Latest Articles
WhatsApp Beta for Windows adds new emoji features
WhatsApp is rolling out emoji shortcuts in the Windows Beta application, bringing it closer in functionality to the old desktop app.
WhatsApp released a new Beta desktop Windows application near the end of last year, built as a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) application that fits in more closely with Windows 11. Development on the app has continued, and now a helpful feature for emojis has arrived.
iFixit will sell official Steam Deck replacement parts soon
Valve is partnering with iFixit to create repair guides for the Steam Deck and sell replacement components.
Valve surprised everyone last year when it introduced the Steam Deck, a handheld gaming console with the ability to play many PC games from Steam. The console starts shipping to buyers this month, but Valve is already looking ahead to how repairs and replacements will be handled. Now the company is partnering with iFixit to make the Steam Deck as repairable as possible.
Galaxy S22 and Tab S8 series shipping dates are slipping into April
Shipping dates for the Galaxy S22 smartphones and Tab S8 tablets are slipping into late March and early April, across multiple retailers.
Samsung finally revealed the Galaxy S22 series of smartphones and the Tab S8 lineup of high-end tablets earlier this month. Pre-orders started as soon as the Galaxy Unpacked event ended on February 9, with a release date of February 25 for all products. However, shipping dates many of the the phones and tablets are now slipping past March and into April.
Otter Browser aims to bring Chromium to decades-old OS/2 operating system
Otter Browser, a Chromium-based web browser for the 20 year-old OS/2 operating system, is nearing release after years of development.
Every computer needs a capable web browser, but that's easier said than done on computers running something besides Windows, macOS, or Linux. There are still a few people using the OS/2 operating system, which was created by Microsoft and IBM and ended mainstream development in 2001, and is in desperate need of a functional web browser. With any luck, the decades-old operating system could have the same web engine as modern smartphones.
Google Drive now has Gmail-like search filter buttons
Google Drive now has "chips," which can help you filter results after searching for a specific file or folder.
Google is constantly rolling out new features for its "Workspace" services, including Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Docs. The company rolled out "search chips" for Gmail in 2020, which made it easier than ever to filter search results based on attachments, senders, or other data. Google is now adding similar functionality to Drive, according to a new blog post.
Cyberpunk 2077 next-gen update arrives on Xbox Series X/S and PS5
CD Projekt Red has released patch v1.5 for Cyberpunk 2077, which adds native Xbox Series X/S and PS5 support and other improvements.
CD Projekt Red, best known for The Witcher series of video games, released its science-fiction game Cyberpunk 2077 at the end of 2020. The game was widely criticized at launch for software bugs, especially on consoles, and it lacked full support for the then-new Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. CD Projekt Red said a few months ago that the game's next-gen update would be ready in the first quarter of 2022, and sure enough, it has now arrived.
Google reveals Chrome OS Flex for PCs and Macs, based on CloudReady OS
Google has revealed Chrome OS Flex, a new version of Chrome OS based on CloudReady OS that can be installed on traditional PCs.
Even though Chrome OS is only intended to be used on Chromebooks, there have been many projects over the years that aimed to bring the operating system to traditional PCs. One example is CloudReady OS, a fork of Chromium OS by Neverware primarily aimed at schools and businesses that wanted an updated software experience for their existing PCs. Neverware was acquired by Google in late 2020, and now Google is turning CloudReady OS into "Chrome OS Flex."
Opera and 'Yat' want you to buy emoji web domains that don't belong to you
Yat is selling web domain-like identifiers that use emojis, and Opera now supports them on desktop and mobile platforms.
There has been a significant uptick in new top-level domains (TLDs) over the past few years, allowing anyone to buy web domains with endings like .pizza or .party, as an alternative to older TLDs like .com and .net. Some groups have been working on other alternatives to the domain registrar system entirely, such as a company called 'Yat,' which has now partnered with Opera to integrate its emoji-based domains.
Here's our first look at Pixel phone display mirroring on Chromebooks
A new report shows off how Pixel phones will be able to mirror their screens to Chromebooks, and it might come to Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Google has been working behind the scenes for at least a year on a feature that would allow apps on your phone to be streamed to a Chromebook, similar to what is possible with Microsoft's Your Phone service on Windows PCs or wireless Samsung DeX. Now we have our first look at the feature running, thanks to a new report from 9to5Google.
Will Samsung release a Galaxy S22 FE?
The Galaxy S21 FE just arrived, but will Samsung release a Galaxy S22 FE at some point? That's what we'll attempt to answer here.
Samsung started releasing 'Fan Edition' phones in 2019, with the release of the Galaxy S20 FE. We finally received a sequel in January, the Galaxy S21 FE, which has now been overshadowed by the arrival of the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. Even if you take advantage of the best Galaxy S22 deals now, there might be another FE phone in a few months to look out for. So, will Samsung release a Galaxy S22 FE? And even if there eventually is a Galaxy S22 FE, would there even be a point?
Android 13 DP1 updates Privacy dashboard with optional longer data retention
The first Developer Preview of Android 13 includes an option to store Privacy dashboard for even longer than is possible on Android 12.
Last year's release of Android 12 included a new Privacy dashboard, which compiled all permissions requests from all the apps on your device into a readable format. Android 13 is on the way, and even though there aren't many changes in the first Developer Preview, one of them might make the Privacy dashboard even more helpful.
Android 13 DP1 has new quick settings tiles, including a QR code shortcut
The first Developer Preview of Android 13 includes four new quick settings tiles, including one that can open a QR code scanner.
Google dropped the first Developer Preview for Android 13 on Thursday, even though we're still waiting on the release of Android 12L. There aren't many new features in the initial Developer Preview, which is par for the course every year until we get to the Beta releases, but there are a few changes worth highlighting — like the new quick settings tiles.
Mozilla and Meta (Facebook) are now actually working together
Mozilla and Meta (owner of Facebook) are surprisingly teaming up for a proposal on privacy-respecting ad analytics.
Mozilla, owner and developer of the Firefox browser, has attacked Facebook (now Meta) many times over the years for the company's disastrous record on privacy and security. However, the two companies are now working together on a proposal for slightly more private online advertising, which is already drawing criticism from long-time fans of Mozilla.
BlackBerry 5G phone might be cancelled as OnwardMobility reportedly loses license
OnwardMobility has been working on a new BlackBerry-branded phone for a while, but the project might be dead.
OnwardMobility, a startup tech company, announced in August 2020 that it was working to develop a new smartphone with the BlackBerry brand. Few details about the device were revealed, besides that it would have a physical keyboard and would arrive in the first half of 2021. That didn't happen, and now the company has reportedly hit a significant roadblock.
Google+ will finally die for good in 2023 with 'Currents' shutdown
The public version of Google+ died in 2019, but now the version for businesses (Google Currents) will wind down starting next year.
Google+ was Google's attempt at building a social network, but it was finally shut down in April 2019 due to its unpopularity and API security problems. However, Google+ continued to live on for business accounts as 'Google Currents' in G Suite, where everyone in an organization or company could make posts and talk to each other. Google revealed on Thursday that Currents will go away soon, marking the official end of anything related to Google+.
Microsoft will give disgruntled G Suite legacy users a sweet deal on Microsoft 365
Microsoft is swooping in on small businesses annoyed at Google over G Suite changes, with a 60% discount on the first year of Microsoft 365.
Google announced in January that it was shutting down its free G Suite legacy edition plans, forcing everyone to either switch to a personal Gmail account (leaving all their digital non-transferable purchases behind) or open their wallet for a paid G Suite subscription. The ensuing outrage caused Google to start working on a data migration tool, but that isn't stopping Microsoft from capitalizing on the mess.
Apple has a plan to crack down on AirTags abuse and illegal activity
Apple AirTags will soon have more software mitigations in place to protect against illegal activity, but the changes might not be enough.
Apple released AirTags in 2021, the company's long-awaited answer to Bluetooth tracking tags like Tile and Samsung Galaxy SmartTag. Apple's "Find My" network has a much greater reach than any of its competitors, since every iPhone in the world is connected to it, which has a downside — AirTags are increasingly being used for stalking and other abuse. Apple announced a series of changes on Thursday aimed at combating misuse, which will be rolled out throughout 2022.
Reddit reveals new features for its Clubhouse clone, Reddit Talk
Reddit Talks, the Clubhouse-like audio chat room feature on Reddit, is adding more functionality on mobile and desktop.
The social audio app Clubhouse rose to fame in late 2020 and early 2021, and before long, nearly every other messaging and social media service implemented their own version of Clubhouse's audio rooms. Reddit released its take on the idea last year, called 'Reddit Talk,' and now more improvements are rolling out.
Google confirms Material You dynamic themes will appear on more devices
Google says Material You-like dynamic colors will show up on more Android 12-powered phones and tablets soon.
The headline feature of Android 12 was Material You, a dynamic theme system that generates a color palette from your wallpaper and applies that across the system and some applications. However, Google's theme engine wasn't initially available for other manufacturers to use, so companies like Samsung or Xiaomi had to make their own implementations or simply go without it. Google announced on Thursday that it's working directly with OEMs to get Material You-like themes on more phones and tablets.
All the Galaxy S22 Ultra official cases from Samsung
Looking for all the official Galaxy S22 Ultra cases? We've got you covered with this comparison guide covering every Samsung-made case.
The Galaxy S22 series is finally here, following months of leaks and rumors. Just like last year, there are three models to choose from — the smallest Galaxy S22, the larger Galaxy S22 Plus, and the large stylus-equipped Galaxy S22 Ultra. The Ultra might be the most interesting of the bunch since it's replacing the long-running Galaxy Note series. We have a hands-on of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, so you can check that out to know our thoughts on the device and how it carries the Note legacy forward.