• Meta is pulling the plug on the cross-platform integration between Facebook Messenger and Instagram.
• This means that cross-app chatting between the two platforms will no longer be possible.
• The integration is being removed in mid-December.

Turn any image into an emoji.

• Google announced a handful of new features to Google Messages last week to celebrate one billion RCS users, with Photomoji being one of them.
• Photomoji lets users create a custom emoji from any image and save them within Google Messages.
• The feature is now rolling out to beta testers, but not everyone will be able to use it just yet.

cross-posted from: https://lemdro.id/post/3842271

Personally I don't care about this since apple is adopting rcs next year. But its a great thing for people who want iMessage.

Any accounts lined up for deletion should have gotten warning emails by now.

• WhatsApp's Chat Lock feature gets additional protection with a new Secret Code feature.
• Users can set a unique password as an extra layer of privacy for their locked chats.
• The feature's rollout has already begun and should roll out globally in the coming months.

• Telegram is expanding its voice and video message transcription feature beyond Premium users, allowing free users to convert up to two messages per week into text.
• Joining a channel just got more interesting with Telegram's improved channel discovery feature, offering recommendations based on similar subscriber bases.
• Users can also now include video comments or reactions in their stories, with the ability to resize and reposition the video message on the screen.
• Telegram also introduces profile color customization for Premium users, custom wallpapers for individual chats, and reaction emoji customization for channel admins.

Upstart Android OEM hopes Apple won't immediately shut the project down.

• Google starts showing prompts to create and use passkeys to streamline the way you sign in to your personal account.
• You'll also see a new option to "skip password when possible" in your account settings page.
• Users will still be able to sign in with a password and can opt out of passkeys for the time being.

Google's upcoming Made by Google event on October 4th will unveil the Pixel 8 and Pixel Watch 2, as showcased in a new teaser.

• Clubhouse, the once-popular live audio app, is relaunching with a new focus on voice messaging and group chats.
• The revamped Clubhouse emphasizes the speed and intimacy of voice communication, highlighting the benefits of tone and connection.
• The late revamp may struggle to compete in the crowded social app market.

• Gboard's Proofread feature is an innovative AI tool that detects spelling and grammar errors, proposing corrections and implementing them seamlessly.
• The feature is present for some users on Gboard v13.4, the latest beta version going live on the Play Store now.
• The proofreading process currently happens server-side, which may be a privacy concern for some.

However, a point of contention arises when one learns that the proofreading happens server-side. For the feature to operate, the typed text is sent to Google for processing. It would indeed be revolutionary if, in future updates, Google manages to bring this processing onboard without the need to offload it to its servers.

The Proofread feature isn't the only novelty Gboard has been experimenting with. There are rumblings about a feature that crafts stickers using AI. Additionally, another anticipated feature could aid users in rephrasing their messages in varying tones, ranging from formal to informal.

• Google announced a new short-form video format for the Play Store.
• It is a new way to discover apps and games by viewing creators' opinions.
• It is dubbed "The Play Report" and is currently rolling out as a pilot program for users in the U.S.

• YouTube Music is rolling out with a new UI for the Now Playing screen.
• The UI adds a row of options to easily interact with a song, including a section for comments.
• Album art is also larger and song titles are now aligned to the left.

However, the most interesting change is that the new menu includes comments, which allow listeners to add a comment straight from YouTube Music or view other comments left from the main YouTube service.

• Google has begun sending out invites for its next Pixel launch.
• The launch event will take place in New York on October 4.
• Google is expected to announce the Pixel 8 series and the Pixel Watch 2.

Coinciding with the launch of the Pixel 6 series, Google began offering an all-in-one subscription that bundled together your choice of Pixel phone, Preferred Care protection, Google One cloud storage, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, and (optionally) Fi Wireless service. For the right customer, the Pixel Pass plans, which started at $45, were solid deals, offering a modest discount on the bundle. That said, Pixel Pass was only ever available in the United States.

However, it seems Google may not have found enough of the right customers. In an announcement shared on a new support page, Google has confirmed that the Pixel Pass subscription has been discontinued as of August 29, 2023. The company cites its focus on “offering the best value” as well as customer “flexibility.”

We are focused on offering the best value of our hardware products while giving users the flexibility to purchase their favorite services. Going forward, we will continue to evaluate offers based on customer feedback while providing different ways for them to access the best of Google.

• Google Photos users can now move their Locked Folder content from one phone to another.
• The feature has been requested since Locked Folder was first launched.
• Locked Folder is also rolling out on iOS and the web for expanded use across devices.

• Google could partner up with Garmin Response to add satellite emergency messaging capabilities to Google Messages, potentially making it available in more than 150 countries from the start.
• This collaboration could allow Google to reach more people than Apple's geographically limited Emergency SOS on the iPhone 14.
• Although this feature is still in development, the inclusion of Garmin's brand name within strings in the latest Google Messages update suggests that a contractual agreement has been reached.-

"We would like to address the rumor that ASUS Zenfone 10 will be the last generation of the series and the ASUS Zenfone product line will be shut down. This is not true, " the statement reads.

Asus further mentions that it is committed to its smartphone business and customers and will continue producing its two primary smartphone series: the ROG and Zenfone. Additionally, it also teased its 2024 product lineups, which would presumably include the Zenfone 11.