With RCS coming to the iPhone recently, Google is planning to bring new features including cross-platform end-to-end encryption (E2EE) between Android and iPhone. The GSMA body says the “next major milestone is for the RCS Universal Profile to add important user protections such as interoperable end-to-end encryption.” 

“This will be the first deployment of standardized, interoperable messaging encryption between different computing platforms, addressing significant technical challenges such as key federation and cryptographically-enforced group membership. Additionally, users will benefit from stronger protections from scams, fraud, and other security threats.”

Google added that it’s “working with the broader ecosystem to bring cross-platform E2EE to RCS chats as soon as possible.” The Google Messages app on Android now provides its own E2E encryption for RCS 1:1 and group conversations that does not extend to iPhone chats.

Also Read: Apple Rolls Out macOS Sequoia Without Apple Intelligence

Apple Working With GSMA To Add Encryption

Google said, “We’re proud to have offered end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in Google Messages with RCS since 2020. We believe that E2EE is a critical component of secure messaging, and we have been working with the broader ecosystem to bring cross-platform E2EE to RCS chats as soon as possible. Google is committed to providing a secure and private messaging experience for users, and we remain dedicated to making E2EE standard for all RCS users regardless of the platform.”

In 2023, the company detailed plans to support the MLS protocol for interoperable E2E encrypted messaging. When RCS for the iPhone was announced, Apple said it wanted to work with GSMA members to add encryption to the messaging standard. Google also said that it is looking “forward to Apple adding the ability to react to media, reply directly to messages in group chats, and more.”

The RCS Universal Profile 2.7 was finalized in June with two new features:

• Enabling Replies and Reactions (including Custom Reactions) to send and receive messages.
• For the message sender, to Edit, Recall and Delete messages that they sent earlier for themselves and the message recipient

Also Read: Apple Plans To Withdraw Its Legal Case Against Pegasus Spyware

Google’s Circle To Search Feature Coming To More Smartphones

Google’s visual lookup feature Circle to Search is being rolled out to more Android devices, according to a new leak. The AI feature that enables users to quickly run a web search on any visual element on the screen is currently only available on a few Samsung and Pixel smartphones. However, this could change as tipster claims that the Circle to Search feature is being added to the Tecno V Fold 2, launched recently.

The feature first made its debut with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series in January and was later expanded to older Galaxy smartphones and the Pixel smartphone series. Nine months later, the feature has not been released for any other brand of smartphones. However, tipster Mishaal Rahman claimed that Circle to Search is being added to the Tecno V Fold 2.

The boat has launched two new smartwatches, the Enigma Orion and Enigma Radiant, created for users who wish to have a blend of luxury and functionality. Both feature sleek metal bodies with functional crowns for ease of use.

Both smartwatches come with the Crest App Health Ecosystem, which makes the experience better with badges, wellness crews, fitness buddies, and personalized fitness plans. Both offer features like alarms, timers, a world clock, camera controls, and voice assistant support (Google & Siri).

The Orion and Radiant are rated IP67 and IP68, respectively, for dust, sweat, and splash resistance. Besides, they have a 1-year warrant and come in different colors. The Orion comes at Rs 1,999, while the Radiant starts at Rs 2,699. Both can be purchased through Boat’s website, Amazon, and Flipkart.

Also Read: Samsung Smartwatches Could Soon Get Powerful Health Features

Boat Enigma Orion And Radiatn Features

The Orion comes with a 1.39-inch round HD display (320 x 320 resolution) and supports Bluetooth calling with a built-in microphone and speaker. It comes with a dial pad and enables contact storage directly on the watch.

For fitness, the smartwatch has heart rate, SpO2, and sleep monitoring, along with daily activity tracking, sedentary alerts, and over 100 sports modes. Users can also choose from over 100 cloud watch faces for personalization. It packs a 390mAh battery that can offer up to 7 days with regular use and 3 days with Bluetooth calling enabled.

The Radiant boasts a bigger 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a sharper 466x466 resolution and 600 nits brightness. It comes with an Always-On Display for constant access to information. Similar to the Orion, the Radiant features Bluetooth calling with a microphone, speaker, and dial pad for managing contacts.

It also offers heart rate, SpO2, and sleep monitoring, plus guided breathing exercises to help with stress management. Besides, there are over 100 sports modes, so users have plenty of options for staying active. Users will be able to personalize the smartwatch with more than 200 cloud watch faces. It provides a battery life similar to the Orion—7 days on normal use and 3 days with Bluetooth calling active.

Also Read: Amazfit GTR 4 New Smartwatch Launched In India For Rs 16,999

Amazfit GTR 4 New Smartwatch Launched In India For Rs 16,999

Wearable tech brand Amazfit has launched its latest addition to its GTR series, the Amazfit GTR 4 New. This updated smartwatch is available in two elegant variants: Galaxy Black and Brown Leather, with a price tag of ₹16,999.

The Amazfit GTR 4 New can be purchased through Amazon or directly from the company’s India website. The smartwatch sports a 1.45-inch AMOLED display with a 331 ppi resolution, making sure the visuals are crisp. The watch also features an always-on display option and offers users the choice of more than 150 watch faces.

YouTube recently launched a bunch of new features and changes to YouTube Shorts, which the company says will make short-form content more useful and engaging. In a blog post, YouTube announced that starting October 15, creators can upload Shorts that are up to three minutes long.

However, the change is only applicable to videos that are square or have a tall aspect ratio and any of the older videos won’t be affected. YouTube also brought some changes to its Shorts player, which it claims will help creators take center stage and allow viewers to focus on the content they love.

Also Read: Google Messages Discreetly Discontinues YouTube PiP Support

New Updates To Help YouTube Creators

In the coming months, YouTube says creators will be able to tap into the vast universe of their favorite videos, and music videos and even pull from multiple clips on the platform. Speaking of YouTube mobile, users will now see the new Trends page for Shorts and get a preview of the Shorts’ comment section from the feed itself.

YouTube says it is working to add a “Show fewer Shorts” button, which will help users reduce the amount of Shorts they see on their feeds. This can be enabled by clicking on the tree dot menu in the upper of any Shorts on the home feed.

Last month, the company announced its plans to bring its in-house created AI video model Veo with YouTube Shorts. The move is said to give Google an edge in the industry and make it easier for content creators to be more creative.

Also Read: YouTube Premium Users Could Soon Get Built-In Sleep Timer

YouTube Boosts Premium Service Subscription Prices In India

YouTube Premium, the subscription service that offers ad-free streaming, offline downloads, and access to YouTube Music, has announced a significant price increase for its membership plans in India. The price increase was first brought to attention by an X (formerly Twitter) user known as @MrSahilBawa, who shared a notification from YouTube detailing the new pricing scheme.

“To continue delivering great service and features, we’re increasing your price to? 299.00/month. We don’t make these decisions lightly, and this update will allow us to continue to improve Premium and support the creators and artists you watch on YouTube,” it said.

The Family plan, which enables up to five members to share a single subscription, has seen a major increase of 58%. The monthly cost for this plan has surged from Rs 189 to Rs 299. With a YouTube Premium Family plan, users will be able to share their membership with up to 5 additional people who live in their household. As the plan manager, they can add family members to the plan. Each member must have a Google account and will get their own private and personalized account.

Meta-owned instant messaging platform WhatsApp constantly updates its app to bring new features to offer a better user experience. Now, WhatsApp has rolled out a few new features for status updates. As per the company, WhatsApp Status is the best way to stay connected with friends and family and the new features will make it better.

Users will now be able to like others’ statuses and will have the ability to reshare a status they are mentioned in. Also, users will be able to privately mention — and tag others — their contacts in status updates.

Also Read: WhatsApp To Allow Users Public Figures For Meta AI Voice Mode

How Will WhatsApp’s New Features Work

According to WhatsApp, there could be times when users will miss out on seeing a few important updates. “Make sure those closest to you see your status, and let them share it easily with their audience, by privately mentioning them,” noted WhatsApp in a blog post. People who mentioned in status updates will be notified privately, and the mention won’t be shown on their status.

Status likes will be like any other tool on other platforms. With a single tap of the button, users will be able to like their contacts’ status updates. WhatsApp said that status likes are private and don’t have an answer, so only the person whose status users liked can see them in the list of viewers.

These features are now starting to roll out and will be available across the globe soon. So, in case users don’t see these new features immediately, they should wait for a few days as it is a gradual rollout. “We’ll be bringing more features to Status and the Updates tab over the next few months to make it easier to stay closest to those who matter most,” added WhatsApp.

Also Read: WhatsApp To Let Users Send Messages And Call Other Apps

WhatsApp Brings New Backgrounds, Filters For Video Calls

Meta’s WhatsApp has introduced exciting new features that would appeal more to the youth. Users will be able to personalize their video calls with custom backgrounds and filters and add creative and personal touch to both one-on-one and group calls.

In a post on his WhatsApp channel, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote, “Rolling out some new filters and backgrounds for video calls, so had to test them out,” while sharing some of the filter and background effects.

According to Meta, “Filters are designed to help you create a more playful atmosphere, whether that’s adding a splash of color or creating a more artistic feel for your video. With backgrounds, you can keep your surroundings private and transport yourself to a cozy coffee shop or comfortable living room for a cleaner and more polished look.”

Facebook owner Meta on Friday revealed a new AI model dubbed Movie Gen that can produce realistic-looking videos using only text prompts. Meta’s announcement comes just 6 months after OpenAI took the AI industry by storm by unveiling its text-to-video generator, Sora.

Movie Gen is also capable of generating background music and sound effects that are synchronized with the video content. The AI tool can generate up to 16 seconds of video in different aspect ratios and up to 45 seconds of audio.

The company also shared data from various blind tests where Movie Gen outperformed its other competitors in the segment, such as Runaway Gen 3, OpenAI’s Sora, and Kling 1.5.

Also Read: Threads To Soon Start Showing Instagram Comments

How Will Meta’s Movie Gen Help Users

Movie Gen can also create custom videos by using an image or video of a person to create a video that features that person in ‘rich visual detail’ while preserving human identity and movement. Meta claims that the new AI tool can be used to edit existing videos by adding different transitions or effects. In a video shared on the company’s blog, Movie Gen was able to add clothes to animals, change the background of the video, and add new elements.

Meta Chief Product Officer Chris Cox while sharing an update about Movie Gen in a post on Threads wrote, “We’re sharing our progress today on Movie Gen, our project to develop the state of the art for AI video generation. As of today, our evals show it’s industry-leading on text-to-video quality across a number of dimensions, with 16s of continuous length, plus a leap forward for the state of the art on video-matched audio, precise editing, and character consistency/personalization”

He also confirmed that the new AI tool isn’t ready yet for public release because the model is ‘still expensive and generation time is too long’. 

Also Read: WhatsApp To Allow Users Public Figures For Meta AI Voice Mode

Meta Won’t Tell Whether Ray-Ban Smart Glass Videos Are Private

Meta is reportedly staying mum on whether it is collecting video and image data from its AI wearable device Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses to train its large language models (LLMs). The company announced a new real-time video feature for the device using which users can ask the AI to answer queries and ask for suggestions based on their surroundings.

The feature offers real-time video capability that enables Meta AI to “look” at the users’ surroundings and process that visual information to answer any query a user might have. For example, a user can ask it to identify a famous landmark. All of these functionalities require the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses to take passive videos and images of the surroundings to understand the context. 

Last week, a Taiwanese company named Novatek announced that they will kick off the production of a new OLED display featuring a new technology dubbed touch and display driver integration (TDDI), which could be seen in next year’s iPhone 17.

The report comes from the Asian paper DigiTimes, shared by MacRumors, which claims that the new TDDI displays will go into the production phase in the second quarter of 2025. As per the report, Apple is said to be one of Novatek’s first customers.

"While industry insiders remain tight-lipped about potential end customers, speculation suggests that Novatek's proposed shipping schedule could align with the next-generation iPhone displays in 2025," claims DigiTimes.

Also Read: Apple Rolls Out macOS Sequoia Without Apple Intelligence

Apple To Use Breakthrough OLED Display For iPhone 17 Air.

The new TDDI tech could allow Apple’s future devices to have thinner OLED screens since the touch and display layers are integrated, which could point to the future of the much-rumored iPhone 17 Air. It’s not clear if Apple will adopt the technology from Novatek.

Since the rumor is mere speculation, the report also suggests that Apple might test the new display on some other products, including future iPads and Apple Watch models. It’s also possible that the company could use the thinner display on the rumored iPhone Flip or a potentially folding iPad.

As of now, the only other rumors regarding the iPhone 17 Slim and its potential display is that the new Air model could replace the Plus variant and have a similarly large display at 6.6 inches. It could come with a smaller hole and a pill-shaped cutout to accommodate the Dynamic Island.

If the tech does make its way to the mainstream iPhone 17 series, it could join a potential 120Hz ProMotion display, which is supposed to be an LTPO OLED panel.

Also Read: Apple Plans To Withdraw Its Legal Case Against Pegasus Spyware

Apple Reportedly Has A Low-End iPhone Model In The Works

Apple seems to have an updated iPhone SE in the works. The updated version will serve as a new low-end model and is also aiming to manufacture new iPad Air models, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The refreshed Apple products are said to be launched early next year, the report said.

This will be the first instance of the iPhone SE since 2022 when Apple added 5G and a faster A15 Bionic chip to the model. The model helps the company to better compete with industry leaders Samsung, Xiaomi, and others in the mid-range smartphone market. Apple is yet to respond to a Reuters request for comment.