
WhatsApp could soon let you message people who are not on WhatsApp
While this feature will open up more ways to communicate via WhatsApp, reports suggest there will be some limitations. Guest chats will not support media sharing — so no photos, videos, GIFs, or voice notes. Voice and video calls are also likely to be off the table, and chats will only work one-on-one; group chats won't be allowed in this mode. These restrictions, however, may help keep things simple and lightweight for guests who aren't using the app.Meanwhile, despite being accessible to non-users, guest chats are also expected to be protected by end-to-end encryption. This means that only the two people in the chat will be able to read the messages, WhatsApp itself will not have the access.As for availability, the guest chat feature was spotted in the recent WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.22.13. The feature is currently in development, but there is no confirmed release date yet. WhatsApp will likely share more details as the feature gets closer to launch.In an earlier beta update (Android version 2.24.6.2), WhatsApp reportedly began testing a feature to manage third-party chats, giving users the ability to choose which external apps can connect with WhatsApp. These new tools are said to be part of a broader strategy to comply with EU regulations aimed at making communication apps more open and user-friendly.- Ends

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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
OnePlus Pad Lite review: For the price, gets it absolutely right
By launching its most affordable tablet yet in the Indian market, OnePlus is indicating two clear trends. First, Indians are buying tablets and increasingly so now, and the learnings from the OnePlus Go from a couple of years ago have been revised well. Equally, there are certain equalities with their more premium Android tabs, such as the OnePlus Pad 2 and the OnePlus Pad 3. Also gives OnePlus a little more in the arsenal against Xiaomi's very capable Redmi Pad line-up. The OnePlus Pad Lite is well built, good to hold and has the sort of finishing that doesn't immediately betray its pricing. (Vishal Mathur/ HT Photo) Speaking of which, the OnePlus Pad Lite's pricing which starts around ₹15,999 for the 6GB memory and 128GB storage spec (a step up is 8GB+128GB and LTE for ₹17,999), will compete with the Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2, which is priced ₹13,999 onwards, and also balances Wi-Fi and LTE spec options. At this stage, one can confidently recommend a budget Android tablet, since these are far superior than anything Lenovo or Nokia or Honor have sold at these price points, over the years. For starters, OnePlus' choice of Aero Blue as the only colour option going on sale in India, deserves a hat tip. This is a marked move away from the fatigue that's set in for the conventional blacks and greys that usually dot tech product lines. This blue, with a very nice matte finish (that also helps with grip), is a good balance to find among the many shades of choice. You'll notice a duality of colour on the back, and that adds a subtle visual cue. The OnePlus Pad Lite is well built, good to hold and has the sort of finishing that doesn't immediately betray its pricing. That's always a good thing. The 11-inch display, which is primarily the spec that puts the OnePlus Pad Lite in direct comparison with the Redmi Pad 2 for anyone who's choosing one. The OnePlus Pad Lite does well enough in terms of viewing angles, brightness levels and colours. For most potential buyers, it may tick all the boxes, but the context of having used the Redmi Pad 2m brings forth the element of pixels — the OnePlus Pad Lite has a 1900x1200 resolution, while the display Xiaomi has used, golds 2560x1600 which is comparatively sharper with text. Performance, if we are to test very closely with synthetic benchmarks, may vary slightly between the two — the OnePlus Pad Lite is powered by the MediaTek Helio G100 chip while the Redmi Pad 2 gets the MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra. Most users couldn't care less about synthetic benchmark scores, and in that realm, performance doesn't betray any superiority or inferiority. The OnePlus Pad Lite is fairly fast in responding to your aspirations of opening new apps even under a fair load of multi-tasking, as well as switching between them. Only occasionally may you bear witness to a momentary pause as things move along, but that could also be attributed to app optimisations and background processes. At no point does the OnePlus Pad Lite leave a user complaining about performance — as long as you remember what you brought this for. Software is familiar, and that includes OnePlus tablets and to a large extent, phones too. Screen Mirroring from the phone to the tablet should be useful if you have a OnePlus phone too, and as would be clipboard sharing to copy and paste between devices. Open Canvas is easy to get the hang of, as you would want to, for sharing the screen space between more than one app — the ideal is two side-by-side, and that's what Canvas does for now. Kids Mode is useful, if there is an intention to share the tablet with a young one at home. That said, the lack of placement for the OnePlus AI suite is disappointing, though circle to search (that's a Google Gemini feature, theoretically) is there. As is AI transcription for voice recordings. The OnePlus Pad Lite is, and there's little doubt, a compelling option in the budget Android tablet segment that's slowly but surely firming up with better quality and specs. At ₹15,999, it also represents OnePlus' strategic push into what would assume is the price segment where a large chunk of growth in India's tablet market is going to come from. There is a definitive OnePlus-esque refinement that the OnePlus Pad Lite brings to the table, a collective of the software and hardware in play. Ideally, a dependable Android tablet for media consumption, light productivity, and family use — without breaking the bank.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
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Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
DailyObjects POP GaN Charger Review: Can this ₹2,999 adapter replace all your chargers?
With smart devices everywhere around us, the biggest problem these days is carrying multiple chargers to power up these devices: one for the laptop, another for your Android phone, and probably another one if you quickly want to power up your iPhone or Galaxy device. This is where Gallium Nitride technology comes in, which reduces the need to carry multiple charging devices in favour of one brick that can power all these devices. I've been using three GaN5 (fifth-generation Gallium Nitride technology) based DailyObjects Pop GaN adapters in 33W, 45W and 67W brackets, and here's how these accessories performed in the real world. DailyObjects seems to be focusing majorly on the design element of these adapters in order to reach consumers. The new Pop adapters come in five attractive colour variants: Red, Yellow, Blue, Black and White, offering a clear contrast from the black-and-white adapters you typically see in the market. Since these are GaN5-based adapters, they are also significantly smaller and lighter compared to similar wattage adapters I have used in the past. For instance, I have a Realme 67W adapter which almost feels like double the weight of the Pop adapter of the same wattage. Specifically, the 67W adapter weighs 127g, while the 45W and 33W adapters weigh just 84g and 74g respectively. The adapters come in a rectangular shape with the small yet elegant Daily Objects branding in the middle. They employ a foldable pin mechanism which I really liked, since it helps them occupy even less space and makes them ideal for travel or just carrying in the backpack. The 67W adapter comes with three ports — a USB-A type port along with two USB Type-C ports. The A-type port is capable of charging at a maximum of 18W, while the Type-C ports share the remaining output, and naturally, the total wattage is distributed among the ports when charging multiple devices. DailyObjects claims that the 67W adapter can charge the iPhone 16 up to 50 percent in just 25 minutes and the 14-inch MacBook Pro to 50 percent in just 35 minutes. While I didn't have any Apple devices handy to check that claim, I can comfortably say that the charger was able to quickly power up my OnePlus 13 in about an hour, while the OnePlus Pad 3, which I currently use as my daily driver, took about two hours. I also tried charging my laptop with this adapter, and I am happy to report that it not only keeps the power from draining but also charges almost as well as my bulky laptop charger. As for the 45W and 33W variants, they come with two charging ports, both of the USB Type-C variety. In case you are charging multiple devices, both adapters support 15W charging speeds on a single port. For practical usage, I think most people using an Apple or Samsung flagship device would find the 45W adapter handy, given that is the maximum charging speed supported on both these devices. Moreover, this adapter could also come in handy for charging a secondary device when travelling. Just don't expect it to quickly power up your MacBook or Windows laptop — it could still be useful in keeping them from dying. The 33W adapter seems suited to someone who is on an older generation of flagship devices that supported lower charging speeds. Other than that, it is hard to find a use case for these adapters, especially given that most Android devices these days support 45W of fast charging or more. As for thermals, the adapters remained pretty cool even during the relatively hotter months — which is to be expected with GaN5 technology. The 67W Daily Objects Pop adapter is priced at ₹ 2,999, while the 45W and 33W ones are placed at ₹ 2,499 and ₹ 1,499 respectively. Out of these, I believe the 67W variant offers the most value for money, given that most other commercial GaN chargers also come at a similar price point. I would even go on to say that this is a steal deal if you find the adapter under ₹ 2,000 during festive sales or discounts. The 45W adapter offers decent value, especially to Samsung and Apple flagship users, but the pricing from Daily Objects could be a barrier for many, given that the 67W adapter is just ₹ 500 higher. The 33W adapter, on the other hand, can only be recommended to users who are on a tight budget and want an accessory for their older-generation flagship device.