Latest news with #customization
Geeky Gadgets
3 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
You WON'T Believe What iOS 26 Is Doing!
Apple's iOS 26 introduces a comprehensive suite of updates aimed at improving customization, usability, and performance. With the second beta release now available, Apple continues to refine its mobile operating system, offering users a more seamless and personalized experience. Below is an in-depth look at the most notable features and enhancements in iOS 26. The video below from iReviews gives us more details on iOS 26. Watch this video on YouTube. Advanced Lock Screen Customization iOS 26 takes lock screen personalization to the next level, allowing users to place widgets at the top or bottom of the screen. This flexibility enables you to create a layout that suits your preferences and enhances accessibility, especially for one-handed use. Whether you prioritize quick access to weather updates, calendar events, or fitness stats, this feature ensures that essential information is always within easy reach. Proactive Liquid Detection Alerts A standout safety feature in iOS 26 is the new liquid detection alert. If moisture is detected in the charging port, your device will emit an audible alarm—even when in silent mode. This proactive measure helps protect your device from potential damage by making sure you are immediately aware of the issue. It's a practical addition that underscores Apple's focus on device longevity and user safety. Streamlined Missed Call Management The Phone app now makes managing missed calls more intuitive. With a simple swipe on a missed call, you can set a reminder to follow up later. This small yet impactful feature simplifies communication management, making sure you never overlook an important call or forget to respond. Enhanced Photo Search and Navigation The Photos app has been upgraded with improved search functionality, allowing you to limit searches to specific albums or collections. This makes locating images faster and more efficient. Additionally, smoother animations enhance navigation within the app, and the syncing status is now displayed under the 'Library' section, providing greater transparency and control over your photo library. Type to Siri During Calls iOS 26 introduces the ability to type to Siri during phone calls, a feature designed for situations where speaking aloud isn't practical. Whether you're in a quiet environment or need to maintain discretion, this update ensures Siri remains accessible and functional in all contexts. Customizable Messaging Backgrounds Messaging receives a visual upgrade with the option to customize backgrounds for SMS, RCS, and iMessage conversations. This feature allows you to create unique aesthetics for different chats, adding a personal touch to your messaging experience. Whether you prefer vibrant colors or subtle designs, the choice is yours. Strengthened Privacy and Security Controls Privacy and security remain a top priority in iOS 26. A new 'Wired Accessories' section in the settings menu provides enhanced control over connected devices. This feature allows you to manage trust preferences for accessories, reinforcing Apple's commitment to safeguarding user data and making sure secure connections. Clearer Battery Usage Insights The battery usage interface has been redesigned with color-coded indicators for easier interpretation. These visuals offer a detailed breakdown of your usage patterns, helping you identify areas where you can conserve battery life. This update provides a more intuitive way to monitor and manage your device's power consumption. Refinements in the Maps App The Maps app has undergone subtle yet meaningful changes. The 'Library' section has been renamed to 'Places', aligning the app's terminology with its functionality. This adjustment simplifies navigation and enhances the overall user experience, making it easier to organize and access saved locations. Performance and Efficiency Improvements iOS 26 delivers noticeable performance enhancements, with higher Geekbench scores in both single-core and multi-core tests compared to its predecessor. These improvements translate to faster app launches, smoother multitasking, and overall better responsiveness. While battery life remains stable, further optimizations are expected in future updates, making sure a balance between performance and efficiency. Release Schedule The third beta of iOS 26 is expected to arrive on July 7, followed by the first public beta on July 14. These upcoming releases will likely include additional refinements and provide a clearer picture of the system's full capabilities. For those eager to explore the new features, these dates mark key milestones in the rollout process. iOS 26: A User-Focused Update iOS 26 represents a thoughtful evolution of Apple's mobile operating system. From enhanced lock screen customization to improved privacy settings, the updates cater to a diverse range of user needs. As the beta progresses, further refinements are anticipated, solidifying iOS 26 as a robust and user-friendly update. Whether you're drawn to its practical enhancements or its focus on personalization, iOS 26 offers something for everyone. Master iOS 26 features with the help of our in-depth articles and helpful guides. Source & Image Credit: iReviews Filed Under: Gadgets News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Phone Arena
13 hours ago
- Phone Arena
Android might be getting this iPhone feature you didn't know you needed when you make calls
Google may be working on a new feature for Android that looks a lot like Apple's Contact Posters in iOS 17. A recent APK teardown of the Google Contacts app reveals code suggesting an upcoming feature called 'calling cards.' While still under development, these calling cards appear to be designed for customizing how you appear when calling someone. The clues were first shared by Android Authority. In version 4.55 of the Google Contacts app, new strings were found that mention using an image as both a contact photo and a calling card. This doesn't give away much, but it hints at a feature that links a profile image to a more personalized call screen. More interestingly, other parts of the code point to support for full-screen images and custom fonts. These features are similar to Apple's Contact Posters, which allow iPhone users to personalize how their name and photo appear on someone else's screen during a call. Apple's feature also ties into NameDrop, a way to share contact info just by holding phones close together. Apple Contact Poster. | Image credit — PhoneArena In Google's case, additional references in Google Play Services mention syncing calling cards to the cloud, and managing them across devices. This could mean that users might be able to set up a card once and use it across different Android devices. If this feature becomes official, it could bring a more modern and visual experience to Android's call interface. Many users already have profile photos linked to their Google accounts, so extending that image into calls could be a simple way to bring some personality to a screen that has mostly remained unchanged. Still, it's important to keep expectations in check. APK teardowns can reveal features in progress, but they don't confirm if or when these features will be released. Google has not announced or confirmed anything about calling cards yet. That said, adding calling cards to Android would make sense. It would offer a small but noticeable improvement to how calls look and feel, especially for those who want to show a little more of their identity. And with iOS already offering something similar, it wouldn't be surprising if Google followed suit. But for now, we'll have to wait and see what this feature actually turns into. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Motor 1
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Want Your Own Custom Supercar? This Company Will Build It
Supercars are expensive, and more often than not, you're limited to one powertrain option and one body style, with very little wiggle room for full-on customization. That is, unless you're willing to throw an obscene amount of money at a company like Ferrari or Lamborghini. But a British engineering firm wants to make that process a bit easier—and, hopefully, a bit cheaper, too. A company called Dash Bespoke—a spinoff of Dash, an engineering firm that's been working in racing since 2006—will build you a custom supercar virtually from the ground up. Using its TR01 carbon fiber monocoque chassis, which debuted in 2023, buyers will be able to pick and choose from a variety of powertrains, custom body styles, interiors, and more. Photo by: Dash Bespoke The TR01 platform, Dash notes, is lightweight, stiff, and completely Euro NCAP compliant—which means it is road legal in the UK. It works with batteries and V-8s alike, and customers can spec it to become a road-going supercar, hypercar, or a custom race car. The first customer-built supercar based on Dash's TR01 platform will debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this summer. The so-called "SlipStream" will have a mid-engined V-8 built by Hartley in New Zealand (the same company responsible for the Nilu27 's engine), with bespoke carbon fibre subframes, a light alloy suspension, and hydraulic dampers from Nitron. "Bringing a bespoke or low-volume performance vehicle to life is a monumental undertaking," says Dash CEO Tim Robathan. Photo by: Dash Bespoke "Whether it's an OEM motorsport project or a niche hypercar, the engineering, manufacturing, and assembly challenges and associated risks are high. For many brands and visionaries, these obstacles can halt progress and project viability. That is why we have established Dash Bespoke." Dash doesn't say how much your dream custom supercar will cost you. We can't imagine it's cheap. But given the existing platform and Dash's engineering expertise, it's still likely a far more affordable option than going to Ferrari. And far more customizable, too. Check Out These Stories America's Beautiful, Forgotten Hypercars There Are Too Many Hypercars Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Android Authority
a day ago
- Android Authority
Is Google readying a rival to iOS' Contact Poster? (APK teardown)
Apple TL;DR We've spotted clues that indicate Google is working on a 'calling card' feature for Android. The feature may allow for full-screen images and custom fonts for incoming calls. Speculatively, it could be similar to iOS' Contact Posters, enabling users to personalize their call display. Google and Apple frequently look at each other's operating systems for inspiration on what next to bring to their own. We've seen iOS copy features like widgets, free app icon placement on the home screen, and more from Android. On the other hand, we've spotted Google working on features like Handoff, which are a page out of Apple's book. We've now spotted clues for an in-development 'calling card' feature, which could potentially become Android's answer to iOS' Contact Posters. Authority Insights story on Android Authority. Discover You're reading anstory on Android Authority. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release. What we know about 'Calling Cards' The Google Contacts app has slowly built up code for a 'calling card' feature over the past few releases. For instance, v4.55 of the app adds the following strings: Code Copy Text Picture and calling card Set this image as both a contact picture and calling card This string alone doesn't give many clues about what is happening, other than letting us know that users will be set an image as a contact picture and a calling card. The string name suggests the image comes from the calling card itself, so you'd be setting the calling card as the contact picture. The real 'aha!' moment came from a new Calling Card activity, where we spotted 'CallingCardFontData' and 'CallingCardFullScreenImageData.' This is where things get exciting: custom fonts and full-screen images. Sound familiar? AssembleDebug / Android Authority We have to dig into Google Play Services for the next set of clues. We've seen code related to saving calling cards to the cloud and syncing them to the device: AssembleDebug / Android Authority These strings also do not tell us what a Calling Card is, but they tell us that calling cards can be created, deleted, updated, synced, and more. Unfortunately, we don't have a definitive answer on what the upcoming Calling Cards feature within Google Contacts could be, and what it could do. So, what exactly are these 'calling cards,' then? While Google's apps remain tight-lipped about their exact functionality, the clues point to them potentially being Android's answer to iOS 17's delightful Contact Posters. iOS 17's Contact Posters With iOS 17, Apple introduced a new feature called Contact Posters, which are full-screen photos that appear whenever you call a known contact. Users can set their photo, personalize it with filters, and set the font and font color for their name. The next time the user calls a known contact, the receiver will see the user's set Contact Poster. Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority The Contact Poster also works with the NameDrop feature, which allows users to quickly share their contact information through AirDrop by bringing their devices close together. Apple Overall, the Contact Poster feature changed the dynamic of setting contact photos, a task that most of us never really bother with. Instead of you setting contact photos for all the contacts on your phone, each person can set it for themselves as they see fit and share it with you. This way, you have updated photos for your iPhone-using contacts, and you can still set a custom profile photo for them if you want to. Could 'Calling cards' be Google's answer to iOS' Contact Poster? Contact Poster beats having boring and blank incoming call screens, adding to the experience of owning and using an iPhone. Speculatively, clues like font information and full-screen images for Google's Calling Cards feature add weight to the possibility that this is the experience Google could also be building for Android users. Most of us have already set a photo for our Google account, and syncing this information with our contacts would be an easy way to bring Contact Poster-like functionality to Android. It is worth reiterating that we still don't know what Google Contact's Calling Cards are. It is a fair possibility that they turn out to be something else entirely. Google has also not announced anything yet about them. We'll watch for more clues about the feature and update you when we learn more. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Mira Murati's Startup Might Rival OpenAI, Anthropic
Heads with colorful cubes as a symbol of mentoring and psychotherapy. People are talking about a new startup that's poised to offer detailed custom services around LLMs. Thinking Labs, according to news from The Information and other sources, will look to offer clients customized AI platforms based on KPIs and other business intelligence, using reinforcement learning. That sounds like big news in the current context, where there's a big need for any detailed implementations that can be customized for a business. So with all of the brouhaha around Thinking Labs, who is its fearless leader? Because since the news is so scant around the business itself, any context that you get as a reporter would have to deal with Murati's past career moves. Murati's Background So with that said, what do we know about Mira Murati? She's from Albania, born in 1988, and has significant experience at both OpenAI and Tesla. She also has a mechanical engineering degree from Dartmouth College. As CTO at OpenAI, Murati led the development, deployment, and scaling of flagship products like ChatGPT and DALL·E. Then she actually became temporary CEO during Altman's ouster. So it makes sense, given the potential business rivalry, to ask: what is her connection to Sam Altman? A post from The Decoder in 2024 shows Murati has publicly denied conflict with Altman, calling the board's decision to fire him 'perplexing' and claiming that herself and others worked to get him back. Famously, Altman was rather quickly reinstated, to continue leading OpenAI into the future, while writing some pretty cogent essays on AI which I've covered recently. As for the connection between Musk and Murati, since she also worked at Tesla, I'll cite another Inc. piece from last June titled: 'Open AI's Pushback of Elon Musk's Criticism Shows How to Defend Your Company Reputation.' 'Mira Murati, OpenAI's chief technology officer, knows more than Musk does about how her company's systems work,' wrote tech reporter Kit Eaton. 'Using carefully chosen words in a speech, she made that very clear.' I thought Eaton's characterization of Musk's challenge, and the resulting pushback, was pretty well written, even though it sounds a little sensationalized at the end: 'Normally bearish on AI tech, Musk swore he'd ban Apple devices from his companies if OpenAI tech was integrated at a deep level, and even warned the public in an X posting he thought Apple was 'selling you down the river' with 'creepy spyware.' OpenAI's CTO has now addressed Musk's outrage, and her words put Musk in his place.' Anyway, this serves to illustrate how, at the helm, Murati had to address Musk's input. Aside from that, there don't seem to be a lot of public examples of anything significantly interesting happening between the two prominent tech people (Murati and Musk, that is.) Ok, enough tea. But again, the reason that people will be looking into Mira Murati goes as follows: 1. Thinking Labs will be a big player. 2. There's a dearth of public information about Thinking Labs and what it is doing. 3. Our ability to contextualize rests with Murati's past job experience as a pro at both rival firms, with two tech moguls who later had words. Why Does This Matter So Much? Not to put too fine a point on it, but the reason that tech news will be covering this in the first place is that today is the era of microservices, and of services in general. In another post, I covered how my friend and colleague Dave Blundin was talking about digital services needing technical support, with the promise of an AI Internet evolving. He specifically mentioned CRM, as an example. That made sense to me: too many vendors are selling 'Cadillac' CRM systems that are not sufficiently customized to what the firm needs. If this customization can be automated – the result is anybody's guess, really. That said, I believe that Thinking Labs is probably going to be on the vanguard along with its rivals in offering the hundreds of thousands of companies across the U.S. tools to compete in today's business world, which now often seems to have been injected with AI adrenaline. And we're seeing a kind of all-or-nothing consolidation playing out across the tech industry: a few special firms (like OpenAI) are going to reap the fruits of the universal move toward AI-native systems. Keep an eye out for Thinking Labs and other dark horse companies as the race continues.
