iOS 27 adds a settings option letting users replace the iMessage waveform icon—used to start voice recordings—with a microphone icon for dictation, or remove the button entirely. The change addresses a common complaint about accidentally tapping the button while typing, which triggers a voice recording and stops any playing music. Singer Justin Bieber had drawn attention to the issue in a viral Instagram post criticizing the button's placement.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-22
ChatGPT's mobile app now includes a dedicated feature under its Images tab that lets users generate custom stickers by picking a style, reference photos, and emoji prompts. The tool produces a set of nine stickers that can be exported directly into iMessage or WhatsApp, with options to edit or regenerate results if they don't match expectations.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-20
Google is rolling out a new Connected App in the Gemini desktop client for Mac that lets the assistant read, search, and send iMessages using an @messages command. The feature appeared in version 1.116.5.889 under Settings > Connected Apps, though the server-side component isn't fully active yet, so the command isn't recognized in prompts as of now. This follows last week's launch of the Gemini app on Windows.
9to5google.com
· 2026-09-18
Some iPhone users are encountering a 'Not Delivered' error when sending messages through Apple's Messages app. The issue can stem from the app juggling three separate messaging protocols—iMessage, RCS, and SMS—which can cause confusion when a message fails to route correctly between iPhone and Android users.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13
Apple confirmed that iOS 27, launching September 14, will ship without two previously demoed features: Messages suggestions that add items to Reminders, Notes, or Calendar, and an automatic password-fixing tool in the Passwords app. Apple updated its website this week to note both will arrive in a 'future software update' rather than at launch, with the change also affecting iPadOS 27 and macOS 27.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-11
A YouGov survey found that 34 percent of U.S. adults under 30 belong to at least four group chats, with 3 percent managing more than 20 separate threads across text and messaging apps. The report frames this as evidence that group chats have become the default tool for organizing nearly every social interaction, from book clubs to family reunions.
wired.com
· 2026-08-30
OpenAI has launched a new ChatGPT feature that converts uploaded photos into stickers with transparent backgrounds, letting users remix images, apply styles, or generate packs from prompts. Finished stickers can be exported directly to iMessage or WhatsApp, saved to a photo library, though WhatsApp requires a minimum of three stickers per export due to Meta's platform rules.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-08-24
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