Launched in 2011 on the App Store and in 2012 on Android, the Snapchat application quickly attracted the wrath of Web giants Facebook and Google. The two entities tried to calm his ardor by proposing takeovers which ended in failure.
Snapchat has held firm and the platform has become a flagship application that brings together several million users around the world. Discover the secret of its success.
What is Snapchat for PC?
The free photo and video sharing application is on the rise. Its rise in power results from its accessibility, the richness of its content and its audience.
A 100% mobile network?
Snapchat takes first place in the ranking of mobile friendly platforms. All of its content is accessible on mobile devices. This is why the platform is the social network of choice for young people who spend an average of 2 hours a day on their smartphone.
Aware of this impact, companies are turning the situation in their favor. Having a professional account on Snapchat has become the ultimate solution to gain visibility. There is no doubt that its accessibility will give pride of place to its rise to the pinnacle of digital glory.
Varied content
Multimedia content is king on Snapchat for PC. The platform relies on ephemeral photos and videos to attract and hold the attention of its users. However, the application is hardly content with simple files.
It offers a number of possibilities for customizing content as well as filters, guaranteeing the uniqueness of information and the relevance of content.
The platform invites professionals to promote their brand by editing stories, filming their team behind the scenes or broadcasting professional events live. This is how professionals create a brand image consistent with their value.
A wide audience
Every day, more than 190 million Internet users, are active on the social network. The application brings together a community made up of movies personalities, fashion stars, professional athletes, star of the small screen etc.
Apart from well-known personalities, the interface is also the meeting point for generations X, Y and Z. It should be noted that the platform imposes a minimum age of 13 years. Companies that target young audiences have every reason to make their way onto Snapchat for PC.
Which OS is Snapchat compatible with?
Snapchat is not compatible with PC but you can still open your account and manage your friends list and your confidential data on a computer. However, the online version from a browser does not allow the publication of images or the sending of multimedia content.
In order to meet the needs of its users, Snapchat has added the Snap Camera function, available from a computer equipped with a webcam. It gives free access to the filters and special effects offered in the mobile version of the application.
Moreover, the only solution to use Snapchat for PC is the installation of the BlueStacks emulator compatible with Windows and Mac you can find here: www.bluestacks.com. You also install another emulator like NoxPlayer or MEmu Play to use Snapchat on your PC.
What’s new in the latest version of Snapchat?
Apart from sending and receiving images and videos that fade after a few minutes, the platform offers many other features.
New navigation tools
A new element has been introduced into the platform: the Action Bar. This is a new navigation bar located at the bottom of the screen. Its objective tends towards fluidity and simplicity of navigation.
Previously, users were forced to swipe the screen down in order to geotag their friends, making the feature unintuitive. From now on, geolocation is accessible via the first icon accessible from the left.
The icon on the right of the screen is dedicated to the “Discover” section. You can scroll through news and stories from friends and famous accounts. These new options make the platform easy to learn.
New partnerships leading to new features
Snapchat has nurtured partnerships with Plantsapp (a plant identification mobile app), DogScanner (a dog breed identification mobile app), and Yuka (a mobile app for identifying the nutritional quality of food from of its barcode).
These collaborations have given rise to new functionalities:
- 90% identification of plants and trees by an image.
- Determining the breed of a dog by a photo.
- The estimation of the quality of the ingredients of a food via the barcode.
Snap Inc. has also forged close relationships with the NBA, the NFL, Disney, ESPN, NBCUniversal, ViacomCBS.
Happening Now: New Feature from Snapchat
A new feature is being added to Snapchat called Happening Now. The option provides hot news and miscellaneous facts. The information revolves around entertainment, sports, television, politics, horoscope, culture, society etc.
Also, the data is modeled in such a way that it is easy to consume. In other words, the texts take the usual form of content: Messages, images and videos and accessible on mobile.
Bloomberg, ESPN, E!, The Washington Post, Reuters, BuzzFeed and NowThis round up the top sources. Horoscopes come from Sanctuary, while weather information comes from AccuWeather.
The difference between free Snapchat and paid Snapchat?
Generally, Snapchat is a free mobile app. However, a monthly payment unlocks additional features.
Free Snapchat Features
In the free version, Snapchat offers posting images with captions. This option was its first function.
In May 2012, the 10-second video message option appeared. Stories, chat and geofilters (customizing images with decorations and filters) were added in 2014.
A new section called “Discover” is dedicated to advertisers. It allows the creation of content for advertising purposes, but in a short format. The platform then made the sponsored geofilters that boost the visibility of content.
An innovative feature has revolutionized the use of Snapchat. This is the creation of custom filters.
The paid features of Snapchat, what interest?
In 2015, a paid feature was launched. It allows users to review their messages. Its implementation follows the frustration of some subscribers who can’t fully enjoy the snaps (images) they receive.
The payment grants a replay of all ephemeral messages received. A multiple replay function gives the right to several replays depending on the setting.
Unfortunately, this novelty was not to the liking of all users, preferring the ephemeral and spontaneous sides of the messages which make the originality of Snapchat.
Alternatives to Snapchat for PC
Wickr Me
Wickr Me emerged from the Web in 2012. Available on iPhone and iOS, the platform works like Snapchat. It allows the sending of videos, messages and images that fade after a certain time. However, you can configure the lifetime of a message. It also allows you to make live calls, a profitable option for professional accounts.
The interface stands out for the existence of end-to-end encryption. Exchanges between all users are encrypted, ensuring a high level of security. Access is totally free and does not involve any subscription.
Facebook is, without a doubt, the most used application in the world. The social media platform packs features similar to Snapchat. Users can post ephemeral content and stories that disappear after a while.
They post statuses, videos and photos to only a handful of individuals or to the entire community. The platform allows subscribers to follow celebrity pages. The social networking site also offers filters and background music that accompanies the stories.
Snow
Snow is not a mobile application, it’s a comprehensive camera app that incorporates a variety of beauty filters. The interface invites its users to take photos and personalize them by adding stickers, make-up, snow, face filters.
Another feature offers the creation of images from face filters, accessories and lenses. Inspired by Snapchat, a final option invites face swapping. To enjoy its functions, head to the official website and create your Snow account from your Facebook account or your phone number.