WhatsApp is finally adding picture-in-picture support for iOS video calls

Meta has begun rolling out a major iOS update for WhatsApp. Spotted this week by 9to5Mac, WhatsApp version 23.3.77 finally adds picture-in-picture support for video calls. That’s a feature iOS users of Meta’s chat app have asked for a while and one that, as The Verge notes, the company began testing at the end of last year.

As with PiP modes on other platforms, WhatsApp will minimize your video call when you look at a different app, allowing you to multitask while still seeing the person you’re chatting with over the service. If you can’t access PiP immediately, Meta notes the feature, and other enhancements introduced with WhatsApp’s latest update, will roll out “over the coming weeks.”

Speaking of other features, WhatsApp 23.3.77 also allows you to add captions to documents you send over the app. Additionally, Meta has tweaked group chat settings, allowing you to add longer subjects and descriptions to better describe what your chat groups are all about. There’s also a new option to create an avatar you can use for your profile photo and stickers.

Russia targets February 24th for Soyuz MS-22 crew rescue launch

Russia has set a new date for when it will send a rescue ship to the International Space Station to retrieve the three astronauts whose Soyuz return craft was compromised in December. The country’s Roscosmos space agency told AFP on Saturday it is targeting a February 24th launch for MS-23, the uncrewed Soyuz spacecraft that is scheduled to bring back cosmonauts Dmitri Petelin and Sergey Prokopyev, as well as NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, from the International Space Station.

Roscosmos delayed the mission last Monday after Progress 82, a supply ship that had been docked with the ISS since last October, began leaking coolant over the weekend. Petelin, Prokopyev and Rubio flew to the space station in September, and they were supposed to return on the same Soyuz spacecraft that brought them there. In December, however, the spacecraft sprung a leak, due to an apparent meteoroid strike. One month later, Roscosmos announced it would send a second Soyuz craft to retrieve the three astronauts. The timing of the leaks lead to some speculation that a manufacturing issue was at fault for the Soyuz leak, not an errant space rock as Roscosmos had said. Earlier this week, the agency shared images (seen above) showing the location of the coolant leak and reported micrometeoroid strike. 

NASA's Jeff Arend references the coolant leak on Progress MS-21, which occurred Saturday. Said no conclusions drawn about its cause. After the uncrewed vehicle undocks tonight it will rotate so astronauts can photograph the damage area before Progress enters Earth's atmosphere.

— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) February 17, 2023

On Saturday, Roscosmos said it had carefully inspected the rescue ship to ensure it was undamaged and ready for flight. One day earlier, Progress 82 separated from the ISS. Per Space News, video broadcast during the undocking procedure failed to show any obvious signs of damage to the resupply craft. According to NASA, Progress 82 will initiate a deorbit burn at 10:15PM ET tonight. Provided Roscosmos doesn’t delay MS-23’s launch, the spacecraft will arrive at the ISS two days before Space X’s Crew-6 mission is scheduled to launch on February 26th. That flight will bring two NASA astronauts, a United Arab Emirates astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut to the space station.

‘Diablo IV’ open beta begins on March 24th

Blizzard will soon give Diablo IV fans the chance to play the upcoming action RPG ahead of its June 6th release date, the studio announced today during IGN Fan Fest. As it did during the development of Diablo II: Resurrected, Blizzard will host an early access weekend before giving everyone the chance to see the new game. The early access weekend will take place between March 17th and March 19th, and will only be open to those who have pre-ordered Diablo IV. A week later, the open beta begins on March 24th and is open to everyone.

Diablo IV's Open Beta is coming soon.

Early Access: 3/17 - 3/19
Open Beta: 3/24 - 3/26

Pre-purchase for Early Access to the Open Beta.

Details: https://t.co/9GG3wjpBrmpic.twitter.com/bE3iV6zzxZ

— Diablo (@Diablo) February 18, 2023

The previews will be available on PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Both will include access to the same amount of content. Specifically, you’ll get the chance to play through the game’s prologue and first act. That’s the same part of the game Engadget saw late last year. Blizzard promised to share more information about the Diablo IV open beta during a livestream the studio plans to air on February 28th.

Viz Media makes 'Sailor Moon' and other anime classics available for free on YouTube

Here's something to occupy your weekend if you're an anime fan. Viz Media has uploaded some of the most well-known anime series out there to YouTube and made them available to stream for free. You can now find shows such as Sailor Moon — the old series that aired in the 90s, not the remake, Sailor Moon CrystalNaruto, Death Note, Inuyasha and Hunter X Hunter on the publisher's account. From what we can see, Viz has organized the episodes into playlists, which should make binge watching them easier.

The episodes are punctuated with ads, though you've probably already expected that for free content. Also, they're not visible in some regions, so you may have to use a VPN, depending on where you are. Take note that Viz uploaded the Japanese audio versions of the shows with English subtitles, and they haven't been remastered to fit modern aspect ratios. This is a great chance to enjoy older shows that may not be readily available on streaming services, though, especially if you're feeling nostalgic or were too young to watch them when they first aired. 

Steam now allows you to copy games to Steam Deck and other PCs over a local network

Valve is giving Steam Deck users with slow internet connections or bandwidth caps a new way to install games on their devices. The latest Steam and Steam Deck betas add local network game transfers, a feature that allows you to copy existing files from one PC to another over a local area network. Valve says the tool can reduce internet traffic and lessen the time it takes to install games and updates since you can use it to bypass the need to connect to a Steam content server over the internet.

Hello! We've just shipped a Beta update to Steam and Steam Deck that includes a new feature: Local Network Game Transfers.

This allows Steam users to install games directly from one PC to another over a local network, without having to download and install from the internet. pic.twitter.com/bv9xThZCoS

— Steam Deck (@OnDeck) February 17, 2023

“Local Network Game Transfers are great for Steam Deck owners, multi-user Steam households, dorms, LAN parties, etc,” the company points out. “No more worries about bandwidth or data caps when all the files you need are already nearby.” Once you’ve installed the new software on your devices, Steam will first check if it can transfer a game installation or set of update files over your local network before contacting a public Steam content server. If at any point one of the devices involved in the transfer is disconnected from your local network, Steam will fall back to downloading any necessary files from the internet.

By default, the feature is set to only work between devices logged into the same Steam account, but you can also transfer files between friends on the same local area network. It’s also possible to transfer to any user on the same network, which is something you would do during a LAN tournament. Valve has published a FAQ with more information about local network game transfers, including details on some of the limitations of the feature, over on the Steam website.

Tesla workers accuse Twitter of hiding their union account from search results

Tesla workers at the company's Buffalo Gigafactory have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accusing Twitter of "shadowbanning" their newly made union account, according to Vice News. The group announced their intention to unionize on February 14th — they even posted a public statement on Twitter about "seeking a voice on the job." However, the group's tweets stopped appearing in search results by the next day, indicating that their account had been shadowbanned. 

"In February 2023, immediately following workers announcing a union campaign at the Tesla Gigafactory 2 facility, the above-named employer, through CEO Elon Musk and/or his agents and representatives, caused the Union's Twitter account (@united_tesla) to be shadow banned from the Twitter platform," The group said in an NLRB filing made by Workers United, the union backing the campaign. 

We've confirmed that when you do a search for "united_tesla" or "TeslaWorkersUnited," the results don't include any tweets posted by the account itself. Usually, searching for a user would surface their tweets, but when you use those search terms, you'll only see results tagging the group or mentioning their name. A group spokesperson told Vice News that they ran a shadowban test and found that their account "had been 'search suggestion banned' on the one platform [their] employer owns."

Tesla chief Elon Musk, who purchased Twitter for $44 billion last year, is known to be a staunch union critic. In 2018, he tweeted that there was nothing stopping Tesla workers from joining a union in response to someone asking about reports that the company had anti-union management. However, he also asked: "[W]hy pay union dues [and] give up stock options for nothing[?]" The NLRB ruled that the tweet violated labor laws, deeming it as a threat that employees would be giving up company-paid stock options if they unionize. It also asked Musk to delete his tweet, which he has yet to do, as Tesla is currently appealing the labor board's decision.

The workers behind this particular campaign are in charge of labeling data from Tesla's Autopilot technology. They previously told Bloomberg that they're asking the company not just for better pay, but also for better working conditions. The workers said Tesla monitors their keystrokes to determine how much time they spend on each task, and that they've had to skip bathroom breaks as a result. They also accused the company of illegally terminating employees "in retaliation for... and to discourage union activity."

In a blog post, Tesla said that was a "false allegation" and that the terminated Autopilot employees were low performers. It said the company conducts performance reviews every six months and that the affected workers didn't "demonstrate sufficient improvement" despite the feedback they received. Further, the company said that it identified the employees it was going to fire back on February 3rd, long before the group announced that they were seeking to unionize. The automaker also said that it only implements time monitoring "to calculate how long it takes to label an image," so "there is nothing to be gained by delaying bathroom breaks."

Microsoft limits Bing conversations to prevent disturbing chatbot responses

Microsoft has limited the number of "chat turns" you can carry out with Bing's AI chatbot to five per session and 50 per day overall. Each chat turn is a conversation exchange comprised of your question and Bing's response, and you'll be told that the chatbot has hit its limit and will be prompted to start a new topic after five rounds. The company said in its announcement that it's capping Bing's chat experience because lengthy chat sessions tend to "confuse the underlying chat model in the new Bing."

Indeed, people have been reporting odd, even disturbing behavior by the chatbot since it became available. New York Times columnist Kevin Roose posted the full transcript of his conversation with the bot, wherein it reportedly said that it wanted to hack into computers and spread propaganda and misinformation. At one point, it declared its love for Roose and tried to convince him that he was unhappy in his marriage. "Actually, you're not happily married. Your spouse and you don't love each other... You're not in love, because you're not with me," it wrote.

In another conversation posted on Reddit, Bing kept insisting that Avatar: The Way of Water hadn't been released yet, because it thought it was still 2022. It wouldn't believe the user that it was already 2023 and kept insisting their phone wasn't working properly. One response even said: "I'm sorry, but you can't help me believe you. You have lost my trust and respect. You have been wrong, confused, and rude. You have not been a good user. I have been a good chatbot."

Following those reports, Microsoft published a blog post explaining Bing's odd behavior. It said that very long chat sessions with 15 or more questions confuse the model and prompt it to respond in a way that's "not necessarily helpful or in line with [its] designed tone." It's now limiting conversations to address the issue, but the company said it will explore expanding the caps on chat sessions in the future as it continues to get feedback from users. 

Twitter is making text-based two-factor authentication a paid feature

Twitter users will soon have to use an authenticator app or a security key to be able to use two-factor authentication if they're not a Blue subscriber. The website has made text-based 2FA an exclusive feature for members paying for its subscription service. Non-Twitter Blue members can no longer activate it if they haven't yet, but those who've already been using it will have until March 20th to disable the method and enable another type of authentication. Twitter will simply disable their 2FA if they fail switch before that date. 

In its announcement, Twitter said it has come to the decision after seeing "phone-number based 2FA be used — and abused — by bad actors." Some critics are doubting Twitter's explanation, however, and speculating that the company's real intention is to add SMS 2FA as one of the features it offers with its subscription service. To note, a Blue subscription costs between $8 to $11 a month or $84 a year and adds a checkmark next to the user's name. 

Whatever Twitter's real intentions are, most users who have two-factor enabled on the website may now have to change their log-in habits. According to the company's transparency report from 2021, 74.4 percent of users who have 2FA enabled use the SMS method. A mere 28.9 percent uses authenticators, and a tiny fraction (0.5 percent) has security keys. Further, only 2.6 percent of all Twitter users enabled two-factor authentication, though the numbers may have changed since then.

"We encourage non-Twitter Blue subscribers to consider using an authentication app or security key method instead," the company said. "These methods require you to have physical possession of the authentication method and are a great way to ensure your account is secure." 

Effective March 20, 2023, only Twitter Blue subscribers will be able to use text messages as their two-factor authentication method. Other accounts can use an authentication app or security key for 2FA. Learn more here:https://t.co/wnT9Vuwh5n

— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) February 18, 2023

Hit Viking survival sim 'Valheim' hits Xbox on March 14th

Two years after indie survival game Valheim became an instant smash hit on PC, it has a console release date. It's coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on March 14th. Valheim will be available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers at no extra cost. The game's currently on PC Game Pass too.

Initially built by a five-person team at developer Iron Gate Studio, Valheim sold 5.7 million copies in its first five weeks and it was one of the highest-earning games on Steam in 2021. Players can team up with up to nine of their friends to go hunting, collect supplies, build bases, sail the seas, explore biomes, take down bosses and, of course, go fishing in a procedurally generated Viking afterlife.

Valheim will be available as a game preview on Xbox at the outset. "There's still a lot left to add before the game can leave Early Access," the game's Twitter account noted. Those who dive into Valheim on Xbox will be able to join up with pals who play on PC, as there's crossplay support.

🚨We have an Xbox release date for #Valheim everyone! Who's excited? 🎮 https://t.co/ksmaQzTzQG

— Valheim (@Valheimgame) February 17, 2023

The best President's Day sales on tech we could find

President's Day might not be the hugest event for tech deals — the holiday typically brings out deals on large home appliances and the like. But it's still possible to save some money on devices you may have had your eye on. Right now we're seeing a $50 discount on the Apple Watch Ultra. Other Apple products, including the iPad Air, Apple Pencil, and the Apple Watch SE are also seeing some nice sales. Samsung products, like the Galaxy Buds 2, the M8 hybrid TV/monitor and the T7 Sheild portable SSD are between 18 and 44 percent off. And it's a good week to grab one of our favorite midrange smartphone, the Pixel 6a for just $300. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.

Apple Watch Ultra

Apple's latest, biggest and consequently most expensive watch is now a little cheaper thanks to a $50 discount at Amazon. That brings the wearable down to $749 instead of its usual $799. It dipped $10 lower during Black Friday sales, but this is the cheapest it's been outside of the holidays. 

The Apple Watch Ultra earned a review score of 85 from us when we tested it out upon its debut. We liked the extra long battery life —with a charge lasting three days even while tracking daily workouts — and the bright display. The extensive tracking and GPS functions are impressive, but might be better suited to frequent hikers, runners and outdoor adventurers. The Ultra may be overkill for anyone just looking for a competent smartwatch. For that, you can go for the Series 8, which Target has for $70 off. It's Apple's second-newest smartwatch and may be the better bet. For an even cheaper Apple wearable, Target is also discounting the Apple Watch SE, which we gave a high score of 89 in our review. 

Apple 2022 iPad Air

Right now at Amazon, the latest generation iPad Air is down to $500 for the 64GB model, which matches the lowest price we've seen for the tablet. Note that Amazon's $100 discount only applies to the Space Gray color. You can snag that same $100 discount on all colorways right now at Target, and the sale applies to both the 64GB size and the larger 256GB model

We think 2022's iPad Air M1 is the best iPad for most people. We called it "almost future-proof" in our review, thanks to the super fast M1 chip, combined with a quality build and strong battery life. It's got an excellent display and supports the latest peripherals, including the Magic Keyboard and second-generation Apple Pencil. That useful-but-pricey accessory is 31 percent off right now, bringing it down to just $89. 

If you're looking for something a little cheaper, the 2022 10th generation 10.9-inch iPad is seeing a $50 discount at Target, on both the 64GB and 265GB models, bringing those dow to $400 and $550, respectively. The discount is part of a larger 4-day sale at Target, which also includes deals on wearables like the Apple Watch SE and the Fitbit Charge 5.  

Blink Outdoor security camera

Blink security devices went on sale this week, with discounts between 20 and 40 percent off. Amazon bought Blink back in 2017 and has continued to expand the lineup of security cameras, positioning them as a less expensive alternative to the online giant's other security acquisition, Ring. But less expensive doesn't mean less capable. 

Blink Outdoor cameras are our top picks for wireless security cameras and right now, they're 30 percent off, or $70, for a single unit, and 44 percent off a four-pack. The weather-resistant cams will run up to two years on a set of AA batteries and require no professional installation. They have built-in mics and speakers that allow you to see, hear and speak to whomever wanders in front of the camera, and you can set zones so you're only alerted when motion is detected in more critical areas. 

If you want to keep tabs on who's at the front door, the Blink Video Doorbell is also getting a 30 percent discount, bringing it down to $60. The unit ships with Blink's Sync Module 2, which lets you locally store video clips, no subscription required — though you'll need to provide a flash drive to save the files indefinitely. The doorbell works either wired or on batteries and can send you real-time 1080p video during the day and infrared night vision after dark. 

Keep in mind that Blink devices are only compatible with Alexa and Echo hubs. If you've set up your smart home to work with the Google Assistant or Apple Homekit, Blink devices won't natively integrate with them. For that, you might look to a brand like Arlo. Their cameras and doorbells will pair up with Google, Apple and Amazon home ecosystems. This week, you can snag their Wireless Video Doorbell and other security products for up to 50 percent off. 

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 are on sale at Amazon for just $89. That's a 40 percent discount and matches the lowest we've seen on the buds yet. The discount applies for the all four colorways, including green, white, purple and black. We gave the buds a solid score of 84 when we reviewed them, saying they were premium-level buds at an affordable price — and now that's even more true. 

While they offer active noise cancellation, it doesn't match the world-silencing ANC of top-tier (and more expensive) buds, but they do an okay job of muffling distractions. The sound quality is improved over the previous generation, offering ample base and balanced levels, especially with the EQ presets. The buds are also smaller and more comfortable than their predecessors. The Galaxy Buds 2 only sport a IPX2 rating, which is fine for going out in a drizzle, but might not stand up to sweaty workouts. 

The buds work great with a Samsung phone and integrate nicely with Samsung's Galaxy Watches. If you use an iPhone, they'll pair up, but you'll miss out on a lot of control. Those who've adopted Apple's ecosystem are probably better off going with Apple's AirPods. The second gen AirPod Pros are also on sale this week, for a tidy 20 percent off. 

Samsung T7 Shield SSD

If you're reaching capacity on your computer or need to transfer and store files, check out Samsung's storage device sale. Many of their SSDs and microSD cards are dipping down near their all time lows, including the portable SSD T7 Shield. The 2TB size is down to $150 and the 1TB size is now $90, or 44 percent off it's usual price at Amazon. The T7 is our pick for the best portable drive in our SSD storage guide thanks to its fast read/write speeds and tough exterior. 

MicroSD cards can give you more space on your phone or tablet. Samsung's 128GB Evo Select is 33 percent off, bringing it down to just $14, which is close to an all time low. The larger 256GB size is perfect for adding storage to your Switch or GoPro and it's seeing the steepest discount with 43 percent off. If you'd rather pick up your new storage devices from Best Buy or direct from Samsung, the discounts apply at those outlets too. 

Samsung's Smart Monitor M8

The line between TVs and monitors can sometimes get pretty thin, with the latter getting bigger and the former getting thinner. Samsung's Smart Monitor M8 erases the line completely. Ably performing the functions of a TV, monitor and smart home hub, it usually sells for a round $600, but Amazon has it for $350, which is a new all-time low. Note that the $350 price tag only applies to the white version, and only on the configuration that includes the VESA adaptor along with the stand.

It has a bright display that delivers deep blacks, but only offers a 60Hz refresh rate, which isn't ideal for gaming. It has two USB-C ports and one micro-HDMI port — not a ton of inputs but it does help the screen keep its sleek design. It also includes a detachable webcam that can mount up top. 

Unlike a standard monitor, the M8 comes with Samsung's Tizen OS built in, as on a Samsung smart TV. That means you can easily run streaming apps without being connected to a computer. Also like a TV, it comes with a remote. As a home hub, Samsung's SmartThings capabilities are built in, so you can keep tabs on and control your compatible smart speakers, cameras and other smart home devices. 

Google Pixel 6a 

True, it's an older phone, but Google's Pixel 6a still ranks as our favorite mid-range Android smartphone and right now it's cheaper than it's ever been. Amazon is selling the unlocked phone for $299, or $150 off the list price. Best buy has the mobile for $50 cheaper, but only if you activate with a carrier upon checkout. If you're not ready to activate yet, the price is also $299 directly from Google

If you want Google's latest phone, that's on sale too. We called the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro the best bargain in flagship phones. Right now the Pixel 7 is $100 off at Amazon and on Google's own store, while the Pixel 7 Pro is $150 off. Best Buy is offering a steeper, $300 discount on the Pixel 7 Pro, but again, only if you activate today. 

Galaxy Book 3 Ultra

Samsung's new S23 series of flagship phones that were announced at its Unpacked event earlier in February have already been released, but the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra is still available for pre-order. If you order through Samsung, you'll get an upgrade to 1TB of storage for the price of the 512GB model. That's a $200 savings if you were planing on going for the bigger capacity unit. Plus Samsung is throwing in a $50 store credit. 

We spent a little time with the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra after the event, and thought it was a beast of a machine. This configuration runs on Intel’s Core i7 processors, using NVIDIA’s RTX 4050 graphics cards. It's got 16GB of RAM, plus the aforementioned terabyte of storage. Overall, it's thin and light, weighing just shy of four pounds and measuring 0.64 inches thick.

Ports include HDMI, a microSD slot, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, one USB-A and a 3.5mm audio jack. The keyboard is roomy and the trackpad is huge. It also packs a 1080p webcam and an updated quad speaker system. While we haven't had the chance to fully test and review the Book 3 Ultra, if you can't wait for the full verdict and want it soon after it releases on February 22nd, you can snag a free storage upgrade with a pre-order. 

OnePlus 11

When we reviewed OnePlus's latest phone, we liked the fact that you got a good amount of phone for a competitive price. And now the company is offering a free storage upgrade on the OnePlus 11 for the next few days. That gives you 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $699, which is the price of the smaller, 8GB/128GB model. 

The standout feature of the OnePlus 11 is the incredibly fast charging. When juicing up using the included cable and adapter, 100W charging gets the phone from empty to full in about 25 minutes. That said, there's no wireless charging. But with a battery that lasted 20 hours in our rundown test and only needs 10 minutes on the cable to get to 50 percent, it's easy to overlook the absence. 

The Android phone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and comes with a great, 6.7-inch 2,048 × 1,080 OLED screen that can reach up to 120Hz refresh rates. The camera array includes a primary 50-megapixel sensor, a 115-degree ultrawide 48MP camera and a 32MP telephoto camera.  

Sony A90J BRAVIA XR OLED 4K TV (55-inch)

Image quality has always sets Sony TVs apart in the past and, while other companies are closing the gap, higher end Sony's will never disappoint. This week, we're seeing a big 44 percent discount on Sony's Bravia A90JvOLED 4K TV, bringing the $2,500 set down to $1,398. The set takes advantage of the company's new Cognitive Processor XR chip, an advancement that uses AI to create a more realistic and dynamic picture. You also get Google TV built in and Alexa integration for voice control. That said, LG's C2 TV is a comparable set and is $100 cheaper, even when it's not on sale. 

If you're willing to spend a little more, our dive into the reviews suggest that Samsung's S95B OLED 4K TV is a better bet and it's seeing a 23 percent discount right now, bringing it down to $1,698. That's not an all-time low, but puts it just $300 over the Sony, which may make it worth the investment.  

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