Facebook Messenger gets a redesigned its Home screen

Facebook really wants to keep you on its Messenger app and they’re doing so by redesigning its Home screen. You won’t just see the recent messages you’ve been having but you’ll also now see things like Favorites (those you message the most), Active Now section for the friends, family, and colleagues who are on Messenger at the moment, as well as a Birthdays section to remind you to greet people who’re celebrating their birthday.

The social network claims they want to change the inbox experience and they’ve how to make starting a conversation easier or simpler. We’re not sure if this interface is the way to go. But it does make things easier to get to.

Source: Facebook

Facebook pushing mobile web users to download Messenger app

Facebook has done it once before and it seems they’re doing it again. Some users of the mobile web version of Facebook are having a hard time accessing their instant messages on the mobile browser. According to Android Authority, these users have been getting a “Your conversations are moving to Messenger” and while it seems like just a friendly reminder, what that almost does is redirect you to the Google Play download page of Messenger. You can keep pressing back and try to get to your messages but it’s clear Facebook will keep nagging you to download the app.

If you don’t like the path of least resistance and keep wondering why Facebook is doing this, well the simple reason is Facebook has been putting in a lot of work into Messenger and they want you to use it. Plus, there have been rumours that ads are heading that way, too. Of course, you can hold out for as long as you can… or at least until you still have the option to.

Source: Android Authority

Facebook Messenger goes emoji crazy with new update

There are now over 1,500 new emojis to choose from when you use Facebook Messenger. The social network listened to its users, with 10 percent of them include emojis in the messages they send on the app.  The new emojis include gender-agnostic ones, multicolored ones, as well as more female-oriented emojis that include things like female police officers and female runners, to name a few; which Facebook says is its way of making Messenger “more representative of the world we live in.” And the great thing is, the emoji rollout is the same whether you’re on Android or iOS. No more confusing inter-mobile operating system emojis. It’s a consistent experience throughout. For skin tone of the people emojis, you can change those in the Photos & Media section of Facebook Messenger’s settings.

Source: Droid Life

Facebook reportedly thinking of using end-to-end encryption for Messenger

Facebook-owned WhatsApp already has end-to-end encryption activated by default on its messaging platform. And it looks like Facebook itself is mulling over the idea of bringing this into its own Messenger app. But unlike WhatsApp, end-to-end encryption will be a separate mode that users need to enable. The Guardian reports the opt-in approach is being taken with Messenger because having messages encrypted means Facebook will interfere Facebook’s machine learning, which is needed for its recently launched chat bots.

Source: The Guardian