Mobile operating systems

Apple’s strategy, if there was one at all, for protecting your phone’s data from theft has been pretty bad all along. If the thief can take a glance at your password before stealing your iPhone, you have handed him your entire digital life. With the iOS 17.3 beta that rolled out yesterday, the company finally added a robust system for safeguarding your data against theft.Google’s AI Isn’t a Gimmick, It’s the Future | AI UnlockedIn the current iOS version and until now, all a thief needs to get their hands on is the…

Apple isn’t keen to let just any peasant enter its hallowed and gloried domain of iMessage. The company officially declared it had blocked the Beeper Mini app, which let Android users send blue bubble messages to their friends and family on iPhone by reverse engineering the iMessage protocol.'Even AI Rappers are Harassed by Police' | AI UnlockedI guess you should go ahead and buy your mom that iPhone, just like Apple CEO Tim Cook once told a reporter asking questions about Apple’s dreaded blue bubbles. Gizmodo took the…

There are plenty of things to like about the latest iOS 17.2 update. For one, iPhone 15 Pro users are getting telephoto camera improvements and can finally use the titanium-shelled hardware to shoot spatial videos for the Vision Pro. There’s also a new Action button shortcut for real-time translation. But the most helpful bit of this software update is the official debut of Apple Journal, which comes just in time for the emotionally challenging holiday season. Journal can help keep all those inner thoughts you write out…

Google is trying to sprinkle a bit of AI spice into the staid flavor of note-taking apps with NotebookLM, an AI assistant app focused on helping writers, educators, students, or other creative types.Zillow Says You’ll Buy Your Next House With… AI? | AI UnlockedAfter leaving the app in beta for a few months, Google released NotebookLM to the wider public Friday, along with a few new features and tweaks. The tool is meant to collect information from multiple documents and use it to synthesize information. Google previously…

Note: As I was getting ready to publish this piece, Beeper’s servers began faltering. TechCrunch reports that Beeper Mini had lost access to Apple’s servers, though I’m still able to send text-based messages with a bit of delay. This piece covers the experience before this breaking news hit. I reached out to Beeper to ask what’s going on and will update you when I hear back.Zillow Says You’ll Buy Your Next House With… AI? | AI UnlockedI have been posing as a blue bubble from my Google Pixel 8 for the past few days. My…

All good things must come to an end, and a decade after its first release, Windows 10 will finally be sent to a farm upstate. It had a good run, though Microsoft plans to keep dropping security updates after the OS’ demise on Oct. 14, 2025. Just be aware that the tech giant will force you to dip into your wallet to keep accessing security fixes and small bug hunts.“Even AI Rappers are Harassed by Police” | AI UnlockedThat date is two years in the future, but Microsoft explained more of its plans in a Tuesday blog post.…

Image: Photo: Eliseu Geisler / Shutterstock.com (Shutterstock) (Shutterstock)You no longer have to worry about sending low-quality images on WhatsApp. Well, at least on iPhone. According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp’s latest software update for iOS allows you to send images as a document (just like on Gmail), meaning the original quality of the pictures is retained without you having to do any extra legwork. “Even AI Rappers are Harassed by Police” | AI UnlockedWABetaInfo explains that this feature was rolled out in beta…

Maybe I’m falling for all the fear-mongering lately—I did grow up watching Lifetime—but I’m keen on the satellite safety features bundled in the iPhone 14 and 15. The built-in connectivity offers as much peace of mind as the pepper spray in my bag. I’m miffed Android makers have yet to come on board with similar offerings. Is USB-C Finally Coming To iPhone?Just in time for a season of intense holiday travel, Roadside Assistance via satellite is available on iOS 17 for iPhone 14/15 users in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Those…

Apple’s iPhone 15, which users reported overheating issues for.Photo: Florence Ion / GizmodoApple may have found a solution to the iPhone 15’s overheating problems by using a graphene heat sink in its newer models, according to a leak reported by 9to5Mac Thursday. The solution, if true, should keep the iPhone 16 cool, especially with early word that the next Apple flagship phone could be more expensive than the $800 iPhone 15.Is USB-C Finally Coming To iPhone?The leak comes from Apple prototype collector Kosutami, who has…

Will Android and Apple ever play nice?Photo: Florence Ion / GizmodoCould it be? Is Apple finally relenting and letting Android users frolic in its walled garden? 9to5Mac reports that an Apple spokesperson has revealed that RCS support is on the docket for next year’s iPhone launch. That means more parity for Android users’ messages to iPhone wielders. Apple Unveils Its iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9To be clear, enabling RCS on the Apple side will not allow iMessage for non-iOS users. (Unless you’re using a Nothing…