American tech giant Google might be preparing to integrate Google Photos for sharing images and videos through MMS rather than be sent over the primitive platform. As per GSM Arena, when a user will try to share a video inside a chat, a card will suggest a new method for sharing videos and photos by uploading them to Google Photos. As per the leaked clips and reports obtained by the outlet, the new feature seems to make the suggestion when composing a message for media through an MMS chat. This means the other person either doesn’t have RCS chat enabled, or (more likely) the recipient is using an iPhone. The recipient would receive a link to view or download the media.
In addition to the Google Photos feature, Google is seemingly walking back its decision to slowly phase out the ‘hamburger menu’, also known as the ‘navigation drawer’, from most Android apps by just stuffing all the menu items behind a profile photo icon.
The reports also suggest Messages, Starred, Archived, and Spam and blocked tabs are all within what looks to be the return of the navigation drawer.
Google may only be doing this for the Messages app and perhaps won’t walk back the Material You guidelines to include the navigation drawer.
In any case, neither the Google Photos upload nor the navigation drawer are official feature yet since they are disabled within the APK obtained by GSM Arena.
Apple’s app store has added unlisted app option
American tech giant Apple will now let developers distribute unlisted apps through the App Store that only users with a direct link can access.
According to The Verge, while unlisted apps aren’t discoverable by the general public through search results, App Store categories, charts, or recommendations, they’re available to administrators via the Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager. Apple notes that unlisted apps are ideal for “limited audiences,” such as guests at a special event, members of an organization, research study participants, or a specific group of employees. To make an app unlisted and obtain a link, developers will first need to submit a request to Apple.
Apps that have only been approved for private download on the Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager require developers to take some extra steps, however.
Apple says developers will need to “create a new app record in App Store” upload the binary, and then “set the distribution method to Public.” Developers with apps that are already public can submit a request without additional steps.
Once Apple approves the request, the distribution method for the app will change to ‘Unlisted App’, and the same goes for any updated versions of that app.
If the app is already available on the App Store, the link for the now-unlisted app will stay the same. It’s also important to note that unlisted apps “must be ready for final distribution” and Apple won’t approve any apps still in beta or a pre-release state.
A somewhat similar policy under the Developer Enterprise Program, which was originally put in place for developers to test and internally distribute apps before they’re officially reviewed by Apple, saw bad actors use the program to sidestep Apple’s rigorous safety requirements.
