Author: Geek Planet

Apple is adding encrypted RCS to messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users with iOS 26.5, but the useful detail is what you’ll see when protection is actually active. The support is in the iOS 26.5 release candidate for developers and public testers, where Apple lists it as a beta. That matters because access depends on supported carriers and a gradual rollout, so installing the update won’t automatically mean every cross-platform chat is protected. For mixed iPhone and Android conversations, the lock indicator becomes the thing to watch. Without that signal, users shouldn’t assume the privacy upgrade has reached their…

Google’s next flagship lineup is still months away, but leaks are already flowing. Between credible tips, CAD renders, and info unearthed while digging through Android 17 beta code, we now have a surprisingly detailed picture of what the Pixel 11 series could look like. That includes details about the upgraded Tensor G6 chip and its new MediaTek modem, the “Pixel Glow” RGB LED replacing the thermometer, and new camera sensors across the lineup. This is your one-stop hub for everything leaked, rumored, and reported about the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.…

A recent security incident involving Anthropic has highlighted just how fragile the safeguards around advanced AI systems can be. A Wired report suggests that a small group of users, operating through private Discord channels, managed to gain unauthorized access to the company’s highly restricted Mythos AI model – an experimental system designed for cybersecurity applications. A Breach That Exposes Bigger Risks Around AI Control The incident appears to have occurred almost immediately after Mythos was made available to a limited group of trusted partners. According to multiple reports, the unauthorized users gained access through a third-party vendor environment, rather than…

HAL Joins the Hive Mind In the previous review, the Russian ship was fleeing Jupiter. It turns out this was just in the nick of time because, as they are flying away, the planet begins to implode. The crew watches Jupiter grow smaller until it explodes, sending shockwaves through the ship. When the crew is able to look back at Jupiter again, they see that it has turned into a mini sun. I have no idea how a bunch of monoliths eating the gases making up the planet is supposed to create a sun, and neither the book nor the…

Face ID under the display is finally real, and it’s not from Apple. Metalenz has developed the technology that lets facial recognition work from under the display.  The notch. The punch-hole cutout. The Dynamic Island. Every phone maker has a different name for it, but they all share the same problem. There’s a big chunk cut out of your display to make the facial recognition work. Metalenz might have just solved that. At Display Week in Los Angeles, the company is demonstrating Polar ID working under a fully powered-on OLED display. There’s no cutout, and it’s totally secure.  Why is…

Microsoft is rolling out a major overhaul of its Windows Insider Program, aiming to simplify how early Windows features are tested while addressing long-standing user complaints around complexity and control. The update marks one of the biggest structural changes to the program in years, signaling a shift in how Microsoft wants to collaborate with its testing community. A Simpler Insider Program Built Around Feedback And Control The revamped program introduces a streamlined structure, reducing multiple Insider channels into two primary ones: Beta and Experimental. This replaces the earlier, more fragmented system that included Dev, Canary, and Release Preview channels, which…

Samsung is always pushing the boundaries of what a display could do. Earlier this year, the company released its flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra with a Privacy Display that turns off wide-angle pixels, limiting the viewing angle so no one can snoop on your phone.  Now, the company has showcased a display technology that could make your next smartphone a surprisingly capable health monitoring device. At Display Week 2026 in Los Angeles, the company unveiled its latest Sensor OLED Display, a 6.8-inch panel that integrates health sensors directly into the display itself.  It can measure biometric data such as heart rate…

Samsung’s new Snapdragon-powered laptop has just leaked in full, blending some premium specs and ARM power. But it’s not quite shaping up to be the MacBook Neo-style disruptor that I would’ve liked. A fresh listing and leaked renders for the Galaxy Book 6 Edge give us a near-complete picture of what Samsung is building. Although the only problem is that the overall direction is pretty familiar. Why this isn’t a new entry-level Samsung laptop Just like its predecessor, the Galaxy Book 6 Edge takes a spot between the Pro and base variant with the Snapdragon X2 Elite. This is Qualcomm’s…

AI has already increased the cost of RAM and SSDs, driving up prices for most consumer electronics, including smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, and PCs. Instead of getting a reprieve, consumers might see another price hike, thanks to the conflict in the Middle East.  As reported by Reuters, the ongoing Iran war has disrupted supplies of a critical raw material used in printed circuit boards (PCBs), the backbone of almost every electronic device you own, from your iPhone to AI servers. The trouble started in early April when Iran struck Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical complex, halting production of high-purity PPE resin,…

If you have a scrolling problem, you’ve probably tried every productivity app. App timers, grayscale mode, deleting the apps entirely, only to reinstall them twenty minutes later. None of it works because willpower alone is a terrible strategy. Cat Gatekeeper has a better idea. Instead of guilt-tripping you, it sends a chubby ginger cat to physically take over your screen when you’ve spent too much time on social media, and I love it. How does it work? The setup is simple. Install the Chrome extension, set your usage limit, and set your break time. Once you hit your limit on…