Understanding Telegram’s Exclusive Features and Bots

Everyone complains that Telegram isn’t as performant as WhatsApp, Facebook, and even Instagram, but this messaging application more than makes up for this shortcoming with its numerous advanced features and bots. In this article, we’ll explore the most interesting aspects of Telegram that you might not know about yet. We’re just scratching the surface of the possibilities offered by this versatile platform, but you’ll surely discover functions that will be useful to you daily.

Advanced Messaging Features

Video Messages with Audio

Surely everyone loves sending voice notes, but Telegram goes beyond that. If you press once on the voice note symbol, you’ll discover a little-known function: you can send video messages with audio. These video messages have similar advantages to audio messages:

• They can be played at double speed
• If you play them and exit the chat, they continue to be visible
• You can move them wherever you want on the screen

Advanced Video Editing

When you want to share a video from your gallery, Telegram offers many more options than WhatsApp. Not only can you crop the video like on WhatsApp, but you also have access to adjustments like exposure and contrast. Additionally, you can add:

• Watermarks or annotations
• Emojis and stickers, some of which are animated
• A self-destruct function

You can schedule self-destruction in just a few seconds, which is perfect for sharing sensitive or ephemeral content. For example, if you set self-destruction to three seconds, the recipient will only be able to view the video once before it permanently disappears.

Custom Stickers

Telegram offers a bot for creating our own custom stickers. Although the process isn’t particularly simple, the variety of available stickers is impressive. You can download themed packs, such as those from Harry Potter or other popular franchises. Animated stickers are particularly popular, adding an extra dimension to your conversations.

Multimedia Reading and Multitasking

Watching YouTube Videos

A particularly practical feature of Telegram is its handling of YouTube videos. You can watch YouTube videos like on WhatsApp, but the difference is that if you exit the chat, you can continue to see the video. This integrated picture-in-picture function allows you to:

• Move the video anywhere on the screen
• Continue navigating the application during playback
• Effectively multitask without interrupting viewing

Enhanced Security with Secret Chats

An important point to clarify concerns chat security. In the comments of the video about the differences between WhatsApp and Telegram, many said that you can take screenshots, except in secret chats. Indeed, normal chats can be captured, but if you enter a secret chat, the screen becomes black because screenshots are blocked, thus offering an additional level of privacy.

Telegram Bots: Unmatched Power

Organization and Reminder Bots

To find a bot, just type @ in Telegram’s search bar. Among the most useful:

• Alert Bot (@alert_bot): used to create reminders. Although there are many applications dedicated to this function, having this option directly in your messaging can prove very practical.

Voice-to-Text and Text-to-Voice Bots

Telegram offers several bots to facilitate communication:

• Voice Bot (@voicybot): converts audio to text…. You can record a voice message directly in the chat with the bot or forward audio received from a friend or family member.
• Text to Speech Bot (@text2speech_bot): converts text to voice. This bot offers you various voice options (male/female) and languages.

Translation and Search Bots

Telegram integrates a translator with Yandex that offers various language options. At the bottom, next to the file symbol, you can find all the options. For example, you can select English as the target language, type “Hola buenos días” and instantly get the translation.

For students and the curious, there’s a bot to search Wikipedia articles directly in the application. For example, by typing “@wiki_es” followed by your request, you immediately get a link to the corresponding article.

Music and Media Bots

If you love music, you’ll surely appreciate this bot where you can find numerous songs, almost all of them, and even download and save them on your phone. The process is simple:

1. Search for an artist or a song
2. The bot shows 10 options, and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can click on “Next” to see another 10 options
3. Select the desired song and download it directly

A notable advantage is that you can exit the Telegram application, turn off the phone, and the song continues to play. There’s also another bot that allows you to download YouTube videos in MP3 or MP4 version, that is, in video format or audio only.

Utility and Fun Bots

Telegram also offers practical bots for various daily activities:

• Calculator (@kubot): performs simple mathematical calculations directly in your conversations
• Trivia Bot: to have fun with quizzes
• Hangman Game (Ahorcado): a classic for passing time

These examples represent only a tiny part of the possibilities. There are numerous, numerous, numerous bots, because they aren’t created directly by Telegram but by other users. To discover more options, you can consult the numerous websites that list available bots.

Conclusion

I’ve just mentioned the features that have caught my attention the most and that I consider to be the most useful, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Telegram offers a rich and varied ecosystem that continues to expand thanks to its active community of developers. That’s why I think Telegram surpasses WhatsApp despite the absence of statuses, offering numerous options that make its use increasingly simple and versatile. If you haven’t explored these features yet, it’s time to discover everything Telegram can offer you.

FAQ

Are Telegram Bots Safe?

Most official bots are safe, but since they aren’t created directly by Telegram but by other users, it’s recommended to only use those that are popular and well-rated.

Can I Create My Own Telegram Bot?

Yes, Telegram allows developers to create their own bots via the Bot API. This requires programming knowledge, but numerous tutorials are available online.

Are Video Messages Limited in Duration?

Yes, circular video messages have a limited duration, generally one minute…. For longer videos, rather use the standard video sending option.

Are Self-Destruct Functions Really Secure?

Self-destruction works as intended in the application, but keep in mind that a person can always use another device to record the screen during playback.

Does Telegram Consume a Lot of Mobile Data?

Telegram offers compression options that allow reducing data consumption. You can also download media only on Wi-Fi to save your mobile data plan.

Do Bots Work Offline?

No, bots require an internet connection to function, as they communicate with external servers.

How Can I Find More Useful Bots?

If you’re interested, you can search on Google, as there are numerous sites that offer a complete list of all the possibilities offered by Telegram bots.