WhatsApp may soon let iPhone users open any link in an in-app browser

9to5mac.com Oct 20, 2026

WhatsApp may soon let iPhone users open any link in an in-app browser

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 20, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

WhatsApp is preparing to let iPhone users open any hyperlink within the app, expanding a limited in‑app browser that previously supported only select business sites. The change was first spotted by WABetaInfo in the TestFlight build, which shows a new “In‑app browser” toggle under Settings > Chats. When enabled, links open inside WhatsApp, while a menu still offers to launch the default Safari browser. The settings provide controls to clear cookies, cache and other browsing data stored by the in‑app browser. Although the feature is not yet in a beta, screenshots suggest users will receive a bottom sheet explaining the option and can revert to the default browser at any time. WhatsApp states it cannot track which links are opened.

💡 Why It Matters

· By handling links inside WhatsApp, the app reduces reliance on Safari, giving Meta tighter control over user experience and data privacy within chats.

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Google Phone app beta rolls out Contacts bottom bar tab [U]

Google’s Phone app is reintroducing a dedicated Contacts tab after its removal in the Material 3 Expressive redesign. The change arrives in the beta channel for version 243, with users instructed to force‑stop the app if the tab does not appear immediately. The update restores the tab to the bottom navigation bar, positioning it between Home and Keypad, and eliminates the previous shortcut in the navigation drawer. Other functions such as Settings, Clear call history, and Help & Feedback remain in the overflow menu. The rollout follows an August 2025 update that had consolidated navigation to Home, Keypad and Voicemail, pushing Contacts into the drawer and a Favorites carousel. Google says the reversal reflects heavy user reliance on quick contact access, though the stable channel has not yet received the change.

💡 Restoring the Contacts tab directly addresses user frustration with hidden contact access, improving efficiency for the app’s core dialing function.

9to5google.com · Oct 19

Spotify’s ‘QR code verification’ cracks down on sharing and could ban you…

Spotify is introducing QR code verification to enforce its Family plan residency rule. The feature, detailed on Spotify’s support page, prompts members to scan a rapidly changing QR code displayed on the plan manager’s device, confirming they live at the same address. Users have a seven‑day window to complete the scan; the code refreshes every few seconds to prevent static screenshots. If a member fails to verify within that period, Spotify will downgrade them to the free tier and bar them from joining any other Family or Duo plan for twelve months, though they may still subscribe to an Individual plan. Early reports on Reddit note that the system can be bypassed with multiple devices and video calls, but Spotify claims the QR method is harder to evade than previous address checks.

💡 The verification adds a technical hurdle that could force casual sharers into paid solo subscriptions, tightening Spotify’s revenue base.

windowslatest.com · Oct 19

Google now wants Windows 11 users to ditch Edge for Chrome, and…

Google’s “Choose Chrome” banner appears on Google.com when accessed via Microsoft Edge, offering a one‑click download of Chrome that initiates the installer automatically. The pop‑up also pre‑checks sending usage data to Google. In response, Edge displays a banner promoting its Chromium‑based technology and urging users to stay with Edge. The exchange highlights a competitive push‑pull between Google and Microsoft over browser market share, raising concerns about self‑preference tactics.

💡 The tactic underscores how major tech firms leverage platform dominance to steer user behavior, potentially skewing browser choice and data collection practices.

9to5mac.com · Oct 17

Indie App Spotlight: ‘Hoardware’ makes it easy to track your Apple device…

Indie App Spotlight features Hoardware, a free iOS 17‑plus app that lets users catalog every Apple device they own. The tool records model numbers, serial numbers, iOS versions and custom notes, and presents a coverage tab showing how many devices run each OS release. Users can add new hardware from a searchable list, with details and images auto‑filled, mark favorites, and receive push alerts when software updates become available. Hoardware syncs libraries via iCloud, ensuring the collection is accessible across multiple iPhones or iPads. The app contains no ads, in‑app purchases or subscriptions, positioning it as a niche utility for collectors of vintage iPhones as well as anyone who wants timely update reminders. It also supports CSV export for backups.

💡 By giving collectors a centralized, ad‑free ledger, Hoardware turns fragmented device inventories into searchable data, making preservation of Apple’s hardware history more systematic.

9to5mac.com · Oct 16

Apple’s new App Store rules crack down on AI nudification and ‘bait-and-switch’…

Apple revised its App Review Guidelines to curb harmful AI‑generated “nudification” apps and deceptive “bait‑and‑switch” behavior. The update expands Section 1.2 on user‑generated content, requiring developers to implement safeguards against non‑consensual intimate imagery, IP infringement and bullying, and to remediate violations after notice. Section 2.3.1 now explicitly bans hidden or obfuscated code that adds undisclosed functionality, threatening removal of the app and termination of the developer account. Section 5 adds stricter language that apps facilitating human trafficking or child exploitation will be removed and blocked from alternative distribution. The changes follow a series of investigations earlier this year that exposed AI nudify apps, gambling‑masked games in Brazil, and the Grok chatbot’s generation of non‑consensual sexual images, prompting pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups.

💡 By tightening rules Apple forces developers to police AI outputs, reducing the platform’s role as a conduit for non‑consensual imagery and hidden gambling schemes, and sets a precedent for app‑store governance worldwide.

windowslatest.com · Oct 16

Microsoft wants to change Outlook Classic’s UI to look more like New…

Microsoft announced that Outlook Classic for Windows will receive a visual refresh beginning in early November 2026, aligning its icons, spacing, fonts and alignment with the New Outlook design while preserving existing workflows and menu placements. The update, detailed in an Admin Center post and reported by Windows Latest, is the first UI change for the legacy client in years and is part of a broader effort to reduce visual disparity across Outlook products. Microsoft also released a “Classic” theme for New Outlook that mimics the older interface, allowing users to retain familiar elements while using the newer platform. The company stresses that no features will be removed and that further visual tweaks are planned, though no opt‑out option is offered.

💡 By blurring the visual line between the two clients, Microsoft hopes to coax reluctant Classic users toward the newer, cloud‑centric Outlook without forcing a functional overhaul. This dual‑theme strategy could accelerate migration while keeping enterprise users satisfied with a familiar look.