Samantha Murphy Kelly

2 months ago | cnet.com | Samantha Murphy Kelly

Google is bringing back lock screen widgets to Android phones this summer. The company announced on its Android Developer Blog on Thursday that lock screen widgets will return to Android 16, confirming nearly a year of rumors that Google would be bringing the feature back to more devices. Google recently added widgets to the Pixel Tablet, but it was unclear if the company planned to roll them out to phones and more tablets.

2 months ago | cnet.com | Samantha Murphy Kelly

More speculation continues to build that Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone could debut as soon as next year. Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported Wednesday that the company is planning to launch a foldable iPhone at the end of 2026 or early 2027. According to Kuo, the book-style device could be priced between $2,000 and $2,500. It's expected to feature a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display, which aligns with other rumors.

2 months ago | cnet.com | Samantha Murphy Kelly

The Utah legislature passed an age-verification bill on Wednesday requiring app store operations to verify the age of their users and require consent from the parents of minors before downloading an app. The state became the first in the US to reach this point with such a law, the App Store Accountability Act, as many states grapple with evolving age verification requirements for social media platforms and how to protect young users online.

2 months ago | cnet.com | Samantha Murphy Kelly

A quirky new mobile operating system, claiming to tease the future of AI on smartphones, popped up at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week. South Korea-based startup Newnal showed off mobile software that uses both your past and current data to create a personalized AI assistant. But here's the twist: The AI intends to be… you. It looks like you, acts like you, learns from you, even grows old like you.

2 months ago | cnet.com | Samantha Murphy Kelly

If you've got an Apple Watch, you may be eligible for a payout. Apple has agreed to a $20 million settlement after facing a class action lawsuit, and if your device is affected, you have until April 10 to submit a claim to secure your share. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleged that the batteries in first-generation, Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 models could expand within their tight compartments, causing malfunctions.