What's New WeChat: Stills to Videos, Music Sharing, Blurred Backgrounds & More
Cut the chit-chat and gather around to learn the latest about everyone's favorite super-app in our ongoing column, What's New WeChat.
WeChat has been busy with updates over the last couple of weeks, just in time for you to spend CNY playing with them. Here’s a wrap-up of some of the new features you’re likely to discover (note: the following features were spotted in iOS Version 8.0.18).
Stills to Moments Video
Up to 20 of your still images can now be instantly combined and set to music via the Moments function. Simply initiate the upload of images as you would normally do and you will see an option to “Create Video” at the base of the screen. You can then set it to music and choose from some limited background effects. It’s not a super functional video editor, but it’s quick and simple and provides you with another option for sharing images.
Privacy settings upgraded
Privacy settings are undergoing a robust revamp, featuring not only a variety of ways for you to choose how and where people can add you – and what they can see once they’ve added you – but a ton of information on users as well.
In a section titled “List of Collected Personal Information” you can find your basic user information, device information, usage info, and (perhaps more unsettling, even with how tech can track us as is) location info.
The second section, “List of Information Shared with Third Parties,” is basically a rundown of how your information can and may be shared with enterprises outside WeChat (there’s even been a privacy agreement added before you click on certain WeChat features to enable them, now).
Share music directly
New options for sending things to people have come along with the update as well – like the option to send music directly via WeChat. Even though it’s only linked to QQ Music (understandable considering Tencent owns QQ) the feature allows you to search for and send a song or two while you’re still in WeChat.
What’s this mean? No more having to exit WeChat just to find this song you really want to send a friend but it’ll take time and they’ll get distracted and… ah damn now they’re busy and won’t hear the song…
Blur background videos on calls
Similar to a feature on Zoom, this allows you to blur out what’s behind you so the person you’re calling won’t see.
Now no more having to explain to your family why your apartment is such a mess… or to avoid any other situations that might require explaining.
Name change: WeChat to Weixin
This latest one might have been hard to notice at first, as it’s easy to take for granted, not to mention both still keep the “We” in the name.
The reason for the change from English to pinyin may have to do with a recent national policy on the issue – the same policy that’s seen “Station” replaced with “Zhan” on the Beijing Subway, as well as some reimagined hotel names around the capital – aimed at replacing English with pinyin across the board.
The policy was first enacted in 2017, but it seems like everything is finally catching up to the new rules.
Images: The Beijingers
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BauLuo
Submitted by Guest on Fri, 01/28/2022 - 23:27 Permalink
Re: What's New WeChat: Stills to Videos, Music Sharing,...
Well I think I had a static shock one time when I was about eleventeen. I rubbed my feet against regulations of mom against newly lain rug made of finest polyester which gainfully produced an electric imbalance in my body. Thereupon, opening door , spark be big, I fell on floor. Which caused me mom to immediately yell and scream, which was the norm of a Monday morn, whilst I lay, feigning unconsciousness, reading Thomas Hardy.Still and all, I understand. Fiddling with cell phone apps has been like this healing journey for me. You see, I'm a survivor of those nasty Beijing winter static electricity shocks and I find my Huawei Honor to have been an empowering partner for me as I work through the nightmare.
off topic but applicable. Us Canajians like me don't get roused easily. We will give you the benefit of the doubt 17 times outa 20. But not 20 times outa 20. And once we is roused, then god help you.
So you're what? One of those static shock deniers? More children in Haidian alone were static-shocked last year than Hef diddled bimbos in his whole 8 decades. That should give all of us pause.
BauLuo
Submitted by Guest on Fri, 01/28/2022 - 12:01 Permalink
Re: What's New WeChat: Stills to Videos, Music Sharing,...
Still and all, I understand. Fiddling with cell phone apps has been like this healing journey for me. You see, I'm a survivor of those nasty Beijing winter static electricity shocks and I find my Huawei Honor to have been an empowering partner for me as I work through the nightmare.
off topic but applicable. Us Canajians like me don't get roused easily. We will give you the benefit of the doubt 17 times outa 20. But not 20 times outa 20. And once we is roused, then god help you.
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