WhatsApp could soon roll out a new feature to protect users from certain messages from unknown senders, as per details spotted by a feature tracker. The messaging platform is said to be working on a feature that will enable users to block messages from unknown accounts, which could improve the performance of their device, while also keeping their account safe.

WABetaInfo spotted a new Block unknown account messages toggle on WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.17.24, which was recently rolled out to beta testers on Android. As the feature is still in development, there’s no way for users to try it out, which seems to have been activated through some reverse engineering.

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WhatsApp To Block Messages From Unknown Accounts

According to a screenshot of a new setting, which is shown under the Privacy > Advanced menu in the settings app, was also shared by WABetaInfo. The description for the feature hints that the app will block messages from unknown accounts if they exceed a certain volume.

As per the leaked description, it appears that the platform will block messages from unknown senders, in order to keep a user’s account safe while ensuring that even if users enable the Block unknown account messages toggle in the future, it will still let some messages through.

In contrast, Signal restricts messages sent by unknown accounts by default, asking users to Accept, Block, or Report a conversation started by an unknown user. Senders are not shown to read receipts and accept the message request, while the other options prevent the sender from contacting the recipient.

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WhatsApp To Borrow Instagram’s Story Like Reaction

Meta-owned WhatsApp seems to be planning to introduce a new feature that would enable users to express their appreciation for status updates with a simple “like” reaction. This addition, which is similar to Instagram’s Story likes, is designed to streamline the process of acknowledging and engaging with content shared by their contacts.

According to reports from WABetaInfo, the like reaction feature is now being tested by public beta users and has been in development for quite some time. Users will be able to like a status just by tapping a heart emoji icon located at the bottom left of the screen while viewing the update.

The action will trigger a notification for the person who uploads the Status, informing them of a new like and users will also be able to see who liked their Status through the usual view list. This new feature provides a convenient alternative for connecting with people without the need to initiate a full conversation. It is said to have gained popularity similar to Instagram Story likes.

Android 16 is the next operating system (OS) from Google expected to come as a successor to Android 15, which came out in September. While Google has confirmed the timeline for the update’s release, an exact date is yet to be announced. However, a recent report has hinted that Android 16 could be launched for devices much sooner than previous iterations, with the summer of next year being tipped as the most likely period for its launch.

As per a report from Android Headlines, Android 16 will be moved to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) on June 3. It will also reportedly be made available as an over-the-air (OTA) update for Google Pixel devices, which are usually the first in the market to get the latest Android updates, on the same day.

AOSP is a source code repository that contains the core of the Android OS. When Android 16’s source code is made available on this platform, developers will be able to create custom variants of the OS catering to their respective devices and port it for the launch.

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What To Expect From Android 16

Google has already confirmed that it will have a major Android release in Q2 2025, followed by a minor release in the fourth quarter. This is in contrast to the typical Q3 launch window where the latest Android OS is usually rolled out. The company says it wants the software to be launched for eligible devices at a faster rate and its decision was made to “better align with the schedule of device launches.”

Previous reports have hinted that Android 16 could let third-party developers access Rich Ongoing Notifications, which is the OS version of Dynamic Island. It allows them to add custom text, background colors, and icons to the status bar chips. However, its capability must first be integrated within apps before end users can see it on their devices.

The update is also reported to have a new “bubble anything” feature that might enable users to use any app in a floating window on smartphones and tablets for an improved multitasking experience.

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Nothing Could Develop Own MobileOS as Android Alternative

Nothing is considering the development of its own mobile OS, according to CEO and founder Carl Pei. The UK startup’s smartphones currently run on Google’s Android operating system, with a custom interface running on top.

Most smartphones today run on Android, while Apple’s iPhone models run on iOS, the company’s mobile OS. Developers offering access to popular apps on Android and iOS through the Play Store and App Store, respectively, while Huawei’s HArmonyOS is attempting to bring a third alternative, and Nothing could eventually join the party.

Amazon has assured users about fixing issues with the Kindle Colorsoft, its first color e-reader after complaints from early buyers emerged that a yellow band of discoloration appears on the bottom of the display. The company is making “adjustments” so that new devices will not have the yellow band; people who already have a unit can reach out to Amazon for a refund or replacement.

“We take the quality of our products seriously,” Amazon spokesperson Jill Tornifoglio wrote in an email to The Verge. “Customers who notice this [yellow band] can reach out to our customer service team for a replacement or refund, and we’re making the appropriate adjustments to ensure that new devices will not experience this issue moving forward.”

Existing users can keep using the Colorsoft until they get a replacement, Tornifoglio assured. She added that shipping dates may slide around while the company works to fulfill those replacements alongside new orders for the device.

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Screen Issues Causing Delay In Shipments

Shipping dates will vary depending on where users are, but generally, Colorsoft isn’t shipping earlier than next week for US buyers. In the UK, people report seeing even more delays, with shipments pushed out to the end of the month. Before the complaints, people could expect the tablet to arrive within a more typical day or two in the US.

The delays come after people who first received the device started reporting the appearance of a yellow band along the bottom of its display. Multiple users on a Reddit thread talked about the delayed shipping times saying the company contacted them after they left negative reviews. As of now, 1-star ratings make up around 30 percent of Colorsoft reviews on Amazon.

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Amazon Prime Video Will Let You Use AI To Recap Episodes

Amazon Prime Video is getting a new generative AI-powered feature to help users catch up with a show. The new tool, dubbed X-Ray Recaps, can create text summaries “of full seasons of TV shows, single episodes, and even pieces of episodes,” the company says in a blog post.

X-Ray Recaps will be accessible from the detail page of a show or in X-Ray while users are watching something. The tool “analyzes various video segments, combined with subtitles or dialogue, to generate detailed descriptions of key events, places, times, and conversations,” Amazon says.

Amazon has also applied “guardrails” to help the feature avoid sharing spoilers and to keep summaries concise. X-Ray Recaps, which are currently in beta, are already available to Fire TV devices, the company says. The feature, at launch, will work with all Amazon MGM Studios Original series.

Apple is strongly considering making its smart glasses and is carrying out an internal study of the wearables that are currently on the market. As part of the project code-named Atlas, the tech giant has been gathering feedback from employees on smart glasses, according to a report from Bloomberg.

Apple’s Product Systems Quality team, which comes under its hardware engineering division, is the team that is conducting the exploratory study. The report said with the research, the company is planning to understand how smart glasses can be used and what features to include in them. It is also believed that Apple has plans to carry out more focus group testing down the road.

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Apple To Take On Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses

A month ago, Apple reportedly carried out another internal study focused on developing an app that helps people with pre-diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels and track what they consume. Apple’s Vision Pro, which comes at $3,499, is yet to find mainstream success due to its high price, weight, and limited content.

If the company decides to go ahead with developing smart glasses, it will be in direct competition with Meta and its successful Ray Ban smart glasses that are manufactured in partnership with Luxottica Group SpA.

Smart Glasses enables users to take pictures, shoot videos, answer phone calls, and ask questions to an AI assistant. But their popularity could soon be eclipsed by augmented reality (AR) smart glasses, under-development by Meta and Snap, that overlay information on the glass.

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Apple Delays Vision Pro Headset’s Launch To Post-2027

Rumors of a cheaper Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset have been going on for several months, sparking anticipation among tech enthusiasts. However, known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has now suggested that this lower-cost version won’t hit the market until at least 2027.

Instead, Apple is reportedly gearing up to release an upgraded Vision Pro model equipped with an M5 processor as early as next year. In a recent post on X, Kuo highlighted that the company’s strategy to launch a budget version of its Vision Pro has shifted. “Apple has delayed its plans for a lower-cost Vision Pro to beyond 2027,” Kuo wrote, noting that a new version featuring the M5 chip is planned for 2025.

Kuo also anticipates a budget model for the HomePods mini, which, despite being a more affordable option, did not significantly boost Apple’s smart speaker market share. “Even after launching the cheaper HomePod mini, Apple’s smart speakers failed to become mainstream products,” he stated.

Microsoft has been testing their AI-backed chatbot for Xbox for several months and now the update is available for selected users. Dubbed Support Virtual Agent, it is an AI-powered technology designed to help Xbox players resolve support-related gameplay difficulties more efficiently.

As per the tech giant, the AI chatbot can quickly gain information from Xbox help pages to answer questions about Xbox console and game support difficulties. According to reports, Xbox Insiders based in the US can try the Xbox AI chatbot through support. Xbox. Command will address questions about the Xbox console and game support issues.

Megha Dudani, Senior Product Manager Lead Xbox said, “We appreciate feedback from Xbox Insiders on this preview experience, and any feedback received will be used to improve the Support Virtual Agent," as quoted by The Verge.

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How To Use Xbox Support Virtual Agent

The Xbox AI chatbot appears as an AI character that animates when responding or as a colorful Xbox orb. It is a part of the tech giant’s bigger approach to integrating AI into its Xbox platform and services. The company is said to unveil some more AI features to Xbox soon.

• Users need to go to the support page and click on Contact Us.
• Sign in with the same account they’ve registered with the Xbox Insider Program.
• Once done, they will see an option that reads ‘Ask our new Support Virtual Agent’
• When users click on “Ask a question," the Support Virtual Agent will open in a new browser window.

As per the company, users will be able to ask virtual agents via text or voice modes and it will answer with relevant information. If the Support Virtual Agent is unable to resolve the issue, users can request to talk with a live support agent, as long as it is within Xbox Support’s normal hours of operation.

The company is said to have mentioned that Insiders will be able to freely switch between two types of Support Virtual Agents. However, the company has yet to specify what differences these two AI agents will showcase. The update is currently available for Xbox Insiders in the US, while a wider release date will be announced later.

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Microsoft Settles Lawsuit Over Activision Blizzard Acquisition

Microsoft has settled the antitrust lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of gamers who objected to the firm’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. As per a report from The Wrap, details of the settlement were not revealed, but we do know the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, which means it cannot be filed again.

The lawsuit was filed in 2022 in California by a group of gamers from multiple states who expressed concern about the potential negative impact of a Microsoft monopoly in the video game space sparked by absorbing the makers of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush, among many other games. It came right after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began its work to block the deal from closing, work that eventually failed.

Acer India has announced the launch of the Iconia Tab series, which includes 8.7-inch and 10.36-inch models. Targeted at users requiring devices for work, entertainment, and on-the-go use, the tablets offer a balance of performance and functionality.

Both models run on Android 14 OS and include MediaTek processors for multimedia and multitasking needs. Battery capacity is designed to support extended usage.

The Acer Iconia Tab 8.7 starts at Rs. 11,990, while the 10.36-inch model is priced at Rs 14,999 as part of a limited-time offer. Both devices can be bought at Acer exclusive stores, Acer’s online store, and Amazon.

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Acer Iconia Tablets Under The Hood

The 8.7-inch Iconia Tab iM9-12M is powered by the MediaTek Helio P22T octa-core processor at 2.3 GHz, 4GB RAM, and 64GB of internal storage with support for expansion up to 1TB. The tablet comes equipped with an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. Its 5100 mAh battery, which claims to provide up to 10 hours of video playback.

The 10.36-inch Iconia Tab iM10-22 features a 2K resolution display and is powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 processor at 2.2 GHz, and PureVoice QUAD speakers. It also packs a 16MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera.

Security features include face recognition and fingerprint login. Its 7400 mAh battery offers additional support for multitasking and entertainment. Both devices come with dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, and Dual SIM 4G LTE capabilities, with option flip covers for added protection.

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Acer Nitro V16 Laptop Launched With Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU

Previously, Acer launched the Nitro V16 gaming laptop in India. The new laptop claimed to be crafted for gamers and creators, will come in two configurations with 14th gen Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. It is also equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics processing unit (GPU).

The Acer Nitro V 16 has a 16-inch WUXGA display, up to 512GB of storage, and offers connectivity options such as Wi-FI 6 and Thunderbolt 4. The Acer Nitro V 16 with Intel Core i5 14450HX CPU comes for Rs 99,999 in India, while the Intel Core i7 14650HX CPU variant will set buyers back by Rs. 1,09,999. It will go on sale through Acer’s online store, Acer’s exclusive stores, Flipkart, Amazon, and other offline stores. 

Acer Nitro V16 packs a 16-inch WUXGA display with IPS technology and a 165Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with a ComfyView LED-backlit TFT LCD to minimize glare. Besides, the laptop runs on Windows 11 Home. The laptop can be configured with 14th-generation Intel Core i7 14650HX Intel Core i5 14450Hx chipsets.