Where the boys at Google have been sitting on their hands when it comes to adding new features to Google Talk (when are we going to be able to send pictures!?), the boys at Kik are picking up where Googs left off. A sort of hybrid between normal SMS and instant messaging, Kik combines the best of both, allowing users to quickly and easily share photos (and more) with users on Android or iOS. Because the Kik service requires users to create user names and not actual phone numbers — unlike rival messaging service, WhatsApp — users no longer have to worry about changing your number if some weirdo wont leave them alone.
If you haven’t been keeping up-to-date on all the Kik happenings, recently their Android app was updated with a new way for users to share using a new feature they called “Cards.” There were 3 cards at launch: YouTube Videos, Sketch, and (Google) Image Search. Think of Cards as tiny apps within the app, that allow for direct sharing of content with friends, family, or acquaintances. Where you could technically do this the “old fashioned way” by sending links via SMS or on Google Talk, when cards are shared with other Kik users, the content is immediately displayed in the conversation view and users wont ever have to leave the app to view. Genius.
Today, Kik was updated in the Play Store yet again, this time adding an all new card called “Reddit Pics.” As the name suggests, the mini-app allows for easy browsing of Reddit’s images, and you can even custom tailor browsing by adding your favorite subreddits. Once an image is found that is deemed worthy of sharing, simply send the image directly to another another Kik user where they can even read the caption. Gotta hand it to ‘em, it’s an awesome update for an already great app. Can’t wait to see what the guys at Kik come up with next. The update is live on Google Play and, as always, Kik Messenger for Android is completely free to download.
