Author: Geek Planet

New evidence found in iOS 26.3 beta 2 suggests that end-to-end encryption for RCS messages is nearing reality, nearly a year after Apple first announced its support for the feature. For iPhone users who chat with Android users, this could be a meaningful privacy upgrade. Apple currently supports RCS for richer cross-platform messaging, a feature that arrived with iOS 18. However, those chats still lack the same level of protection as iMessage. That means photos, videos, and texts sent over RCS are not encrypted end-to-end. The latest beta hints that Apple is finally laying the groundwork to change that, bringing…

Ahead of its expected launch in February 2026, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, along with the Galaxy S26 Plus, has been spotted on a popular benchmark database. I’m talking about Geekbench, which lists entries for the “SM-S948U” and the “SM-S942U,” both of which are believed to be the U.S. versions of the Ultra and the Plus models. As shared by the renowned tipster Ice Universe on X, the model number “SM-S48U” belongs to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The variant that underwent the CPU test featured 12GB of RAM and ran on Android 16. What’s interesting is that it featured an underclocked…

Turmoil from tariffs and pressure on margins are forcing some brands to play it safer this Cyber Week. While some companies are touting “bigger than ever” discounts for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, others are dialing back deals from the year before. The bag brand Caraa, for instance, is offering 25% off most of its selection, versus 30% off in 2024. Mercado Famous, a charcuterie brand under the same ownership, is also going down to 25%, from 30%. Petite Plume, a pajama and home brand, is offering 20% off almost everything, after offering 25% off last year. Black Friday and Cyber…

Google is finally testing a new feature that lets users change the username of their Gmail address. As mentioned in the recently updated support documentation, Google has begun rolling out an experimental feature that allows users to modify the first part of their email address, i.e., the one that comes before “@gmail.com.” The rollout has started quietly (there’s no official blog post or update), with India as the company’s first test market. Early sightings suggest that the feature is based on the Google account settings rather than Gmail. Finally, a fix for your embarrassing Gmail address While the experimental feature…

Call it an untraditional apology tour. In the days leading up to Black Friday, brands like Tower 28, JVN Hair and Material Kitchen have taken to social media to ask followers for forgiveness and to say “sorry.” The catch: They’re apologizing for their products being too good. “To everyone who started using Meltdown and suddenly stopped cancelling plans because of a breakout — we owe you an apology,” Blume Skincare wrote on Instagram earlier this month. “Our Drying Lotion is causing breakouts to pack their bags and leave overnight, which has reportedly caused shock, awe, and an unreasonable amount of compliments,” Mario Badescu said. “We are truly sorry…

If you’ve been eagerly waiting for the Galaxy Z Flip 8, hoping Samsung would upgrade the camera setup on the flip phone, there’s some bad news. According to Dutch publication Galaxy Club, the Flip 8 (which should launch alongside the Fold 8) will retain the same camera setup as the Flip 7. For those catching up, the Flip 7 features a dual-camera array on the back (or on its cover screen), comprising a 50MP (f/1.8) primary camera and a 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide camera. On the inner screen, the flip phone features a 10MP (f/2.2) selfie shooter. It ain’t broke, so…

A new research suggests that the way artificial intelligence thinks about us might be a little too optimistic. Researchers have found that popular AI models, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, tend to assume people are more rational and logical than they really are, especially in strategic thinking situations. That gap between how AI expects humans to behave and what people actually do could have implications for how these systems predict human decisions in economics and beyond. Testing AI against human thinking Researchers tested AI models including ChatGPT-4o and Claude-Sonnet-4 in a classic game theory setup called the Keynesian beauty…

In Graphic Detail: CMOs at a crossroads of power and proof Source link

OnePlus 15R MSRP $699.99 Released December 2025 “A huge battery, bold screen and refined software make the OnePlus 15R a great Android phone, but the price doesn’t undercut its big sibling enough to make it a true bargain.” Pros Huge battery Top-spec display Refined software Hardy build and display Cons Should be cheaper Cameras are uninspiring Instant insight If you were interested in buying the OnePlus 15 but would rather spend a little less money for a phone with a few choice downgrades, then the OnePlus 15R is ostensibly for you. But in a year when the best OnePlus phones…

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup is expected to launch late next month, with leaks pointing to modest upgrades across the board. The mid-tier Galaxy S26 Plus, however, could see the fewest changes, if recent reports are to be believed. Earlier this month, a certification listing of the device suggested that it may pack the same 4,900mAh battery as its predecessor. Now, a new report from The Elec indicates that the Galaxy S26 Plus could also retain the 6.66-inch QHD+ AMOLED screen used in the Galaxy S25 Plus. Sources familiar with Samsung’s plans told the publication that the company initially intended…