Encrypted-messaging app
Telegram added some new features this week, including group video calls. “Voice chats in any company can now seamlessly turn into group video calls — just tap the camera icon to switch your video on,” the business said in a blog post Friday.

You can tap a video to have it go full Hide, and you can pin a video to keep it in the key Place as other people hop onto the call. For now, company video calls top out at 30 people, but that Little will increase soon, Telegram said. You can share your Hide as well. The feature is available on all devices, including desktops and tablets.

Telegram also added animated backgrounds and communication animations, the company said in another post. “Meet Interesting backgrounds for chats — first time in a messaging app!” it said. “These multi-color gradient wallpapers are generated algorithmically and move beautifully every time you send a message.”

You can get at them over Settings. In iOS, it’s Appearance / Chat Background. In Android, it’s Chat Settings / Change Chat Background. You can also Make your own backgrounds by fiddling with colors, patterns and new settings.

The message animations include emojis that blink, drool, stick out a tongue, and lots more. For details, check out Telegram’s post about group video calls and its post around animated backgrounds and message animations.

Telegram saw a surge in new users
 earlier this year when Tesla CEO and Twitter enthusiast Elon Musk sent tweets urging followers to drop Facebook-owned WhatsApp over New privacy policy changes.

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