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Tech News
A developer launched Radius on Hacker News, a hyper-local app for organizing informal meetups around shared interests like coffee, running, or biking. Users post an activity with a time and place, and nearby people interested in the same thing can join, positioning it as a lighter-weight alternative to Meetup.com's group-based model.
Smart TVs still rely on remote controls, and many now support using a smartphone as a substitute via built-in IR blasters or app-based connectivity. Certain Android phones have infrared hardware and pre-installed universal remote apps that let users pair with their TV brand and control power, volume, and navigation. Devices from Apple, Samsung, and Google lack this IR hardware, but alternative software-based remote options exist for those users.
Sonos has outlined its official process for setting up speakers using the Sonos smartphone app, available on both the App Store and Google Play. Users must create an account, connect their speaker and device to the same Wi-Fi network, then follow in-app prompts to name the speaker's room and add further devices later through the settings menu.
The European Commission unveiled a plan to bar children under 13 from social media, allowing parent-supervised accounts for ages 13 to 15. To enforce this, Brussels has built its own free, open-source age-verification app, being piloted in Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Spain, with full EU rollout expected by end of 2026.
A tip circulating on Reddit shows that installing Duolingo's website as a web app rather than using the native mobile app brings back the classic hearts-based mistake system and removes advertisements entirely, according to Android Authority. The report says the workaround works for both free and Super Duolingo subscribers, cutting down on gamified prompts and extra taps between lessons.
Apple has released iOS 27 to all users, highlighting more than 30 specific speed improvements across the operating system. These range from photo loading and app launches up to 30% faster, to AirDrop transfers up to 80% faster, plus quicker performance in Safari, Mail, Music, Health, and HomeKit.
Apple's upcoming iPhone Duo will require developers to recompile apps for iOS 27.0 just to fill the device's larger inner screen, with iOS 27.1 needed to access the Duo's new tab bar and other custom UI elements. Apple chose not to let iPad apps with resizable layouts run on the Duo, opting instead for a purpose-built interface exclusive to the new hardware.
GasPulse is a free iPhone app that uses Energy Information Administration data to display weekly gas price trends by state or region, along with up to five years of historical pricing. It also includes an Outlook feature predicting future price direction, state comparisons, price alerts for up to six areas, and home/lock screen widgets with Siri support.
A journalist testing Meta's Muse AI assistant on its new Mac app found it referencing contents of his Messages conversations, despite believing he hadn't granted access. When questioned, Muse gave a confused and inaccurate explanation, claiming it only saw notification previews synced through the paired Mac app. Meta executive David Singleton later clarified that Muse only accesses Messages data after a user explicitly opts in, and that the assistant's own explanation of its capabilities was simply wrong.
Android devices come with native options to block spam and scam numbers, typically accessible through the Phone or Contacts app. Users who change their mind can just as easily unblock a number using the same apps. The exact steps can vary slightly depending on the phone manufacturer's version of Android.
Apple's Series 12 smartwatch now samples heart rate every 5 seconds, up from every 5 minutes on prior models, and adds a Readiness app that scores recovery from 1-10 using HRV data. Paired with a redesigned Apple Health app in iOS 27 that presents stats more clearly, these updates are prompting at least one longtime WHOOP user to consider returning to Apple's ecosystem.
Programmer Yevhen Kharkivskyi has released Tasks.txt, a free Mac application built around Gina Trapani's todo.txt system. Instead of complex features, it organizes tasks into three simple sections—Next, Backlog, and Done—stored in a single text file and fully operable via keyboard shortcuts.