 2024, with early testing conducted with a subset of users. Now that it's available to a broader audience, here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Instagram Blend. Step 1: Open a DM and tap 'Blend' To get started, open a direct message with a friend or group. You will notice the Blend icon appear at the top right of the conversation. Tapping the icon is the first step to starting your Blend experience. Step 2: Tap 'Invite' Once the Blend feature is activated, you'll need to send an invite to one or more people in the conversation. Once they accept, you and your friends can start discovering Reels recommended by Instagram's algorithm, which are tailored to both your preferences and theirs. Step 3: Scroll and react After inviting someone, the Blend feature will refresh daily with new Reels suggestions. As you scroll through these suggested Reels, you and your friends can react to them using the reply bar, which will send responses back to the conversation, allowing you to discuss the content in real-time. This dynamic not only encourages discovery but also keeps the conversation flowing as each person reacts to different Reels in the feed. The Blend will continue to refresh daily, giving users a reason to return and engage with the content, making the experience feel fresh and interactive. Instagram Blend: A new way to share and discover reels with friends The introduction of Blend represents a new attempt by Instagram to strengthen its user engagement and differentiate itself from other platforms. By incorporating social features into content discovery, Instagram is aiming to make scrolling through Reels a more communal activity. This could be particularly beneficial for users who feel the solo nature of content consumption on platforms like Instagram and TikTok leaves little room for social interaction. Instagram Blend also helps personalize the content recommendations within the platform. It allows for more discovery based on shared interests, potentially increasing the time users spend on Instagram by offering them more relevant and engaging content. While Blend might appear to be a niche feature at first, it could have significant implications for how users connect with each other and how content is consumed on social media. It could foster new ways of interacting with friends, learning about each other's tastes, and engaging with a wider array of content. Instagram Blend vs. other social media features Blend is not the first attempt by a social media platform to bring social elements into content discovery. TikTok, for example, has already mastered this type of engagement, with its algorithm-driven For You Page that shares content based on user behavior, while encouraging communal interaction through likes, comments, and shares. Instagram's Blend could allow the platform to keep pace with its competitors by offering an interactive experience that mimics aspects of TikTok, while simultaneously tapping into Instagram's broader multimedia ecosystem. While Spotify Blend playlists focus on music, Instagram Blend targets video content—particularly short-form Reels. This key difference positions Instagram Blend to be highly relevant for users who spend substantial amounts of time browsing video content in isolation. By offering a way to interact with the content and each other, Instagram creates a more connected social environment that encourages users to share, react, and discover together. Also read | Airtel recharge plans | Jio recharge plans | BSNL recharge plans
Hindustan Times
21-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
iPhone trick: Use this hidden iOS feature to track flights for free, without any apps
If you fly frequently, you know how important it is to track your flights. You need to know in advance whether your flight is on time, what time it will depart, and when it will land, so you can make arrangements beforehand. Many people use dedicated tracking apps for this purpose, such as Flighty or similar platforms. But what if we told you that, if you are using an iPhone, you don't need any third-party app at all to track your flights? There are two simple tricks you can use, and the best part is, they are built right into iOS. There are no extra downloads needed, everything is already there. Also Read: Instagram Blend explained: How to use this new feature Simply scroll down on your home screen to access the Search bar. In the search field, enter your flight number. For instance, there's an Indigo flight from Jaipur to Delhi with the flight code 6E 2165. Type 6E 2165 into the search bar. Once you do, you will see the flight's status, whether it's on time, which terminal it departs from, and where it will arrive, along with other relevant details. If you have received your flight details via text message, the flight code will usually be underlined or highlighted. Simply tap on it. Select Preview Flight, and you will get a card displaying a live map of the flight, departure and arrival times, duration, and more. If you haven't received the flight info as a message, you can just type it yourself, for example, type the airline followed by the flight code, such as Indigo 6E 2165. Send this message to yourself or someone else. Once sent, the flight code will become tappable. Tap on it, then choose Preview Flight to view all the details. Also Read: New Gmail scam alert: It's hard to spot and Google is rushing to fix it It must be noted that these tricks also work across other Apple platforms, including iPadOS and macOS (use macOS Spotlight Search). Just follow the same steps, either tap on the flight code or search for it, and you will get all the relevant information. Mobile finder: iPhone 16 LATEST price, specs and all details
Forbes
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Instagram Launches Blend, A Shared Reels Feed For Friends
Instagram Blend Instagram Instagram has announced a new feature called Blend, which creates a custom, invite-only Reels feed for you and your friends. You can invite a friend or group chat to create a Blend. Once accepted, Instagram will show you a custom Reels feed that is made out of suggestions for people in the group. It can also be created for a one-on-one conversation. Also read: WhatsApp Adds 12 New Features To Improve Chats, Calls, Status And More Instagram Blend invite Prakhar Khanna Instagram Blend is a shared feed of Reels that combines recommendations you and your friends might like. It is for those who are tired of tapping the screen more than three times to share a reel with their friends. It can be accessed within the chat by tapping on a new two-emoji-hugging icon (the Blend icon). Everyone in the DM group has to opt in to participate. Once the invite is accepted, Instagram starts recommending Reels for both users as part of an ongoing feed, using the service's algorithm. These recommendations are said to be unique to Blend members and are based on their activity on the platform. The Instagram Blend feed shows a text box at the bottom of suggested Reels. You can type your message and send it to that group chat/friend with a single tap. Once sent, the UI is the same as before, where your message appears below the shared reel. Instagram Blend Prakhar Khanna The new Instagram feature is rolling out in a phased manner. It can only be created with group chats and 1:1 conversations when the other person has access to it, too. To check access, see if you have a two-emoji-hugging icon on the right side of your friend's username in the chat. If it's rolled out for both you and your friend, you can invite each other to create an Instagram Blend. Here's how: Instagram Blend could be a great way to personalize your Reels feed with that one friend (or a group of friends) who has the same Reels taste as you. Whether it be brain rot content, informative videos or pure entertainment – it is all just a tap away.
