You’ll Need To Link A Phone Number To Use The Switch 2’s GameChat Feature

A woman playing Mario Kart World with her friends on the Switch 2 via GameChat.

Summary

  • GameChat will be a major feature of the Nintendo Switch 2, and it’ll require more than just an NSO membership.
  • As revealed online, to utilize the GameChat feature, you’ll need to register a valid phone number.
  • It’s likely a major safeguard to prevent bad actors from signing up for the service while also creating a digital papertrail for those who do misuse the service.

Two weeks from today, when the Nintendo Switch 2 launches worldwide, one of the biggest features it’ll be touting is GameChat. Remember that mysterious “C” button ahead of the Switch 2 reveal? Well, it’ll help unlock an array of communication features similar to Discord, including the ability to chat with friends and share your screen.

As it stands,the feature will be free until March 2026. After that,you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online membership, otherwise the “C” button will be rather useless. Now, it’s also been revealed that you’ll need a valid phone number to access the GameChat feature.

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Mario Will Need To See Your Digits Before Letting You Chat

As spotted by multiple users online, the fine print of Nintendo’s GameChat functionality states that “Mobile phone number registration required to use GameChat.”

图像

At the moment, Nintendo has not explained exactly why a phone number is required to access the feature, though there are a few reasons why this is likely the case.

To start, the company likely wants to ensure that arealperson is making use of the feature while also creating a digital papertrail in the event that the feature is abused. In the event that GameChat is abused, then the number and account will be blocked, and without another valid number, the offender won’t be able to access GameChat again.NOTE:It hasn’t been stated whether VOIP numbers are blocked, though that seems fairly likely.

Not only that, but should the feature be seriously or illegally misused, then there’s a phone number attached to the account that could be traced by the authorities. In that same vein, it’ll likely deter those who would misuse the services knowing that there is more than an email address registered to the account.

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Either way, it looks like Nintendo is putting the safety and security of its consumers first. It may sound like an overreach to need a number, but there’s no doubt it’ll help keep bad actors away.

Apple now considers these two iPhone models as ‘vintage’

Not quite obsolete yet

iPhone 7 Plus camera

Apple has updated its list of “vintage” products to include two more iPhone models: the iPhone 8 (in 64GB and 256GB configurations) and the iPhone 7 Plus.

iPhone products vintage worldwide

  • iPhone 4 (8GB)
  • iPhone 5
  • iPhone 6s (16GB, 64GB, 128GB)
  • iPhone 6s Plus
  • iPhone SE
  • iPhone 7 Plus
  • iPhone 8 (64GB, 256GB)
  • iPhone 8 (PRODUCT)RED™
  • iPhone 8 Plus (PRODUCT)RED™
  • iPhone X
  • iPhone XS Max

apple 

Apple adds products to its “vintage” list five years after it stops distributing them for sale. These products will typically not receive routine software updates although they may still get limited security updates.

Vintage products are no longer guaranteed to be repairable at Apple stores or other service providers either. While the company does provide servicing and parts for products up to seven years, that’s only assuming the necessary parts are still available. So, long story short; if you do own a vintage Apple product and it breaks, repairing it could be tricky.

The iPhone 7 Plus was launched in 2016 and was the first iPhone with a dual-lens camera system. It also introduced a solid state Home button (back when iPhones had those) and a jet black color.

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus attracted some controversy because some models had faulty audio chip issues that led to microphone failure and, eventually, resulted in a class action lawsuit.

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128GB iPhone 8 isn’t vintage yet

iPhone 8 and 8 Plus held side by side

While Apple has added the 64GB and 256GB iPhone 8 models to its vintage list, the 128GB version isn’t included because that launched later on in the product’s lifetime. The iPhone 8 Plus also isn’t on the vintage list yet — apart from the (PRODUCT)RED version — so owners should still be able to get them repaired or serviced without issue.

Following its time on the vintage list, Apple will then classify a product as obsolete — in which case it’s no longer authorized for repair and won’t receive update support. The most recent Apple products to be classed as obsolete are the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 2. Which is understandable, since both were released over a decade ago.

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Needless to say, if you’re still using an iPhone (or other Apple product) on the vintage or obsolete lists, it’s time to consider upgrading to one of the best iPhones.

Google Chrome Can Now Auto-Change Compromised Passwords Using Its Built-In Manager

Auto-Change Compromised Passwords

Google has announced a new feature in its Chrome browser that lets its built-in Password Manager automatically change a user’s password when it detects the credentials to be compromised.

“When Chrome detects a compromised password during sign in, Google Password Manager prompts the user with an option to fix it automatically,” Google’s Ashima Arora, Chirag Desai, and Eiji Kitamurasaid. “On supported websites, Chrome can generate a strong replacement and update the password for the user automatically.”

The feature builds uponPassword Manager’s existing capabilities to generate strong passwords during sign-up and flag credentials that have been detected in a data breach.

With the automated password change, Google said the idea is to reduce friction and help users keep their accounts secure without having to search for relevant account settings or abandon the process midway.

Website owners can support this feature byadoptingthe following methods –

  • Use autocomplete=”current-password” and autocomplete=”new-password” to trigger autofill and storage
  • Set up aredirectfrom <your-website-domain>/.well-known/change-password to the password change form on their website

>>>Replacement battery for Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold“It would be much easier if password managers could navigate the user directly to the change-password URL,” Kitamura said. “This is where a well-known URL for changing passwords becomes useful.”

“By reserving a well-known URL path that redirects the user to the change password page, the website can easily redirect users to the right place to change their passwords.”

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The development comes as companies are increasingly shifting to passkeys as a stronger alternative to protect accounts from potential takeover attacks. Earlier this month, Microsoftsaidit’s making passkeys the default method when signing up for new customer accounts.

Windows 11 is getting its own version of the Mac’s ‘Handoff’ feature — resume apps across Android and PC!

Microsoft has revealed that it’s bringing “Cross Device Resume” to Windows 11, which will let apps seamlessly sync between Android and PC. The company has now demoed the feature working with Spotify.

Phone Link on Windows 11

Microsoft has detailed a new feature coming soon toWindows 11that will allow app developers to implement “Cross Device Resume” into their apps. This feature is very similar to Apple’s “Handoff” feature available on the Mac and iPhone, which lets apps sync between both devices to easily continue where you left off.

The feature was revealed during aBuild 2025 sessiontitled “Create Seamless Cross-Device Experiences with Windows for your app,” but the session has since been edited to delete the demo showcasing Cross Device Resume.@phantomofearth on Xwas able to spot the session before it was altered.

In the now-deleted demo, Microsoft showcases Spotify as an app that will take advantage of Cross-Device Resume. The demo starts on an Android phone playing a song in the Spotify app.

On Windows, the Spotify app appears in the Taskbar with a phone icon next to it. Hovering over the icon shows that Spotify is currently open on your phone, and clicking the icon will open the Spotify app on Windows and bring you to the same place in the app on your phone.

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Spotify resuming from phone to PC.

You’ll see the app on your phone appear in the Taskbar, letting you easily resume it on Windows with a single click.(Image credit: Microsoft Build 2025)

The seamless integration can even continue playing the song from the exact moment you decided to open the app on your PC, creating a continuous experience across devices.

Spotify was used for the demo in this instance, but itlooks like WhatsAppwill also take advantage of Cross-Device Resume. Third-party developers will be able to integrate this experience into their apps, which Microsoft says will provide another avenue for users to discover their app on Windows.

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has announced Handoff-like features for Windows. In 2020, it announcedProject Rome, a tool that would let developers sync app data between Windows PCs and phones. This new Cross Device Resume feature seems to be a replacement (or continuation) for Project Rome.

Some Fire TV devices are about to lose Netflix — see if you’re affected

Your Fire TV device might lose Netflix support soon

Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite

(Image credit: Amazon)

Fire TVstreaming devices are great. They’re consistently among thebest streaming devicesand come loaded with features and apps for all thebest streaming services.

They’re so good that you might still use some old versions ofAmazon’s streaming devices. If you are, thenNetflixmight have bad news for you.

In an email to select subscribers, Netflix announced that it was ending support for first-generation Fire TV streaming media players (h/tHeise).

“According to our usage data,” the email begins, “you have used Netflix on a first-generation Fire TV streaming media player in the past 12 months. Netflix will discontinue support for these streaming media players on June 2, 2025.”

  • Fire TV (2014)
  • Fire TV Stick (2014)
  • Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote (2016)

First, let’s get into the bad news. If you have a first-generation Fire TV streaming box or a first-generation Fire TV Stick, including models with voice remotes, you’re going to lose the ability to watch Netflix starting June 2.

A first-generation Fire TV Stick (2014)

The good news is that these devices areold. They launched in 2014 and lost software and security update support from Amazon years ago (Amazon only guarantees support for devices for four years from their date of sale).

So chances are, you either aren’t using these devices anymore, or you had some idea this day could come.

Unfortunately, if you are still using your first-gen Fire TV devices, there’s nothing you can do to avoid Netflix ending support for your version of its Fire TV OS app. You’ll need to buy a new streaming device if you want to keep watching Netflix.

That might be a blessing in disguise, though. Right now, everynewFire TV streaming stick is on sale, so there’s never been a better time to upgrade.

To replace your old first-gen Fire TV, you could go with the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD.Right now, you can get it at Amazon for $19.99, which is 43% off the list price.

The Fire TV Stick HD will give you everything you had with your first-generation Fire TV device and more, but if you’re looking for an upgrade, you could go with the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K instead.

Right now, you can get it at Amazon for $19.99, which is 40% off the list price.

Or get a serious upgrade andget the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $39.99. It’s pricier, but it’s the Fire TV Stick I use and the one I recommend to anyone with a 4K TV.