Instagram hits pause on full-screen feed, some in-feed recommendations

After mounting criticism online, Instagram plans to walk back on some changes, including a test version of the app that shows full-screen photos and videos. It'll also reduce the recommended posts you see in the main feed. The new redesign test will be phased out over the next few weeks. 

These changes come as users express their frustration over the decisions Instagram makes to better compete with TikTok and navigate what it says is changing user behaviour from posting photos to watching more videos. Instagram head Adam Mosseri said this shift to more video consumption is real and pre-dated the rise of TikTok. But he acknowledged that people didn't like the design changes.

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Netflix's 'Running with the Devil' documentary follows John McAfee on the run

A new Netflix documentary dropping on August 24 follows the infamous antivirus founder turned fugitive John McAfee. He reportedly asked a film crew to document his experience as he tried evading authorities and the Mexican cartel (apparently). McAfee became a suspect in 2012 for the murder of his neighbour, Gregory Faull, in Belize.

That documentary is called Running with the Devil: The Wild World of John McAfee. It's produced by the British studio Curious Films, whose co-founder, Dov Freedman, told Deadline that it's been "10 years in the making."

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Twitter taps into its roots with Status feature test

Source: Twitter

The latest Twitter experiment allows users to assign one of several pre-written labels to tweets. In theory, it would seem to replace the emojis users typically add to tweets regarding topics they're talking about and saves them a few characters. Like a spool of thread emoji signifies "A thread" is coming, a warning sign emoji is a label for spoilers, and a mic is used for "AMAs."

According to a Twitter spokesperson, the feature is designed to give a bit more context. They said, "whether you are about to drop a hot Tweet thread, share your shower thoughts, or have a bad case of the Mondays, your Tweets can better convey what you are up to." The status labels are predetermined, so you can't make your own.

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Microsoft's Ignite conference will be an in-person event this year

Source: Microsoft

Microsoft will be holding its first in-person event since the coronavirus pandemic began. Its Ignite conference will take place in Seattle between October 12 and 14. Microsoft notes the "space will be limited" for the annual event for developers and IT professionals. It comes back during a significant milestone for the company. The event will take place a few days before the 10th anniversary of the Surface line.

The company plans to open registration for Ignite in late August. You can also join the conference for free virtually. Microsoft also plans to hold in-person events in cities worldwide, with the Ignite conference at the Seattle Convention Center as its main event. You can expect "highly interactive and immersive activities" at the venue. Microsoft hasn't shared its plans yet for how to limit attendees' exposure to COVID-19 or whether masks and vaccinations will be required.

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