Facebook today announced three new mobile app features aimed at helping its users better "create and save memories," with a launch in India first and then rolling out to the global community "shortly thereafter" (via The Verge).
The first feature allows photos and videos taken with Facebook's in-app camera to be saved directly to a user's Facebook account in the cloud, and not onto their device's storage. This is aimed at the India market due to the popularity of cheaper entry-level devices in the country and their inherent storage limitations.
These pictures and videos will only be visible to the user after they're saved, but can then be posted to a wide audience. According to The Verge, "If there's a capacity limit to the new storage options, Facebook doesn't mention it."
Also in the camera, users will be able to share voice messages as "Voice Posts" thanks to a new audio option. This is another aim at the Indian smartphone user market, since local users will be able to quickly record a voice message and send it to a friend, without Facebook needing to update its app with more native language keyboards.
Lastly, users will gain an ability to archive their favorite Facebook Stories before they disappear after 24 hours. Facebook debuted a somewhat similar feature for Instagram late last year, allowing users to highlight their favorite stories permanently on their main profile as a way to show off their personality to any visitors.
Facebook is also gearing up to launch a major Messenger update, which will introduce a dark mode, customizable chat bubbles, and a simplified user interface into the chat app. Facebook revealed the update during its F8 conference earlier this month, admitting that Messenger had become cluttered over the last few years and promising that the new update would greatly streamline and simplify the app.
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I am also bemused with how the lead image shows one of those dumb lanterns; the ones that are extremely dangerous to animals and the environment. It's fitting since FB as a whole supports animal cruelty.