News
Meta’s Threads Rapidly Gains 90 Million Users, Poised to Break App Growth Records
With the constant evolution of social media platforms, the arrival of a new competitor often catches attention and piques curiosity. However, with Meta’s backing, Threads is positioning itself as a promising text-first social media platform, aiming to provide a positive space for public conversations. With Twitter’s recent challenges under Elon Musk’s ownership, Threads aims to capitalize on the demand for a new and refreshing social media experience.
Distinct from its predecessors like Mastodon and BlueSky, Threads leverages the support of Meta, led by the influential Mark Zuckerberg. With an emphasis on seamless integration, Threads allows users to access the platform through their existing Instagram accounts. This convenient onboarding process grants access to the 2.35+ billion Instagram user base, enabling them to effortlessly transition and repopulate their new Threads feed with the individuals they follow on Instagram.
Threads has demonstrated tremendous potential, amassing over 90 million users at the time of this writing. This remarkable growth trajectory positions Threads as a strong contender to potentially claim the title of the fastest-growing app in history.
The core features of Threads are explained below, along with some tips for users:
Feed:
- The feed utilizes an algorithmic approach, combining content from followed accounts with suggested profiles.
- Users have control over who can reply to their threads by choosing the desired audience during thread creation.
- The ability to mute undesirable accounts is accessible by tapping the ••• icon next to the post.
Posts:
- There is a character limit of 501 for individual posts.
- Posts can be easily shared to Instagram Stories, with the added option to enhance the story using Instagram Stories filters.
- Post sharing may experience slight delays due to the platform’s high traffic.
Photos:
- Users can share multiple photos in a carousel format. Unlike Instagram, Threads’ carousels display pictures with varying sizes and ratios in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
- No noticeable limitations have been observed regarding file size, resolution, or image quality.
Videos:
- Videos are visually appealing but muted by default.
- The platform imposes a five-minute time limit for videos, although resolution restrictions are yet to be identified.
Links:
- Most links shared on Threads are accompanied by properly embedded images.
- Users can include a link in their bio by editing their profile, akin to the functionality on Instagram.
Account/Privacy:
- Threads offers the option to switch to a private profile independent of Instagram.
- Users can change their Threads profile picture, which remains separate from their Instagram account.
- The platform allows muting specific words, providing users with greater control over their experience.
- Notification settings offer granularity, allowing customization according to individual preferences.
- Account deletion is currently linked to the deletion of the associated Instagram account, although the Threads team is exploring possibilities for independent account deletion.
- Threads, like other Meta apps, requires access to various data on the user’s phone, which may be a consideration for those concerned about data privacy.
Additional features and future plans:
- Threads offers an interactive web client, although its functionality is limited to read-only access.
Users can expect a feed consisting exclusively of followed accounts, as confirmed by Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri. - Search functionality is currently limited to usernames, with future plans to include specific threads and trends.
- Hashtags, direct messaging, and other features are considered low priority and may be introduced in subsequent updates.
- Users can sign up for the beta program to gain early access to upcoming features.
While Threads has yet to launch in the EU due to data usage concerns, users can sideload the app via APK installation. It is important to exercise caution when accessing third-party sources for download.
It is worth noting that Elon Musk has expressed discontent towards Threads, as several ex-Twitter employees allegedly joined Meta’s Threads team, potentially leveraging their knowledge and secrets from Twitter. In response, Musk’s attorney sent a cease and desist letter to Mark Zuckerberg, threatening legal action against Meta. A light-hearted suggestion of a potential resolution through a physical competition was made, adding a touch of humor to the situation.
With Meta’s resources and the unique features Threads offers, it is poised to become a significant competitor in the social media landscape. As the platform continues to evolve and attract a growing user base, its impact on the industry remains to be seen.
Google Play Store Battery Drain Warning: Android Will Soon Alert Users About Power-Hungry Apps
Google Play Store Battery Drain Warning Explained
Google Play Store battery drain warning is a new feature being developed by Google that will alert users before installing apps that may consume excessive battery power. The update is designed to help Android users avoid apps that run heavy background processes and negatively impact device battery life.
According to recent reports, Google plans to introduce warning labels on the Play Store listing page when an app is detected to use significantly more battery than expected. This feature will rely on data collected through Android’s performance monitoring system to determine whether an app is draining power inefficiently.
The goal of this change is to improve transparency in the Play Store ecosystem while encouraging developers to optimize their apps for better battery efficiency.
How Google Detects Battery-Draining Apps
Google will use Android’s internal metric known as Excessive Partial Wake Locks to evaluate how frequently an app keeps the device awake in the background. When apps trigger this condition too often, it indicates that they are consuming power unnecessarily.
Apps that exceed the defined threshold in a notable percentage of user sessions may receive a warning label in the Play Store. The alert will inform users that the application may use more battery than expected compared with similar apps.
This system is expected to rely on aggregated performance data collected from Android devices, ensuring that warnings are based on real-world usage rather than isolated testing.
What It Means for Android Users and Developers
For users, the new Play Store warning system could make it easier to avoid installing poorly optimized applications. Battery performance is one of the most common concerns among smartphone users, and identifying problematic apps before installation may significantly improve daily device usage.
For developers, the feature introduces stronger incentives to optimize background processes, reduce unnecessary wake locks, and improve app efficiency. Applications that trigger battery drain warnings may also lose visibility in recommendations or rankings within the Play Store.
Overall, this upcoming feature reflects Google’s broader effort to improve Android performance, transparency, and user experience. By highlighting battery-intensive apps directly in the Play Store, Android users will gain better control over the apps they install and the impact those apps have on their device’s battery life.
Source: Phonearena
iOS
iOS 26.4 Beta 3 Released: Apple Rolls Out Revised Developer Build With New Apple Music and Security Updates
Apple Releases Revised iOS 26.4 Beta 3 for Developers
iOS 26.4 Beta 3 has been released by Apple as a revised build for developers, bringing several refinements ahead of the stable public rollout. The update follows the earlier beta version and appears to focus on improving stability, security protections, and Apple Music features.
The revised beta build is currently available to registered developers through the Software Update section in Settings. Apple occasionally pushes revised beta builds when bugs or installation issues are discovered in the original release.
One of the most notable changes in iOS 26.4 Beta 3 is the expansion of messaging security features. Apple is reportedly testing end-to-end encryption support for RCS messaging, which could significantly improve privacy when communicating between iPhone and Android devices.
New Apple Music Features and System Improvements
Another highlight in the update is a new experimental feature inside Apple Music called Playlist Playground. This feature uses AI-driven prompts to generate playlists based on user preferences or mood, making music discovery more interactive.
Apple Music is also gaining a Concerts Near You discovery section. This feature helps users find nearby live music events related to artists they listen to frequently, improving the integration between music streaming and live performances.
Security improvements are also part of the update. Apple has enabled Stolen Device Protection by default, which strengthens security when an iPhone is stolen by requiring biometric authentication for sensitive actions.
In addition, the beta introduces a new Ambient Music widget, allowing users to quickly start relaxing audio from the home screen. Apple has also reportedly made adjustments to sleep tracking metrics to provide more accurate insights for users who rely on the Health ecosystem.
Although these changes are still being tested, they offer a clear look at Apple’s direction with iOS 26.4. The company is focusing on improving privacy, expanding AI-powered features, and enhancing the overall ecosystem experience.
The final version of iOS 26.4 is expected to roll out to the public after Apple completes the developer and public beta testing cycle.
Source: macrumors
Also Read: Motorola Edge 70 Fusion Launched: 144Hz Quad-Curved Display, Snapdragon Chip and Massive Battery
Motorola
Motorola Edge 70 Fusion Launched: 144Hz Quad-Curved Display, Snapdragon Chip and Massive Battery
Motorola Edge 70 Fusion brings flagship-like features to the premium mid-range segment
Motorola Edge 70 Fusion has officially entered the smartphone market, bringing a combination of premium design, strong performance, and advanced camera technology. The new device focuses on delivering a flagship-like experience with a high-refresh-rate display, powerful Snapdragon processor, and a large battery designed for extended usage.
The smartphone features a 6.78-inch 1.5K quad-curved AMOLED display that supports a 144Hz refresh rate, making animations, gaming, and scrolling extremely smooth. The display is also capable of reaching very high brightness levels, improving visibility even under bright sunlight. This makes the phone suitable for users who consume a lot of multimedia content on their devices.
Under the hood, the Motorola Edge 70 Fusion is powered by the Snapdragon 7s series chipset, paired with up to 12GB RAM and up to 512GB internal storage. This hardware combination is designed to deliver fast performance for multitasking, gaming, and daily smartphone usage.
The device also places a strong emphasis on camera capabilities. It features a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-710 primary camera with optical image stabilisation, accompanied by a 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera. For selfies and video calls, the smartphone offers a 32-megapixel front camera that supports high-resolution recording. These camera features aim to deliver improved photography performance in different lighting conditions.
Battery life is another highlight of the smartphone. The Motorola Edge 70 Fusion comes with a large battery that can go up to 7000mAh depending on the variant, ensuring long usage without frequent charging. The device supports 68W fast charging, allowing users to quickly power up the phone when needed.
In terms of software, the smartphone runs Android 16, offering a clean interface along with several AI-based features from Motorola. The company is also expected to provide multiple Android updates and long-term security support.
With its curved display, strong camera hardware, and powerful battery, the Motorola Edge 70 Fusion aims to compete strongly in the premium mid-range smartphone segment.
Also Read: OPPO ColorOS 16 Rollout Timeline Revealed: Powerful Android 16 Update Coming to Reno, F and K Series