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Tech News
Google is developing a new 'Focus Peaking' tool for Snapseed, which will assist users in achieving accurate focus by highlighting sharp areas in the viewfinder. The feature was discovered in the latest app version and is expected to be accessible via a toggle in camera settings once released. Additionally, Snapseed is enhancing its LUT editing capabilities with support for HaldCLUT in the recent update.
Samsung warns that dirt, coins, and keys can scratch or puncture the internal screens of its Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra models, especially when closing the device. The level of protection varies, with these models rated IP48, indicating some resistance to solids but not dust-tight, unlike the IP68-rated iPhone Duo. Users in dusty or sandy environments should exercise caution to prevent damage.
App updates on iOS and Android frequently patch security flaws, fix bugs and add features, but auto-update toggles don't always catch everything. Automatic updates can stall or fail, and may not always reach devices immediately, as seen with Android Auto requiring manual updates at times.
Google confirmed in a reviewer's guide that Googlebooks need a paired phone running Android 17 to access key cross-device features, including task continuity, shared file and storage access, phone app streaming, and synced notifications. Google also noted some apps, such as those with DRM video or sensitive content, won't support app streaming regardless of OS version.
RISION has released the Magic Pro, a compact thermal imaging accessory that plugs into a phone's USB-C port and works with Android or iOS devices through its companion app. The app provides live temperature readouts, screenshot capture, and customization options, and the device ships with a small carry case. An Android Authority reviewer tested it on smartphones during stress tests, noting it required no setup beyond plugging in and opening the app.
A review of phone cooling accessories finds they matter most for long gaming sessions, livestreaming, video processing and other sustained workloads where performance throttles due to heat. Everyday fixes—removing thick cases, avoiding direct sunlight, repositioning near AC vents in cars, or using a Galaxy feature that pauses USB PD charging during gameplay—can often resolve heat issues without a dedicated cooler.
Users running Android 10 on phones like the Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9, and Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact are reporting in-car warnings that their devices will soon lose Android Auto support. The messages appear during wired connections and state the phone cannot update to the Android version Android Auto will require going forward. Google has not announced any change, and its support pages still list Android 9 Pie as the minimum for wired Android Auto.
Apple confirmed to 9to5Mac that a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max units on AT&T have lost cellular service entirely, leaving affected users unable to make calls. The company released iOS 27.0.1 and a carrier settings update to prevent further occurrences, but says customers already affected will need a hardware replacement through Apple or AT&T support.
Android Authority's Aamir Siddiqui argues that for the price of Apple's base 256GB iPhone 18 Pro Max, buyers have strong Android alternatives. His picks include the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL, Motorola Razr Ultra (2026), Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. A reader poll accompanying the piece shows the Galaxy S26 Ultra as the most popular alternative at 42% of votes.
GrapheneOS says it has traced a regression in Google's Android 17 QPR1 update that causes lag, stuttering, freezes, and app crashes on Pixel devices under memory pressure. The project says the bug originates in Pixel firmware and drivers supplied by Google, meaning it can affect stock Pixel software too, and it has already patched the issue in its own OS release while Google has not yet issued a fix.
TCL's P80 Ultra smartphone combines the company's Nxtpaper matte-screen technology with an OLED panel for the first time, producing deeper blacks, richer colors, and an always-on display mode previously missing from Nxtpaper devices. The rest of the midrange phone, including its triple rear camera and overall performance, is described as unremarkable to sluggish.
Apple's iPhone Duo introduced a redesigned outer display that places navigation and dock controls within thumb's reach while retaining a large viewing area. The design has inspired tech enthusiasts, including a Twitter user named Dylan, to mock up a non-folding 'iPhone Solo' concept using the same outer-screen layout and proportions.