#WhatsApp is working on a call link feature within group chats.

Source | @InternationalInsider | @HubCollabs

#WhatsApp is rolling out a message draft feature.

Source | @InternationalInsider | @HubCollabs

The Internet Archive just lost its appeal over ebook lending

The Internet Archive lost its appeal to lend scanned ebooks without publisher approval. The Second Circuit Court ruled that the Archive's digital library could lead to widespread copying, harming creators' compensation. The case, filed by major publishers in 2020, stemmed from the Archive's Open Library and its expansion during the pandemic with the National Emergency Library, which allowed unlimited access to ebooks.

While the Archive argues it's defending library rights, the court sided with publishers, viewing the system as potential digital piracy. The Archive plans to continue defending its practices.

Source | @InternationalInsider @HubCollabs

Circle to Search could soon get an audio upgrade

Circle to Search is a feature on Android phones that allows users to search for information from any screen without losing progress in the base app. Google may upgrade it with an audio search feature, indicated by an "Audio search button" description in the code. This feature could allow users to search based on audio playing on their phones, different from the existing voice input via the mic icon. The feature is not live yet, and its functionality is still speculative.

Source | @InternationalInsider @HubCollabs

#TikTok silently launches Whee, an #Instagram-like mobile app

ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, has launched a new social app called Whee, similar to Instagram. Currently available on Android in select countries, Whee allows users to share real-life photos with close friends. This launch follows the recent introduction of TikTok Notes, another Instagram-inspired app. It's unclear why ByteDance launched Whee, as it overlaps with TikTok Notes, but it may be a soft-launch to test the market.

Source | @InternationalInsider @HubCollabs

#Gemini could be finally getting new voices

An APK teardown of the Google app beta reveals a potential new feature for Gemini: voice selection. This option, found in the "Voice" settings, allows users to choose preferred voices for speech responses, with Ruby and River as initial options. Currently, Gemini lacks this feature, unlike Google Assistant, which offers 12 voices.

Source | @InternationalInsider @HubCollabs

BeReal is being acquired by mobile apps and games company Voodoo for €500M

Voodoo, a French mobile apps and games publisher, has acquired BeReal for €500 million. BeReal co-founder and CEO Alexis Barreyat will leave after a transition period, with Aymeric Roffé, CEO of Voodoo’s app Wizz, taking over. BeReal, which gained popularity during the pandemic with over 40 million active users, has been struggling to grow and was seeking a buyer due to funding issues. Voodoo plans to enhance BeReal's growth and features using its expertise in mobile products. BeReal, known for promoting unfiltered, genuine connections, will benefit from Voodoo’s resources to sustain its mission and expand in key markets like the US, Japan, and France.

Source | @InternationalInsider @HubCollabs

#Microsoft’s new #Outlook security changes impact third-party apps and #Gmail integration

Microsoft is making several changes to Outlook for consumers to enhance security. Starting September 16th, Basic Authentication will no longer be supported for Outlook personal accounts, requiring users to switch to Modern Authentication. The light version of the Outlook web app will be removed on August 19th, and support for Gmail accounts in Outlook.com will end on June 30th. Affected users will need to update their email apps to support Modern Authentication, and Microsoft will contact them by the end of June. The latest versions of Outlook, Apple Mail, and Thunderbird will support these changes. Additionally, Microsoft is retiring the light version of the Outlook web app and updating browser and OS requirements for Outlook.com access.

Source | @InternationalInsider @HubCollabs

#Yahoo Mail is adding more #AI to simplify desktop email

Yahoo Mail is updating its desktop platform with new AI features to streamline email and task management. Key updates include AI-generated summaries of emails with bulleted task lists, a Priority inbox to highlight important messages, and quick action buttons for tasks like adding events to calendars or tracking packages. Users can also link Yahoo Mail with Gmail, Outlook, and AOL accounts. The updates are rolling out to new US users and existing US users on an opt-in basis, with mobile app integration planned for the future.

Source | @InternationalInsider @HubCollabs

#Nintendo Hits 127 Switch Piracy Tutorial Repos After ‘Cracking’ URL Encryption

A popular GitHub repository containing Nintendo Switch emulation tutorials was targeted by Nintendo due to DMCA violations, leading to the disabling of over 120 forks. The main repository survived by making necessary modifications. Despite using encoding to obfuscate links to circumventive tools, Nintendo identified and targeted these measures. The repositories provided access to cryptographic keys (prod.keys) that enabled users to bypass Nintendo's technological protection measures, facilitating piracy. GitHub found the anti-circumvention claim insufficient but upheld other claims, leading to the outcome described.

Source | @InternationalInsider @HubCollabs