Software

Google is testing a new Android feature called Expressive Calling that highlights important calls with a red siren emoji and an urgency message. It is currently rolling out in the beta version of the Phone by Google app.

Google has kicked off the beta program for Android 16 QPR3, the third and final quarterly update of the Android 16 cycle. Pixel 6 and newer devices can now try the update ahead of its stable release, which is expected to arrive in March 2026.

Gnome has officially banned the use of AI-generated code in its shell extensions, but the justification is more pragmatic than it is ideological. As of the announcement, any code submitted for consideration in the Gnome Extensions Library that has obvious evidence of AI or sloppy, inconsistent code will be rejected during the code review process.

Zepp Flow version 2.2.0 is currently rolling out to users of one of Amazfit’s smartwatches. Through this update, the AI voice assistant gets several new features, one of which is linked to BioCharge energy monitoring. Plus, users of the Balance 2 wearable can now speak to the assistant in another language.

Xiaomi has pushed out a new HyperOS 3 update based on Android 16. Designed for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, the new firmware is a circa 9 GB download that should be rolling out gradually within the next few days as an OTA update.

Garmin has delivered a milestone build for older smartwatches like the Fenix 7. Finally moving on v23.xx development after five months of updates, Beta Version 25.03 brings numerous changes to the table with over a dozen bug fixes and other updates.

LG’s latest WebOS update quietly adds Microsoft Copilot to the Korean brand's TVs, and you can't uninstall it. The move has sparked backlash, with users expressing exhaustion at the encroaching "bloatware" culture of modern smart TVs, and electronics in general.

Google Translate enables any pair of headphones to deliver real-time translated speech, thanks to Gemini AI's improved speech-to-speech translation capabilities. The feature is rolling out as a new beta to Android and web users, with Apple support coming 2026.

CheckMag Android adaptive icons theme every icon on your device for that consistent look. However, unlike iOS, there is always at least one stubborn icon that doesn't support it. This icon pack supports dynamic colours and does a way better job than Google's tinted, or adaptive icons.

CheckMag Apple’s iOS 26.2 is positioned as a refinement update following the uneven rollout of earlier versions. In testing, the update focuses on improving overall system responsiveness and day-to-day stability rather than introducing new features. While some inconsistencies remain, iOS 26.2 delivers a more polished experience than its immediate predecessors, making it a notable step forward for the iOS 26 cycle.

Xiaomi introduced HyperOS 3 with a handful of promised improvements, and performance is one of them. However, per recent user reports, it seems that the Android 16 update isn't an ideal option for those who play emulated games.

With so many Steam bundles for sale, buyers often miss out on deals. Valve now notifies them of lower prices before finishing the checkout process. Social features already warn players about issues with new Steam games, giving the marketplace an advantage over the Epic Games Store.

Google is running a new AI-powered browser experiment called Disco, and its first trick is a feature that can turn your open tabs into interactive apps. The Gemini-3–powered prototype is available only through a waitlist, but some of the ideas could eventually find their way into Chrome.

An enterprising developer has published a new free browser-based tool for splitting large 3D models into multiple parts, replete with a built-in jigsaw generator and an impressive number of quality of life features. The splitter is 100% free to use, and the dev says that it is also privacy-focussed, with all of the processing happening locally.

Even as console and Game Pass prices rise, new first-party Xbox games remain at $70 or less. In a Variety interview, a Microsoft executive explains why the company has avoided higher software prices. Xbox is exploring other ways to profit from game sales after purchases.

Garmin has moved many of its older mid-range smartwatches onto a new software revision. Rolling out globally on its Beta Program, the new update introduces several improvements, including one relating to swimming actvities.

Another Amazfit smartwatch update, version 3.35.0.5, is reportedly rolling out to users of the Balance 2. This update brings two new workout modes, as well as additional tools linked to BioCharge energy monitoring. Plus, there are improvements for other features like Weather and the Outdoor Run activity.

OpenAI has introduced GPT‑5.2, its most advanced model yet. It offers better task performance, improved object recognition, and fewer hallucinations. A $1 billion funding deal will allow Sora users to incorporate Disney characters into their videos, while giving Disney company‑wide access to OpenAI’s services.

Garmin has released software version 5.12 for one of its 2025 smartwatch models. Compared to the last stable update, this is a relatively minor release focusing on bug fixes. All Users of the Bounce 2 smartwatch are now able to install this software via a dedicated app.

Garmin is now offering a new stable update for several of its recent smartwatch releases. Available as Software Version 15.33, the update is said to contain various improvements, including one that should resolve system crashes when playing music over Bluetooth headphones.

Garmin has started rolling out a new stable update for two of its recent mid-range smartwatches. Available worldwide, it remains a mystery as to what Garmin has actually changed this time around.

Garmin has finally delivered a new stable update for the Fenix 7 and associated smartwatches. The first update of its kind in almost three months, unfortunately Garmin has placed a key restriction on the update's distribution for the time being.

Xiaomi is rolling out its Android 16–based HyperOS 3 update to ten more Xiaomi and Redmi phones in China. The latest batch includes the MIX Fold 3, Xiaomi 13 series, and several Redmi Note models as the company ramps up its upgrade cycle.

Researchers at the University of Vienna have uncovered vulnerabilities within WhatsApp and Signal that allow undetectable user tracking through round-trip time (RTT) measurements. A simple program now available on GitHub demonstrates how easily this weakness can be exploited.

Xiaomi is expanding its Android 16–based HyperOS 3 update to more devices, including the Poco F6 Pro and Redmi Pad 2. The update brings major UI changes, new multitasking features, and a suite of AI tools.

Sony has confirmed details for its mid-December 2025 PlayStation Plus catalogue update. Arriving after a leak detailed that multiple triple-A games would be up for grabs, the full update spans over half a dozen titles including the remastered Soulcalibur III and Assassin's Creed Mirage.

It seems that Google Maps users will finally be able to have their parking location save automatically, even with custom icons. Google is clearly late to the party, considering that competing apps have had this feature for a long time.

Need to create a Windows rescue boot stick? Or a USB for Linux Mint, another for Kali Linux, or Tails? Finding the right boot sticks used to be a hassle for me—but now I can handle Windows, Linux, and more with a single USB stick, thanks to Ventoy.

Philips Hue’s app for iOS and Android has received another update. This relatively large release brings five new features to users of the brand’s smart home devices. One of these is the hotly anticipated multi-Bridge to Hue Bridge Pro migration process, and the other two are for Hue Secure customers.

Philips Hue users are receiving a new tool, which allows them to migrate multiple instances of the Hue Bridge to the Hue Bridge Pro in a single process. This hotly anticipated functionality is being rolled out in updates for the two versions of the Hue Bridge, as well as in a release for the Philips Hue app.

Garmin is rolling out a new beta update for the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 smartwatches. This version 15.33 release arrives just a few days after its predecessor, and is said to bring various bug fixes to these wearables. A post in the Garmin Forum points to a recent backlight-related issue on one model.

Google’s latest December update adds practical one-handed controls to the Pixel Watch 4, allowing you to manage calls and notifications without ever touching the display. The new Double Pinch and Wrist Turn gestures let you pinch to answer calls or flick your wrist to dismiss alerts when your hands are full.

Xiaomi is preparing Android 15–based HyperOS 3 updates for 15 of its older Xiaomi and Redmi phones. They won’t get the newer Android 16 version, but the core HyperOS 3 features and improvements are still coming.

A student team at xAI’s 24-hour hackathon has developed Halftime, an AI system that inserts context-aware advertisements directly into video scenes. The tool uses Grok to analyse footage and generate ad elements that appear as part of the storyline.

The Anbernic RG DS has received a custom OS that replaces the stock one that ships with it. Available for several other handhelds, GammaOS brings several new features and fixes some of the issues of the stock OS.

Garmin has quietly introduced a new beta update for high-end smartwatches including the Fenix 8 Pro. Available globally as a free update, Beta Version 20.23 resolves a recent issue affecting vibration patterns when charging.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirms the GPU shortage is over. The new AI bottleneck is power: Microsoft has chips sitting in inventory it can't plug in. Why the race for data center grid capacity and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is now the real AI power crunch.

PlugOS has made a formal debut as an Android-based secure operating system that PlugMate runs on. This combination offers the ability to run Android on different devices, including Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

The Anbernic RG DS will begin shipping very soon to those who pre-ordered it. However, when it arrives to the owners, it should run a new software version that has fixed issues that were discovered by early testers.

Microsoft’s Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) is now accessible on standard Windows 11 desktops and laptops through the Insider programme, offering a console-style launcher, streamlined navigation and reduced background overhead. Early testing by a popular YouTuber highlights lower RAM usage and multitasking behaviour similar to Xbox consoles as Microsoft continues refining the feature ahead of wider availability.

CheckMag GrapheneOS, the privacy and security focused aftermarket operating system, has received an experimental build for the Pixel 10 series, marking the first custom ROM available for the range.

Garmin has delivered a new update for many of its older high-end smartwatches. Preceding a future stable update, a catch currently exists that beta testers should be aware of before attempting to install the new firmware.

The next version of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) reportedly brings major image quality enhancements without consuming additional resources. In fact, Moore's Law Is Dead claims that PSSR2 aims to reduce resource usage like GPU time and memory.

Amazfit has released another update for the Helio Strap. Software version 3.7.0.1 brings a range of new workout modes to this wearable. Plus, the update is also said to make it faster to start your favourite workouts, and bring increased accuracy for the activity detection functionality.

Garmin has just delivered a major stable update for its Instinct 3 and Instinct Crossover AMOLED smartwatches. Without warning, the company has pushed a fresh beta update to fix outstanding GCM and CIQ bugs.

Garmin has begun rolling out a new update for multiple smartwatches following the successful distribution of a recent stable build. Offered on the company's Beta Program, the new update is said to introduce several bug fixes and improvements ahead of a future stable release.

The Home Assistant 2025.12 release has arrived. This update brings new experimental features, which can be found under the recently added Home Assistant Labs area. Plus, real-time energy monitoring has been added to the energy dashboard, and there is a new Philips Hue integration.

As a laptop reviewer, I take countless screenshots during every test—benchmark results, control-center settings, and more. I need a tool that’s lightweight, captures screenshots quickly, and automatically saves them to a predefined folder in the format I want so I don’t have to convert anything afterward. This tool checks all those boxes and runs on every PC I use.

A new beta update, version 15.30, has arrived unexpectedly. The release is said to tackle various bugs and bring improvements to the recently released wearable. It arrives a few weeks after a stable update was rolled out to the Venu 4, which was expected to conclude this cycle. 

Amazfit is rolling out a second version of its recent Zepp OS 5.0 update for the T-Rex 3 smartwatch. Recently reported by users in various countries across North America and Europe, the latest iteration of the software is known as version 4.1.6.9. The release notes are slightly different to those of the earlier version 4.1.5.1 update.