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]
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors.
According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
Friday September 5, 2025 9:33 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 17 series in just four days from now, and the biggest design mystery surrounding the Pro models has finally been solved.
In a report outlining his expectations for Apple's event next week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the iPhone 17 Pro models will have "a new cutout area on the bottom two-thirds of the phone that doubles as the wireless charging area."...
Thursday September 4, 2025 7:38 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
We're only days away from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 9 – and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023.
By the time the Ultra 3 is unveiled, it will have been two years since the previous model arrived. The intervening period has left plenty of room for...
Wednesday September 3, 2025 1:19 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
iOS 26 introduces an Adaptive Power Mode on the iPhone, alongside the existing Low Power Mode.
Apple says Adaptive Power Mode can make "performance adjustments" when necessary to extend an iPhone's battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness, allowing some activities to "take longer," and automatically turning on Low Power Mode when the iPhone's remaining battery life...
Friday September 5, 2025 4:57 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Four days out from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event on Tuesday, September 9, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has summarized his expectations for what the company will reveal next week.
Aside from a couple of new details and the inclusion of some more recent leaks from other sources, much of the following is a recap of Gurman's reports over the last several months:
iPhone 17
Large...
Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices.
Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac:
Model
Starting Price
Model
Starting Price
Change
iPhone 16
$799
iPhone 17
...
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.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
