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Snapchat announced a major UI update for iOS and Android devices – you’ll no longer have to hold your finger down on the screen to take a look at the snaps. A single tap is more than sufficient, the company said Wednesday.
The update was announced a couple of months ago during the Code Conference. Back then, Snapchat’s chief executive Evan Spiegel admitted that it was annoying to hold down a finger on the screen for so much time.
From their early days, snaps required to keep a finger glued to your screen to play. Whenever you would lift it up, the snaps stopped. Currently Story playback can be halted by dragging your thumb anywhere else on the screen.
But though the change is more practical, it may make the app less special.
Besides this change, Snapchat also upgraded the add-friends feature. You will now have two extra possibilities of enlarging your virtual circle of friends. The AddNearby button will allow you to make friends with people located in the vicinity.
Whenever you access AddNearby, the app generates a list of nearby connected people. You can add them as friends by taping on their username in the list. Both you and the potential friends in your vicinity will be added to the list of AddNearby. But when you choose to close the menu you won’t be tracked anymore, and your username and location won’t be broadcasted to other people accessing the app.
You can also add friends by using QR codes. Until now, adding new people on your friends list was done manually by typing their names. But as of January, the site rolled out Snapcodes, which made that process a little easier. It was as simple as scanning a Snapcode with the Snapchat camera to add a new friend. But now you can find a QR code on Twitter or Instagram, printscreen it and select “add by Snapcode” feature in Snapchat.
Additionally, there are more new features to enjoy – you can now customize Snapcodes within the app. You can do that by just tapping on the tiny ghost on the code, which would start the camera which will take five photos in less than ten seconds. Those photos will be compiled by the app into an animated selfie. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to save it as a GIF or video file. You will be able to export only the first photo from the succession of five.
Yet, some users are concerned that removing the tap-and-hold feature of snaps and Stories may dilute the flavor of the app, which was best known for this particular characteristic. Moreover, users may lose interest in the app because not holding down their finger on the screen of their smartphones may not be as engaging as it used to be. But we we will have to wait and see.
Image Source: Fortune
