Gadgetory

the emojis are coming to life would you like a doughnut I'm Bridget Carey this is your CNET update well I don't normally have emoji icons stuck to me what you saw in the intro was a video I created in snapchat it's a new effect getting lots of buzz and it's called a 3d sticker you pick an emoji and stick it to anything in your video and it will follow that object no matter how you move once you pick the emoji and size it you just press and hold the spot you want it to stick in the video of course this isn't life changing technology but it is something we have not yet seen in today's assortment of social media tricks and it's only a matter of time before Facebook or another social app will copy the concept snapchat tends to be on the edge of trying new things but one special effect did get the app in hot water for being shall we say half-baked on Wednesday the app created a special effect filter that puts Jamaican musician Bob Marley's face on your face and people are speaking out against it online calling it insensitive some are saying it's a digital form of blackface snapchat added the effect on 4/20 it's a day that's an unofficial holiday of sorts for marijuana smokers and supporters but critics said it reduces the psychotic artist to just being a pothead but there's more important news beyond what snapchat is doing of course if you prefer your chat apps to be more on the secure side the messaging app viber is adding end-to-end encryption to all chats that means that no one can listen in to spy on your conversation not even the team at viber now if there is something fishy with the connection a lock icon on the screen will turn from green to red to alert you and that could mean the other person is using a new phone or the security is breached this is rolling out over the next two weeks you just have to update the app last month the Facebook owned whatsapp also made end-to-end encryption the default for its 1 billion users by comparison viber has about 700 million users but here's a unique twist to viber it's not a US company if the government orders viber to unencrypted software it doesn't have to comply and speaking of encryption several major tech companies have joined together in an open letter to express deep concerns over a draft encryption bill that may soon be heard in Congress the bill aims to give law enforcement the power to order a tech company to decrypt data on demand Apple Microsoft Google and Facebook are just among the many saying that this type of requirement would be harmful to consumers that's all for this tecnique is round up and you can head to cnet.com for the latest from our studios in New York I'm Bridget Carey