How to Remove WhatsApp Blue Ticks aka Read Receipts

Much to the chagrin of its users, WhatsApp quietly introduced read receipts (letting people see exactly when a message is read, not just delivered) earlier this month. The app always showed one tick mark when you sent a message, which changed to two grey ticks when it was delivered. Now, the app shows two blue ticks when the recipient has read your message
This feature was rolled out without an update to the app itself. This means that there was no privacy setting to disable read receipts when the feature was rolled out. The lack of this basic feature in WhatsApp really ticked us off, and we had promised that we'd be back with a tutorial on how to disable WhatsApp blue ticks as soon as it was possible. True to our word, here we are now that WhatsApp has unveiled this feature for Android.

Here's how to get rid of those annoying blue ticks in WhatsApp - but if you do this, then you won't be able to see the receipts either. If you want to check when other people see your messages, then you need to allow them to see read receipts from you. For now, this is only possible for Android users, and only if you manually update the app via the WhatsApp website. WhatsApp typically releases updates first via its website, and then rolls out the update for Android's Google Play store, followed by updates for other platforms, so the update will be available for all devices soon.

The first step is to get the latest APK file from WhatsApp:

1. Download the latest (version 2.11.444) WhatsApp apk from the official website.
2. On your Android phone, go to Settings > Security > Check Unknown sources, to enable installing apps from outside Google Play. Note that the exact path to the setting can vary depending on your device manufacturer and Android version - the important thing to note is that you enable installing apps from unknown sources.
3. Open the apk on your Android phone. This will install the latest version of the app on your device.

(Also see: How to Backup WhatsApp Messages)

Once the app is installed, here's how to disable read receipts:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap three vertical dots icon on the top right.
2. Now go to Settings > Account > Privacy.
3. Uncheck Read receipts
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5. That will disable the blue ticks on WhatsApp. As we noted above, feature isn't available on other platforms or on Google Play as yet, but now that this feature has appeared on the official WhatsApp apk, we can hope that an update will bring it to all platforms. We will update this article when that happens.

Facebook launches new photo sharing App, Moments

                        

                         

Do you remember asking your friend with a Camera on a Trip to share the photographs with you? Or do you remember asking your photographer friends to tag you in the photographs while they upload them on facebook? Well, there’s a good news for you if you did so.

Facebook has launched a standalone app for sharing the photographs among friends. The launch was reported on official facebook newsroom by Will Ruben(Product Manager).

Moments syncs your photographs with all the people who are in those photographs. Moments groups the photos on your phone based on when they were taken and, using facial recognition technology, which friends are in them. You can then privately sync those photos quickly and easily with specific friends, and they can choose to sync their photos with you as well. So, you have all the photos that you are in.

Moments also keeps all of your synced photos organized and even lets you search them to find the ones that you or specific friends are in. Moments uses facial recognition technology to group your photos based on the friends who are in them. According to Facebook, this is the same technology that powers tag suggestions on Facebook.

Moments also gives you options for sharing your private photographs with other friends on Facebook or Instagram. The app has been launched on June 15 in US. It will be launched in other parts of the world soon.

What is Google’s New and Upcoming Service Called 'YouTube Red'?

hackcenter                    Do you remember YouTube’s very own music-focused subscription based service called Music Key that was launched about a year ago? Well, it didn’t perform well against the competitors like Spotify, Apple Music or Rdio. However, the company is aiming to rejuvenate things by rebranding it.
                                                    

Interestingly, Google has recently updated its YouTube app that includes a text describing a product called YouTube Red. It’s a service that enables background and ad-free music playback, a feature that was absent in the Music Key subscription service.

The next week, on September 29, Google is holding an event and it’s expected to launch heavyweight products like new Nexus phone as well as Android Marshmallow

. We can also witness the launch of much-awaited YouTube ad-free subscription service and new Chromecast.

It’s expected that YouTube Red will be playing a bigger role in the upcoming Google Movie.

Internet.org is Now Free Basics by Facebook Zuckerberg Launching “Special” Wi-Fi in India

hackcenter
The social networking website Facebook has struggled to create an environment of consensus among the masses for its free internet initiative Internet.org. The company has said that it is working on new ways to enhance the internet connectivity in India.

Along the similar lines, the company has renamed its controversial Internet.org app as Free Basics. With the help of its app, Facebook aims to provide certain free data services and websites to the mobile users.

A few months ago, amid widespread controversies, Facebook opened up the Internet.org platform to the developers. Currently, this moonshot project of Zuckerberg includes 60 new services focused at productivity.

The new app Free Basics by Facebook is also equipped with stronger security measures and aims to get more users online all over the world.

“We’re making this change to better distinguish the Internet.org initiative from the programes and services that Facebook provides, including Free Basics,” says Internet.org Vice-President Chris Daniels.

He adds, “Anyone currently using the app will be able to continue using the Android app though it will now be called Free Basics by Facebook in Google Play.”

The previous Internet.org web URL is now redirected to Freebasics.com.

In India, the social networking website is also piloting Express WiFi service that will encourage the local entrepreneurs to set up WiFi hotspots in various areas.

“We help them in terms of technical solutions, business model and marketing,” said Munish Seth, Country Manager Facebook Connectivity Solutions India. Facebook has already set up such hotspots in partnership with ISPs in parts of Uttarakhand and Bangalore.

Are you excited to use these services? Tell me in the comments.