Snapchat ramps up messaging service with ‘chat 2.0’

Snapchat is dressing up its messaging with an upgraded video chat and animations, part of the social network’s efforts to be the preferred service for young users.

“We’re excited to introduce Chat 2.0,” the California startup announced on its blog Tuesday.

“You can start by sending a few chats, and when your friend shows up, start talking or video chatting instantly with one tap,” it said.

“Your friend can simply listen if you want to sing them a song, or watch if you have a new puppy to show them.”

The new chat platform aims for improved video chat with new features such as sending an audio note or a “sticker” chosen from a range of images similar to those on Facebook’s Messenger app.

First gaining notoriety for its disappearing messages, Snapchat has been growing rapidly to a base of some 100 million, with particular appeal to young users, as it expands its partnerships with various media organizations.

The Los Angeles-based company, which reportedly turned down a $3 billion buyout from Facebook in 2013, was valued at more than $15 billion in its latest funding round.

But it is facing competition from Facebook and others seeking to be the preferred messaging platform — that can draw users into more services and open up possibilities for advertisers.

“What we love most about the new Chat is how easily you can transition between all these ways of communicating — just like you do in person,” the Snapchat team said on the blog.

“When that’s possible, you aren’t texting, calling, or video chatting? you’re just talking. We?ve been working on this redesign for a while — we can’t wait to hear what you think!”

France loses out to Italy as world’s top wine producer

ln 2015 France lost its status as the world’s top wine producer to Italy, according to the International organisation of Vine and Wine (Organisation Internationale de la vine et du vin), a sign of changing habits and increasing global competition.

The last few years have been a rocky road for the French wine industry.

Despite France’s reputation for producing the world’s best wine, the country has lost out to both Italy and Spain in exports for the last eight years.

France lost out to Italy in 2011 in terms of production, then got back to top place in 2014. But in 2015 Italy fought back, producing 49 million hectolitres to France’s 47 million.

Changing domestic drinking habits can explain the drop in overall production in France.

According to daily newspaper Le Parisien, the French got through an average of 100 litres of wine per person in 1960. That figure had fallen to 42 litres in 2015.

Meanwhile, the amount of wine imbibed across the planet has actually gone up. Since 2000, global consumption has increased by 6%, according to French export credit assurer Coface, which predicts that China will become the world’s top consumer of wine by 2027.

As global consumption grows, France may need to re-think its export tariffs if it is to regain some of its lost prestige, according to Nicolas Ozanam of the French Federation for Wine and Spirits exporters.

“More than 80 percent of exported French wines are sold abroad for more than five euros per litre,” he told daily newspaper Le Parisien, which pointed out that Italian wines sell abroad for half that price, while Spanish wine sells for a mere 1.16 euros a litre.

Kamati ya Miss Tanzania yazindua msimu mpya wa mashindano ya urembo ya Miss Tanzania 2016 jijini Arusha

Mkurugenzi wa Lino International Agency ambao ni waandaaji wa shindano la Miss Tanzania, Hashim Lundenga (kulia) akimiminiwa kinywaji cha K-Vant wakati wakiingia na wadau wa tasnia ya urembo kwenye  ukumbi wa Triple A jijini Arusha wakati wa uzinduzi wa msimu mpya wa mashindano ya urembo ya Miss Tanzania 2016 uliofanyika mwishoni mwa juma.

Mdau wa tasnia ya urembo Miss Tanzania 1999 ambaye pia anasifika kwa kufanya mambo mengine ya kijamii na kuleta mabadiliko katika nyanja mbalimbali kupitia kipindi chake cha ‘Mimi na Tanzania’, Hoyce Temu (katikati) akiwa na Miss Tanzania 2014/15, Lilian Kamazima wakikaribishwa ukumbini na kupewa kinywaji cha K -Vant ambao walikua wadhamini wa shughuli hiyo iliyofanyika katika ukumbi wa Triple A jijini Arusha.

Mrembo wa Taji la Miss Tanzania 2014/2015, Lilian Kamazima akakitambulishwa ukumbi kwenye uzinduzi wa msimu mpya wa mashindano ya urembo ya Miss Tanzania 2016.

Yamoto Band ikifanya mambo yake jukwaani ndani ya ukumbi wa Triple A jijini Arusha.