Instagram merges permanent and disappearing personal messages

There used to be two different places for ephemeral and permanent messages on Instagram’s Direct feature. But that’s changing with this new update. The disappearing messages will now show up in the permanent chat thread. The ephemeral messages will still disappear after the photo and video have been viewed but a note will be left behind mentioning something was shared there before. The change is made to make it easier for you to keep track of your conversations on the service.

Source: The Verge

Dropbox brings document scanner to Android

Dropbox just released some new updates for its mobile apps. The big feature coming to Android is the app’s document scanner, which was initially launched on iOS. The doc scanner lets you scan printed or handwritten documents right from your mobile phone. It’ll let you crop or rotate the scans to get the image right. Dropbox will even let you scan multiple pages into on PDF. For Dropbox Business users, the service is adding the ability to search for keywords within the scans.

Launched alongside this update, Dropbox updated its Paper mobile apps for Android and iOS to get offline support. It’ll let you create new documents or access, edit, and comment on recent or favorite docs. These’ll then sync when you get back online.

Source: Dropbox Blog

Facebook Messenger introduces group payments in the US

Facebook is testing out a new feature in the US. Its Messenger app gets a new group payments option to make splitting tabs an easier affair. Like with other direct peer-to-peer payments, this feature is free to use at the moment without hidden fees. All you need to do is link your account to a debit card. You can opt to send or request cash from someone in a group chat or just pick certain participants. You can decide to put a specific amount or let Messenger split the total amount—with or without yourself included. Don’t expect an instantaneous money transfer though. The money will be transferred to your bank account within five business days. The group chat will show updates on who paid and who haven’t yet.

Source: The Verge

Ford's new project helps put babies to sleep by replicating physics of a moving car

For many new parents, there is only one guaranteed solution to putting their baby down at the end of the day – a night-time drive that soothes, calms and eventually helps little one nod off.

But that still means a disrupted night for mum or dad, who research shows can typically expect little more than five hours sleep a night while losing the equivalent of 44 days sleep in just the first year of their child’s life.* Help, however, could soon be at hand.

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