Apple's iOS 26 update will bring Advanced Fingerprinting Protection to all tabs, to prevent web tracking even outside Private Browsing. This enhanced protection is designed to safeguard a user's identity while browsing the web. Mozilla's open source Firefox browser has provided similar fingerprinting protection since 2020.
Canva has unveiled Video 2.0, its first native AI model, and Canva Grow, a full-scale marketing platform, as part of a major update to its Visual Suite. The Sydney-based firm also added Ask Canva, Email Design, and Forms tools, enhancing usability for its 260 million monthly users while positioning itself as an all-in-one creative operating system.
Google Maps appears to be developing a new mode that will reduce battery usage during navigation. Reference to the feature was reportedly spotted on the APK teardown of Google Maps for Android. Users may also be able to activate the Power Saving mode directly within the Google Maps app. The UI may show a monochrome design in this mode, leaving only the most essential navigation elements visible.
Samsung has announced new updates to its Samsung Wallet in India. Now, the platform allows users to set up Unified Payments Interface (UPI) during the initial setup of their new Galaxy device. It also brings biometric authentication, eliminating the need for a PIN. The update brings improved Tap and Pay support in the country. The digital wallet now supports direct online usage of stored credit and debit cards at select merchant checkouts.
Starting October 29, Google can no longer restrict the use of alternative payment systems in the US Play Store. Also, the tech giant can not force the developers to use Google Play Billing for payments. The latest update is in line with an injunction resulting from the Epic vs. Google case. Google has listed out the changes being made today on this webpage. Additionally, developers are now allowed to provide direct links for downloading apps.
Microsoft on Thursday announced that its Azure services have been restored to almost normality across affected regions. The cloud computing platform was reported to be experiencing a major global outage on Wednesday, affecting not only Microsoft-owned platforms like Microsoft 365, Minecraft, Outlook, and Xbox Live, but also Alaska Airlines, Starbucks, and other services. The Redmond-based tech giant said that it impacted services leveraging Azure Front Door (AFD), its modern cloud content delivery network (CDN).
Instagram is testing a new “Your Algorithm” feature that lets users personalise their feeds by adding or removing topics of interest, starting with Reels and later expanding to Explore. Announced by CEO Adam Mosseri, the tool summarises user engagement patterns and allows further topic adjustments via an Add+ option. The update aims to give users more control over their content experience, aligning with Meta’s push for transparency and customisation across its platforms, including future plans for Threads.
Adobe has partnered with Google Cloud to integrate its advanced AI models, including Gemini, Imagen, and Veo, across flagship tools like Photoshop, Firefly, and Premiere. The deal extends to enterprises via Google’s Vertex AI, enabling on-brand content generation. The collaboration also includes a joint go-to-market strategy targeting global creators and businesses.
YouTube will introduce stricter content rules from November 17 to limit video game footage featuring “graphic violence.” The updated policy, part of efforts to protect younger viewers, expands existing Community Guidelines to cover more forms of violent depictions. It will target scenes showing realistic human characters being tortured or large-scale violence against unarmed civilians. Such videos will be age-restricted, allowing access only to users above 18, as YouTube aims to tighten enforcement around violent gaming content.
WhatsApp could soon allow normal users to keep cover photos on their accounts. The inclusion of the cover image feature was spotted on the WhatsApp 2.25.32.2 beta for Android version, via the Google Play Beta programme. The feature is not visible to beta testers. Once rolled out, this feature will let users express their personality through a customisable cover photo. It will be displayed as a prominent banner at the top of the profile.
Adobe has partnered with YouTube to make Premiere for iOS a central hub for Shorts creators, offering seamless import, editing, and direct publishing to YouTube. The workflow is optimised for short-form, vertical videos to help creators produce content faster. The move complements Adobe’s broader rollout of new AI tools across its creative platforms.
Adobe has unveiled a major lineup of AI upgrades across Photoshop, Express, and Firefly, including new AI assistants and audio-video generation tools. The update introduces Firefly Image Model 5 with multi-layered editing, custom Firefly training for individuals, and integrations with ElevenLabs and Topaz. These features mark Adobe’s biggest step yet in blending creative control with generative AI.
Google Chrome for Android is getting Google's new Material 3 Expressive Design with version 141. The server-side update, which started rolling out in late August, has now been completed. It brings a new look to the browser, with a refreshed three-dot menu and redesigned Bookmark icon. While Chrome has incorporated Material 3 Expressive elements, it hasn’t reportedly increased button sizes.
OpenAI is reportedly preparing to introduce targeted ads within ChatGPT. According to The Information, some senior leaders — many of them former Meta employees — see ads as a major revenue opportunity, even suggesting personalisation using the chatbot’s memory data. CEO Sam Altman, once sceptical, now calls ads “somewhat distasteful but not a nonstarter,” signalling a clear softening of his stance.
Apple presently allows software developers to advertise their apps in the search section of the App Store. Now, the company is reportedly planning to integrate ads in its native Maps app, too. The move might get implemented by next year. Apple might allow restaurants and other businesses to pay in exchange for getting featured on the Apple Maps' search section. The tech giant could label these promoted results as sponsored, while also using AI tools to show revelant ads to users.
Instagram is rolling out a highly-requested feature, which enables users to find and revisit the Reels they have watched previously. It is expected to work similarly to the Watch History feature on YouTube. As per an Instagram official, they will be able to filter out Reels based on a specific date or date range, and even search for Reels shared by a particular account on the social media platform.
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas reignited his rivalry with Google, saying the “Internet is too important to be left in Google’s hands.” The remark followed a poll where Chrome narrowly beat Perplexity’s Comet browser. Srinivas admitted Comet still needs work but doubled down on his stance against Google’s dominance, echoing antitrust concerns over the company’s control of the web.
The Google Gemini app gets new features as part of the October Feature Drop release. The new update brings a slew of new features to Veo 3.1, Gemini 2.5 Flash, Canvas, Gemini for Google TV, and more. Customers can now create full presentations with Canvas and export them to Google Slides. Check out the full suite of features available with the latest Gemini app update.
Instagram is reportedly testing a new feature called Restyle Text, which lets users create custom fonts through natural language prompts. Built on Meta AI, it expands the existing Restyle tool that already allows AI-based photo and video edits. Users can also choose from presets like Chrome or Balloon to give their Stories unique, AI-generated visual flair.
Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a potential threat linked to a "privacy friendly" browser. Dubbed the Universe Browser, it is said to route its connections through servers in China and quietly installs several programs that covertly run in the background. The cybersecurity firm discovered that it was linked to a network of illegal gaming websites and cybercrime groups that operate in Cambodia
OpenAI’s viral AI video app Sora is expanding beyond iOS, with an Android release expected soon. The app lets users create AI-generated videos starring themselves and others, even without a ChatGPT subscription. According to Sora Head Bill Peebles, the Android rollout may still be invite-only. New features like pet cameos, character stitching, and community channels are also in the works.
Tinder has announced the rollout of Face Check, a new facial verification feature that is claimed to ensure real users and match their profile photos, in the US. As per the company, Face Check leverages a non-reversible, encrypted face map and face vector to help verify photos and prevent duplicate accounts. Coupled with other safety initiatives, it is aimed at reducing impersonation and helping users find other authentic matches on the online dating platform.
WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new feature for its Android app, which makes managing storage an easier process. As per details shared by a feature tracker, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform is working on a new quick option that lets users monitor and free up storage space directly from the conversation window, eliminating the need to navigate through the app settings. With this feature, they can quickly identify the largest items occupying the device storage on WhatsApp and remove them.
APK (Android Package Kit) teardown of the ChatGPT v1.2025.294 reportedly includes code for an upcoming feature that enhances voice conversations by integrating them into the main chat interface. It will reportedly bring new buttons to end the conversation and mute or unmute the microphone.
Spotify users have been reporting issues with the app on Android devices in recent weeks. It resulted in the music streaming app frequently crashing or freezing under certain conditions for a sizable number of users, primarily on Samsung and Google Pixel devices, hampering the user experience. The company has now acknowledged the issue and said it is currently under investigation. Spotify says a fix for it is currently in the works.
WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new feature for its Android app, which introduces new filters to simplify content discovery. According to a feature tracker, the Meta-owned instant messaging app is rolling out a redesigned interface to select users, to help them review their photos and videos shared content within a conversation with new filter options. It is also said to allow them to filter stickers for faster search and retrieval.
An APK teardown of the Google app reportedly suggests that Google is developing image markup tools for Gemini. This would allow users to draw on images before entering them to Gemini for more contextual queries. The feature was said to be spotted on the version 16.42.61.sa.arm64 of the Google app. It also said to support the image editing features of Nano Banana.
Apple is developing AppMigrationKit, a beta framework for iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1 or above that enables developers to include app data during migration between Apple and Android devices. It won’t support transfers between iOS or iPadOS, macOS, or visionOS apps. Developers must create app extensions specifying import/export options. During device setup, apps integrated with AppMigrationKit automatically include their data, and cloud data can be imported post-transfer. The system works alongside the upcoming “Transfer to Android” feature, while Android may adopt a similar “Transfer to iPhone” tool.
The APK teardown of version 16.42.61 of the Google app has reportedly revealed a new mic option. Google is testing the option to let users long-press the mic icon in Gemini’s input box. It is expected to be useful for users to put longer requests. After being long-pressed, the mic icon will appear as a stop button, which users can tap when they want Gemini to stop listening.
CERT-In has issued a high-severity alert (CIVN-2025-0274) for a remote code execution vulnerability in Google Chrome for desktop. The flaw, caused by improper implementation in Chrome’s V8 engine, could allow attackers to execute code with user privileges, leading to system takeover, data theft, or service disruption. It affects Chrome versions prior to 141.0.7390.122/.123 on Windows and macOS, and 141.0.7390.122 on Linux. Google has released a fix in the latest Stable Channel Update, and users are advised to update immediately to stay protected.
WhatsApp is reportedly testing its new “@all” mention feature with select beta testers in the Android 2.25.31.9 update, gradually rolling it out to more users. The feature lets users alert all group members at once, saving time and improving coordination. In small groups, everyone can use it, while in groups with over 32 members, only admins can use it to prevent spam. Users can also mute @all notifications to avoid distractions, with controls available in the group info section under notification settings.
A new study by Brave claims that Perplexity’s Comet browser and similar AI-powered browsers could be vulnerable to prompt injections. Researchers demonstrated how malicious instructions hidden in a webpage or image can trick the AI assistant into performing harmful actions, such as accessing emails or social media accounts. The findings highlight significant security risks in AI browsers with autonomous browsing features.
Netflix has confirmed plans to integrate generative AI across its business operations, from content creation to advertising and user experience. In its Q3 2025 shareholder letter, the streaming giant said AI will help creators produce stories “better, faster, and in new ways.” The company is already testing conversational search, AI-assisted CGI tools, and personalised ad formats. Netflix reported 17 percent year-on-year revenue growth.
YouTube has launched an AI likeness detection tool to help creators identify deepfakes using their image or voice. Available to YouTube Partner Programme members, it requires ID verification and a video selfie for access. The tool flags suspected deepfakes in a dashboard, allowing creators to review or request removals.
JioSaavn has announced a new annual plan for a limited time. Priced at Rs. 399 for one year, it offers features like ad-free music streaming, high-quality playback, and offline downloads on the Jio Platforms-owned music-streaming platform. However, the company said that it will only be available to users who have not subscribed to it for more than 12 months.
Mozilla has fixed multiple high-severity vulnerabilities across Firefox, Firefox ESR, and Thunderbird, which could allow attackers to execute code or access sensitive data. The flaws, affecting Firefox versions prior to 144, ESR versions prior to 115.29 and 140.4, and Thunderbird versions prior to 140.4 and 144, include use-after-free errors, memory corruption, API misuse, and cross-process data leaks. CERT-In has urged individuals and organisations to update immediately using Mozilla’s patches to prevent data theft, system compromise, and information disclosure.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) faced a widespread outage on October 20, disrupting several major platforms, including Apple TV, Reddit, and Snapchat. The outage, lasting nearly 12 hours, coincided with Diwali celebrations in India and affected online businesses running festive campaigns. AWS later attributed the issue to a DNS error in its US-East-1 region.
WhatsApp has updated its Business Solution policy to ban third-party artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot providers from the platform. The changes will come into force early next year. It will effectively stop OpenAI, Perplexity, among other AI assistant companies from offering their services on the instant messaging app. This move will make Meta AI assistant the sole AI chatbot on WhatsApp, potentially thwarting competition.
OpenAI has reinforced Sora’s safeguards to block unauthorised use of celebrity and public figure likenesses in AI-generated videos. The update follows concerns raised by actor Bryan Cranston and a joint statement with SAG-AFTRA. The move aligns with the proposed No Fakes Act, aimed at protecting artists’ digital identities.
Meta AI’s popularity has reportedly surged, driven by its new Vibes feature, an image-to-video generator with a public sharing feed similar to Instagram Reels. Data from Similarweb (via TechCrunch) shows sharp growth in app downloads and daily users since late September, suggesting that accessibility and creativity are fuelling the rise.
Anthropic has announced that Claude can now connect with Microsoft 365 apps, including Teams, Outlook, and OneDrive. Using its Model Context Protocol (MCP), the AI can pull data from emails, chats, and files to provide context-aware answers and summaries. Available to Team and Enterprise users, the integration also enables unified enterprise search across company tools.
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued a notification asking Zoom for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS users to download the latest available update of the app, as multiple vulnerabilities have been found in its particular version. The security flaws allow bad actors to gain unauthorised access to Zoom Rooms and get their hands on sensitive information, compromising the safety and integrity of the systems.
OpenAI has made Sora 2 easier to access with two major updates. Users can now generate AI videos directly from the Sora website, not just the iOS app, although invites are still required. The company has also extended video length limits—up to 15 seconds for regular users and 25 seconds for Pro subscribers—while adding web-based storyboard editing for finer creative control.
Between October 18 and 23, JioFinance is celebrating the festive season with its Jio Gold 24K Days offer. As part of this Diwali special offer, customers who buy digital gold worth Rs. 2,000 or more via the JioFinance or MyJio apps will get 2 percent additional gold. This additional gold will be added to their gold wallet within 72 hours of the transaction.
Japan has reportedly asked OpenAI to halt copyright infringement linked to its Sora 2 video model, which can recreate famous anime and game characters like Pikachu and Goku. The government’s formal request highlights rising concerns over AI-generated media using Japanese IP without consent. OpenAI recently switched Sora to an opt-in policy for rights holders.
WhatsApp is reportedly working on a Channel Quiz feature for Android users, which could allow channel admins to enhance engagement. It is said to be available to users as part of a future update. The purported Channel Quiz feature could appear in the Attachment menu in the channel window. It will reportedly allow admins to test the knowledge of other channel members about a specific topic, while promoting “friendly competition”.
Instagram has announced limited-edition Diwali-themed effects for Instagram Stories and its Edits app in India and select other markets. Users can enhance their photos and videos in Stories, as well as videos in the Edits app, and infuse them with the new special effects inspired by Diwali, as per the company. These effects will be available to use until October 29.
Gmail’s latest build version 2025.10.06.815599742.Release reveals that Google is developing two new automatic labels, namely “Bills” and “Travel.” While not yet active, the labels aim to expand Gmail’s smart categorisation system. Bills may focus on recurring payments like credit card or utility statements, while Travel will group emails related to flights, hotels, and car rentals. The exact rollout date is unknown, but their presence in the public build indicates that Google is testing the feature and could release it soon.
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), on October 15, released two vulnerability notes to warn Google Chrome and Chromium-based Microsoft Edge users of multiple security flaws. These vulnerabilities can be exploited by hackers, granting them unauthorised access to a user’s desktop. However, people can install the latest available version of these browsers to protect themselves from bad actors.
WhatsApp is said to be testing a new feature on its Android beta that notifies users when selected contacts post new status updates. Users can enable alerts directly from a contact’s status via the overflow menu and mute them anytime. Notifications show the contact’s name and a small preview for image or video statuses, allowing quick updates without opening the app. The feature prioritises important contacts and keeps alerts private.
YouTube, in a blog post on Tuesday, revealed that it will start rolling out a new dedicated video shelf for teenagers with mental health and wellbeing content. The company has collaborated with various institutions, organisations, and experts who have expertise in providing mental health information to teenagers. YouTube said that the mental health tools will first be introduced in US, the UK, Canada, Mexico, France, and Australia. Meanwhile, other countries might receive the update later.
