New Technology Reviews!.: Messages

Orange expects 1.6m picture messages on Xmas day

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/images/santa-googlemaps-200-200.jpg"> Orange UK has predicted Christmas Day will see 1.6 million picture messages on its network – and a record 159 million texts will be sent in to celebrate New Year. The network operator believes that the snow will make us even more inclined to send people snowy pictures for Christmas – with snowmen likely to feature alongside the dodgy jumpers and unexpected novelty cracker prizes. 27 per cent New Year texts – probably the ones you don't get until 4am in the morning – have increased hugely in the past few years and 2010 should see 159 million sent though Orange. That's a 27 per cent increase on last year's not insignificant total of 125 million. "With the prospect of a white Christmas now looking stronger than ever, we expect to see a bumper number of picture and text messages being sent as customers share their perfect white Christmas moments," said an Orange spokesperson. Santa must be getting a bit worried; with all those picture messages being taken and surely he's going to get snapped some day.

Orange expects 1.6m picture messages on Xmas day

Orange UK has predicted Christmas Day will see 1.6 million picture messages on its network – and a record 159 million texts will be sent in...

In pictures: Facebook Messages

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/Facebook/facebook_messages/facebook_messages_crop-200-200.jpg"> The "future of modern messaging" - that's what Facebook is calling its <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/facebook-announces-modern-messaging-service--908393">new Facebook Messages service</A>. The revamped feature brings your email, IMs, Facebook messages and texts into one seamless inbox. In theory, Facebook Messages enables various forms of communication to take place on Facebook - even texts. We're interested to see how that works in practice but, for now, Facebook has given us these images to give us a feel for the new offering. When the new Messages service is available for you, you'll see the below message. <img alt="Facebook messages" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/Facebook/facebook_messages/42668551-New-Messages-Screenshots-2-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Alternatively, you might see this new Messages splash screen if you click on the Messages sidebar link. <img alt="Facebook messages" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/Facebook/facebook_messages/42668551-New-Messages-Screenshots-4-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Here's the email setup screen. <img alt="Facebook messages" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/Facebook/facebook_messages/42668551-New-Messages-Screenshots-5-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> You'll see new messages appear much as before - all of your messages are integrated into a single, continuous thread. Messages from friends are prioritised and that everything else goes into a separate 'other' folder - rather like Gmail's new Priority Inbox. There are also other enhancements such as adding or removing people from threads, sending attachments or forwarding messages. <img alt="Facebook messages" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/Facebook/facebook_messages/42668551-New-Messages-Screenshots-7-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> You can also choose to receive texts into Facebook - choose your country, then your carrier. <img alt="Facebook messages" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/Facebook/facebook_messages/42668551-New-Messages-Screenshots-8-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Facebook says Messages will also have the following features: <UL> <LI>Faster communication: If you want, you can send Messages just by hitting your enter key, so using Messages is as fast (and as casual) as an in-person conversation. </LI> <LI>Smart filtering: You'll always see what's important to you first – messages from the people you're close to take precedence over mailing lists. </LI> <LI>Revamped search: Search for either the person you were talking with or what you were talking about to quickly find your message and all the related context. </LI> <LI>Adding people to a thread: Loop people into conversations more easily. </LI> <LI>Forwarding: Pass a message along to other friends directly. </LI> <LI>Unsubscribe, or removing yourself from a thread: Opt to leave a group conversation when you no longer wish to be involved. </LI> <LI>Sending attachments: Aside from links, photos, and videos, you can now include external files in your messages. </LI></UL>

In pictures: Facebook Messages

The "future of modern messaging" - that's what Facebook is calling its new Facebook Messages service . The revamped feature br...

Facebook Launches Revamped Messages Feature

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZbGkrk9nsj4hivTHQd4R7Ahoqz1vhyYiKuyZ1fBKHlGGPVtfWJlgsEmEoEtrDsyhodZjIGiSS2IdkmtpNR9MOQf2dESclzuHdTJwtGRDdXa2tI7wtmmwc5r9l8zz60RvlGLzYpXkGbM/s1600/113471_matter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZbGkrk9nsj4hivTHQd4R7Ahoqz1vhyYiKuyZ1fBKHlGGPVtfWJlgsEmEoEtrDsyhodZjIGiSS2IdkmtpNR9MOQf2dESclzuHdTJwtGRDdXa2tI7wtmmwc5r9l8zz60RvlGLzYpXkGbM/s1600/113471_matter.jpg" /></a></div> 
 
At the scheduled Facebook event, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a revamped version of Messages feature for the social network. New Messages unifies the messages received via email, SMS, chat or Facebook message in to one Social Inbox. Last week, Facebook was rumored to launch Project Titan, a Gmail killer service for Facebook. In a way, Facebook certainly earned some brownie points for including all email, SMS, chat and message into one Inbox and allowing users to start a real-time conversation. 
 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrCW3tVHH5zH8sewYT3a8DB-nWKTDV5wFP8SYzPLR8Xycsc_m49DYqCEwMdSABFt78i89s6QowSLyaxBbnkZoZlE4EDWYg3fNyR5Goy3Hz8HZZrhlemP1-r2eIfslDXG4aY3LAAN8KVc/s1600/113471facebook1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrCW3tVHH5zH8sewYT3a8DB-nWKTDV5wFP8SYzPLR8Xycsc_m49DYqCEwMdSABFt78i89s6QowSLyaxBbnkZoZlE4EDWYg3fNyR5Goy3Hz8HZZrhlemP1-r2eIfslDXG4aY3LAAN8KVc/s320/113471facebook1.jpg" width="320" /></a> 
 
 
 
Facebook Messages is quite a handy feature to share messages amongst friends. Messages is an invite-only feature at the moment. Every Facebook user who wishes to use Messages as his new 'email ID' would be given an @facebook.com email address. Will this Messages system with unified social Inbox and real-time threaded conversations affect Gmail? We'll talk about that a bit later. First, let's take a look at the features of Messages: 
 
Unified conversation: 
Facebook is a widely used social network not only on desktop but also on mobile phones. Several young kids are addicted to check their wall and notifications via cellphone after every few minutes. Messages will bring SMS, chats, direct messages on Facebook and emails - all on one location. For adding emails, users will have to activate the optional Facebook email address. 
 
Users can get spoiled further with the new easy message compose options. They will just have to choose the name of the recipient and type out the message to be sent - No Carbon Copy, no Blind Carbon Copy, No subjects. It is more like a chat conversation wherein you just click on the user's name and start chatting. Facebook claims that the conversations would happen in real time. 
 
Threaded real-time talks: 
Whatever conversations that take place on Facebook Messages will appear in form of threaded conversations between you and the contact. All SMS, chat, Messages and Emails between you and your friend would appear in form of a thread and thus you'll have a history for all the messages exchanged. At any point of time you can leave that long threaded conversation and start a new one. Of course you'll get to revisit that history of conversation later. 
 
 
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Social Inbox: 
By default, Facebook will show you messages only from your friends and their friends in the Inbox. Any other messages from users not on Facebook would appear in a folder named Other right below Messages on the left column. You can easily move those conversations to Messages Inbox to receive all future conversations in there. Facebook also offers a Filters option under account settings to restrict receiving mails that aren't sent by any of your friends. In short, you get to choose whose messages and mails you want to receive. 
 
Security Concerns: 
In the past, Facebook has faced several phishing and hack attacks. The social network has been struck with koobface and other worms a number of times. Hence, I'm a bit skeptical about how spam-free and other nuisance free the new Messages would be. Undoubtedly Facebook's security team has taken precautions against such attacks and blocked all the holes. But you never know if an innocent user's account is misused for sending spam to several other users. 
 
 
Google's Take on Facebook Messages: 
Facebook launched new Messages system at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. A couple of hours later, Google CEO Eric Schmidt was present there and showed off the upcoming Nexus S smartphone as well as Gingerbread with Near Field Communication Support. On being asked about Facebook's new Messaging system, Schmidt declined to comment. Instead, he told Computer World, "We're actually pretty happy with Gmail. Right now, it's all about its terrific, wonderful growth. People use Gmail because of its speed and its searchability. Its core design has been around speed and searchability. Gmail is doing very well. We're happy to have the market expand." 
 
It is quite early to say if Facebook Messages would take up on something as big as Gmail. I mean, it might attract the social network addicts who just want to stay in touch with all their friends. Not to forget, Facebook is still a social network while Gmail is a proper web-based email service. However, web-based email services providers - Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail are making their services more social. Looking from a social network addict's perspective, Messages is a perfect feature for a lazy and laid back lifestyle.

Facebook Launches Revamped Messages Feature

At the scheduled Facebook event, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a revamped version of Messages feature for the social network. New ...