Snapchat might be bringing Stories to the web

Snapchat is looking to snap up more users or at least encourage its existing user base to do use its service more. It’s being reported that the social network is working on bringing its Stories Everywhere to the web or on other apps. It’ll be an embedded web player that would help increase exposure to snaps and hopefully encourage people to download the app or at least watch content from the service. Snapchat has been struggling to attract new users, so it needs to extend beyond its walls. If there’s any truth to these rumours, it’ll give them an advantage over Facebook and Instagram since both don’t offer embedded stories just yet. But with Facebook known to quickly copy Snapchat features, we aren’t sure if that advantage will last long. Snap is refusing to comment on the report.

Source: Engadget

You can now buy Snap's Spectacles via Amazon

After a gimmicky release through pop-up vending machines and direct orders online, Snap is now ready to sell Spectacles to a lot more users. The wearables are now available through Amazon. Its three colors—black, teal, and coral—are available. Snap is selling them directly for the usual US$129.99 price tag and Amazon fulfills the order. The glasses are eligible for next-day delivery. 

Spectacles is Snap's first foray into hardware manufacturing and it lets users record 10- to 30-second clips, which can be uploaded to your Snapchat account, another social media app, or be exported to your camera roll. 

Source: The Verge 

Snapchat wants to keep you in its app

Snapchat is constantly under siege by Facebook and we won’t be surprised if this new feature will show up on Facebook, Instagram, and even WhatsApp. Snapchat adds a new functionality to its search bar to encourage you to keep watching. Just type a topic of choice (ex. puppies) and get to see all the videos related to that. The videos that show up there have been added by users who selected the add a “Snap to Our Story” option. Snapchat uses a machine learning algorithm it probably got from its acquisition of search and recommendation app Vurb last year.

By adding this functionality, it’ll entice you to stay on the app longer, especially with the addition of Stories “around me” and local “attractions” that you can check out. It’s rolling out to select cities in the U.S. first but Snap plans to release the experience to more areas. It just won’t say when though.

Source: Mashable