WhatsApp for iOS adds bold, italics and strikethrough formatting

WhatsApp for iOS adds bold, italics and strikethrough formatting

iOS users with WhatsApp v2.12.17 can now send text in bold, italics, or strikethrough formats. However, Android users won’t be able to see the formatted text as yet, seeing that the feature has initially been rolled out only to iOS.

WhatsApp's latest update for iOS users allow them to send formatted text. This will allow users to send text in bold, italics or strikethrough, and is only available for WhatsApp v2.12.17 on iOS. To sent text in bold, users will have to place the text within asterisks(*), for italics the text needs to be between underscores (_), and for strikethrough it needs to be between tildes (~). In order to have text two or all three formats, users will have to use the respective symbols. For example, in order to send text in bold and italics, the text needs to be between underscore and asterisks (_*text*_).

Android users will not be able to see the formatted text, as of now. However, the feature should be made available to them, soon. Earlier this month, users ofWhatsApp Beta for Android had received an update that allowed them to send formatted text. The update also allowed them to send PDF files from Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive accounts. In addition, users could also send Docs, Sheets, and Slides from Google Drive, which were automatically converted to PDF files before being sent.

Google may integrate Google Goggles into its camera app

Google may be planning to integrate Google Goggles into its Android camera app. According to a report by Slash Gear, the new feature would allow users to search for details of any object by taking a picture of it. This feature is already available via the Google Goggles app, but the new version would improve upon it as the app is only able to search entire images, not specific areas. According to the report, the new feature would allow users to outline specific areas of an image in order to fine tune their searches.

In addition, the report states that the technology has been tested in “wearable computing devices.” It is possible that this technology may be used in devices such as Google Glass, or an AR/VR headset. Previous reports have suggested that Google is working on a new Google Glass and Google Cardboard VR headset. The new VR headset is tipped to come with additional sensors and lenses, and may be built using plastic instead of cardboard. 

Alphabet introduces landline telephone service

Google, the technology giant born out of the internet age, rolled out a landline telephone service on Tuesday in some US cities.

The service, known as Fiber Phone, offers basic landline features including call waiting, caller identification, unlimited local and nationwide calling and 911 services at a price of $10 per month, Xinhua reported.

As part of the company's Google Fiber operation, it works with phone, tablet and laptop computer and brings subscribers new features such as transcribing voice mails and delivering them as text messages or email.

In direct completion against local telecommunications carriers and internet service providers, or ISPs, the cloud-based service is currently available in three US cities where Google Fiber is deployed, namely Austin, Kansas City and Provo, and is expected to expand to Salt Lake City, Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham.

Two more cities, Louisville and Huntsville, are listed as candidates.

The landline service comes along with Google Fiber's ultra-fast internet access.

With cloud, wrote Google Fiber product manager John Shriver-Blake in a blog post, "it can ring your landline when you' re home, or your mobile device when you're on-the-go".