October 26 tech news roundup: Google Messages gets spam blocking, Apple is working on a Game Store, eM Client acquires Postbox

Google Messages app to protect users from SMS scams

Google is testing a new anti-scam system for the Messages app. Users of the beta version of the app are protected against spams and scams that may contain fake job offers, pending delivery, or to harvest personal data. When you receive such a text, the Messages app will automatically move the suspicious message to a spam folder, or warns you about them. This is possible due to an enhanced anti-scam system that uses on-device machine learning technology to combat spam.

Google has also added a feature that will blur inappropriate messages, such as those that may contain nudity or other sensitive content, before the user can view them. The feature scans the content locally on the device, without accessing the images or breaking the encryption of RCS messages. The sensitive content feature will be activated automatically for users who are under 18, and will be optional for adults. The feature is compatible with devices running on Android 9 or above, and meets the 2GB RAM requirement.

Opera browser to continue supporting classic extensions

Google Chrome is discontinuing support for Manifest V2 extensions, which has caused add-ons like uBlock Origin to be disabled. This has caused an outrage amongst users, who have even migrated to other browsers.  Not all Chromium browsers are not following Chrome’s pattern. Brave browser had previously stated they would continue supporting older extensions. Vivaldi has also confirmed it will support Manifest V2 until mid-2025. Now, Opera has committed to the same.

Opera browser will support Manifest V2 extensions, including uBlock Origin, which is directly available from its own extension store. The company has not outlined its plans for supporting classic extensions, but says it will get in touch with developers to determine the best and safest way forward. This could be an excellent option for users who wish to use older add-ons, and for developers who want to use APIs that are not available in V3. The only other browser that has promised support for Manifest V2 and V3 extensions is Mozilla Firefox.

Meta AI’s Chat Memory will remember your WhatsApp chats

Meta is working on a new AI tool to provide better conversations on WhatsApp. The tool which is called Chat Memory is designed to remember your chats to offer a personalized experience with relevant responses. This is essentially training the AI with your data, but is only accessible to the user. Facebook’s parent company is testing the feature in the beta version of WhatsApp for Android. Chat Memory will allow users to ask questions about past events and important dates, and get the data quickly. It kind of sounds similar to Windows Recall, except WhatsApp is not monitoring your screen all the time.

But, this has already raised some concerns about the privacy of user data. WhatsApp’s Chat Memory will allow you to opt out of the feature.

Syncthing for Android app to be discontinued

The popular file synchronization app, Syncthing for Android, is being discontinued. Simon Frei, who developed and maintained the open source app, announced that the mobile version of the app had not seen any major development, and it was becoming hard to maintain the app. The developer also blamed the Google Play Store for rejecting the app from accessing the device’s storage. Numerous appeals to the company had resulted in poor responses, which in turn made the developer lose motivation for maintaining the app.

Syncthing for Windows, macOS and Linux are unaffected by the change. Android users may want to switch to an alternative app by the name of Syncthing Fork, it has more features than the original app.

Postbox email app acquired by eM Client

Czech Republic based company, eM Client, has announced the acquisition of the Postbox email app. The desktop email program, which was based on Mozilla Thunderbird, was available for Windows and Mac. However, it is no longer being sold, and users are being advised to switch to eM Client. Postbox has confirmed that its app will no longer be developed, and that it will be supported until the end of the year.

The news has taken Postbox users by surprise, and they have two options. They will need to switch to eM Client, and pay for the subscription, which is temporarily available for a discounted price. Or, they can continue using Postbox for as long as it works.

eM Client has a free version for Windows and macOS that allows users to use it with two personal email accounts. The premium version, which costs $50 has more features. The iOS and Android versions of eM Client are freeware.

Apple could launch a Game Store

Apple is said to be working on a Game Store, which would exclusively serve as a platform for downloading and discovering games. The App Store, which is available for iOS, iPadOS and macOS, already allows users to download and play games on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The upcoming gaming hub will reportedly offer a unique experience that combines the App Store and Game Center.

The Game Store will allow users to discover recommendations and personalized suggestions via the Play Now Tab. It will also offer social features like challenges, rankings, achievements of your friends and other players. The app may also integrate FaceTime and iMessage features for real-time communication between gamers. Apple’s new Game Store will also display apps from Apple Arcade, to highlight the games that are offered by the subscription service.

Vivaldi’s new tab page gets a Dashboard with widgets

Vivaldi browser has been updated with a refreshing New Tab Page design. It now has a feature called Dashboard, that lets users customize the space with various widgets. There are several widgets to choose from including Date and time, Sticky notes, Speed Dial, Calendar agenda, Latest emails, Bookmarks, Tasks, Tip of the day, Feeds, Top sites, Privacy statistics and Webpage. The best part is that the old New Tab page has not been removed, so the Dashboard is optional. You may switch between the two options.

Vivaldi has also improved the Tabs experience, which now has floating tabs. The browser’s built-in RSS Feed Reader now supports folders, which helps you organize the feeds as required.