This happened today

Aptoide Alternative App Store Launches in the EU With Access to Older Versions of Games.

iPhone and iPad users in the European Union now have access to another alternative app store with the official launch of Aptoide, a gaming marketplace. Aptoide has been around for quite some time as an app marketplace on Android devices, but the company began working on an iOS marketplace when Apple added support for sideloading apps last year. ...

Facebook is about to mass delete a lot of old live streams.

Facebook will start deleting users’ live broadcast recordings after 30 days starting on February 19th. Users who go live after that date must download the videos to save them from getting deleted before their 30-day expiration period ends. Alternatively, you could share the recordings to your profile as Reels, although that means fitting clips into that format’s 90-second time limit. ...

From ChatGPT to Gemini: how AI is rewriting the internet.

Big players, including Microsoft, with Copilot, Google, with Gemini, and OpenAI, with GPT-4o, are making AI chatbot technology previously restricted to test labs more accessible to the general public. How do these large language model (LLM) programs work? OpenAI’s GPT-3 told us that AI uses “a series of autocomplete-like programs to learn language” and that these programs analyze “the statistical properties of the language” to “make educated guesses based on the words you’ve typed previously. ...

Google Meet’s AI transcripts will automatically create action items for you.

Google Meet’s Gemini-powered note-taking feature is getting a bit more useful for Workspace teams. It will now generate a checklist of suggested next steps at the end of your meetings, going as far as assigning due dates and attaching a primary stakeholder to the task. The note-taking feature was initially launched in August last year. ...

Amazon scraps its TikTok-style Inspire feed.

Amazon has discontinued Inspire, its TikTok-like feed featuring photos and videos of products, as reported earlier by TechCrunch. In a statement to The Verge, Amazon spokesperson Maxine Tagay said the company “regularly evaluate[s] various features to better align with what customers tell us matters most, and as part of that, Inspire is no longer available. ...

GTA VI: all the news on Rockstar’s next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series.

GTA 6 artwork | Image: Rockstar Games It’s been a decade and two console generations since the release of GTA V. But that time’s over. Rockstar announced that it would reveal the game’s first trailer on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023, at 6AM PT / 9AM ET. Unfortunately, an early leak prompted the company to release the trailer more than half a day earlier than planned, revealing Grand Theft Auto VI will bring the series back to Vice City, and it showed off a new protagonist, Lucia. ...

Rockstar’s working on bringing Roblox creators to GTA VI.

With GTA VI looming over the fall 2025 release schedule, a new report from Digiday claims that Rockstar is going all-in on user-generated content. According to the report, the developer is having discussions with Fortnite, Roblox, and GTA creators about making “custom experiences” inside what’s shaping up to be the biggest gaming release since the last Grand Theft Auto game launched way (way) back in 2013. ...

iPhone 17 Lineup Rumored to Support Up to 35W Charging Speeds.

Those hoping for significantly faster wired charging speeds with the iPhone 17 lineup this year might be disappointed, if the latest rumor is true. A render of the iPhone 17 Pro's alleged camera design In a note with investment firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all support up to 35W wired charging speeds. ...

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame.

Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models. In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all be equipped with aluminum frames. ...

iPhone SE 4's Specs Could Lead to Enhanced Resale Value.

Apple is expected to announce the fourth-generation iPhone SE as soon as tomorrow, potentially with improved long-term value retention, according to analysis by SellCell. Despite its lower price point, the ‌iPhone SE‌ has historically struggled with resale value compared to Apple's higher end smartphones. ...

It’s clearly time: all the news about the transparent tech renaissance.

The new see-through Beats Studio buds along with other transparent tech. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Gadgets, much like fashion, can make style comebacks. For tech: we’ve lived through the ’80s beige keyboards, transitioned to the ’90s with gray and black plastic video game systems plus bright colors for Sony’s Walkman and Nintendo’s Game Boy handhelds, and then, at the turn of the millennium, welcomed the amazing see-through iMacs, N64 controllers, and other gadgets with clear casings. ...

How to watch Annapurna’s publisher showcase on February 24.

Annapurna Interactive is holding a games showcase on February 24. It streams live at 12PM ET via the company’s YouTube page. The publisher has released a short teaser video to hold us over until Monday. This is the first event Annapurna Interactive has held since the entire staff, including the executives, resigned from the company last year. ...

Acer is the first to raise laptop prices because of Trump.

Acer CEO and chairman Jason Chen says your laptop will cost an extra 10 percent in the United States next month — and that his rivals might attempt price gouging if they think you’ll pay even more. “We think 10pc probably will be the default price increase because of the import tax. It’s very straightforward,” he told The Telegraph, referring to President Trump’s 10 percent tariff on incoming goods from China. ...

US tariffs: how Trump’s tax is hitting Big Tech and beyond.

President Donald Trump has announced that he’s imposing a tariff on goods from some of the US’s biggest trade partners: Canada, Mexico, and China. Under the executive orders signed on February 1st, Canada and Mexico will face a 25 percent tariff, while goods from China will be subject to a 10 percent tax. ...

Longer-lasting laptops: the modular hardware you can upgrade and repair yourself.

When it comes to improving the sustainability of consumer electronics, there’s a growing movement to design devices with a focus on upgradability and repairability that can extend their longevity, instead of just making them easier to recycle after a few years of use. At one time, nearly every laptop maker was caught up in a race to create ultrathin designs, resulting in hardware that was difficult to upgrade and expensive to repair. ...

Apps That Didn't Add 'Trader' Contact Info in the EU Removed From App Store.

Apps that have not complied with the trader requirement in the European Union have been removed from the App Store, Apple informed developers today. The apps that have been removed will not be allowed back in the ‌App Store‌ until trader status is provided and verified by Apple. Disclosing trader status is a requirement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) in the EU. ...

Meta just scheduled a generative AI conference called LlamaCon for April 29.

Meta just announced its first-ever LlamaCon, a dev conference dedicated to generative AI. It’s scheduled for April 29. Why the llama-based naming convention? The company titled the event after its family of generative AI models. Meta promises to “share the latest on our open source AI developments to help developers do what they do best: build amazing apps and products. ...

Nomad Launches New 240W ChargeKey USB-C Cable.

Nomad today announced the launch of an updated version of its ChargeKey portable charger, with the new model gaining support for 240W charging and 10Gb/s data transfer speeds. The USB-C to USB-C ChargeKey can fast charge an iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, Android device, and more at up to 240W. The prior version of the ChargeKey was limited to 60W charging speeds and USB 2. ...

Acer to raise prices by 10 percent following President Trump's tariffs.

Acer laptops are getting a price hike in the US come March. In an interview with The Telegraph, Acer's chief executive and chairman Jason Chen announced a 10 percent increased cost for all products due to President Trump's tariffs on China.  His straightforward statement is one of the first clear cause and effects of Trump's import taxes. ...

Amazon's New iPad Sale Has Up to $200 Off M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air.

Today we're tracking a few iPad discounts on Amazon, including low prices on the M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro. These deals include multiple all-time low prices on Apple's tablets, matching the prices we tracked over the holiday season in many cases. M2 iPad Air Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. ...

Someone squeezed an iPhone SE 3 into a Nokia Lumia 1020, and it looks amazing.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 is back, well, sort of. An enterprising tech enthusiast (and Redditor) has stuffed the innards of an Apple iPhone SE 3 into a Lumia 1020 case to create something called the “NokiApple LumiPhone 1020 SE." This is a fully-functioning smartphone that, more importantly, looks really awesome. ...

Mastering the Mac App Switcher: Essential Tips and Hidden Tricks.

Most long-time macOS users will be aware of the Application Switcher. It's invoked using the Command+Tab keyboard shortcut, and lists all of the apps currently running on your Mac, enabling you to quickly switch between them. In this article, we'll run through the Mac App Switcher's most basic functions, and then highlight some of our favorite lesser-known App Switcher tricks that you're bound to find useful once you're familiar with it. ...

Nintendo is killing its Gold Points loyalty program.

In 2018, Nintendo introduced Gold Points, which were earned when you purchased Switch games, either physical cartridges or digitally from the Nintendo eShop. While you needed many purchases to redeem something substantial, you still saved a few dollars regardless if you get a cheaper title or something more expensive. ...

X temporarily blocked users from sharing links to Signal.

It appears X (formerly Twitter) users can once again send Signal.me links, two days after the blog Disruptionist first reported a block. The platform wasn't allowing links of the URL used by encrypted messaging service Signal — it allows people to quickly contact others directly. It came as Elon Musk takes aim at federal workers and organizations, through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). ...

Samsung's Digital Key technology now works with Volvo and Polestar EVs.

Owners of a Volvo EX90 or Polestar 3 may soon be able to unlock and start their electric vehicle with a Samsung Galaxy phone. Samsung is rolling out Digital Key support for Polestar's SUV in North America, Europe and Asia starting this month. EX90 drivers in those regions and Latin America will get access to the feature in the coming days too. ...

EU might impose further regulation on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp may face greater regulation in the European Union thanks to an increase in users on its open channels. The platform announced Friday that these feeds for news sources, public figures and more averaged approximately 46.8 million users in the EU during the last half of 2024. This increase in users means WhatsApp's open channels, akin to a social network, now qualify as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). ...

iPhone 17 Said to Miss Out on iPhone 17 Pro's Rumored Camera Bar.

The rear cameras on iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to be housed in a new rectangular bar with rounded corners. A similar design change has also been rumored for the iPhone 17 Air, but the lowest-end iPhone 17 might miss out. The standard iPhone 16 According to Jon Prosser, who runs YouTube channel Front Page Tech, the standard iPhone 17 will have the same overall design as the standard iPhone 16. ...

One of our favorite budget robot vacuums is 44 percent off right now.

The eufy RoboVac 11S Max is one of our favorite budget robot vacuums, and it’s now 44 percent off at Amazon, making it only $140. This affordable robot vacuum from a few years back can still trade blows against newer models even without Wi-Fi connectivity. The 11S Max has three power modes — Standard, BoostIQ and Max, and the company claims a noise level of around 55 dB. ...

AirPods 4 Available for Low Price of $148.99 on Amazon.

Amazon this week has introduced a coupon for the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, bringing the price of the earbuds down to $148.99, down from $179.00. To see the sale price, you'll just need to clip the coupon on the sale page and then head to checkout. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. ...

xAI launches Grok 3 AI, claiming it is capable of 'human reasoning'.

xAI has launched its Grok 3 models during a livestream with Elon Musk, who said they were "an order of magnitude more capable than Grok 2." The Grok 3 mini model can answer questions quickly, but it's not as accurate as the other models in the family. Meanwhile, the Grok 3 Reasoning and Grok 3 mini Reasoning models are capable of mimicking human-like reasoning when it comes to analyzing information the user needs. ...

Nanoleaf Lowers Prices for Shapes, Lines, Skylight and More With New 'SmarterLife' Initiative.

Nanoleaf today announced the launch of a SmarterLife Pricing Initiative that will see the company permanently lowering the prices on all of its most popular products. Nanoleaf is aiming to make smart lighting more accessible to customers, with lower costs for the Shapes, Lines, Elements, Blocks, and Skylight modular lighting options. ...

Grab the ThermoWorks Thermapen One while it's on sale for $79.

We’ve long been fans of ThermoWorks’ instant-read thermometers for grilling and all kinds of cooking, and now you can get our favorite for one of the best prices we’ve seen. Engadget readers can pick up the Thermapen One for only $79 right now thanks to an exclusive deal that knocks $30 off the normal price. ...

Spotify could offer its long-awaited HiFi audio tier as a $6 add-on later this year.

Spotify is rolling out a Music Pro tier later this year that will give users access to higher-quality audio and remixing tools, according to Bloomberg. The tier will reportedly cost users $6 per month on top of their $12 Premium subscription, but they'll be priced differently across regions and will be cheaper in less-developed markets. ...

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air to Feature Same OLED Panel as Current iPhone 16 Pro Models.

All iPhone 17 models in Apple's upcoming flagship iPhone 17 series will use Samsung's high performance "M14" OLED display panel, according to the Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital. Samsung's "M" series of OLED panels are made for flagship smartphones, while "14" refers to the number of high-performance materials used to produce them. ...

DJI's Osmo Mobile 7P gimbal can track you around on any Android or iOS camera app.

DJI has unveiled two new smartphone gimbals, the Osmo Mobile 7 and 7P, with the latter offering native app tracking on both Android and iOS thanks to its "Multifunctional Module." That feature is clearly designed to rival Insta360's Flow 2 Pro, which until yesterday only offered native app tracking on iPhones via Apple's Dockkit. ...

xAI Launches Grok-3 AI Model, Claims Superior Performance Over GPT-4.

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI on Tuesday announced Grok-3, and Musk is making some bold claims. The new AI model is said to have more than ten times the computing power of its predecessor and outperforms leading competitors, including OpenAI's GPT-4o and Google's Gemini. The latest iteration of xAI's flagship model introduces new "reasoning" capabilities through two distinct modes: "Think," which displays the AI's reasoning process while resolving requests, and "Big Brain" for handling more computationally intensive tasks. ...

The Morning After: What to expect from Apple’s new launch this week.

Last week, Apple’s Tim Cook teed up a new product for launch on February 19 — that’s tomorrow. Cook’s tweet also included an animated image of a shimmering Apple logo, which made a lot of us assume the reveal could be for a second-generation AirTag. It’s been rumored for a while that Apple would introduce a second-gen tracker sometime this year, and the original AirTag landed almost four years ago. ...

Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.3, Downgrading No Longer an Option.

Apple has stopped signing iOS 18.3, preventing iPhone owners who have upgraded to iOS 18.3.1 from downgrading to that version of iOS. Apple released iOS 18.3.1 a week ago, two weeks after the company released iOS 18.3. Apple often stops signing an older version of iOS, usually within a week or two after a new version is released. ...

iPhone 17 Pro: Here's What It Could Look Like.

Is this what the iPhone 17 Pro model looks like in Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 series? Front Page Tech's 3D artist Asher on Tuesday shared this image of the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Pro, offering perhaps the most polished example yet of Apple's next-generation premium smartphone, should it turn out to be accurate. ...

The best tablets for 2025.

Tablets have become the all-purpose gap-fillers of the gadgets world. If you’re on a plane and you want something portable but slightly bigger than your phone for reading comics or watching movies, there’s nothing better. Alternatively, if you want a shared device for the living room to control smart home stuff, do a bit of shopping or doomscrolling (it’s ok, we’re not judging), having a slim little slate that lives on your coffee table is super convenient. ...

'iPhone 17 Air' With Ultra-Thin Design Allegedly Revealed in New Video.

YouTube channel Front Page Tech today revealed the alleged design of Apple's widely-rumored "iPhone 17 Air" model, set to launch later this year. "iPhone 17 Air" render created by @zellzoi for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech shared renders depicting what it believes is likely the final design of the "iPhone 17 Air. ...