Latest news with #Status
Time of India
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Epic Games to remove this controversial game even if it's downloaded in your library
Representative Image Epic Games is set to remove the game Dark and Darker from the libraries of all owners starting November 1. This action follows the game's earlier removal from sale on the Epic Games Store due to ongoing legal disputes. Dark and Darker, developed by Ironmace , was initially pulled from the Epic Games storefront earlier this year. The removal stems from legal claims by Nexon , alleging theft of assets by Ironmace. While the game has remained available on Steam, Epic Games is proceeding with its complete removal from user libraries. The game distribution platform has started emailing users who have Dark and Darker in their library, informing them that the game will be removed and that partial refunds will be issued. What Epic Games said to players about removing Dark and Darker from their libraries In the email sent to users (uploaded on Reddit), Epic Games writes: 'We removed Dark and Darker from sale on the Epic Games Store on March 5 in consideration of a court decision in Korea between Nexon and the game's publisher, Ironmace. On November 1, 2025, we will be removing Dark and Darker from your library, at which point it will no longer be playable via the Epic Games Store. Effective immediately, players can no longer purchase Redstone Shards or the Legendary Status upgrades via the Epic Games Store. Players can continue to use the Redstone Shards that they have previously purchased until November 1, 2025. We will issue a refund to all players who have purchased the Legendary Status upgrade. Refunds will be issued to the player's original payment method, and where that's not possible, players will receive a refund to their Epic account balance. We are unable to provide refunds on Redstone Shards. If you have not received a refund by July 1, please contact player support.' The outcome of the situation will likely depend on the result of the ongoing legal dispute. While Steam has not yet taken similar action, that could change. Dark and Darker is a multiplayer action RPG and dungeon crawler set in a dark fantasy world, released in early access in 2023 for both PC and mobile. The game received a mixed response upon launch. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
New York Post
5 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Two CNN execs bolt struggling network as anxiety soars over cost-cutting after spinoff
Two senior CNN executives are reportedly bolting the ratings-challenged network as unease grows over the expected cost-cutting from the looming corporate spinoff. Laura Bernardini, vice president of domestic news, and Jacque Smith, vice president for digital video, are both leaving CNN, according to Oliver Darcy's Status newsletter. Bernardini has spent 28 years at CNN, while Smith has been at the netwoek for 17 years. Advertisement 5 Laura Bernardini, vice president of news for CNN, is reportedly leaving the network. CNN 5 Jacque Smith, vice president for CNN digital video production, is also said to be on the way out. CNN The Post has sought comment from CNN. Their reported departures come amid rising anxiety in the newsroom, with many staffers bracing for yet another wave of upheaval as CNN is carved out of parent company Warner Bros. Discovery and bundled with other legacy cable networks. Advertisement WBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels — who has a reputation as a ruthless cost-cutter — will take over the new company, called Global Networks. CNN's star anchor Anderson Cooper, whose $18 million-a-year salary was reported for the first time last week, has hired a new super agent — leading to speculation he could also be on the way out. Wiedenfels, meanwhile, struck an optimistic tone about the network's future in a recent memo to staffers, calling himself a 'deep admirer of CNN' who consumes its content 'around the clock,' according to Status. Advertisement The email's subject line — 'Excitement for the Future' — did little to calm nerves, Darcy reported in his newsletter. 5 CNN staffers are reportedly bracing for steep cuts that are expected under incoming corporate boss Gunnar Wiedenfels. Warner Bros. Discovery 'Everyone is wary and tired and there is so much change that we don't understand what direction the company is going in,' one CNN staffer told Darcy. Another added: 'There are people who think CNN won't exist at some point.' Advertisement CNN boss Mark Thompson, who's tried to keep morale up, told staffers in a memo last week: 'We hold our destiny in our own hands… If we reinvent CNN to meet the challenge of the future… we'll succeed in all scenarios. If we don't, we'll suffer the same fate as any legacy company that fails to respond to a changing world.' 5 CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who earns a reported $18 million annually, recently hired a new agent — a sign he is looking toward a post-CNN future. Getty Images for CNN Global Networks — which will also include TBSm HGTV and TNT — will mark CNN's third parent company in seven years. Under Warner Media, former boss Jeff Zucker and Jason Kilar launched CNN+, only for the streaming service to be killed weeks after launch by WBD CEO David Zaslav folliwing its $43 billion merger in 2022. The network has lagged in the ratings race against rivals MSNBC and Fox News as Zaslav has pushed for left-leaning CNN to appeal to a more centrist audience. 5 Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, reportedly sought to lift morale in the network newsroom. Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery WBD is pouring $100 million into a new CNN streaming product set to launch this fall — and reportedly re-hiring some of the same CNN+ executives they previously let go. 'Global Networks has a robust portfolio and is set-up for success. Across many regions and teams internally, there is excitement for the opportunities of Global Networks,' a source familiar with the situation told The Post. Advertisement WBD will retain HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures and Max as part of a new entity known as Streaming & Studios.
Hans India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
WhatsApp Begins Global Rollout of Ads, but EU Opts Out Until 2026
Meta has taken a significant step in monetising WhatsApp by rolling out advertisements across the app globally, except in the European Union. This change, announced on June 16, marks a pivotal shift for the world's most-used messaging platform, which long positioned itself as ad-free. The ads will now be visible in the Updates tab, specifically within Status—WhatsApp's version of Instagram Stories. However, for millions of users in the EU, the wait for ads will extend at least until 2026 due to regulatory delays. According to Meta, the new ads will not interfere with personal messaging. 'We believe the Updates tab is the right place for these new features,' WhatsApp clarified in a blog post. The ads will appear alongside updates from friends and family but will not intrude into personal chats, calls, or group conversations. This subtle placement is designed to balance user experience with Meta's revenue goals. As part of this broader monetisation strategy, Meta is also introducing channel subscriptions and promoted channels. Channel subscriptions will allow creators to offer exclusive content behind a paywall, while promoted channels will be highlighted in the app's Explore section, expanding reach for brands and content creators alike. Interestingly, users in the European Union won't see these ads just yet. Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC), which oversees Meta's EU operations, has confirmed that WhatsApp's ad model will not go live in the region before 2026. 'That new product won't be launching in the EU market until 2026. We have been informed by WhatsApp,' said Des Hogan, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner. The delay stems from concerns over compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), one of the world's strictest privacy laws. For users outside the EU—including India—the ads will be personalised with limited data. Meta will use location (city and country), language, and user interaction with channels to tailor content. If users have connected WhatsApp to the Meta Accounts Center, their ad preferences from Facebook and Instagram may also influence what they see. However, Meta insists that it's safeguarding user privacy. The company reiterated that it will not use private messages, calls, or group activity for ad targeting. These remain fully encrypted, and phone numbers won't be shared with advertisers. The timing of this rollout is bold, especially as Meta faces an ongoing antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. The integration of ad systems across its platforms—WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook—is under scrutiny, with critics arguing it reflects Meta's unchecked market power. Nonetheless, the shift signals a new chapter for WhatsApp. With 1.5 billion daily users, Meta sees enormous revenue potential. Having earned over $160 billion in ad revenue last year, the addition of WhatsApp to its ad portfolio could significantly boost earnings. Yet, it also raises questions about the future of private, clutter-free communication on the app.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
‘My£9 handheld fan is a staple in my handbag during the heatwave and on holiday'
If you're struggling to keep cool during the heatwave then these easy to use handheld fans are the perfect accessory to keep in your bag – they're even ideal for travelling with The sunny weather is all well and good, but when you feel like you can't escape the heat it can end up spoiling your day. Whether you're preparing for a holiday abroad or just trying to endure the UK's current heatwave, there's one thing that I make sure I always have in my handbag in the summer; the Warmco Mini Portable Handheld Fan. Priced at £17.99 for a pack of two – which equates to less than £9 per fan – these handy compact fans have become a must-have in my bag, and have served me well everywhere from the UK to Dubai and Arizona. They might be small, but they're powerful enough to keep me cool even in temperatures as high as 38 degrees, and are so easy to use. The Warmco Mini Portable Handheld Fan duo comes in both pink and navy, and are the perfect size to fit in the palm of your hand or even into a clutch bag with ease. As well as being handheld, each fan comes with a stand that lets you prop it up on your desk or bedside table so you can keep cool whilst working or trying to sleep. There's no need for batteries, as they charge up via USB, so you never need to worry about them cutting out whilst out and about. The battery life of them allows for between three and eight hours of continuous use depending on which speed setting you choose. I was worried they'd be super loud and obnoxious to use, but they're incredibly quiet even when at full speed, so you can use them on planes and trains or in public without feeling self conscious. Although the Warmco Mini Portable Handheld Fan is perfect for keeping cool during the summer heat, I also found a great use for it year round; drying your makeup setting spray. Once you've spritzed it on, simply turn the fan on and use it to dry down the setting spray without frantically fanning your hands up and down. It's also handy for helping things like lash glue or fake tan to dry down more quickly. If you prefer a bladeless model, this Wendry Portable Handheld Cooling Bladeless Fan is £12.49 with three speed settings and a stand to turn it into a desk fan. For something even more tiny, Dunelm's Status Dual Position Handheld Folding Fan measures just three inches and folds up into two standing positions, costing just £3. However I'm not the only one who loves the Warmco Mini Portable Handheld Fan. Other Amazon reviews say: 'Great little fans, not too big, quiet and charge relatively quickly and seem to be lasting well. Stand is a handy plus and seem to be decent quality.' Another agreed: 'Handy portable and desk fan with different speed settings. Only just had them so cannot yet verify about recharging them. Good value for money and seem quite sturdy, they are also reasonably quiet too so handy for travelling.' Some found some issues, writing: 'These fans are a great size and provide a nice bit of cool air on a hot day. But the power button turns on too easily. Every time I opened my backpack, the fan was on, cooling the inside of my bag. The button needs to be reconfigured so it can't do that.' However other reviewers loved them, saying: 'Shocked at how good these two are. Very powerful! Great for the price. Would recommend! Bought for holidays. The stand is great to put it on table at the restaurant.'
Digital Trends
2 days ago
- Business
- Digital Trends
Ads on WhatsApp: what they are and why you may never see them
It's official, ads are coming to WhatsApp. However, depending on how you use the popular messaging app, you may never see one. Hot on the heels of the welcome addition of a proper WhatsApp iPad App, WhatsApp has confirmed it's introducing ads to the platform alongside a couple of other features for businesses and channels to utilise. Recommended Videos It's a move which we're surprised took Meta – WhatsApp's parent company – as long as it did to make, but it does go against the app's co-founder's promise that it would never have ads. All three features are dedicated to the Updates tab in WhatsApp, which means your regular chats should be unaffected by the changes. What is the new WhatsApp ad feature? WhatsApp has introduced three new, revenue-generating features, and 'Ads in Status' is the big one for casual users of WhatsApp. The app's existing Status function works in a similar way to Instagram's Stories, allowing users to post disappearing (after 24 hours) updates – such as images, videos and text – for contacts to view. Now with Ads in Status, when you're viewing Status posts from friends and family you may be served an ad in between them. If this sounds familiar, it's because this already exists on Instagram. Some of your data will be used to serve you more relevant ads, with WhatsApp saying 'we'll use limited info like your country or city, language, the Channels you're following, and how you interact with the ads you see.' The other two features WhatsApp has introduced are Channel subscriptions and Promoted Channels. With Channel subscriptions you can pay a monthly fee in return for 'exclusive updates' from your favorite channel. Meanwhile, Promoted Channels allows owners to boost their visibility in listings, and potentially surfacing channels that could be most interesting to you. When will I start seeing ads on WhatsApp? We contacted Meta who told us it would 'be rolling these updates out slowly over the next several months' to users globally, so you may not see the changes in the Updates tab right away. The spokesperson also noted that the new features would arrive via an app update, so if you want to put off the changes for as long as possible, turn off auto-update on your phone. There will come a point however, where WhatsApp will need you to update for the app to continue working. And when we asked what Meta was planning to do with the additional revenue generated by these new features, we were told it would 'help us to keep building more that users want.' How can I avoid ads on WhatsApp? While you can't turn off or disable WhatsApp ads, if you purely only just the 'Chats' tab of the app you'll never run into any of these ads or promoted channels. WhatsApp is keeping these new features in the Updates tab only – at least for the time being. We can't predict what will happen in the future. How do I uninstall WhatsApp? If you're not a fan of this direction from WhatsApp you can remove the app from your phone. Before you uninstall WhatsApp though, be sure to delete your account. Deleting your WhatsApp account will do the following, so make sure this is something you really want to do, as even WhatsApp notes 'deleting your account is irreversible. We can't reverse this even if you delete it by accident.' Delete your account from WhatsApp and all your devices Erase your message history Delete you from all of your WhatsApp groups Delete your Google Account backup Remove you as a channel admin or follower, but not delete any updates you made or channel interactions like reactions or poll votes Delete any channels you created if there aren't additional channel admins To delete your WhatsApp account, open the app on your main device as head to Settings > Account > Delete My Account. Then follow the on-screen prompts to delete your account. Once your account is deleted, exit WhatsApp and hold down on the app icon to follow your phone's standard app uninstall process.
