Blue line: Twitter's attempt to make conversations easier to follow

Blue line was one of the trending topics on Twitter, Thursday afternoon, after users started noticing it.

Twitter Inc announced today that they have updated their user interface with a new addition: A blue line that will visually help users read exchanges on Twitter by connecting them to each other. According to the official blog, Twitter admitted that, "To date, exchanges haven’t always been easy to follow. With this in mind, we’ve now made it easier for you to see conversations as they’re taking place."

This means: Tweets that are part of a conversation are shown in a chronological order so it’s easier for users to follow the entire thread.

Up to three tweets in sequence will be showcased in the home timeline, and those who want to read the complete thread can tap a tweet to see all the replies, including those from people they don’t follow. This will also mean that old tweets will show on the timeline if someone you follow replies to them at a later time.

"It's so hard to find new tweets now because anything that's part of a conversation goes straight to the top. I bailed on Facebook when it became jumbled and congested, I'll do the same with Twitter. People like Twitter because of its simplicity. Your update is garbage," posted a user on YouTube.

The new feature is being rolled out to all users today.

Initial reactions to the new blue line haven't been very nice, like they are with most early reactions to interface changes on websites.

Hewlett Packard announces HP EliteBook Revolve 810 and HP ProBook 430

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HP beefs up business PC range with a new hybrid and a sleek notebook.

News | by CIOL Bureau 

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Hewlett Packard Printing and Personal Systems Group, India today extended its commercial PC portfolio with the announcement of HP EliteBook Revolve 810 and HP ProBook 430.

EliteBook is a touch-enabled notebook that pivots to let users share their work and folds to go mobile as a tablet, and is priced at Rs. 90,000/-. HP ProBook 430 is a business notebook suitable for everyday use and is priced at Rs. 39,000/-.

As a sleek and lightweight notebook that also converts to a tablet, the HP EliteBook 810 is designed to revolve around a busy executive's life, and comes with elegant touch computing, enterprise-grade security and military-grade durability.

Driven by the latest, third-generation Intel Core processors and optimized for Windows 8, the HP EliteBook Revolve 810 offers the incredible performance and visuals of a full-power notebook. With a touch-enabled display that pivots to let users share their work or revolves and folds to go ultra mobile as a tablet, the HP EliteBook Revolve 810 is designed for busy enterprise environments, bending over backwards to get more done. Representing the ninth generation of HP's line of convertible tablets, it has all the tools needed to get the job done.

HP also introduced ProBook 430, a business notebook with the power and performance that perfectly suits its solid design and elegant finish. Made of aluminum, with a spill-resistant keyboard and a soft-touch paint job, this stylish notebook is built to perform.

HP ProBook 430 is packed with the tools IT needs to securely deploy and manage a fleet across an enterprise with built-in security, which safeguards your HP ProBook against viruses, detects possible corruption, and alerts you to unauthorized changes. HP BIOS Protection offers enhanced protection against virus attacks and other security threats, and is designed to help prevent data loss and reduce downtime.

Mr. Sunish Raghavan, Head- Commercial PC Category, PPS, HP India said, "Professionals today demand zero-compromise productivity and extreme mobility in a computer, and HP offers the best solution with EliteBook Revolve and ProBook 430."

Apple launches iPhone trade-in programme

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           Apple began letting US iPhone owners trade in their smartphones for credit toward buying new models.  


The California company's trade-in program kicked off in the wake of unconfirmed reports of a September 10 event at which Apple will unveil new iPhones, with rumors ranging from a gold handset to a low-price version aimed at emerging markets.

"iPhones hold great value," Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette said in an email to AFP.

"So Apple Retail Stores are launching a new program to assist customers who wish to bring in their previous-generation iPhone for reuse or recycling."

She would not specify how much Apple is paying for old iPhones, but they can fetch $300 or so depending on the model at an array of websites or US consumer electronics shops that buy handsets.

The Wall Street Journal earlier this month reported that Apple had asked its Taiwan-based supplier, Hon Hai Precision, to begin shipping two new versions of the iPhone in September, including a lower-cost model.

Speculation has centered around whether Apple will shift its strategy of focusing on premium devices priced at the high-end of the market to include a lower-cost handset appealing to people with tight budgets.

A survey by Gartner said Apple's share of the smartphone market worldwide fell to 14.2% in the second quarter, while Samsung's rose to 31.7%.

Samsung has found global success with smartphones powered by Google's free Android software, which now dominates the market.

As the smartphone market in the United States and other Western countries matures, companies may have better luck encouraging upgrades rather than reaching out to first-time buyers, according to Gartner analyst Van Baker.

Motives for Apple's trade-in programme likely include keeping iPhone users loyal to the smartphones as well as the lucrative iTunes shop for digital music, films, and books.

"Keeping people in the fold is what it is all about," Baker said. "The question for me is whether it will be competitive with programs that already exist in the market."

Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry saw the trade-in program as Apple delivering product management instead of product innovation.

Analysts and Apple fans have been watching whether chief Tim Cook will live up to the legacy of company co-founder Steve Jobs when it comes to wowing the world with culture-changing devices.

"Tim Cook's Apple is very different from Steve Jobs's Apple," Chowdhry said.

"This is not the thing customers are looking for." He said Apple lovers are more likely wondering "Where is my iWatch" and "Where is my Apple TV."

Cook took over as chief of the Cupertino, California company in 2011 as Jobs stepped down to grapple with illness that took his life later that year.

Cook is considered an operational mastermind with a relentless work ethic, and is believed to have played a leading role in the gadget company's turnaround.

Cook was Apple's chief operating officer until his elevation to CEO.

Micromax to Launch Canvas Mega Phablets?

After the launch of their Canvas series phones, looks like the Indian Samsung is all set to follow the footsteps of global phone makers and jump in on the ‘Mega’ trend. Every smartphone maker is looking to make the smartphone bigger and bigger and the line between phablets and tablets is not just blurry but almost non-existent today.

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Similar to Samsung, Micromax seems to be in the mood for launching not just one but two Mega series phablets! While one is pegged to be a 5.7-inch device, the other will be a 6-inch (or bigger) fonblet. The smaller of the two Mega series phones is rumoured to be named Canvas A240 while the bigger 6-inch or above phablet will be a part of the Canvas Doodle lineage and be named the Canvas Doodle 2.

Micromax Canvas A240 will sport a 5.7-inch 720p HD display. There’s still no word on the resolution and we hope Micromax provides a decent resolution to match the big screen size. The phone will run Android Jelly Bean version 4.2 and hopefully will be upgradable at a later date as Jelly Bean 4.3 becomes popular. Micromax Canvas A240 will run a 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6589 processor. The RAM will be 1 GB and internal memory is said to be 16 GB. It is still unclear whether the phablet will support a memory card slot or not.

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What interests us most about the phablet is the camera. Not only is Micromax Canvas A240 said to come with a 12 MP rear end camera, but Micromax will reportedly also cater to the selfie-lovers with a better front camera. Micromax Canvas A240 will reportedly come with a whopping 5 MP front-end camera! This will definitely boost the deal for Micromax. Apart from the high-resolution camera, Micromax Canvas A240 will also come with all the software tweaks of Micromax Canvas 4 like the vertical panorama, video pinning, etc.

The phone will come with a mammoth 2600 mAh battery and support dual-SIM. Also, considering it is a Micromax device, the phablet will be priced well under the 20k segment. Pegged directly against Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8, Micromax Canvas A240 definitely has an edge if the rumoured specifications are anything to go by.

Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 available online for Rs.19,990

Micromax has launched the Canvas Doodle 2 smartphone and the device is available online for Rs. 19,990. It has a 5.7-inch display.

 

 

Micromax has been teasing the Canvas Doodle 2 for quite some time and the smartphone is now in a position to reach customers hands. Carrying a price tag of Rs. 19,990, it is the most expensive handset to come from the budget smartphone maker. The smartphone is listed on snapdeal, but as of writing this article, we couldn’t find it on any other online shopping portal like flipkart, infibeam or saholic. There hasn't been official announcement regarding the launch of the smartphone yet.

The Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 A240 shows off a 5.7-inch HD display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. Under the hood, a 1.2GHz quad-core processor along with 1GB of RAM powers the smartphone. The rear houses a 12MP camera with dual LED flash and it has a 5MP front-facing camera for video calling.

The Canvas Doodle 2 has 12GB of built-in storage and runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The package is powered by a 2,600mAh battery, which the company claims has enough juice to run for 8 hours of talk time. It also shows off dual-SIM capabilities. The smartphone comes preloaded with a bunch of apps including M! Doodle, M! Live, M! Security, M! Zone, Hike, Spuul, Foneclay and Facebook.

Priced at Rs. 19,000 and showcasing a 5.7-inch display, the Canvas Doodle 2 aims to take on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8, Sony Xperia L, Spice Pinnacle FHD, Panasonic P51, and many more. Recently Micromax launched its flagship smartphone, the Canvas 4. The device retails for Rs. 17,999.

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Sony Xperia S, Xperia SL & Xperia Acro S receive firmware update

The Sony Xperia S, Xperia SL and Xperia Acro S smartphones, launched earlier by the company, are now receiving a firmware update.

 

 

Sony has posted information about the update on its official blog, "We've started rolling out the maintenance release for Xperia S, Xperia SL & Xperia acro S." The new Android 4.1 Jelly Bean firmware update for the three Xperia devices brings performance and stability improvements.

Some of the major highlights of the latest firmware update include boosted connection stability for 2G network data, enhanced full-HD video recording and introduction of Google Now by long-pressing the home key. The update also fixes the volume up bug which now ensures the volume up button is fully responsive. The company has also posted a change-log detailing the fixes that includes fixes for camera, apps, battery, hardware and UI.

The new firmware update is being rolled out over the air (OTA). The blog also suggests that the timing and availability of the update may vary by market and carrier. However, Sony has not revealed any plans of releasing the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update for the devices.

Earlier, XperiaBlog reported that Sony will release updates for Sony Xperia S and Xperia SL. A screenshot of firmware build 6.2.B.1.96 for the Sony Xperia SL was also leaked, showing the handset with 3.4 kernel.
Recently, Sony Xperia SP HSPA+ and LTE versions also received a firmware update.

For the latest technology news and reviews, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and get the NDTV Gadgets app for Android or iOS.

Google Nexus 7 Up For Pre-Order In Korea; India Launch Expected Soon.

Google Korea announced Monday about the launch of its second generation Nexus 7 tablet in the South Korean market. The latest Nexus device is up for pre-order on various online retailers like E-Mart, Hi Mart, Shinsegae Mall, Auction and Lotte Mart.


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As per a report published in Korea IT Times, the 16GB Wi-Fi variant of the Nexus 7 shall carry a price tag of 329,000 won ($294) while its 32GB Wi-Fi variant shall carry a price tag reading 369,000 won ($330). Nothing has been revealed about the exact availability date, but yes, an Indian launch of the Nexus 7 is expected by end-2013.

The second-generation Nexus 7 is thinner by 2mm and lighter by a 50 grams when compared with its first-gen model, and is thus scores more on portability. The USA launch of the same model took place in July. The Android 4.3 (JellyBean) running tablet as of now is available in just select countries, and boasts a 7-inch FHD display, Qualcomm SnapDragon S4 Pro Quad-core Processor, 2GB RAM, 16/ 32GB of internal storage and Wi-Fi support. It has a 5 megapixel camera. The tablet is also 3D-compatible. With pixel-per-inch estimated at 323, this tab is wonderfully optimized for entertainment outlets like movies and games.

Keep watching this space for more on Google Nexus 7. 

Upcoming Android Phones 2013: LG To Announce L9 II This October, Perfect For Budget-Conscious Android Fans

LG continues to bank on its recent success with the release of a mid-range phone, reportedly coming in October.

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Upcoming Android Phones 2013: LG To Announce L9 II This October, Perfect For Budget-Conscious Android Fans

 

While most people have been doing rounds looking for details about LG's upcoming flagship, the G2, reports say LG is poised to release another quality handset.

According to Android Authority, the Korean company will release the younger sibling of the Optimus L9, which it released last year. Dubbed as the LG L9 II, this smartphone will fall under the mid-range bracket. While it does not pack the same top-notch features as the G2, it will still boast a decent 720p, 4.7-inch screen, TrueIPS display, a 1.4Ghz dual core processor, and 1GB of RAM.

The upcoming Android phone is also rumored to sport 8 megapixels of rear camera, 8GB of internal memory, an SD card slot for memory expansion, and a 2150 mAh battery. It will run Android's version 4.2 Jelly Bean.

Indeed, all these specs aren't ground-breaking, but the phone will certainly make waves in the mid-tier competition. One of the leading phones in that division is the iPhone 5C, which will be launched on September 20 in the US. Other phones which would surely bring a tough fight are the older Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC One X, and Sony Xperia S.

While details for the LG L9 II are limited, one thing is certain. It will be launched or announced sometime in October. So Android phone users looking for a decent smartphone that does not ruin your budget, this would be an ideal option.

Samsung Galaxy S5 may come with 16MP camera: Report

A South Korean news website has reported that the upcoming Galaxy S5 will have a 16MP camera with optical image stabilization.

 

NEW DELHI: As the launch of Samsung's Galaxy Note III flagship phablet nears, the tech grapevine seems to have turned their attention to the company's other flagship smartphone Galaxy S4. Speculations have already started about the next-generation of Galaxy S4, most likely to be called Galaxy S5. A South Korean news website has reported that the upcoming Galaxy S5 will have a 16MP camera with optical image stabilization. This will be an upgrade from the 13MP camera module used in the Galaxy S4 and widely expected to also feature in the upcoming Galaxy Note III.

However, the report also says that the Galaxy Note III will not have optical image stabilization feature, contrary to popular rumours. The only Samsung phone to have this feature currently is the Galaxy S4 zoom, which is a cross between an Android phone and a 16MP camera.

Samsung has also applied for patent of a metal-bodied design, which is rumoured to debut with the Galaxy S5. This handset is also said to have a flexible and shatterproof screen; a prototype of this screen was also showcased by the manufacturer earlier this year.

Currently, Nokia Lumia 1020, Lumia 925, Lumia 920, HTC One and LG G2 are the only phones that have optical image stabilization feature, which helps produce blur-free photos. The upcoming Sony Xperia Z1 (codenamed Honami) is also said to come with this feature.

A report by The Korea Economic Daily has said that the Galaxy Note III will be capable of recording movie-hall-quality 4K videos. Sony Xperia Z1 is also said to debut with this functionality. Both handsets are expected to be unveiled on September 4, the first day of IFA 2013 in Berlin. 

Micromax, Karbonn capture 46 percent of Indian smartphone market

IDC reports that domestic vendors like Micromax and Karbonn together are beating Apple, Samsung in overall smartphone market share.
 

Latest IDC report states that home grown vendors Micromax, Karbonn have grabbed a higher market share in the smartphone market than Samsung and Apple combined in the second quarter 2013. This can be attributed to demand of affordable markets in emerging markets like India and China.

IDC reports that mobile vendors shipped nearly 119 million units in 2013 Q2, an increase of 10% from the first quarter and up nearly 75% from 2012 Q2. The report added that local vendors in Asia/Pacific regions excluding Japan have higher shipments compared to international brands. Domestic brands had shipments of 46 million units, compared with 35 million unit shipped by Samsung and apple combined in the second quarter this year.

IDC identified local vendors like Micromax, Karbonn, Lava, Maxx and Intex as leaders in India and brands like K-Touch, Coolpad, Gionee, Xiaomi and OPPO in China have a major market share. Internal vendors from China like Huawei, Lenovo and ZTE shipped 27 million units in April-June 2013. Other global brands like HTC, BlackBerry, Nokia, Sony, LG and Motorala shipped nearly 10 million units combined.

Samsung remains the leader with nearly 24% of the market share followed by Nokia and local vendors like Micromax and Karbonn. Apple has been ousted from the top five for the first time in India due to these local vendors.

IDC stated that the first quarter saw increase in <US$50 segment of smartphones in China and for the first time devices in 5-6 inch segments gained market share in both China and India.

How to manage popup notifications on Whatsapp on Android

Follow these simple steps to manage popup notification from WhatsApp on your device.

WhatsApp is a great tool for communicating that offers ease of use as well as a cost effective alternative to SMS as well. But the popup notification feature of WhatsApp might be useful for many and irritating for others. So here are simple step by step instructions on how you can enable or disable WhatsApp popup notifications on your Android device.

Gionee P2 launched for Rs 6,499

Based on a 1.3 GHz processor the Gionee P2 offers the goodness of Android Jelly Bean on a 4 inch display.

China based mobile phone manufacturer Gionee has announced its P2 budget Android smartphone in India. Gionee P2 is the successor of the Gionee P1 launched sometime back and priced at Rs 4,999. Gionee P2 is a 4 inch display based Android smartphone with dual SIM dual standby connectivity with 3G connectivity at a budget price of Rs 6,499.

Gionee P2 features a 4 inch LCD display with 480 x 800 pixel resolution. It comes with a dual core Mediatek 6572 processor running at 1.3 GHz on android Jelly Bean 4.2 operating system with 512 MB RAM and 4 GB internal storage (1.9 GB user available). The storage can be further increased with micro SD cards of up to 32 GB.




Other connectivity features on the Gionee 2 include WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, micro USB and 3.5 mm jack. There is a 5 megapixel camera at the back and a VGA camera in the front. Gionee P2 sports a 1700 mAh battery and is available in white as well as black color variants for customers in India.

The Gionee P2 competes with devices from brands like Spice, Intex and Lava, offering identical hardware specifications, but Gionee P2 is the first android smartphone to feature the newly launched Mediatek 6562 chipset.

Mercedes rolls out locally assembled 2013 GL class from Chakan: Live from the event

The first ever locally assembled GL Class from CKD units is rolling out from Metrcedes-Benz’s Chakan plant today. As always, we are reporting live from the event venue. The event is just about to start, and we’ll be updating this post with images and details. This is bthe first time ever that a GL Class is being assembled outside of Merc’s USA plant in Tuscaloosa.

 

The new locally assembled GL-Class launched at the price of Rs 72.58 lakh ex-showroom. Here are some images from the event

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The new GL is a successful model from Mercedes in India. The 7 seater SUV, which has big space, comfort, power and off-roading capabilities as its USPs was introduced a few months back to India. The first 100 units of Mercedes Benz GL350 CDI, which came to us via CBU route have been sold “Launch Edition”. These 100 cars sport an AMG body kit, 21 inch AMG alloy wheels, Designo Upholstery and temperature controlled cup holders.

The latest generation of the GL Class made its international debut early last year and has won plenty of rave reviews for its mechanicals and new age design. The talking point of the latest GL’s exterior styling is its bold grille, SL inspired headlamps and daytime LED running lamps.

On the inside, the car comes draped in acres of leather and adorned with plenty of wood inserts.   Powering the India spec Mercedes Benz GL Class is a 3.0 litre diesel engine which has a max power output of 260 PS and a peak torque figure of 620Nm. The motor is mated to a dual clutch 7-speed automatic gearbox and the car can dismiss 100 kmph from standstill in less than 10 seconds.   The GL Class, which is a full size luxury SUV, is known as the S Class of SUVs and comes loaded to the brim with gizmos and safety features.

The key features of the new Mercedes GL Class SUV includes

•     COMAND Navigation
•     Panoramic Sunroof
•     Active Park Assist
•     Three Zone Climate Control
•     Wind Assist System to fight off the cross winds
•     360 degree Camera System

Facebook gets approval to settle Sponsored Stories case

 

SAN FRANCISCO: A US judge on Monday granted final approval to Facebook's $20 million settlement of a lawsuit over targeted advertising despite objections that the deal did not go far enough to protect children's privacy.

Five plaintiffs filed a class action against Facebook in 2011, saying the social networking giant's Sponsored Stories programme shared users' "likes" of certain advertisers with friends without paying them or allowing them to opt out.

A Sponsored Story is an advertisement that appears on a member's Facebook page and generally consists of a friend's name, profile picture and an assertion that the person "likes" the advertiser. The case has highlighted tension between privacy concerns and Facebook's drive to monetize user content.

Under the terms of the settlement, Facebook will pay $20 million to compensate class members, and promised to give users more control over how their content is shared - changes which plaintiff lawyers estimate to have a value of up to $145 million.

Facebook charged advertisers nearly $234 million for Sponsored Stories between January 2011 and August 2012, court filings show.

Child rights advocates had argued that no minors should have their content shared with advertisers.

But in an order on Monday, US District Judge Richard Seeborg in San Francisco wrote that the settlement, "while not incorporating all features that some of the objectors might prefer, has significant value."

Representatives for Facebook, the plaintiffs or objectors could not immediately be reached for comment.

The case in US District Court, Northern District of California, is Angel Fraley et al, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated vs Facebook Inc, 11-cv-1726.       

Hacker changes Google Glass drone into controller:

This is extreme example of ingenuity. A hacker changed Google Glass into a drone controller. I wonder if it will be deployed in Afghanistan. (Video)

If you thought that the high priced Google Glass was just meant to do only one job, think twice. A Phoenix based developer has come out with a code using which one can fly drones controlled by the Google Glass. The wearer of the gadget can manoeuvre the drone by making slight head movement while wearing the Google Glass.

Developer, Blaine Bublitz, who has been working for coding company, IcedDev, introduced the app during the annually organised Nodebots Day, an event attended by the robo fans across the globe. The code was originally developed to work with the wheeled robots that are capable of moving back and forth. Later the same was tweaked to add right and left movements along with the up and down so that it could be used with NodeCopter, the drone.

Later explaining about the code developed by him, Bublitz wrote on his blog: “I began by creating code that controlled wheeled robots on a table top, before adding left and right steering using a palm-controlled device. I wanted to control a robot that could be steered and seen from at least eye height.”

In a video demonstration of the drone posted on the blog, Bublitz, explained that he had developed the code using the Face app which was earlier unveiled during an event in Portland.

“The app can send sensor information, the data needed to fly the drone that is usually sent to the device using a joystick or remote control ,to a web server which then rebroadcasts it. This new broadcast can then be picked up and used by the Google Glass headset,” said the developer.
The developed further adds in his video that even though the pitch and roll movements were incorporated, the rotation option could also be brought in. The A and B button on the Google Glass controls the landing and takeoff of the drone.

You Can Now Create Shared Albums on Facebook

So you and your college buddies went for a road-trip together. And this being the gadget age, all of you had your own smartphones/digi-cams and DSLRs to click pictures with. Now, the best way to share these images is uploading them on Facebook and tagging everyone. However, what if you could have just one album where you could compile pictures clicked by everyone instead of having multiple albums on each profile? Shared albums sound pretty cool, don’t they?

Facebook has done just that with their latest albums feature. Introducing shared albums definitely makes it easier for users on Facebook to collaborate and add images from different sources and people in one place.

So far, Facebook users could upload their pictures only in their own albums or post images to a friend’s wall/comments. In order to share pictures, users could either tag friends/pages or use the special URL appearing below the album/image to share it with non-friends or the public. Shared albums iron out those issues as multiple friends on Facebook can create and add photos to just one album.

The contributors can add, edit and view images in the shared album. However, the visibility can be adjusted only by the album creator and not the contributors. You might want to decide on privacy settings before creating a shared album.

There are mainly three privacy settings provided by Facebook for shared albums:

- Contributors Only:  Only contributors and people tagged in images can see the photos

- Friends of Contributors: Contributors, people tagged and the friends of people tagged can view the images

- Public:  The shared album can be viewed by anyone on Facebook

Facebook also posts a disclaimer below the shared album sharing pointers stating: Keep in mind that when you tag someone, that photo will be shared with the person tagged and their friends. This means that if you haven't already included their friends in the audience, their friends will now be able to see it. For example, if you tag Jane in a photo shared with your friends, the audience expands to Friends (+) to include your friends and Jane's.

Contributors can not just add or edit photos but even add other contributors to the album. So the network of people in your shared album keeps expanding. Users can add a maximum of 50 contributors to a shared album. The creator of the album can add or delete photos/contributors but an individual contributor cannot delete other contributor’s images from the album. Also, if a contributor is deleted, his/her images continue to be a part of the album till those are individually deleted too. A contributor can still access his own pictures added even after he is deleted from the album. He cannot modify them, though he can delete his picture.

The feature will definitely simply the sharing process and will come as a boon for events and journey enthusiasts!