No doubt with over 2.4 billion monthly active users Facebook is a popular social networking site. Facebook focuses more on privacy, business, and transparency. Millions of people are eager to know some of the crazy new features coming out in 2020. Developers, creators, and entrepreneurs are always in the place of creating something new to Facebook. They are trying to boost their market with new Facebook features. Features like privacy-oriented, advanced story features, new Creator Studio,etc. are on the way.
Facebook is rapidly trying to catch a new pace in 2020. Other social media sites like TikTok are trying to go head to head with Facebook. Facebook is also facing some serious issues about privacy abuses and data scandals. Facebook had to answer the council of the EU. People also blamed that it had tempered the US presidential election.
After going through some serious ups and downs Facebook is now gearing up with its new features. There are rumors and announcements from Facebook that it will take a bigger jump in 2020. Facebook is working on some major projects. Such as unified messaging, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, dating features. Also, new fresh designs for desktop and mobile app of Facebook.
Before we go into details of all the upcoming features and technologies of Facebook, it is important that you have a Facebook account. Only then you will have access to all its features. If you don’t have a Facebook account yet, you can easily create a Facebook account.
Here are some of the major features of Facebook that are expected to launch in 2020.
Facebook Unified messaging
In early 2019, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that they are working to integrate messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram messaging to a single app or single platform. This does not mean they are going to merge three platforms. They are going to integrate apps in such a way that messenger users will be able to send messages to Instagram or WhatsApp users.
Just by installing one app users will be able to send messages over the other three different platforms. With this functionality users from one platform can easily contact other platform users. For this having an account in one platform is enough. Some WhatsApp user may get freak out as WhatsApp provides end to end encryption. And, It is the main reason why people are using WhatsApp. So, what I think is either they will integrate encryption with all messaging apps. Or, they will only facilitate Whatsapp users.
Whatsapp users might get an end to end encryption over messenger or Instagram. In a way that WhatsApp users don’t have to have an account on Instagram or Facebook. Some rumors say that this feature will be available before the spring of 2020.
Apps developers, content creators, and businesses are figuring out the best way to benefit themselves. However, many critics argue since last year’s Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook data are not safe anymore. If you are the user who was waiting to ditch the Facebook account with any chance to shift to another platform. This feature may be the right feature for you which will allow you to still connect with Messenger users without having an account on it.
One thing is sure, a new ride towards this feature is not going to be smooth though. Facebook is surely thinking to make more money out of this feature. Unifying messenger and Instagram with WhatsApp is not an easy thing to do. WhatsApp stores minimal data of the user compared to messenger and Instagram.
Fresh Design Facebook
There is no doubt that if you ask any FB user do you remember what was Facebook web interface like before and now? Then their answer will be almost the same ever since I have used it. Facebook has been sticking with its old designed and many users complain that it’s a dull site that sucks. But, recently Facebook released its beta version for the web platform. In the beta version, Facebook has made a slight change in its interface. Yet, every user isn’t being able to enjoy this feature. Facebook is regularly testing its new feature through its beta users. and improving its interface to make it as user-friendly as it can.
Some Facebook users who are following new trends around the globe have a complaint that they don’t like to surf newsfeed anymore. They even blame Facebook has done nothing except copying the features of snap chat story. Facebook does not want this reason why users are leaving its platform.
We already have its beta version but as some rumors say it will still take spring of 2020 to roll its full version. Facebook is trying to ensure that it will be the safest and easiest platform to connect with people. As this feature is expected to roll in the coming months. The main question is how will it be able to manage those pesky adds and old designed newsfeed which many users complain about.
Facebook’s Own OS (Operating System)
Being a tech giant it’s not a new thing to break through dependencies. As we all have seen at the Facebook announcement 2019, Mark Zuckerberg’s speech was related to breaking free from google and android. As some report says Facebook Oculus VR headsets and portal smart display runs through modified android.
Facebook wants to break dependency from google. For this, Facebook has planned to build its OS from the base. It’s an important project for them so they have hired Mark Lucovsky, the former co-author of Microsoft Windows NT operating system. Mark Lucovsky is the project led to this project. Yet Facebook has not given any clue which project will be the first product to have this very new OS.
Facebook VP of hardware Andrew Bosworth says “we really want to make sure the next generation has space for us”. He also quoted that “we don’t think we can trust the marketplace or competitors. And so, we’re gonna do it ourselves.”
Facebook is also going to integrate this Operating System on augmented reality glasses. Many reports and rumors say that they are also going to develop its chips that will work well with its new OS. This operating system is going to play a major part in their projects like voice assistant and brain-computer interface. This means Facebook could launch its operating system along with new chips and devices in 2020.
New Portable devices
We already know that Facebook is launching its new operating system. They are also building their own chips. Sources suggest that such chips may be used in these portables devices which are going to be released in 2020. We are not sure that this releasing device comes with their own OS and own chips but they are sure to release. There are also rumors that Facebook will have its all products in its portable devices. Including both the hardware and operating system.
With its own OS and hardware, we can expect some serious upgrade along with their portable devices line. Facebook had also launched its photo portability tool in early December of 2019. Facebook says that this tool is built as the part of data transfer project. It’s certain that users are more prone to the new upcoming tools of Facebook. Yet, they are moving towards hand-free technology.
Facebook Voice assistant
You guys may not know that Facebook is working on its own voice assistant that is going to compete with Siri, Google Assistant, Cortana, and Alexa. Some report suggests that Facebook is trying to get a license to use the Bing search of Microsoft to train its voice assistance. Source from Facebook tells us that much of their works are going to be held in the newly constructed building in California.
Voice assistance is built by the same team which is working on its current project Oculus headsets and hardware. The company started working on this voice assistant project at the beginning of 2018. Voice assistance of Facebook is going to be the remote control of the empire that Facebook is currently building. Hand free control of the Facebook system will be guided by the voice assistant. Facebook is also contacting smart speakers’ vendors in china. This information was spread by two former employees of Facebook.
The company had not given us any clue on how they are going to use this product. But its almost clear that the project will be based on its recently released device. Such as a portable video chat device and its AR/VR devices. However, it is going to face some serious competition from Google and Amazon. Google and Amazon currently hold 67% and 30% share market in the smart speaker business.
Facebook Cloud Gaming
By the end of 2019, the world gaming industry was worth $152 billion. And, it is estimated to double by the end of 2022. As other industries like movies and social media are at stable growth, the gaming industry is booming. Major tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft and Google are already inside this market. In the mid of 2018, Facebook bought PlayGiga a Spanish cloud gaming service. Who thought Facebook would buy WhatsApp and Instagram? This is a clear message from Facebook that there is nothing Facebook doesn’t want to get their hands on. And gaming service is their next target.
PlayGiga aims to provide a cost-effective gaming service with excellent latency of less than 30ms. This service is popular across Europe. Over past years Facebook is trying to increase its market in gaming.
These gaming services will run on Facebook video chat devices. There is no doubt that Facebook is trying to expand its gaming service over its huge social network.
There are no official sources from Facebook about how they are going to use PlayGiga. Facebook gaming department has left us with a clue that they are continuing to working in cloud gaming with a new mission. However, we are not sure that their services might be available in 2020. Still, we are hoping to see some competition over google stadia and Microsoft’s Project xCloud.
Desktop application for messenger
People want to send messages from any device without any problems. Sometimes you need space to share and communicate with the people who you care about. So, Facebook announced the release of the Messenger desktop app at the Facebook developer conference 2019. Facebook Messenger for the desktop will be available in Windows and macOS. You can make group video calls while chatting in Messenger, work together on projects, and perform some tasks. Facebook is testing this feature and will be available globally in 2020.
Secret crush Facebook
This feature opens the window of opportunity to explore the romantic relationship with a friend around your circle. If you have an interest in anybody then you can mark him or her as a secret crush on Facebook. If your marked secret crush also marks you then it’s a match. Facebook says you can only put 9 profiles in secret crush but this might change in the future. If your crush uses Facebook dating then they will get a notification that someone has a crush on them.
One advantage is that your secret crush will not know that you marked them as crush unless they mark you back.
This is one of the interesting features of Facebook that is expected to available globally in 2020. Currently, this feature is available in less than 20 countries. They are expanding the number of countries as this feature is getting more progressive and effective.
Conclusion:
The Above features and technologies could be a game-changer when they arrive for public consumption. However, you can expect some of them to be missing since these are not the finalized products and services from Facebook. Some of them might get even more updated and advance when they hit the market.
