Samsung Knox Rolls Out Private Sharing for Quick Share and Enhanced Data Protection Features

Samsung introduced new features for Knox on Wednesday. One of the new features claims to make sharing files such as photos, videos and documents more secure by adding various permissions and expiration dates for the data. The other added feature enables end-to-end encryption in system backups created for the handset.

Meta Quest 3 Gets New Layout App With the Ability to Measure Real-World Objects

Meta Quest 3 is getting a new app that will allow users to measure real-world objects. Dubbed Layout, the utility app was released by the company as a part of the Meta Quest v68 update for the mixed-reality device. The new app can both measure real objects as well as place virtual objects with a given size specification.

ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode Rolls Out to Some ChatGPT Plus Users

ChatGPT with the advanced Voice Mode is now rolling out to some paid users, the company announced on Tuesday. OpenAI first announced the feature in its Spring event in May. Powered by the latest GPT-4o artificial intelligence (AI) model, advanced Voice Mode offers features such as real-time responses, natural voice, and the capability to sense the user’s emotions.

WhatsApp for Windows Security Flaw Allows Executing Python, PHP Files Without Warning: Report

WhatsApp for Windows reportedly has a vulnerability that can be exploited by bad actors. The security flaw exploits executable files of Python and PHP for which the app does not send a warning, claimed the report. As a result, an unsuspecting user might accidentally save and run the file, allowing the attacker to deploy the payload.

Canva Acquires AI Image and Video Generator Leonardo.ai, Will Integrate It Into Magic Studio Tools

Canva acquired Australia-based artificial intelligence (AI) startup Leonardo.ai on Tuesday. The AI startup uses its native foundation model Phoenix to generate images, videos, and create visual assets. The platform also offers features such as AI-powered upscaling, inline editing, and real-time image generation. Canva said that the Phoenix AI model will be integrated ...

X Working on Support for Editing Direct Messages, Employee Confirms

X (formerly Twitter) has been gradually adding a slew of features since the billionaire’s takeover in 2022. The latest feature which could soon be introduced on X is the ability to edit DMs (direct messages), according to information provided by an employee on the social media platform, although the timeline of its rollout remains unknown.

Meta AI Studio With Support for Generating AI Characters, Digital Avatars on Instagram Rolled Out

Meta AI Studio began rolling out to Instagram users on Monday (July 29). The social media giant first announced the AI avatar creation platform last year during its Connect event. Powered by the recently released Llama 3.1 405B artificial intelligence (AI) model, AI Studio can create mini chatbots called AI characters with a specific knowledge base that can interact w...

Google Photos for Android Testing an Easier Way to Hide Faces from Memories: Report

Google Photos – the media manager on Android devices – may be developing new functionality which makes hiding certain people from the photo library a lot easier, according to a report. With this feature, users may be able to choose select faces and hide them from the Memories tab without too many steps involved.

WhatsApp for Android Reportedly Testing Message Reactions via Double Tap Feature

WhatsApp for Android may be testing a new gesture feature which lets users react to messages, according to claims by a feature tracker. This feature is speculated to allow quick reactions to messages by simply double-tapping them, which may bring up a default heart emoji. It is only available to WhatsApp’s beta users registered via the Google Play beta program.

Microsoft Rolls Out Android Smartphone Visibility in Windows 11 File Explorer for Wireless Browsing

Microsoft is rolling out a new feature for the Windows 11 File Explorer through its Insider Channels, the company announced on July 25. With its introduction, users will now be able to see their Android smartphones in the File Explorer when it is connected wirelessly via the Link to Windows app.

Elon Musk’s X Gives Users Chance to Keep Posts From Grok AI Chatbot

X (formerly Twitter) will allow users to prevent their posts and interactions from being used to train Grok, the AI (artificial intelligence) chatbot on the microblogging platform. The setting is available on the web platform and will soon be rolled out on mobile, according to the company.

AltStore PAL Rolls Out Support for Sideloading Third-Party Apps on iPhone in the EU

AltStore PAL – the alternative app marketplace for the iPhone – is rolling out support for hosting third-party apps, it announced via a social media post on Wednesday. With the app’s latest update, users in the European Union (EU) can sideload apps on their iPhone from other developers by adding sources, including even those which are not allowed on Apple’s Ap...

Apple Maps Web Beta With Support for Directions, Guides and Search Rolled Out via Public Beta

Apple Maps web interface was rolled out on Wednesday in the form of a public beta. Following this move, users can access Maps, get directions, explore cities and do much more from their browsers on smartphones and desktops. Apple says Maps on the web is currently available in limited languages and platforms, with support for more features to be added in the coming mon...

WhatsApp Working on AirDrop-Like Nearby File Sharing Feature on iOS: Report

WhatsApp for iOS may be developing a feature that lets users share documents, files, media and other content with nearby devices, according to claims by a feature tracker. Its functionality is speculated to be similar to Apple’s AirDrop, which allows the sharing of content between Apple devices in the vicinity.

Meta AI Upgraded With New Image Generation Capabilities and Support for Multiple Languages

Meta AI received a significant update on Tuesday, expanding both its capabilities and availability. The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot which is available within WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook is being expanded to more regions and is now accessible in 22 countries. The chatbot is also getting support for new languages and will be able to both accept prompts an...

Adobe Illustrator Updated With AI-Powered Design Tools, Photoshop Gains Support for Image Generation

Adobe Illustrator received new artificial intelligence (AI) tools on Tuesday to make the design creation process easier for users. The new tools include a Generative Shape Fill tool that can generate pattern vectors within a shape. Other tools include Style Reference, Retype, Mockup, and more. These tools are powered by the company’s Firefly Vector Model.

Spotify Hi-Fi Audio Plan Still in ‘Early Days’; Deluxe Plan to Deliver More Features, CEO Says

Spotify will bring out a “deluxe” version of its subscription that brings hi-fi (high fidelity) audio, but the company is still in its “early days” of planning, CEO Daniel Ek said during the earnings call on Tuesday. When launched, this plan is speculated to be priced considerably higher than its current Premium plan.

Google Play Protect ‘Rescan’ Option for Flagged Apps on Android in Development: Report

Google Play Protect is reportedly working to introduce a “Rescan” option for apps that have been previously flagged as harmful, without uninstalling them from a user's device. According to a report, the feature is still being developed by the company.

Slack Introduces Status, Catch Up and Slack Launcher Widgets for iPhone

Slack is bringing three new widgets to the iPhone, the company announced on Monday. The new widgets add catch-up, status view and other functionalities to the iPhone’s home and lock screens, enabling users to leap directly into the different tabs of the Slack app. The features are available to iPhone users following the app’s latest update.

Spotify Premium Introduces Limited-Time Offer in India With 3 Months of Ad-Free Listening at Rs. 59

Spotify has announced a new offer for prospective subscribers of its premium subscription in India. Courtesy of a new limited-time deal introduced by Spotify, users can enjoy ad-free music streaming at a cut price via the Individual plan. However, the offer is only limited to first-time subscribers of the premium subscription.

X Said to Be Developing Feature That Lets Users Disable Links in Post Replies

X (formerly Twitter) is said to developing a feature that may let users disable links in the replies of their posts, according to claims by an app researcher on social media. It is speculated to aid in reducing spam links posted in replies to posts on the platform by introducing the ability to natively block links.

WhatsApp Reportedly Developing Feature for Web Client That Lets Users Pick Usernames

WhatsApp is speculated to be developing a new feature for its web client which may let users pick usernames, according to claims by a feature tracker. It is tipped to offer more flexibility while connecting with other users on the instant messaging platform by eliminating the need to share phone numbers.

WhatsApp for Android Will Not Utilise Google’s Technology For Its Real-Time Translation Feature: Report

WhatsApp for Android was earlier reported to be developing a new real-time translation feature which could utilise Google’s live translation technology. A new report now suggests that while the feature is in the works, it will only rely on the instant messaging platform’s in-house technology. The feature was spotted in the latest beta again, however, it is still n...

Gemini AI Assistant Can Now Answer Questions, Perform Tasks Even When Android Device Is Locked

Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) assistant is getting a new upgrade, and users will now be able to access it and get it to perform certain tasks even when the device is locked. While the AI-powered virtual assistant was able to respond on the lock screen earlier, completing any tasks required invoking Google Assistant.

Microsoft Designer App, the AI-Powered Image Generator Platform Is Now Available For All Users

Microsoft Designer app, which was so far only available in preview, was released globally on Wednesday. The app is available across Android and iOS mobile platforms and on Windows desktops and is free to download and install. The Designer platform was first announced last year and has been available on the Web and via the Microsoft Edge browser for a few months. On th...

Google Maps Live Activities With ETA, Directions Reportedly Rolling Out to More Users

Google Maps Live Activities support is rolling out to users in various regions, including India, according to a report. Support for iOS feature that allows users to view information at a glance from an app while it is in the background, is expected to roll out to Google Maps in the future.

Instagram Rolls Out Multi-Audio Track Support for Reels; Allows Users to Add Up to 20 Tracks

Instagram announced a new multi-track audio feature for Reels on Tuesday. With the rollout of this new feature, users can now add up to 20 audio tracks in a single Instagram Reel, enabling them to produce creative mixes, in addition to editing them with text, stickers, clips and other items.

Apple, Anthropic and Other AI Firms Have Reportedly Trained AI Models on Thousands of YouTube Videos

Apple, Anthropic, and other major artificial intelligence (AI) firms have reportedly trained AI models on data from hundreds of thousands of YouTube videos. A new report claims that multiple AI companies used a publicly available dataset called Pile which contained the plain text of videos’ subtitles without any video imagery.

Anthropic Launches Android App for Claude AI Assistant, Powers It With Claude 3.5 Sonnet

Anthropic launched an Android app for its Claude artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot on Tuesday. The Android app comes a couple of months after the AI firm released an iOS app for Claude. Users can find the Claude AI app free to download on the Play Store. The interface works similarly to the website, and even free users can take advantage of all the basic features.

WhatsApp Lets Users Set Contacts as Favourites in Chats and Calls for Quick Access With Latest Update

WhatsApp is introducing a new update that enables users to set certain contacts as favourites, the company announced on Tuesday. Through it, users can save the people they frequently contact at the top of the screen in WhatsApp Chats and Calls. Additionally, it will also be available as a filter on the instant messaging platform.

Google AI Overviews Reportedly Pared Back Further, Shows for Just 7 Percent of All Searches

Google AI Overviews feature has taken another hit and is now showing for fewer searches than before, as per a report. Dubbed Search Generated Experience (SGE) during its beta testing phase, AI Overviews was formally introduced during the Google I/O 2024 event. The feature is currently available only in the US and allows users to get a snapshot of the searched informat...

iOS 18 May Let Users Recover ‘Accidentally’ Deleted Photos and Videos on iPhone: Report

iOS 18 was showcased at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 on June 10. Although Apple did showcase several key features arriving with the update, the rollout of iOS 18 Developer Beta and recently, the public beta, has led to discoveries of other new features that the update might include. One of the features is reported to be a ‘Recovered’ album in Ph...

Google Maps for Android Update With Redesigned Bottom Sheet Layout Rolling Out Widely

Google Maps was updated with a new interface design, which is now being rolled out widely. The new interface comes with a bottom sheet layout, where instead of showing the menu and information edge-to-edge, it now appears within rounded sheets that do not cover the entire space. Changes have also been made to the directions and navigation page.

Apple Approves UTM SE as First PC Emulator for iPhone, iPad on the App Store

Apple has approved UTM SE on the App Store and has made it the first PC emulator to be listed on its app marketplace. The decision came a month after the Cupertino-based tech giant rejected the application of the PC emulator citing violation of its existing policy. Notably, the company said it would only allow emulators for retro games and not those that emulate PC sy...

Competition Commission of India Antitrust Probe Finds Apple Abused Position in Apps Market

Competition Commission of India (CCI) has found that Apple exploited its dominant position in the market for app stores on its iOS operating system in India, engaging "in abusive conduct and practices". The antitrust body has been investigating Apple since 2021 for forcing developers to use its proprietary in-app purchase system, possibly abusing its dominant position...

Apple’s ‘Tap-and-Go’ NFC Gets EU Approval After the iPhone Maker Agrees to Open It to Third-Party Apps

Apple received approval for its Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in Europe on Thursday. The European Union (EU) formally announced the approval after the Cupertino-based tech giant agreed to make changes that were suggested by the bloc. The company first applied for approval in 2022, however, the EU expressed concerns due to Apple’s monopoly over the techno...

Elon Musk’s X May Be Testing ‘Dislike’ Button on iOS as a Way to Downvote Posts

X (formerly Twitter) may be testing a new feature for increasing user engagement by allowing them to downvote replies on iPhone. According to claims on social media, the feature may appear as a ‘dislike’ option in the form of a heartbroken icon, instead of a Reddit-like downward arrow.

Samsung Bixby to Reportedly Get a Gen AI Upgrade, Could Compete With Apple Intelligence-Powered Siri

Samsung’s Bixby, the company’s native virtual voice assistant, is reportedly getting a generative AI upgrade. A report claimed that Bixby will be infused with the South Korean tech giant’s own large language model (LLM) to bring new capabilities and features. However, these features were not disclosed. Earlier this week, the company hosted its second Galaxy Unpa...

WhatsApp for Android Reportedly Testing Transcription Feature for Voice Messages

WhatsApp for Android may be testing a new feature which may let users transcribe voice messages, according to a report. It was spotted by a feature tracker in a beta version of the WhatsApp app for the Android platform. With this, users may be able to generate transcriptions for voice messages they have sent and received.

DMRC Launches Digital QR Code-Based Ticketing Service Via Amazon Pay

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) expanded its Digital QR Ticketing service to Amazon Pay on Thursday. With this move, Delhi Metro commuters can purchase their travelling tickets online through the platform. The QR code-based ticketing facility was already available via several other apps, but now travellers have an additional way to book their one-way tickets.

Google Makes Passkeys Available in Advanced Protection Program for High-Risk Users

Google announced the support of passkeys for its Advanced Protection Program (APP) on Wednesday. APP is the tech giant’s strongest level of Google Account security aimed at those users who are at a high risk of cyberattacks. With this move, the company will allow users to enrol for the service and access their accounts without the need for a physical security key.

Google, Apple Partner to Bring New Tool That Allows for Easy Media Transfer Across Devices

Google's new initiative is claimed to make transferring data from Google Photos to iCloud Photos easier. To achieve this, the Mountain View-based tech giant has teamed up with Apple to bring support for iCloud Photos to Google’s data portability initiative, enabling seamless transfer of media to iCloud Photos without deleting it from Google’s library requiring the...

Spotify for Podcasters App Introduces Comments Feature, Enabling Deeper Engagement With Listeners

Spotify for Podcasters introduced a new ‘Comments’ feature on Tuesday. This interactive feature is said to allow listeners to post comments on podcasts and receive replies from the podcasters, enabling more engagement. The app has also been revamped and it now delivers real-time performance updates for podcasts alongside notifications when a particular podcast lan...

Perplexity AI Rolling Out Its Pro Search Feature For Complex Queries to Android Devices

Perplexity AI, the artificial intelligence (AI) search engine platform rolled out a new feature dubbed Pro Search last week. The feature is now making its way to the Android app and users can access it just by toggling the Pro button underneath the text field. According to the AI firm, the feature uses multi-step reasoning to find answers to complex queries that canno...

Instagram Will Prioritise Short-Form Content Over Long Videos to Help Users Explore Their Interests, Says Adam Mosseri

Instagram – Meta Platforms’ photo and video-sharing social media app – will focus on short-form content rather than long videos, according to Adam Mosseri, head of the company. It is part of the company’s “core identity” of connecting people with friends, while also helping them explore their interests.

Gemini Clock Tool Extension on Android Will Reportedly Let the AI Chatbot Set Alarms and Timers

Gemini on Android might soon be able to perform more tasks, as per a report. The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that was added to Android smartphones can perform several tasks such as answering queries, looking up the internet, and writing essays and messages. A report now claims Gemini will also be able to set alarms and timers soon.

WhatsApp Rolls Out Context Card for New Group Members to Improve Safety

WhatsApp group safety context cards are rolling out to users as part of a new feature that is designed to improve safety on the messaging service. Users will now see contextual information after they are added to a group by a stranger. WhatsApp also allows users to control who can automatically add them to a group without their permission.

Google One Dark Web Report Feature to Be Discontinued, Similar Feature Coming to All Users This Month

Google has announced that it is bringing dark web reports to all account users starting in late July. The service enables the user to keep a check on the emergence of their data on the dark web which could prove to be potentially harmful. Previously limited to users with the Google One subscription, it will now be accessible to all users.

Xbox Cloud Gaming Now Available on Amazon Fire TV Stick With the Xbox App

Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on the Amazon Fire TV Stick courtesy of the new Xbox app. Starting this month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can take advantage of the platform’s cloud gaming services to play their favourite Xbox titles on the Amazon Fire TV Stick, without requiring a dedicated Xbox console.

Gemini Live Feature With Ability to Operate on Locked Android Phones Spotted in Development

Google Gemini, the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, is reportedly getting a new feature. This feature will be available via the Google app on Android, and allow users to access Gemini AI assistant while keeping other apps open. Interestingly, the feature will also work when the screen of the smartphone is off, a new report claims. Dubbed Gemini Live, ...

YouTube Music Spotted Testing AI-Generated Custom Radio Station Feature

YouTube Music is testing a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature that will allow users to generate unique radios with the help of a tool. The new feature works with textual prompts, meaning users can write what they want to listen to, and the AI generates a radio with similar songs in it. Earlier users could only create a radio based on a song or an artist and get ...

WhatsApp Channel Verification Check Mark Updated From Green to Blue to Match Facebook, Instagram

WhatsApp Channel check marks will soon turn blue, instead of green, according to a feature tracker. As a result, an upcoming version of WhatsApp will change the green check mark to the blue one found on Meta's Instagram and Facebook platforms.

WhatsApp's New Meta AI Feature Will Reportedly Reply to Images and Edit Them

WhatsApp for Android is reportedly getting a new feature allowing the in-built artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Meta AI to edit and reply to images. The new feature is currently under development, as per the report, and those who have signed up for the app’s beta programme will not be able to see it. It is said that the upcoming Meta AI feature will be powered b...

Netflix Plans 2024: Annual and Monthly Plan Details, Bundle Offers, Benefits, and More

Netflix is the most popular OTT platform in India, offering four different subscriptions. The company provides Netflix Mobile, Netflix Basic, Netflix Standard, and Netflix Premium subscription plans for its customers. The plans offer interesting benefits and are priced starting at Rs 149 per month. Here’s everything you need to know about the Netflix plans in India.

Google Photos Crosses 10 Billion Download Milestone on the Play Store

Google Photos – the image manager and storage app for Android devices – has now surpassed 10 billion downloads on the Google Play Store. Since its launch in 2015, it has become a widely used platform which performs as a photo gallery application on Android smartphones.

Google Chrome for Android May Soon Read Webpages for You Even When Minimised: Report

Google Chrome for Android recently introduced a feature that will enable the browser to read any text-heavy webpage aloud. Now, a recent report suggests that this feature may be further enhanced with an option for background text playback. Google Chrome for Android app is reported to have a flag called “Read Aloud Background Playback”.

iOS 18 Will Reportedly Introduce Two Improvements to the Built-In Weather App

iOS 18 was unveiled by Apple at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 last month. During the event, the Cupertino-based tech giant showcased several new features the next major update of the iPhone operating system will bring. However, some features which were not mentioned at the event are now being discovered. A report has now spotted two new features in t...

Netflix May Have Removed Its Cheapest Ad-Free Plan for Existing Subscribers in Select Markets

Netflix removed its Basic ad-free plan in the US and the UK last year for new subscribers. Prior to the discontinuation, it was the cheapest way for subscribers to watch content on Netflix without ads. Now, the change is said to be introduced for existing users too, according to claims on social media.

WhatsApp Readying 'Imagine Me' Feature to Generate Personalised Images Using Meta AI: Report

WhatsApp is reportedly preparing a new “Imagine Me” feature that will let users create AI-generated photos of themselves. This update has been spotted in WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.24.14.13, which is available via the Google Play Beta programme.

Google Maps Patent Hints at a Multi-Car Navigation Feature, Enabling Easier Group Travel

According to a recent patent filing, Google Maps may be planning to bring enhanced functionality for users travelling in groups via a potential multi-car navigation feature. It is said to have access to the calendar schedule and messages of users to determine the travelling intentions of users. Alternatively, users can choose to send explicit requests to join the navi...

Instagram, Facebook to Display 'AI Info' on Posts Following Backlash Over 'Made With AI' Label

Meta updated the artificial intelligence (AI) content detection label from “Made with AI” to “AI Info” on Monday. The announcement came just days after several influencers and photographers criticised the social media giant for incorrectly labelling their content as AI-generated. In a post, Meta stated that it found the earlier label was not aligned with peopl...

Google’s Circle to Search Feature Reportedly Getting a QR Codes Scanning Capability

Google’s Circle to Search is reportedly getting another new capability that will enable it to scan QR codes and barcodes. The artificial intelligence (AI) visual lookup feature, which made its debut with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, will be able to scan any QR codes or barcodes visible on the screen and will show a chip that shows the URL of the destination websit...

YouTube for Android Reportedly Testing Custom Thumbnails for Playlists Created by Users

YouTube may soon allow users to upload thumbnails for custom playlists created by them, according to a report. It currently allows uploading thumbnails for videos published by users but not for playlists. An option to upload thumbnails for playlists on Android devices was reported following an APK teardown of the YouTube for Android beta app.