Discord bluntly describes the mobile app it launched in 2015 as a stripped-down version of its desktop platform. But that recognition comes with an announcement that said application is receiving a complete redesign that's a "independent experience" from its computer-based counterpart. Includes a new set of navigation tabs displayed prominently at the bottom of the screen: Servers, Messages, Notifications, and You.
While Discord considered changes such as a horizontal layout, the Servers tab looks very similar to the previous one, only there is no direct messaging option. Instead, a Messaging tab replaces the existing Friends tab, showing all your individual and group messages in one place instead of having to click through multiple pages. You can also favorite a conversation so it stays at the top of your chats, and use a search bar to find a message, file, pin, or attachment across all discussions, just like WhatsApp or general messaging. Also new to conversations is the ability to swipe left on a message to reply to it, rather than having to hold it down. You may have noticed that Discord already changed the format of image messages to display them in a gallery style instead of one by one.
The Notifications tab will now include server events, friend requests, and message replies, which you can click to contact the source immediately. Additionally, notifications should now clear automatically instead of requiring you to delete them. Completing the now four tabs at the bottom (goodbye search) is still the You page. The Friends tab has been integrated here, along with features like changing your status or profile photo. This is also still the tab to access account settings, but with a little more convenience. You can double-tap the You tab to go directly to your account settings, and once there, there's a search bar to find any information you need. One tool you can access there is the new Midnight theme, which provides a pure black background that should give your eyes some rest.
The app's performance has also improved, with Discord claiming that opening the app will take you 55 percent less time on Android and 43 percent less time on iOS, apparently using four times less data when doing so. The crash rate for Android users also dropped by half over the past year. Additionally, voice and video calling have improved performance, with an updated user interface that allows "more intuitive interactions."
Discord also shared that it is working on other requested updates, such as quick access to a server's member list, better search filters, more customization options for viewing messages, and general app performance improvements. You can use the feedback forum at any time to express things you are not happy with or would like to see changed.
In particular, Discord recently got into trouble with the United States Senate Judiciary Committee. The company refused to let its CEO, Jason Citron, testify about children's online safety, did not accept an electronic subpoena, and merited a visit to the US Marshals Office to personally serve it. Citron will speak to the committee about protecting children and Discord "failures" to do so, along with the CEOs of Meta, X, TikTok, and Snap on January 31, 2024 at 10 a.m. ET.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/discord-overhauls-its-mobile-app-with-new-tabs-messaging-features-and-more-170035917.html?src=rss
