There is an apparently new iOS 18 security feature that reboots iPhones that haven’t been unlocked in a few days, frustrating police by making it harder to break into suspects’ iPhones, according to 404 Media.
After the mysterious reboots, the devices supposedly enter what is called the Before First Unlock (BFU) state. This makes cracking them to get data about criminal activity much harder.
The document seen by 404 Media theorized that the iPhones rebooted in “a short amount of time” when removed from a cellular network, potentially around 24 hours. According to the document, one of the iPhones was even in Airplane mode and one was inside what is called a Faraday box, a type of container that blocks electronic signals from reaching the iPhone, stopping them from accessing telecom coverage, as well as things like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
The police speculate that the mysterious reboot may have been because of “an iOS 18.0 security feature addition.” The document also theorizes that iPhones with iOS 18.0 brought into the lab communicated with the other iPhones, sending a signal to the phones to reboot.
However, Jiska Naehrdine, an independent cybersecurity researcher, claimed that Apple did introduce an “inactivity reboot” in iOS 18.1, citing code hosted on GitHub.
She commented on the design choice: “This is a cheap & great mitigation!”
“While most people won’t have their phone forensically analyzed, many more will have their devices stolen,” she added. “It protects user data in both cases.”
The company has steadily made iPhones harder to compromise over the years, putting it at odds with law enforcement and raising the specter of government regulations requiring encryption backdoors. Apple has repeatedly resisted authorities’ requests to create backdoors, although that hasn’t stopped law enforcement from finding its own workarounds.
Apple’s foray into the XR wearable segment may not have stirred the same kind of success that it tasted with the likes of theiPhoneor theApple Watch, but the company is still moving ahead with future iterations. While plans of a cheaper headset may have been pushed, the Vision Pro could get a successor within a year, or so.
In the latest Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg reported that the 2nd generation of Apple Vision Pro is expected to hit the market between fall of 2025 and spring of 2026.That window puts the official reveal in roughly the same frame as the launch of updated iPhones and the sporadic Mac hardware.
As far as changes go, Apple is reportedly experimenting with multiple ideas. But Gurman claims that one of the design candidates for the Vision Pro 2 would look exactly like its predecessor. That won’t be out of character for Apple, as the company regularly iterates on internal hardware without changing the external aesthetics of its gear across the iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch portfolio.
It sounds like a sane strategy Vision Pro successor because it’s a product with arguably the most sophisticated engineering work that Apple has delivered in years. It would make sense — especially from an R&D investment perspective — to maintain the fundamental architecture and make upgrades where it’s needed, which is added processing firepower and a refined software experience.
As a refresher, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported last week that Apple had seriously delayed its plans for a cheaper Apple Vision headset, and would instead be focusing on a second generation Apple Vision Pro to release next year.
Apple plans to upgrade the Vision Pro 2 from the M2 chip to the upcoming M5 chip, delivering a massive performance boost. Apple unveiled the first gen Vision Pro with the then-latest M2 chip, but the quick release of the M3 and M4 chips soon after made the $3,500 spatial computer feel a bit dated.
At least this time around, Apple Vision Pro should be getting M5 around the same time as the first Macs will get M5, so it shouldn’t feel as dated, hopefully.
YOU MIGHT BE in the habit of replacing your smartphone every couple of years, but most phones can last a lot longer than that. Like your car, they might just need a new part every now and then, and the best repair you can do on your phone to make it last longer is a battery replacement. But most batteries aren’t user-replaceable. So how do you actually get one?
Unfortunately, user-replaceable batteries are becoming increasingly rare, and most smartphone manufacturers don’t go too far out of their way to let you know that you can get a battery replacement at all. In fact, when Apple briefly lowered the cost of iPhone battery replacements, it resulted in about 10 times as many people replacing their batteries as usual (and, coincidentally, far fewer new iPhones sold that year). However, even if your battery is locked inside your phone, you can get a new one and keep your phone lasting longer.
Some Things to Consider Before Replacing the Battery
Even though battery replacements are very useful, they can also be a hassle to get done. In fact it’s not unlike getting work done on your car: You might be able to do it yourself, but it’s probably easier to pay someone else to do it, and you should expect to be without your phone for a while as you wait for the repair to finish. Many places offer same-day repairs, as long as the battery for your device is in stock. That is, for repair places with physical locations near you. If you have a local Apple store near you, they might have what you need. But in some cases you’ll need to mail in your phone to get a repair, which could leave you without it for days. And while you may be able to get a loaner phone from some places, it can still be a hassle. On the other hand, it’s a lot better for the environment, not to mention your wallet, if you replace the battery rather than buy a new phone.
When You Should Replace the Battery
As a general rule, if you’ve had your phone for a couple years and it’s starting to show its age, that’s a pretty good time to look into a battery replacement. That’s right around the time you might be thinking about getting a new phone anyway–many carriers still offer upgrades or payment plans that renew every two years to entice you–but you can also check your battery’s health manually if you want to see if you need an upgrade sooner.
On iPhones, you can navigate to Settings > Battery > Battery Health to find a Maximum Capacity value that will show what percentage of your battery’s initial charge capacity is left. This isn’t how full your battery is right now but rather how much charge it can hold relative to how much it could hold when it was new. If this gets down to 80 percent (especially if it’s still under warranty), get a new battery.
As always, Android phones are a little more complicated; there are many different models and they don’t all work the same. Instead, you can use an app like AccuBattery to get detailed stats on the health of your battery. The app uses an estimate, not an official report, and it may take a few days to get a full picture of your battery’s health. But if it’s below 80 percent of its original capacity, it might be time to take a look at a replacement battery.
Take Your iPhone Into an Apple Store
If you have an iPhone and you want a battery replacement, you’re probably in the best position. If you’re still under warranty or AppleCare+, you can get a free battery replacement on most phones from the last several years. If you’re outside of coverage, the fees range from $49 to $69, depending on which phone you have.
If you can bring your phone into an Apple store, they can often repair your phone the same day and have it back to you in a few hours. If the repair job is more complicated, the store may need to send it off to an Apple Repair Center, which can take up to 3 to 5 days to complete the repair. However, this is how long it would take to get a repair job if you mailed the phone in yourself anyway, so it makes sense to try an in-store repair first.
Try Third-Party Repair Shops for Android Phones
For Android phones, there’s no single manufacturer that also handles all repairs, like there is with Apple, but you can still get same-day repairs done with third-party repair shops. The most prominent of these is uBreakiFix, which has locations in most US states. Some major manufacturers like Google and Samsung give uBreakiFix access to OEM parts, which means they can repair your phone with the same materials those companies would use if you send them in directly.
Prices on Android battery repairs can vary, but usually are around or below $100, but you might need to call in to get an estimate. In some places, the company can even send a rep out to you to repair your phone on-site, in addition to the usual options of either going into a store or mailing in your device.
When All Else Fails, Do It Yourself
In some cases, it might not be feasible (or even possible) to bring your phone into a store or mail it in somewhere. If you really want to keep your existing phone, and you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, you can try replacing the battery yourself. Repair site iFixit has guides for replacing batteries on most major phones that will explain in detail what tools you need and how to take apart your phone, with pictures for every step.
You might need a specialized toolkit that has the proprietary screwheads and other tools that might be required for opening up your phone. Also keep in mind, while you can replace a part without voiding your warranty (and in fact those warranty-voiding stickers are illegal!), the manufacturer still might try to fight you on the warranty if you break anything while doing so. And potentially even if you don’t. If you’re comfortable with that–or if you’re already out of coverage anyway–then order a replacement battery for your phone online and give it a whirl.
Apple, like most phone makers, puts a lot of focus on improving the cameras from one model to the next, and we now have an idea of what the next two generations of camera updates might look like.
Numerous leaks have already pointed to 48MP telephoto cameras for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, with the whole iPhone 17 line possibly getting 24MP front-facing cameras. But with the iPhone 18 line, Apple might focus on the aperture rather than megapixels.
This is according to reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who in his latest post on Medium claimed that Apple will be equipping the main camera on the “high-end” iPhone 18 models with a variable aperture.
By high-end he presumably means the iPhone 18 Pro Max and likely also the iPhone 18 Pro, but he doesn’t mention the phones by name.
A variable aperture allows you to adjust the size of the lens opening on the iPhone, similar to how you can with a DSLR camera. This feature gives you greater control over the amount of light that enters the camera sensor, affecting the depth of field in your photos. With a variable aperture, you can switch between different f-stops, providing flexibility for various shooting conditions. In other words, you can enjoy more artistic freedom to experiment with varying depths of field and achieve the desired look for your photos.
So this sounds like it would be a worthwhile upgrade, and while we’d take Kuo’s reporting with a pinch of salt for now – especially as this is a very early leak – he does have a great track record for Apple information.
Not the first variable-aperture phone
If this claim does prove to be accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max wouldn’t be the first smartphones with a variable-aperture lens. Most smartphones do not feature variable aperture technology. However, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra does include this capability, just like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus also had a variable aperture system, but it was based on older technology. Currently, Samsung’s latest models, such as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, do not incorporate variable aperture technology.
Since the firstiPhonewas revealed in 2007, Apple has consistently improved the camera on its No. 1 product. The next significant update could arrive in less than two years.
If you’ve noticed that your Android phone or tablet’s battery is draining quickly, you’re not alone. Many factors can contribute to rapid battery depletion, but don’t worry; there are also several strategies you can employ to extend your device’s battery life.
Reasons for fast battery drain.
There are several potential causes if your Android device’s battery is draining quickly:
Screen brightness: A bright screen can drain your battery quickly.
Background apps: Apps running in the background can drain your battery even when you’re not using your phone.
Location services: Your phone constantly searches for satellites when location services are on, which can drain your battery.
Battery saver mode: Most devices have a battery saver mode that can help extend your battery life.
Apps consuming battery: Some apps might be consuming more battery than you realize. You can try uninstalling apps you don’t use, or turning off notifications and pop-ups for apps that are useful but draining your battery.
Screen time: If your screen stays on for too long, it can drain your battery.
Temperature: Extreme temperatures can affect your phone’s battery.
Operating system: An outdated operating system can cause your battery to drain faster.
Battery health: Your phone’s battery might be at the end of its life cycle.
Ways to reduce Android battery drain
Here are some ways to potentially reduce battery drain on your Android device: *Note: Can vary based on Android version and device type.
Use Battery Saver or Extreme Battery Saver mode – Battery Saver and power saving modes help conserve battery life. Availability varies across devices – check your manufacturer’s website for details.
When enabled, Battery Saver and Extreme Battery Saver modes may pause most apps, turn off features and slow processes, which may include:
Only update app content (email, news, etc) when opened.
Stop location services when screen is off.
Prevent apps running in background unless Battery Optimization is turned off.
Not respond to “OK Google” hands-free commands.
Turn on Dark theme.
Delay notifications.
Turn off always-on display.
Switch 5G phones to 4G.
Limit internet connectivity and location access – Minimising mobile data, WiFi, Bluetooth, location services when not needed can help conserve battery. Turn on Airplane mode when mobile data isn’t required. Also avoid battery draining apps like cameras and games. Don’t keep lots of apps running in the background.
Use dark colour themes – Using dark mode/theme on your device and apps can reduce battery drain, if available. Helpful for avoiding bright light stimulus at night and sleep concerns. To enable:
Open Settings app.
Tap Display.
Turn Dark theme on or off.
Fixing Android battery issues.
If the battery seems to drain very fast even after following the tips above, there could be an issue with your Android device. Try: *Varies by Android version and device.
Restart your phone – Restarting can sometimes fix battery related problems. Long press the power button and tap Restart in the prompt. Restart method varies across devices – check user manual or manufacturer support pages.
Update Android – Updating to the latest Android version can potentially fix battery issues.
What to do if Android battery issues persist?
If these steps don’t help, consider replacing the battery. Hardware issues like degradation may require a new resolution. Factory resetting can also fix persistent trouble – backup data first. If battery problems continue despite these fixes, check with your device manufacturer or purchase retailer for further support. Review your usage patterns, settings and config when the Android battery seems to drain fast. Fixing issues one by one could help resolve problems. If not, you may consider upgrading your device to a newer model with higher battery capacity.
Now rolling out to Windows Insiders in Windows 11 is a new Rewrite option for Notepad that promises to spruce up your text with the help of AI. Using an AI model called GPT, Rewrite can revise sentences, modify the tone, or alter the length of your text, explains Microsoft.
To take Rewrite for a spin, you’ll need the latest Canary or Dev build on Windows 11. Assuming you’re already registered with the Windows Insider program with either of these builds, head to Settings, select Windows Update, and click the button for Check for Updates.
You should also make sure you’re running the latest version of Notepad. For that, open the Microsoft Store app, click the icon for Downloads, and then update all your installed apps.
Further, you’ll need to be signed into Windows with the Microsoft account registered with the Insider program. Microsoft says that’s because Rewrite is a cloud-based service that requires authentication and access to the AI credits necessary for generating content.
Now, fire up Notepad and type some text you want to revise, anything from a couple of words to an entire document.
Windows Insiders can access Rewrite by highlighting text in a Notepad window and right-clicking it in the menu or pushing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+I. A dialogue box will open showing the AI’s suggested rewrites of the highlighted text and the adjustable features menus including “Longer,” “Tone” and “Format” above the “Replace” button. If you prefer to write with just your fingers and brain, you can turn off the AI feature in the app settings menu, according to the official Windows blog.
In response, the AI overhauls your text and generates three versions of the rewrite. Check each version to find the one you prefer. If you don’t like any of them, tweak the settings and try again. When a suitable draft finally pops up, apply the changes to your original text.
With the Rewrite feature currently limited to the Dev or Canary Windows 11 insider builds, we’ll likely have to wait at least a few months before the option pops up in the standard version of Notepad.
Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition in China but under a different name. The foldable is called Samsung W25 and comes with a new redesign. Golden accents can be found everywhere around the phone – the hinge, the frame, and even the camera lenses.
The announcement in China saw two foldables. The second is called W25 Flip and is essentially the Galaxy Z Flip6, but again redesigned along the same lines as the W25.
The W25 (sold in South Korea as Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition) is a much more polished foldable than the globally available Galaxy Z Fold6 with its bigger screen, thinner profile and 200 MP main camera.
Originally launched with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage, the variant in China even comes in a 1TB version.
The W25 Flip is exactly like the Galaxy Z Flip6 – Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset, 12 GB RAM and 256 GB or 512 GB storage, 25W charging.
And also,Samsung Galaxy Z Fold SE comes with a much smaller crease.It is barely visible when the screen is turned on, and the user has to turn the device off and really try hard to visualize the grooves of the panel.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition is highly unlikely to ever make it outside South Korea and China. We can only hope the two rumored Fold7 devices will go global next year, though.
There are multiple reasons why a lithium-ion battery may swell. There is usually one underlying cause for this to happen, though. Batteries usually swell because gas builds up, creates pressure, and expands them. With that in mind, we must consider the more common causes for a battery to store gas. Manufacturer defects can happen. If the battery maker doesn’t make the battery correctly, gas can slowly build up during the charging process. This essentially means simply charging your phone enough times could be an issue, especially considering juicing up your phone also creates heat.
Swollen lithium-ion battery, modern smartphone, broken smartphone, battery-powered explosive electronics
Heat commonly speeds the process, too. You should probably make sure not to leave a phone in the sun too much, or next to very hot items. Additionally, physical damage to the battery can be a very common cause of battery swelling. Have you ever dropped your phone? Maybe you accidentally punctured the battery? This could be why your battery is swelling. Not to mention, batteries get old, too. Chemical reactions can change, and parts weaken. By the way, this shouldn’t be a common occurrence. Unless there’s a severe manufacturer defect, most batteries should last the couple or few years most users keep a device.
How to know if your phone battery is swollen
It’s much harder to tell if your battery is swelling these days, as handsets with removable batteries are becoming very scarce. We never really see our batteries anymore. This makes it harder to identify a swollen or damaged battery.
The easiest way to tell if a battery is swollen is by inspecting the device (or battery, if you can). Are there any bumps? You may notice an unusual wobble when you lay it on a flat surface. Also, look for warped shapes or signs of the phone disassembling itself. Smartphone backplates start to come off as the battery’s swollen shape puts pressure against them.
While not as safe, the smell can also signify a swollen battery. We wouldn’t advise that you actively try to inhale chemicals, but this is something you may have accidentally noticed already. Does your phone smell odd? People describe a bad battery smell as metallic, and sometimes even sweet.
Even simple things like battery performance can be a dead giveaway. If your battery is charging too slowly, or the charge isn’t lasting as long as it should, this may be a cause of concern.
What to do if your phone battery is swollen
So you’ve found something odd with your smartphone’s battery. Is it safe to use a swollen phone battery? Definitely not! A swollen lithium-ion battery can be very dangerous. The pressure can make gases escape, and the battery can even catch fire or explode, especially if pierced. Your first step should be to turn off the device immediately, and keep it off. Don’t plug it in or mess with it, either. Leave it in a safe place and keep it there, preferably away from anything that can burn. A swollen lithium-ion battery can be very dangerous! If it’s possible, and safe to do so, you should probably remove the battery. Just be careful not to mess with it too much in the process, and try to avoid smelling any fumes it may give off. We actually recommend taking the phone to a professional instead. Technicians will have the necessary knowledge and tools to do this easily. They can also find a suitable replacement for you. This will likely incur some charges and require replacement purchases, though. If your phone is still under warranty or has insurance, your best bet is to go with the carrier, retailer, or company handling the coverage.
How do I stop this from happening in the first place?
Well, you won’t always be able to stop this. That’s just something you’ll have to get used to. That said, there are a few things you can do to minimize the risk of stumbling across a bulging battery in the future.
Don’t let your gadgets get too hot
High temperatures can speed up the rate at which the electrolyte goop decomposes, which could contribute to gases building up inside a battery. And even if that heat doesn’t make a battery bulge, Mitlin says, it will definitely take a toll on how well the battery will work down the road.
Thankfully, many of your gadgets include features to prevent them from running at high temperatures for long periods. Your phones, for instance, will warn you when they get too warm — once that happens, they’ll start to shut off certain features and dial down the brightness of their screens. Worst-case scenario, they’ll shut themselves off entirely until they cool down.
Laptops are generally better at dealing with heat because they have built-in cooling systems, but with summer right around the corner, you should make sure not to leave any of your tech in a hot car or under the sun for very long.
Keep an eye on batteries’ charge levels
Keeping a battery at a high state of charge is a great way to put extra wear on it, so do your tech a favor: Don’t keep it connected to a wall outlet all the time. The opposite is also true: For slightly different chemical reasons, that all-important electrolyte goop also degrades when a battery is fully dead, according to Viswanathan.
That’s right. Keeping your gadgets fully charged and fully dead could contribute to battery swelling over time.
Advice: Once your gadget’s battery hits 100 percent, unplug it and use it as you normally would. Then, once you get down to the 10 to 20 percent range, charge it again.
Try not to drop anything
We know it’s easier said than done.
Usually, if your laptop tumbles out of your hands, the first thing you would worry about is whether its screen is still in one piece. But Viswanathan says these kinds of tumbles could lead to situations where one part of the battery is getting more charged than others. That could lead to battery swelling, as well as some other less-than-pleasant outcomes.
Some devices, like certain laptops, are more vulnerable to this than others because of where their batteries are stored. If your laptop has a battery you can remove yourself, it might be worth keeping it in a protective sleeve when you run around with it. Ditto for phones and tablets: A good case should help keep everything, including the battery, from getting banged up too badly.
Apple is still trying to figure out the best recipe for an affordable Apple Vision Pro and it has given itself plenty of time to do so – the headset has reportedly been delayed beyond 2027.
Back in 2023, it was believed that a future variation of the Apple Vision Pro would get a brighter display than the original model. Then in June 2024, Apple was reported to be looking to add component suppliers for that new headset.
Now according to The Elec, Apple has two choices regarding the displays. Both options relate to how a color filter can be added to an OLED panel.
One is W-OLED+CF. This dense acronym describes a White OLED board with a Color Filter (to form the red, green and blue colors). This is built onto a glass plate instead of silicon.
But there are two ways to build the color filter. The more traditional option is to build the color filter on a second glass sheet. This is established technology, but since there’s an extra piece of glass involved, it is thicker.
The option that Apple is leaning towards is to build the color filter on the Thin-Film Encapsulation (TFE) of the first glass sheet, removing the requirement for a second sheet.
Samsung is developing panels for Apple Vision Pro
Samsung is using such a technology to build the screens for its foldable phones.Samsung has previously been reported to be aiming to supply Apple with this technology. Specifically, while the current Apple Vision Pro’s OLEDoS (OLED on Silicon) display panels use a form of W-OLED+CF, Samsung has a process to incorporate RGB pixels right into the panel.
There’s an issue, however. Even though Apple is targeting less than half the pixel density of the pricey Vision Pro, 1,500ppi vs. 3,391ppi, that is still well above the typical density of a folding screen. Looking at the current crop of Z-foldables, the most dense display belongs to the Galaxy Z Flip6 at 426ppi. That is a third of what’s needed.
Of course, 1,500ppi is way overkill for a mobile device and 400+ ppi is quite enough (rigid flagships are typically 500ppi or so). But that still means that Samsung Display has to develop higher density panels for the XR headset. The two-glass solution hasn’t been completely ruled out yet.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring took the wearables world by storm, with the product shoving this smartwatch alternative into the spotlight – and helping to generate more interest in competitors in the best smart ring category from the likes of Oura and RingConn. Now it looks like Samsung is gearing up to launch an upgrade to this product line shortly, with a tipster’s comments making it sound like we could see the Galaxy Ring 2 fairly soon.
A new leak out of Korea claims that Samsung may launch the sequel to the Galaxy Ring early with a few improvements. The leak, shared on the Korean search engine/blogging platform Naver, said that the Galaxy Ring 2 will be released “a bit earlier than originally scheduled”.
Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S25 phone series in January next year, though that is probably too early. It has been rumored that Samsung might launch a Galaxy S25 Slim later in the spring. That could be a potential early window for the Korean company to accelerate the release date of the next Galaxy Ring. However, it’s unclear what “early” actually means here.
More feature on the way
The leaker, Lanzuk, did add that Galaxy Ring 2 should have a thinner band, longer battery life and “more features.” However, they did not provide more details on what those new features might include. They commented in their post that the sensor structure and measurements have been improved.
Perhaps it’ll also include that adaptive sizing feature teased by a recently awarded Samsung patent, though we’ll have to wait and see what’s announced.
On this note, as with all leaks we should take Lanzuk’s blog post and our speculation with a pinch of salt. Until Samsung makes an announcement we don’t know what we’ll get from the Galaxy Ring 2 – nor when it will launch.
