Group chats can be chaotic sufficient with out undesirable individuals poking round. That’s why it could be good to have an additional layer of safety to maintain all that sizzling goss contained. To that finish, Google has opened a beta program permitting customers of the Messages app on Android telephones to sign up to have their group chats encrypted.

Google introduced the beta in May. For collaborating Android customers, chats inside Messages which can be encrypted will present lock icons subsequent to their chat bubble. End-to-end encryption has been enabled in Google’s Messages app for texts between particular person customers, however as soon as this beta take a look at is full, full end-to-end encryption will likely be expanded to group chats too.

Google began testing end-to-end encryption in Messages in 2020, bringing better safety to customers of Android’s default texting app. This newest step is a win for Android, but it surely’s additionally a part of the corporate’s ongoing effort to push adoption of the RCS communications standard for textual content messaging throughout gadgets. For months, Google has been on the warpath in opposition to Apple’s use of the SMS and MMS texting requirements for cross-platform communications. Google’s encryption works solely on RCS, and never for messages despatched on SMS.

Here’s some extra information from the world of shopper tech.

Apple’s Headset Tech Gets a New Name

According to leaks reported by Bloomberg, Apple has renamed its software program platform for operating augmented- and virtual-reality functions. It’s a small transfer which will point out Apple is inching ever nearer to lastly asserting its lengthy anticipated mixed-reality headset. The new title, xrOS, replaces the earlier working moniker of RealityOS.

Leaks about the headset have dripped out steadily for months. As it goes with Apple, no particulars or options have formally been confirmed. However, the brand new title would suggest that the headset and the applying that run on it’s going to have each AR and VR options—a combo identified within the business as prolonged actuality or blended actuality. There are additionally no hints a couple of launch date, although it appears more and more probably that Apple may announce the system subsequent 12 months.

Apple’s providing—no matter it’s—will probably be going head-to-head (get it) with Meta’s not too long ago introduced Meta Quest Pro AR-VR headset. Also set to go to market subsequent 12 months is Sony’s PlayStation VR2 system. VR is about to get very crowded, whether or not or not shoppers actually want to totally dive into the know-how.

New Gorilla Glass

Good information for power telephone breakers: A brand new, stronger model of Gorilla Glass could also be coming quickly to a display screen close to you. Corning, the corporate that makes Gorilla Glass, confirmed off its new Victus 2 materials this week in product videos the place it ran assessments that simulated cracking the glass in opposition to concrete. The firm says the brand new formulation withstood a drop of a meter onto the famously unforgiving floor. (That’s 3.28 ft in American.) That might not seem to be a lot, however hopefully it may alleviate a few of that terror you’re feeling while you unintentionally fling your telephone whereas fumbling to get it out of your pants pocket.

The firm says the Victus 2 materials can stand up to an additional meter if it’s dropped on asphalt or a floor softer than concrete. The glass hasn’t made its manner into any new telephone fashions; search for it in subsequent 12 months’s crop of handsets.

Buying Time

While buying on-line not too long ago, you’ve most likely observed these buy now, pay later choices at checkout. Like it says within the title, these providers allow you to buy what you need and pay it off over time, in installments. Do it inside a brief sufficient time and you may keep away from the curiosity charges that include bank cards. It’s an interesting possibility for cash-strapped consumers trying to make an enormous buy. Thing is, folks aren’t utilizing BNPL providers simply to purchase costly gadgets. They’re additionally utilizing them an increasing number of for primary requirements like gasoline and groceries.

This week on WIRED’s Gadget Lab podcast, we speak in regards to the purchase now, pay later enterprise mannequin and what it means on your pockets.