YouTube is testing a messaging feature on its apps that will let you chat and share videos with friends without ever having to use another platform.
The service is currently being rolled out to a small group of users, with the hopes that word-of-mouth will see it reach more people. The lucky few that receive the messaging feature will be able to invite their friends to chat, simply by adding them to a conversation thread, which will be housed within a new tab.
YouTube is hoping the new feature will encourage people to share more videos from within its mobile apps, reports Wired. A general launch date has not yet been confirmed.
Ultimately, this is YouTube’s major bid to capitalize on the collective experience that comes with group, and one-on-one, interactions. It already has the biggest video service on the web (over 1 billion users and counting), with mobile viewing figures also boasting more engagement than its rivals (an average daily watching session on a smartphone lasts 40 minutes). Therefore, it’s a surprise that the feature wasn’t introduced sooner.
Despite laying waste to the competition, Google will nonetheless be watching its rivals closely. First Facebook, and now Snapchat, have clocked up massive video viewing figures. Meanwhile, a new challenger to the throne has arrived in the form of Amazon, which yesterday launched its Video Direct service for user-created content.
At present, the only option to share video on YouTube is via email or through other social networks, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and the remaining usual suspects. A successful messaging feature would bypass the need to post content sourced from YouTube elsewhere, keeping people glued to its apps as a result. YouTube is already home to popular trailers, viral clips, and its superstar creators. Soon, it could also be home to all your friends too.
ShiftCam is adding to its range of iPhone filmmaking accessories with ProRig+, a revised version of its modular camera rig that has dedicated controls for focus, zoom, shutter, and shooting modes. The new system launches on Kickstarter with the ProControl remote, giving mobile creators a higher level of hands-on control without having to constantly tap their iPhone’s screen.
The announcement comes soon after ShiftCam introduced the original ProRig, developed with feedback from Apple. The original model is expected to ship in the coming weeks, while ProRig+ will be a more advanced remote and will be delivered to backers in February 2027. The Kickstarter campaign has also been honored with the platform’s “Projects We Love” designation.
Samsung's foldable lineup could be getting pretty crowded next year. We're already expecting successors to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8, while fresh leaks hint that several more devices could be in the pipeline.
The expanded lineup might include a bigger fold, a potentially cheaper alternative, and even something that slides rather than folds. According to a new leak, Samsung is currently testing two different versions of an additional wide-format Galaxy Z Fold 9. That's not all, Samsung's foldable plans could feature a grand total of six models, which is kind of in line with earlier reports.
Motorola has built some of my favorite foldables and flagship phones. I had a great time with both the Razr Fold and last year's Signature. So when the company began teasing the Signature 27, I couldn't help be excited. The new model comes with Qualcomm's blazing-fast Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, and better still, it is finally getting a proper global release.
One of the reasons I was obsessed with the last-gen Signature was its amazing price tag. But it seems like that budget flagship dream might be officially dead. Portuguese retailer MegaPC has prematurely listed a 12GB RAM and 512GB storage Signature 27 in Pantone Coal Smoke for €1,594.90 (approx. $1,775).