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Tag: beta

  • Apple Preps for Stable iOS 26.3 Update as iOS 26.4 Beta 2 Launches: No Siri Overhaul, but Exciting New Features Await

    Apple Preps for Stable iOS 26.3 Update as iOS 26.4 Beta 2 Launches: No Siri Overhaul, but Exciting New Features Await

    Upcoming iOS Updates to Include Minor Improvements

    Apple users who are currently using stable iOS 26.3 might have noticed that a minor update, iOS 26.3.1, is currently under testing. This update is projected to roll out within the next fortnight. Primarily, it’s expected to be a minor adjustment aimed at rectifying a bug or patching a potential software vulnerability.

    The release of iOS 26.3.1 might coincide with the launch of the lower-priced iPhone 17e model, which is expected to hit the market during the first week of March. In anticipation of the release of some Siri 2.0 features in iOS 26.4, as previously stated by Apple, some iPhone users installed iOS 26.4 Beta 1 in hopes of getting an early preview of an enhanced Siri. However, this move was unfruitful as Apple launched iOS 26.4 Beta 1 without any Siri AI improvements.

    Regrettably, I was one of the iPhone users who installed iOS 26.4 Beta 1 only to find that the advancements to Siri 2.0 had been delayed. The expectation now is that some of the new features for Siri will be introduced with iOS 26.5, which is due in May. The significant upgrade to Siri that will transform the digital assistant into a chatbot akin to ChatGPT and Gemini, however, is expected to land later in the year with the release of iOS 27 in September.

    The Playlist Playground

    The next stable update, iOS 26.4, is projected to arrive in late March or early April. Despite the likely absence of major changes to Siri, this update will introduce some exciting features like the Playlist Playground, a feature that debuted with iOS 26.4 Beta 1. This feature will allow users to generate a 25-song playlist based on a text prompt. The chip containing Apple’s recommended playlist requests can be tapped by users. If the generated playlist doesn’t meet your liking, there are options to refine it further by adding instructions, such as excluding a particular genre or enhancing a certain sound.

    End-To-End Encryption for Cross-Platform Messaging

    Apple has also begun testing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS. Initially, when iOS 26.4 Beta 1 was released, E2EE RCS testing was restricted to messages sent between two iPhones with iMessage disabled. However, with the release of iOS 26.4 Beta 2, Apple has started allowing cross-platform RCS messaging between iOS and Android devices, protected with E2EE. Users of the latest Beta 2 release are now seeing a “lock icon” while texting a compatible Android phone. However, E2EE cross-platform RCS messaging is not expected to arrive on a stable iOS build until the release of iOS 26.5 or iOS 26.6.

    Questions & Answers

    When is the release of iOS 26.3.1 expected?
    The release is expected to happen sometime within the next two weeks.

    What are the new Siri 2.0 features expected in iOS 26.4?
    Despite initial expectations, it appears that major changes to Siri have been delayed and are now expected to be introduced in iOS 26.5.

    What is the Playlist Playground feature in iOS 26.4?
    This feature allows users to generate a 25-song playlist based on a text prompt, with options for further refinement based on user instructions.

  • WhatsApp Revolutionizes Apple Watch Experience: Beta Testing Underway for All-New Messaging App

    WhatsApp Revolutionizes Apple Watch Experience: Beta Testing Underway for All-New Messaging App

    Several months after rolling out an iPad application, global messaging giant WhatsApp is reportedly gearing up to introduce a new application specifically designed for the Apple Watch. This anticipated development is set to enhance the user experience of Apple’s wearable technology by making WhatsApp more accessible and convenient to use.

    The Testing Phase of the Apple Watch WhatsApp App

    WhatsApp recently piloted its Apple Watch application for users who are part of the TestFlight beta on iOS. While the parent company, Meta, has not yet made any official announcements regarding the app, the beta release suggests that the WhatsApp application for the Apple Watch might soon be available for all iOS users.

    The newly tested app supports several features that allow users to read WhatsApp messages, send replies, react to messages, and share voice messages. Remarkably, all these functions can be accomplished without having to access WhatsApp on a separate device. Prior to this, users could only view and respond to new WhatsApp notifications through the limited inbuilt features on the Apple Watch.

    A Companion App, Not Standalone

    The WhatsApp application for the Apple Watch is not designed to function independently, much like its counterpart on Wear OS. To use this app, users must have a connected iPhone with the iOS version of WhatsApp installed. The app is currently in the testing phase, accessible only to beta testers.

    Currently, the only other major messaging app with features similar to those offered by the WhatsApp beta app on the Apple Watch is Apple’s own Messages app. Telegram previously had a Watch app, but it was discontinued, while apps like Messenger and Signal have never been compatible with Apple’s wearable device.

    Anticipated Update

    The anticipation for a dedicated WhatsApp app for the Apple Watch has been brewing for some time. The convenience of sending voice messages directly from a user’s wrist, while their phone remains stowed away, represents a significant shift in user accessibility and utility. Such a development has the potential to revolutionize the way users interact with their devices.

    Questions & Answers

    What new features does the WhatsApp app for Apple Watch support?
    The app allows users to read messages, reply, react to messages, and share voice messages without using another device.

    Can the WhatsApp app for Apple Watch be used independently?
    No, to use the app, it needs to be connected to an iPhone with the iOS version of WhatsApp installed.

    Are there any other major messaging apps with similar features on the Apple Watch?
    Currently, only Apple’s own Messages app offers similar features.

  • First signs of WhatsApp third party chat support appear in latest beta

    First signs of WhatsApp third party chat support appear in latest beta

    WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, is gearing up to open its doors to other messaging platforms. This has been in the works for some time now, but thanks to some evidence found in the latest beta version of the app, we now have more information on how the feature will work and how far along it is in its progress.

    The need for WhatsApp to add this functionality comes in direct response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to break down barriers between tech giants and increase competition in the digital space. WhatsApp’s upcoming “chat interoperability” feature will allow users in the European Union to connect with contacts across different messaging apps, even if those contacts don’t use WhatsApp themselves.

    Wabetainfo discovered the feature, which is currently in development and not available to users, in WhatsApp Android beta version 2.24.5.18. As per the screenshot uncovered (shown below), a new section will be introduced to the app. There, users can choose to enable interoperability, granting them the power to exchange messages beyond WhatsApp’s ecosystem seamlessly.

    While end-to-end encryption will be maintained, different messaging apps may use varying encryption protocols, leading to a separate inbox for these external chats. Because of this, WhatsApp is advising users to exercise caution when using chat interoperability.

    In addition to encryption compatibility concerns, cross-platform communication could potentially increase exposure to spam and scams. Every app has its own privacy policies, potentially handling your data differently than WhatsApp would.

    Regardless of these hurdles to overcome, this move by WhatsApp is a major win for consumers in the EU. It promotes greater choice and flexibility in how they connect with others online.

    It is unknown whether these app changes will apply globally or only in the EU. However, while the feature is completely optional, it signifies a positive shift towards interconnectedness in the messaging app landscape.

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  • Tesla Rolls Out FSD Beta V10 To Early Access Fleet

    Tesla Rolls Out FSD Beta V10 To Early Access Fleet

    Predictably, and for once on time, Tesla has rolled out the v10 of the full self-driving beta software which Elon Musk described as mind-blowing just a few weeks ago. Perhaps, as most have noticed, the most mind-blowing thing is that Tesla and Musk delivered.

    The software enables the self-driving capability for Tesla’s EVs that have the full self-driving package, but this capability is still adorned with astrix of level 2 autonomous capability, not level 4 which is the bare minimum number for self-driving cars that can operate in a hands-free manner.

    Elon Musk had indicated earlier that the full self-driving software will be deployed soon when it hits v10 which now it has at least for the early access fleet, but soon if it is bug-ridden, it could be deployed to a wider audience. Many users have started reporting that they have received the update and posted screenshots of the same on Twitter.

    One of the more notable changes is that the driver visualizations have been updated with a more modern and minimal look. Elon Musk has promised that it could be there for many other users by the end of the month with a download button in the offing but Musk has flattered to deceive not once but on numerous occasions.

    Tesla announced earlier in the year that will stop using radars on its cars and will have a vision-based self-driving system that will use algorithms trained on its Dojo supercomputer which are processed on the device on the FSD computer on the vehicle itself. This has led some authorities to downgrade the safety rating of Tesla vehicles.

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  • Elon Musk Says Next Self Driving Beta Update Will Blow Minds

    Elon Musk Says Next Self Driving Beta Update Will Blow Minds

    Elon Musk is well known for his hyperbole, especially when it comes down to Tesla and its AutoPilot technology. For the last couple of months, Tesla has been beta testing a fully self-driving feature that is available to just a few 1,000 customers as a part of its early access program. Now, the world’s second-richest man says, an incoming update to the full self-driving beta will “blow your mind”. Musk in his typical style dropped nuggets of information while replying to tweets. He said the update will come in two weeks and he said the safety would also be higher with pure vision.

    “Gating factor in achieving & proving higher safety with pure vision than with vision+radar. We are almost there. FSD Beta V9.0 will blow your mind,” Musk tweeted to a Twitter handle called @teslaownersSV.

    To another user, he even said that the feature was also coming to the Canadian market in a couple of months. He cited the delay due to the differences in driving conditions between the US and Canada.

    The incoming update called version 9 will remove reliance on radars and instead will be fully dependent on cameras that are installed in the cars. Musk for the longest time has been against radars and LiDARs stating that they are too expensive and not required.

    Tesla has been often criticised for its AutoPilot technology as experts believe that it is not fully self-driving tech. For this Tesla has also developed its chipset based on the ARM architecture and trained algorithms on the DOJO supercomputer. Musk is optimistic that he has the holy grail of self-driving, but he often overestimates things especially when commenting on Twitter.

    Recently, Tesla has also been in the news for all the wrong reasons as a Model S crashed with two fatalities while it was on AutoPilot.

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  • Google delivers the final public beta version of Android 11

    Google delivers the final public beta version of Android 11

    The final beta version of Android 11 has been released by Google. If you wanted to install the beta on a Pixel 2 series through the Pixel 4 series model, now would be the time since the next update, which could drop on September 8th, will be the final version. Outside of some small bugs and last-minute changes made by developers, today’s release pretty much covers what you’ll see with the final build.

    To install the Android 11 Public beta 3 update, go to developer.android.com/android11 and click on the “get the beta” box near the bottom of the page. You then need to click on the box titled “View your eligible devices.” Tap on opt-in and you’ll shortly receive notification of a software update. Download and install it to run Android 11 beta 3. Once you install the Android 11 beta on your phone, you must stick with it until September 8th, the rumored launch date of the final Android 11 version, unless you’re willing to do a factory reset.

    Android 11 features a new notification system and the Bubbles feature which allows you to multitask while engaged in a text. If your phone already has the Android 11 beta installed, go to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update and press the blue button on the bottom right of the display.

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