GeekSpin

Ever felt uncomfortable handing over your phone number just to join a WhatsApp group or message someone new? That era of privacy exposure is finally coming to an end, as WhatsApp is rolling out a massive update that allows its three billion global users to ditch their phone numbers for unique, secure usernames.

Starting August 5, AT&T is set to raise two billing fees. The Administrative & Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee will climb from $3.99 to $4.99 per line per month, and the Administrative Fee for business and government customers will increase from $2.49 to $3.49 per line. This is the second increase in eight months for the consumer fee, which was raised from $3.49 to $3.99 last December. It’s worth noting that AT&T isn’t making these moves from a position of strength.

Gaming consoles have been getting more expensive in recent times as rising component costs continue to push prices higher. That’s what makes this StackSocial deal stand out. Right now, you can grab a refurbished Nintendo Switch for $198, down from $300, saving $102 on one of Nintendo’s most popular gaming consoles.

A good tablet can make everything from studying to streaming a lot more enjoyable, and this Amazon deal makes upgrading much more affordable. Right now, you can score the Lenovo Idea Tab for $200, saving you $90 off its original $290 price. The Idea Tab is an Android tablet that blends productivity tools with entertainment features. Ideal for college students, it features a beautiful display, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, and a stylus.

As part of its “Flash Charging China” initiative, multinational manufacturing company BYD Auto has deployed 6,682 ultra-fast chargers across 321 cities in China. Each connector puts out 1,500 kW, allowing compatible batteries to reach 97% charge from 10% in about nine minutes. The campaign hit 5,000 stations in under a month earlier this year, though deployment has since slowed. The year-end target of 20,000 stations, however, is still in place.

If you’re looking for an affordable refrigerator for a dorm, apartment, office, or garage, Walmart’s 4th of July Sale has a deal worth checking out. The Frigidaire 7.5 Cu. Ft. Top Mount Refrigerator has dropped from $480 to just $218, saving shoppers $262 on a compact fridge with a separate freezer and flexible storage. Despite its space-saving footprint, this refrigerator offers plenty of room for groceries, drinks, frozen foods, and everyday essentials.

T-Mobile is preparing a major shake-up that could leave many long-time customers paying more than they do now. The company has confirmed it will begin retiring its older, legacy plans and automatically shifting subscribers onto its updated lineup, a move that is expected to impact millions of accounts.

Deep beneath the landscape of Israel, researchers have uncovered what feels almost like a time capsule from Earth’s distant past — a cave that remained sealed and untouched for roughly 400,000 years. Inside, scientists found a remarkably preserved snapshot of prehistoric life, offering rare clues about early humans and the world they inhabited long before recorded history.

For decades, scientists have pored over the 5,300-year-old mummy known as Ötzi. Now, a new paper in the peer-reviewed journal Microbiome uncovered something unexpected: microorganisms are still present in his body, some of which may have accompanied him for millennia. Found in 1991 by a tourist hiking the Alps, the Iceman’s remains date back to around 3300 B.C., centuries before Stonehenge, the pyramids, and most of what we think of as ancient civilization.

If a new washer has been on your wish list, LG’s current 4th of July Sale is a great time to upgrade. The brand just knocked $320 off its 4.5 cu. ft. Ultra Large Capacity Top Load Washer, dropping it from $1,000 to just $680. This washer is a high-powered model designed to tackle everything from everyday laundry to bulky bedding. Its large capacity lets you wash more clothes in fewer loads, so you spend less time in the laundry room and more time on other tasks.