by Here’s a roundup of the tech news you may have missed this week.
One WhatsApp account on multiple phones
Although late, you can finally use one WhatsApp account on multiple phones.
WhatsApp only allowed one device to be the “primary device” for an account, with the only other being remote use on a desktop or the WhatsApp web.
Similar to linking your account to the web version, a user can now scan a QR code to link the “extra” phone to the account.
It’s still recognized as a “linked device” on the primary phone, so you can disconnect it in case you lose your “extra” phone.
But be warned, if you think this is a way to log into your account entirely through another phone, you’re in for a disappointment.
If you ever lose your “primary device” for this account, please act quickly to prevent anyone from accessing your WhatsApp.
This is because “extra” phones can also be locked out of the account, much like using WhatsApp web.
There are several instances where a hacker has managed to take complete control of an account and successfully associate the account with your phone.
This resulted in the account owner being unable to access their data and losing all important information (or leaking information).
WhatsApp will roll out this update in the coming weeks.
Twitter and its blue checkmarks
It’s strange that not a week goes by without news on Twitter or Elon Musk.
This week, Twitter reportedly removed all blue verified checkmarks from all accounts on its service.
To have your account verified with a blue check, you’ll need to pay US$8 per month, and the account will also be labeled with “This account is verified because they’re signed up for Twitter Blue and have verified their phone number.”
For some reason, Elon Musk decided to give Twitter Blue some public figures who have openly stated that they will not pay for the service. And because of the etiquette that comes with being a subscriber to the service, it seems these public figures have backed down on their words.
Not only that, apparently even some dead celebrities have ended up having blue checks on their account.
This all sounds like a system rollback rather than Musk attempting to give them “free” Twitter Blue subscriptions, yet the label currently still claims they are “subscribed to Twitter Blue.”
UK blocks Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard
Microsoft had a tough job justifying its purchase of game publishing company Activision Blizzard.
While the company managed to convince the likes of Nintendo, Valve, and Nvidia, to name a few, not to make Activision Blizzard-published games exclusive to PC and Xbox, it still wasn’t enough for the UK to allow Microsoft to go ahead. with the purchase.
There were concerns in the UK about how the deal would affect customers and players. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK has expressed concern that the Microsoft-Activision deal could “result in higher prices, fewer choices or less innovation for UK gamers”.
“Our job is to make sure UK players aren’t caught in the crossfire of global deals which, over time, could harm competition and result in higher prices, fewer choices or less innovation,” said Martin Coleman, chairman of the CMA panel. .
This comes after attempts by the likes of Sony to block the deal. The company has even implied that Microsoft may be intentionally making Activision games like Call of Duty play worse on Sony’s PlayStation.
It was then revealed that Sony was just trying whatever it took to not go through with the deal, even after Microsoft’s many attempts to please its competitor.
Apple is working on an AI health coach for Apple Watch
Apple is reportedly working on an AI health coach for its Apple Watch series of smartwatches.
The Apple Watch can also double as a fitness band that tracks your running and health habits, just like Fitbit and Garmin smartwatches.
The AI will apparently use the health data collected by the Apple Watch to create personalized programs for exercise, diet and sleep.
The offer will reportedly require a subscription much like Fitbit and is expected to launch in 2024.
This comes after news of Apple reportedly working on a health-related journaling app.
Google will launch Pixel Fold soon
There have been a number of leaks regarding Google’s latest phone, the Pixel Fold, Google’s attempt to make a foldable phone.
The latest news is that it is expected to be announced in May and will be sold in June.
The reason this is exciting for tech junkies and foldable phone aficionados is because it will be the first phone on the market to run on (mostly) stock Android.
Every other foldable phone maker, like Samsung, had to modify the Android OS in some way to make it usable for their foldable phones.
How Google rolls out foldable phone options on its own could be the way forward in the future.
The phone’s specs aren’t that groundbreaking, considering it uses the same chip that powers Google’s Pixel 7.
Dominic loves technology and games. When he’s not busy water-cooling his computer parts, he does some wrestling.
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