Tech: Facebook's official app now on Windows 10 platform

Microsoft has finally got the long awaited official Facebook app for Windows that would be available for Windows 10-powered personal computers and smartphones, a media report said on Sunday. The new Facebook app, now in beta, is being developed and published by the social networking giant.

The current Facebook app for Windows 10 mobile devices may carry the Facebook branding, design cues and API access, it has been developed by Microsoft, presumably to make sure that its smartphone platform had a Facebook client app, just like Android and iOS. The mobile app that was available till now was developed by Microsoft on behalf of Facebook.

Earlier, Facebook enabled SMS in Messenger for Android which means that users will now have the choice to be able to send/receive SMSes in Messenger itself. The feature is only available on Android. However, when you send an SMS message, the recipient can be on any platform.

Here's how it works: Open Messenger and tap on Settings (the person icon), then select "SMS" from the list and turn on "Default SMS app."

Users can now view and respond to their SMS conversations in Messenger. SMS conversations will be in purple while Messenger conversations will be in blue.

SMS in Messenger not only supports standard text, images, videos and audio but also rich content like stickers, emojis and location sharing.

Users will have to use regular Messenger to send GIFs, send money, make voice and video calls, and request transportation.

SMS in Messenger do not send, upload or store your conversations on Facebook servers.

All messages are sent and received via SMS. Standard SMS, regular text charges apply, Facebook added.

However, regular, non-SMS messages sent or received on Messenger will continue to use data.

Last week, Facebook rolled out updated suicide prevention tools in India, in a bid to curb self-injury and suicide episodes. The updated tools, also available to all 1.65 billion Facebook monthly active users now in English and Hindi, were unveiled with help from non-profit organisations AASRA and The Live Love Laugh Foundation.

Developed in collaboration with mental health organisations and with inputs from people who have personal experience with self-injury and suicide, these tools were first launched in the US with the help of organisations like Forefront, Lifeline and Save.org. With the help of these new tools, if someone posts something on Facebook that makes you concerned about their well being, you can reach out to them directly and you can also report the post to Facebook.

Following the gruesome Orlando shooting, Facebook activated its Safety Check feature for users. The feature allows people to notify their friends if they are in the affected area and mark themselves as safe. A click or tap on the "I'm Safe" button lets friends and loved ones know straight away. Users can also check to see whether their friends are safe too. (Read more)
- With inputs from Jagran Post and agencies