by Tim Hardwick
Telegram Messenger gained some notable new features over the weekend, including the ability to turn group voice chats into video calls, support for screen sharing, and more.
First up, Telegram is touting the new group video calling feature as bringing "voice chats to a whole new level, ready for online classes, business meetings, and family gatherings."
To turn a group voice chat into a group video call, users can tap the camera icon at the bottom of the screen. Tapping a participant's video makes it go fullscreen, and a pin icon in the top-right corner of the screen lets you pin the video, which makes it stay focused as new users join the call.
Telegram notes that while audio-only participants are unlimited, video is currently available for the first 30 people who join the voice chat. However, this limit will increase soon "as voice chats take on streaming games, live events and more." Screen sharing during a video chat is also straightforward, and appears as an option in the three-dot icon menu.
The encrypted chat app has also received improved noise suppression in voice chats, and the addition of a new toggle to turn noise suppression off in settings if it's affecting your use case.
To make better use of the additional screen space of tablets and computers, there are more display options on these devices. Users can tap to open the side panel and see a split-screen view of the video grid and list of participants, optimized for both portrait and landscape orientation.
Meanwhile, voice chats on desktop open in a separate window, so users can type and talk without minimizing anything. Desktop apps also now have selective screen sharing, so it's possible to broadcast an individual window instead of the whole screen.
In addition to group video calls and screen sharing, this update also adds animated backgrounds, message sending animations, a new menu button for bots, new ways to import stickers, reminders to help keep your account safe, and more. For all the details, check out the Telegram blog.
Telegram is a free download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Tag: Telegram
[ 28 comments ]
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Top Rated Comments
LFO8
39 months ago
Good to hear that. But if all the people is using iPhone or iPad, FaceTime would still be my first choice. What do you think, guys?
Telegram is God sent. I have ditched everything else 4 years ago. My family, friends etc.. they know where to find me. Download Telegram lol
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bviktor
39 months ago
Telegram really is the best. Its search is BY FAR the best, you can find years-old messages in a second (no, I'm not exaggerating), and it's the most robust chat app I've ever seen. Last year I had continuous issues with my ISP, and there were hours when literally Telegram was the one and only Internet app that worked for me. I don't know how they do it, but it's just friggin' robust. It also uses the least amount of data, so you can use it even on the slowest airplane plan lol. It's a uniqie specimen for sure.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mihirdelirious
39 months ago
FaceTime is too behind the industry. Apple had a massive lead during 2010s when it first came out.
But:
1) FaceTime needed group video calls by 2012, instead of in 2018.
2) FaceTime really needed a cross-platform app in 2020 and it could have become the industry leader.
3) FaceTime didn't have a call-scheduling/calendar feature in 2020 when it really needed it.
Imagine your doctor using a Mac to schedule secure/private/confidential FaceTime calls with you in 2020 (irrespective of whether you had an iDevice or not). Apple really missed the mark and that ship has now sailed. Too little too late.
Microsoft Teams and Zoom have completely taken over the market.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shadows_lord
39 months ago
Telegram is by far the most feature-rich messaging app. Nothing beats it or comes even close.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert
39 months ago
I regressed and went back to whatsapp because no one is on these alternatives.
Facebook appreciates your caving in.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarpalMac
39 months ago
I can do so much with Telegram, even have a Bot setup so when I publish a new WordPress page it notifies my channel automatically. So flexible and feature rich.
I use it as a file store and for 99% of my digital communications with friends and family. Cross platforms, nothing comes close to the functionality for me. This was the last item missing.
Have been able to finally delete WhatsApp as everyone I know is now also on Telegram. Thanks, Facebook.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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