Gadgetory

good news snapchatters no more thumb cramps I'm Bridget Carey this is your CNET update snapchat has changed a defining feature of it snap you no longer have to hold your finger down on the screen to view a message the latest app update just lets you view the message right away with a single tap and if you're in a story you can just keep tapping to skip through messages the photos and video will still disappear but now you don't have to worry about missing a 10 second message because your finger slipped here's what's odd about the change having your finger on the screen was golden for advertisers because they knew you were actively engaged to looking at the screen but maybe someone figured out that it was more important to see your message without your finger blocking the view although some do complain that with a free hand now it's easier to take a screen shot and that's not all snapchat added new ways to add friends when your location is turned on you can see a list of other users nearby but it's not as creepy as it sounds the other person also needs to be hunting for people nearby with the search screen open for it to show their name so if you want to add a new friend you met but you don't want to fiddle with codes or a user name everyone can just open up the add nearby screen snap codes also got an upgrade those yellow polka dotted QR type go-sees are unique to every name and it's a quick way for people to add you by pointing their phone's camera at the icon you can customize the little ghost inside with an animated selfie it loops through several photos and people will see it when they look up your name if you stumble across a code online you can take a screenshot the app will scan your photo library for the code so you can add the person and although it's not as fun the most important update is 2-step authentication your snaps can be more secure by requiring not just a password when you sign on but it will also require you to enter in a shortcode sent to you via text message it's an extra barrier in case someone gets your password you'll find it in settings under log and verification security experts are looking into ways we can verify ourselves without using passwords which can be easily compromised and the blogging site medium is taking a new approach and letting you sign in using only your email address and you have to go into your email to fetch the special link to log on each time it's as if you permanently forgot your password and as before you can also sign in using your Facebook or Twitter account speaking of hacks we have another credit card breach this time the victims were people who stayed at Trump hotel properties yes the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump now has to deal with hacking at his hotels along with all the other drama going on security reporter Brian Krebs broke the news and it appears that the breach extended back to February that's it for this tech news update but there's always more at cnet.com from our studios in New York I'm Bridget Carey