In September, WhatsApp head Will Cathcart denied a report that said Meta plans to show ads in the messaging app. However, it turns out he was hiding something when he called the report “false.” The company still has plans for ads on WhatsApp, just that it won’t place them in the main inbox. The plan is to show ads in other places within the app, such as statuses and channels.
WhatsApp still plans to show ads
Meta has been planning to bring ads to WhatsApp for several years now, at least since 2018 when the company was still called Facebook. The firm wanted to begin the pilot in 2020 but it didn’t work out. There hasn’t been much talk about it since then. However, the social media behemoth never shelved the idea. After all, online advertising is a very lucrative market. With WhatsApp’s popularity (more than two billion users globally), Meta can make a fortune.
Cathcart has now confirmed that WhatsApp ads are still in the pipeline. He revealed the plans in a recent interview with the Brazilian publication Folha De S.Paulo. When asked about his “false” remark to the aforementioned report, he said, “The article claimed that we were going to place ads in the inbox. We are not doing this, nor discussing it. We don’t think this is the right model. When people open their inbox, they don’t want to see advertising.”
However, “there could be ads in other places—channels or statuses,” Cathcart added. “For example, channels might charge people to subscribe, they might be exclusive to paid members, or the owners might want to promote the channel. But, no, we won’t put ads in your inbox,” he explained (via TechCrunch). The WhatsApp head didn’t give us a timeline for when ads may start showing up in the messaging app.
According to reports, WhatsApp didn’t go ahead with the original plan in 2020 due to fears that users may have privacy concerns. However, Meta knows that ads in the messaging app will be a major revenue stream. It appears to be gradually marching toward the goal while addressing the concerns of privacy-focused users by keeping ads out of the inbox. We will let you know when we have more information about Meta’s plans.
WhatsApp is doubling down on AI features
In the interview, Cathcart also talked about WhatsApp’s AI plans. He said AI stickers and AI chat agents are some of the features that are making conversations more fun. WhatsApp also plans to expand the availability of its advanced AI-powered customer service agents for businesses. Cathcart said the company is working with industry partners like Microsoft to evaluate and train AI to respond correctly without bias.
Google is now fitting app screenshots from developers on the Play Store to fit individual device screen form factors. This change will become very useful to netizens as they will have a mental picture of how the app will look on their device. Currently, to give users an idea of the app’s interface look, developers often add more than one screenshot from different screen form factors.
This means that developers might add screenshots from a regular smartphone, a tablet, a foldable device, and a Chromebook. Users will then have to swipe across the various media content on the app to find the screenshot that suits their device. Well, not all developers add these screenshots as some are more comfortable sticking to just screenshots from a smartphone.
Google is now bringing a fix to this by offering users app screenshots on the Play Store that fit their device’s screen form factor. This change is yet to arrive on all devices, but some Google Play Store users are already spotting it. In addition to this change, tablet and Chromebook users are now getting a new tab on their Google Play Store app.
Here are the changes coming to the Google Play Store for different devices
Aside from the change involving app screenshots on the Play Store, tablets and Chromebooks are also getting another change. For all devices, the app screenshots in the media section for each app on the Play Store are getting a significant change. This change will help to match the app screenshot with the device’s screen form factor.
So if you’re using a smartphone to access the Google Play Store, the app screenshots you’ll see will fit your device. If you then switch to using a tablet, for instance, the app screenshot will also fit the tablet’s screen. With this, you’ll be able to easily tell how the app will look on the device you’re using.
Google is rolling out this feature to all devices that have access to the Play Store. This ranges from large-screen devices like tablets and Chromebooks to smaller-screen devices like Wear OS watches. So, regardless of the device you’re using, you’ll be able to see what each app will look like on your screen.
The media section of each app can be accessible just under the “About this app” section of the installation page. Tablets and Chromebooks are also getting a change with the introduction of a new navigation tab. This new tab is the “New” section, and it contains everything fresh on the Play Store.
Some users already have access to these changes on their Android, Wear OS, or ChromeOS devices. Others are yet to get these changes because the update isn’t available on their device. If you fall into the second category, then you can wait for the change to become available on your device.
Smack-dab in between premium and budget phones, we have premium mid-rangers. These are devices that offer a powerful experience with just enough cutbacks to keep the price down. Motorola has its Edge series of phones, and the base Edge sits in that premium mid-range area. We were given the opportunity to review the Moto Edge 2023.
At $599, it sits right in a spot where you should expect to see pretty premium features. It’s the less expensive sibling to the Moto Edge+ 2023, and that costs a cool $200 more. So, $599 is a pretty good sweet spot for a premium mid-ranger.
Some phones at this price deliver a truly premium experience while some others are letdowns. So, does this phone deliver a top-notch smartphone experience, or is it just on the edge of greatness? Let’s find out in this review.
Moto Edge 2023 review: Design
Let’s start with the first thing you’ll notice about this phone; the design. Honestly, I like phones that are unapologetically thick. They have a reassuring heft that lets you know that they can survive abuse and keep on going. That being said, I’m in lovewith the extremely sleek and stunning design of the Moto Edge 2023.
The phone has this soft-touch matte material covering the back that gives the phone such a sleek and debonair look. It’s like the smartphone version of James Bond. Motorola usually uses glass that plays with the light in different ways, but this time, there’s this elegant leather covering the back of the phone. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
Also, the phone is extremely thin. Do you remember a couple of years ago when every phone was racing to be the thinnest on the market? Think back to the Galaxy S6 and the iPhone 6s. Well, the Moto Edge 2023 might remind you of that time. The phone’s front and back curve inward, so it’s very thin around the edge.
On the back of the phone, we see the very squarish camera island that doesn’t jut from the chassis all that much. The island is rather shallow, which kind of distracts from the fact that the actual camera lenses protrude a bit more.
All in all, Motorola gave this phone a very understated look that doesn’t stand out because of its radical design or colors. It sticks out because of its subdued and business-like appearance. I love it!
Moto Edge 2023 review: Build quality
With thinness comes fragility; however, Motorola didn’t want to abide by that rule. I said that this phone is thin, but I never said that it felt fragile or cheap. It doesn’t feel thin as much as it feels dense. There’s still a nice heft to the phone that makes it feel like Motorola used quality materials with it.
When I pick it up, I know that I’m holding a device that was crafted to give me a powerful experience. Nothing about it feels cheap, even though this is an affordable device. Also, nothing on it creaks, moves, flexes, or otherwise symbolizes that it’s a cheap device. Motorola is looking to give you a premium experience, and it didn’t skip the first step which is the hardware.
Moto Edge 2023 review: Display
The design is the first thing you’ll notice about the phone, but what you’re going to be looking at the most is the screen. Motorola hasn’t really been known for its displays. I reviewed the Motorola Edge+ from last year, and I wasn’t particularly impressed with the display on that phone.
However, that was a year ago, and display technology can change quickly. Let’s see how the Moto Edge 2023’s display performs. I’m reviewing the display on its Saturated setting with the color temperature set to neutral because those are the settings out of the box.
Colors
Motorola packed a ton of color into this phone’s display. I know that OLED panels are colorful, but it’s up to the OEM to decide how juicy the colors should be. the colors on this display just burst from the screen and to great effect. They’re saturated and punchy, but they stop short of being too much.
Motorola was able to find that sweet spot between saturated and oversaturated. All of the colors are super pleasant to look at.
As for the color temperature, it seems to lean more toward the warm side. All of the colors have a bit of warmth to them, but it’s not too warm. Also, when I put a white screen on the phone and place it next to a device with a neutral color temperature, I can see a slightly yellowish tint on the Motorola’s display. It’s not bad or terribly noticeable, especially if you’re using the phone casually.
All I know is that if you like saturated colors, then you’ll be satisfied with this display.
Brightness
A display’s brightness is one of the most important aspects of it. It can look as amazing as it wants, but if you can’t see it outside, there’s not much point. The display on the Moto Edge 2023 is pleasantly bright. It’s not as bright as the phones that get to or just below 2,000 nits, but that’s not 100% necessary. It gets plenty bright; bright enough to see perfectly fine in any indoor lighting conditions. Actually, you’ll find yourself turning the brightness down when inside.
In the sun, I was able to see the display perfectly clearly. I used this phone in the middle of the bright afternoon sun, the kind of conditions where cheaper phones just become expensive mirrors. The Moto Edge 2023’s display was perfectly visible.
Also, when you have Ambient Brightness on, the phone will further increase the brightness when it detects that it’s in a bright environment. This will make everything on the screen even more legible.
Smoothness
When it comes to smoothness, the Moto Edge 2023 takes the cake. This display is extremely fluid with an impressive 144Hz display. This means that everything from social media to scrolling webpages to navigating the interface is as smooth as butter.
Adjustments
If you don’t like how the display looks out of the box then you can make some adjustments. Firstly, if the colors are just too much for you, then you can set the color saturation setting to Natural. This will give the display a closer appearance to an LCD panel.
Under that, you’ll see a slider showing the color temperature. You can make the screen cooler (more blue) or warmer (more yellow/orange) to suit your liking.
All in all
As I said, the Moto Edge+ from last year was a different phone. This year, the company really stepped up its game and gave the Moto Edge 2023 an absolutely jaw-dropping display. It’s absolutely beautiful and it makes using this phone a treat.
Moto Edge 2023 review: Speakers
A great screen goes hand-in-hand with a great set of speakers. The speakers on the Moto Edge 2023 are a bit of a weird story because they come with Dolby Atmos enabled out of the box, and there’s no way to turn it off. So, I’ll be reviewing the sound with Dolby Atmos enabled on its Smart audio setting. There are adjustments that can be made to the audio, and I’ll cover them later in the section.
Clarity
So, I was blown away by the clarity of these speakers. The speakers of the Moto Edge+ were middle-of-the-road, but the speakers in the Moto Edge 2023 are miles ahead of that phone. The sound is so crisp and clear.
Every genre that I listen to just sounds amazing. The sound overall is extremely detailed. A true testament to that is how they sound with classical music. I know that listening to classical music on smartphone speakers sounds like some sort of cruel punishment, but I did.
I was astounded by how detailed the sound was. I listened to orchestral music and I could actually hear the grit on the lower strings as the players pulled their bows across. That came out clearly. Listening to Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony, Movement 2, I could actually hear the texture of the cellos at the beginning. They projected so clearly along with the winds above them.
This also goes for more modern musical genres. Each and every part of the music just projected clearly. The crunchy bass of 80s pop, the prevalent high-hats of 90s hip-hop/R&B, the synthetic kick drums of 2000s pop, etc. all sound crystal clear.
Loudness
When it comes to the loudness, there’s enough power behind these speakers to fill a room with sound. I listened to them in my living room with the volume cranked to 100%, and I could clearly hear the speakers in the kitchen.
Not only are the speakers loud, but they also do a great job of staving off audio distortion. Even at full volume, the music was pretty clear. They’re not quite good enough to replace your Bluetooth speaker, but they’re not far off.
Low-end
Smartphone speakers tend to lack a bit in the low-end audio department. You want to hear a good amount of bass with your music. It adds depth and warmth to what you’re listening to.
I was thoroughly impressed with the low-end performance of these speakers. Circling back to classical music, this genre isn’t naturally bass-heavy, but these speakers do a beautiful job of bringing out the low hum of the lower instruments. Hearing that along with that grit that I talked about earlier just makes for a great effect.
With more modern genres, the story is much the same. The bass supports the higher tones in the sound beautifully, and I hear that most with warmer music. Listening to 90s R&B, the lower notes ring amazingly. I’m hearing tones that I just don’t hear with other smartphone speakers, and I’m super impressed.
The only thing I’d say is that most 80s music won’t sound as amazing as other genres. In the 80s, we heard crunchier and higher-pitched basses; it’s something that characterized much of the music. Well, it’s hard for 80s basses to cut through the rest of the sound with these speakers. So, you’ll have a different experience listening to 80s music with this phone.
High-end
The low-end gets a nice boost with these speakers, and that goes for the high-end as well. These speakers did the impressive feat of accenting the high-end without going into the shrill territory. I think that there’s a bit more high-end to the sound than low-end, but the speakers don’t sound thin.
So, when you’re listening to music with a lot of higher percussion, you’ll hear those instruments get a nice added push. Also, if you’re listening to orchestral music, the higher instruments like violins and flutes will sound perfectly clear. Motorola, along with Dolby, balanced the audio to keep the highs in check, and that adds to the overall sound.
If you’re listening to music with lyrics, then good news for you. Voices sound amazing with these speakers.
Adjustments
That was a review of the out-of-the-box settings, but you can further customize your sound to your liking. Under the Dolby Atmos section, you can choose which sound profile you want. Each sound profile is optimized for different types of media. There’s one for Music, Movies, Podcasts, and Games. There are two other profiles as well. One is the Smart audio profile which will adjust the audio automatically based on the content you’re listening to. Also, there’s a custom profile that will let you dial in your own settings.
You can also customize settings for each sound profile. For each profile, you can choose from three EQ presets. In the Custom sound profile, there’s a customizable nine-band EQ that you can adjust along with the presets.
All in all, I think that the speakers are some of the best I’ve ever heard on a smartphone and one of the best aspects of this phone.
Moto Edge 2023 review: Performance
The performance of the Moto Edge 2023 has been stellar. I have been testing this phone out with a selection of apps. No matter the app, this phone performed smoothly.
This also goes for navigating the interface. I didn’t run into any instances of lag or stutter performance. I use the phone with the 144Hz mode, and I could not get it to slow down at all. I didn’t notice any dropped frames or lock-ups. Motorola did a great job of optimizing the software for its phone. This is an affordable device, but Motorola didn’t cut corners on the performance in order to cut costs.
Fingerprint scanner
The Moto Edge 2023 has an under-display fingerprint scanner, which is a nice change of pace compared to the side-mounted fingerprint scanner of last year’s Edge phone. As for the performance, it’s extremely fast. You just need to hold your finger on it for a fraction of a second, and it will unlock.
As for accuracy, it reads my fingerprint more than 99% of the time. I didn’t have any issues with unlocking the phone.
Moto Edge 2023 review: Gaming
When it comes to gaming, this phone is a hardy performer. I used it with a wide range of games from simple 2D platformers to some of the most graphically intensive games on the market. Let’s dive in to see how this phone performs.
2D games
When it comes to 2D games, the Moto Edge 2023 didn’t even break a sweat. I played a variety of 2D games on this phone, and the phone tackled them without any issues or dropped frames. While 2D games aren’t the most demanding, there are some titles that can slow down weaker hardware.
In the case of this phone, you won’t have any issues playing any of the 2D games coming to the market. This came as no surprise because of the superior performance I’ve been seeing throughout.
Mid-range 3D games
Cranking up the graphics a bit, I use this phone with games like DragonBall Legends, Asphalt 9, and Sky: Children of The Light. Neither one of these titles managed to give this phone any issues. These games aren’t the most graphically intensive on the market, but they do get up there. They’ll slow down weaker hardware.
However, the Moto Edge 2023 didn’t slow down at all. The races in Asphalt 9 get pretty intense, and Sky often renders large areas. It didn’t matter, however. I got consistently smooth performance while playing these games. So, games with this level of graphics are no challenge for the Moto Edge 2023.
Upper-tier games
This was to be expected; we can’t have a phone performance review without talking about some of the games that have been baking phones across the Android ecosystem. I’m talking about Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Impact.
Starting off with Star Rail, I turned the graphics to their highest settings, and I could see the phone struggling a bit. The performance wasn’t bad by any means. I couldn’t get 60fps at that setting, but I was still able to get a pretty smooth frame rate, regardless. The frame rate was at its worst during intense battle sequences, and it only dipped to just below 30fps. It never really dipped low enough to be choppy.
So, I think playing this game on its highest settings is definitely an option. You’ll still get pretty smooth gameplay. You can crank the graphics down a bit to smooth it out even more if you want.
Genshin Impact
Moving onto Genshin Impact, the story is a little bit weird. Going by first impressions, I’d say “Never crank this game up to its highest settings!” When I enabled the settings, I saw the games’ performance tank hard. It locked up for a second when I rotated the screen.
I was all set to call it, but then I played the game for a few more minutes. After about a minute, I saw the performance improve. It was relatively smooth and playable. There were definitely a fair number of dropped frames that happened, but they didn’t hinder the gaming experience. This was also during battle sequences.
It’s just like Star Rail in that it’s pretty smooth and perfectly playable on its highest settings. You can smooth out the gameplay by knocking the settings down a bit if you want. All in all, it’s not the best gaming performance in the market, but it definitely keeps up.
Heat performance
The phone didn’t really heat up while using it casually. However, while doing intense gaming, it did get pretty warm. It wasn’t unbearable, however. It never got to the point where it was uncomfortable to hold.
Moto Edge 2023 review: Camera
Last year’s Moto Edge+ 2022 didn’t have the best camera performance. However, this year, it seems that Motorola wanted to up its game. The camera on the Moto Edge 2023 brings some notable improvements over last year’s phone, but there’s one major issue.
Details
This year, Motorola brought some improvements to the details that the camera could capture. The pictures I captured all retained a nice amount of sharpness, and the camera avoided that weird watercolor effect that I saw with the Edge+ 2022. I can zoom into the picture pretty far before I start to see degradation in the image quality.
Contrast
The overall contrast delivered by this camera was really pleasant. I didn’t find any areas of the pictures to be overly bright or dark. Also, in high-contrast shots, all of the shadows were crisp where they needed to be. All in all, I have no complaints about the contrast.
Low-light
The low-light performance is solid. It’s not spectacular, but you won’t be getting bad results. Moving to moderately diminished lighting conditions, we get the usual loss of sharpness. There was a notable drop in details, but the phone still managed to boost the brightness a fair bit.
Colors
So, I’m wondering if Motorola forgot about a little thing I’d like to call restraint. The Moto Edge 2023 produces images with colors that are just off the charts. Motorola may have cranked up the colors just a bit too much. Scenes that were pretty muted in color came out with an extra level of color slathered on. The image of the rocks shows rocks that have a mostly neutral tone. However, the phone added an extra pop of color that just wasn’t there.
Images with the sky show an oversaturated and candy-like blue that just doesn’t accurately represent the scene. The same thing goes for the blue flowers below.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some images where the color balance is beautiful. The image of the bush below, I think was a great photo. A bit oversaturated, yes, but it wasn’t too much. The same goes for the image of the thaumatophyllum xanadu on the right. These images are juicy but kept in line.
However, most other pictures have exaggerated colors. The first image below shows a tree stump in mid-afternoon light. It should have come out more neutral, but it was exceptionally warm with the green of the plants accentuated.
Overall, I think that the performance of the camera is solid, but the colors are just too much.
Moto Edge 2023 Review: Battery
When it comes to battery performance, the fact that this phone did a good job was no surprise. I’ve tested several Motorola devices in the past, and neither one of them disappointed me when it came to battery life. The story with the Moto Edge 2023 is much the same.
On days with moderate usage, I would end it with just under half the battery left. I had enough battery power to let it stay idle overnight and use it for the best part of the next day. With light usage, I could have definitely pushed it to two days.
Even on heavier days with more gaming, video watching, and camera tests, I was still able to make it to bed with a little bit of juice in the tank. However, at that point, the battery had dropped to a point where I started to worry about leaving it idle overnight.
When it comes to charging, Motorola provided a 68W charger with this phone. With that, the phone can charge from 0% to full and less than an hour. If you need a quick top-up, you can throw the phone on the charger and get back more than 20%. I’d say that the battery and charging performance of this phone are great and they live up to the standard set by Motorola.
Final Verdict
The Moto Edge 2023 has the misfortune of Being the less premium sibling to another phone. Because of this, it’s so easy to think of it as a low-powered or low-performing device. It would either push people to opt for the more expensive sibling or just ditch the line altogether.
However, the Moto Edge 2023 is one of those phones that make you forget that you’re using an affordable device. Whenever I pick up the phone and feel the heft in the hand, look at that beautiful display, or observe the smooth performance, it never dawns on me that I’m using the cheaper version of a flagship handset.
Just about every aspect from the display to the speakers to the performance to the build quality all betray this phone’s price. I didn’t feel like I was getting a below Flagship level experience, I felt like I was getting a true-to-form flagship experience.
Don’t get me wrong, as this phone does have its flaws. They are few, but most of them manifest in the camera performance. The color reproduction is extremely off. It’s the kind of camera that can produce a completely different mood than the scene actually represented, and that’s not a good thing.
However, that being said, I 100% recommend that you pick up this phone. It is a fantastic device and well worth the money.
Instagram users with an obsession for privacy will soon get a desired feature. The Meta-owned platform reported that it’s testing a new feature that lets users turn off read receipts on direct messages.
There are many times that you don’t want others to see when you’ve viewed their messages. The current Instagram system, which notifies a user when the recipient has read the message, might cause frustration. Some users may even consider seeing a message and not replying to it insulting.
Instagram lets you turn off read receipts on DMs
To address the issue, Instagram was prompted to test a feature that lets you turn off read receipts on DMs. Users who leave people on read due to the high number of messages will undoubtedly find this new feature helpful. Of course, a similar feature is found in WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, and Meta is now adding it to Instagram DMs.
“You asked, we listened. We heard your feedback and have started testing a new feature that lets you turn read receipts off in your DMs. Soon, people will be able to choose when to let others see when they’re read their messages.” Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri wrote on its broadcast channel.
It remains to be seen if the feature is adjustable for individual chats or if a toggle on Instagram’s privacy settings enables the feature for whole DMs. An ideal case could be letting users turn off or on the feature for individual chats. Instagram might also need to restructure its Settings menu.
This will give you more control over messaging on the platform
By letting users turn off read receipts on DMs, Instagram could give users more control over their messaging experience. It could also reduce the pressure associated with instant repose on messaging with people. Meanwhile, Instagram is still testing the feature with a small group of its users. For the next update, you can expect the feature to land on your app, too.
Most of Instagram’s recent privacy features were focused on limiting the visibility of posts and Stories to a particular group. The platform has recently been spotted testing a feature that only shows your posts to your Close Friends circle. Right now, you can only share Stories with your Close Friends list.
The AI race is heating up with more major companies jumping onto the track. While Amazon has been in the AI game with Alexa, the company is looking to bring its own industry-leading (and internet-breaking) AI model. This AI model in question is called Olympus, and Amazon dedicated an entire team to it.
Right now, there’s not much information about this currently available to the public. Tidbits of information were leaked by people close to the matter (report). They chose to remain anonymous because this information is under lock and key.
Amazon is working on an AI model named Olympus
The company is not messing around with this LLM (large language model), based on one bit of information about it. According to the source, this model will have 2 trillion parameters. 2 trillion of ANYTHING is a lot, and when it comes to AI parameters, the more the merrier. To put things in perspective, GPT-4, OpenAI’s most powerful LLM, has about 1 trillion parameters.
So, it looks like there’s another upcoming LLM that’s giving GPT-4 a run for its money. Google Gemini is on track to give GPT-4 quite a fight.
Right now, we don’t know much about this AI model, but we know some of who’s working on it. The team is being led by Rohit Prasad, he’s the former head of Amazon Alexa. Since he’s the head of the team, he’s been charged with bringing industry professionals to help work on the bot.
As for what this AI will be able to do, we’re all still wondering. We can tell that Amazon is putting some serious money behind Olympus, and that could put it into close competition with other AI that’s on the market. This means that when it launches, we’re going to see it throw punches against the other chatbots that are in the ring.
Some OnePlus Ace 3 aka OnePlus 12R details have been revealed early thanks to Geekbench. The device surfaced on the platform with a model number OnePlus PJD110. Not only were its single-core and multi-core scores revealed, but some specs too.
The OnePlus Ace 2 aka OnePlus 12R details get revealed via Geekbench
This particular model features 16GB of RAM. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 fuels it, and Android 13 comes pre-installed on it, along with OxygenOS, of course. That’s more or less it as far as specs are concerned.
The device managed to score 1,597 points in the single-core, and 5,304 points in the multi-core test on Geekbench. Those results are in line with what’s expected from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
Having said that, the OnePlus Ace 3 and OnePlus 12R will have the same spec sheets, almost certainly. They will launch in different markets, though. We’ll refer to this device as the OnePlus Ace 3 until the end of the article, though.
A large battery is expected, along with 100W charging support
The OnePlus Ace 3 is expected to include a 1.5K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. A 5,500mAh battery is expected, as is 100W wired charging. Wireless charging likely won’t be a part of the package.
That’s pretty much everything we know about the device. It will likely resemble the OnePlus 11, though. The phone will debut in the first quarter of next year. The OnePlus Ace 2 arrived in February this year. That’s the same month the OnePlus 11R arrived.
The phone will be made out of metal and glass, while a curved display is expected. A display camera hole will also be a part of the package. Three cameras are expected on the back of the phone.
Now, the OnePlus Ace 2 included a solid main camera, but the ultrawide and macro cameras left room to improve. Let’s hope OnePlus will go for ultrawide and telephoto secondary cameras this time around. Using a 2-megapixel macro camera is not the best thing to do.
Spotify’s Wrapped has become a popular year-end tradition, providing users with insights into their listening habits. Inspired by this, an app called Wrapped for Instagram has recently been making the news, claiming to offer detailed statistics about your Instagram usage throughout the year. However, according to multiple reports on Reddit, there is something fishy about the app.
What’s going on?
Released recently on the App Store, Wrapped for Instagram claims to provide users with statistics such as the number of hours spent on Instagram in the year, top online friends, accounts that blocked you, and more. However, the first red flag comes in when the app requests users to input their Instagram credentials in order to display the statistics.
Moreover, the accuracy of these stats is highly questionable, considering several users have reported seeing significantly exaggerated usage times compared to their actual screen time. This inconsistency, coupled with the ever-changing statistics upon each login, raises doubts about the app’s reliability.
Furthermore, the fact that many users have experienced unexpected logouts from their Instagram after giving the app account access raises some serious concerns that it could be used by threat actors to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
Questionable developer
Unlike Spotify, TikTok, and Apple Music, which officially offer their own wrapped summaries, Meta does not own the Wrapped for Instagram app. Instead, a company called Wrapped Labs LLC owns the app, which apparently has no online presence, and its provided website link leads to a non-functioning URL.
Additionally, the app’s privacy policy, available only on a Notion page, states that it uses third-party services that collect user data for identification. And although the company claims that it safeguards personal information, there is no clear evidence to back this claim.
Furthermore, in a statement to Digital Trends, a Meta spokesperson stated, “This app violates our terms, and we’ve asked Apple to remove it from the App Store.”
As a result, users should avoid installing Wrapped for Instagram at any cost. Additionally, it is generally advisable to exercise caution when granting third-party apps access to social media accounts to protect privacy and security.
With experts noting a troubling threefold surge in USB drive malware incidents in early 2023, Device Control has just leveled up with a key addition: the Advanced Auto Scanning & Block Until Scan feature.
Here’s the breakdown: When a USB device is connected, ThreatDown now doesn’t just control access—it actively scans it. You can also now choose to block the device until the system scans it. This means threats are stopped in their tracks, well before they can do any harm.
Available for both Nebula and OneView users, the new update also offers detailed device insights on the Quarantine and Detections pages. The interactive “Device” column, for example, reveals comprehensive details like the serial number and volume name.
Advanced Device Control is designed to make it that much easier for organizations to defend against USB malware, which can cause data breaches and other system compromises. Let’s dive deeper into the update!
Automated Scanning
When a USB device is inserted, the new feature automatically initiates a scan for potential threats. This is proactive, as opposed to the more passive nature of traditional device control, which simply controlled access when storage drives were connected via USB.
Conditional Access Based on Scan Results
Perhaps the most significant addition is the ability to block access to the device until it has been scanned for threats. This ensures that no potentially harmful files are accessed before they are verified as safe, a capability not present in the original Device Control setting.
Customizable Alerts
Users can craft an optional alert message that appears when a USB device is blocked pending a scan. This can help in communicating security protocols to users who might not be aware of why their device access is restricted.
Quarantine and Detections Pages Update
Nebula’s Quarantine and Detections pages have been upgraded for improved management of USB-originated threats:
“Device” Column: A new clickable column has been added, listing devices associated with threats.
Device Details Slideout: Clicking on a device link provides immediate access to details like serial number and volume name.
These updates streamline the threat analysis process, integrating crucial information directly into your workflow.
Additional features
Restoration & Exclusion Enhancements
Quickly restore false positives from quarantine when the device is reconnected and set exclusions to prevent future unnecessary blocks.
Detailed Threat Information
The Endpoint details slide-out has been enhanced. Under the Detections and Quarantine tabs, users can now access comprehensive data on any USB threats discovered.
Action Taken
A new “Action taken” column clearly shows the device scan history and status updates.
Try Advanced Device Control today
Advanced Device Control marks a leap in helping organizations stay ahead of USB malware, featuring proactive scanning, conditional access, and improved visibility to proactively thwart potential breaches.
Try Advanced Device Control in Nebula and OneView today!
As part of our gift guide series, we bring you some of the best gifts under $500. Well, some of our favorites below that level, as there are a ton of products out there to consider. All of the products on this list are techie, one way or the other. We did our best to compile a diverse list, so that there’s something for everyone here. We’ll focus on 5 products here, but below them, you’ll also find some honorable mentions to check out. Another thing to note is that we’re focusing on products between $250 and $500, as we have a separate list for things under $250. Having said that, let’s get going…
Best tiny fitness tracker: Ultrahuman smart ring
A great fitness-tracking option for people who don’t like watches
There are a ton of different smartwatches on offer these days, the same goes for fitness bands. Not everyone wants to wear a smartwatch, though, and yet may want to keep track of their fitness and sleep quality. Well, there’s a solution for that. Smart rings have been on the rise for years now, and they can replace your smartwatch, to a degree. They may not be able to show you notifications, allow you to control music, and so on, but they can certainly keep track of your fitness.
When you think of smartwatches, you probably think of Oura, but there are other really compelling offerings out there Ultrahuman is actually a company that offers a very compelling product in that domain. The Ultrahuman Ring Air is the “world’s lightest sleep-tracking wearable”, says the company. This small ring packs a ton of sensors inside. It can track your heart rate and temperature, it has sleep tracking capabilities, and more. It is also water resistant up to 100m, so you can easily keep it on your finger at all times, other than the times you have to charge it.
Speaking of which, the company claims that this ring can offer 6 days of battery life, so chances are it’ll need a top-up once a week. This ring can also track calories, metabolic equivalents (METs), steps, and more. It’s impressive how many features Ultrahuman managed to stuff into a small product. This smart ring is thinner than many others we’ve seen, and it comes in four color options. Matte Black, Aster Black, Bionic Gold, and Space Silver options are on offer. The ring is, of course, available in a range of different sizes too. It is priced at $349, so it’s not exactly cheap, but it can be a great replacement for a smartwatch.
Best vertical ambient light: Philips Hue smart floor lamp
A good floor lamp can bring some life into your living space
Having great lighting at home can really liven up the living space. There are all sorts of different lights on offer in the market, for different purposes. Philips actually has a great lineup of Hue lights on offer, ranging from regular smart light bulbs, to various fancy offerings. The company actually offers a rather nice floor lamp that we’ll talk about in this article, as it fits this price bracket perfectly. This floor lamp has a base onto which a rather thin light strip is attached, and oriented vertically.
The base itself is wider, of course, to keep the balance. This is a wired floor lamp, by the way, just in case that wasn’t clear enough. It’s meant to be used indoors, and it does offer compatibility with voice assistants, including Google Assistant, Alexa, and it also works with Apple HomeKit integration. The light is available in black and white variants, depending on what color is your room/furniture. Chances are that one of these two colors will fit perfectly, as the base itself will likely be hidden either way. These are also rather base colors.
The wattage we’re looking at here is 29W, and this light is dimmable. It can be great for mood lighting in any room, pretty much. You can choose between millions of colors, or shades of colors, from warm to cool tones. All that can be customized via Philips’ app that many of you are already familiar with. It’s even possible to connect this light to other lights from the company and connect up to 10 at the same time. It’s a great gift for both minimalists, and otherwise, as it’s a type of product that fits basically anywhere. The price tag here is $289 (down from $329.99), and the link is placed below.
Action cameras have become very popular over the years. Companies are trying to trump each other with new designs, features, and so on. Well, Insta360 usually succeeds in that regard. The company released quite a few small cameras thus far, and the Insta360 GO3 is the cream of the crop. This camera is tiny, truly tiny, and yet it offers a ton of versatility, and can shoot really nice-looking content. The use cases for it are vast. This package consists of the camera itself, its down/charger/viewfinder, and some accessories that will come in quite handy.
There are various different setups with this camera offered on Amazon, with varying price tags, but we’re focusing on the ‘Travel Kit’, with 128GB of storage. This tiny camera magnetizes inside a charging case, when needed, and you can use it on its own too. When it’s on its own, it’s truly time, and can magnetize itself to metallic surfaces. In the package, you’ll also get a bracelet with some metal on it, so you can basically place it under your shirt, and then magnetize the camera over it.
In addition to that, a couple of more cases come in this particular package, that can be attached to things, or magnetized to surfaces. As if that’s not enough, a small tripod is also included here, along with a carrying case for all that. The camera on its own weighs only 35 grams, and shoots 2.7K videos. It is also waterproof up to 5m below the water surface, while the Action Pod is splashproof. Insta360 also has rather nice AI editing tools in its app, which complete the experience. If you, or someone you know, need a small camera to have on the go, for whatever purpose, the Insta360 offers great value. The ‘Travel Kit’ with 128GB of storage is priced at $479, but there are other choices available on Amazon (link below).
Good wireless microphones go a long way, especially if they come in pairs
Built-in microphones on smartphones are usually plenty good for voice calls, but for video recording, not so much. You usually need something better if you plan on recording videos with your phone, at least if you want them to sound professional. That is especially true if you’re not right next to your phone when you do it. That’s where wireless microphones can be of great use, but some of them can be quite finicky. So, if you’re looking for actually good wireless microphones, for yourself or for a gift, DJI has something to offer.
DJI offers wireless lavalier microphones in an all-in-one package. Not only will you find two wireless microphones here, which are really good, but a receiver as well. All that is placed into a charging/carrying case, which will keep them both safe and charged when you’re not using them. The design of these mics is really nice too, and both of them come with a clasp, so that you can attach them to a piece of clothing. They have a range of up to 250m (820ft), which is also one of the advantages here.
This setup is ideal for vlogging, interviews, outdoor recording, and so on. The transmitters will offer 5.5 hours of battery life, while the receiver offer 5 hours of battery life. That goes up to 15 hours with the charging case. All in all, that should be plenty for regular video-shooting scenarios. There’s also a magnetic attachment included in the package, so you can magnetize the transmitters, if you want. The receiver also comes with a built-in OLED touchscreen for added control. This package can record 48kHz 24-bit audio without compression, and it’s priced at $249 (down from $329).
Dive into the virtual world with one of the most advanced mixed reality headsets
Mixed reality headsets are getting more and more traction these days. They can change your perspective on gaming, basically, and could end up having more uses down the line. Nowadays, however, they’re mostly focused on gaming. That being said, the Meta Quest 3 is one of the best offerings on the market and it just fits in our price bracket here at $499. This offering on Amazon brings not only the headset itself, but also the Asgard’s Wrath 2 game with it. Other bundles are available too, however, and you can check them out on Amazon.
The Meta Quest 3 has double the processing power the Quest 2 offered, which offered a lot of new doors for the gadget. The 4K+ Infinite Display is set right in front of you, and proper audio too. Touch Plus controllers provide a lot more control, and a better feeling than ever before. There are also over 500 apps available for the device as we speak, ranging from games, fitness apps, entertainment ones, wellness apps, and so on. That library keeps on growing by the day, by the way.
The Meta Quest 3 offers up to 2.2 hours of usage on average, though you can extend that if you fire up the Battery Saver mode. Plenty of interesting games are available for this thing, and chances are most of you will opt to get it because of that factor. That’s why it can be a great gift for someone who wants to dabble in mixed reality headsets. This is one of the best on the market, and some games are really next level. Things will only get better from this point on. Games like Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR will really push things forward, and chances are many more like it will arrive in the next couple of years. Follow the link below to check out this bundle, and see what else is on offer, if this one doesn’t suit you.
Here are a couple of more products in this price bracket that you may like…
Sony PlayStation 5
One of the easiest recommendations at this price tier is the PlayStation 5. It’s a rather obvious one, so we’ve pushed it down to the ‘honorable mentions’ category. This console grants access to a ton of games, if whoever is using it is willing to pay for those games, of course. It’s the most popular gaming console in the market, and it comes with a single gamepad. As many of you know, the device comes in a standard white color with black accents, and includes rather powerful internals as well. You’ll get all the necessary cables here too. Sony’s gaming console costs $499.99.
If you know someone who needs a really great pair of truly wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM5 earphones fit the bill. These are some of the best truly wireless earbuds on the market, and they are now available for $298. They come in black and white colors, and do include noise cancelling too. Sony’s AI-based noise cancelling algorithm is great, and the ‘Speak-to-Chat’ option is also quite useful. Needless to say, these earbuds also offer quality build, and are a full package, basically.
The Cubii Go is the least techy product on this list, and yet it can be immensely useful for some. This is an under-desk elliptical. Why would anyone need it? Well, sitting at a desk for longer periods of time is not healthy, so if you can get your feet moving while you work on something, that is welcomed. Getting this elliptical, plus perhaps a standing desk, and a proper ergonomic chair can save you a lot of hassle down the road. The Cubii Go comes with an illuminated LCD display, and offers adjustable push resistance. It has built-in wheels too, and the same goes for a handle. The Cubii Go is priced at $279.99.
Google and Europe’s biggest carriers have called on the European Union to include Apple iMessage under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). If this happens, the app would be subject to interoperability rules.
While Apple said in September that iMessage isn’t big enough to be known as a gatekeeper service, the app has 45 million monthly active users within the EU. Rival companies argue iMessage should fall under the DMA as a gatekeeper service because it comes preinstalled on every iPhone sold in the EU and the rest of the world.
Apple iMessage could soon identify as a gatekeeper in the EU
Google, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica, and Orange have sent a letter to the European regulators and asked them to subject iMessage to interoperability rules. Falling under the interoperability rules means Apple should open up iMessage to third-party messaging services. Of course, the interoperability rules only apply to Apple in the EU. So the tech firm doesn’t have to allow for interoperability in the US, Asia, or other areas.
Google and Europe’s carriers noted that opening up iMessage to rival platforms would “benefit European consumers and businesses.” The letter claimed the current iMessage system limits the reach of business users to iOS users, and they should rely on SMS to reach non-iOS users.
The agency has already added Apple’s App Store, iOS, WhatsApp, and Messenger to the gatekeepers list. The eligible services need to have over 45 million monthly active users in the EU. The owner’s turnover in the region should also exceed 7.5 billion euros annually, or its market cap should surpass 75 billion euros. You can see the list of gatekeeper apps here.
Given the existing metrics, Apple iMessage should be added to the gatekeeper list. Meanwhile, the regulators have some doubts about the exact number of iMessage monthly active users in the region. Over 1 billion iPhones worldwide use iMessage, and the iPhone takes up 25% of the European smartphone market. Apple never released any report about iMessage monthly active users. However, it’s not far-fetched to assume the app potentially has over 45 monthly active users in the EU.
While the EU is still hesitant about adding iMessage to the gatekeepers list, Google has already prepared for it. The company added support for interoperable end-to-end encrypted communication standards in July.
