Pocket-lint Daily - Instagram Blue & Sonos hearts Alexa

It's Friday! By Rik Henderson | Friday February 03 2023 The weekend starts here. - If you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [Facebook]([Twitter]([Instagram]( [Website](  Instagram could be planning own Twitter Blue-style paid verification system POCKET-LINT What's happened? Even though Elon Musk's Twitter Blue paid verification service has proved controversial, it looks like Meta [could be about to follow suit](. Why does it matter? Code has been found inside the latest Instagram and Facebook apps that seem to refer to a similar "paid blue badge" scheme. What's my take? Considering a trusted developer found strings of code inside the latest apps, there is at least the possibility that Meta is looking to implement Twitter Blue-style paid-for verification to Instagram and Facebook. That worries me. It's already now more difficult to know who to trust on Twitter, considering anyone can pay for a "blue tick" and spout whatever they fancy - whether it be 100% bone fide news or conspiracy nonsense. Being able to buy a "verification" badge without being actually verified makes a mockery of the whole thing. If Instagram and Facebook head down the same path, where will we get our more thought-out, considered news and analysis? TikTok? Perhaps mainstream media will become a bigger source of trusted information once again. And that will surely rile a large proportion of those heralding paid verification in the first place. Sweet, sweet irony.  Sonos just brought Alexa voice control to 27 more countries POCKET-LINT What's happened? Sonos is [expanding Alexa voice control]( to its speakers in 27 more countries this spring. It has teamed up with Amazon to offer international Sonos users the convenience of Alexa voice control for music, calendars, shopping lists, and smart home commands. Why does it matter? Alexa is coming to Sonos speakers in Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey. What's my take? That Alexa will be available across many different countries and in different languages is great. Now all Sonos has to do is make it work as well on the Arc as it does on an actual Echo device - and stop interrupting FIFA when Trent Alexander-Arnold is on the ball.  WWE 2K23 initial review: It's all about the WarGames (and how you play it) 2K GAMES What's happened? Even the most forgiving WWE fan will admit that WWE 2K20 was an unmitigated disaster. Being the first to be solely developed by Visual Concepts, it was a bug-laden mess with some superstar character models that looked more melted waxworks than their real-world equivalents. However, after an extended break, WWE 2K22, proved a step back in the right direction. It got the basics right and improved the visual aspects greatly. Now its replacement is nearly here and we got to play several modes of a work-in-progress build. Our quick verdict From our initial hour or so with WWE 2K23, it's clear that much effort has been put into the presentation of this year's effort. The character models are simply incredible, with some superstars perfectly rendered, while the animations are much better during gameplay to make the whole thing feel more responsive and smooth. WarGames is also shaping up to be a blast. Roll on the final build. [Read our preview](.  In Case You Missed it Vivo X90 and X90 Pro [go global]( with Dimensity 9200 processors and impressive cameras. --- Razer's new [ultra-light gaming mouse]( costs a whopping $280. --- There's a $60 saving on the Ring Video Doorbell 3 right now, [coming in at $139.99 (was $199.99)](. That's a 30% price cut on this security camera, with 1080p video, two-way audio, a removable, rechargeable battery pack and Alexa integration, too.  From The Gear Loop THE GEAR LOOP Fara All-Road review: A bike that's packed with character, even if the brand isn't instantly recognisable [Read all about it](.  And finally... POCKET-LINT If you're looking to cancel Netflix in the wake of account sharing being blocked, [here's how](.  Have you checked out our weekly podcast that comes out every Friday? It's packed with news, interviews, and top things to get. You can subscribe to the Pocket-lint Podcast via [iTunes]( and [Spotify](,  or access it on the web via [Acast](. This week, we look at the announcements made during Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, look forward to the OnePlus 11 launch, talk about the new features on Sky Glass, and reveal the Pocket-lint Products of the Week. [Listen to the latest episode today.]( Thanks for reading - if you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [The Trust Project] [Why you can trust Pocket-lint]( You are subscribed to this email as {EMAIL}. Click here to modify your [preferences]( or [unsubscribe](.