Telegram update brings search filters and the ability to go anonymous as group admin

Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

Telegram has today received a new update on its mobile and desktop clients that brings a host of useful new features. The first one, and possibly the most productive one, is search filters. Now, when you look for something in the search field, you can filter the results based on their type such as media, links, attached files, music and voice messages. You can further narrow down your search by specifically searching for a date with keywords such as “October 1” or “yesterday.” And in case you are trying to find a person’s name, group or channel, a source filter will also be there to help. These useful search filters recently arrived on WhatsApp as a beta, but Telegram is taking the lead here by rolling them out publicly for all users.

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The second new feature introduced by the Telegram update is anonymous admin. As the name suggests, group admins can now choose to become anonymous to safeguard their identity. Once a group admin enables the Remain Anonymous Mode, they will be hidden from the group members list and the messages they send in a chat will bear the group’s name, instead of their own name or the username they chose. Telegram notes that this feature will prove to be helpful when it comes to organizing safer protests.

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Lastly, the Telegram v7.1 update also adds a new conversation feature that adds a comment button to the posts that involve a discussion group. Once you tap on it, all the comments in that discussion will open in a separate little thread and will also redirect you to the core discussion page. This is somewhat similar to threads on Slack, where the focus is to keep the discussion linear and clutter-free, but accessible enough for everyone to easily make their contribution. Also, users will now be able to send messages silently in Secret Chats by holding the Send button.

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Aside from the functional upgrades, the new Telegram update also adds a few aesthetic tweaks as well. For example, users will see a new animations when they show or hide the keyboard and tap the day-night theme toggle. Additionally, you can now tap and hold on a group’s profile picture to enlarge it.

Post from an anonymous admin in a group
Anonymous Admin in chat

Also, if you use multiple Telegram accounts in the same app instance, you can now easily preview the chat list of the second account by holding it in the account switcher. Lastly, new animated emojis are also making their way to the app, and fresh animated pop-ups also appear when you perform an action such as deleting a message and saving a media file to name a few. 

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Telegram app finally brings support for video calls

Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

Today marks the seventh year of Telegram’s debut, a journey during which the app has amassed over 400 million users across the globe who enjoy the app for its privacy-focused approach and a ton of useful features. To celebrate the achievement, the app is introducing a highly demanded feature that has so far been missing from the platform – video calls.

Telegram says video calling is currently available only on the Android app, but will soon make its way to the iOS client as well. Video calls in Telegram support picture-in-picture mode, and users will also get an option to switch the video feed on or off at any time during voice calls.

As expected, all the video calls on Telegram will be end-to-end encrypted, and support for group video calls is also set to arrive soon as well. And to mark the arrival of video calling feature, Telegram has also introduced a new batch of new animated emoji.

Source: Telegram Blog

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Telegram finally adds support for video calling, but only in beta for now

Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

Telegram is hands-down one of the best instant messaging applications out there, and it is also one that values privacy way more than its rivals. However, one notable feature that has been missing from the platform is support for video calls. That changes now. Telegram has rolled v7.0.0 of the app via the beta channel, and it introduces video calling at long last.

The video call feature is enabled by default. In order to make a video call, just tap on the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner of the chat page and select the video call icon. However, in order to make a video call, the person on the other end of the call must also be running the latest beta version of Telegram on their phone.

Unfortunately, there is no word when video calling will be rolled out widely for Telegram users via the stable channel, but we suspect it might happen in the next few weeks. However, AndroidPolice reports that the latest Telegram beta build doesn’t support group video calling, so there is still some improvement to be made before a wider rollout.

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Telegram update brings up to 2GB file sharing, profile videos and more

Posted on by Prakhar Khanna

Telegram has released the v6.3.0 update that brings a bunch of new features. It includes the ability to add profile videos and improved People Nearby. Moreover, you can now share up to 2GB files on the app. It also includes mini chat thumbnails, group stats, and more.

Telegram users can now add videos to their profile, instead of a plain static image. When uploading a video, users will also be given the option of using the app’s media editor to enhance the image or add fun animated stickers. The media editor has also been improved as it includes a new “Soften Skin” slider for videos taken with the front-facing camera.

Further, Android Telegram users can now crop and rotate videos before sending them. New features have also been added to the chat screen. Users will now see a mini thumbnail when they receive media from their friends. Further, you now have the ability to filter out new Chats from non-contacts by selecting “archive and mute new chats” in the Privacy & Security settings.

Source: Telegram

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Russia finally ends its ban on Telegram

Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

Russia’s communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has officially moved to lift the ban on Telegram messaging app, two years after implementing steps restricting access to its service in the country. The decision has been taken in a bid to use Telegram as a channel for disseminating critical information that helps combat the COVID-19 crisis.

As per a statement from Roskomnadzor, the decision has been made in consultation with Russian Prosecutor General’s Office after reaching an agreement with Telegram founder Pavel Durov to help combat the threat of extremism, terrorism, and public safety issues. To recall, the ban was imposed because Telegram refused to hand over encryption keys to authorities.

But despite trying to choke access to Telegram, workarounds were found and people continued using it as an important channel of communication. As per a Bloomberg report, even Russia’s national task force to fight coronavirus and the Russian Foreign Ministry continued to operate their own Telegram channels.

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Telegram update adds new video editing tool and a cool animated sticker feature

Posted on by Lee Kelly

Telegram is known primarily for its strict stance on privacy, but it also happens to be one of the most feature-laden instant messaging apps out there. The latest update makes it even better by adding a new video editing tool, the ability to add animated stickers to photos, and a new GIF search interface.

Starting with the video editing tool, you can now adjust parameters like brightness, contrast, and saturation of your videos. Plus, you can draw shapes and also add animated stickers to make them truly come alive, while also zooming in for better accuracy. Here’s how the feature works:

Telegram’s new video editing tool

Also, Telegram users can now add an animated sticker to any photo or video they are sharing. Doing so will turn it into a GIF file, which is yet another convenient feature in itself.

This is how a photo looks when you an add animated sticker to it

Lastly, you will now see relevant GIFs if when you click on an emoji at the top of the GIF panel. There is also a new trending section where you can choose from GIFs that are currently popular among Telegram users.

The redesigned GIF panel with a dedicated trending section

The latest Telegram update also adds a few Android-exclusive features as well, such as smoother animations while messaging, automatic looping for videos shorter than 30 seconds, and new wavy animations while reading a voice message. You can read the complete changelog on the Telegram blog here.

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Russia hits popular Telegram messaging app with ‘immediate’ nationwide ban

Posted on by Adrian Diaconescu

Despite its popularity among local government officials, Telegram messaging access is to be shut down in Russia following a court order.

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Daesh reportedly develops encrypted messaging app for Android

Posted on by Jules Wang

Uh, well this is interesting.The self-proclaimed Islamic State, also known as Daesh, has taken advantage of the same mobile security measures that many of us lay people have to communicate under the law enforcement radar. Governments have been looking to

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