Hello, HeyUp crew! Join us as we step into the latest edition of HeyWhatsNew, where we review the latest tech news and updates that left their mark on our world during the week starting 04/03/2024.
Last week we learned that Nintendo had taken legal action against Tropic Haze, the company behind the popular Yuzu emulator. This week, in a striking development in the case, Yuzu has reportedly been shut down. The case is based on Nintendo’s claim that Yuzu unlawfully gives any Internet user access to virtually any Nintendo Switch game.
In response to the Yuzu ban, the creator of the well-known Nintendo DS emulator, Drastic, has decided to make the app free on Android, although it used to cost $4.99. Exophase, the creator, stated on the official Discord that this decision is not driven by financial motives but was prompted by Nintendo's actions.
Former Twitter Executives Are Suing Elon Musk for Severance
Four former Twitter employees who have been in legal battles with Elon Musk for over a year will reportedly be suing the Space X billionaire for a $128 million severance package, of which $57 million is owed to the former CEO Parag Agrawal. The lawsuit filed by the former executives alleges that Musk fired them without any cause, despite their termination letters stating that they were fired “for cause”.
Twitter's severance packages for senior executives included benefits equivalent to one year's salary as well as unvested stock awards if at any moment their employment was adversely impacted by a change in control.
Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn All faced Unexpected Outages This Week
Earlier this week, on March 5th, Meta-owned platforms Facebook and Instagram experienced outages that saw millions of users world wide unable to access their social media pages. A day later, LinkedIn users to the tune of 48 000 reported they were also unable to access the platform. The question is, what caused these crashes?
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone acknowledged and addressed a service interruption in an X post. He later confirmed the resolution of the issue, mentioning that a technical issue caused difficulty accessing some services and the issue had been resolved. On the other hand, LinkedIn reports that the service issue is still being investigated and no cause has been given.
Our First Peak at the Upcoming OnePlus 13
While it may still be a long way off, new renders of the upcoming OnePlus 13 give us a sneak peak of what we can expect later in the year when the device is officially launched. From what we can see, the most notable difference in the phone’s design is the vertical alignment of the camera system, but this could still change.
Popular tipster Digital Chat Station confirmed OnePlus 13 rumors about a redesigned look and highlighted key specifications. The upcoming flagship will maintain its 1,440 x 3,168px resolution LTPO AMOLED display and feature an improved triple camera setup, including a 50 MP main camera, ultrawide lens, and telephoto sensor. The OnePlus 13 is anticipated to launch with the rumored Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, expected to debut in October.
The Built-in WhatsApp Sticker Maker Is Finally Coming to Android
iOS users have had the ability to do this for quite some time, but it’s exciting to learn that people with Android devices will now also be able to create WhatsApp stickers using pictures from their gallery. If the recent WhatsApp beta test is anything to go by, then this feature could be making its way to Android users very soon.
Truthfully, WhatsApp for Android seems late to the party in introducing a feature already teased and beta-tested on its iOS counterpart since May 2023. The new sticker editor is now accessible in the stable version of WhatsApp for iOS. That said, we anticipate it won't be much longer before it becomes widely available for Android phones.
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring Is Expected to Bring Some New Tech
The highly-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Ring, which has been on everyone’s lips since its announcement in January, is expected to make its way to people’s fingers this July. Although we already have quite a bit of information about what to expect from the ring, like the outstanding battery life, there’s still enough time for things to change so we’ll be keeping an eye on all relevant updates.
A recent article in Forbes reveals that unlike the Oura ring which specifies which finger the ring should be worn on, the Galaxy Ring will reportedly work well on any appendage, which is quite useful when it comes to choosing sizes. Additionally, Samsung’s vice president Dr Hon Pak says that this wearable will not be compatible with iOS, a move the company hopes will inspire iOS users to make the important switch.
People Are Not Making the Switch to Windows 11Despite New Features
Microsoft has announced that after October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will stop receiving updates and security patches, making it outdated. Combined with the rapidly evolving AI features that are being incorporated into newer software, Windows 10 will be considered relatively obsolete after that date. Despite that, many users are opting to stick with the old software and Microsoft reports that more than half of its users refuse to make the switch to Windows 11.
According to the article on XDA Developers, the stats come from a recent data report from the StatCounter website. While it may not be an ideal summary, it stands as the most reliable source for people who don’t have access to insider information. One of the possible reasons for people not making the switch to Windows 11 is attributed to the strict hardware requirements needed to download the new operating system.
Well, Heyuppers, that’s a wrap for this week. Join us again next week as we unpack the latest tech news impacting the world.
