Facebook-owned WhatsApp launches new WhatsApp Business app
Facebook-owned WhatsApp launches new WhatsApp Business app
WhatsApp is king of the messenger apps, with over a billion daily users. Now, the Facebook-owned company looks to better expand its reach to businesses.
WhatsApp Business is a free Android app released Thursday in the US, UK, Mexico, Italy and Indonesia, with more countries coming soon. WhatsApp did not state when or if an iOS version would be available.
The app is for businesses to download -- the customer side will be integrated into the existing WhatsApp app. Business has a suite of features that makes it easier for small businesses to communicate with customers, including the ability to get verified business profiles, set up frequently asked questions, a quick reply feature and more. It'll also have desktop support.
WhatsApp Business could be a big boon in developing nations, where more informal platforms, like WhatsApp, are used by small businesses to advertise, liaise and sell to customers. WhatsApp, pointing to a study done by Morning Consult, said over 80 percent of small businesses in India and Brazil use the app to help them grow their businesses.
WhatsApp is the second biggest messanging app in the world -- second only to Facebook Messenger, which had 1.2 billion users as of late April.
WhatsApp has been contacted for information on when an iOS app will be released.
NVIDIA's new GPU is better than the Titan X and $500 cheaper
NVIDIA's new GPU is better than the Titan X and $500 cheaper
NVIDIA's GTX 1080 is no longer the king of the GPU mountain. That honour is now the company's newest graphics card, the GTX 1080 Ti.
Announced at a GDC press conference on Wednesday in San Francisco, the $700 1080 Ti is 35 percent more powerful than the GTX 1080, says NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang.
It comes with 11GB of GDDR5X memory, and with 11GB of frame buffering it is designed for 4K gaming. In fact, Huang reassured his audience that they could play Watch Dogs 2 in 5K -- that's 5,120×2,880 -- using the GPU.
Most impressively, the company claims the 1080 Ti is more powerful than the Titan X, a $1,200 GPU developed for AI and deep learning. Like the Titan X, the 1080 Ti use 3,584 of NVIDIA's CUDA cores. The GTX 1080, by comparison, has 8GB of memory and 2,560 CUDA cores.
Huang also announced at the conference that the 1080 was getting a price drop down to $500.
The GTX 1080 Ti will be available from March 10 for $700. No international pricing has been announced, but that converts to AU$915 and £565.
iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 upgrade checklist: Here's how to get your iPhone and iPad ready
iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 upgrade checklist: Here's how to get your iPhone and iPad ready
Apple's iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 updates for the iPhone ($500 at Best Buy) and iPad ($176 at Amazon) are brimming with important and useful new features, from a new app library and widgets on your home screen to tighter privacy features and iMessage improvements. But before you install iOS 14 and iPad 14, there's a bit of basic housekeeping you should do to make the update to your iPhone and iPad go as smoothly as possible. We lay out everything you need to know, including a checklist of how to get your phone or tablet ready.
Which devices will support iOS 14 and iPadOS?
If you have a compatible device, you should be able to see you have an update available by going to Settings > General > Software Update. But, don't tap Install Now quite yet.
Devices that will support iOS 14, iPadOS 14
Phone 11
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
iPhone 11 Pro
iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
iPhone XS
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
iPhone XS Max
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
iPhone XR
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)
iPhone X
iPad Pro 10.5-inch
iPhone 8
iPad Pro 9.7-inch
iPhone 8 Plus
iPad (7th generation)
iPhone 7
iPad (6th generation)
iPhone 7 Plus
iPad (5th generation)
iPhone 6s
iPad Mini (5th generation)
iPhone 6s Plus
iPad Mini 4
iPhone SE (1st generation)
iPad Air (3rd generation)
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPad Air 2
iPod Touch (7th generation)
Don't skip this step: Clear out the clutter
When it comes time to update software or upgrade your phone, take a few minutes to go through and delete what photos and apps you don't want or need from your camera roll and installed apps.
Our phones are a digital junk drawer of sorts, collecting random screenshots, photos, videos and single-use apps. Taking a few minutes to clear it out helps free up storage, shortens the amount of time you'll spend waiting for it to backup, and even saves you some cash if you're paying for extra iCloud storage just to keep it backed up.
Delete those apps you know you'll never use again.
Jason Cipriani/CNET
Create a fresh backup, it's important
If you can help it, you should never update your iPhone or iPad without a current backup. Updates aren't a perfect process, and sometimes things go wrong. The last thing you want to happen is an update to fail, then you're left setting up your phone as brand new. Nobody wants that.
It's best to do this step right before you start the update process, that way the information stored in your backup is as current as possible.
You can backup your devices using iCloud, using Finder on Mac, or iTunes on a PC. iCloud is by far the easiest method, simply because it's built into your device and only requires a Wi-Fi connection. That said, if you're out of iCloud storage space or prefer to have more control over your device backup, then you can use your computer.
iCloud backup is the easiest method.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Option 1: Use iCloud backup
If you have iCloud backup turned on, your device should be backing up each night while it's charging and connected to Wi-Fi. However, you can force a backup at any time by going to Settings > tap on your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back up now.
Speed up the process by plugging your phone or tablet in to a charger and connecting it to a Wi-Fi network to prevent mobile data use and killing your battery in the process.
Finder looks just like iTunes when your iOS device is connected.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Option 2: Backup on a Mac
If it's been awhile since you've backed up your device using a Mac, the process has changed. With the death of iTunes last year, you'll now have to use Finder to create a backup.
I have a guide detailing the entire process, which truly isn't all that different than the old iTunes-based method.
It distills down to connecting your device to your Mac, opening it in Finder and then clicking a couple of boxes to start a backup.
Make sure to encrypt the backup to make the restoration process so much easier.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Option 3: Backup on a PC
Use Windows? You can still use iTunes, just like you always have, to back up your mobile Apple devices.
Before you start, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed. The easiest way to do that is just to open it, and if you see a prompt to update it, then do follow the steps.
With that done, connect your device to iTunes using a Lightning or USB-C cable. The rest of the process consists of selecting your device in the iTunes interface and starting a backup. We have outlined all of the steps in this post, but let me make one more recommendation: Click the box that says you want to Encrypt your local backup. Doing so will backup all of your email accounts and app passwords, saving you from having to enter those whenever you have to restore your phone.
Now that you have your phone backed up and all of the random junk and clutter removed, install iOS 14 or iPadOS 14. Once it's installed, check out some of our favorite features, including the new homescreen that includes widgets -- that you can customize.
New Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl patch fixes softlocks and other bugs
New Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl patch fixes softlocks and other bugs
A new update is now live for Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, fixing a variety of bugs and other gameplay issues in the recently released Nintendo Switch games.
According to the patch notes on Nintendo's support website, the version 1.1.2 update resolves some issues that could cause players to get "softlocked," preventing them from progressing. The update also fixes an assortment of unspecified bugs "for more pleasant gameplay." You can read the full patch notes below.
This marks the second update Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have received since they launched last month, and more are on the way. According to Nintendo, a future patch will increase the maximum number of players who can join the Union Room locally and online, while another update will enable link trades at the Global Wonder Station in Jubilife City.
Nintendo has also confirmed that Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl support will be added to Pokemon Home sometime in 2022. Once live, this will allow players to transfer Pokemon they've caught in Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl to the cloud storage service.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl launched on Nov. 19. Everyone who picks up a copy of either title before Feb. 21 can receive two early purchase bonuses: a free Manaphy egg and a Pokemon Platinum trainer outfit. Players who have data for certain other Pokemon games on their Switch can also receive a free Mew and Jirachi.
Fixed some issues that would prevent the game from progressing under certain circumstances.
Some issues have also been fixed for more pleasant gameplay.
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Samsung's Next Metaverse Move Is a Roblox Game
Samsung's Next Metaverse Move Is a Roblox Game
What is a metaverse again? Maybe, just a game. Samsung's newest "metaverse" move is a game on Roblox, called Samsung Space Tycoon. Its mission? Collect virtual Samsung products.
Samsung used to make VR headsets for its phones and has been quiet on the smart glasses front for now. Instead, the company's metaverse aspirations have largely been marketing efforts in virtual worlds. Samsung created an event space in Decentraland for its last Unpacked product event. Samsung Space Tycoon looks like it's aiming for a younger crowd.
According to Samsung's press release, the game's aiming at Gen-Z with its game, which has collectible product-themed virtual accessories to grab. This isn't Samsung's first partnership with Roblox -- the company hosted a Roblox concert with Charli XCX earlier this year in Samsung Superstar Galaxy.
Samsung Space Tycoon has a Mining Zone where ingredients are found, which can then be combined to make products in a Lab Zone. There are virtual phones, TVs, watches and other virtual items that can transform into gadgets. Apparently, a Z-Flip phone can turn into a scooter for your avatar, and a TV can turn into a helicopter.
Samsung's expected to have another Unpacked product event later this summer to announce its next phones.
According to Samsung's Jinsoo Kim, the whole game is designed to "give our Gen Z customers a chance to experience Samsung products in a way they have never done before." It's an interactive social ad space. So was Samsung's Decentraland space. But both are, notably, virtual worlds largely living outside of VR. Whether Samsung decides to extend its metaverse marketing efforts to VR or AR remains to be seen.
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Samsung's next Unpacked event is today -- here's how you can watch it live -- and we're expecting to see a couple new foldable phones. Samsung's trailer for the event shows off what could be the rumored Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Although the Galaxy Z Flip and Fold 4 are both foldable phones, they differ in many ways. The most noticeable difference is that the Z Fold bends like a book, while the Z Flip folds vertically. Last year's Z Flip 3 was dubbed the "most normal foldable available," by CNET's Patrick Holland, and the upcoming Z Flip 4 will probably bring some welcome upgrades and refinements.
Read more: Samsung Unpacked Live Blog: Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4 Reveals To Come
We're collecting all the rumors regarding the Galaxy Z Flip 4's release date, price, new features and specs, and will be updating this story as new information becomes available. Here's what we've heard so far. Just note that, since these are rumors, none of the specs have been confirmed by Samsung.
But to encourage people to reserve their phones early, from July 19 until Aug. 10, Samsung is offering an extensive list of discounts based on different bundles, from a maximum of $200 off for those reserving a Galaxy phone, watch and buds down to a minimum of $30 off for just reserving Galaxy buds. While this could be a hint of what's coming at Unpacked, the savings could apply to older Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Buds models.
Release date: Will we see the Galaxy Z Flip 4 on Aug. 10?
Following rumors about an August Unpacked from tipster Evan Blass, Samsung confirmed that it will hold an event on Aug. 10, 2022. It's still unclear what exactly will be announced at the company's upcoming event, but Samsung's invitation and trailer shows what appears to be a new version of the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip.
Looking at the history of the foldable phone (and that of its Galaxy Z Fold sibling), we can broadly deduce when to expect the new device.
The Galaxy Z Flip's launches don't appear to follow a specific pattern, as the original was announced in February 2020 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 was released in August 2021. However, Samsung seems to have buddied the device with the Galaxy Z Fold, which is why the Z Flip jumped from version 1 to 3 -- to match the naming convention of the Z Fold.
The 2019 Galaxy Fold and 2020 Z Fold 2 were released in September, while the Z Fold 3 debuted in August 2021. If Samsung plans on releasing the phones as a pair, we can likely expect the Galaxy Z Flip 4 in August or September alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which aligns with the upcoming event date.
Price: The Galaxy Z Flip 4 could be less expensive
We haven't yet heard much in terms of the Galaxy Z Flip 4's possible price. But, we can look to rumors about the Galaxy Z Fold 4 for hints.
A Korean leaker who goes by the handle yeux1122 suggests the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 4 will cost less than the Z Fold 3. (Leaker yeux1122 doesn't have much of a track record compared to others. MacRumors reported in February that they correctly guessed the iPad Mini 6's release time frame, but were incorrect about the tablet's screen size.) Although the tipster didn't provide any further detail, that speculation aligns with the phone's price history. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 ($1,800) got a price drop compared to the Fold 2 ($2,000). The price of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 was slashed last year as well to $1,000 from $1,380 for the original Z Flip.
Read more:Here's One Feature Samsung Could Use to One-Up Apple
With that in mind, it's within the realm of possibility for Samsung to decrease the cost of the Z Flip 4. But, like every other rumor, we won't know for sure until the company announces the device.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Flip 3, shown above, may look similar.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Design: Larger cover screen and a new hinge
Rumors about the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 4's display suggest Samsung's making a few small tweaks rather than large sweeping upgrades. According to Korean news site The Elec, the Z Flip 4 will retain the 6.7-inch internal foldable display of the Z Flip 3, but the external cover screen will slightly increase from 1.83 to 1.9 inches. Ross Young, co-founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, however, believes that the cover display could increase further to 2 inches.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3's cover screen, the display on the outside when the phone is closed, is four times larger than that of the original Z Flip, and Holland lauded the move as a "step in the right direction." A slightly bigger cover screen could make reading notifications and swiping widgets a little easier.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 may also get a redesigned hinge. That is, according to leaker Ice Universe. The new hinge, which is also shown in leaked images of the foldable phone posted by Blass, would be thinner than those on the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and may give the phone's an overall slimmer design.
The Galaxy Z Flip's rumored extendable display.
LetsGoDigital
According to a patent Samsung filed with the World Intellectual Property Office, however, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 may get more than just a new cover screen and hinge. The patent, as Dutch blog LetsGoDigital reported in March, shows a Galaxy Z Flip that has both a foldable and extendable screen that can be pulled out to create a display that is twice as large.
Read more:Galaxy Watch 5: Every Noteworthy Rumor Ahead of Samsung Unpacked
Cameras: Rotating lenses?
Samsung didn't upgrade the camera hardware for the Galaxy Z Flip 3, but the upcoming Z Flip 4 may offer some improvements. If rumors are to be believed, the new foldable will offer a rotating camera and a better under-display camera.
Samsung filed another patent application with the World Intellectual Property Office for a clamshell phone sporting a rotating camera, as LetsGoDigital reported in 2021. The camera, which lives on the foldable's hinge, has two lenses and can pivot to be used when the phone is closed, open or at different angles in between. This means the camera could take selfies and meet other photography needs.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4's rumored rotating camera.
LetsGoDigital
Although a one-size-fits-all camera sounds neat, it may also cause the foldable's hinge to be significantly larger, making the phone itself bigger and bulkier.
Additional rumors from Korean leaker yeux1122, suggest Samsung has tested versions of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 with an improved under-display camera that can be used on the cover screen, too. However, the company is also rumored to have tested versions of the phone with a perforated, punch-hole cutout display.
Read more: Samsung, the Galaxy Z Fold and Flip Could Be Even Better
Other rumored specs and features
Here's everything else we've heard about Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 4's specifications and potential new features.
Battery
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 may have a larger battery capacity than its predecessor. According to leaker Ice Universe, Samsung's upcoming foldable phone could sport a 3,700-mAh battery. That's 400 mAh larger than last year's Galaxy Z Flip 3.
Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip
Rumors from Ice Universe also suggest that the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 may both run on the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip. The new chip would give the foldables a performance boost over the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold 3 which run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888.
Color options
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is rumored to come in four colors, including blue, black, cream and a lavender option said to be called Bora Purple, according to supposed renders posted by MySmartPrice.
We still have some time until the Galaxy Z Flip 4's possible reveal, but we have some helpful information to check out while you wait. You can read up on rumors about the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and CNET's reviews of Samsung's flagship phones, the Galaxy S22 and S22 Ultra. You can also check out how to save up to $200 on Samsung's new foldables before they even launch.
Have an Android phone that needs tweaking? Take a look at these settings to change and how to clear your browser cache. More of an Apple fan? We're collecting iPhone 14 rumors, too.
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Xiaomi's Redmi Note 9 features 48 megapixel quad-camera for $199
Xiaomi's Redmi Note 9 features 48 megapixel quad-camera for $199
Xiaomi, the fourth-largest phone maker in the world, announced its Redmi Note 9 smartphone at an online launch event Thursday. The Note 9 includes a new design and slew of new features for $199 to $249, depending on storage. This follows the unveiling of the Redmi Note 9S in March.
Arguably the biggest draw of the Redmi Note 9 is its rear quad-camera, which includes a 48-megapixel main camera and another with a 118-degree wide angle lens. The phone also features a 13 megapixel front-facing camera, 18-watt charging and a 5020 mAh battery that the company says can last for two days.
The Note 9 will come in two variations: one with 64GB of memory and 3GB of RAM, and one with 128GB and 4GB. The prices will be $199 and $249, respectively. Xiaomi didn't announce a release date.
Xiaomi didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Hailee Steinfeld finally confirms she's in the new Marvel Hawkeye series
Hailee Steinfeld finally confirms she's in the new Marvel Hawkeye series
It's finally official: Hailee Steinfeld is playing Kate Bishop in Marvel's Disney Plus Hawkeye series. The actor tweeted the confirmation, after a series of set photos showing her in the young archer's signature purple costume made the rounds online, removing any surprise to the announcement.
"Incredibly excited to officially share this with the world..." Steinfeld tweeted Thursday, her announcement coinciding with Disney's massive investor presentation, where new Marvel movies and release dates for Disney Plus series were revealed.
Steinfeld initially denied being cast as Kate Bishop, who's set to take over the Hawkeye mantle from Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton. But the string of set photos pretty much let the cat out of the bag.
Here's another look at Steinfeld on the Hawkeye set, captured earlier this week.
Hailee Steinfeld on the set of Hawkeye on Dec. 8 in New York City.
Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
It's been a busy time for Hawkeye news. On the casting front, Florence Pugh (from Black Widow), Vera Farmiga, Tony Dalton, Fra Free, Alaqua Cox and Zahn McClarnon were announced as cast members last week. Farmiga (The Conjuring, Bates Motel) will reportedly play Kate's mother, Eleanor Bishop.
Renner joined the picture party, posting last week on Instagram a snap of himself, Steinfeld and Lucky the Pizza Dog, aka Kate Bishop's canine sidekick, strolling around New York City.
Earlier the same day, Twitter user cosmic brought us a similar look at Steinfeld, Pizza Dog and Renner.
Steinfeld resembles Jessica Jones more than Kate Bishop here, but XRealm Matthewstweeted pictures from what appears to be a Brooklyn subway set, featuring Steinfeld in Bishop's signature purple.
Renner, aka the original Hawkeye from The Avengers movies, confirmed shooting had begun with a snap of his Clint Barton-labeled chair on set. "Ms Bishop ... we need you!" he posted last week on Instagram. Thanks to a video and not-so-clear images (both via Murphy's Multiverse), we already knew filming had been underway.
But let's focus on the real star of the show. Lucky the Pizza Dog leads the way in the subway, pulling Steinfeld along by his (or her) leash.
Who is Pizza Dog? Pizza Dog is a character in the comics, first appearing when Barton saves him. The golden retriever's tags reveal his name to be Arrow, but Clint renames him Lucky. An issue devoted entirely to Lucky's point of view reveals he calls himself Pizza Dog, simply because of his love of a New York slice.
Add Pizza Dog to the list of greatest Marvel characters you've never heard of. He was revealed to be in the series via concept art from a 12-minute Disney Plus featurette called Marvel Studios: Expanding the Universe that was released in mid-November.
Lucky the Pizza Dog!
Marvel
If you weren't excited for the new series, expected to arrive on Disney Plus in fall, 2021, an adorable pup should be a draw. Otherwise, tune in to see Kate Bishop take over the mantle of Hawkeye under the tutorage of master archer Clint Barton.
