Instagram launches Live Video

There seems to be no end to social media platforms drawing inspiration from Snapchat. On Monday, 21 November, Instagram announced two new updates. One of these is disappearing photos and videos. This content can be sent either to friends or groups using Instagram Direct.

In Snapchat fashion, the messages disappear after the receiver has seen them and senders are alerted when a screenshot of the message is taken.

Instagram is, however, offering something unique with a feature it is rolling out over the next few weeks in Instagram Stories and Explore.

The unique capability, live video, is live in the truest sense: the video only displays on Stories while it is being broadcasted. Instagram explains in the blog post, “When you’re done, your live story disappears from the app so you can feel more comfortable sharing anything, anytime”.

Twitter buys Yes and takes Moments mobile

Twitter is still not being bought as was suggested here, here and here, among many other places. It is, however, the one doing the shopping.

A company called Yes, Inc. recently said it is joining Twitter. Recode explains Yes is known for two mobile apps: wyd, which shares status updates, and Frenzy which lets users make plans with friends. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted on Friday, 2 December that Keith Coleman, the CEO of Yes, and his team will be joining Twitter.

In another positive development, the company announced in a Tweet on Wednesday, 30 November that mobile users will now also be able to create Moments. Moments, which could until then only be created via the website, lets users string Tweets together into a story.

The news follows on a bit of an embarrassing moment Twitter had the previous Wednesday, 23 November when its CEO’s account was suspended. TechCrunch points out users trying to view Dorsey’s account saw a message stating “The account you are trying to view has been suspended”.

@jack’s account was back online later that day when he attributed the error to “an internal mistake” in a Tweet.

Facebook grows Messenger functionalities

Facebook’s Messenger just got more fun. On its Facebook for Developers blog, it announced it is launching Instant Games on Messenger and the Facebook News Feed.

“This new games experience allows people to easily discover, share, and play games without having to install a new app,” Alissa Heesang Ju, a product manager at Facebook, wrote in the post.

Users can access Instant Games through a game controller icon on Messenger. Instant Games features score-based games, leaderboards, and group thread conversations. These games are available to users in 30 countries.

A further addition to the Messenger offering is that Facebook is adding analytics capabilities to the platform. Developers of bots for the chat app can now also join Facebook’s FbStart global programme which supports mobile start-ups.

Snapchat’s Spectacles are available in a New York “shop”

One of Snap Inc’s travelling vending machines has apparently found a temporary home. Business Insider reports that a vending machine, which dispenses Snapchat’s Spectacles cameras, has shown up in a pop-up store in New York City.

Up until now, the yellow robot-like vending machines have been travelling through the US, showing up in different areas without prior notice. Business Insider indicates the new store is expected to stay open until New Year’s Eve.

It seems the yellow bot strikes again.