Meta has begun limited tests of a paid WhatsApp tier called “WhatsApp Plus,” rolling out to select Android beta users from April 20–21, 2026, with iOS support promised later. The optional subscription is largely cosmetic and organisational: premium stickers and animated packs, 18 chat themes and alternative app icons, custom ringtones, more granular chat-list controls, and an expanded pin limit (up to 20 chats versus the free tier’s three). Reported regional pricing varies (e.g., €2.49 in Europe, PKR 229 in Pakistan, MX$29 in Mexico; some outlets cite roughly $2.99/month), and Meta may offer a one-month free trial. WhatsApp’s core messaging, voice/video calls and end-to-end encryption remain free, and there is no indication paid plans remove Status ads. The test follows the recent Instagram Plus trial and forms part of Meta’s broader push to add consumer subscriptions across its apps as it seeks to diversify revenue while continuing heavy investment in AI infrastructure.

Apple announced on April 20-21, 2026 that long‑time hardware chief John Ternus will succeed Tim Cook as chief executive on Sept. 1, with Cook moving to executive chairman. Ternus, a 25‑year Apple veteran who has overseen hardware engineering across iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods and the Vision Pro, is charged with steering the $4 trillion company into an era dominated by artificial intelligence. Apple said Cook will remain through the summer to help with the transition and will continue engaging with policymakers globally. The company also reorganised senior hardware roles, naming Johny Srouji to a broader chief hardware officer remit. Investors showed only a muted reaction to the news, with shares slipping modestly in after‑hours trading. Analysts highlight Ternus’s strengths in product engineering and delivery but note Apple’s relative lag in foundational AI development, its recent deal to integrate Google’s Gemini into Siri, and pressure from rivals such as Nvidia, Google and Meta on AI and new form factors.

Prego, the US pasta-sauce brand, and nonprofit oral-history group StoryCorps have unveiled the Connection Keeper, a puck-shaped dinner-table audio recorder aimed at sparking conversation and reducing phone use at meals. Announced in late April 2026, the limited-run device sells for $20 with fewer than 100 units to be produced; sales were slated to open April 27 and recordings to become shareable via StoryCorps beginning May 4. The Connection Keeper records CD-quality audio to a 16GB microSD card (about eight hours), uses a simple button interface, two microphones and USB-C transfer — there is no Wi‑Fi, cloud streaming or AI transcription built in. Buyers receive prompt cards and a branded bundle that includes sauce and spaghetti. Users may upload recordings to a StoryCorps portal (StoryCorps says the portal is encrypted) and optionally contribute items to StoryCorps’ archive and the U.S. Library of Congress. Critics and reporters note the product’s limited availability and raise questions about privacy, consent and the specifics of data handling and long-term storage.

Google said on April 20 it is expanding its Gemini in Chrome assistant to seven additional markets — Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam. The feature appears in Chrome’s sidebar and is available on desktop and iOS in all listed countries except Japan, where iOS support is not yet offered. Gemini in Chrome connects to Google services through Personal Intelligence, allowing users to draft and send emails via Gmail, add events to Calendar, check locations in Maps and surface photos from Google Photos. The sidebar also provides access to Google’s Nano Banana 2 image generator. The rollout follows earlier launches in the U.S. (January) and expansions to India, Canada and New Zealand in March. Google noted that its more agentic capability — which can act across the browser to complete tasks — remains in testing and is restricted to AI Pro and AI Ultra paid plans for U.S. users.

Google has rolled out a new suite of face-specific touch-up tools inside the Google Photos editor, allowing users to apply subtle, targeted edits after capture. Announced 20 April 2026, the features — heal, smooth, under eyes, irises, teeth, eyebrows and lips — are accessed by selecting an individual face in a photo and applying an intensity slider to control effect strength. Google’s AI detects up to six faces in group shots so edits to one person do not bleed onto others. The tools are gradually rolling out globally on Android devices running Android 9.0 or later with at least 4GB of RAM. Google positions the update as a way to keep users editing within Photos rather than switching to third-party apps; it follows recent moves to tie Photos imagery into Google’s generative models. The company warns the rollout is incremental; availability will vary by device and region. Observers note the features are designed for refinement rather than dramatic transformation, while researchers caution that frequent photo retouching can have negative effects on self-image and mental health.