GoKawiil
Tech News
A tech reporter spent a five-day vacation testing Apple's new iPhone Duo, a $2,000 loaner device, alongside a familiar iPhone 17 Pro Max as backup. Despite early frustrations with broken apps, unfamiliar gestures like Touch ID, and camera issues, the reporter ended up favoring the Duo over the trip's course and chose not to revert to the older phone.
Apple's eighth-generation iPad Mini now features an 8.5-inch OLED display, thinner bezels, and peak brightness up to 1,200 nits, though it remains capped at 60Hz refresh rate. The device runs on an A20 Pro chip, with 128GB and 256GB models getting five CPU cores and the 512GB version getting six, and includes an 'Acoustic Display' system with woofers built into the screen for improved bass. Pricing starts at $699 in starlight and midnight colors, with preorders open now and a release date of November 6th.
A tech guide outlines built-in macOS features Mac users can enable to boost privacy, including requiring a passcode or Touch ID to wake the laptop, managing app access to Location Services, camera and microphone, and controlling Wi-Fi auto-join behavior. It also highlights the built-in Firewall, which is off by default and can be switched on via System Settings to block unwanted network connections.
A writer who picked up Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo at the Fifth Avenue store describes using it for a day, noting trade-offs like Touch ID instead of Face ID, an under-display FaceTime camera, and limited app optimization. They argue these shortcomings are less disruptive than expected, and say app support has already improved since launch as developers update their software for consumers rather than early reviewers.
Apple has released detailed DIY repair manuals and safety guides for the newly launched iPhone Duo, covering component replacement procedures, battery and glass safety precautions, and internal diagrams. Genuine replacement parts for the device are not yet available through Apple's Self Service Repair Store, though the manuals are live now.
Apple has published a set of support documents to coincide with the iPhone Duo launch, addressing hinge troubleshooting, Touch ID, and case compatibility. One document lists fixes for hinge problems such as the device not closing fully, unusual noises, or a loose, bent, or broken hinge. Another explains a 'Shift Left Edge' display setting that adjusts the outer screen when a case partially covers it.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple is actively developing under-display Face ID technology and has built prototypes of a second-generation iPhone Duo featuring the system in its outer display. The current iPhone Duo uses Touch ID instead of Face ID, marking Apple's first return to fingerprint unlocking on a flagship-style iPhone since the 2022 iPhone SE. Gurman also cited the iPhone 18 Pro's smaller Dynamic Island as evidence of Apple's broader push to hide components beneath displays.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported on his Power On podcast that Apple is internally testing iPhone Duo 2 prototypes featuring Face ID, with the sensor placed beneath the outer display. He also said employees are exploring adding an Action button to the next-generation foldable, though he expressed less confidence about that feature shipping.
A developer published a tutorial explaining how Mac users can generate SSH authentication keys stored in the Secure Enclave rather than as traditional key files. The process uses three terminal commands, requires Touch ID verification, and includes steps for linking the resulting key to GitHub for git-over-ssh use.
Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo lacks a telephoto lens, has a lower-resolution front camera than recent iPhones, and drops the variable aperture found on the iPhone 18 Pro. It also uses Touch ID on the side button instead of Face ID and omits the Action Button, while many third-party apps have yet to be updated for its foldable screen at launch.
OpenAI has rolled out a Locked Chats feature letting users secure specific ChatGPT conversations with a four-digit PIN or Face ID/Touch ID. Locked conversations are moved to a separate section hidden from regular chat history, pinned chats and search results, and can be revisited later, unlike Temporary Chats which vanish entirely.
Apple has launched its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, featuring a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display with a nano-texture finish and minimal crease. The device drops Face ID in favor of Touch ID on the power button, includes dual rear cameras, and runs a redesigned version of iOS 27 built around the folding form factor. Pricing starts at $1,999 for the base 256GB model.