Google Maps tests out feature to let users create public events

Google seems to be in the early stages of testing out a feature that will help out those planning big, public get-togethers. Some Android users in the US have the option to create public events. You can see if the option is available in the Contribute tab. If it’s available for you, you’ll be able to choose between creating a party, meet-up, or another public gathering. You can add optional descriptions, categories, and web links. Android Police was testing out the feature and it took an hour for their event to show up. The feature seems to be in its very early days. And doesn’t seem to be available outside of the United States just yet.

Telegram will let you delete messages in your private chat history

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Telegram takes the ability to unsend messages a step further. An update to the service will let you delete any message in your private chat history—it doesn’t matter if you’re the sender or the recipient. It’ll also let you wipe out an entire conversation—either from your side or from both you and the person you’ve been talking to. It feels like an extreme step, but the company thinks it’s necessary for the current time that we live in. As mentioned in his public Telegram channel, founder Parel Durov says the potential misuse of old messages keeps getting worse, with something said many years ago being “taken out of context.” This feature is meant to give you “complete control” over your conversations.

As TechCrunch warns, though, this feature could be as harmful as it is helpful. Malicious users could just delete messages to create a skewed/bogus version of a conversation, or even wipe any evidence of any wrongdoing. Whoever deletes things first gets control of the chat history. You wouldn’t even get a notification. Durov acknowledged the “potential misuse” of the feature but they considered that it would ultimately be beneficial. At this point, we’re not sure how true that could be.

Reports claim YouTube is dropping its big-budget originals

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YouTube seems to be exiting the original content space—or at least it won’t make big-budget content anymore. According to Bloomberg, the streaming site is dropping two of its high-profile shows: the sci-fi thriller Origin and the comedy Overthinking with Kat & June. The company is also reportedly no longer accepting pitches for expensive scripted content. It was announced back in November that a lot of its originals, which are currently available to YouTube Premium subscribers, will soon be accessible for free to its users. But there are claims that eventually all of its original content will make its way to all YouTube users. Perhaps Google didn’t want to drop as much money as its competitors have with trying to create original content and that might pay off for them in the long run.

Source: Engadget

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