Apple has released iOS 26.5.2 and iPadOS 26.5.2, which are security-only updates for the iPhone and the iPad. The update brings a bunch of security fixes for WebKit, WebRTC, WebKit Storage, WebKit Canvas, Web Extensions, libxslt, IOGPUFamily, and even the kernel.

Some of the WebKit issues that were fixed could have allowed malicious web content to disclose sensitive user information, exfiltrate cross-origin data, crash Safari, or process restricted web content outside the browser sandbox.

One notable WebKit Storage bug could let a malicious website to silently hijack clipboard data, according to Apple’s description. Other WebKit-related flaws involved memory corruption, use-after-free bugs, type confusion, out-of-bounds writes, permissions problems, and cross-origin data handling issues.

The update also includes three kernel-related fixes. Apple says one of the flaws could let an app write kernel memory or cause unexpected system termination, while another may leak sensitive kernel state, and a third could corrupt kernel memory or terminate the system unexpectedly.

Although Apple hasn't described them as remote web attacks, kernel bugs are still important to fix, as they can sometimes be chained with other flaws to escape app or browser restrictions.

The updates are available for iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later.

Similar security fixes also came with the latest update to macOS Tahoe 26.5.2, which Apple released on the same day. That overlap is not surprising, since Safari, WebKit, WebRTC, and other underlying components are shared across Apple’s platforms.

Users are advised to update their devices sooner rather than later as these security fixes are crucial. iOS 26.5.2 can be installed from Settings > General > Software Update. Similarly, Mac users can find macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 through System Settings > General > Software Update.

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Posted Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 8:54 am AEST (my time).

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The iPhone Fold is one of the most anticipated tech products expected to debut this fall. It will be Apple’s first foldable iPhone, ushering in a new product category for the company. While the first generation has yet to hit the shelves, a new leak suggests Apple has already begun work on its successor.

Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station claims that the second-generation iPhone Fold has already been confirmed, meaning Apple could launch a successor in fall 2027. The foldable iPhone is also reportedly referred to as the “iPhone Ultra,” though it remains unclear whether Apple will ultimately choose that branding, especially as Samsung is rumored to rename the Galaxy Z Fold 8 as the Galaxy Z Fold Ultra this year.

The leaker also claims that the second-generation foldable will feature a wider folding display while reusing the same screen found in the first generation. Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.3-inch outer screen in a passport-style form factor.

It has already been reported that Apple plans to change its iPhone release cycle in 2026 to spread launches throughout the year. Under this strategy, the iPhone Fold is expected to debut this fall alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 are expected to arrive later in 2026 or in early 2027.

Speaking of the iPhone Air, Digital Chat Station says Apple remains undecided about a third-generation model. The company is reportedly waiting to see how the iPhone Air 2 performs in the market, and if sales disappoint, a successor may never materialize.

As we reported this week, the iPhone Air has not been scrapped from Apple’s plans. The second-generation model is reportedly scheduled for spring 2027 and could introduce upgrades such as an additional rear camera for ultrawide photography and improved battery life.

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Posted Friday 26 June 2026 at 8:47 am AEST (my time).

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Google Finance is not a new product—it has been around for 20 years, long enough that it initially relied on Flash to display charts and graphs. The website has gotten a few major updates over the years, but it has never had a mobile app until now. Google has released the first standalone app for Google Finance, which is currently exclusive to Android, with iOS planned for later this year.

The app is available globally in the Play Store, but that’s not the only update to Google’s financial tracker. The AI-powered makeover for the Finance website is also leaving beta, making Google’s chatbot a core part of the experience. Naturally, the mobile app includes a heaping helping of generative AI that aims to make sense of irrational financial markets.

If you’ve checked out the new Finance web experience, you’ll see a lot of familiar features in the app. You can create watchlists, monitor real-time market data, and keep up with financial news in one place. While perusing graphs of stock performance, Finance will use AI to generate “key moments” that can explain why the numbers changed. This feature initially launched in the Finance web interface in May.

The mobile app also gets Google’s new AI research tool, accessible via the “Ask” button floating at the bottom of the UI. This allows users to converse with Google’s money-tuned bot about stocks. The bottom bar also includes a History section where you can easily access your past chats.

Google says that the current Android app is just a starting point. It plans to adapt more features from the new website to the app over time. Consequently, the updated website has a few features you won’t find in the app. While you can build a watchlist in the app by searching for stock symbols, the website has an expansive portfolio feature. Portfolios from the old Finance will port over, gaining new AI insights and suggestions. You can also upload a CSV or PDF to build a trackable portfolio in Google Finance. The chatbot has access to your portfolio data and can answer questions taking that into account.

The Finance website is also gaining a new AI-powered research tool that can send you periodic updates. Google suggests something like: “Send me a daily pre-market briefing analyzing significant overnight moves across major cryptocurrencies.”

Whatever you’re interested in, be that crypto or something marginally less sketchy, you’ll get notifications through the mobile app when your research reports are ready. They will also be viewable in the web version’s research panel.

Few industries have adopted generative AI as readily as finance. Many of the investments and market trends that lead to numbers going up or down are driven by AI models. So maybe a hallucinatory robot is what you need to make sense of the nonsense. Google has you covered there.

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Posted Friday 26 June 2026 at 8:43 am AEST (my time).

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In recent years, Google has successfully turned its Pixel devices into worthy contenders in the smartphone market. The search giant is now preparing to launch the Pixel 11 series in just a few months, and many Pixel fans are likely wondering what Google has in store for them this year.

The next lineup of Google smartphones includes four devices: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. This year, we don’t expect Google to bring revolutionary upgrades to its handsets, and the Pixel 11 series is likely to receive modest hardware improvements alongside a slew of AI-powered features.

Here are the rumored specifications of the Google Pixel 11 series ahead of its official debut:

When will the new Pixel phones be unveiled?

The last two generations of Google Pixel phones (Pixel 9 series and Pixel 10 series) were launched in August, unlike the previous three generations that debuted in October. With that in mind, we expect Google to unveil the Pixel 11 series sometime in August 2026. The exact launch date has yet to be confirmed.

How much will the Pixel 11 series cost?

Predicting the final price of upcoming smartphones has become increasingly difficult. As you may know, RAM and memory prices are rising sharply, leading to significant increases in the cost of consumer electronics.

Recently, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that price increases for some future Apple products are unavoidable, suggesting that the iPhone 18 series could become more expensive. Google has remained tight-lipped about any potential price increases for the Pixel 11 series. If the company manages to maintain last year’s pricing structure, here’s what the lineup could cost:

• Pixel 11: $799
• Pixel 11 Pro: $999
• Pixel 11 Pro XL: $1,199
• Pixel 11 Pro Fold: $1,799

Given current market conditions, it may be difficult for Google to avoid raising prices unless it adopts cost-saving measures, such as equipping the base model with 8GB of RAM.

Google Pixel 11 series anticipated specs:

We expect the Google Pixel 11 series to debut with a new Tensor G6 processor as well as an upgraded camera system. The overall design, however, is expected to remain largely unchanged across the lineup.

The Pixel 11 series won’t be a major departure from its predecessor, with Google instead focusing on subtle improvements and AI additions such as Gemini Intelligence. However, a patent filed by Google suggests the company is working on a removable battery for its smartphones, and we could see this feature make its way to the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

Given that nearly all smartphones today lack removable batteries, such a feature would be a welcome addition to future Pixel devices. That said, it may not arrive with this year’s lineup after all, and the final decision is yet to be made by Google.

The Pixel 11 series could also face an uphill battle in the market. In the Android segment, Samsung is performing well with the Galaxy S26 series, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup is also expected to launch next month. On the other hand, Apple is preparing to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September alongside its first foldable iPhone.

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Posted Wednesday 24 June 2026 at 9:25 am AEST (my time).

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Local AI models tend to run a lot more slowly than cloud services like Claude and Gemini; however, Samsung has just announced that it has developed its UFS 5.0 solution, which increases data transfer to speeds of 10.8GB/s, enabling faster storage and processing in mobile memory that has the potential to provide more optimal local AI experiences.

Commenting on this development, Jangseok Choi, head of Memory Product Planning at Samsung Electronics, said:

“In the era of on-device AI, storage devices are evolving into a key driver defining AI experiences. As we successfully move beyond the development stage of the industry’s first UFS 5.0 solution, Samsung is setting a new standard for storage on the go and will continue to drive innovation for the next-generation mobile platform market.”

If you’ve tried local AI, you’ll know it can be quite slow, especially if using the larger parameter models. By developing this new solution, Samsung says that storage is evolving from just storing data to a core piece of infrastructure that supports AI computation, too.

The Korean company said that UFS 5.0 integrates the latest embedded memory interface standard from JEDEC and achieves up to 10.8 gigabytes per second (GB/s) transfer speeds. Regarding write speeds, Samsung UFS 5.0 can reach 9.5 GB/s. Both the read and write speeds are twice as fast as those of the previous UFS 4.1 standard.

Aside from being ideal for local AI, Samsung’s UFS 5.0 is more power efficient promising to be 40% better compared to UFS 4.1. Samsung achieved this by implementing innovations such as clock gating and multi-voltage technologies. UFS 5.0 is also ultra-compact at just 7.5mm x 13mm x 0.9mm; that is 16.7% smaller than UFS 4.1.

The company said it will be bringing it to multiple devices in the future, including mobile, wearable, and extended reality.

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Posted Tuesday 23 June 2026 at 6:23 pm AEST (my time).

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It's been a couple of weeks since Apple previewed the iOS 27 update during the WWDC official keynote. The upcoming iOS version will bring even more refinements to the Liquid Glass design language, an upgraded Siri AI assistant, and several new Apple Intelligence features. Interestingly, the latest WWDC keynote was different than previous years.

Apple has released the iOS 27 beta 2 (build 24A5370h) for developers who want to test the new features being baked for the iPhone and optimize their apps. If you're interested in downloading the latest beta, go to Settings > General > Software Update > beta Updates, then choose iOS 27 Developer Beta.

You can download the latest iOS 27 beta on more than 30 supported iPhones. Make sure you know what you are doing since developer betas can be unstable and unexpected at times. If you want to be on the safer side, you can wait for the public beta, which will arrive next month.

It's been a while since Apple discontinued its AirPort router lineup. Now, the company said in the iOS 27 beta 2 release notes that the AirPort Utility is deprecated and won't be available for new downloads from the App Store. Apple added that if you previously downloaded the app, you can re-download it. However, the functionality isn't guaranteed when using the AirPort Utility on iOS 27 or later.

Speaking of known issues, Apple said that the Portrait mode blur effect might render incorrectly for photos; you may be unable to stop an alarm from the lock screen without unlocking your iPhone; the "Add a Control" button in Control Center edit mode might appear small or clipped.

There are several new features in iOS 27 beta 2 as well. It comes with Neural Engine improvements for Apple Intelligence, including better performance when loading large models over 1GB. HomeKit Secure Video recordings are processed on-device and through Private Cloud Compute for video descriptions and search, when Apple Intelligence is enabled in the Home app.

That said, you can also download the second betas of macOS 27 Golden Gate, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, and other Apple operating systems.

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Posted Tuesday 23 June 2026 at 6:58 am AEST (my time).

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Users should be able to fully uninstall AI-based features from Android devices and be able to access interoperability functions, free from Google’s verification requirements, the European Commission has heard as part of an Android interoperability consultation under the Digital Markets Act. These measures were proposed by the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) last week when it submitted its documentation.

The FSFE noted that Google had started silently installing AI models without telling users. It noted that the EU’s DMA requires companies like Google to allow users to uninstall pre-loaded software from their devices, but in the case of the AI models Google is installing, they reinstall if you delete them, contravening the DMA.

To get Google back under control, the FSFE has told the European Commission that there needs to be improvements within the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). First, it said that users should be able to fully remove pre-loaded AI components from their devices, with companies being prohibited from silently reinstalling or reactivating them. Second, access to Android interoperability features should not be contingent on registration, authorization, or contractual relationships with Google. This pertains to Google’s attempt to force developers to register with Google, even to publish apps to alternative app stores like F-Droid.

Discussing its submission, Lucas Lasota, FSFE Legal Programme Manager, said:

“Interoperability must be decoupled from developer verification procedures. We need clear, precise, and inclusive rules to prevent circumvention by gatekeepers and to ensure that interoperability becomes a concrete reality in practice.”

Google is planning to roll out its Android Developer Certification in September 2026. This will force every Android app developer to register with Google before their software can be installed on certified Android devices, but it should affect those who have removed Google Apps from their device.

The program is controversial because it entails the signing of contracts and payment of account fees to Google, as well as the handing over of the identities of developers. It said:

“Such measures are particular[ly] (spelling correction by Neowin) problematic for Free Software developers who have deliberately chosen to operate outside Google's ecosystem, or for developers exposed to non-democratic activities in Europe and in other countries, where registering their identity with a private corporation could expose them to surveillance and retaliation risks.”

The FSFE said that if the Commission’s draft measures remain unchanged, then Google will be allowed to make developers verify their identity. The FSFE believes that asking developers to register is contrary to the text and spirit of the law. In summary, the FSFE has told the Commission that no developer should need a Google account, a Play Store presence, or any agreement with Google to access Android’s interoperability features.

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Posted Monday 22 June 2026 at 5:29 pm AEST (my time).

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Nothing’s next budget phone is the latest victim of RAMageddon. As 9to5Google reports, Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis announced in a post on X that a follow-up to the CMF Phone 2 Pro won’t be coming this year:

We were working on a successor but with memory prices where they are right now, we can’t build a phone that feels like a genuine step forward at a price that makes sense for CMF. As a result, we’ve decided not to launch a new CMF phone this year.

Last week, Nothing CEO and co-founder Carl Pei also said the RAM shortage has impacted the cost of the company’s mid-range phone, stating, “For Phone 4A, memory costs doubled between when we decided to build the device and when it launched. They’ve doubled again since.” According to Pei, “memory is now the most expensive component in a smartphone.” Nothing is far from the only company facing RAM pricing challenges — earlier this week, Tim Cook announced Apple will be raising prices, saying “the situation has become unsustainable.”

While there won’t be a new CMF phone this year, Evangelidis added in his post that CMF still has “several new products launching as well as some entirely new categories.” He also hinted that “the smartphone launch season at Nothing isn’t over yet.”

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Posted Saturday 20 June 2026 at 8:52 am AEST (my time).

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Since the launch of the iPhone Air, we’ve heard conflicting rumors and speculation about the fate of Apple's ultra-thin iPhone. As it turns out, Apple is not going to ditch the Air model from its lineup, and a second generation is already planned for next year.

As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, citing people familiar with the matter, the second-generation iPhone Air is planned for spring 2027 and is poised to receive notable upgrades.

The upgraded model, codenamed V62, will reportedly feature an additional rear camera for ultrawide photography. The new camera system is said to be in advanced testing within Apple. Gurman also says the second-generation iPhone Air could offer better battery life, either through a larger battery or software improvements. The overall design of the device is expected to remain unchanged.

A single rear camera and below-average battery life were among the biggest drawbacks of the first-generation iPhone Air despite its $999 price tag. Hopefully, the next iPhone Air will fare better. Gurman also added that the device will be powered by the A20 Pro processor.

The release of the second-generation iPhone Air in spring 2027 aligns with previous reports that Apple is shaking up the iPhone release cycle. Accordingly, the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the company’s first foldable iPhone are expected to launch in September 2026, followed by the iPhone 18 and the new iPhone Air roughly six months later. The 20th-anniversary iPhone is also reportedly planned for fall 2027.

Meanwhile, if you’re planning to buy the refreshed iPhone Air, Apple might surprise you with a new price tag. As we reported today, CEO Tim Cook confirmed that price increases are on the way due to rising memory chip costs and a severe shortage.

With that in mind, analysts estimate that the base iPhone 18 Pro could cost as much as $1,399 this year. The current $999 iPhone Air may not be immune to those price hikes.

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Posted Friday 19 June 2026 at 8:20 am AEST (my time).

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Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed in a recent interview that the company may have to raise prices on some of its products due to the ongoing memory shortage. While he did not elaborate on the scale of the price hikes, new estimates suggest that Pro iPhone models could become significantly more expensive this fall.

The Wall Street Journal and research firm TechInsights have come up with an educated estimate of how much the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro could cost after its launch in September. The estimate is based on current increases in memory and storage chip prices.

For starters, the iPhone 18 Pro base model is expected to feature 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. According to TechInsights estimates, 12GB of DRAM for the iPhone 17 Pro cost Apple $39 last year. However, for the iPhone 18 Pro, the cost of the same amount of DRAM could soar to $145. Likewise, 256GB of flash storage that previously cost $13 could now cost around $51.

Producing a base iPhone 17 Pro reportedly cost Apple around $582, but TechInsights estimates that the production cost of the iPhone 18 Pro could rise to $726. If Apple wants to maintain the roughly 47% profit margin it enjoys on the iPhone 17 Pro, the base price of the iPhone 18 Pro would need to reach $1,371. After standard pricing adjustments, customers could end up paying around $1,299 for the base model.

However, that may not be the end of the story. As we previously reported, the iPhone 18 Pro is said to feature a variable-aperture lens, which could cost Apple at least 50% more than the current camera system. The estimated $1,299 price tag does not include the additional cost of this upgraded camera hardware. Once that expense is factored in, the base model could cost at least $1,399.

A $1,399 price tag for the base iPhone 18 Pro would represent a significant increase over the current $1,099 starting price of the iPhone 17 Pro. If Apple wants to keep its upcoming iPhones competitive, it may need to accept lower profit margins.

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Posted Friday 19 June 2026 at 8:19 am AEST (my time).

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Android 17 has been in testing since early this year, with the final beta hitting devices just a couple of weeks ago. Insofar as a mature operating system like Android still has big days, this is one of them. The official Android 17 build is starting its rollout on Pixel phones, adding a small set of new features and laying the groundwork for the future. This release also coincides with a Pixel Drop and a new version of Wear OS (based on Android 17) on Pixel Watches.

Google no longer uses an unmodified version of Android on its phones—the Pixel build includes numerous features that are distinct from Android 17 itself. Other device makers will include versions of some of these features when they eventually update their phones, but for now, Google’s Pixel phones are the only way to experience Android 17.

The multitasking Bubbles system in Android 17 expands on a similar (but underutilized) messaging feature. In Android 17 on Pixels, you can long-press on any app icon to open that app as a floating window. When minimized, these bubbles stay on top of other apps. On foldable phones, the bubbles dock into a “bubble bar” for easy multitasking.

Google says this interface is ideal for quick multitasking or chatting with Gemini while looking at other content. We may see Bubbles appear on other smartphones as Android 17 rolls out more widely, but Google isn’t the first to implement such a system. Samsung has had a floating app framework for years and may not want to change how it works, but Motorola could benefit, as it makes fewer tweaks to Android.

Foldable phones are also getting a new gaming interface in Android 17. Stretching phone-optimized games to a more square foldable screen can often cause distortion and awkward control placement. The updated OS offers a new approach, or at least it will eventually. Version 17 introduces a 50-50 split interface that displays the game on top and a touchscreen controller at the bottom. If you leave the phone’s hinge at an angle, it makes the device look a bit like a real handheld game machine.

Credit: Google

However, Google notes that foldable gaming mode will take a few more months to arrive on Android 17 devices. This isn’t the only feature the company is holding back. The anti-doomscrolling Pause Point that Google revealed a few weeks ago is also slated for release later in 2026.

The initial Android 17 release includes native screen reaction video support. You’ve probably seen these vertical clips on (or reposted from) TikTok or Instagram featuring a talking head overlaid on another video. This style of content has become so popular that Google is supporting it natively in Android 17. It’s built into screen recordings, so you can add yourself as an overlay to whatever is being displayed—no green screen required.

While many parts of Android 17 will be ignored or obscured when the OS expands beyond Google phones, the new security and safety features will be nearly universal. Android 17 keeps your personal data more private when apps request access. You can grant temporary location access to apps that request it, and software that needs to read your contacts can be limited to specific entries instead of the entire address book.

Credit: Google

You’ll also have new protections in Android 17 if your phone grows legs and walks off. The improved “Mark as lost” feature in Find Hub can lock a missing phone with biometrics in addition to a passcode, so even a thief who can guess the code won’t get access. Android 17 reduces the number of allowed passcode guesses, too. There’s also a longer wait between failed attempts.

More Pixel things

The updates that begin rolling out today include new Pixel Drop features. These are exclusive to Google’s devices, and they (mostly) are not tied to Android 17. For instance, the Gemini Omni model announced at I/O last month is coming to the Gemini app on Pixels. For now, it will be used only for video generation, but Google hopes to expand Omni to more content types later. It currently requires a Gemini Pro or Ultra subscription. Similarly, Lyria 3 music generation will be available on Pixels in the app, but this one won’t require a premium subscription.

Google began adding support for Apple AirDrop in Quick Share a few months back, but only for select Pixel phones. The feature later expanded to Samsung flagships and a few other devices. Unfortunately, hardware variation means AirDrop can’t currently be implemented as a universal feature, so it’s still piecemeal. AirDrop support is expanding to the Pixel 8a and 9a in the Pixel Drop. It’s still not available on the Pixel 8 or 8 Pro, although those are actually a bit older than the 8a.

And then there’s Magic Cue, the AI-powered feature that debuted on the Pixel 10 family. Magic Cue is supposed to use Gemini Nano on-device intelligence to proactively offer suggested links, actions, and content while you use your phone. In practice, Magic Cue doesn’t appear that often, but you may see it a little more following this Drop. Google says Magic Cue suggestions will expand beyond Google’s messaging app to Snapchat, Telegram, and Instagram. More apps may come later.

Android for your wrist is getting an upgrade today, assuming you have a Pixel Watch. Google says Wear OS 7 is a major update that brings Gemini Intelligence to the latest models. It’s not all AI, though. For starters, Google claims Pixel Watch users can expect a 10 percent battery life boost after the update.

Credit: Google

The new software, based on Android 17, ports several notable phone features to wearables, including live notifications. You can now track your DoorDash orders or check sports scores at a glance. The audio source picker from phones is also coming over to the Pixel Watch. For developers, Wear OS will make it easier to adapt phone-optimized widgets for the smaller wearable screen.

The initial rollout won’t include Gemini Intelligence (with the new Neural Expressive interface), but Google says that’s slated for the coming months. When it arrives, you’ll have features like the AI-powered Create My Widget and multi-step app automation. The idea that you’ll be able to hand Gemini a complex task like booking concert tickets from a watch screen is suspect, though. That doesn’t even work very well on phones where you can keep an eye on the robot’s meandering.

Ready, set, wait

It usually takes a few weeks for new Android versions to reach all eligible Pixel devices. This time around, the new OS is available for all Tensor-powered Pixels, starting with the Pixel 6 series and running through the current Pixel 10. You can’t force the OTA update, but you can sideload the new OS via a full system image or an OTA file from Google’s developer pages. Even if you do that, some of the more interesting features, like foldable gaming controls and Pause Point, won’t be available yet.

For anyone with a non-Pixel Android phone, the wait will be much longer. Samsung will probably begin updating its latest phones in a couple of months, followed by other OEMs like Motorola and OnePlus. Current-gen phones are likely to be first in line for updates, but given the relative lack of Android 17-specific features, you’re not missing much. Google will continue to release most new Android features via apps, Play Services, and OEM partnerships.

We also expect another major Android 17 release in late 2026, focused on API and developer changes.

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Posted Wednesday 17 June 2026 at 6:19 am AEST (my time).

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The next generation of Samsung foldables is set to be unveiled next month at the second Unpacked event of the year. Samsung’s 2026 foldables are not expected to offer significant upgrades over their predecessors, with the Korean firm instead focusing on design refinements and conventional upgrades such as faster processors and better cameras.

However, Samsung is reportedly planning to unveil an all-new passport-style foldable this year to rival Apple’s first foldable iPhone, which is expected to debut this September.

Here’s a roundup of everything we know about Samsung’s upcoming foldable devices ahead of their official debut.

When can we expect Samsung’s new foldables?

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 series were unveiled in July, and Samsung is expected to maintain this timeframe in 2026. Based on previous reports from Korean sources, Samsung will hold its Unpacked event on July 22 in London, UK, to pull back the curtain on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. The devices are also expected to hit the shelves a few weeks after launch. However, Samsung has yet to announce an official date.

A new naming scheme?

One of the most interesting changes we might see this year is a new naming scheme for Samsung’s latest foldables. SamMobile reported that since Samsung is expected to unveil three foldables this year, it has adopted a new naming strategy to simplify product identification for customers.

Accordingly, the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 will reportedly be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and will serve as the direct successor to last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7. The “Ultra” suffix suggests the phone could feature higher-end specifications, such as additional rear camera modules.

Samsung’s new passport-style foldable is expected to carry the Galaxy Z Fold 8 name without any suffix. This model is reportedly equipped with two rear cameras. No major changes are expected for the Flip model.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 anticipated specs

Rumors over the past few months suggest Samsung is preparing several upgrades for its upcoming foldables, although the devices may continue to rely on larger batteries and faster charging speeds rather than dramatic design changes. The primary focus this year is expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and its wide-screen design.

Here are the anticipated specifications for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra based on previous leaks:

• 6.5-inch outer display and 8-inch inner display, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2,600 nits peak brightness
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage
• 4.1mm thickness when unfolded and a weight of 210g
• 200MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide camera, 10MP or 12MP telephoto camera, 10MP cover camera, and 10MP selfie camera
• 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging
• Android 17 and One UI 9

As for the Galaxy Z Flip 8, the device is not expected to be a major departure from its predecessor, although it could become slightly slimmer. Expected specifications include:

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or Exynos 2600 processor
• 12GB of RAM with 256GB and 512GB storage options
• 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner dispaly and 4.1-inch Super AMOLED outer dispaly
• 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide camera, and 10MP selfie camera
• 4,300mAh battery with 25W wired charging
• Android 17 and One UI 9

Samsung’s foldables are also expected to launch with Gemini Intelligence, Google’s AI suite for automating tasks in Android ecosystem. Moreover, given current memory and component costs, some Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 variants could see a price hike.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 adopts a wide-screen design

The centerpiece of the upcoming Unpacked event could be the Galaxy Z Fold 8, previously rumored as the Galaxy Z Fold Wide. This model adopts a passport-style form factor and is expected to compete directly with Apple’s iPhone Fold.

Here’s what to expect:

• 7.6-inch primary OLED display and 5.4-inch cover display, 120Hz refresh rate, 2,600 nits peak brightness, and 4:3 aspect ratio
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage options
• 4,800mAh battery with 45W wired charging
• 50MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide camera, and 10MP selfie camera
• Android 17 and One UI 9

The three new foldable phones are unlikely to be the only devices unveiled at Samsung’s Unpacked event. The company is also expected to introduce the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and the Galaxy Watch 9 series.

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Posted Monday 15 June 2026 at 10:55 am AEST (my time).

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It's that time of year when we get to know about the latest operating system updates for Apple devices. For iPhone, Apple previewed the iOS 27 update at WWDC 2026, where the company finally introduced an upgraded version of Siri.

Apple typically supports iPhone models for up to five years. But it has been making exceptions in recent years (read iPhone 11). If you're wondering whether your iPhone is compatible with the iOS 27 update, here is the official list of devices:

• iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone Air
• iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16e
• iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15
• iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14
• iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11
• iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone SE (3rd generation)

So, you can download the iOS 27 developer beta on up to 31 different iPhone models. There has been no change to the list of supported iPhones since iOS 26. However, it will expand to include more devices when the iPhone 18 series arrives later this year.

To download the developer beta on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates. Here, select "iOS 27 Developer Beta" from the list of choices to get the new update. In addition to iOS 27, you can try the developer beta versions of macOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and HomePod software 27 on your supported devices.

iOS 27 comes with improved Liquid Glass, which you can adjust using a new transparency slider. Apple said during the keynote that iPhone apps now launch up to 30% faster, new photos appear in the Photos app up to 70% faster, and AirDrop transfers work up to 80% faster. The new update promises to improve performance on older iPhones by introducing a new CPU Scheduler that supports devices all the way back to the iPhone 11.

While iOS 27 is supported on older iPhones, it goes without saying that they'll lack several features due to hardware differences. For instance, iPhone 14/14 Plus and older models come with a notch instead of the Dynamic Island. Similarly, Apple Intelligence features are supported on iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and later models.

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Posted Wednesday 10 June 2026 at 9:59 am AEST (my time).

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Apple announced a ton of new updates and changes during its WWDC 2026 keynote. Of course, the center stage was captured by Apple Intelligence and the new upgraded Siri AI, which brings contextual awareness to Apple's voice assistant.

This year's WWDC didn't have a dedicated section discussing what's new in iPadOS 27. That's probably because Apple has been unifying its software ecosystem in recent years through feature parity, changes to its naming scheme, and the Liquid Glass design language that spans all of its operating systems.

That said, iPadOS 27 is coming later this year. Here are the iPad models present on the official list of supported devices:

• iPad Pro (M4 and later)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation and later)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and later)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3, and M4)
• iPad Air 11-inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad (A16)
• iPad (9th generation and later)
• iPad mini (A17 Pro)
• iPad mini (6th generation and later)

iPadOS 27 is now available as a developer beta release to try out the new features. To get the update on your supported model, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates. Here, select "iOS 27 Developer Beta" from the options to get the latest update.

In addition to iPadOS 27, you can try the developer beta versions of iOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and HomePod software 27 on your supported devices.

The newest iPad update shares many features with its siblings, including the Liquid Glass slider, performance improvements, an enhanced Flyover in Maps, an updated CPU scheduler, and more. Apple said during the keynote that browsing and transferring files from iPad to an external drive is up to 5x faster.

Apple also announced a platter of child safety features and Screen Time updates, which are making their way to iPadOS 27 as well. Siri AI is supported on iPadOS, but the upgraded assistant won't be available in the EU due to DMA restrictions.

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Posted Wednesday 10 June 2026 at 9:58 am AEST (my time).

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Today at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, the company announced new features coming to the iPad with iPadOS 27, including optimizations such as apps launching up to 30 percent faster by intelligently preloading needed info and more responsive switching between multiple apps.

As with the new versions of Apple’s other operating systems launching this year, including iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate, iPadOS 27’s biggest updates will come courtesy of the new Siri AI. Siri will be accessible through iPadOS’s Spotlight search, which will automatically know when you’re prompting the assistant or just searching for apps and documents. Siri AI will also be available through a new dedicated Siri app that can be used like ChatGPT’s app to have conversations with the smart assistant and access and revisit past chats.

You can check out all the new features and capabilities coming to Siri this year right here.

Image: Apple

 

Screen Time is getting a major overhaul under iPadOS 27, giving parents and caregivers the ability to schedule when and for how long kids have access to specific apps and services. Apple will also introduce new APIs for parental controls and a new Declared Age Range API so individual apps can offer a customized or limited experience based on who is actually using them. Updates to child accounts will allow caregivers to limit access to specific apps, as well as who kids can talk to in iMessage. Kids can also be made to ask for approval to view websites, with that safety feature automatically being turned on for kids under 13.

Apple is improving the iPad’s speed and performance with its next OS. Transferring files to an external drive connected over USB-C or just browsing its contents will be up to five times faster. Launching apps will be faster, too, as will AirDrop transfers.

Image: Apple

 

Keeping your browsing organized will get a little easier in Safari. iPadOS 27 will introduce an Organize Tabs feature that automatically sorts open tabs into multiple groups based on each site’s content. Safari Notify Me can be used to monitor webpages on your behalf, notifying you with an alert of a price drop or restock in an online store, for example.

Siri AI will also power improvements to Apple’s Shortcuts app to make it more user-friendly. Apple’s not taking away the ability to manually build shortcuts and automations, but with iPadOS 27 you’ll be able to ask the Shortcuts app to build one automatically using natural language prompts describing what you want it to do.

Image: Apple

 

When it launched last September, iPadOS 26 debuted with more than just a new name based on its annual major updates. Along with iOS 26, the iPad received a major facelift with Apple’s Liquid Glass design language that introduced a mix of glossy and translucent UI elements the company later refined to improve legibility. With iPadOS 27, Apple is further refining Liquid Glass to “ensure exceptional readability with more uniform refraction and improved contrast,” according to Apple’s website. App icons will be sharper and more detailed, while a new slider will let you further customize the appearance of Liquid Glass, from ultraclear to fully tinted.

Accessibility improvements include VoiceOver upgrades making it better at understanding what’s on screen with more detailed image descriptions. iPadOS 27 will automatically generate captions for any video you watch, including videos you shot yourself, and will be able to translate existing captions into other languages.

Photos on iPad is getting more functionality in addition to editing capabilities powered by Apple Intelligence that you can use to fill in empty areas exposed when you straighten an image or reframe a shot when you can’t snap it again. It will be easier for others to join and contribute to iCloud Shared Albums using iCloud.com, while full-resolution photo showing is being introduced. New features for slideshows are en route, including the ability to save slideshows to a video so it can be easily accessed again.

With iPadOS 26, Apple also pushed its tablets closer to being more capable laptop alternatives with a new resizable windowing system that mirrored how multiple apps are managed on macOS, including a menu bar accessible from the top of the screen tailored to the current app. With iPadOS 27, that menu bar, which currently disappears at the top of the screen, can be set to “always show,” making the mobile OS feel even more like Apple’s desktop one.

iPadOS 27 will be available to developers starting today ahead of a public beta expected to debut next month and an official release this fall. The specific iPad models compatible with the update, according to Apple, include the following:

• iPad Pro (M4 and later), iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (4th generation and later), iPad Pro 11‑inch (2nd generation and later)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and later), iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3, and M4), iPad Air 11-inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad (A16), iPad (9th generation and later)
• iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad mini (6th generation and later)

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Posted Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 7:46 am AEST (my time).

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I hope you have a modern Apple Watch or iPad, because otherwise watchOS 27 and iPadOS 27 won’t run on your device. Apple often drops support for older devices with its latest software updates, but this year it’s culling even more device generations than ever before.

Apple is dropping support for four generations of Apple Watch models in watchOS 27. According to Apple’s website, the latest watchOS update will only be available on Apple Watch Series 10 devices and above, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and above, and Apple Watch SE 3.

That means if you have a nearly three-year-old Apple Watch Series 9 model, then you’re out of luck. Likewise, if you purchased the original Apple Watch Ultra in 2022, there won’t be any watchOS 27 update waiting for you this fall.

It’s a surprise support cull for Apple Watch models, which consumers certainly don’t refresh as much as an iPhone. WatchOS 26, released a year ago, supported Apple Watch Series 6 and later, as well as Apple Watch SE (second generation) and later, and all Apple Watch Ultra models. This was the same list of devices as watchOS 11.

Over on the iPad side, iPadOS 27 cuts support for third-generation iPad Air models and eighth-generation regular iPad models. iPad Pro owners will also need a fourth-generation 12.9-inch model or above, or a second-generation 11-inch model and above.

Both watchOS 27 and iPadOS 27 include an improved version of Siri, dubbed Siri AI. This might explain why watchOS 27 is only available on the Watch models that support Apple Intelligence. Surprisingly, Apple is maintaining support for its iPhone 11 models with iOS 27 later this year. This means an iPhone from 2019 is supported by its latest OS updates, but an Apple Watch from 2022 isn’t. Make it make sense.

Correction, June 8th: An earlier version of this article misstated which iPads would receive iPadOS 27. The fourth-generation (A14) and fifth-generation (M1) iPad Air are supported, not unsupported.

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Posted Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 7:45 am AEST (my time).

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At WWDC 2026 in Cupertino, Apple announced iOS 27, the next mobile operating system for compatible iPhones. The update focuses on tweaking and improving last year's iOS 26, particularly in areas like app launch time, Liquid Glass design, and more. It does not offer a lot of major new features or upgrades, as Apple focused on polishing the experience. However, there are some new upgrades, such as reworked parental controls, new Siri AI, better search, and performance improvements.

Starting with Siri, it is now powered by Apple Intelligence with the help of Google's Gemini. It is now a standalone app where you browse and pin conversations, continue where you left off, and more. You can ask personal questions and get answers with personal context from emails, photos, messages, notes, and more. The updated Siri AI will be English-only at launch, but Apple promises to bring it to more languages and regions later (not available in the EU and China).

Apple Intelligence is also integrated into the Photos app, allowing you to use AI to clean up, extend, and reframe photos with the image context in mind. While most Siri AI features are free for use, Apple has made it clear that image-generation capabilities have daily limits, with higher limits for iCloud+ subscribers.

Another change in iOS 27 is the reworked parental control and screen time. Parents can set time allowances across different app categories, pause device use, allow websites and apps, select essential apps, set communication limits, and more.

Other changes in iOS 27 include improved Apple Maps with a significantly enhanced Flyover view for a much more realistic view. Apple also promises better performance, smarter search, new Health features, new parental controls, and more. For many users, the most important part is that iOS 27 is compatible with all iPhones that can run iOS 26. That means that even the seven-year-old iPhone 11 can run iOS 27 (supposedly better than iOS 26).

iOS 27 will be available this Fall, with the first developer betas expected later today.

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Posted Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 7:44 am AEST (my time).

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Local attackers can exploit the actively abused high-severity Android Framework vulnerability (tracked as CVE-2025-48595) to gain code execution and escalate privileges on devices running Android 14 or later.

"There are indications that CVE-2025-48595 may be under limited, targeted exploitation," the company said on Monday in its March 2025 Android Security Bulletin.

"Exploitation for many issues on Android is made more difficult by enhancements in newer versions of the Android platform. We encourage all users to update to the latest version of Android where possible."

While Google has yet to share technical details about the flaw or provide more information about the ongoing attacks targeting it, similar flaws have been exploited in the past by commercial spyware and by nation-state operations targeting high-profile or high-interest individuals.

With this month's Android security updates, Google has fixed 18 critical vulnerabilities across System, Framework, and Qualcomm closed-source components that attackers can abuse to trigger denial-of-service conditions and elevate privileges on unpatched Android devices.

"The most severe of these issues is a critical security vulnerability in the Framework component that could lead to remote escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation," Google added.

On Monday, Google issued two sets of patches: the 2026-06-01 and 2026-06-05 security patch levels, with the latter bundling all fixes from the first batch, along with patches for closed-source third-party and kernel subcomponents that may not apply to all Android devices.

While Google Pixel devices will receive these security updates immediately, other vendors will often take longer to test and tweak them for specific hardware configurations.

A Google spokesperson was not immediately available for comment when BleepingComputer reached out for more details regarding the CVE-2025-48595 attacks and their targets.

Google released patches for two other high-severity zero-days (CVE-2025-48633 and CVE-2025-48572) in December, and for another zero-day flaw in a Qualcomm display component (CVE-2026-21385) in March, all of which were tagged as "under limited, targeted exploitation."

Last month, Google also overhauled its Android and Chrome vulnerability rewards programs, offering bounties of up to $1.5 million for some Android exploits while scaling back payouts for flaws that are easier to find using artificial intelligence (AI).

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Posted Wednesday 3 June 2026 at 7:49 am AEST (my time).

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A leaker on X has shared the first images of iPhone 18 Pro dummy units in four different colors. The images suggest that this year’s Pro iPhones could debut in a new Dark Cherry finish, while Apple also appears set to bring back a black color option to the iPhone Pro lineup.

Our first look at the iPhone 18 Pro dummy units comes from a recent post on X by renowned tipster Sonny Dickson. According to the leaker, the iPhone 18 Pro models will launch in Black, Silver, Dark Cherry, and Light Blue. However, it remains unclear whether Apple plans to introduce additional colors later on.

Previous reports suggested that Apple would replace the iPhone 17’s Cosmic Orange finish with the new Dark Cherry color in the iPhone 18 series, and now we have our first glimpse at how the shade may look on the next-generation iPhones. Dark Cherry features a more muted tone compared to last year’s Cosmic Orange. While it is not as vibrant, it still stands out as an interesting addition to the iPhone lineup.

Also, if you are a fan of all-black iPhones, this year’s iPhone 18 series might have a surprise for you, as Apple is reportedly planning to bring back the popular color option. Images shared by Sonny Dickson appear to show an all-black iPhone 18 Pro featuring a glossy Apple logo on the rear panel. In terms of overall design, however, there do not appear to be any major changes.

The iPhone 18 series is not expected to be a significant departure from its predecessor, with the new models likely retaining the familiar design while introducing the A20 chip, improved cameras, and additional AI-powered features. Some reports also suggest that the iPhone 18 lineup could feature 12GB of RAM instead of 8GB to better support AI capabilities integrated into the upgraded Siri.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to debut in September alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone, while the company reportedly plans to delay the launch of the standard iPhone 18 until later in the year.

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Posted Saturday 30 May 2026 at 7:49 am AEST (my time).

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One of the few notable upgrades that could arrive with the iPhone 18 Pro series this year is a variable aperture lens. However, implementing such a feature reportedly comes at a high cost for Apple, which could potentially affect the final price of the iPhone 18 Pro models.

Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a new post on X that the variable aperture lenses planned for the iPhone 18 Pro models could cost Apple at least 50% more than the camera lenses currently used in the iPhone 17 Pro lineup.

Apple currently uses a seven-element plastic lens in the iPhone 17 Pro series, but switching to a variable aperture system is expected to significantly increase the average selling price of the camera module. In addition, Sunny Optical is reportedly expected to handle around 40% to 50% of Apple’s orders.

Leaked images of the iPhone 18 Pro series suggest that aside from a few new colors and traditional upgrades such as a faster processor, this year’s Pro models may not receive any major changes. Still, adding a variable-aperture lens could be a meaningful improvement for higher-end iPhones.

A 50% increase in the average selling price of variable-aperture lenses could also affect the retail prices of iPhone 18 Pro models, as Apple may need to offset higher production costs. With the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple raised the starting price to $1,099, compared to the iPhone 16 Pro’s $999 launch price. However, the increase was partially justified by the bump in base storage from 128GB to 256GB.

Rumors about Apple adding a variable-aperture lens to the iPhone 18 Pro first emerged in 2024 from Kuo. Earlier this year, Korean outlet ETNews reported that Sunny Optical had already begun production of variable aperture lenses for the iPhone 18 Pro series. The devices are expected to debut in September.

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Posted Saturday 30 May 2026 at 7:48 am AEST (my time).

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Apple has always paid great attention to the privacy and security of its users. In that manner, a lot of features on an average iPhone are local by design, as some sensitive user data never leaves their devices. The company wants to continue that practice with its new AI tools, as a new report from The Information reveals new details about what Apple might reveal during the upcoming WWDC.

Apple’s AI strategy centers around the existing deal with Google. Apple is using a large version of Google's Gemini model to train a smaller, distilled version capable of running locally on iPhones, Macs, and even Apple Watches. The idea is to use Apple's custom silicon, specifically the Neural Processing Units built into recent devices, to handle everyday AI tasks locally, rather than sending queries to the cloud.

This means Apple devices will run a model similar in nature to current open-source AI models, except it won't actually be open-source. But it carries the main benefit that open-source models offer, and that is data privacy, since user interactions with AI happen entirely on-device. Going this route also means Apple avoids pouring additional billions into its own AI data centers, a trend that's been hard to miss among Big Tech lately.

Not every AI interaction stays local, though. The full Gemini model is too large for Apple's own Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, so tasks that need more reasoning will still be sent to and processed in Google Cloud.

The obvious question is how capable a distilled on-device model will actually be. Running a small AI model locally on a phone is already possible today, but these models are barely capable of performing anything other than the most basic tasks.

Still, Apple's version should be more capable than a typical 2B parameter model, since it will be purpose-built and optimized specifically for Apple hardware. On top of that, Apple is said to be eyeing startups that specialize in shrinking models for local hardware, with Liquid AI, a Cambridge, Massachusetts firm focused on on-device inference, mentioned as one it has considered.

WWDC kicks off on June 8.

Source: The Information

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Posted Friday 29 May 2026 at 7:45 am AEST (my time).

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It’s impossible to totally avoid generative AI when interacting with technology anymore, but Apple has a bit less of it. That’s not entirely by choice, though. The iPhone maker has delayed the AI-enhanced Siri multiple times since first promising it in 2024, but a deal with Google will merge the iconic assistant with Gemini later this year. As we approach the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple has been working to bring big AI smarts to the modest processing environment of a smartphone. Apple fans may not like the outcome, though.

Apple has long crowed about the privacy value of running AI locally, but a new report suggests that despite Apple’s best efforts, the iPhone’s Gemini makeover will lean heavily on Google and Nvidia in the cloud. The Information reports that Apple’s Gemini-infused Siri will run both on-device and in the cloud, an apparent reversal of its privacy-focused preference for local AI.

With every new chip announcement, we hear about how the silicon has been optimized for AI—even Apple does this with its focus on Neural Engine upgrades. You may think from the grandiose language that smartphones are equipped to handle beefy AI models, but that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, the GPUs in most phones can process more AI tokens than the AI-focused NPUs. Components like Apple’s Neural Engine are designed for contextual, efficient AI processing. Even if phones had faster AI processing, they lack the RAM to keep enormous models in memory.

Even the largest AI models are still middling assistants, and that makes local AI very challenging. The AI models that run on phones are physically smaller, featuring at most a few billion parameters. Compare that to Google’s latest Gemini models, which have trillions of parameters, The Information reports. On-device AI models are also “quantized” to run at lower precision, making them faster but affecting the accuracy of token generation. This all adds up to AIs that feel less smart than their cloud brethren, and even big cloud-based models can be pretty dumb sometimes.

The amazing, shrinking Gemini

Google has versions of Gemini optimized for mobile devices, which it calls Gemini Nano. However, these are designed for powering contextual features like Magic Cue and audio summarization. Siri, on the other hand, is supposed to be a conversational assistant—you talk to it and it does things. That’s a different experience that requires a different kind of model. On Android, Google doesn’t even bother trying to do that locally. Talking to Gemini always goes straight to the cloud.

After inking the Google deal, Apple apparently got to work distilling Google’s giant cloud-based Gemini models. Distillation is a process in which a small, less resource-intensive model learns to mimic a large, expensive one. With enough time, this can reliably transfer useful capabilities while pruning less important weights from the model. That may enable Siri to handle some tasks with private local compute, but a cloud component looks inevitable.

Processing users’ AI data in the cloud could be a problem for Apple. At WWDC, the company will probably promote its years of experience designing chips and how well that positions it for AI. However, The Information claims that Apple has struggled to even get Google’s massive undistilled Gemini models running on its custom Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, which is built on on M-series Mac chips.

When the smarter Siri rolls out, it will probably route more complex tasks to Google’s cloud infrastructure instead of Apple’s, but it won’t be running on Google TPUs. Apple has reportedly signed a deal with Nvidia to use its Confidential Computing platform for this purpose. Confidential Computing keeps data encrypted on Nvidia GPUs while it’s being processed in the cloud, which could help Apple claim it’s still sensitive to user privacy concerns. It might even retain its own Private Cloud Compute branding for the system.

The iPhone probably won’t tell you which version of Gemini is handling individual Siri requests. Device makers designing hybrid systems that rely on local and cloud-based AI like to talk about making the experience feel “seamless.” There might be clues, though.

We’re all familiar with the sluggishness of big AI models, which can churn for a long time while they generate tokens. Nvidia’s fully encrypted Confidential Compute does slow processing compared to other AI options. Users may find it more noticeable when Siri has to talk to a remote server, but local AI will only get you so far when the best models can only run on multi-million-dollar servers.

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Posted Friday 29 May 2026 at 7:45 am AEST (my time).

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Mozilla has finally brought Shake to Summarize, a feature it introduced last September on the iOS version of its Firefox browser, to Android.

Shake to summarize is an AI feature that generates a clean summary of a webpage by shaking your phone, as long as the website has fewer than 5,000 words. If you prefer not to shake your device, you can also find a "Summarize Page" option by tapping the three-dot menu in the browser. The AI can adapt its output based on the content. So if you're on a recipe blog, for example, it will smartly extract just the cooking steps, and on a sports page, it pulls the final scores.

TIME Magazine gave the feature a special mention last October, adding it to the publication's list for the Best Inventions of 2025.

Now that Shake to Summarize is on Android, its summaries are handled by Mozilla's cloud-based AI, which the company says runs on a Mistral-Small model selected for its efficiency. This is a different approach from the iOS version, where Apple Intelligence handles the processing completely on-device for anyone using an iPhone 15 Pro or later running iOS 26, meaning the text never leaves the phone.

Apart from now supporting Android, the feature is getting more languages on iOS. The list now includes German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Japanese. The Android version, however, remains English-only for now, though Mozilla has stated that support for more languages is coming soon.

Firefox itself may soon be getting a major redesign on desktop under the codename "Nova". Early mockups for a project codenamed "Nova" appeared online back in March, showing a complete visual overhaul that follows previous redesigns like 2021's "Proton".

The new design language uses aggressive curves on its tabs and address bar, creating a softer look with floating "island" UI elements. It also introduces a dynamic color system, similar to Google's Material You, that extracts hues from your desktop wallpaper.

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Posted Wednesday 20 May 2026 at 6:59 am AEST (my time).

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It has been almost seven years since Samsung launched its first foldable phone, and since then, we have been hearing constant rumors about Apple’s first foldable iPhone. While it was previously believed that the wait might finally end in 2026, the latest rumors suggest we may have to wait a bit longer to see Apple’s first foldable device.

Chinese leaker, Instant Digital, claimed in a Weibo post that Apple is still struggling with the iPhone Fold’s hinge design, which could delay the device’s launch this year. Instant Digital also reported in April that the iPhone Fold had entered trial production, but it appears the device has encountered technical challenges related to the hinge and folding display.

According to the leaker’s information, results regarding hinge reliability and long-term durability consistently fail to meet Apple’s quality control standards. As a result, Apple engineers must come up with a solution, or the device’s production could stall and miss its planned launch window.

The iPhone Fold, or the so-called iPhone Ultra, is said to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover screen. It is also believed to adopt a passport-style design, similar to Huawei’s recent foldables or Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold Wide.

Despite issues with the hinge and display, Instant Digital claims that Apple has achieved a visually crease-free display on its foldable iPhone, along with long-term durability. Previous reports suggested that Apple aims to develop a crease-free screen by any means necessary, potentially making it a key selling point for its first foldable device.

However, there is still no clear information about the severity of the hinge issues affecting the iPhone Fold. It was previously reported that the device will debut in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. A report by DigiTimes also suggests that, despite being behind schedule, the foldable iPhone is still expected to be announced in September.

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Posted Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 7:43 am AEST (my time).

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