Verum Messenger has unveiled a new project — a mini-series created using Verum AI. The story consists of 7 episodes and will be released on the messenger’s social media channels.
The plot revolves around a global corporation seeking to take control of digital communications and a group of heroes who use Verum Messenger as a tool of resistance. Beyond the story itself, the series highlights the app’s key features, technologies, and advantages.
Combining entertainment with a showcase of the Verum ecosystem, the project presents a dynamic digital series designed for the modern era.
The first episode premieres today, with the remaining episodes to be released over time.
OpenAI is reportedly gearing up for a sweeping overhaul of ChatGPT that could fundamentally reshape how users engage with artificial intelligence. Rather than staying just a conversational chatbot, the firm wants the service to evolve into a “super app” driven by AI agents that can tackle tasks spanning personal and professional domains.
As detailed by the Financial Times, OpenAI leaders are increasingly convinced that the future of AI lies not in bots that merely answer queries, but in intelligent systems that actively perform work for users. The long‑term roadmap envisions agents that can manage calendars, arrange travel, write code, generate content, and orchestrate workflows across a variety of services and platforms.
Executive Thibault Sottiaux is said to have described the ambition as building a “personal agent” that assists users “across everything in your life.” This would let people interact with ChatGPT via smartphones, desktops, browsers, and possibly even vehicles, turning the platform into a far broader digital‑assistant ecosystem.
OpenAI bets heavily on AI agents and enterprise growth
A key pillar of the plan is Codex, OpenAI’s coding‑focused offering, which has reportedly surpassed five million weekly active users. Internally, the company appears convinced that coding tools and AI agents capable of taking actions on behalf of users could become far more valuable than traditional chatbot exchanges.
To support this pivot, ChatGPT’s mobile and web interfaces are being redesigned to spotlight coding, image generation, and third‑party integrations. Partner apps from firms such as Canva and Booking.com may become more deeply woven into the ChatGPT experience as OpenAI pushes toward a more connected AI ecosystem.
The shift also mirrors mounting pressure in the AI sector. Competitors like Anthropic, Microsoft and Google are rapidly expanding their own AI‑powered products and enterprise suites. While ChatGPT remains one of the most recognizable AI products worldwide, OpenAI faces growing expectations to demonstrate long‑term profitability and diversify revenue beyond free chatbot usage.
Enterprise clients are becoming especially crucial to this effort. Reports indicate that business‑focused products already constitute a sizable slice of OpenAI’s revenue, prompting a reorganization of internal teams to prioritize enterprise growth over some consumer‑centric initiatives.
ChatGPT could become far more than a chatbot
The broader implication is that OpenAI no longer views ChatGPT merely as a messaging interface. Instead, it is being positioned as a central operating layer for future AI‑driven computing experiences.
If the strategy succeeds, it may overhaul how users interact with software altogether. Rather than launching separate apps for productivity, communication, coding, travel, scheduling and search, people might increasingly rely on a single AI assistant that handles multiple tasks conversationally and autonomously.
At the same time, OpenAI is strengthening ties with policymakers and regulators as AI gains political and economic weight. Reports suggest the company plans to give the U.S. government early access to certain models under a voluntary framework introduced by President Donald Trump, and that discussions about potential government stakes in AI firms have involved CEO Sam Altman as officials explore ways to spread AI‑driven economic benefits.
The ChatGPT overhaul is expected to roll out gradually via app and website updates over the coming months. If OpenAI pulls it off, ChatGPT could transition from an occasional chatbot visit to a constantly present AI assistant woven into everyday life.
After years of having Bing embedded in almost every facet of Windows Search, Microsoft appears to be offering a way out. Reports suggest the company is testing a Windows 11 update that would let users fully turn off Bing‑driven web results in the built‑in Search feature.
For many PC owners, this is a long‑overdue improvement. Windows Search has long mixed local file queries with Bing suggestions, online results, news links, and other Microsoft services, often irritating users who simply want to locate an app, document, or setting on their machine.
According to PCMag, Microsoft is now adding options that separate the native Windows search capabilities from Bing’s web integration. In practice, this could mean that typing in the Start menu or taskbar would return only local results, without being steered toward Bing‑generated content.
The change seems tied to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which compels large tech firms to give users more control over bundled services and default settings. Microsoft has already rolled out several Europe‑specific tweaks to Windows, such as easier browser switching and fewer prompts that push Edge and Bing.
**Windows Search could finally get back to basics**
For years, users have criticized Microsoft for forcefully grafting Bing onto Windows Search, even when it hurt usability. Local file searches often surfaced unrelated web links, recommendations, or Bing‑driven suggestions that many never wanted.
The issue became more pronounced after Microsoft integrated AI‑powered Bing and Copilot directly into Windows 11. While marketed as productivity boosters, many felt the Search experience grew cluttered and drifted away from its core desktop purpose.
The rumored update could markedly improve the experience for those who mainly use Search to launch apps, find files, or tweak settings. Stripping out Bing may also speed up the tool and cut down on background online queries.
For Microsoft, however, this move is about more than a simple toggle. Bing has long been a strategic pillar, steering users toward Microsoft services, search ads, Edge, and now AI‑driven Copilot.
Allowing users to more freely disable Bing indicates that regulators are starting to shape how Microsoft builds Windows.
**Microsoft still wants AI everywhere in Windows**
Even if Bing can be removed, Microsoft isn’t abandoning AI or online features in Windows 11. The company continues to pour resources into Copilot and AI‑enhanced productivity tools, which remain central to its long‑term Windows strategy.
Thus, the upcoming changes are less about ditching Bing entirely and more about giving users greater control over how deeply Microsoft services are woven into the desktop.
The big question now is whether these Bing‑disable options will stay limited to Europe for DMA compliance or roll out worldwide. A global release could make this one of the most user‑friendly Search overhauls in years.
For long‑time Windows users, the update already feels symbolic. After years of Microsoft insisting Bing belong in Search, users may finally get the choice they’ve been asking for: the ability to search their PC without the Microsoft search engine constantly intruding.
Verum has officially launched Verum Finance, an innovative financial application that transforms a private messenger into a true financial super app. News of the launch was also featured on the respected platform Dealroom.co.
Verum Finance can now be used both within Verum Messenger and as a standalone application for iPhone and iPad. When users sign in to Verum Finance with their Verum Messenger account, all balances, settings, and account data are automatically synchronized for maximum convenience.
Users can now do more than communicate securely and protect their data — they can also generate passive income directly within the ecosystem.
What Verum Finance Offers
• Top up your balance with a bank card, Apple Pay, or USDT • Send money instantly anywhere in the world • Issue and manage debit cards (virtual and physical) • Full Apple Pay support • Exchange assets and withdraw funds quickly
One of the most unique features is the built-in cryptocurrency mining system inside Verum Messenger.
The application utilizes your device’s resources and allows you to earn cryptocurrency in the background — passively, while chatting, traveling, or simply using the messenger.
Maximum Privacy + Real Freedom
• Registration without a phone number, email address, or passport • End-to-end encryption and full control over your data • Lifetime free VPN • eSIM connectivity in more than 150 countries • Reliable offline communication mode • Support for 12+ languages for users worldwide
Everything is available in one place: secure communication, financial tools, earning opportunities, and privacy protection.
Users can access the full experience directly within Verum Messenger or switch to the dedicated Verum Finance app for iOS. All data is synchronized automatically between the two applications.
Why Download Verum Today
While many messaging platforms collect user data and expose users to restrictions, Verum offers greater independence and the opportunity to earn.
With a one-time purchase of the feature package, users receive lifetime access to privacy tools, VPN, eSIM services, cryptocurrency mining, and financial features.
This is more than just a messenger.
It is your personal tool for financial and digital freedom.
Download Verum Finance and Verum Messenger today — start communicating securely and begin earning tomorrow.
Apple’s next major Mac software update may mark the beginning of the end for Intel-powered Macs while also pushing deeper into AI-powered experiences. New rumors surrounding macOS 27 suggest Apple is preparing significant changes ranging from smarter Siri capabilities to refinements for its controversial “Liquid Glass” design language.
According to reports, macOS 27 could become the first version of macOS to substantially reduce or fully end support for Intel-based Macs, completing a transition Apple began in 2020 with the launch of its first Apple Silicon chips. While Apple has steadily shifted focus toward M-series processors over the past several years, macOS 27 may represent the clearest sign yet that the company is ready to leave Intel hardware behind. Although this is not new news – Apple was already looking to phase out Intel-powered Macs when it rolled out macOS Tahoe last year.
The timing would align with Apple’s typical software support cycle. Intel Macs have already started missing out on some Apple Intelligence features introduced during the AI push across iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Ending support entirely would allow Apple to focus more aggressively on AI, machine learning, and hardware-specific optimizations designed around Apple Silicon.
Apple appears ready to fully embrace its AI-first Mac future
One of the biggest rumored changes involves Siri. Reports suggest Apple is continuing work on a significantly smarter version of the assistant capable of handling more natural conversations, contextual awareness, and deeper app integration. While Apple’s AI rollout has faced criticism for moving more slowly than rivals like Google and OpenAI, macOS 27 could become an important part of the company’s broader Apple Intelligence strategy.
The update may also refine Apple’s newer “Liquid Glass” visual style, which reportedly focuses on translucent layers, reflective interface elements, and smoother animations across macOS. Early reactions to the design direction have been mixed, with some users praising the futuristic appearance while others argue it prioritizes aesthetics over clarity and usability.
Apple is also expected to continue integrating AI-powered productivity tools throughout macOS. Features involving summarization, writing assistance, smarter search, and proactive recommendations could become more deeply embedded into the operating system as Apple tries to make AI feel native to the Mac experience instead of functioning as a separate tool.
For users still relying on Intel Macs, however, the rumored support changes may become the biggest story. Millions of Intel-based MacBooks and desktops remain in active use, especially in businesses, schools, and creative industries. If Apple significantly cuts compatibility, many users could face difficult upgrade decisions sooner than expected.
macOS 27 may reveal Apple’s long-term strategy for the Mac
The rumored update reflects a broader shift happening across Apple’s ecosystem. The company increasingly designs software around its own custom chips, allowing tighter integration between hardware and software features. Apple Silicon Macs already deliver major advantages in battery life, performance efficiency, and AI processing compared to older Intel systems.
Ending Intel support would also simplify development for Apple and third-party app makers by reducing the number of architectures they need to support. However, it risks frustrating long-time Mac users whose devices may still feel perfectly functional despite losing future software support.
Apple is expected to officially unveil macOS 27 during WWDC 2026, where the company will likely detail its next-generation AI strategy across Macs, iPhones, and iPads. Until then, many of the reported features remain speculative, but the rumors strongly suggest Apple is preparing one of the most significant transitions in Mac history since the move away from Intel first began.
No no no, we are not sad. *slumps in the corner crying*
Microsoft is officially shutting down Collections, one of the more unique productivity features inside the Edge browser, and many users believe the move reflects the company’s growing obsession with AI-first experiences.
According to Microsoft’s support documentation, Collections in Edge is being discontinued beginning June 2026. The feature allowed users to save groups of webpages, images, notes, shopping links, and research material into organized visual boards directly inside the browser. For students, researchers, online shoppers, and multitaskers, Collections became one of Edge’s most practical hidden tools – and one of the few browser features that genuinely stood apart from Chrome and Safari.
Collections first launched as a productivity-focused tool that blended bookmarking, note-taking, and visual organization into a single interface. Unlike traditional bookmarks, users could drag webpages, screenshots, text snippets, and images into categorized boards that synced across devices. It became especially popular for planning trips, organizing research projects, comparing products, and saving inspiration from across the web.
Now, Microsoft appears ready to move on.
Edge is increasingly becoming an AI-first browser
The removal of Collections arrives as Microsoft aggressively transforms Edge into a platform centered around Copilot and generative AI features. Over the past two years, the company has integrated AI-powered assistants into nearly every part of Edge, from sidebar chat tools and webpage summarization to writing assistance and contextual search.
Critics argue that Collections represented a genuinely useful feature focused on human productivity rather than AI automation. Unlike some newer AI additions that users may ignore entirely, Collections solved a simple but common problem: organizing information gathered across the web without relying on third-party apps like Notion, Pinterest, or Pocket.
We at Digital Trends previously described the feature as one of the browser’s best hidden tools, particularly because it offered a more visual and intuitive alternative to cluttered bookmark folders. Users could quickly collect shopping comparisons, project research, recipes, or reading material into organized workspaces without leaving the browser.
Microsoft has not directly stated that AI features are replacing Collections, but the timing has fueled criticism that practical browser tools are increasingly being sacrificed to make room for AI-centric experiences and interface redesigns.
The broader concern extends beyond Edge itself. Across the tech industry, companies are rapidly reshaping products around generative AI, sometimes at the expense of smaller features users genuinely rely on every day.
Edge users may lose one of the browser’s most practical tools
For longtime Edge users, the shutdown represents the loss of one of the browser’s clearest identity features. While Chrome dominates browser market share, Edge often differentiates itself through smaller quality-of-life tools like vertical tabs, sleeping tabs, and Collections.
The removal could particularly frustrate users who built workflows around the feature for productivity, shopping research, or creative organization. Microsoft has not yet introduced a direct replacement that replicates the same visual organizational experience.
At the same time, the decision signals how seriously Microsoft is prioritizing AI integration across Windows and Edge. The company increasingly sees Copilot as the centerpiece of its software ecosystem, and browser development now appears heavily focused on AI-assisted experiences rather than traditional productivity utilities.
For some users, that future may sound exciting. For others, it may feel like another example of useful software features quietly disappearing in favor of AI tools they never asked for.
No no no, we are not sad. *slumps in the corner crying*
Microsoft is officially shutting down Collections, one of the more unique productivity features inside the Edge browser, and many users believe the move reflects the company’s growing obsession with AI-first experiences.
According to Microsoft’s support documentation, Collections in Edge is being discontinued beginning June 2026. The feature allowed users to save groups of webpages, images, notes, shopping links, and research material into organized visual boards directly inside the browser. For students, researchers, online shoppers, and multitaskers, Collections became one of Edge’s most practical hidden tools – and one of the few browser features that genuinely stood apart from Chrome and Safari.
Collections first launched as a productivity-focused tool that blended bookmarking, note-taking, and visual organization into a single interface. Unlike traditional bookmarks, users could drag webpages, screenshots, text snippets, and images into categorized boards that synced across devices. It became especially popular for planning trips, organizing research projects, comparing products, and saving inspiration from across the web.
Now, Microsoft appears ready to move on.
Edge is increasingly becoming an AI-first browser
The removal of Collections arrives as Microsoft aggressively transforms Edge into a platform centered around Copilot and generative AI features. Over the past two years, the company has integrated AI-powered assistants into nearly every part of Edge, from sidebar chat tools and webpage summarization to writing assistance and contextual search.
Critics argue that Collections represented a genuinely useful feature focused on human productivity rather than AI automation. Unlike some newer AI additions that users may ignore entirely, Collections solved a simple but common problem: organizing information gathered across the web without relying on third-party apps like Notion, Pinterest, or Pocket.
We at Digital Trends previously described the feature as one of the browser’s best hidden tools, particularly because it offered a more visual and intuitive alternative to cluttered bookmark folders. Users could quickly collect shopping comparisons, project research, recipes, or reading material into organized workspaces without leaving the browser.
Microsoft has not directly stated that AI features are replacing Collections, but the timing has fueled criticism that practical browser tools are increasingly being sacrificed to make room for AI-centric experiences and interface redesigns.
The broader concern extends beyond Edge itself. Across the tech industry, companies are rapidly reshaping products around generative AI, sometimes at the expense of smaller features users genuinely rely on every day.
Edge users may lose one of the browser’s most practical tools
For longtime Edge users, the shutdown represents the loss of one of the browser’s clearest identity features. While Chrome dominates browser market share, Edge often differentiates itself through smaller quality-of-life tools like vertical tabs, sleeping tabs, and Collections.
The removal could particularly frustrate users who built workflows around the feature for productivity, shopping research, or creative organization. Microsoft has not yet introduced a direct replacement that replicates the same visual organizational experience.
At the same time, the decision signals how seriously Microsoft is prioritizing AI integration across Windows and Edge. The company increasingly sees Copilot as the centerpiece of its software ecosystem, and browser development now appears heavily focused on AI-assisted experiences rather than traditional productivity utilities.
For some users, that future may sound exciting. For others, it may feel like another example of useful software features quietly disappearing in favor of AI tools they never asked for.
Computex 2026 is over, and as usual, the show floor was packed with more laptops, PCs, components, peripherals, and oddball gadgets than any one person could properly process in a few days. There were sleek ultrabooks, massive gaming rigs, AI PCs, experimental designs, and plenty of products that looked like they were built mainly to make people stop and stare.
A handful of products stayed on our minds long after we left the show floor. They weren’t always the most practical, powerful, or important announcements, but each had something memorable about it. So, in no particular order, here are the coolest things we saw at Computex 2026.
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro Wi-Fi router
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro immediately caught our attention on the show floor. It looks absolutely wild, with a spider-like design that feels more like a sci-fi gaming prop than a router you would place next to your setup.
Once you get past the spider-like design, the bigger surprise is that this is already a Wi-Fi 8 router. That sounds slightly unreal considering most households still rely on Wi-Fi 6 or even Wi-Fi 5, while Wi-Fi 7 remains a relatively premium upgrade. Instead of chasing higher throughput speeds, Wi-Fi 8 focuses more on connection reliability and efficiency.
It has Adaptive QoE for intelligent traffic prioritization, Wi-Fi Insight for real-time network monitoring, AI Game Boost, and dual 10G ports. Do most people need a Wi-Fi 8 router right now? Probably not. But as a piece of future-facing gaming hardware, it was hard to ignore.
Pulsar Feinmann F01 Noctua Edition mouse
The Pulsar Feinmann F01 Noctua Edition is exactly the kind of thing that makes Computex fun. It is a gaming mouse with a tiny Noctua fan built into it, which sounds ridiculous at first, but makes much more sense when you actually try it.
The mouse was shown earlier, but after delays, it now appears much closer to launch. It is based on Pulsar’s Feinmann F01, but weighs slightly more due to the added Noctua NF-A4x10 5V PWM fan. It has a 42,000 DPI sensor and 8K polling. The fan can spin at up to 5,000 RPM, but because it is so small, its noise is hardly noticeable. It blows a gentle breeze toward your palm to help keep your hand from getting sweaty during long gaming sessions.
When it was first revealed last year, we thought the gimmick was pretty cute. After trying it in person, though, the idea started to make a lot more sense. Anyone who has spent hours gaming with sweaty hands will immediately understand the problem Noctua is trying to solve. It is definitely a little unusual, but we can see the practical appeal. That said, we only had a short time with the mouse on the show floor, so we did not get the chance to properly test how effective it is over a long gaming session or in a warm room where sweaty hands would really put the concept to the test.
Noctua also had its first liquid cooling AIO on display, and we saw a demo from the brand. It looks like a worthwhile AIO to keep an eye on for PC builders and Noctua fans who want to bring liquid cooling into their brown-and-beige themed setups.
Alienware AW3926QW monitor
Alienware’s AW3926QW was one of the more polished showpieces at Computex. It is a 39-inch curved Tandem OLED monitor, and at $1,099, it is obviously not cheap. But considering the size, 5K2K resolution, and RGB stripe OLED technology, the price starts to sound a little less outrageous.
The RGB stripe layout improves text clarity and color performance compared with some older OLED monitor layouts. The monitor runs at 5120 x 2160 with a 165Hz refresh rate, but it also has a dedicated mode for competitive players. You can switch it into a 27-inch mode with black bars, dropping the resolution to 2560 x 1080 and pushing the refresh rate up to 330Hz.
That basically makes the monitor a jack of all trades. You can use it as a large, immersive curved display for cinematic gaming or productivity, then switch to a faster esports-focused screen when needed. It also looked great in person without being too flashy.
Gigabyte X870E AORUS INFINITY NEXT motherboard
It is Gigabyte’s 40th anniversary, so we expected the brand to do something special for the occasion. However, we were not prepared for the brand to turn the engineering madness up to eleven with the X870E AORUS INFINITY NEXT motherboard.
It immediately grabbed our attention with its almost biological-looking hollow structures. We soon discovered that this is not just a cosmetic choice, but something far more bizarre. These “gyroid” structures are actually heatsinks, created using advanced 3D metal printing and “thruster-grade thermal materials” to cool the components and VRMs of the motherboard in low Earth orbit.
Yes, you read that right. This motherboard is meant to function in space. Since there is no airflow available to wick heat away from the components in those conditions, these structures are Gigabyte’s solution to the problem. The brand has also 3D-printed a vapor chamber for the chipset and added a honeycomb-style metal backplate to push cooling to the extreme.
Then there is the power delivery. This thing has 64 power phases and uses Low Earth Orbit and data center-grade Quad OptiMOS technology to deliver up to 5,120 amps of total current. That is beyond overkill for a gaming PC, and honestly, we think Gigabyte made this motherboard just to show that it can.
Gigabyte did not say when or if it plans to launch this motherboard to market. However, we did learn that manufacturing it alone costs about $3,000, so even if it ever does go on sale, it will be extremely expensive.
Framework Laptop 13 Pro
The Framework Laptop 13 Pro was announced a few months back, and we were eager to get our hands on the laptop to see if it actually delivers on its advertised promises, and it did not disappoint. The first thing that stood out to us is how sturdy the laptop felt. The brand has taken a page out of Apple’s playbook and used an aluminium unibody chassis in the 13 Pro.
The latch has also been improved so removing or plugging in the expansion cards can be done with one hand, which is a good quality-of-life change. Framework has also moved to LPCAMM2 memory on the Laptop 13 Pro, allowing it to use LPDDR5x while still keeping memory upgradeable. This is significant because laptops that use LPDDR memory are typically not upgradeable.
It has a 13.5-inch display with 2.8K resolution that finally offers touch support, though the laptop can only bend backward up to 180 degrees, so it can’t be flipped into a tablet. The other big upgrade is the 74Wh battery, which is 22% larger than the previous generation, with the brand claiming more than 20 hours of Netflix 4K streaming. We could not verify that claim during our brief hands-on time.
That said, the Framework Laptop 13 Pro is not cheap. The pre-built model starts at $1,499 with an Intel Core Ultra 5 325 processor, so there is an upfront premium. But that price is easier to accept because this is a laptop you can upgrade over time rather than replace entirely.
I love testing new apps on my iPhone. Every year, new apps get installed and removed, with very few sticking around for the long haul. Despite my habit of testing and switching apps regularly, some have stuck around, which is a testament to their quality.
These are also the most used apps on my iPhone and the first ones I install whenever I set up a new iPhone from scratch. Here are 5 iPhone apps I cannot live without in 2026.
Arc Search: browse smarter, not harder
Arc Search is a mobile browser that has completely changed how I search on iPhone. As soon as you launch the app, you’re greeted with a search bar and a keyboard, ready to go. I use the browser app on my iPhone for quick searches, which makes it perfect for that.
The standout feature here is the built-in ad blocker. It automatically blocks trackers on any website, providing me with a clean browsing experience.
Another feature I love is the Browse for Me. I type a query and hit Browse for Me, and Arc pulls the top results from the web and gives me a clean, summarized answer. Think of it as skipping dozens of tabs’ worth of reading in one shot. It works really well for things like sports stats, quick recipes, and travel recommendations.
The tab switcher is also a joy to use. Tabs appear in a card layout similar to the iOS app switcher, and you can swipe to close them just as easily. If you want a fast, smart browser that gets out of your way, Arc Search is the one to beat.
My life revolves around three note-taking apps. Apple Notes is for storing quick notes, Obsidian is for my knowledge-work notes, and Craft is for everything else. On my iPhone, I use Apple Notes and the Crafts app the most.
What makes it stand out from other note-taking apps is how good it feels to use. The writing experience is smooth, the documents look great, and the app has enough depth to handle everything from quick daily notes to full project planning.
Craft lets you organize everything with folders, spaces, and tags, so you can create whatever structure works for you. You can also embed tasks directly in your documents, making it easier to keep your ideas and to-do list in the same place.
The app also recently added a Kanban feature, making it perfect for tracking tasks in a project. I also love how the app looks. Its use of colors, templates, and fluid animations makes it a joy to use.
Apple Reminders: the task manager hiding in plain sight
Most people skip Apple Reminders in favor of fancier apps, and I totally understand why. For a long time, I did the same. But Apple has quietly turned Reminders into one of the most capable task managers on the iPhone, and I’ve been using it as my daily driver for a while now.
You can create time-based and location-based reminders, and even message-based reminders that ping you when you’re texting a specific contact. Smart lists let you create custom views of your tasks using filters like tags, priority, and due date.
You can also share reminder lists with others, add sub-tasks, attach photos, and even use Siri to add tasks with your voice. All of this, and it’s completely free. If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, you should definitely give this a try before paying for a third-party task manager.
Pocket Casts: the best podcast app, full stop
I have tested most podcast apps on the App Store, including Apple’s own offering, and Pocket Casts is the only one I always come back to. It features a clean interface, excellent playback controls, and it syncs your listening progress and your queue across all your devices.
The filters tab lets you create playlists based on your own rules, and you can even use Siri shortcuts with them. The discover section also does a solid job of helping you find new shows.
It also offers a generous free tier. If you listen to podcasts regularly, Pocket Casts is worth every penny.
Delta: your childhood game console, on your iPhone
If you grew up playing Nintendo games, you are going to love this one. Delta is a free game emulator on the App Store that supports NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS games. It’s polished, well-maintained, and incredibly easy to use.
You get save states, fast forward, cheat code support, and the option to connect a game controller for a proper gaming experience. Delta is perfect for people like me who sneak in a quick game while waiting for a coffee order or standing in a queue. And for those stolen moments, it delivers more fun than any other gaming app on the iPhone.
I love all these apps on my iPhone, and if you have never tried them before, you should definitely check them out. Also, if you haven’t read it, check out my favorite Mac utilities article to discover some awesome apps for your Mac.
The least sexy part of modern gadget design might also be the most revealing: the battery you’re not supposed to replace.
I understand the official story. Sealed phones look cleaner, feel slimmer, and can survive the kind of splash that ruins your week. Adhesives help make that possible, which is the respectable version of the argument. Nobody wants a flagship phone with the structural elegance of a TV remote from 2006.
Still, it’s awfully convenient that the part most likely to wear out is also the part most people are discouraged from touching. The EU is already moving toward rules that make portable batteries easier to remove and replace, with key requirements set to apply from February 2027. Surely our inability to replace a dying battery isn’t also good for the company selling the next phone. Even cartoon villains try to be less obvious.
That’s where the repair argument stops sounding like recycling and starts sounding like dignity.
Why does a dead battery need permission
Right to repair is usually sold as an environmental argument, and that’s fair enough. If a battery swap keeps a phone or laptop alive for another couple of years, nobody needs to pretend that’s a bad outcome. The green case is fine. It’s also too polite.
A dead battery shouldn’t need a legislature, a special tool, and a corporate blessing. Several states have passed repair laws requiring manufacturers to make the basic materials needed to fix their products available, including New York, Minnesota, California, Oregon, and Colorado. Those protections reached 25.75% of Americans as new laws took effect on January 1, 2026. Washington also added protections for devices ranging from personal electronics to wheelchairs after Gov. Bob Ferguson signed two repair bills in 2025.
That’s progress, but it’s also a little embarrassing. A product shouldn’t need a state government standing behind it before its owner can get a manual or a fair shot at repair.
What happens when the device is not just a phone
This gets uglier outside phones and laptops. A sealed phone is annoying. A locked-down tractor or wheelchair can become a trap with financing.
John Deere agreed in 2026 to pay $99 million into a settlement fund and make digital repair tools available to farmers for 10 years as part of a right-to-repair settlement covering large agricultural equipment. Deere didn’t suddenly become the patron saint of screwdrivers, but the case shows how far this logic stretches. When software and diagnostics sit behind company-controlled gates, the person who bought the machine is still outside holding the receipt.
Wheelchairs make the ownership problem harder to shrug off. Oregon’s wheelchair repair law took effect on January 1, 2026, and it requires manufacturers to provide what wheelchair users and independent shops need to get repairs done. Nobody is doing weekend cosplay as a wheelchair technician because they got bored. Sometimes repair access is the difference between independence and waiting for permission.
When does ownership start acting like ownership
Some companies already understand the difference between repair access and customer lock-in. Framework sells laptops built to be opened, repaired, upgraded, and kept around longer instead of treating repair like a weird internet demand from people who own precision screwdrivers. You can argue about whether that model works for everyone, but at least the premise is honest: people should be able to keep using the thing they bought.
The point isn’t that every gadget must become a chunky beige box with a battery door. The point is that convenience shouldn’t become a permanent excuse for dependency.
Often, the broken device is still perfectly real, sitting there with one failed part and a locked door between you and the fix. What changed is that the company kept the one little piece of permission that turns ownership into waiting.
Saving gadgets from the landfill is nice. Being allowed to fix your own stuff is the dignity underneath it.
