TechCapsules

Meta has announced the launch of paid subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, dubbed "Plus" plans, with prices ranging from $2.99 to $3.99 per month. The subscriptions offer special features such as story rewatch and stealth mode. Meta's decision to charge for its services is driven by the need to invest in AI technology and infrastructure, with a budget of $125-145 billion this year. The company aims to diversify its revenue streams, currently reliant on ads, and [...]

Apple has announced that developers in Brazil can now distribute iOS apps through alternative app stores and process payments outside the App Store. This change is part of Apple's agreement with Brazil's competition regulator, Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica. The move loosens Apple's rules in another market, following similar revisions in the EU and Japan. New protections will be introduced, including a notarization process for iOS apps and authorization requirements for alternative app marketplaces. Developers in Brazil [...]

Microsoft is struggling to make Windows 11's new Outlook work offline due to its web-based approach. The new Outlook is a web app that loads Outlook.com in a WebView2 container, similar to opening Outlook in an Edge tab. A recent update has added the ability to attach files while offline, a feature that has been available in the classic Outlook desktop app. The update also allows users to access more emails offline, with options to save up [...]

A Google Docs user encountered an AI pop-up inviting them to "write with Gemini" and struggled to remove it, prompting them to write an article on how to disable the feature. The AI assistant, Gemini, is part of Google's smart features, which can be disabled through Gmail settings. To turn off Gemini, users can access their Gmail settings and disable smart features, preventing AI pop-ups from appearing in Google Docs. This solution allows users to avoid individually [...]

The Gemini overlay on Android has introduced Bubbles to enable multitasking and continuous conversations. Users can access this feature by starting a conversation from the Gemini overlay, which then minimizes into a Bubble featuring the spark logo when the screen is tapped elsewhere. Tapping the Bubble expands it back into the full Gemini overlay, allowing users to resume their conversation. This update aims to let users keep talking to Gemini while performing other tasks. The feature is [...]

Microsoft released Windows 11 Patch Tuesday updates, KB5094126 and KB5093998, along with dynamic updates. However, users have reported various issues, including problems with OneDrive and Dropbox access, BitLocker recovery lockouts, and blue screens. Microsoft has acknowledged a bug affecting third-party applications' ability to launch Microsoft Office apps or open Office documents after installing the updates. The issue impacts Windows 11 and Windows 10, and Microsoft is working on a resolution. A workaround is available for affected users, [...]

Pavel Durov, Telegram's CEO, has accused Indian telecom major Reliance of disrupting global access to the messaging app through alleged BGP hijacking. This internet routing exploit has affected millions of users outside India, including in the UAE. BGP hijacking occurs when an autonomous system falsely announces ownership of IP address ranges it does not control, causing traffic rerouting, slowdowns, or blackholing. The incident has renewed concerns over internet routing security, corporate competition, and vulnerabilities in global network [...]

Elon Musk's social media platform X is experiencing a massive outage, with over 3,000 users in the US reporting issues on Downdetector. Approximately 46% of users are facing app-related problems, while 34% are experiencing feed/timeline issues and 12% are having website issues. The outage started around 7:30 AM, and users are taking to Downdetector to share their experiences. The company has not yet released an official statement regarding the outage. Users are unable to access the platform, [...]