Telegram for Android and iOS Updated to Version 11.1

The new update offers users the following features:

- Star Giveaways on Channels: Channel and group admins can now hold star giveaways among subscribers, similar to how they previously could give away Telegram Premium subscriptions.
- Reader Mode in the In-App Browser: Users can now view any web pages using the built-in browser in a simplified mode.

Additionally, numerous bugs have been fixed, and the "People Nearby" section has been removed from the app.

Article: http://telegram.org/blog/star-giveaways-iv-in-browser

Download:
- Android: Available on Google Play, via APK from the official website, or through the verified channel.
- iOS: Available on the App Store.
- macOS: Available on the App Store.

#update #Android #iOS #macOS

Telegram is Replacing "People Nearby" with "Businesses Nearby"

In Telegram version 11.1, the "People Nearby" feature was removed. Pavel Durov revealed that only 0.1% of users actually used this feature. Durov acknowledged issues with bots and scammers, which contributed to its removal.

In the same statement, Pavel Durov announced that Telegram is working on a replacement feature called "Businesses Nearby." According to Durov, the new feature will only include genuine, verified businesses. It's reported that businesses will be able to publish product catalogs and easily accept payments through this feature.

#peopleNearby #businessesNearby

Bot API Updated to Version 7.10

• Bots now receive updates when users purchase paid media.
• A payload parameter was added for paid media purchases to be used for internal purposes.
• Giveaway class obtained a new field specifying type of giveaway and number of star prizes.
• Mini Apps can now display and control a secondary button at the bottom of their interface.

The full list of changes is available on the official website.

#update #BotAPI

Unigram Has Updated to Version 11.1

The Unigram client for Windows 10 and 11 has been updated with new features.

What’s new:
• Support for Telegram Stars giveaways.
• View star reactions and subscriptions in the transactions window and “My Stars” menu.
• Full author profiles can now be displayed in channels (Super Channels).
• Added a button to open the privacy policy in bots.
• Support for Star Reactions
• The auto-delete account period can now be set to 18 or 24 months.
• You can now forward messages to forum topics.
• Added support for Quick Replies from Telegram Business feature set.

And Also:
• The “People Nearby” menu has been removed.
• The delete drafts button has been moved to storage settings.
• Numerous bugs have been fixed.

Updating from Unigram version 10.x:
This does not apply to users who installed Unigram from the Microsoft Store. Starting from version 11, Unigram has changed its digital signature. Version 11.x will install as a new app. You will need to log in again and manually remove the old version.

You can find the data from the old version of the app here:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\TelegramFZ-LLC.Unigram_1vfw5zm9jmzqy\LocalState

Download: Microsoft Store | Direct download | Installation guide

#update #Unigram

Telegram Desktop Has Been Updated to Version 5.5.4

What's new:
• QR code generation has been added for public links for users, groups, and channels (5.5.3).
• Added a button to generate a QR code for your username in Settings.
• Fixed a bug due to which new posts in a channel might not be displayed until the user opens this channel.
• Other improvements and fixes.

Download:
• Windows: from the official website or from GitHub.
• macOS: App Store.

#update #desktop #macOS

Telegram Again Displays The MAU of Bots

About one day ago, users noticed that Telegram had once again started displaying the number of monthly active users (MAU) of some bots.

Observations from our subscribers indicate that the MAU is only displayed when this value exceeds 10,000. However, there are exceptions: for example, the @wallet bot, which undoubtedly has many more users.

The @tginfo editors have no information about whether the platform really uses this value as a limit, or whether there are other factors that affect the display of MAU.

#bots

Premium Subscriptions Won Through Giveaways Can No Longer Be Transferred to Other Users

Our subscribers report that winners of Telegram Premium subscription giveaways, organized on channels, no longer receive activation codes for the subscriptions. Instead, the subscription automatically appears on their account.

The @tginfo editorial team has no information about the reasons for the change in the giveaway process, nor what happens if the giveaway winner already has an active subscription that they purchased themselves.

#premium #giveaways

Telegram Desktop Has Been Updated to Version 5.5.5

What's new:
• Suggest URL from clipboard when creating a custom link.
• Fix animated topic icons in topic info page.
• Fix excessive getChannelDifference requests.

Download:
• Windows: from the official website or from GitHub.
• macOS: App Store.

#update #desktop #macOS

Telegram has expanded the conditions under which it will disclose users' IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities

Pavel Durov spoke about how Telegram is ramping up its fight against illegal content. In his statement, the founder of the messaging app said:

"We’ve updated our Privacy Policy to make it consistent globally. We’ve made it clear that the IP addresses and phone numbers of those violating our rules may be disclosed to the appropriate authorities in response to valid legal requests.”

The @tginfo editorial team reviewed the updates to Telegram’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy across several countries. The new rules are the same in different regions and significantly change Telegram’s approach to data disclosure:

• Not just for terrorism anymore: Previously, Telegram only agreed to disclose a user’s phone number and IP address if they were a confirmed suspect in a terrorism case. Now, Telegram will disclose data upon an “valid order from the relevant judicial authorities” regarding users who are suspects in criminal cases involving illegal activities, while also violating Telegram’s Terms of Service.

• What’s strictly prohibited: In addition to illegal pornographic content, spam, scamming users, and promoting violence, Telegram now also bans “engaging in activities that are illegal in most countries.” This includes child abuse, drugs, weapons, and counterfeit documents.

• Vague wording: The new list of “illegal goods and services” is not exhaustive. This means Telegram is not limiting itself to this list and can disclose data for other violations as well.

• Disclosure in the past: Telegram removed the statement that it had never disclosed users’ IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities.

• Reports will be published more frequently: Information about the disclosure of user data will now be published quarterly, instead of twice a year.

#laws

Enhanced Moderation of Telegram Search

In early September, channel administrators began noticing changes in Telegram’s search algorithm. In his latest message, Pavel Durov confirmed that the messaging app's team has started moderating search results:

“In recent weeks, a dedicated team of moderators, using AI, has made Telegram search much safer. All problematic content we found in search is no longer accessible.”

• Users can report problematic search queries: The founder of the app invited users to help identify search queries that return undesirable content. Users can report such keywords to a new official bot — @SearchReport. Initially, this bot didn’t work in Russia and Ukraine, but a few hours later, users from these countries were also given access.

• Similar changes happen regularly: In September last year, Telegram began accounting for inflated subscriber counts and the share of users with Telegram Premium. At the end of August 2022, Telegram removed a large number of “inactive” usernames, arguing that inactive channels cluttered search results.

• Telegram is fighting illegal content this way: According to Pavel Durov, this year’s changes are aimed at tackling the search for illegal goods and services via Telegram.

• Not just rule-breakers are missing from search: Users have noticed that many channels from categories that do not violate Telegram’s rules, such as unofficial clients and news channels covering Telegram, have also disappeared from search results. This change has affected @tginfo as well. Now, these channels are only displayed in search reliably if you’re already subscribed to them.

#search

Telegram Data Center Is Unstable

According to our subscribers' reports, some data centers are have been unstable starting 17:00 UTC. Sending messages, loading pinned messages and media have been taking long.

UPD 17:25 UTC: Performance significantly improved, lags still remain.

UPD 17:35 UTC: Problems still remain, with performance deteriorating or improving at different times; Media loading issues seem to be fixed.

UPD 17:42 UTC: Issues seem to be fully fixed.

UPD 17:46 UTC: DC4 still unstable.

#outages

Telegram Is Unstable

Since 10:50 UTC, users face malfunctions in the Telegram platform. Delays occur when sending messages and when switching between application screens.

UPD 12:10 UTC
Issue is resolved

#outages

How to Get Back Into The Chat and How to Get The Ownership Again?

We continue our FAQ-articles series with two new materials, closely related to each other:

1. What to do if a Group or Channel is Left Without an Owner?
tginfo.me/how-to-get-ownership-back-en/

2. How to Return to a Group or Channel After Leaving?
tginfo.me/how-to-comeback-en/

#FAQ

Changes in Global Search

At the end of August, many users noticed that the search algorithms in Telegram had changed.

We tell you everything we know about this in the article https://tginfo.me/search-rules-change-2024-en/

#FAQ

Telegram for Android and iOS Updated to Version 11.2. Telegram Desktop Has Been Updated to Version 5.6.0

Here are new features:

• Star gifts: Users can now send to other users not only pure stars, but also star gifts. Each star gift is a special sticker with a number of stars attached to it, as well as an optional text comment. The gift can be sent either on your own behalf or anonymously, and you can pay for it my your stars.

• New Reasons For Reporting Content: users can now report content for more different reasons than was previously available. Some items in the report menu, such as “Scam or spam”, are now sections in which the user can specify more detailed reason for the complaint.

Other new features: RTMP-streaming, new «My stars» design, Verification Platform, Redesigned Video Chats on iOS

Blog: https://telegram.org/blog/gifts-verification-platform/

Download new version
• Android: Google Play, APK from the official website, or the verified channel.
• iOS: App Store.
• Windows: from the official website or from GitHub.
• macOS: App Store.

#update #Android #iOS #desktop #macOS

Star Gifts

Users can now send to other users not only pure stars, but also star gifts.

Each star gift is a sticker with a number of stars attached to it, as well as an optional text comment. The gift can be sent either on your own behalf or anonymously, and you can pay for it by your stars.

A user who has received a star gift has two options:
1. Pin a gift to their profile. In this case, other users will see this gift when they open the profile screen. However, stars from such a gift will not be credited to the recipient's balance.
2. Convert the gift to stars: transfer stars from a gift to their balance. A gift from which stars were transferred to the balance cannot be pinned to a profile, and if it was pinned there earlier, it disappears from there. When transferring stars from gift to your balance, you need to pay a 15% commission.

Another important change is that user can now pay for star gift by stars which are already on their balance. Let us remind you that previously, even if the sender had stars available on his balance, he still had to buy new ones to send them to someone as a gift.

#update

New Reasons For Reporting Content

Users can now report content for more different reasons than was previously available.

The content report menu now includes reasons such as “Illegal goods”, “Personal data”, “Copyright”, and some others.

Some items in the report menu, such as “Scam or spam”, are now sections in which the user can specify more detailed reason for the complaint.

When selecting some reasons, the application prompts the user to add a text comment. It is noteworthy that when selecting reasons ”I don't like it” and “It's not illegal, but it must be taken down”, it is impossible to specify a comment.

#update

Telegram Desktop Has Been Updated to Version 5.6.0

What's new:
• Star gifts.
• Improved Reporting Interface.
• Allow resizing the window used for web apps and games.
• Add mention / hashtag autocomplete in media and GIF caption field.
• "Include muted chats in folder counters" notifications setting.
• Auto-select URL suggested from clipboard when creating a custom link.
• Update emoji to Unicode 15.1.

Download:
• Windows/macOS/Linux: the official website or GitHub.
• macOS: App Store.
• Windows: Microsoft Store.
• Linux: Flathub, Snapcraft.

#update #desktop

Limited Gifts in Telegram

In addition to the usual gifts, version 11.2 of Telegram introduced two "limited" gifts, released in limited quantities:
🍭 — 500,000 lollipops priced at 15 stars each;
🌸 — 100,000 cherry blossoms priced at 25 stars each.

The total value of the entire offering of these two gifts amounted to 10 million stars, which is around $150,000 based on the exchange rate on Fragment.

In the announcement, Pavel Durov mentioned that this year Telegram will introduce the ability to convert limited-edition gifts into NFTs based on TON: users will be able to auction and trade these tokenized gifts outside of Telegram.

After this, the limited gifts were completely sold out within a few hours.

Once users have bought all the "limited" gifts, they will no longer be available to send. Those who received them will have unique gifts, at least until they decide to exchange them for "stars". This way, users can collect gifts marked as "limited".

#Gifts

Announcement of Improvements for Message Editing, Hashtags, and Gifts

On his channel, Pavel Durov announced several new features: improvements for gifts and hashtags, edit times displayed on messages, as well as the ability to add media to messages after they’ve been sent.

As a reminder, the edit time for messages can already be seen by users of Telegram Desktop, Telegram for macOS, and Telegram X.

According to Durov, the designers prepared mockups the same day he shared his ideas, and internal builds with these features were created the very next day.

#Gifts #Search