Rob Enderle’s 2025 Tech Product of the Year
2025 delivered real-world technology that finally lived up to the promise of intelligent systems. Rob Enderle reveals the product that stood above the rest. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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PSA: Better mobile carrier deals may be yours for the asking
Competition between mobile carriers is now so intense that they are not only trying hard to poach customers from each other, but even fighting legal battles over their tactics. AT&T has sued T-Mobile over its EasySwitch tool, intended to allow customers to compare rates and receive a personalized deal from the self-proclaimed “uncarrier” … more…

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iPhone System Data and Other storage: What is it and how to get rid of it
Macworld I’m sure this sounds familiar: You’re trying to install the latest iOS release, upgrade to a new iPhone, take photos or record video, or just download that cool app everyone’s talking about, and your iPhone says the storage is full. You’ve already deleted every app you don’t think you need, and there’s still not enough space on your iPhone. So you open Settings, tap General, then iPhone Storage, and, sure enough, your iPhone is full. Worst of all, a huge chunk of it is just listed as Other (renamed System Data in iOS 15). What’s that supposed to mean? How do you get rid of it? The System Data/Other storage sections are mysterious and confusing, and there’s no one answer that works for everyone, but hopefully, this guide will help you deal with this problem. Latest iPhone release: iPhone 16e (March 2025), iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max (September 2025) Latest iOS release: iOS 26.2 (December 2025) Latest iOS beta: N/A How to view your iPhone storage To see how much storage all your apps and data are taking up on your iPhone’s storage, open the Settings app, select General, then iPhone Storage. At the top, you’ll see a bar graph showing your total iPhone storage and which types of data are filling it up. Beneath that, you’ll find a list of applications on your phone and how much room they take up, both for the app itself and its stored data. It may take several seconds for your iPhone to show the graph, as it takes time to scan and analyze its storage. Even after the chart first appears, you’ll want to wait several seconds more for it to stabilize, as the app list and storage sizes can change while your phone completes its analysis. You’ll find your iPhone storage details a few layers deep in the Settings app. What is System Data (or Other) on iPhone? Your iPhone Storage menu will divide that bar up top into familiar categories like Apps, Media, Photos, and Mail, but also a System Data (iOS 15 and later) or Other category that is sometimes very large. It’s common for System Data to be in the 5GB to 20GB range, but if it’s way over 20GB, it has probably grown out of control. You can scroll all the way down to the bottom of the app list where you will see iOS, which are the files required by the system and are usually around 10GB, and System Data, which are files other than apps and downloads that are collected by iOS. Tap on System Data to see how much space it is taking up. The System Data/Other category is big and varied because it’s a real catch-all category. It comprises system caches, logs, Siri voices (if you’ve downloaded more than one), updates, and so much more. One of the biggest culprits for System Data/Other growing out of hand is streaming lots of music and video. When you download video or music from the iTunes Store, TV app, or Music app, it’s indexed as Media. But streams have caches used to ensure smooth playback, and those are categorized as System Data/Other. Safari’s caches can start to grow pretty large, too. And if you send tons of texts with images or video, the caches for that can start to fill up a lot of space. Your iPhone is supposed to manage these caches to keep your storage from becoming completely full, but it doesn’t always do a great job. Clearing your Safari data might reduce the size of Other. We discuss how to delete Other storage on a Mac and how to delete System Data on a Mac separate articles. How to reduce the size of System Data/Other on an iPhone You can’t get rid of System Data/Other entirely, but you can sometimes reduce its size. First, let’s try clearing your Safari caches. Open Settings > Safari and choose Clear History and Website Data. If you have a lot of Safari tabs open on your iPhone, you might want to close most of them, too. You might also want to change Messages to save fewer old messages. Open Settings, then Messages, and scroll down to the Message History setting. By default, Keep Messages is set to Forever, but you may want to change it to 1 Year or even 30 Days to reduce the data that the Messages app caches. Just beware that doing this will mean old messages will be deleted–so if you have any messages you want to keep find a way to back them up. If you’re a heavy texter, your Messages app might be filling up your storage with a lot of data. Finally, go back to iPhone Storage and look at the apps list. Most of the apps store data that is categorized as Apps, but some will keep caches that are categorized as System Data/Other. If, say, the Podcasts app is taking up a couple of gigabytes of space, it’s likely mostly cached data. Deleting the app and re-downloading it might put a dent in the System Data/Other category. How to free up space taken up by iOS While Apple lets you delete stock iOS apps that you don’t want to free up space, the system still takes up quite a bit of room, in some cases 25GB or more. However, if you’re running an iPhone 15 Pro or later and have Apple Intelligence enabled, it’s taking up more than 10GB of space. Simply turning it off will help you reclaim it. Head over to the Apple Intelligence & Siri tab in Settings and flip the toggle. The free space won’t show up in storage immediately, but the system will be able to use that space to install updates and apps. And you can always turn it back on later. The nuclear option: Backup and reset your iPhone You can go through your iPhone trying to delete every little cache that could grow the size of System Data/Other storage, but if you really want to make it as small as possible, you need to back up your phone and reset it. This can take a little while. The best way to do this is to use your Mac or PC. On a Mac running macOS 10.15 Catalina or later: First, connect your iPhone to your Mac with the bundled USB-C-to-Lightning cable. When prompted on your iPhone, tap “Trust” and enter your passcode. In the Finder sidebar on your Mac, select your iPhone under Locations. Click the General tab. Select “Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.” To encrypt your backup data and protect it with a password, check the “Encrypt local backup” box. Click Back Up Now. Note: You can also connect your iPhone to your computer wirelessly if you set up syncing over Wi-Fi. Foundry On a Mac running macOS 10.14 Mojave or earlier, or a PC On a PC or a Mac with macOS 10.14 or earlier you can use iTunes to back up your phone. After you connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC, select your iPhone by clicking the little phone icon in the upper left, and under Backups, choose “This Computer” and check the “Encrypt local backup” box to protect your backup with a password. Then click the button to Back up now. Reset and restore When the backup is done, disconnect your iPhone, head to Settings > General > Reset, and select Erase All Content and Settings. This will return your iPhone to its factory settings, just like when you took it out of the box. When it restarts and it’s in the initial setup process, re-connect it to your computer with iTunes open, and follow the instructions on the screen to restore your device. This is the longest and most involved way to reduce the size of System Data/Other storage, but it’s also the best. There’s just no way to get it any smaller than it will be after a fresh reset and restore. Apple iPhone 14 Plus Read our review Price When Reviewed: £699 (was £799) DISCONTINUED Best Prices Today: $729.99 at Best Buy Apple iPhone 14 Pro Read our review Price When Reviewed: Was $999 DISCONTINUED Best Prices Today: $449.96 at Walmart | $999 at Visible

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Can Apple really fix Siri, or is it too far gone?
Macworld Lots of exclusives on Macworld last week, as our tireless code-breaker Filipe Esposito turned up clues to a mystery Apple smart home accessory, HomePod mini and AirTag upgrades, a new display, and much more. All the secrets of the future were laid bare. But the Esposito scoop that caught my eye concerned a rather older story. Siri, poor hapless Siri, has been the laughing stock of voice assistants for years. Some of the time it fails to hear you; other times it dives unwanted into the conversation even though nobody mentioned its name. (Surprisingly often this is triggered by dialogue on Apple TV shows; you’d think they’d check for that sort of thing.) It mishears the name of songs to an almost comical extent, it refuses to do what it’s told, and it behaves constantly with the infuriating confidence of the very stupid. Given that Siri is baked into pretty much every Apple product, you’d think that fixing it would be a top priority. Sure enough, back in June 2024, Apple announced that it was going to release a new enhanced version of Siri, powered by AI, to address all these problems. Although, of course, Apple didn’t actually acknowledge the problems, instead using vaguely positive phraseology about becoming “more natural, more contextually relevant, and more personal.” Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that enhanced Siri still hasn’t arrived, a mere 18 months on; there are no signs of it becoming more natural, it remains blithely irrelevant, and the only personal thing about it is my choice of language when it gets a simple command wrong yet again. So it was… I won’t say pleasing, but I will say interesting to hear last week that it’s now looking likely to land in spring 2026 alongside the so-called HomePad. Which is better than nothing, as they say; at least the project hasn’t been completely cancelled, like AirPower or the slimmer and lighter version of Vision Pro. But another phrase that springs to mind is “Too little, too late.” Most obviously, Apple has squandered a great deal of trust and goodwill over the past couple of years by promising things that aren’t ready (and which may never have existed at all) and then failing to deliver them. Trust in a tech company’s honesty and competence is a vital asset. Do you trust Apple to provide worthwhile software updates for the life of your products, and to safeguard your security and privacy? If there’s a bug on your Mac, do you trust Apple to patch it in a timely fashion? Probably less so than was the case five years ago. It might seem entitled and fanboyish to take it personally when a corporation fails to launch an expected product. But in this case, it is personal: Siri’s performance, and Apple’s continued failure to address that performance, affects our daily experience with the iPhone, the Mac, the Apple Watch, and of course the HomePod. Siri 2.0 isn’t a new product we’ve been having to wait for, but a needed fix for the products we already have. And anyone who stayed inside Apple’s walled garden in hopes of the voice assistant getting better was kept there under false pretences. It all could have been so much better. Siri should be the user’s entry point to the Apple ecosystem, and the culmination of the company’s intuitive philosophy. No matter which device you’re using, no matter the operating system or the app, you simply say out loud what you want to happen. What could be more user-friendly? Almost anything, it turns out. For years now, customers have been trained to regard their Apple products with suspicion. If I use this device in the way that is theoretically the most convenient, they quickly come to understand, there is a good chance it will go wrong. Which is hardly the message Apple wants to send. And while spring could represent a new beginning for the beleaguered voice assistant, it will also mark the start of a very long and difficult process of reputational recovery. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories Alex Blake reveals 8 Mac settings and features you’re not using but should. This test shows how bad Apple Intelligence is—and how much better it’s going to get. Hallelujah! Easier switching between iPhone and Android is on the way soon. Mahmoud Itani reveals 6 innovations in 2025 that prove Apple still has what it takes. How Matter has finally given Apple a path out of the HomeKit mess. Apple is facing its ‘biggest personnel shake-up in decades.’ But with numerous execs departing, the Macalope says good riddance. Podcast of the week What’s going on with Apple management? How will the changes affect the company? That’s all in the latest episode of the ‪Macworld Podcast‬. You can catch every episode on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. Reviews corner Apple Preview: A near-perfect PDF reader with limited editing tools. Rolling Square TAU 2: A keyring-sized mini power bank. TP-Link BE3600 Wi-Fi 7: Versatile, portable Wi-Fi router. Journey ARIA 3-in-1: Chic, lightweight magnetic travel charger. The rumor mill Apple’s next HomePod mini and AirTag upgrades surface in leaked internal code. Internal Apple code hints improved Siri will land next spring with ‘HomePad’ hub. Leaked code spills details of mystery Apple smart home accessory. Code leak reveals A19 iPad, M4 Air with Apple’s N1 chip likely coming soon. Video of the week What will be Tim Cook’s legacy? We discuss the possibilities in our latest short. Enjoy our video on TikTok or Instagram. @macworld.com What will be Tim Cook’s legacy? #apple ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld Software updates, bugs, and problems CarPlay is getting even better with these new iOS 26.2 features. iPhone 16e named ‘Bust of the Year’ (not in a good way) in MKBHD smartphone awards. Mystery solved: Here’s how to tell when your AirPods are updating. And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

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iRobot has filed for bankruptcy – here’s what that means for Roomba owners
iRobot, the company which invented robot vacuum cleaners, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy some 23 years after it first launched the Roomba range. While such company failures can often be extremely bad news for owners of smart home technology, there is reason for optimism in this case … more…

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If you care about the security of your iPhone, go update right now
Macworld New iOS and iPadOS updates don’t just add lots of new features to your iPhone. There are also updates to improve the security and reliability of your devices, and the latest release is no exception. There are 25 new security updates in iOS/iPadOS 26.2, and if you can’t or don’t want to update to iOS 26 yet, 20 of them are available in a separate iOS/iPadOS 18.7.3 release. Of particular note are a pair of WebKit vulnerabilities where “processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.” Apple says it is aware of a report that these bugs were used in a highly sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals, in a version of iOS prior to iOS 26. These are zero-day flaws, meaning they were previously unknown. There are quite a few similar WebKit fixes in these releases, in which race conditions, buffer overflows, and other memory tricks could be used to run code on your iPhone after visiting specifically crafted malicious web content. There are many other frameworks and apps with important security fixes as well, including some commonly used apps: App Store Impact: An app may be able to access sensitive payment tokens Description: A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions. CVE-2025-46288: floeki, Zhongcheng Li from IES Red Team of ByteDance. FaceTime Impact: Password fields may be unintentionally revealed when remotely controlling a device over FaceTime Description: This issue was addressed with improved state management. CVE-2025-43542: Yiğit Ocak Photos Impact: Photos in the Hidden Photos Album may be viewed without authentication Description: A configuration issue was addressed with additional restrictions. CVE-2025-43428: an anonymous researcher, Michael Schmutzer of Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt So if you’re on iOS 26, it’s best to update to iOS 26.2 as soon as possible. If you’re not on iOS 26 yet and don’t want to or can’t upgrade, be sure to grab iOS 18.7.3 instead. You can get either update by going to the Settings app, then General and Software Update.

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Apple and Google will be asked to block nude photos unless user age is verified
A new report says that the British government will be asking Apple and Google to block the taking and sharing of nude photographs unless the user has been verified to be an adult. Additionally, the report says that the government wants iOS and Android to prevent nude images even being displayed on the device unless the user has been verified as an adult … more…

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Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone may wrap its display on all four sides
Apple may be planning its boldest iPhone redesign yet for its 20th anniversary with a display that curves on all four sides. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Forget Adobe subscriptions and get PDF Reader Pro for life for only $30
Macworld TL;DR: Get PDF Reader Pro for Mac at just $29.97 (MSRP $79.99) until December 21 and turn your Mac into a PDF-editing powerhouse without the Adobe price tag. If you’re tired of wrestling with PDFs on your Mac or cringing at Adobe’s subscription costs, PDF Reader Pro might be exactly what you need. This lifetime license is currently 63% off, bringing it down to just $29.97. Installed on over 60 million devices worldwide, this PDF editor gives your Mac serious PDF muscle. You can edit text and images directly in PDFs, use OCR to make scanned documents searchable, and organize pages with drag-and-drop simplicity. Need to redact sensitive info? It handles that too. The batch processing feature is a time-saver when you’re dealing with multiple documents, and password encryption keeps your files secure. This PDF editor is rated 4.5/5 stars and above on Capterra, Software Advice, Get App, and G2. The interface is clean and Mac-friendly, with a night mode that’s easier on your eyes during long editing sessions. While this version doesn’t include PDF-to-Office conversion, it covers most daily PDF tasks without requiring a monthly subscription. Until December 21 at 11:59pm Pacific, get PDF Reader Pro for Mac for $29.97 (MSRP $79.99). PDF Reader Pro Premium License For Mac: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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The simple upgrade every AirPods Pro owner should know about
Macworld For many AirPods Pro users, the listening experience doesn’t always live up to expectations—not because of the earbuds themselves, but because of the smallest component: the ear tips. The default silicone tips included with Apple’s AirPods Pro often struggle to deliver a consistently secure fit, all-day comfort, or reliable noise isolation. A seal that breaks even slightly reduces Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) performance, weakens sound clarity, and can leave users constantly adjusting their earbuds to keep them from slipping. That’s where Comply TrueGrip Premium Memory Foam Ear Tips come in. A simple $25 upgrade that can completely transform the AirPods Pro experience across generations (AirPods Pro 1, 2 & 3), these replacement tips deliver a superior fit, unmatched comfort, and dramatically improved noise isolation. If you rely on your AirPods Pro for commuting, working, exercising, or travel, this upgrade is one you’ll immediately feel. Buy Comply TrueGrip for AirPods Pro 3 Buy Comply TrueGrip for AirPods Pro 1 & 2 Why silicone struggles—and how memory foam solves it Silicone ear tips, even with Apple’s updated design in AirPods Pro 3, don’t always adapt well to natural ear canal movement. Smiling, talking, chewing, or jogging can break the seal, causing the earbuds to loosen or fall out entirely. Many users also experience pressure discomfort during longer listening sessions—particularly during flights, long work calls, or study sessions. Comply’s slow-rebound memory foam expands gently to your ear’s unique shape, creating a soft but secure seal that stays put through movement. Users report that while the new AirPods Pro 3 hybrid silicone-foam tips improve retention compared to earlier models, they still create more pressure in the ear canal and aren’t as comfortable or stable as Comply’s fully-foam design. Comply Superior fit, comfort & noise isolation Secure fit that doesn’t budge: The adaptive foam eliminates the constant readjusting many users experience. Whether jogging, lifting weights, commuting, or working in a chaotic environment, the TrueGrip tips hold firm and help prevent accidental slip-outs. Comfort designed for all-day wear: Unlike silicone, which pushes outward and creates pressure points, memory foam compresses when inserted and then expands slowly. The result is a cushioned, almost weightless feel that reduces ear fatigue. Users who previously experienced soreness after an hour or two can now wear AirPods Pro comfortably all day. Enhanced noise isolation for better ANC performance: A tighter seal means better passive isolation, which dramatically improves the effectiveness of Active Noise Cancellation. With more outside noise blocked, audio becomes richer and more immersive—whether listening to music, taking calls, or using Spatial Audio. Users commonly report better bass response, more consistent mids and highs, and an overall clearer and more powerful soundstage because the seal remains stable. Comply Two premium options for every listener Comply offers two versions to suit different needs: $24.99 TrueGrip and $29.99 TrueGrip MAX. The MAX version offers enhanced durability and moisture resistance via a patented SmartSkin™ foam technology. Buy from Amazon for AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods Pro 1 & 2. Both versions include three pairs of ear tips, a removal tool for easy installation, and are available in multiple colors depending on the AirPods Pro generation. Real-world performance: a meaningful upgrade Users who switched from Apple’s silicone tips to Comply TrueGrip frequently report: Better seal consistency and stronger ANC Improved comfort with reduced pressure in the ear canal More secure stability during activity Better bass response and overall clarity Zero slip or fall-out issues Comply The simple swap that transforms AirPods Pro If you love the AirPods Pro but wish they: Stayed in securely Felt better during long use Blocked more outside noise Delivered richer, more consistent sound …then this is a small upgrade that delivers a big difference. Improve your AirPods Pro experience today with Comply TrueGrip—premium memory foam ear tips engineered for superior fit, comfort, and immersive listening. Wear your AirPods every day, comfortably and confidently. Buy Comply TrueGrip for AirPods Pro 3 Buy Comply TrueGrip for AirPods Pro 1 & 2 Comply

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Apple's M4 MacBook Air with 24GB RAM plunges to $899 with free 2-day shipping
A $300 last-minute holiday discount on Apple's M4 MacBook Air with 24GB of RAM is in effect today, bringing the cost of the laptop down to $899 with delivery by Christmas.Get Apple's M4 MacBook Air with 24GB of RAM for just $899 - Image credit: AppleB&H Photo is pulling out all the stops with its last-minute holiday sale, and we're following a steep $300 price drop on Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air in Midnight. This M4 model with a 10-core GPU has a bump up to 24GB of RAM, along with 256GB of storage.Buy M4 MacBook Air 24GB for $899 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Amazon's $399 Samsung M8 USB-C monitor deal ends today
The $300 discount on the 32-inch M8 4K display ends tonight, with the monitor arriving by Christmas.Get a Samsung M8 monitor for $399 today only - Image credit: SamsungYou can pick up the Samsung M8 Smart Monitor for $399.99 at your choice of Amazon and B&H Photo, with Amazon stating its deal ends tonight. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Ottocast launches new CarPlay AI Box plus wireless adapter with rear cabin monitoring [Sponsored]
If you’ve been looking to upgrade your car’s tech without breaking the bank on a new vehicle, Ottocast just dropped two products worth checking out. The OttoAibox P3 Pro brings AI voice control and Android apps to your existing CarPlay setup, while the Cabin Care adapter adds wireless CarPlay plus a rear-seat camera for keeping an eye on the little ones. Both are designed to work with what you’ve already got installed, which is pretty much the whole point. more…

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Hands-on with Anker’s new 20,100mAh battery bank: 220W output, compact design
Anker is back at it again with a new 20,100mAh power bank, under its Anker Prime brand. This power bank has three ports, offers up to 220W of output, and comes in a pretty compact package. It’s available for purchase on Amazon for $129. more…

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Bizarre iOS 26 bug causes some Android camera photos to turn red in iPhone Photos app
Users have been noticing a weird iPhone bug with some pictures they have saved in their Photos app on iOS 26; sometimes, photos taken from Android phones are being imported into the Photos with a seemingly intense red color filter applied. What’s even stranger is this red haze only shows when you actually tap on an image in Photos and zoom in. The preview thumbnails preserve their full color so if you are just scrolling through your library, you might not see anything wrong. Luckily, this bug has a simple fix you can do to put each picture back to how it was … more…

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Today in Apple history: iMac Pro packs potent all-in-one punch
On December 14, 2016, Apple releases the iMac Pro. Despite a beautiful design, the professional-grade desktop was only a placeholder. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch SE 3: Which should you buy this holiday season?
Apple updated its entire lineup of Apple Watch models this year, introducing the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Ultra 3. If you’re shopping for someone or buying for yourself this holiday season, here’s what you need to know about Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 11. Plus, you can currently save $200 on the Apple Watch Series 11 for holiday shopping. more…

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iOS 26.2: All the new features now available on your iPhone
After several weeks of beta testing, iOS 26.2 is now available for all iPhone users. The update brings new features for Apple Podcasts and Apple Music, more Liquid Glass design updates, and more. Head below for our full guide on all the new iOS 26.2 features. more…

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Foxconn is building a massive factory in KY, but probably not for Apple
Foxconn is investing $174 million into a new facility in Louisville, Kentucky, but nothing points to it becoming part of Apple's supply chain.A Foxconn factory signApple supply chain partner Foxconn is making moves to expand its footprint in the United States again. This time, it's building up its operations in Kentucky.Announcements from Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that Foxconn will be opening "it's first U.S. manufacturing operation" in Louisville. The investment, which is claimed to be worth about $174 million, will potentially create 180 new jobs in the region. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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X for iOS finally offers widgets, five years after first teasing them
X for iOS has finally rolled out widgets for your Home Screen and Lock Screen. more…

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