Meta is on the cusp of launching third-party integration with WhatsApp in Europe — something that’s required by the Digital Markets Act (DMA). It’s rolling out “over the coming months” with WhatsApp’s level of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) maintained.Meta says that BirdyChat and Haiket will be the first third-party services to implement messaging interoperability with WhatsApp. No, we haven’t heard of them either, but that’s what leveling the playing field looks like.WhatsApp users in Europe will eventually see a notification in the settings tab that will explain how to opt-in to third party messaging. It will work in WhatsApp for iOS and Android, but not on desktops, web, or tablets. Meta says that “third-party messaging apps must use the same level of E2EE as WhatsApp,” and Meta can’t see encrypted messages in transit. Content can include text, photos, videos, voice messages, and documents. It will also only work for users with a WhatsApp account registered to phone numbers in regions covered by the DMA, according to the FAQ. In September, Meta previewed what third-party integration with WhatsApp and Messenger will look like. Notably, users will be presented with the choice of receiving third-party messages in a separate folder or combined inbox. Meta also said it would remind users “each time a new third-party messaging app becomes available.”Meta warns that third-party apps “might handle your data differently” than it would — is that a bad thing?

The gaming scene is in a very strange place right now. While Microsoft has abandoned the idea of console exclusives and began to embrace its competition, we're seeing Valve re-enter the console market with its Steam Machine after its initial run didn't do so hot in the mid-2010s.

Looking for a new motherboard is tricky business, with a ton of specifications and compatibilities to compare and decide upon. Some of these are non-negotiable, like enough headers for your peripherals and fans, plenty of high-speed USB ports, and robust VRMs to handle the power requirements of the CPU and RAM. But most motherboards nowadays are up to the task —so what makes the difference between an okay model and a great one?

The Raspberry Pi 5 has become the new benchmark for affordable home automation. For years, the Pi line has been the default choice for makers and hobbyists, but the latest model finally delivers performance that competes with dedicated mini PCs. At the same time, it remains inexpensive enough for anyone to start building a smart home hub without financial risk.

Many of us start to panic whenever we see our CPU temperatures creep past 80C, especially while we're gaming, thinking we're just a few degrees away from thermal throttling. We're usually quick to assume that the CPU cooler just isn't good enough, or the thermal paste isn't doing its job. I used to constantly monitor my temperatures with MSI Afterburner, which only made me more anxious. I've even overreacted and tried reseating and reapplying thermal paste a couple of times without realizing that what I was seeing was completely normal CPU behavior.

USB-C docks had their heyday at the start of the USB-C generation, though the need for a dock to add extra USB-C ports has fallen off sharply in the last several years. It's common to find multiple USB Type-C ports on any desktop or laptop these days, so you don't need a dock to use all your new peripherals.

Given that NotebookLM is still a relatively new tool, the team has been constantly rolling out updates and features to improve the overall experience and iron out any quirks based on user feedback. If you've been following XDA's NotebookLM coverage (or any other outlet's, really), you’ve probably seen the major updates get plenty of attention, like Video Overviews, Flashcards and Quizzes being introduced, and even Gemini's Deep Research feature being spotted in testing.

It's finally here — Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 just dropped, and ever since playing the final beta, I'd been counting down the days to finally get my hands on the full release. Why? Zombies remains one of the greatest propositions in the Call of Duty franchise, and the Vandorn Farm map, while snug and small, has been on my mind since the first week of October.

For the longest time, Dropbox has been my go-to for syncing files and sharing across documents. It's easy, reliable, and available pretty much everywhere. Moreover, it's a familiar tool for almost everyone. But that convenience comes at a cost. It requires you to give up too much control for something as simple as sharing a few files. Between storage limits, prompts urging you to upgrade to higher tiers, and the obvious dependence on a third-party external cloud service, I was ready to look for alternatives. Sharing a simple file really shouldn't require so much work.

Picking the right hardware and drives is quite important when you’re hunting for a Network-Attached Storage server, as you wouldn’t want to spend extra money on better gear if your chosen setup proves inadequate for your needs. However, even a budget-friendly NAS can turn into a powerful data-hoarding workstation once you arm it with the right operating system.

Windows gets a bit of a bad rap for being more cluttered than Linux and less refined than something like macOS, but at its core, it's still arguably a good operating system. You can make a solid argument that it's the most powerful platform for productivity, especially when you add third-party tools into the mix. Stock Windows leaves a lot to be desired, but these 5 tools turn Windows into a better productivity OS than anything else out there.

When we build PCs, we usually focus on raw performance, which is why we always try to get the best hardware we can within our budget. But what's just as important are the peripherals and accessories that can directly affect how our PCs feel to use every day. I've seen many people cut corners in this area, saying that spending more on expensive peripherals won't make your PC run any faster.