[imagesource: here]

The new group selfie is, if social media is anything to go by, an unflattering screengrab of a Zoom chat.

It’s usually the kind of picture that makes you proud of your past self for clicking that button on Facebook that lets you review posts before they pop up on your timeline.

(If your past, past self was an idiot and your photos make you cringe, you might want to read this.)

For those who miss the group selfie of old, the hangouts of the before times, and want to hold onto the idea that it didn’t happen if it isn’t on social media, I have some good news for you.

Apple has just been granted a patent for software that would generate “synthetic group selfies” while staying physically distanced from your friends.

Per The Verge:

According to the patent application (first discovered by Patently Apple), an Apple device user (it’s not clear whether the feature would be available on iPads, iPhones, or both) could invite others to take part in a group selfie, and the software would arrange them together in a single image.

The selfie could include still photos, stored video images, or live streaming images. Users could keep the original selfie as well as the group version, and the original user and recipients of the group image could modify the selfie, for instance, putting themselves in a different position in the group.

This is good news for that friend who always closes their eyes in photos (me…).

According to the patent application, this is what it would look like:

Image: United States Patent and Trademark Office

Image: United States Patent and Trademark Office

It’s not that impressive at the moment, but you know that if Apple is rolling it out, it’s going to be sleek AF (as the kids would say).

Closer to home, Digicape, South Africa’s largest independent Apple retailer, has recently launched a Virtual Shopping Assistant.

Shopping online is great, but nothing beats a personal interaction where you can ask questions or have an expert guide you through your choices so that you leave with the product that’s right for you.

With the Virtual Shopping Assistant, you can enjoy both.

We’re not sure when Apple will be releasing the group selfie app, but while we wait, keep embarrassing your mates on Zoom.

We’ve got to get our kicks where we can.

[source:verge]