ShareX gets its biggest update ever with native screen recording, 120 FPS capture, and dozens of new tools

windowscentral.com Oct 20, 2026

ShareX gets its biggest update ever with native screen recording, 120 FPS capture, and dozens of new tools

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 20, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Sean Endicott, a seasoned Windows Central journalist, has reported on Microsoft’s ecosystem since 2017, covering Windows 11, Surface hardware, Microsoft 365, AI, and services. He writes feature stories, breaking news, and the weekly Windows Wrap column, which aggregates key developments across Windows and the broader PC landscape. Endicott holds a First Class degree in Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and brings experience from live production and media. Outside tech, he coaches youth American football in Nottingham, earning the BAFCA Youth Coach of the Year award in 2024.

💡 Why It Matters

· Endicott’s dual expertise in journalism and live media production equips him to deliver timely, insightful coverage that bridges technical detail with accessible storytelling, enhancing readers’ understanding of Microsoft’s evolving strategy.

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YouTube starts hiding the dislike button on normal videos

YouTube is testing a UI change that moves the dislike button into an overflow menu on its desktop site, effectively hiding it from immediate view. The platform first removed public dislike counts in 2021 to “de‑weaponize” the feature, a move that sparked mixed reactions. Recent reports from Twitter, Reddit and user observations show the button still visible but tucked behind the three‑dot menu alongside the “Report” option, mirroring a similar adjustment already applied to Shorts. The test appears limited to the desktop web interface, as the change could not be reproduced on all devices. YouTube frequently runs such experiments, and the consistency with the Shorts rollout suggests a broader rollout for standard videos is likely imminent.

💡 By obscuring dislikes, YouTube may further shape creator feedback loops, nudging audiences toward positive engagement while reducing visible criticism. This shift could alter how creators gauge audience sentiment and adjust content strategies.

9to5mac.com · Oct 20

Sensor Tower: Meta’s Muse app tops 10 million US downloads in 40…

Meta’s Muse AI assistant became the 12th app to reach 10 million U.S. downloads within 40 days, Sensor Tower reports. After a heavy ad push that kept Muse atop the App Store for 12 days, the app hit 5 million downloads and now sits second in rankings. Muse records a 30 % retention rate after seven days and 23 % after fourteen, beating ChatGPT, Claude and Grok, which linger near 19 % and 16 %. The service accounts for 39 % of Meta’s U.S. ad spend this month, up from 23 % in September, and climbed to 21st among U.S. brands by ad impressions. Privacy researchers flagged that shared conversations could expose data, leading Meta to suspend the sharing feature pending investigation, across user segments in the United States.

💡 Muse’s rapid adoption and superior retention demonstrate Meta’s ability to translate ad spend into lasting AI‑assistant engagement, reshaping user loyalty dynamics in the crowded generative‑AI market.

9to5mac.com · Oct 20

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

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.

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

9to5google.com · Oct 19

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.