WhatsApp has announced it will soon stop working on millions of
phones around the world as they reach the end of their supported
lifespan.
That means users on a variety of older handsets could end up
losing access to the messaging app.
Facebook-owned WhatsApp has confirmed via its support page that
it will stop supporting these devices on December 31, 2019.
The company says that any phone running the Windows Mobile
operating system will not be supported after this date.
However, that’s not all. Any iPhone running software older than
iOS 7 will no longer be supported and neither will any Android
device with version 2.3.7 installed.
The iOS and Android blocks won’t happen this month but will take
place on February 1, 2020. WhatsApp says that anyone using these
older phones can no longer create new accounts or reverify existing
accounts.
‘Because we no longer actively develop for these operating
systems, some features might stop functioning at any time,’ the
company said in a blog post announcing the cut-off dates.
WhatsApp regularly stops support for older devices, forcing
users to keep up to date if they want to continue using the
app.
Here’s all he dates that WhatsApp stopped working on older phone
systems. June 30, 2017 – Nokia Symbian S60 December 31, 2017 –
BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10 December 31, 2018 – Nokia S40
December 31, 2019 – Windows Phone OS February 1, 2020 – iOS 7 and
Android 2.3.7
‘As we look ahead to our next seven years, we want to focus our
efforts on the mobile platforms the vast majority of people
use,’
WhatsApp said to justify why it routinely strips support for
older operating systems.
‘While these mobile devices have been an important part of our
story, they don’t offer the kind of capabilities we need to expand
our app’s features in the future.
This was a tough decision for us to make, but the right one in
order to give people better ways to keep in touch with friends,
family, and loved ones using WhatsApp.
‘If you use one of these affected mobile devices, we recommend
upgrading to a newer Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone to continue
using WhatsApp.’
As well as ditching older systems, WhatsApp is focused on adding
new features for current systems.
It is currently working on a dark mode which should help reduce
its battery usage a bit, but it’s not available for general
release.
Now the app detectives at WABetaInfo have found a clever new
feature which should allow dark mode to bring even more light to
your life.
It is rooted through beta mode to find a new option buried in
the settings.
This will let you choose between the light and dark side of
WhatsApp, but also tick a box marked ‘battery saver’.
This automatically switches on dark mode when your juice is
running low. ‘WhatsApp doesn’t stop amazing us, continuing to
improve with new features like the Battery Saver option’ the blog
wrote.
The feature was found in a beta version of the software for
Android. It will eventually be released to the public and run on
every device, but it’s not clear when this will take place.
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Troops Eliminate 37 Boko Haram Fighters in Merciless
Operation
Videolink: https://youtu.be/p2LHh0HHHEM
In a merciless weeklong operation against Terrorists, the
Nigerian troops and vigilantes have eliminated 37 Boko Haram
Terrorists and recovered four Guntrucks.
In the operation led by Commander Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya
Dole, Major General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu, the troops also
ransacked and destroyed notorious terrorists enclaves in Duguri
Arge around the Tumbus, Karere, Gashigar, Arege, Metele and Malam
fatori, in the fringes of Lakechad, Borno state.
PRNigeria[1] gathered that the troops
deployed military gun trucks, artillery, APCs and Anti Mines trucks
in the massive raids.
Some of the footage and images obtained by PRNigeria[2] show mangled and burnt
bodies of the terrorists.
The Operation was conducted by the troops of Sector 3 Operation
Lafiya Dole in conjuction with the troops of Sector 2 of the Multi
National Joint Task Force as well as the Chadian military Forces
fighting Boko Haram with the Nigeria troops.
The aggressive combat campaign was equally supported by the Air
Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole who supported the ground troops
with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission as
well as air raids.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has also issued a statement
extolling the gallantry of the troops in dislodging Boko Haram
criminals from their hideouts and rescuing women and children.
In the statement by Colonel Aminu
Iliyasu, Media Coordinator Nigerian Army Operations, stated that
the combined troops of 68/94 Battalions of Operation LAFIYA DOLE
deployed at Malam Fatori in Abadam LGA of Borno State conducted an
aggressive fighting patrol to a location earlier reported by the
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission
conducted by the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE as
harbouring some activities of the Boko Haram criminal elements.
Iliyasu said the troops successfully uncovered the enclave and
proceeded to engage it with devastating volumes of fire. Without
any attempt to return fire, the cowardly criminals scampered into
the nearly bushes in complete disarray.
He said the troops immediately pursued the terrorists along
their withdrawal route. During the exploitation, troops discovered
bodies of terrorist and many trails of blood along the route.
Item recovered during the operation included AK 47 Rifles, Rifle
magazines loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition each,
unexploded Mortar bombs for making of Improvised Explosive Devices
(IEDs) were captured from the insurgents.
Other items equally captured include bundle of IED cable, IED
battery, camel bag, motorcycles, sets of overall cloths, bedding
materials, cooking utensils, food items, motorcycle spare parts,
122 cylinder tubes and various mechanical tools.
The military spokesperson further said that on 3 December 2019,
Boko Haram elements also suffered a defeat in the hands of the
troops of 144 Battalion deployed at Limankara in Gwoza LGA of Borno
State during a failed attempt to infiltrate the troops’
location.
Colonel Iliyasu said “During the exploitation exercise that
followed the brief fire fight with the marauding criminals, the
troops discovered burnt body parts of Boko Haram criminals hit by a
Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb explosion as well as some broken AK
47 Rifle parts and traces of blood along the criminals’ withdrawal
route.
“The troops of 101 Task Force Battalion deployed at Cross Kauwa
in Kukawa LGA of Borno State made contact with some marauding Boko
Haram criminals while conducting Clearance Operations along Cross
Kauwa – Monguno Road.
“Similarly, on 4 December 2019, troops of 68/94 Battalions
deployed at Malam Fatori in Abadam LGA of Borno State conducted a
successful ambush at a Boko Haram criminals crossing point North
East of the town and neutralised a Boko Haram terrorist while many
others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
“However, the troops recovered some vandalised roofing sheets,
33 IED detonator cords and other IED making materials. Preliminary
investigation revealed that the criminals are part of IED laying
party along the route.
“In another successful ambush operation conducted by the troops
of 21 Special Armoured Brigade on 4 December 2019, at Darel Jamel,
Bama LGA of Borno State, the troops neutralised one Boko Haram
terrorist while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.
“Same troops also conducted a robust clearance operation same
day and cleared Boko Haram criminals’ hideouts at Mantari, Malam
Masari and Gabchari Villages in Bama LGA of Borno State.”
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai
commended the troops for the exceptional display of gallantry,
professionalism and responsiveness.