Apps
Google will end Stadia in January, which is not surprising.

Up to January 18th, players will still have access to Stadia game catalog.
After only three years, Google is ending its Stadia game streaming service, despite assertions to the contrary made as recently as July. As of January 18, 2023, players will still have access to and be able to play their games, according to the firm. Stadia will then be added to the extensive list of items Google have killed.
All money invested in Stadia will be returned in full. Stadia vice president and general manager Phil Harrison stated in a blog post that “We will be refunding all Stadia hardware purchases made through the Google Store, as well as any games and add-on content purchases made through the Stadia store.” “We anticipate completing the bulk of reimbursements by mid-January 2023. Players may find more information about this procedure in our Help Center.”
You may no longer make purchases at the Stadia store since it is now closed. Additionally, in-game purchases have been turned off. According to Google, the majority of refunds will be handled automatically, and most Stadia gear won’t need to be returned (so hey, at least some people will get a free Chromecast Ultra out of this mess). Google won’t pay back subscriptions to Stadia Pro in the meantime. As of right now, if you have a current subscription, the firm won’t charge you to access your game collection or other Pro benefits until Stadia closes down.
The “difficult decision’s” justification is predictable. It’s unfortunate, though, because the streaming technology at the heart of Stadia works quite well and the service has a dedicated, though ultimately limited, community. Google stated that the service “hasn’t acquired the traction with consumers that we expected.” As a result of the choice, Amazon Luna, NVIDIA GeForce Now, and Xbox Game Pass are currently at the forefront of cloud gaming.
Basically we recommend AMAZON LUNA for your gaming needs.
Apps
Now WhatsApp users can log into two accounts simultaneously

WhatsApp launched dual-account support today. You can switch between accounts in WhatsApp.
Mark Zuckerberg announced the feature on Facebook and said it would soon be available.
People used to need two phones for two WhatsApp accounts. The company now allows two accounts on one phone. App cloning lets users use multiple WhatsApp instances on Xiaomi and Oppo phones.
“Helpful for switching between accounts – such as your work and personal – now you no longer need to log out each time, carry two phones or worry about messaging from the wrong place,” the company wrote in a blog post.
Users can add accounts under Settings > Add Account. Your second SIM or multi-SIM phone is needed for setup. Account-specific notifications and privacy settings are available, the company said.
WhatsApp discouraged fake apps to prevent fraud.
WhatsApp added Android passkey support this week, enabling access without SMS-based two-factor authentication.
Apps
X experiments with a $1-per-year new user fee

X, formerly Twitter, announced today that it will experiment with charging “new unverified” users $1 per year to interact with posts. The company said this test is live in New Zealand and the Philippines and won’t affect existing users.
Users can post, like, repost, reply, bookmark, and quote for that fee. Free users get a read-only account to view posts and follow accounts.
This “Not A bot” program is not a profit driver, according to the company’s support account, but reason is hard to trust. The Elon Musk-owned company claims this program will reduce spam.
We created this new test to improve our already successful efforts to reduce spam, platform manipulation, and bot activity while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee. It does not generate profits, the company said.
The company said it would share spam-fighting program results on its support page.
Musk announced that X will charge “a small monthly payment” to use its service. The test program pays annually, but ethos is the same.
X (then Twitter) started requiring logins to view posts in June. Days later, the platform allowed logged-out users to view posts.
One year after Musk’s $44 billion acquisition, Simialrweb reports X traffic has dropped. The company has taken drastic measures to cut costs and make money.
In an interview last month, CEO Linda Yaccarino predicted X’s 2024 profitability. The former NBCU executive avoided discussing X’s user fees in the interview.
As of now, X only offers a $8 monthly plan. According to recently discovered code, the company may introduce three premium tiers, one ad-free.
Android
Pixel 8 Pro runs Google’s generative AI models

Rick Osterloh, Google’s SVP of devices and services, says the Pixel 8 Pro will be the first hardware to run Google’s generative AI models.
At an event today, Osterloh said the Pixel 8 Pro’s custom-built Tensor G3 chip, which accelerates AI workloads, can run “distilled” versions of Google’s text- and image-generating models to power image editing and other apps.
Osterloh said, “We’ve worked closely with our research teams across Google to take advantage of their most advanced foundation models and distill them into a version efficient enough to run on our flagship Pixel.”
Google improved Magic Eraser, its photo-editing tool, to remove larger objects and people smudge-free using on-device models. Osterloh claims that this improved Magic Eraser creates new pixels to fill in shot gaps, producing a higher-quality image.
Osterloh says a new on-device model will “intelligently” sharpen and enhance photo details, improving zoom.
On-device processing benefits audio recording. The Pixel 8 Pro’s recording app will soon summarize meeting highlights.
Gboard will use a large language model on the Pixel 8 Pro to power smart replies. Osterloh claims that the upgraded Gboard will provide “higher-quality” reply suggestions and better conversational awareness.
Osterloh said an update in December will add on-device generative AI features except for Magic Eraser, which appears on the Pixel 8 Pro at launch.
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