WhatsApp recall message aka delete for everyone now available in India, here is how it works

The recall message, officially called Delete For Everyone, is now available to most WhatsApp users in India. The feature that started rolling out on Friday morning is now seemingly reaching almost everyone. And the best bit about it is that you don't have to necessarily update WhatsApp to get it.

Over here at India Today Tech we tested the feature on Version 2.17.395, which is new but not as fresh as beta version 2.17.399 or 2.17.400, and Delete For Everyone works fine. It seems that the feature has been enabled by WhatsApp on server and it doesn't matter even if you are running an older -- but hopefully not years old -- version of the chat app.

The feature, as its name suggests, enables a user to "recall a message" by deleting it. In other words, as soon as you delete a message in a chat window, it also gets deleted from the phone of the person who had received. However, there is a limit to it. You can only delete the message within 7 minutes of sending it. If you try to delete a message after 7 minutes, you won't be offered option to delete form everyone's phone. Here is how the feature works.

-- In a chat window select the message or messages that you want to delete. It is important that the messages must have been sent in the last seven minutes.

-- After selecting the message, tap on the recycle bin (the round bin) on the top of the chat window.

-- You will be presented with three options: cancel will send you back to the chat window, delete for me will delete the message from your phone, delete for everyone will delete the message from everyone's phone.

-- Once a message is deleted, instead of the message you will get to see "This message was deleted" in grey text. If you have deleted the message, then you will see "You deleted the message".

The feature is pretty cool. But do understand that it has some limitations. It will allow users to delete a message that they wrongly sent to some chat window or something that they sent but immediately regretted. It won't allow you to delete a message that the drunk you sent in the night in morning when you are sober and realised your mistake after the re-reading the message. As noted earlier, WhatsApp users will only have a window of 7 minutes to recall or delete a message.

It is also worth noting that you won't be able to delete any message that you forwarded, or in other words a message that is in quotes. It is also important to realise that even if you deleted a message that doesn't mean it wasn't read. It is possible that before you deleted a message, it was read, and it is also possible that it was screenshoted.

Too many WhatsApp images, videos making your phone slow and full? Here is a fix

WhatsApp has over 1 billion daily active users today. The increasing popularity of the chat app has made it synonymous to the messaging. SMS sounds old and obsolete now. These days SMS box is opened only to view OTPs, telecom's promotional messages and your bank transaction details. WhatsApp has become an indispensible part of our lives. The app has made it fast and easier to stay connected with our friends.

However, it can be little annoying at times when the chat app automatically download all those stupid memes, audio files, videos and photos. This not just makes the phone's gallery look like a complete mess, it also eats up you mobile data. Here is a fix to this to this problem.

For Android phones:

If you are an Android user, open your WhatsApp, go to Settings>Data and storage usage>Media auto download. Now uncheck all the three boxes under the Media auto download- when using mobile data, when connected on Wifi and when roaming.

For iPhones:

iPhone users can also de-clutter their phone from annoying audio file, videos and photos.  Open WhatsApp>Settings>Data and storage usage.

Now check the Never box for photos, videos, audio and documents.

Low data usage for WhatsApp calls

WhatsApp also has an option to lower the amount of data it uses during WhatsApp voice calls. Open WhatsApp>Settings>Data and storage usage> Low data usage.

Few quick points to  save mobile data and phone storage when using the WhatsApp:

-- Stop auto-download of heavy files. Videos are entertaining but hog a lot of space on your phone. You can always set the auto-download for such videos when on WiFi.

Also Read: Miss old status in WhatsApp? Here's how to set it up in new WhatsApp

-- Allow chat back up but only on WiFi. WhatsApp stores all your text chats and images. While this is an important feature as it allows you to retrieve your photos later from Cloud, backing up on mobile data can eat up your mobile data. So try doing it only on WiFi.

-- WhatsApp has an option where you can view your contacts and how much space each is taking. Go to WhatsApp> Storage and data usage>Storage usage.

Now you will see all your recent chats along with the space each is consuming on your phone. Select the chat>Manage messages>Clear messages.

Intel moves towards production quantum computing with new 17-qubit chip

Intel’s quantum computing efforts have yielded a new 17-qubit chip, which the company has just delivered to its partner in that field, QuTech in the Netherlands. It’s not a major advance in the actual computing power or applications — those are still in very early days — but it’s a step toward production systems that can be ordered and delivered to spec rather than experimental ones that live in a physics lab somewhere.

Intel’s celebration of this particular chip is a bit arbitrary; 17 isn’t some magic number in the quantum world, nor does this chip do any special tricks other quantum computer systems can’t. Intel is just happy that its history and undeniable expertise in designing and fabricating chips and architectures is paying off in a new phase of computing.

I chatted with Intel’s director of quantum hardware, Jim Clarke, about the new system.

The test chip itself (the gold ports aren’t the qubits themselves, obviously)

“We’re relying on our expertise in hardcore engineering,” he said. “We’re working on all parts of the compute stack: the chip, the control electronics, the system architecture, the algorithm.”

It’s not quite like popping out a new Core processor every year, but there’s plenty of overlap.

“Our infrastructure allows us to adapt the materials and the package,” Clarke said. “If you think of a material that might be good for a qubit chip, Intel likely already has a mature process for that material or at least experience with it.”

That isn’t easy when the field of computing they’re attempting to enter is largely theoretical. That’s why partners like QuTech, a research institute under TU Delft, are essential. Intel isn’t short on big brains, but a dedicated facility under a major technical university is likely more fertile ground for this kind of bleeding-edge work.

The basic relationship is that Intel makes the chips, and QuTech tests them with the latest algorithms, models, and instruments. They turn around and say something like “that was great, but we’ll need at least 14 qubits to do this next thing, and we saw a lot of interference under such and such conditions.” Intel jots it down and a few months later (there’s no set timeline), out comes a new one, and the cycle repeats.

I’m simplifying, of course, because I don’t know the details of all this quantum tomfoolery (who can, really?), but that’s a powerful cycle to nurture.

The results so far let Intel boast of a chip that, thanks to the company’s manufacturing prowess and the work by QuTech, has considerably improved in reliability and performance over the last two years, while the architecture, system infrastructure (such as interconnects and testing methods) and so on have evolved alongside.

Of course, these amazing quantum computers still don’t really do anything yet — and they have to operate at around 20 thousandths of a degree above absolute zero. But the first problem is more exciting than limiting (the potential of these machines, theoretically, is enormous), and the second one, to my surprise, isn’t really a big deal any more.

Turns out (perhaps you knew, but I didn’t) that you can package a multi-qubit quantum computing system, cooled to the millikelvin level, in an enclosure the size of an oil drum.

There’s a long way to go in the quantum computing world, but it’s a no-brainer for companies like Intel to bet on the concept; its billions of dollars in infrastructure serve excellently for collateral.

UNDERSTANDING SOFTWARE-DEFINED NETWORKING IN WINDOWS SERVER 2016

It’s official: software-defined networking (SDN) is here to stay. Who wouldn’t want physical and virtual network devices able to be centrally configured and managed? Here, we explain the new SDN features in Windows Server 2016 and how to understand and use these virtualization technologies.

What is software-defined networking?

To understand the benefits of software-defined networking in Windows Server 2016, it’s first important to know what it actually is.

Software-defined networking allows you to access switches and routers that would usually use closed, proprietary firmware by applying globally aware software control. Essentially, both physical and virtual network devices in your datacenter, like routers and gateways, can be configured and managed centrally.

SDN infrastructure includes virtual network elements such as Hyper-V Virtual Switch, network virtualization, and RAS Gateway. Of course, you can still use physical devices, but as long as they have SDN compatibility, there can be a deeper integration between the virtual and physical networks.

This is possible because “the network planes — the management, control, and data planes — are no longer bound to the network devices themselves, but are abstracted for use by other entities, such as datacenter management software like System Center 2016.”

Software-defined networking lets you automate and centralize the management of your datacenter network. So, the main benefits of SDN are:

Abstracting applications and workloads, providing virtual abstractions for physical network elements like IP addresses, and load balancers. This is accomplished by virtualizing the network and is non-disruptive.

The possibility of centrally defining and managing both physical and virtual networks and the traffic flow between them.

Move workloads across virtual or physical networks and deploy new workloads while implementing consistent network policies.

SDN technologies in Windows Server 2016

Network Controller

This “centralized, programmable pointof automation to manage, configure, monitor, and troubleshoot both virtual and physical network infrastructure in your datacenter” is new in Windows Server 2016.

This scalable service allows users to make network infrastructure configurations automatic instead of manual setting devices and services on your network. It provides you with two application programming interfaces (API): the Southbound API and the Northbound API.

The Southbound API lets Network Controller communicate with the network, while the Northbound API lets you communicate with Network Controller.

Windows Server 2016 allows you to use a management application, Windows PowerShell, or the Representational State Transfer (REST) API to use Network Controller.

From there, according to Microsoft, you can manage Hyper-V VMs and virtual switches, physical network switches and routers, firewall software, VPN gateways including Remote Access Service (RAS) multitenant gateways, and load balancers with Network Controller.

Hyper-V Network Virtualization

As evidenced by its name, Hyper-V Network Virtualization uses virtual networks to help you abstract your applications and workloads from the physical network. This was introduced in Windows Server 2012.

Virtual networks are very popular today and are compatible with virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs). Additionally, they give users the ability to have isolation even while running on a shared physical network infrastructure, utilizing the available resources.

You have the possibility of setting up virtual networks on existing networking gear, as well as deploying and migrating tenant workloads across three clouds — the service-provider cloud, the private cloud, or the Microsoft Azure public cloud.

Hyper-V Virtual Switch

Hyper-V Virtual Switch is available in Hyper-V Manager after you install the Hyper-V server role. It’s a software-based layer-2 Ethernet network switch that allows you to connect virtual machines to both virtual networks and the physical network. Additionally, it “provides policy enforcement for security, isolation, and service levels.”

In Windows Server 2016, you’re also able to deploy Switch Embedded Teaming (SET) and Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA).

Internal DNS Service (iDNS)

As you may know, hosted VMs and applications need DNS to communicate among their networks and external resources on the Internet. Using iDNS on Windows Server 2016 allows you to “provide tenants with DNS name resolution services for their isolated, local name space, and for Internet resources.”

This helps protect the server from malicious activities on tenant networks because there is no way to access the iDNS service without the iDNS proxy.

Network Function Virtualization

Many functions that were previously performed by hardware appliances are quickly becoming virtualized. Microsoft offers many Network Function Virtualization technologies in Windows Server 2016, including:

Software Load Balancer (SLB) and Network Address Translation (NAT) to help distribute network traffic equally among virtual network resources.

Datacenter Firewall allows you to apply firewall policies at the VM interface level or at the subnet level by providing granular access control lists (ACLs).

RAS Gateway to bridge traffic between virtual networks and nonvirtualized networks.

Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) and Switch Embedded Teaming (SET)

Windows Server 2016 gives you the possibility of using fewer network adapters when using RDMA and SET simultaneously by enabling RDMA on network adapters that are bound to a Hyper-V Virtual Switch with or without SET.

SET, an alternative NIC Teamingsolution that integrates some of its functionality into the Hyper-V Virtual Switch, lets you group one to eight physical Ethernet network adapters into one of more software-based virtual network adapters.

All of the SET member network adapters have to be in the same physical Hyper-V host to be placed in a team. “These virtual network adapters,” according to Microsoft, “provide fast performance and fault tolerance in the event of a network adapter failure.”

RAS Gateway for SDN

Using RAS Gateway in Windows Server 2016, you can route network trafficbetween the physical network and VM network resources, not worrying about where the resources are located. It is possible to route the network traffic at numerous physical locations over the Internet and virtual networks.

In Microsoft’s own words, it’s “a software-based, multitenant, Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) capable router in Windows Server 2016 that is designed for Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) and Enterprises that host multiple tenant virtual networks using Hyper-V Network Virtualization” meant to give you many choices of gateway infrastructure.

Software Load Balancing (SLB)

As stated in the “Network Function Virtualization” section, SLBs help distribute network traffic equally among virtual network resources. The Windows Server SLB, specifically, uses multiple servers for hosting the same workload to help give high availability and scalability.

Windows Server Containers

Containers are a popular operating system virtualization method that separates applications or services from other services that are running on the same container host. They function in a way that is similar to virtual machines when speaking of networking.

Every container has a “virtual network adapter which is connected to a virtual switch” where inbound and outbound traffic can go. Isolation is guaranteed through the network compartment that is created for the container when it’s installed.

The containers on Windows Server are able to be isolated because they each have their own view of the operating system, processes, file system, registry, and IP addresses. Windows Server 2016 now allows users to connect Windows Server containers to virtual networks.

New features in Google’s Contacts app on Android

Changes to the Contact view

• Large photos are back: A popular request from G Suite users, we’ll now display a larger, more vibrant contact photo.
• Action buttons under the photo make it easier to connect: Under the contact’s name, you’ll now see new buttons to call, text, video chat or email that contact. Additionally, if there’s at least one street address in the contact’s info, a Directions button will appear.
• Directory card shows directory profile information: In this card, you’ll see things like the contact’s job title, work phone number, manager name, and office location.

Changes to Suggestions

• Suggested contacts to add: New in this release, you’ll see suggestions to add contacts you frequently communicate with across Google’s products. These appear under the “Add people you contact often” summary card.

• Merge all duplicates: The duplicates suggestion view now has a “MERGE ALL” button which allows you to accept all duplicates suggestions at once.

Customized “Contacts” view

Lastly, you can now customize the “Contacts” list view to show just the labels you want. This is accessed via a new menu item in the main list screen called “Customize view.” This feature was available in previous releases for the “All contacts” list view, but it has now been made available for individual accounts as well.