With usernames now tied to WhatsApp accounts, users can do away with dishing out their phone number to just anyone. WABetaInfo was the first to report on the addition, which was spotted yesterday. It reckons the rollout has taken so long — upwards of three years — because WhatsApp wants to ensure that the rollout is stable from the word go. That means adjusting the code bit by bit to make sure every feature is compatible with usernames.

Patiently waiting

Even being part of WhatsApp’s exclusive beta system isn’t enough to guarantee access to usernames, it seems. Stuff’s own beta-enabled Android device wasn’t privy to the feature as of this morning. To find out if you’re one of the lucky few, visit Settings and locate the dedicated Username option. Tap it to get started.

There are a couple of rules users need to follow before selecting a username. First, usernames cannot start with “www.” nor end with any sort of domain name (i.e. ‘.com’ or ‘.net’). Seems fair. Next, a chosen username (3-35 characters) must also contain at least one letter, to avoid bots filling out the list with only symbols and numbers. Chosen characters can only include lowercase letters, numbers, periods, and underscores.

Read More: WhatsApp’s real-time noise cancellation aims to make calls more bearable

More important is the availability of a user’s chosen username. Usernames currently in use across Facebook or Instagram cannot be chosen here, unless the user can prove they own those accounts as well. Completing this verification will require the user to link their WhatsApp account to Meta’s larger Accounts Center.

As an added measure of security, the feature is launching alongside ‘ username keys’. These are entirely optional, and make it impossible for any rando to search up your username and begin chatting at any moment. Whilst setting up a username, users can set a four-digit code that others will need when adding contacts. The user must share this key with anyone they hope to begin chatting with.

Source

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WhatsApp answers the call

WABetaInfo first discovered the feature was in the works back in March, though it now seems WhatsApp is rolling it out to a few of its beta testers. Specifically, in the beta 2.26.14.1 update for Android owners. The feature is seemingly enabled by default, meaning users won’t have to dig into the settings when it launches officially.

Noise cancellation is headed for both audio and video calls and will attempt to isolate the speaker to increase audio quality. Whether WhatsApp can get it right — reducing background noise without making the speaker sound like they’re trapped underwater — remains to be seen. To get the best results, it’s suggested that both users on a call have the feature enabled. If it isn’t everything you dreamed of, the setting can be toggled off at any time.

The feature’s arrival on the beta platform is a good sign that it could be gearing up for a wider rollout. It’s still rolling out gradually, even for beta testers, however. When it does eventually land on your device, the feature can be toggled on/off right from the call menu. That should be in the coming weeks, if WhatsApp sticks to its MO.

Source

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Netflix, obviously, doesn’t see Playground that way. As any business might, the streaming service is pitching the new “curated space where parents know kids are entertained, engaged, and enriched” as a good thing.

Playground of the damned?

It’ll probably be a good thing… for Netflix. The new kid-friendly addition will include a new “preschool and kids’ series, films, and games lineup,” plus “comprehensive parental controls.” According to the company, the platform tweak “lets kids discover at their own pace while giving parents added confidence and peace of mind.” There’s no mention of how long those tablets or smartphones will keep the kiddies occupied.

But it does sound attractive for both parents and children. The new Netflix Playground app is a standalone install, is completely free to all subscription tiers, and works offline. Viewing and playing games should be possible as long as the source device has power.

A selection of themed games, featuring Peppa Pig, Sesame Street, Dr Seuss characters, colouring books (sort of), and a farting Tyrannosaurus (yes, really), is included. So are loads of kid-centric programming, with Cocomelon, Sesame Street, Ms Rachel, and Trash Truck joining the Playground lineup on the video front. Parental controls, including PIN access to adult profiles is also included. That should keep the little ones firmly focused on the brightly-coloured distraction fodder without accidentally showing them Robocop.

Netflix Playground has already launched in several countries, but will go global — including South Africa — on 28 April. After that, managing screen time will get that much harder for parents. Still, that’s the whole job. Just because there’s an entertainment river nearby doesn’t mean you’re forced to throw your offspring into it.

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It’s not full WhatsApp, but it’s close enough

The native CarPlay app is currently in beta and should reach users sooner rather than later. Like WhatsApp’s native support on your smartwatch, it requires the user’s smartphone to be nearby to function properly. With WhatsApp installed, tapping the icon will now go to a dedicated chat list, which serves as the home page.

Opening a chat won’t, however, show the full conversation history — and only shows the last sent message across individual chats. “This makes sense since the driver shouldn’t be reading entire conversations while on the road. When they are off the road, users can easily access the complete chat history on their smartphone.”

Read More: WhatsApp introduces multi-account support for iOS users, at last

Though chat history is unavailable, users can still view the profile and phone number of their contacts. Pinned contacts from your smartphone will be carried over, too. Tap a contact, and you’ll be presented with the option to send a regular message or call them (using WhatsApp’s in-call service). Call history can also be accessed.

The feature is currently available to a select few beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for iOS from the TestFlight app. Only those already enrolled in the programme can take advantage of WhatsApp on CarPlay. Its early release to beta testers is a good sign that it’ll be released publicly in the coming weeks.

Source

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Okay, fine, you’ll get a few other features non-paying users won’t have. But, as far as we can make out, handing over a monthly subscription won’t stop Meta from turning your clicks, views, preferences, and other things into ad sales. Good thing the new paid tier of Instagram is only in the testing phase in the Philippines.

Instagram Plus… what?

At least, that’s according to one Matt Navarra, who has screenshots of the apparent service ‘upgrade’ over on Threads. The existence of Instagram Plus was later confirmed by a Meta spokesperson. According to the company, “a few [unspecified] countries” are seeing the subscription service being trialled in their respective regions. At least pricing, as far as is known, isn’t awful.

A Plus subscription seems to give users the ability to create various Stories audiences for targeted reach. It also provides extra data on Stories rewatches, extends when Stories expire, and lets subscribers view said sections on other accounts without showing up as a view. That’s good for Instagram corporate spying, we suppose? There are other features, too. Whether they’re worth twenty bucks a month is probably up to the user.

It’s not like there hasn’t been talk of an Instagram subscription for five years or more. Earlier this year, a paid version of Meta’s WhatsApp was also outed. But, circling back to that bit about data harvesting, it’s unlikely that handing over money for new features will stop the company from using its standard tactics of turning clicks into advertising data.

In other words, users of these (and other) platforms will still be milked for everything they’ve got. They’ll just have to pay for it now. It’ll pay off for Meta, too. If Instagram Plus keeps its current pricing, goes global, and every one of Instagram’s three billion users pays up, the social media giant will make approximately R60 billion ($3.5 billion) a month. Plus, they’ll still sell your data to advertisers. Sounds very… lucrative.

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I hertz myself, today

It’s backed up by science, too. The folks at the University of Nagoya conducted a study, claiming that a 100Hz sine wave at 75-85dB for several minutes will restore a user’s balance and alleviate motion sickness. Ideally, anyway. Samsung claims that listening to the frequency for even a minute can reduce the effects for up to two hours.

“However, it only works if no music or other noises interfere with the sine wave. Furthermore, the frequency must be exactly 100 Hz, and both ears must be exposed to the sound for at least one minute before driving,” it said (translated from German to English).

Of course, Samsung would tell you that Hearapy works best with the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, but there’s nothing to stop you from booting up the app with another pair of ‘buds hooked up. Whether it’ll work as well as Samsung’s buds, though… This is what the company had to say on the subject:

“Thanks to a wide frequency range and intelligent noise cancellation, the latest generation headphones reproduce it clearly and powerfully.”

It seems the push comes from Samsung’s desire for self-preservation. Unless Samsung has specifically tuned the app to the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro — it doesn’t even mention its other ‘buds for sale — there’s a good chance any pair will do. And if not, no harm done. The app is free and available on the Google Play Store here. You never know, it may just come in handy for your next road trip.

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Based on last year, the American price increase isn’t going to stay localised. Last year, the US saw prices go up in January. South Africa followed suit a few months later. The current cost increase will probably follow a similar path here at home.

Ahoy there, Netflix

Everything on the platform will get $1 (R20) and $2 (R35) more expensive. Every tier is affected, from Netflix Standard (which goes from $8/m to $9/m) up to Premium ($25/m to $27/m). The cost for adding extra members onto a standard or ad-supported account will also increase by a dollar apiece.

The increases haven’t rolled out yet, and according to a company representative (via Engadget), “Existing members will be notified by email a month before the new prices are applied to them.” The reason given for the pending increase is that altered “prices in the U.S […] reflect improvements to our wide range of entertainment and the quality of our service.”

There’s no way of knowing exactly when the cost increase will hit Americans, but it should be soon. After that, we can start a countdown for similar action in other regions, including South Africa. If we’re lucky, South Africa’s Basic plan will remain untouched again. The others will likely rise between ten and twenty bucks apiece. And if we’re unlucky, the streamer will swap out SA’s Basic plan with its ad-supported tier (and still charge more for it).

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It’s been a long time coming

First, and most important, is multiple account support for iOS. No longer will iPhone users be condemned to switching phones when dealing with their mistress taking care of business. Now, they can simply switch over to their alt account with a few button presses. Only two accounts are allowed, so anything beyond that will require a second device. A profile picture at the bottom of the screen will let you know which account is active at a glance.

Setting one up is as simple as visiting Settings on your primary device. From there, tap the ‘+‘ next to your name. Tap Agree and Continue when presented with the ToS. Select your country and enter your phone number. Hit Continue to receive a code. Punch the six-digit code in. Enter your name, then tap Next.

Another boon for iOS users (or soon-to-be former iOS users) is cross-platform transfers, now supporting the migration of chat history from iOS to Android devices. It’s also simplified the process for iOS users, making the jump to a new iPhone. It’ll bring everything with the transfer, from individual chats to your curated settings.

If storage is an issue, WhatsApp now allows users to clear out large files from individual chats, without ever deleting the chat itself. “Simply tap the chat name and select Manage Storage. You can also choose to clear just media files when clearing a chat – keeping your chat history intact,” it said.

The rest — like ‘stickers that match your mood’ by suggesting them right as you type emojis — is certainly not worth the trouble of its own announcement. The same goes for allowing users to edit their photos with Meta AI right in the app, or ask Meta’s chatbot for help when writing a message. All these features have already begun rolling out to users globally, though some may take some time to hit your specific device.

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Baked into your SongDNA

The feature, announced yesterday, is essentially a family tree (or web) for your favourite tracks, showing who wrote, produced, or had any other hand in the track’s creation. Spotify throws it all together using data gathered by the artists, and “supplemented by community-sourced data.”

“SongDNA is designed to make a song’s creative lineage more transparent so fans can easily explore the people and influences behind the music they love,” said Jacqueline Ankner, Spotify’s head of songwriter & publisher partnerships.

The feature is still in beta, and won’t appear on every track right off the bat. Spotify’s example involved Kendrick Lamar’s luther, showing off SZA as the track’s main feature artist, Sam Dew as an additional vocalist, etc. The little bubbles that spawn are all clickable, expanding a featured or sampled artist’s reach.

Read More: Spotify’s new playlist setting does what the AI DJ won’t

The feature began rolling out yesterday to both Android and iOS users, though the feature has yet to hit Stuff’s Android device at the time of writing. Although the feature has already hit some devices, the rest of us will likely be waiting until April. When it arrives, only those Premium subscribers will get access.

As for Artist Profile Protection, users will never see the intricacies of the feature, but the results will hopefully speak for themselves. The idea is to give artists more control over the music that appears under their profile. Why that wasn’t already the case, we couldn’t tell you. But it’s a step in the right direction, one that’ll hopefully stem the flow of AI slop infecting your Discover Weekly playlists. The feature is still opt-in for artists, though.

“Music has been landing on the wrong artist pages across streaming services, and the rise of easy-to-produce AI tracks has made the problem worse,” Spotify said in its announcement. “That’s not the experience we want artists to have on Spotify, and that’s why we’ve made protecting artist identity a top priority for 2026.”

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But, because advanced smartphone users can sometimes be bloody-minded, it’ll still be possible to install your outsourced apps. There’s just a new process to follow. One that makes it extremely clear that if or when something happens, it’s entirely your fault.

Android guardrails

Since Android users are going to figure it out anyway, Google posted the method for getting back to side-loading apps along with an explainer about why it has changed. The company could have locked the platform down harder, but some users want to “take educated risks to install software from unverified developers.” Here is how you’ll do that.

First, the usual. Enable Developer Mode in Android’s system settings. There are a few ways you can accomplish this. Second, the operating system will ask users whether they’re being ‘coached’. In other words, is there a stranger on a call with you telling you that this will definitely remove the viruses you never knew you had?

Here’s where it gets inconvenient. The ability to side-load has been pushed back—Android won’t allow it immediately. The first time, at any rate. Once the ‘I’m not being scammed’ prompt is passed, the phone reboots to cut off communications. Then there’s a one-day waiting period before side-loading apps can begin.

The reason given for this once-off cooling-down period is that “[s]cammers rely on manufactured urgency, so this breaks their spell and gives you time to think.”

Once the wait is over, side-loading is confirmed by user biometrics or the phone’s unlock PIN. There’s a further choice added, right at the end. Side-loading can be enabled for just a week (presumably, you’ll have to go through all of this again), or permanently (in which case, you won’t).

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