Putting the Chat into Snapchat • Hacker News Board

Re: Putting the Chat into Snapchat

#51

Post by pabb » Thu, May 01, 2014, 2:02 PM UTC

jerv wrote: post #19

clearing messages when you leave the chat window will make people not use it

Not sure why someone felt the appropriate response was to downvote you rather than voicing their disagreement. I think you're right.

With WhatsApp picking up speed in my close friend circle, Facebook messenger being used for everyone else, and the occasional Google hangouts messages when I feel like being online, I don't think even taking the "ephemeral" approach is going to make a difference in persuading me to start picking Snapchat over competing platforms. Snapchat is fun because as other users mentioned, I get to send bullshit one-off joke snaps to my friends. I don't want to maintain a conversation of any sort through another app. However, knowing the conversation is immediately cleared further dissuades me. The point of this feature is that it's good for non-committal "conversations" and very easy to engage/disengage. But I already have WhatsApp for that, and I have group conversations there, and my messages aren't deleted.

Re: Putting the Chat into Snapchat

#52

Post by zscho97 » Thu, May 01, 2014, 2:11 PM UTC

Does it say when it is getting released?

Re: Putting the Chat into Snapchat

#53

Post by gms7777 » Thu, May 01, 2014, 2:14 PM UTC

jameswilsterman wrote: post #10

I think this will be big, specifically the video aspect. Removes the biggest problems with video chat (Skype, hangouts etc.) feeling 'weird'. My immediate thoughts: A) Don't feel like you're getting roped into a long conversation (you have to hold down on the screen, so of course it will be short!) B) Doesn't feel like you are bothering people by calling them without knowing if they are free to videochat (they are cl…

The video aspect of it seems like a fantastic feature and I think your point A is very important. At least for myself, I have friends and family that are far away and I love to talk to, and would love to have quick chats with more often, except that when we start talking it ends up taking hours, so I'm hesitant to get into it unless I know I have the time to spare.

Re: Putting the Chat into Snapchat

#54

Post by tbomb » Thu, May 01, 2014, 2:17 PM UTC

giga_cardoso wrote: post #2

Is the update only available in the US? nothing here in Portugal

I still don't have it and I'm in the US :(

Re: Putting the Chat into Snapchat

#55

Post by baby » Thu, May 01, 2014, 2:18 PM UTC

As a user I always found it annoying that I couldn't answer to a snapchat in the app itself (without taking a picture and writing something in it). I always had to go to snapchat or fb messenger to answer.

Re: Putting the Chat into Snapchat

#56

Post by changdizzle » Thu, May 01, 2014, 2:30 PM UTC

Anyone know which video chat API they're using?

Re: Putting the Chat into Snapchat

#57

Post by tbomb » Thu, May 01, 2014, 2:34 PM UTC

pabb wrote: post #51

jerv wrote: post #19

clearing messages when you leave the chat window will make people not use it

Not sure why someone felt the appropriate response was to downvote you rather than voicing their disagreement. I think you're right. With WhatsApp picking up speed in my close friend circle, Facebook messenger being used for everyone else, and the occasional Google hangouts messages when I feel like being online, I don't think even taking the "ephemeral" approach is going to make a difference in persuading me to star…

Snapchat has always been more about the one-to-one messaging. Yes you can do one-to-many, but it still gives a more personal feel than a many-to-many group message. You had to click on that person to send it to them, you actively thought about them no matter how instantaneously.

I use Snapchat for both very close friends and acquaintances too, I can send both inside jokes or just a simple hello to someone I haven't spoken to in a while. I don't feel an obligation to respond to snapchats and don't feel ignored when someone doesn't respond to mine, how I would via text, or facebook messenger.

I personally never use facebook messenger. I've had it turned off for a couple of years now and only use it on the rare occasion that a friend changed phone numbers (friends moving abroad mostly) and even that is just to get their new number so I can use whatsapp or text messaging. As for whatsapp I strictly use it for large, on going, group messages or friends in other countries. But I guess everyone has their own use-cases.

Re: Putting the Chat into Snapchat

#58

Post by notastartup » Thu, May 01, 2014, 2:57 PM UTC

look at all those teens without credit cards liking the tumblr post.

Re: Putting the Chat into Snapchat

#59

Post by untog » Thu, May 01, 2014, 3:03 PM UTC

ballpoint wrote: post #47

sethbannon wrote: post #40

Dragging your video bubble from the top of the screen to the bottom causing a switch to the front facing camera seems like a really clever design decision.

It sounds like it might be a little RSI-inducing though, having to press your finger down all the time.

How often do you flip in the average call?

Re: Putting the Chat into Snapchat

#60

Post by bhaumik » Thu, May 01, 2014, 3:20 PM UTC

ghiculescu wrote: post #3

This is a great. I find that half my snapchats are boring photos of my face, lunch, or coffee mug, just so I can put a caption over them. No more! It also seems like a full on attack against Facebook messenger.

It also destroys Mark Cuban's CyberDust. He wasn't too happy when I pointed that out:

https://twitter.com/patel0phone/status/461872015599996929