TECH NEWS

WhatsApp is finally letting users reserve usernames so they never have to hand over their phone number

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WhatsApp is letting users reserve usernames starting today, so people can connect without sharing their phone number for the first time.

WhatsApp is opening username reservations starting today, allowing its more than three billion users to connect with people without sharing their phone number for the first time. The feature, which has been in development for several years, will officially roll out later this year. A phone number is still required to create an account, but once a username is set, new contacts will no longer need to see it.

Users can choose any username between three and 35 characters, as long as it does not violate the company’s policies. WhatsApp said it is reserving usernames for top celebrities, VIPs, and organisations ahead of the general rollout. Businesses and creators who want to maintain consistency across Meta’s platforms can claim their existing Facebook or Instagram username as their WhatsApp...

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Kalshi sues Illinois over new tax on prediction market sports bets

Predicting versus betting Illinois now a key battleground in fight over prediction market sports bets. A Kalshi advertisement at a bus stop in Washington, DC. The rapid expansion of prediction markets is facing increasingly aggressive pushback from state officials pursuing a sprawling patchwork of lawsuits and cease-and-desist orders. Credit: Bloomberg

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Quantum computing startup says it will leapfrog everybody

A short time back, we covered an announcement by Amazon that it would be hosting a useful quantum computer from its partner QuEra as soon as sometime in 2028. The system promised some eye-popping numbers compared to anything on the market today: over 10,000 individual qubits, each with an

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Google warns EU's plans to weaken its monopoly could expose user data

Sharing is caring? The EU wants Google to share search data with competitors and open up AI on Android, but Google alleges major privacy risks. Credit: Ryan Whitwam Europe’s push to rein in Big Tech is ramping up, with the European Commission planning to announce new regulations for Google

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OpenAI is teasing new hardware… for Codex

Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. OpenAI is releasing some sort of device related to its AI-powered coding tool, Codex, on July 15th. In a video posted to

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Kalshi sues Illinois over new tax on prediction market sports bets

Quantum computing startup says it will leapfrog everybody

Google warns EU's plans to weaken its monopoly could expose user data

OpenAI is teasing new hardware… for Codex