New video recap feature rolls out to Microsoft Teams
Microsoft has a new option for users of Teams that provides a video-based TL:DR version of meetings. Called simply “video recap”, the optional feature creates a quick summary of meetings which can be useful as a memory refresher, or for anyone who simply was not present – or simply not paying attention.
Recaps combine things that were shared during the meeting, transcripts, and highlights of important sections of video. It is currently available as a public preview.
Spotify teams up with Bookshop.org to sell physical books
No longer content with limiting itself to being a music streaming service, Spotify branched out into audiobooks, podcasts and videos. While this moved away from the original concept of the platform, the focus remained on streaming – now this is changing.
Following an announcement earlier in the year, a new partnership with Bookshop.org means that Spotify is now able to offer physical books for sale. The company has also expanded the feature set of audiobooks.
YouTube will hold back on ads when chat heats up in live streams
Google has made a somewhat surprising announcement that means you could start to see fewer ads on YouTube. The company says that it will monitor chat engagement during live streamed events and hold back on ads when there is a lot of conversation taking place.
The change is Google's way of “protecting the vibe” helping to improve the overall user experience by eliminating a point of frustration. There are various reasons ads could be paused, and Google shares more details in a blog post.
Windows 11 setup is now quicker thanks to update skipping
Anyone who has installed Windows 11 from scratch will know that it can be frustrating – and for various reasons. Installing an operating system is rarely a quick process, but with Windows 11 insisting on downloading updates from the get-go, it can be a surprisingly drawn-out affair.
But this is changing. A significant shift in the way the installation process works means that the whole thing could be completed in half the time you’re used to.
Google Meet is now available on Android Auto
Having been announced recently, Google Meet has now officially started to rollout to Android Auto. Just as with the CarPlay version of Meet, there are some heavy restrictions on how the app can be used, particularly when a vehicle is in motion.
Perhaps most bafflingly, however, there is a surprising lack of support for work profile accounts. What can you expect from the Android Auto implementation of the meeting app? Google has a lot of information to share.
Microsoft is killing off Outlook Lite next month
If you are a user of Outlook Lite, Microsoft has some bad news for you. In just a few short weeks the lightweight email client will be retired.
While the killing off of Outlook Lite is not completely new news, the time line for its disappearance has never been revealed in any detail by Microsoft. But now we know just when the app will be shut down
Don’t panic – YouTube is not getting 90-second ads
Ads on YouTube are a major irritation for users who do not pay for a subscription to the platform – but they keep things free. There have been battles for years between Google, YouTube users and ad blocking tools as there is an endless dance between new techniques for blocking ads, new ways to push ads through, and so on.
Recently, users have been disturbed by the sudden appearance of incredibly lengthy ads that could not be skipped. Weighing at a hefty 90 seconds, are these new advertising formats what YouTube users have in their futures?
Android Auto gets YouTube support of sorts
The number of apps supported by Android Auto has grown over the years, but at a fairly glacial pace. The very nature of the ecosystem means that Android Auto does not naturally lend itself to all apps that can be found on Android, but there are many key titles that have been notable by their absence.
One such app is YouTube, but now the app has finally shown up. But before you get too excited, this is a very, very long way from the YouTube experience you are used to on other platforms – although this is something that could change over time.
Google finally extends Gmail end-to-end encryption to mobile devices
Google has now extended Gmail’s end-to-end encryption to include iOS and Android devices. In bringing E2EE to mobile devices, Google is making it easier to send and receive encrypted messages without the need for third party tools.
No action is needed for anyone who has the Gmail app installed as encrypted messages will be delivered in the same way as non-encrypted ones. For anyone who does not have the Gmail app, a web browser can be used to read encrypted messages.
Spotify now lets you completely disable videos
Having started life as a music streaming platform, Spotify has evolved over the years so it now offers much more. In addition to podcasts and audio books, there are also music videos and videos that accompany other types of content.
If you are among those who would prefer to keep Spotify as an audio-first experience, new controls to switch off videos will be welcomed. The company is introducing a way to cut back on the distractions so you can focus on precisely the content you are interested in.
Microsoft is introducing a way to pause updates for Windows 11
With updates for Windows 11 being problematic for so many people so frequently, it is little wonder that users would like to be able to avoid them sometimes. Microsoft is aware that this is something that people have been asking for, and it is testing a way to pause updates.
It is, of course, possible to simply disable automatic updates to avoid unexpected changes to your system, but this is something of a drastic approach. Microsoft is now looking at a way for users to opt out of receiving updates for a very specific period of time before having them enabled once again.
Microsoft is making massive changes to the Windows Insider program
The Windows Insider program has been with us for a number of years now, giving eager users a way to try out early preview versions of Windows 11. For a long time there have been different channels offering more experimental and less stable versions and others offering those which are nearly ready for public release.
Microsoft has just announced significant changes to the way the program works including cutting back to just two primary release channels. Things are also being made clearer so anyone signed up for a given channel will have a far better idea of what to expect from the updates and releases they receive.
How to force Chrome to use vertical tabs
It is something that a lot of Chrome users have been waiting for for a very long time – the ability to switch from a horizontal tab bar to a vertical one. But even though vertical tabs were rolled out in Chrome 147, you may well find that you cannot access the option.
All is not lost, however. There is a way to force Chrome to give you the option to select a vertical tab bar – and we will show you how to do just that.
Instagram finally allows you to edit comments – if you’re quick
After what has been years of requests from users, Instagram is finally implementing the ability to edit comments. Whether you need to fix a typo, pasted in the wrong piece of text, or just changed your mind about how to word something, you can now revise your comment.
The thing is, you will need to be quick. Comment editing is time limited, and you have just 15 minutes to spot and make the changes you need. There are other limitations besides time that you need to keep in mind as well.
WhatsApp is testing new ways to add group members
Group chats are arguably one of the most useful features of WhatsApp, and certainly one of the most popular. It is usually the case that groups are created for very particular purposes and have a specific membership.
But things evolve and the time may come when it is necessary to add or invite more people to join. While this is not an arduous process at the moment, WhatsApp is now testing new ways to quickly add new members.
Sofia Elizabella's Bio
Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson is a queer, transgender journalist based in Poland. She has been writing about technology for more than two decades, and after years working for magazines, her writing moved online. She is fueled by literature, music, nature, and vegetables. She is currently training to be an LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapist. You can find her on Bluesky and Mastodon. If you like what you read, you can Buy her a Coffee!
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