Author: Geek Planet

Meta is experimenting with a new feature that could turn its AI chatbot into a shopping assistant. The company is testing a shopping research tool inside Meta AI that suggests products when users ask for recommendations. According to Bloomberg, the feature is currently being tested with some users in the US who access Meta AI through a web browser. When asked for product ideas, the chatbot responds with a carousel of items. Each result fetches product images along with details such as the brand, price, and the website where the item is sold. Users can then follow links to the…

Good programmers have to be BFF’s with numbers. With this in mind, here’s this week’s Micro Softy. It’s tough and mathy. Choose any three-digit number, say 567, and repeat it: 567,567. Divide it by the prime numbers 13, then 11 and then 7. In each step, round to the nearest integer if necessary. The result will be the original three-digit number: 567. For example, · 567,567 divided by 13 is 43,659. · 43,659 divided by 11 is 3969, and · 3969 divided by 7 is 567 which is the original three-digit number. Wow. This works for any three-digit number. So…

Your most sensitive emails on Gmail now have a much better privacy lock on your phone. Google has officially started rolling out end-to-end encryption for Gmail to Android and iOS devices.  For the first time, eligible users on Android and iOS devices can compose and read encrypted emails natively, inside the Gmail app, without going through the hassle of downloading and installing third-party apps for the same.  How does E2EE work in Gmail for mobile? Gmail’s E2EE first arrived for desktop users in April 2025, marking its 21st birthday. The external recipient support was added later, in October 2025. Smartphones,…

Running out of storage is one of those problems that almost everybody understands, and almost nobody handles properly. Storage can almost never be enough, so some people keep paying for cloud space. Meanwhile, others keep promising that they will “sort it out later”. And a lot of people just end up deleting things when the warning gets too annoying. But Google’s upcoming Android feature could finally offer a better answer, with an automatic local backup to a PC. This functions wirelessly like a cloud storage service, but it is also free of charge since you’re using your own device. Android…

Apple’s iPhone 5C is apparently getting a second life, and this time it is not because it was a hidden gem that was slept on. In an NBC News segment, the network highlights a small but noticeable social media comeback for Apple’s old iPhone 5C. The sudden popularity is largely driven by Gen Z users who seem drawn to its colorful design, “throwback” camera quality, and overall retro charm. The story is less about raw utility and more about the vibes. So after the iPod, the colorful iPhone is the next to get a revival. Why Gen Z is suddenly…

After listening to users’ feedback, Google is starting to roll out a new round of updates to Gemini for Home. And this time around, the focus is simple: fix what’s been driving people crazy. In a recent tweet, Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer for Gemini for Home, said that the team has been “heads down working on improvements based on your feedback,” with a number of fixes and updates going live across Gemini for Home, the Google Home app, automations, and supported devices. Commands for rooms are finally smarter If you’ve ever said something like “turn off the kitchen” and…

Early in March, X (formerly Twitter) started testing a dedicated app called XChat among thousands of beta testers. It appears that the test phase is over and the app is ready for its public rollout. The Elon Musk-owned company has announced that XChat is now listed on the App Store, with a wide launch lined up in the coming days.  What’s the big play?  The chat app’s listing page on the App Store mentions a release date of April 17, and it will be available simultaneously for iPhone and iPad. As far as features go, the XChat app is advertising…

The global smartphone market just had a bit of a shake-up, and this time, it’s Apple sitting comfortably at the top. Yep, iPhones have officially taken the crown in early 2026, while Google’s Pixel lineup is quietly pulling off one of its best growth runs yet. iPhones take the top spot (for the first time ever in Q1) According to the latest data from Counterpoint Research, Apple grabbed the No.1 spot globally in Q1 2026, marking the first time it has ever led the market in a first quarter. The company held around 21% market share, edging past Samsung’s 20%,…

When I first got my hands on the Galaxy S26, my expectations were tempered from Samsung’s latest compact flagship. And these were well-founded for many reasons as I editorially trashed it in my review. The camera hardware feels stale, the charging speed is underwhelming, and for a phone that not starts for around $899, “safe” isn’t exactly a compliment. But still I was genuinely surprised that after spending more time with the Galaxy S26, it still hangs around in my pocket as my secondary phone. And in this time, I even grew quite found of it. Despite the various issues,…

If you’re a Mac power user, or someone who likes to push their iPhone with great apps, you must have come across Setapp. Launched by MacPaw, it’s a platform where you get access to over 200 macOS and iOS apps that are available as a subscription bundle. Think of it as a Netflix for apps, where you can get apps with a Setapp membership. Why does it matter? Now, the company is changing those plans. Setapp will now let you purchase individual apps as a one-time purchase, or even get a select bunch of them with a recurring subscription. “To…