Author: Geek Planet

For years, Apple has set the naming conventions for the smartphone industry, and now, it has decided that ‘Pro’ no longer cuts it at the very top.  An exclusive report from Macworld claims that the company is expanding its Ultra branding beyond the Apple Watch and Mac chips: an iPhone Ultra and a MacBook Ultra are apparently on the cards. What exactly is the iPhone Ultra? Rumors about the iPhone Ultra or the company’s first foldable have been circulating online for quite some time. The report simply adds more weight to the name. But this also means that Apple won’t…

This republished article first appeared in Science and Culture Today There’s a longstanding debate over the intellectual capabilities of Homo erectus. As we’ve discussed before, below the neck erectus is highly similar to modern humans. It’s average brain size is lower than that of modern humans, but it’s still within the range of modern human genetic variation. In the past we’ve discussed the possibility that they used boats and engraved shells. The archaeological evidence is sparse, so there’s lots of room for speculation and disagreement. Now, a new paper in the journal Biological Theory, “Did Homo Erectus Have a (Vocal) Language?”, reviews “a comprehensive set of evidence in favor of vocal linguistic…

Nobody likes paying for a full year of app subscriptions upfront, especially when you’re not sure whether you’ll still be using them in a few months. Apple has heard that frustration, well, sort of.  The company has announced a new App Store subscription type: monthly billing at an annual equivalent price. Sounds amazing, right? But there’s a catch. Monthly billing is locked in for a 12-month commitment period.  What does the new subscription type actually offer? Instead of choosing between a relatively more expensive monthly plan or a discounted annual payment (that’s how most apps lure customers to go for…

When a customer service representative says, “I totally get your frustration,” it feels natural. When a chatbot says the same thing, something feels deeply off. Now, researchers have confirmed that gut feeling with actual data. As reported by Techxplore, a new study published in MIS Quarterly finds that when AI chatbots express empathy during a service failure, it can actually make things worse for customers, not better. Why does chatbot empathy backfire? The research team from McGill University, University of South Florida, and Hong Kong Baptist University ran three separate experiments, where participants interacted with a service chatbot that made…

If you track your sleep with an app, you are part of a growing crowd. A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology surveyed 1,002 adults in Norway and found that nearly half had used a sleep app at some point. Women and younger adults were the most frequent users. The findings paint a nuanced picture, though. These apps are not equally helpful for everyone, and for people already struggling with sleep, they might be doing more harm than good. What are the actual benefits of using a sleep app? For most users, the biggest win was simply learning more…

Framework isn’t just focused on its new Laptop 13 Pro. The company is also rolling out a solid set of updates to the Framework Laptop 16, which was one of the best laptops you can buy. The best part of the update is that Framework is addressing all the issues that past Framework 16 owners have been asking for since the laptop launched two years ago. The biggest quality-of-life upgrade is the new one-piece haptic touchpad. One of the trade-offs of the Laptop 16’s modular input system has been the visible seams around the touchpad area.  The new one-piece design…

The iPhone’s 20th anniversary is approaching fast, and we’re hearing some exciting updates about the new model. Leaks have been piling up around the 2027 iPhone, and the picture they paint is of a phone that looks nothing like anything Apple has made before. Earlier leaks from Digital Chat Station pointed to Apple working with Samsung on a subtly curved OLED panel that wraps around all four edges. Unlike the dramatic waterfall displays we have seen on Android phones over the years, Apple’s version was said to be far more restrained. Now, leaker Ice Universe has added something far more…

Samsung’s next wave of foldables may bring a charging upgrade that Galaxy users have been waiting on for years. Leaker Sonny Dickson has shared images of what are claimed to be dummy units for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, and Galaxy Z Flip 8, revealing circular rings on the back that suggest magnetic wireless charging support. For now, this should be treated as an early leak rather than confirmation. Dummy units are usually made to show size, layout, and accessory fit, so they do not always reveal the final internal hardware. Still, the rings are…

Framework has been quietly perfecting its modular laptop formula for six years, and the new Framework Laptop 13 Pro might be close to its final form. It’s a complete ground-up redesign that tackles the biggest complaints users have had, starting with battery life, and it doesn’t stop there. Does it really beat a MacBook Pro on battery? You read that right. Framework claims the Laptop 13 Pro lasts over 20 hours on Netflix 4K streaming. That’s 12 hours more than the previous Framework Laptop 13 and, impressively, slightly longer than Apple’s 14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro.  Apple claims up to…

The internet has found a new way to make your phone look guilty. Press its flashlight against a black trash bag, wait for the plastic to melt, and post the result like Samsung just shipped a pocket-sized laser cutter. Viral videos showing Samsung phones burning through plastic bags are doing the rounds again, and the latest wave is making the issue look far more dramatic than it is. A TikTok clip showing a Galaxy S25 FE flashlight burning through a thin black garbage bag has reportedly crossed 13 million views, but the stunt is hardly a new discovery. Similar clips…