Tag: Tech News

Social Media

WhatsApp Introduces Group Message History Feature for New Members

Tanisha Cardozo

Joining a group chat midway through an ongoing conversation has often been confusing, leaving new members without context and forcing them to rely on others for updates. Addressing this common issue, WhatsApp has introduced a new feature called Group Message History, aimed at making group interactions more seamless and efficient.

With this update, group administrators can now share recent chat messages with newly added members, helping them quickly understand the flow of conversation. Previously, users joining a group could only see messages sent after they were added, which often led to communication gaps, especially in work-related groups, community discussions, and long-standing family chats. Members frequently had to request screenshots or ask others to resend important details, creating unnecessary back-and-forth.

The new feature offers flexibility and control to administrators. It does not function automatically, meaning admins must actively choose to share message history when adding a new member. They can also decide how many messages to include, with options ranging from 25 to 100 recent messages. This ensures that new participants receive enough context without overwhelming them with excessive information.

Administrators retain full authority over the feature, including the ability to enable or disable it based on group preferences. While regular members cannot share chat history, admins continue to have exclusive control over what is shared with newcomers.

Importantly, WhatsApp has clarified that the introduction of this feature does not compromise user privacy. All shared messages remain protected under the platform’s end-to-end encryption system, ensuring that only group members can access the content. To maintain transparency, WhatsApp notifies existing group members whenever chat history is shared with a new participant. Additionally, these shared messages retain their original timestamps and sender details and are visually distinguished from regular messages for clarity.

The feature is currently being rolled out globally and will be available on both Android and iOS devices. Users who do not immediately see the update are advised to install the latest version of the app and wait for the rollout to reach their region. With Group Message History, WhatsApp aims to enhance user experience by reducing confusion, improving communication flow, and making group conversations more inclusive for everyone involved.

TechPulse

Microsoft Releases Second Emergency Windows 11 Patch to Fix OneDrive and Outlook Issues

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Microsoft has issued another out-of-band emergency patch for Windows 11, marking the second such update in the past week, after users reported critical problems affecting OneDrive and Outlook.


The latest update resolves issues where OneDrive failed to sync or display stored files correctly, while Outlook users faced problems sending, receiving, or accessing emails. The disruptions impacted both personal and enterprise users, prompting Microsoft to release a rapid fix outside its regular update schedule.

According to Microsoft, the emergency patch is aimed at restoring service stability and preventing further interruptions to cloud storage and email functionality. Users experiencing issues are advised to install the update as soon as possible to ensure normal operation.

This back-to-back release highlights ongoing challenges with recent Windows 11 updates, as Microsoft continues to monitor feedback and roll out fixes to maintain system reliability.

Social Media

Elon Musk Plans to Increase Creator Payouts to Compete with YouTube

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In a major development for the global creator economy, Elon Musk has revealed plans to increase payouts for creators, positioning his platform as a stronger competitor to YouTube and other video-first content platforms.

The move is being widely viewed as a significant win for creators, many of whom have long raised concerns about revenue sharing, algorithm dependency, and monetization limits on established platforms. By offering enhanced payouts, Musk aims to attract top creators, independent journalists, and video producers looking for more transparent and rewarding monetization models.

Since taking over the platform, Musk has consistently emphasized creator-first monetization, introducing subscription features, ad-revenue sharing, and direct fan support tools. Increasing creator payouts signals a deeper push to build a sustainable ecosystem where creators are rewarded more directly for their reach and engagement.

Industry observers note that this strategy could intensify competition in the digital content space, pressuring platforms like YouTube to revisit payout structures and creator policies. If successfully implemented, the move could reshape how creators distribute content and earn revenue across platforms.

While detailed rollout timelines and payout structures are yet to be officially outlined, the announcement has already generated strong buzz across the creator community, with many calling it a potential turning point in platform monetization.

Social Media

Google Lets Users Change Their Gmail Addresses

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Google has introduced a highly anticipated feature for Gmail users: the ability to change their existing email addresses. For years, Gmail users were stuck with the addresses they initially created—sometimes awkward, outdated, or embarrassing—forcing them to manage multiple accounts or live with an email that no longer suited their personal or professional identity.

With this new rollout, Google aims to provide greater flexibility, letting users update their email address while retaining existing account data, including emails, contacts, and settings. However, the feature isn’t available for everyone yet and comes with some limitations. Currently, only certain types of Gmail accounts are eligible for address changes, and users may not be able to pick an email that is already in use or reserved.

Experts suggest that this feature could reduce the need for managing multiple Gmail accounts and may encourage users to streamline their email communications. As digital identities become more central to personal branding and professional presence, Google’s decision marks a significant step toward improving user control and convenience.

TechPulse

Confident, Premium, Health-First: How India Upgraded Its Homes and Tech in 2025

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Croma, India’s trusted omni-channel electronics retailer from the Tata Group, has released its Year-End Consumer Trends 2025, offering a comprehensive look at how Indian consumers upgraded their homes, lifestyles and technology choices over the past year. The findings reflect a decisive shift from price-led purchases to experience-driven, premium and health-conscious buying behaviour across Croma’s nationwide online and offline network.

Smartphones remained central to consumer upgrades, with strong year-on-year growth driven by aspirational trade-ups. One in three smartphones sold fell within the ₹20,000–30,000 premium segment, while nearly one in five devices belonged to the flagship or super-flagship category. Emerging price bands between ₹50,000 and ₹58,000 recorded growth of over 300 percent, highlighting consumers’ growing willingness to invest in advanced technology that blends performance, identity and long-term value. This trend reflects India’s increasingly digital-first mindset, fuelled by content creation, gaming and AI-powered camera experiences.

The computing category also saw a strong premium shift, with laptops recording double-digit growth led by AI-enabled and high-performance devices. Gaming laptops surged by over 25 percent, while ultra-thin non-gaming laptops doubled in sales as consumers sought sleek, portable designs without compromising on power. Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi emerged as key hubs driving this AI-first computing wave, signalling concentrated adoption of next-generation technology across India’s major metros.


Home entertainment witnessed a significant scale-up as Indian households embraced cinema-like experiences at home. Bengaluru led demand for 65-inch televisions, while Mumbai emerged as the top market for ultra-large screens of 75 inches and above. Gurugram stood out as the most future-ready city, recording the highest preference for 8K-ready televisions. Complementing this trend, audio entertainment surged, with Delhi NCR leading demand for immersive sound systems, reinforcing its reputation as a hub for social and in-home entertainment.

Cooling solutions remained resilient across regions, with Delhi and Mumbai nearly equal in overall air conditioner demand. A strong sustainability trend emerged as one in four ACs sold nationwide was a 5-star energy-efficient model, while in Delhi, one in three AC purchases fell into this category. Smart ACs accounted for 32 percent of total AC sales, and North India saw rising demand for all-season ACs that function as heaters while consuming significantly less electricity.

Big-ticket home appliances continued their move up the value curve, with front-load washing machines registering strong double-digit growth led by Bengaluru and Pune. In refrigerators, Delhi topped sales for side-by-side door models, followed by Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, reflecting demand for larger, high-capacity appliances that support evolving lifestyles.

Health-focused appliances saw notable growth throughout 2025. Air fryer sales rose by nearly 38 percent year-on-year, led by Mumbai, signalling a shift toward healthier cooking habits. Air purifiers, once concentrated in Delhi-NCR, gained traction in Mumbai and Bengaluru, driven by heightened awareness of air quality and indoor health. Water purifiers also recorded strong demand, with Bengaluru emerging as the largest market, followed by Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad, underscoring rising concern around safe drinking water and long-term wellness.

Smart convenience emerged as the fastest-growing trend, with sales of automated and robotic appliances nearly doubling during the year. Bengaluru led the adoption of robotic solutions, positioning itself as India’s emerging robotics capital.

Commenting on the trends, a spokesperson at Infiniti Retail Ltd. noted that Indian consumers are increasingly confident, informed and willing to invest in technology that delivers everyday value, efficiency and improved quality of life. From smartphones and screens to kitchens and cooling, 2025 marked a clear transition toward premium, smart and health-first living across Indian homes.