Feature update; Telegram rolls out live recording, new chat themes & more 

By Arya M Nair, Official Reporter
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Telegram Feature image
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The popular instant messaging app, Telegram has rolled out a major update that allows users to record livestreams and video chats directly within the app and introduced eight new chat themes.  

Each theme offers a day and night version and it will follow the night mode settings of the app settings. In addition, the app now offers detailed read receipts in groups and users will also get new interactive emoji with full-screen effects.

The new features were introduced for Android and iOS users through a blog post that also included instructions on how to use them. Telegram’s eight new Chat themes can be used for specific private chats to customize their appearance. Each of the new designs has gradient message bubbles, moving backgrounds, and various background patterns to help users keep track of their chats. The company also said that it is working on more features for themes. 

Live Recording

Telegram Recordings image

In its last update, Telegram introduced the ability to have an unlimited audience for a livestream. Now, in the latest update, Telegram allows admins of the video call to record livestreams and video chats to publish them for those who missed the live version.

Admins can start a recording from the Live Stream or Video Chat menu, with the option to record both video and audio or only audio. To record video, users must select either portrait or landscape as the final video file orientation. The file is instantly uploaded to the ‘Saved Messages’ after the recording is finished.

Chat Themes

Chat Themes image

If the user has already received the update and started using the current version of Telegram on their smartphone, they can enable themes by tapping the chat header box on a chat window, clicking the three-dot icon, and then selecting Change Colors. If the other person in the chat is using the latest version of Telegram, they can also see the theme the user selected.

With the update for users to pick the option of being more expressive in chats, Telegram has launched yet another new set of animated emojis with fullscreen effects. If both user’s and partner’s chat windows are open, the animations and vibrations will play at the same time on their smartphones.

Read Receipt Status

 

Telegram Receipts image

Users will be able to check if their message has been received or viewed by the other members of the group. The read receipt status of group chats will be shown by a double-check icon (✓✓). In small groups, the user can now see which group members have read the message by selecting it. Telegram confirmed that read receipts in groups would be maintained for seven days after the message is received to ensure privacy.

Related: Whatsapp finally brings end-to-end encryption to chat backups in cloud

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