Messengers are gradually replacing social networks, people are getting used to communicating and exchanging information inside simpler and more mobile applications. It's funny, but these same messengers gradually turn into social networks, from time to time borrowing functions from large, now overloaded services like VKontakte and Facebook.
There are a lot of examples: WhatsApp is more and more focused on shooting video and photos, Telegram introduces microblogging and the ability to shop inside the application, and so on. The product of the Chinese company Line was no exception.
The Line mobile app is a classic messenger, microblogging (like Twitter), cloud storage (like Dropbox) and some Instagram counterpart. This Frankenstein will be discussed in this material.
How to download and start using?
As with any advanced messenger (WhatsApp doesn’t count), the developers took care of creating clients for all existing platforms. For example, the Line application for a computer exists in three variations: for macOS (distributed in the Mac App Store), for Windows (available for download on the official website) and for the Google Chrome browser (available in the Chrome app store). The messenger client for Apple mobile gadgets can be found in the AppStore. Line application for Android can be downloaded from the official Google Play store or found on the Internet as an APK file.
When you turn it on for the first time, a window appears asking the user to log in. There are two ways at once: either enter your phone number and get a confirmation code, or log in using your Facebook profile.
Application interface
The program interface is divided into five main windows:
- The first window is the address book.
- The second window is live conversations.
- The third window is a conditional news feed.
- The fourth window is access to audio calls.
- The fifth window is the service menu.
The first window contains all your contacts. At the top are those who have already installed Line and with whom you can start chatting here and now. Below are all the others whose numbers you have, but who still do not use Line. Clicking on a person’s name will open his own profile, from where you can start communication.
The second window contains a list of active chats. Nothing special, banal chat. No extra elements and shortcuts. It is possible to send stickers (where without them in 2017).
In the third window, you can see the latest news of your contacts and official accounts of various companies and stars. In this makeshift tape you can share your ideas, files, music, fresh photos and videos. Supported work with tags and mentions using the @ symbol (dogs). People can gather in groups and blog together.
The fourth window is completely devoted to calls. From here, you can call any of the contacts using Line.
In the fifth window, all settings are concentrated, as well as links to additional applications related to Line and supplementing it.
Stickers and themes
In the service menu (in the very fifth window) there are two links to sticker stores and themes. In general, sticker packs are almost the only way to monetize instant messengers. The same situation is observed in Line. Animation characters, letter sets, jokes and simply cult symbols of our time can now be sent instead of text, but you will have to pay for it (albeit a little). Be careful: having bought one set of stickers, you will want to buy more and more.
If you want to personalize Line a little more, you can open a theme store for yourself. There are so many visual themes that fundamentally change how the program looks.
Official accounts
As in many other instant messengers, Line has channels of popular brands, stars and media personalities. These channels fall into various categories, for example, the official Line channels, where you can find the latest news about application updates. There are also channels of famous brands of fast food, where the SMM of these companies write about all kinds of promotions and replenishment of the assortment. There are channels at clothing stores, bookstores and others. Musicians keep their own blogs, where they talk about their plans, provide links to merchandise and report on upcoming concerts around the world. The design of these blogs is not limited to messages, as, for example, in Telegram. These are full-fledged pages with a unique layout, where the information is presented in the most digestible form. Users subscribed to brands and stars can participate in discussions, leave their own comments and share posts with their friends. Everything is like in other social networks and popular instant messengers.
Additional applications
Line developers decided not to dwell on the messenger and created several separate programs that complement it (they can work separately, but at the same time are tied to the Line account).
One such program is the B612 utility. This is a special application that helps you change the pictures you take. Ideal for those who like to attach hats, masks and other unusual attributes to their physiognomy.
For those who like to use trendy Instagram-style filters, there is the Line Camera app. There is nothing fundamentally new for us here, this application is generally not much different from the camera built into the phone. The only difference is integration with other Line services.
Another additional application is Keep file storage. This is your personal space where you can send various files, including music, documents, voice messages and more. The files that were sent to you in Line and those that you contributed there yourself are collected there.
Reviews
The Line app receives mostly positive reviews from users. The rating is kept at 4 points in all popular application stores. People like the speed of the messenger, its convenience and simple interface. A large audience is also pleasing to users, which allows you not to rush between messengers when you need to get in touch with someone. Most often, of course, praise the application and services that are tied to Line, as they allow you to diversify communication and share content in a new way. Of the minuses, unstable operation on some Android phone models and poor connection due to recent restrictions on the messenger in the Russian Federation are distinguished.