9 Great Reads From CNET This Week: 'Infinite' VR, 2022 Smartwatches, Elden Ring and more

VR brings a third dimension to computing. Strap on a headset, and you're not just looking at something, you're surrounded by it. There's a real sense of depth and volume and immersion. You are as good as there.

One outstanding example of that is a virtual reality installation called The Infinite, which puts you inside the International Space Station and enables you to gaze down on Earth from orbit. CNET's Joan Solsman has tried it out, and has some thoughts, too, on how that sort of location-based VR compares with wearing an Oculus headset in your living room. She also talked with two astronauts who can attest to how vivid an experience The Infinite is: "When the lights came up in the film and around me was the space station that I remembered as my home, I wasn't ready," said Christina Koch. "I wasn't ready to have to say goodbye again."

Those stories are among the many in-depth features and thought-provoking commentaries that appeared on CNET this week. So here you go. These are the stories you don't want to miss.

Stepping into a massive, virtual International Space Station is like slipping into the ISS' living memory.

The ISS cupola window offers a glimpse of Earth with swirls of blue and white — Felix & Paul

A more durable Apple Watch, Google's long-rumored Pixel Watch and the first Wear OS Fitbit smartwatch might launch this year.

Apple Watch Series 7 — Lexy Savvides/CNET

Commentary: It makes no sense.

A scene from Elden Ring — FromSoftware / Namco Bandai Games

Location-based virtual reality fell derelict in the pandemic. Now, with in-person experiences reviving, it's where you'll touch the metaverse's future.

Scene from Ready Player One — Jaap Buitendijk

Loop is a DIY automated insulin delivery system with more customization and features than FDA-approved systems on the market.

The Loop app dashboard displaying pump and blood sugar data — Justin Eastzer/CNET

Commentary: I was sick of Wordle spinoffs, but I'll be devouring a Waffle every day.

The Wordle-like game Waffle — Wafflegame.net

Commentary: Mergers can come with price hikes, but $15 per month is already expensive enough.

The same quadcopters you can buy at Amazon are on the front lines of the battle for Ukraine.

AeroVironment

Yes, we can put sensors in clothes -- but there still isn't a great reason you can't use a smartwatch instead.

A person running down a sidewalk away from the camera, overlaid with graphics depicting health and fitness — Metamorworks / Getty Images

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9 Great Reads From CNET This Week: IOS 16, Metaverse, Ms. Marvel And More

9 Great Reads From CNET This Week: iOS 16, Metaverse, Ms. Marvel and More

9 Great Reads From CNET This Week: iOS 16, Metaverse, Ms. Marvel and More

This week brought us Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, when the maker of Macs and iPhones shares details of coming changes to the software that runs those and other devices. WWDC is on the geeky side, but it's also pretty clear what's in store for everyone who uses Apple products.

We found out, for instance, about iOS 16, coming to iPhones later this year with features like an updated lock screen heavy on customization; Apple Pay Later, which splits the cost of a purchase across four payments; and Safety Check, designed to help people at risk of abuse. We got a peek at MacOS Ventura, along with a redesigned MacBook Air and a 13-inch MacBook Pro, both of which will pack the new M2 chip. And we learned about WatchOS 9 and iPadOS 16, too.

Our stories about WWDC came to you among the many in-depth features and thought-provoking commentaries that also appeared on CNET this week. So here you go. These are the stories you don't want to miss.

Commentary: Apple's changes to the iPhone lock screen are a bigger deal than you think.

James Martin/CNET

Commentary: Moderating social media is hard. Moderating the metaverse will be harder.

A woman wearing a VR headset and holding controllers in a room lit up like a disco ball — Getty/Xinhua News Agency

As tech's reach grows, companies are taking on a new, very personal, set of issues.

Screenshot/CNET

Here's why people freeze in place and have waking nightmares.

A bed floating in midair — OsakaWayne Studios

The new MCU series about a Pakistani Muslim-American superhero shows just how far Hollywood has come.

Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, with mask and scarf, and hands on hips — Disney Plus

I don't recommend it.

A man sitting up with a sleeping bag wrapped around him — Ben White

Initial analysis of the samples from asteroid Ryugu show the rock could change our understanding of the early solar system.

A spacecraft with two large solar arrays touches down on a rocky gray surface — JAXA/Akihiro Ikeshita

Commentary: WatchOS 9's new running features could pair nicely with the rumored Apple Watch Explorer Edition.

Apple Watch Series 7 on a wrist — Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

Google, Apple, and Microsoft expect passkeys can completely replace passwords. Apple support arrives in iOS 16 and MacOS Ventura.

A dialog box on a Mac screen shows how passkey logon works — Apple

This story is part of WWDC 2022, CNET's complete coverage from and about Apple's annual developers conference.

What's happening

Apple's WatchOS 9 update will bring new athletic performance metrics to the Apple Watch, among other key improvements to health and fitness tracking.

Why it matters

The update could be setting the stage for the rumored rugged Apple Watch expected to debut this year.

What's next

Apple will launch WatchOS 9 in the fall, possibly alongside three new Apple Watch models.

If WatchOS 9 serves as any indication, the Apple Watch's future is all about health and fitness. That message was front and center in June when Apple unveiled the new software, which is now available in beta ahead of its fall launch.

The update will bring more sports-performance tracking metrics (especially for runners), deeper sleep monitoring and tools for logging medication. It's impossible to know what to expect until Apple announces its next smartwatch (or smartwatches). But WatchOS 9's focus on athletic training seemingly sets the stage for the rumored Apple Watch Explorer Edition, which we might see later this year.

Read more: This Stylish, Luxury Hybrid Watch (Almost) Made Me Ditch My Apple Watch

It also suggests Apple wants its smartwatch to appeal to pro athletes, casual exercise enthusiasts and those who need to monitor cardiac health all at the same time. The next crop of Apple Watches rumored for the fall will likely come with new hardware to better support that vision -- hopefully with better battery life, too.

WatchOS 9's workout features would be a great for an Explorer Edition Apple Watch

The Apple Watch Series 7 showing a workout screen — The Apple Watch Series 7
Lexy Savvides/CNET

Apple sprinkled a bunch of new workout tools and metrics throughout WatchOS 9. These include new running data points like stride length and ground contact time, the ability to track heart rate zones, interval training, a multisport workout type for triathlons and kickboard detection for swimmers. The announcement also comes after Apple made improvements to the Apple Watch's cycling detection last year.

Only Apple knows what's in store for the future. But it feels like no coincidence that this update is coming as Apple is expected to launch a rugged Apple Watch designed for extreme sports this fall. Bloomberg reports an Apple Watch with extra impact resistance similar to Casio's G-Shock watches could be in the works. The watch is sometimes referred to as the Explorer Edition internally and may have a rubberized casing for additional durability, the report said. The device would reportedly be marketed as an alternative option for athletes and hikers alongside the standard Series 8 and next-generation Apple Watch SE.

Read more: iOS 16's Lock Screen Upgrades Make the iPhone More Like a Smartwatch

The Apple Watch already has plenty to offer fitness buffs, with many workout choices, activity goals and reminders, heart rate notifications and metrics like VO2 max and elevation. But until WatchOS 9 arrives, the Apple Watch will lack running-specific features that athletes might find useful. Garmin's running watches, for example, include tools like training programs for specific types of races, pace guidance and running metrics like cadence and stride length, among other features that vary by the model.

The Apple Watch is already the world's most popular smartwatch with 36.1% of global shipments in the first quarter of 2022, according to Counterpoint Research. With the new measurements geared toward runners coming in WatchOS 9, Apple could further solidify its grip on the market by appealing to the more niche competitive sports audience.

Even with the new features in WatchOS 9, the Apple Watch still won't offer quite as much feedback for runners as some specialized watches. But the new software certainly brings the Apple Watch closer than ever before.

What else WatchOS 9 might tell us about the Apple Watch's future

Apple Watch Sleep tracking — The Apple Watch's new Sleep Stages feature in WatchOS 9
Screenshot/CNET

Apple's emphasis on fitness was at the heart of its WatchOS 9 announcement. But some of the software's other updates might also suggest Apple's future direction. For example, the company did more on sleep tracking by introducing Sleep Stages, a feature that analyzes the amount of time spent in various phases of slumber. Apple is playing catch-up in this regard; rival fitness trackers from Fitbit, Oura and Samsung have supported this feature for years.

Apple's expansion in sleep tracking indicates it expects Apple Watches to be worn overnight more frequently. That makes me believe Apple could be planning some type of improvement to the Apple Watch's battery life, although there's no way to know for sure until the company reveals its next watch.

Apple says its smartwatch can last for 18 hours on a single charge, and anecdotally I typically get about one to two days out of it before it needs a power boost. The Apple Watch's battery life hasn't changed meaningfully in years, but Apple has worked around this by implementing faster charging speeds with the Series 6 and 7.

Apple will likely continue down this path rather than dramatically improving the watch's battery life. But there's also a chance Apple could introduce a new low-power mode with more functionality than the watch's current power reserve feature, says Bloomberg. It was supposed to launch with WatchOS 9, according to the report, although Apple didn't mention a new low-power option during Monday's event.

Considering that battery life has been one of the Apple Watch's persistent criticisms -- and not to mention Bloomberg's reliable track record -- I wouldn't be surprised to see this capability arrive in the future. And remember: Apple introduced new WatchOS 8 features for cyclists alongside the Apple Watch Series 7 during its fall product event in 2021. So there's a chance Apple could have more software features to announce later this year.

WatchOS 9 also provides another signal that Apple is expanding its efforts in general health and wellness. A new feature called AFib History will allow those diagnosed with atrial fibrillation to access more information about their condition, such as an estimate of how often their heart rhythm is showing signs of A-fib. Another highlight in WatchOS 9 is the ability to track prescriptions and receive medication reminders.

These updates indicate Apple sees its watch as a tool for tracking bodily changes over time that can be shared with physicians. And if reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal prove accurate, Apple will take that idea a step further by adding a temperature sensor to the Series 8.

Many of the Apple Watch's major turning points have historically been tied to new hardware releases. The Series 3, for example, was the first model to support cellular connectivity, making the Apple Watch feel like a stand-alone product rather than an iPhone companion. The Series 4 brought ECG monitoring and fall detection, broadening the Apple Watch's role as a health device.

WatchOS 9 isn't as big of a leap forward as those launches. But it will bring functionality that could be crucial in Apple's mission to make the Apple Watch the ultimate health and fitness device. And that's very telling of Apple's immediate and long term plans for the Apple Watch.

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Not Sure If Your PC Is Compatible With Windows 11? Here's How To Check

Not sure if your PC is compatible with Windows 11? Here's how to check

Not sure if your PC is compatible with Windows 11? Here's how to check

Windows 11 dropped in October (here's our full Windows 11 review), and with it came significant compatibility questions. Uncertainty regarding compatibility has been common among PC users since this summer when Microsoft unveiled its first major Windows OS upgrade in six years. Fortunately, Windows 11 should work with most PCs, according to a company blog post. That said, though Windows 11's release date already came and went, certain compatible devices won't necessarily get the upgrade yet -- Microsoft set a target for mid-2022 before every Windows 10 device can download and install Windows 11.

Annoyingly, Microsoft's own tool for determining device compatibility -- the PC Health Check app -- wasn't up to par when Microsoft first announced Windows 11 (there were reports it didn't give people enough information about why their devices weren't compatible), so the company temporarily removed the app. But Microsoft's PC Health Check is now back online and in working order. The app will tell you if your computer meets the requirements to run Windows 11 -- and if your PC doesn't, the tool will tell you why and provide links for more support.

But that's not the only way to check if your device will work with the free Windows 11 update. Read on for all of your options for checking Windows 11 device compatibility. With the Windows 11 release date finally past (remember, however, that it'll be a staggered rollout), it's a good idea to check your own computer. If your device doesn't meet eligibility requirements, you may need to replace your PC by 2025 as Microsoft will phase out Windows 10 over the next several years.

Read more: Should you buy a new Windows laptop now, or wait for Windows 11?

Option 1: Use Microsoft's PC Health Check app to see if your computer can run Windows 11

Follow these steps to test whether your PC meets the system requirements for Windows 11.

1. Download Microsoft's PC Health Check. Open the file, agree to the terms of service and click Install. Make sure the box is checked that says Open PC Health Check, and click Finish.

2. The app home page that pops up says, "PC health at a glance." At the top, a box reads, "Introducing Windows 11." Click Check now.

If your machine isn't compatible, you'll get a message that says, "This PC doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements," with more information below.

If your machine is compatible, you can download the Windows 11 update for free. The official Windows 11 release date was Oct. 5, but Microsoft is planning a staggered rollout, and many devices will not see the upgrade until 2022.

Option 2: Try the WhyNotWin11 app to check Windows 11 compatibility

An open-source app called WhyNotWin11 is a good alternative to the PC Health Check app. The Github app, created by a developer not affiliated with Microsoft, has a less friendly interface, but it should give you more information and go into more detail about various potential compatibility issues. Here's more information from TechRadar on how to use it to determine your own device's compatibility with Windows 11.

Option 3: Check Microsoft's list of system specifications for Windows 11

To determine if your current PC will be able to run Windows 11, you can check out this list of system specifications on Microsoft's website, or in the chart below. If your machine is compatible, you can download the Windows 11 update for free when it becomes available.

What are the system requirements to run Windows 11?

Here's the full list of system requirements for Windows 11, including at least 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 720p display larger than 9 inches diagonally.

Windows 11 requirements

Spec	Requirement
Processor	1GHz or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip
RAM	4GB
Storage	64GB or larger storage device
System firmware	UEFI, Secure Boot-capable
TPM	Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
Graphics card	Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
Display	HD (720p) display greater than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per color channel
Internet connection and Microsoft account	For Windows 11 Home edition: internet connectivity; Microsoft account to complete device setup on first use. For all Windows 11 editions: Internet access to perform updates and to download and use some features; Microsoft account for some features

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Finished Your Wordle For The Day? Try These Puzzles Next

Wordle on first try wordle in 1 try better words for finished words that mean done or finished other words meaning finished finish your homework finish your champagne houston

Finished Your Wordle For the Day? Try These Puzzles Next

Finished Your Wordle For the Day? Try These Puzzles Next

If you're still playing Wordle and need even more puzzles to keep the mind ticking, there are a ton of games worth your time.

Wordle asks players to figure out a five-letter word in six or fewer guesses (get some tips here). After each guess, the game shows gray blocks for wrong letters, yellow blocks for right letters in the wrong spot and green blocks for right letters in the correct spot. It's addictive, but after you solve the daily puzzle or use up all your guesses, you have to wait until the next day to play again.

You've likely already learned some tips, tricks and lessons from the popular word game, so why not apply your newly honed problem-solving skills to other puzzles, too? After all, Wordle isn't the only game in town. Here are 24 other puzzle games to play.

Multiple word Wordle spinoffs: Quordle, Octordle, Dordle and Sedecordle

Are you up for a challenge? If you love Wordle and want a puzzle game that takes more brain power, you'll want to check out Quordle, Octordle, Dordle and Sedecordle. Each of these four word games look very similar to Wordle, but add more rows, columns and words to solve. Dordle requires you to solve two words at once. Quordle, four at once. Octordle, eight, and Sedecordle a whopping 16. Good luck.

You can play Quordle, Octordle, Dordle or Sedecordle on any web browser.

Word Master

This Wordle remake gives you six tries to guess a five-letter word but with a slight tweak. Word Master uses gray, yellow and green blocks in the same way as the original. How is it different from Wordle? Word Master offers unlimited games so you don't have to wait 24 hours.

You can play Word Master on any web browser.

Hello Wordl

Hello Wordl -- another Wordle remake -- gives you six tries to guess a word and uses the same colored blocks to track your progress. In addition to unlimited games, Hello Wordl also lets you change the number of letters in the word you're guessing. Guess a four-letter word or use the in-game slider to go all the way up to an 11-letter word. You still get six chances to guess no matter how long a word is, though.

You can play Hello Wordl on any web browser.

Lewdle

Before you play Lewdle, the game's content advisory reads, "Lewdle is a game about rude words. If you're likely to be offended by the use of profanity, vulgarity or obscenity, go play Wordle instead!" Translation: It's Wordle, but with bad words. The words range from mild -- like poopy -- to words that would make a sailor blush. However, despite the numerous bad words the game pulls from, slurs are not included. Like Wordle, you get six tries to guess a five-letter word; gray, yellow and green blocks are used in the same way; and there's only one puzzle per day. Go forth and let the bad words flow!

You can play Lewdle on any web browser.

Absurdle

Absurdle bills itself as the "adversarial version" of Wordle. While Wordle nudges you in the right direction with each guess, Absurdle "is actively trying to avoid giving you the answer," according to the game's website. Absurdle doesn't pick a word at the beginning of the game for the player to guess. Instead it uses the player's guesses to narrow its list of words down in an effort to make the game go as long as possible. The final word might not even include a yellow letter from one of your earlier guesses either. You can guess as many times as you want, which is helpful, and the best score you can get is four guesses. Have fun!

You can play Absurdle on any web browser.

Crosswordle

Sure, Wordle is fun, but what if there was a crossword element to it? Enter Crosswordle. In this Wordle-inspired game, you have to figure out two words of varying lengths that intersect with each other like a crossword puzzle. The gray, yellow and green color blocks are the same, and there's one puzzle a day. However, it looks like you can guess as many times as you want until you either get the words or give up. Unlike other Wordle-based games, Crosswordle lets you create your own custom Crosswordle puzzle to share with your friends. Here's one I made. If Crosswordle wasn't hard enough, the Settings page shows the developers are working on a Hard Mode.

You can play Crosswordle on any web browser.

Antiwordle

Tired of seeing those green blocks plastered all over your social media feed? Give Antiwordle a shot. Where Wordle wants you to guess a word every day in as few tries as possible, Antiwordle wants you to avoid the word by guessing as many times as possible. When you guess, letters will turn gray, yellow or red. Gray means the letter isn't in the word and can't be used again, yellow means the letter is in the word and must be included in each subsequent guess and red means the letter is in the exact position within the word and is locked in place. If you can use every letter on the keyboard and not get the word right, you win. It sounds easy, but I've found this version of Wordle to be much harder than the original.

You can play Antiwordle on any web browser.

Lordle of the Rings

Lordle of the Rings is for the Tolkien fan who wants in on the Wordle fun. The gray, yellow and green blocks are here, and players have six tries to guess a five-letter word from the main Lord of the Rings text. Possible guesses include places like Rohan, well-known characters like Frodo and Smaug and lesser known characters like Turin, Hurin and Idril. There's only one puzzle a day, but you can play that puzzle more than once in the same day if you want.

You can play Lordle of the Rings on any web browser.

Primel

If you are more of a numbers person, Primel is for you. In this game, you get six tries to guess a five-digit prime number. The gray, yellow and green color blocks are back, and you only get one puzzle a day. What makes this game even more frustrating though is the game only accepts prime numbers as guesses, so that alone is difficult. Throw in the Wordle aspect and you're sure to be scratching your head.

You can play Primel on any web browser.

Nerdle

Nerdle is another option for people who are more into numbers. This time though you have to guess the math equation and solution. You get six chances to guess the equation and solution, and the equation must be mathematically sound, too, so don't forget PEMDAS. After each guess, numbers or symbols that are in the correct spot will be green; numbers or symbols in the wrong place in the equation will be purple; numbers or symbols not in the equation will be black. After you finish one puzzle, you have to wait eight hours before the next one. Here's a hint: The "=" sign is always in the puzzle. You can thank us later.

You can play Nerdle on any web browser.

IYKYK

IYKYK is a combination of Wordle and the card game #CultureTags and was made by the same team behind #CultureTags, too. In this game, you are given an acronym and have to figure out the acronym in three guesses or less. You are given the first letter of each word, how many letters are in each word and a hint after your second guess, and the green, yellow and gray blocks make an appearance here, too. While this game is based off #CultureTags, the acronyms used in that game aren't repeated in IYKYK.

You can play IYKYK on any web browser.

Worldle

Don't like words or numbers? Give Worldle a shot. This geography-based Wordle spinoff gives you six tries to guess what country or territory is shown. Instead of gray, yellow and green blocks marking letters or numbers after each guess, you see distance, direction and proximity percentage, like a game of hot and cold. For example, if you guess Chile, Worldle might show you 13,557 kilometers and an arrow pointing northeast with 32%. This means the correct country or territory is 13,557 km to the northeast of Chile and there is a 32% proximity rate. Translation: You're cold. There's only one puzzle a day, and there are options to make the game harder by either not showing the country or rotating the country shown randomly.

You can play Worldle on any web browser.

Heardle

Can you guess a song just from listening to the first few seconds? Heardle is for you. In this game, a song is chosen from a list of popularly streamed artists, one second of the song is played and you have to name the song. You have six guesses, and more of the song is unlocked with each wrong guess. You can skip a turn, too, and that also unlocks more of the song. Once you've solved or missed the puzzle, a timer will show how long until the next puzzle.

You can play Heardle on any web browser.

Name That Ride

Are you a gearhead who can tell the difference between a '55 and a '57 Chevy Bel Air? You should try Name That Ride. In this game, you have 20 seconds and six guesses to name the vehicle in the picture, as more of the image reveals itself. When you think you know what vehicle is in the picture, you click Guess -- which pauses the timer -- and type in your answer. There's a preset list of cars, so even if you aren't sure of a car's year, you can make an educated guess.

You can play Name That Ride on any web browser.

Lookdle

Lookdle is similar to Name That Ride, but this game has you guess which famous person is shown in a pixelated picture. You get five guesses, and with each wrong guess the picture comes more into focus. There is also a preset list of names you can choose from, but the list doesn't have every famous person in it. That can be good since it narrows down who can be in each picture, or it can be bad because who you think is in the picture might not be an option.

You can play Lookdle on any web browser.

Framed

If you know what movie is showing by seeing a few frames, then give Framed a try. In this game, you have to guess the name of a movie from a series of frames. You have six guesses, and with each wrong guess you are shown a new frame from the movie. You can click back through the frames to re-examine them as well. In my experience, the frames go from pretty innocuous to more specific. Like other games on this list, there is a preset list of movies to guess from which could help narrow down what the movie is without using a guess.

You can play Framed on any web browser.

Words With Friends

What kind of list of word games would this be without this classic? Words With Friends plays like a virtual game of Scrabble and is still popular more than a decade after its original launch. You and your opponent, either another person or the computer, get letters and make words on the board for points and whoever has the most points at the end wins.

You can download Words With Friends from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or play it in any web browser.

Word Forward

Word Forward is like Boggle but with power-ups and tools to help you. You play on a five-by-five board of letters and try to make words with those letters. When you make a word, the used letters vanish. You keep going until you clear the board. If you get stuck, you can use your power-ups and tools to eliminate some letters or jumble the board to replace the letters with new ones.

You can buy Word Forward in the App Store, the Play Store, the Nintendo Game Store for the Nintendo Switch or on Steam.

Wordscapes

Wordscapes is a mix between Boggle and a crossword puzzle. You are given a bank of letters at the bottom of your screen and there's a crossword puzzle at the top. You make words with the letters in your bank and fill out the crossword with them. Once you complete the puzzle, you're rewarded with a nice landscape picture.

You can download Wordscapes from the App Store or the Play Store.

Kitty Letter

Kitty Letter is a word game from the creators behind The Oatmeal and Exploding Kittens. In the game, you unscramble letters to make words which then turn into armies of cats. What do the cats do? They attack either the player or computer you are playing against, as well as defend your home. It's an absurd tower defense game where your words create legions of cats willing to fight on your behalf.

You can download Kitty Letter from the App Store or the Play Store.

SpellTower

In SpellTower, letters rise from the bottom of the screen and you have to assemble words as quickly as possible. Each word you make eliminates the used letters, and if any letter reaches the top of your screen the game ends. It's like Tetris in that regard. There are also 10 other game modes, including Search Mode, where you try to find the longest word using specific letters.

You can download SpellTower from the App Store or the Play Store. You can also get it on Apple Arcade -- there's a subscription fee for the service, but you'll get this and other games ad-free and with in-app purchases already unlocked.

For more word game fun, check out CNET's Wordle tips, the best Wordle jokes and how to play past Wordle puzzles. If you haven't downloaded Wordle yet, here's how you can do it today.

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WhatsApp Status: Everything You Need To Know About The Snapchat Clone

WhatsApp Status: Everything you need to know about the Snapchat clone

WhatsApp Status: Everything you need to know about the Snapchat clone

WhatsApp is rolling out a new Status feature to all users. Instead of the text-only status that lets people know whether you're busy or available to chat, the new Status feature uses photos, text, emojis and sketches to show what you're doing. If that sounds familiar, it could be because it appears to be inspired by Snapchat.

And unlike Snapchat and Instagram, WhatsApp can protect your Status updates with end-to-end encryption.

Here's what you need to know about the new feature.

When will I get the Status feature?

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

When your account gets access to Status, you won't have to download or install an app update from the App Store or Play Store -- it'll just show up.

You'll know if you have access to Status on iOS when the Contacts tab gets replaced with a camera icon (see photo above), and the far-left tab reads "Status." Android users will see a new Camera icon to the left of the Chats tab, next to a new Status tab.

Who can see my Status?

WhatsApp includes privacy settings, giving you complete control over who sees your Status. By default, only your contacts can view your Status, but the privacy settings let you change that.

With the Status tab selected on an iPhone, tap on Privacy. Android users, tap the menu button > Status Privacy.

You are given three options:

My Contacts: All of your WhatsApp contacts can view your Status.
My Contacts Except...: Select the people you don't want to show your Status to. This still shares your Status with the rest of your Contact list.
Only Share With..: Select only with the contacts you want to show your Status to.

If you change your privacy settings after uploading a Status, keep in mind the new settings will only impact future updates.

Viewing your friends' Statuses is a lot like Snapchat

If you already use Snapchat Stories or Instagram Stories, then you'll feel right at home with Status. Here are the basics:

To view a Status uploaded by your friend, open the Status tab. A list of friends who've shared a Status will fill in.
Touch the screen to pause a Status, giving you more time to view it, tap to skip through a Status, or swipe left to go to the next person.
Swipe up on a status to reply to the the Status you are currently viewing.

...And so is updating your Status

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

WhatsApp Status includes all the familiar features of Snapchat and Instagram Stories -- stickers, text captions, drawings and more. Here's how to update your Status:

To add a photo or video to your WhatsApp Status, open the app and tap the camera icon. Take a photo or video, or pick one from your camera roll.
You can draw, write and place emojis on the photo. There's also an option to add a caption that will be shown on the bottom of the photo or video as your contacts watch it.
Finally, tap the paper airplane icon. You can either send your Status directly to a friend, as a photo or video within a conversation thread, or you can tap My Status at the top of the list to update your Status.

Videos can go longer than 10 seconds

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Instead of limiting your video status updates to just 10 seconds (like Snapchat), videos you record and share as a Status can be as long as 45 seconds.

And you can upload GIFs!

In the year 2017, supporting animated images, or GIFs, in an app is a requirement. As such, WhatsApp Status will accept GIFs you've saved to your camera roll or photos app. Select a GIF, trim it down if you need to, and share just as you would a regular, boring, photo or video.

Your Status will remain active for 24 hours, after which it disappears.

Sadly, there doesn't appear to be a way to save a Status to your phone. Whatever you capture and create in WhatsApp is limited to WhatsApp.

Find out who's viewing your Status

A view counter is placed at the bottom of your screen, showing you how many people have watched or looked at your status. You can swipe up on the screen to view a list of contact names who have viewed your Status.

You can get away with screenshots

Unlike Snapchat, WhatsApp does not alert you when a contact takes a screenshot of your Status. In other words, be conscious of exactly what you are sharing to your Status, just because it disappears from your Status after 24 hours doesn't mean no one saved a copy.

Check out our complete guide to Instagram Stories.

Snapchat's Spectacles are now available for purchase online. Here's our review.

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Top 10 Good Reads