Facebook has announced new features for its Messenger app, including a quick reply bar, QR codes, and new chat themes.
The new quick reply bar can be found in the Messenger media viewer, and aims to make it easier to chat about media posted by friends without needing to go back to the main chat thread.
Users can tap on a photo or video and send a response via the quick reply bar, which lives at the bottom of the screen, then swipe up to exit the fullscreen media viewer to return to the main chat thread.
Three new chat themes, which are available in both Messenger and Instagram in chat settings, let users add new twists to their chat thread backgrounds. The themes include Olivia Rodrdigo, World Oceans Day, and F9: Fast and Furious.
In addition, Facebook is adding QR codes and payment links for use with Facebook Pay, allowing users to make payments even if they're not on Facebook.
To access a personal QR code and payment link, go to Messenger settings and tap "Facebook Pay." Users can share the payment link or allow friends to scan the QR code to send or request money.
The new features are rolling out now to Facebook Messenger, which is a free download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Thursday January 16, 2025 6:45 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today adjusted estimated trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models in the U.S., according to its website.
Some values increased, while others decreased. The changes were not too significant, with most values rising or dropping by $5 to $50.
We have outlined some examples below:
Device
New Value
Old Value
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Up to $630
U ...
Friday January 17, 2025 2:42 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
iOS 19 is still around six months away from being announced, but a new leak has allegedly revealed a completely redesigned Camera app.
Based on footage it obtained, YouTube channel Front Page Tech shared a video showing what the new Camera app will apparently look like, with the key change being translucent menus for camera controls. Overall, the design of these menus looks similar to...
Thursday January 16, 2025 12:39 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple provided the third beta of iOS 18.3 to developers today, and while the betas have so far been light on new features, the third beta makes some major changes to Notification Summaries and also tweaks a few other features.
Notification Summary Changes
Apple made multiple changes to Notification Summaries in response to complaints about inaccurate summaries of news headlines.
For...
Sunday January 19, 2025 6:58 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple on late Saturday removed TikTok from the App Store in the U.S., and it has now explained why it was required to take this action.
Last year, the U.S. passed a law that required Chinese company ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok due to potential national security risks, or else the platform would be banned. That law went into effect today, and companies like Apple and Google...
Wednesday January 15, 2025 7:16 am PST by Joe Rossignol
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the "ultra-thin" device.
Overall, the "iPhone 17 Air" is shaping up to be a mixed bag. Due to its thinness, the device is expected to have some limited specifications compared to the iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, only a single speaker, no SIM...
Friday January 17, 2025 3:38 pm PST by Juli Clover
For the last several months, we've been hearing rumors about a redesigned version of the iPhone 17 that Apple might call the iPhone 17 "Air," or something along those lines. It's going to replace the iPhone 17 Plus as Apple's fourth iPhone option, and it will be offered alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
We know the iPhone 17 Air is going to be super slim, but...
Friday January 17, 2025 5:30 am PST by Joe Rossignol
2025 promises to be quite a big year for Apple, with the company rumored to be planning more than 20 product announcements this year.
Apple's rumored smart home hub will be its second all-new product to launch in as many years, following the Apple Vision Pro headset last year. And of course, we will get several new iPhone and Apple Watch models, like every year. Beyond that, Apple could...
Saturday January 18, 2025 10:28 am PST by Joe Rossignol
iOS 19 will not drop support for any iPhone models, according to French website iPhoneSoft.fr.
The report cited a source who said iOS 19 will be compatible with any iPhone that can run iOS 18, which would mean the following models:
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhon...
Never forget the amount of data Facebook Messenger collects:
[HEADING=1]Data Linked to You[/HEADING] The following data, which may be collected and linked to your identity, may be used for the following purposes:
[HEADING=2]Third-Party Advertising[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Photos or Videos * Gameplay Content * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
[HEADING=3]Other Data[/HEADING]
* Other Data Types
[HEADING=2]Developer’s Advertising or Marketing[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Photos or Videos * Gameplay Content * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
[HEADING=3]Other Data[/HEADING]
* Other Data Types
[HEADING=2]Analytics[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Health & Fitness[/HEADING]
* Health * Fitness
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Payment Info * Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Photos or Videos * Audio Data * Gameplay Content * Customer Support * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Sensitive Info[/HEADING]
* Sensitive Info
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
[HEADING=3]Other Data[/HEADING]
* Other Data Types
[HEADING=2]Product Personalization[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Photos or Videos * Gameplay Content * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Sensitive Info[/HEADING]
* Sensitive Info
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
[HEADING=3]Other Data[/HEADING]
* Other Data Types
[HEADING=2]App Functionality[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Health & Fitness[/HEADING]
* Health * Fitness
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Payment Info * Credit Info * Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Emails or Text Messages * Photos or Videos * Audio Data * Gameplay Content * Customer Support * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Sensitive Info[/HEADING]
* Sensitive Info
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
[HEADING=3]Other Data[/HEADING]
* Other Data Types
[HEADING=2]Other Purposes[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Photos or Videos * Gameplay Content * Customer Support * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
Never forget the amount of data Facebook Messenger collects:
[HEADING=1]Data Linked to You[/HEADING] The following data, which may be collected and linked to your identity, may be used for the following purposes:
[HEADING=2]Third-Party Advertising[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Photos or Videos * Gameplay Content * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
[HEADING=3]Other Data[/HEADING]
* Other Data Types
[HEADING=2]Developer’s Advertising or Marketing[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Photos or Videos * Gameplay Content * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
[HEADING=3]Other Data[/HEADING]
* Other Data Types
[HEADING=2]Analytics[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Health & Fitness[/HEADING]
* Health * Fitness
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Payment Info * Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Photos or Videos * Audio Data * Gameplay Content * Customer Support * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Sensitive Info[/HEADING]
* Sensitive Info
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
[HEADING=3]Other Data[/HEADING]
* Other Data Types
[HEADING=2]Product Personalization[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Photos or Videos * Gameplay Content * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Sensitive Info[/HEADING]
* Sensitive Info
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
[HEADING=3]Other Data[/HEADING]
* Other Data Types
[HEADING=2]App Functionality[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Health & Fitness[/HEADING]
* Health * Fitness
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Payment Info * Credit Info * Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Emails or Text Messages * Photos or Videos * Audio Data * Gameplay Content * Customer Support * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Sensitive Info[/HEADING]
* Sensitive Info
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
[HEADING=3]Other Data[/HEADING]
* Other Data Types
[HEADING=2]Other Purposes[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Purchases[/HEADING]
* Purchase History
[HEADING=3]Financial Info[/HEADING]
* Other Financial Info
[HEADING=3]Location[/HEADING]
* Precise Location * Coarse Location
[HEADING=3]Contact Info[/HEADING]
* Physical Address * Email Address * Name * Phone Number * Other User Contact Info
[HEADING=3]Contacts[/HEADING]
* Contacts
[HEADING=3]User Content[/HEADING]
* Photos or Videos * Gameplay Content * Customer Support * Other User Content
[HEADING=3]Search History[/HEADING]
* Search History
[HEADING=3]Browsing History[/HEADING]
* Browsing History
[HEADING=3]Identifiers[/HEADING]
* User ID * Device ID
[HEADING=3]Usage Data[/HEADING]
* Product Interaction * Advertising Data * Other Usage Data
[HEADING=3]Diagnostics[/HEADING]
* Crash Data * Performance Data * Other Diagnostic Data
[HEADING=3]Other Data[/HEADING]
* Other Data Types
great information dump (if someone has a browser script blocker, they can see Facebook [and Google] cross scripting like crazy from A LOT of sites someone visit).
People should know this — then make their own decisions. And for those who know but aren’t worried about it? That’s their choice. But far too many tech un-savvy FB users don’t even slightly grasp the scale of the info they are gathering on them. Final note (the obligatory message to infuriate the A-haters): Apple is the choice by 10 country miles if privacy security is important to a user.
