WhatsApp is finally extending what was an already-limited trial to more countries, and South Africa is included. While reports seem to indicate that Indian users are receiving the lion’s share of the trial, Stuff can confirm the feature has reached a limited number of users around the country. Despite Stuff being enrolled in WhatsApp’s beta programme, we have yet to receive the update, confirming that the trial rollout is seemingly random.

AI for the Hoi Polloi

While there’s still no word on when the Meta AI-powered chatbot will begin rolling out in a more official capacity, we’re guessing a global launch can’t be too far away. Until then, however, we’ll have to make do with watching the feature from afar, using screenshots of the feature provided to Stuff (pictured above).

Meta AI, which uses the company’s Llama model to make itself artificially intelligent, takes up residence right on WhatsApp’s home page, with a search bar appearing above a user’s chats. Don’t fret. Meta’s AI states that it does not have access to your personal messages, and will only train itself off messages sent directly to it.

Read More: Absa launches ChatWallet to let you bank on WhatsApp – here’s how to use it

Hitting the “Ask Meta AI or Search” bar at the top will instantly offer up a selection of basic prompts to give users an idea of how the feature works. Ask it for “Horror TV show recs” for instance, and it’ll open a new chat with its recommendations for what it considers the best in the genre. Seriously? No The Haunting of Hill House?

The AI can also generate “unique images to share with anyone you want,” similar to the app’s AI stickers feature (which we proudly peer-pressured into making Mario and Sonic smoke). We’ve yet to see just how competent the chatbot is, though we’re doubtful it can hold a candle to dedicated AI image generators. Still, it’s better than nothing.

We’ll keep you updated on the feature’s trajectory into a global rollout.

While you’re busy doing that or waiting for another survey to pop up, you may also want to know that your payouts might increase with a future update if the findings of X.com user and Google app investigator AssembleDebug are anything to go by.

More rewards please, Google 

Opinion Rewards will allow users to link their Gmail account to share receipts and earn more rewards.

Another string from the app-
• Share a receipt from %1$s by forwarding it to purchase@rewards.google.com#Google #Android pic.twitter.com/uD0qvNAPPh

— AssembleDebug (@AssembleDebug) April 10, 2024

Their post, spotted by Android Police, details evidence of a possible update that will allow users to link their Gmail account with Google Opinion Rewards to forward their digital receipts to earn more money. One specific string of code even mentions a seemingly legit email address – purchase@rewards.google.com.

This future feature makes a lot of sense given that, in other parts of the world where Opinion Rewards is available, some users are tasked with uploading photos of their shopping receipts for bigger rewards. Currently, the feature only allows uploading photos of receipts, making the process a lot harder if you’ve received yours in your email inbox.

We’ve never seen this task in the two or so years we’ve been farming free money so chances are these kinds of tasks aren’t available to South African users yet. But that could change with this update, which would streamline the process while also making it accessible to more users — more free money for more people.

When that will happen exactly isn’t as clear as the benefits of more free money. But, as with anything that offers free money, the sooner the better.

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Well, that was the case when the company first announced the feature a few months ago. But a message we received from the caller ID app today made us look a little further. Just as well we did, as the feature’s rollout seems to have reached South Africa.

Truecaller’s web client, accessed through a web browser in the same way as WhatsApp or Telegram, seemed a little underwhelming at first, but at least setting it up was simple.

Truecaller – Spammers be gone

Head over to https://web.truecaller.com/ on your desktop (both Windows and MacOS are supported) and scan the QR code from inside the Truecaller app via Messages > kebab menu (top right) > Messaging for Web. Only one device can be linked for now so you’ll need to manually unlink a device if you want to swap to another.

You’ll be greeted with a familiar-looking interface of your Android device’s message inbox once the setup is complete. There are separate tabs for promotional and spam messages so you shouldn’t have to wade through them to find the message you’re looking for.

Read More: Is another Instagram necessary? No, but TikTok is doing one anyway

But something similar is already possible on Windows for both Android devices and iPhones with Microsoft’s Phone Link feature, you might be thinking. Well yes, but Truecaller’s web client also includes the company’s phone number lookup feature as well — something Phone Link can’t offer. Received a call from a number you don’t recognise? If that number uses Truecaller or has called other Truecaller users who have taken the trouble to tag it, their info will appear.

Other than that, the web client will also provide users with real-time notifications of incoming calls. Those could be useful if you like to leave your phone on silent but still want to know when you receive calls without having to switch devices. A niche feature for sure, but a welcome one… for some people. We guess.

While Twitter/X is still considered the king of text — an area TikTok will likely try and invade with an app called ‘TikTok Snap’ or something similar — Meta’s Instagram still rules the photo-sharing realm. It’s here that Notes will have to make its stand if it has any hopes of breaching the cultural zeitgeist. Considering the app’s posting strategy, it might just work.

Taking on the big dogs

What is Tiktok notes?
byu/killranker5 inTiktokhelp

Neither TikTok nor its parent company ByteDance has yet announced its new Notes app in any official capacity, though according to screenshots from some users, an in-app notification has begun appearing and foretells that “TikTok Notes, a new app for photo posts, is coming soon.” (Thanks, TechCrunch). A TikTok spokesperson later confirmed to TechCrunch that it was working on the app, noting that it wasn’t yet available.

“As part of our continued commitment to innovating the TikTok experience, we’re exploring ways to empower our community to create and share their creativity with photos and text in a dedicated space for those formats,” the spokesperson told TechCrunch.

While taking on one of the biggest companies in the world might be a daunting task, TikTok Notes isn’t turning up to the battle empty-handed. Judging by the notification the internet has since scoured, “your existing and future public TikTok photo posts will be shown on TikTok Notes.” The experience opts users in automatically and those unwilling to participate will need to turn it off manually.

Read More: The Titanic never sank on TikTok

Considering the somewhat scummy opt-in tactic and the fact that users have been able to post images to TikTok for more than a year and a half, by the time TikTok Notes does launch, it’s sure to have a sizeable catalogue of users and images to flaunt. Whether it’ll be enough… remains to be seen.

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The folks over at 9to5Mac have noted a change in Apple’s App Store guidelines. One difference is that streaming apps can now direct users outside the company’s ecosystem, the result of a recent EU ruling. In the EU, of course. But there’s one other change — retro game emulators will finally be allowed on the platform.

Retro pirates?

Emulators on iOS are not a new phenomenon. Having them officially available is. Previously, if users wanted to fire up old copies of games that no longer have working hardware, they’d have to side-load apps or jailbreak their iPhones. Apple has confirmed to developers that this no longer has to be the case. Retro (and other) emulators can now be developed and released on the App Store, with a caveat or two.

The company says in its guidelines that developers are “…responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws.” In other words, actually offering the software (commonly called ROMs) could prove a bit tricky.

It leaves the door open for someone like Sega or Nintendo to release their retro catalogues in emulator format, as if that hasn’t been done to pieces already, but make it impossible for any other offering to support simple downloads. Any apps that sneak past Apple’s front door will likely find themselves being very specific that the software is ‘designed only to play personal backups of legally owned titles for [insert defunct platform here]’. How any retro games get there after the download is something nobody will be able to effectively police.

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Canal+, unlike its forebears, isn’t backing down. It’s desperately looking for an ‘in’ to Africa’s content scheme, and it’s hoping to do that through a total buyout of MultiChoice, owners of DStv and SuperSport. Despite turning down the French firm’s initial offer in February, Canal+ returned with a vastly improved offer that, by the look of it, MultiChoice is deeply considering.

According to MyBroadband, MultiChoice has informed shareholders that an independent board has been established to seriously consider Groupe Canal+’s offer to purchase the remainder of shares it does not already own, valuing the broadcaster at roughly R55 billion. The deal, a cash buyout, would be worth around R35 billion.

MultiChoice in a statement issued on Monday noted that it had selected Standard Bank as the deal’s independent expert, allowing the bank to review the terms, provide an opinion on Canal+’s offer, and recommend a course of action to its shareholders.

Separate from the deal, Canal+ has continued to dig itself deeper into the company, MultiChoice confirmed on Friday, 5 April. Canal+ now owns 36.6% of the company, up from the 35.01% it held when it upped its bid to R125/share in March, though should the share price rise to above R125/share before the deal closes, Canal+ may be forced to up its offer.

Both MultiChoice and Canal+ intend to post a combined circular to MultiChoice shareholders by 7 May 2024, according to TechCentral.

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Spotify’s fiddling with AI again

It was only a matter of time before Spotify got ’round to throwing generative AI onto their platform. It’s been toying with the idea of artificial intelligence for ages, first doling out X, the AI DJ, to users before saddling them with a whole lot of other AI-powered features, Now, however, the platform will allow users to hit a couple of keys on their keyboard (typing) and have an entire playlist spat out back at them. Say hello to AI playlists.

Spotify announced the feature yesterday, although it’s reserved for customers in the UK and Australia for now. When it eventually reaches South Africa, users can type in prompts such as “a playlist that makes me feel like the main character,” or “relaxing music to tide me over during allergy season.”

Get creative with those prompts. Spotify reckons the intelligent platform will understand references to places, animals, activities, movie characters, colours and “even emojis”. Describe your moods and the decades of music you’re after to get the best results. As for when the feature will see a wider rollout, there’s no way of telling. We’re hoping it’ll be sooner rather than later.

Eskom is dropping R67 billion to pollute less

When South Africa’s state-owned power utility, Eskom, isn’t load shedding the country, it’s unfortunately burning more coal than your uncle on a Sunday afternoon. It’s now looking to fix that, according to Bloomberg, by spending billions of rands to cut emissions down to a healthier figure.

Specifically, Eskom is committing to a plan that will see the utility spend R67 billion from now until 2035 to cut its most dangerous emissions by 70% in that timeframe.

Why now? Last week, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air said that the government’s idea of delaying the closure of certain plants could result in the death of tens of thousands of residents.

“Eskom has developed station-specific recovery plans for each station and these include emission-improvement plans which are being implemented and are beginning to show success,” the company said in a response to queries.

Unfortunately, Eskom provided nothing more than ambitious promises and vague sentiments on how it’s planning to cut down on those emissions.

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Elon Musk wants a Tesla robotaxi, is getting a robotaxi

According to a new tweet from Elon Musk, the auto-automobile manufacturer is currently working on the long-promised robotaxi, which will be revealed to the world at an event (presumably streamed exclusively on X) on 8 August 2024.

The robotaxi’s unveiling announcement came the same day as a Reuters report noting that Tesla had shelved plans to develop a cheaper car, costing roughly $25,000, with company head Elon Musk telling employees that he’d rather focus on an autonomous vehicle that would make other vehicles “obsolete.”

The idea of a Tesla robotaxi isn’t entirely new. Musk first teased the vehicle at a 2023 event while unveiling the company’s third ‘Master Plan’, though the car was under a cover and left to the imagination. Even earlier, Musk had brought up ideas of a vehicle that would allow customers to earn money from their car by sending it out to complete passenger pick-ups and drop-offs.

Whether the idea of a Tesla robotaxi will all play out how Musk imagines remains to be seen. It will require considerable faith from customers and passengers, a difficult feat after the bad press the company’s FSD (full self-driving) feature has received in the past few years.

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There’s just one catch. It’ll cost you. Blink and you’ll miss it but stuck right in the bottom of Telegram’s announcement is the caveat that Business is reserved for its R60/m paying Premium users. There are ways to get one of those for free from Telegram, but be warned: some personal information may be sacrificed in the process.

Circle back and touch base, yeah?

The idea is (extremely) reminiscent of WhatsApp’s Business offering, but with that additional flair (and cost) that Meta can’t quite muster. You’ll need to convert your profile into a Business one — like WhatsApp — after which you’ll have the ability to pin its location on a map and add in your business’ opening and closing hours.

Business accounts can also set up a ‘start page’, allowing for customisation of the sort of text or stickers new customers will see upon their first visit to the account. Showcase a product, unveil a list of prices, or address any repeated questions customers may bombard you with. Speaking of…

Read More: Here’s how to use Telegram’s newly improved self-destructing message feature

Quick replies are the app’s way of solving that very issue. Business accounts can craft several saved messages which can be summoned and sent as quick messages at a moment’s notice with a simple ‘/’. It wouldn’t be an update in 2024 if AI wasn’t involved in some way or another. Telegram is incorporating its Bot network into businesses, allowing customers to delegate chats to artificially intelligent assistants.

Telegram reckons this won’t be the last we see of its Business offering, with plans to introduce new features “in the coming updates.”

That’s according to WABetaInfo, who reckons the beta for Android 2.24.7.13 update will come stocked with a new AI-powered image editor, allowing users to zhuzh up their images before sending them on their way. That’s quite a large addition — unless you’re already wielding something from Samsung’s 2024 AI-touting catalogue.

And in less interesting news, WABetaInfo also made note of another feature that would allow users to disable link previews before sending them. See why we saved that bit ’til now?

AI this, AI that

Neither reported feature has completed development yet, meaning even WhatsApp’s crop of beta testers are still waiting for their turn before it eventually hits the ‘rolling out’ stage when regular folks get a chance to play. Despite that, WABetaInfo has given us a decent idea of how each feature will work when they do eventually land, which will hopefully be over the coming months.

Backdrop, Restyle, and Expand will be new options for you to fiddle with in the app’s image editor when you’re sending an image or posting to your story. You’ll need to click the new ‘Sparkle’ button (pictured above) before you can get at them.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what each of those three new buttons will do… but we’ll explain anyway. Backdrop lets one trade in an image’s original background for something new — determined by the user’s skill at the keyboard. Restyle focuses most on adding new effects, while Expand does its best to add substance to a picture where it may not have been originally.

Read More: WhatsApp’s latest update will have you pinning up to three messages per chat

The second incoming feature involves the ability to disable link previews in a message before sending them. It can’t exactly hold a candle to AI image editing, but we’re sure it’ll prove its worth eventually. The feature is exactly what it sounds like. Go to settings, disable link previews, and you’ll be able to rickroll your friends without WhatsApp getting in the way. Or you could use this one to really throw them off the scent.

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You could be a South African app developer who has made and launched – or is about to launch – an app on the South African or international market, either way, the important thing is that Stuff and its panel of judges get a chance to use, test and review your app. You will then qualify and be in the running for Stuff’s 2024 App Awards.

This award isn’t solely about the recognition and enhancing your platform, though there’s certainly that aspect available. It is an opportunity for developers, particularly the smaller outfits who could use a boost, to get a shot at having access to a development incubator and getting a few steps closer to a local launch for their ideas. The first step is that the judges have something functional to test.

Got an app for that? Show us

“I’ve always believed in African problems being solved using innovative methods developed in Africa, says Stuff Editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak. “That’s what we’d like to focus on and elevate with the Stuff App Awards.”

The awards offer several categories for contestants to submit their work, divided into three overarching groups that encompass the entire field.

Judges include Toby Shapshak, Stuff’s editor Brett Venter, digital editor Duncan Pike and media personalities Jeremy Maggs, Bruce Whitfield, and Gareth Cliff.

The App Awards categories are:

• Fintech
• Ecommerce
• Gaming
• Sports
• Education
• Social responsibility
• Health
• Travel
• Upcoming developers
• Best use of AI
• Overall App of the Year

If you’re working on something or have released an app in the previous year, Stuff would like to hear from you.

Entries are now open and close on 25 April 2024.

In order to enter, pitch your idea, motivate for why it is the best in the category and meet the judges, you will need to click here: https://forms.gle/kb75doEkrhW1RH4Z8

The winners will be announced in a feature in Stuff’s print and digital magazine, followed by a feature on the Stuff website. Don’t delay, get your app to us today.

Now Read: In This Issue – The Gadget Awards (February-March 2024) Issue

If you’re still new to the idea of pinning messages, a feature that dropped near the end of 2023, it’s simple. Users can pin any message — regular text, images, polls — and have it appear at the top of the chat so that it is easily accessible upon entering. These messages can be pinned for up to 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days.

Walking on pins and needles

Now, however, according to WhatsApp’s updated Help Centre, pinning more than one message in a chat will result in a new banner showing how many messages are currently pinned. Tapping on it will take you to the most recent pinned message, with the second and third most recent pins showing up after the first.

To pin a message on Android: Long press any message, tap the three-dot kebab and hit ‘Pin‘ before choosing how long you’d like it to remain. The process is similar for iOS. Long press a message, hit ‘More options‘ and then ‘Pin‘ before selecting the pin duration. To remove a pin, long press the banner at the top of the chat and follow the same instructions to click on ‘Unpin‘.

Read More: WhatsApp for Android finally getting a much-needed search feature

The update has already been launched, but it hasn’t yet landed on our personal Android device. We don’t expect that to be the case for much longer, however. Just keep an eye on your device’s app store update page, and it should arrive in the coming days.