Instagram Stories, similar to Snapchat, launched recently. (Photo : Carl Court/Getty Images)
Snapchat today introduced a few new changes to their messaging application on Android and iOS devices. The most notable feature is the "World Lens" which basically allows you to apply many augmented-reality effects beyond just the images of faces.
Snapchat is a mobile messaging application being used to share images, videos, text, and drawings within your contacts. This free-to-download app is hugely popular among the young generation. Adding such appealing features is a move to increase the number of Snapchat users making it competitive enough with Whatsapp and other major messaging apps.
Snapchat first introduced such augmented-reality lens filter for selfies in Sep. 2015. Since then it is making advertisers pay thousands of dollars in order to sponsor a lens, Fortune mentioned in a post.
There are only a few "World Lens" effects available right now but each of them is very neat and clean. For example, you can decorate your party pictures with a sprinkle of little hearts or add a snowing effect to the cold background pictures.
Snapchat's "World Lens" is actually the rear-facing camera version of the app's popular selfie filter. Like most other Snapchat updates, this features is totally hidden. Once you upload the new version, you will see that by tapping the left side of any snap you are returning to the previous snap.
There is another new hidden feature coming with Snapchat. The user can now send a snap from a friend's story to another friend. Till date, it was possible, only if you share the stories from the discover feed.
The company also announced the Story Playlist feature which gives you an easy way to select the stories you liked and then view them in the order you selected them.
Three months back Instagram copied Snapchat stories and gained as many as 100 million users within a few weeks. Now Snapchat has introduced the rewind story function just the way you do it on your Instagram account, The Verge reported.
Starting its journey back in 2011, Snapchat is continuously adding new features and filters to keep users glued to it. The new Snapchap features are intended to make it even more acceptable and usable.
Check out this video about Snapchat
