1.Two New Clues Suggest a Major Siri Overhaul Is Finally Coming
**Siri's Future: Will Apple Ever Get It Right?**
So, Apple says they're working on Siri again. I'll believe it when I see it. They've made these claims before. The announcements tend to be vague, the launch dates get pushed back, and then it seems like Apple just forgets about the whole thing. I honestly thought they had given up and maybe some other people, too.
I mean, let's face it, Siri's way behind the curve. Amazon, Google, and even OpenAI are making huge moves in the AI world, and Siri's still struggling. Sometimes it can't even handle the simplest tasks. It's like it isn't even listening, which sucks. So, when I first heard rumors that Apple was planning to fix Siri, I remained unsure.
But I have to admit, a couple of things have piqued my interest. I'm still not sold on it, but it seems like it's something to keep an eye on.
**Tim Cook's Remarks: What's the Real Story?**
The first was Tim Cook's brief shout-out on an earnings call. Pretty generic stuff, but one sentence caught my attention:
>We're excited about a more personal Siri coming.
Okay, that's still pretty vague. It doesn't say anything about new features, or any specific dates. But considering Apple's history with this sort of thing, Cook even suggesting 2026 feels like a step.
Also, the fact that Siri was skipped at the iPhone 17 launch? I think that it's on purpose. I guess they're trying to avoid another failed product. Cook's mild optimism makes me think they might be onto something. Could this be the year?
**Google Enters the Chat: Smart Move or a Mistake?**
The bigger news is that Apple's updated Siri might integrate Google's Gemini AI. Now that's a step for Apple's AI strategy.
Instead of programming it all from scratch – kind of like ChatGPT did – Apple might just license existing AI but run it on Apple's servers, by personalizing Gemini. That would let Apple prioritize privacy while still using solid AI.
Reportedly, the new Siri could manage more involved requests. Could you imagine finding that book your Mom wrote in an old email? That’s what the current Siri is lacking in functionality and connection. That could be a massive improvement.
**The Struggle to Stay Relevant: The AI Competition**
I'm concerned about how quickly AI is changing. By the time the new Siri comes out, it might already be outdated.
What will ChatGPT and Gemini be capable of in 2026? What about Alexa, which seems to be getting better every day? All that data helps them learn faster.
So, starting from zero would be a massive challenge. Using AI makes the most sense, maybe the best play here.
**A Smooth Integration: The Real Challenge**
Getting Google to cooperate is a start, but it's not a long shot. The main is point is getting everything to work smoothly.
Siri isn't just an app; it's ingrained in Apple's products. Integrating Gemini with all of that, while maintaining privacy and speed, is a big deal.
The functionality needs to be perfect. It must feel like a normal conversation, respond quickly, and work on everything. If there are issues, customers will ignore it.
**Less Responsibility, Which Is Helpful**
By including Gemini, Apple takes off some of the workload. Apple doesn't need to build and train everything themselves.
That might result in a better Siri at long last. I'm not excited, but the future of Siri could be looking up.
I still got concerns, though. There always the potential of something breaking. Nonetheless, they might be on track.
**Your Thoughts?**
Are you with me, or are you more optimistic about Apple's Siri? What do you think about the Google collaboration? What do you think is going to happen?
2.Apple Doctor Reveals 9 Lesser-Known Health Features on the Apple Watch
Alright, so you've got an Apple Watch? Sweet! Whether it's the latest model or an older version, it's more than just a watch. It's like a mini health gadget on your wrist! It keeps an eye on your body, the sounds around you, and your everyday stuff. It can seriously help you live healthier.
But here's the thing: tons of super cool features are just sitting there, barely used, or not even known about. It's like having a super fancy gadget and only using it to check the time!
To really get the most out of your Apple Watch, I'm going to point out a few health features. It's also got info from Dr. Lauren Cheung, who works at Apple, and I'll give you simple steps to set everything up.
**1. Sleep Tracking: Your Nightly Health Report**
Think of Sleep Tracking as a sneak peek into your body's work while you're sleeping. It gives you a quick look at things like:
* **Heart Rate:** See if your heart was quiet or pumping.
* **Wrist Temperature:** Could be a sign of being sick or just a warm room.
* **Breathing Rate:** How many breaths you took per minute while asleep.
* **Sleep Duration:** How long you slept.
This Sleep Tracking is for Watches. It paints a picture of your body while you're sleeping.
Dr. Cheung says, If your health is going crazy, we'll send you a heads-up. Like, if your heart rate and temperature are both up, it *could* mean you're getting sick or had too much to drink.
**How to start:**
1. **Wear it always:** Put that watch on every night for at least a week.
2. **Tight fit:** Make sure it's not loose.
3. **Turn on the alerts:** Find Settings on your watch, then Sleep and turn on notifications.
4. **Sleep:** On your iPhone, go to the Health app, tap Set Up Sleep and follow the steps. Or, use the Sleep app right on your watch.
**2. Noise Warnings: Protect Your Ears**
This one's pretty neat. The Noise app is like a sound meter, checking how loud things are. If it gets too loud, you get a notification. It's good if you live in a loud city, go to concerts, or work in a loud place.
Cheung says, It can get loud so it's good to know how the noise impacts your hearing.
**Get it ready:**
1. **On your iPhone, open the Watch app.**
2. **Tap My Watch, then Noise, then Noise Threshold.**
3. **Choose how loud is too loud.**
4. **Extra:** If you've got AirPods Pro (2nd or 3rd generation), you can do a hearing test, or use them as hearing helpers!
**3. Ovulation Thoughts: Smarter Tempatures**
For women, this is good. Watches have temperature sensors that can guess when you are. The Tempature app uses that info to make better guesses.
Cheung says, Because of chemicals, you show signs after which our set up is more exact.
**How to use it:**
1. **Open the Health app on your iPhone or iPad.**
2. **Tap Tempature.**
3. **Wear it to sleep.**
**4. Fall Finding: Always Watching**
This is good to have. If your watch feels a fall, it will ask if you're good. If you do not respond, it calls people to help.
Cheung says, If you work out, you can have it on while being able to find if you are working out.
**Set it up:**
1. **On your iPhone, open the Watch app.**
2. **Tap My Watch, then Emergency SOS, then Fall Finding.**
3. **Choose working out?**
If you are over a certain age, it is on!
**5. Heart Health Warnings: Know Your Heart's Beat**
Your Watch checks on your heart rate. It can warn you if your heart rate is high or low.
Cheung says, People don't care so we want them to.
**How to start:**
1. **On your iPhone, open the Watch app.**
2. **Tap My Watch, then Heart, then set the limits.**
3. **Open the Health app.**
**6. Time in Sun: Get Some Sun!**
Going outside is good – it helps your mood, sleep, and gives you vitamin D. Your Watch checks how much time you are in the sun.
Cheung says, For adults, take 5 minutes. For Little people take 1 hour.
**Set it up:**
1. **On your iPhone, go to Settings, then Safety, then Where You Are.**
2. **To see your data, open the Health app.**
**Main Thoughts**
The Apple Watch is more than just a fitness thing. It is there to support you. So, use it! The Apple Watch wants to help.
3.AMD Confirms Ongoing Driver Updates for RX 5000 and RX 6000 GPUs
Here's the deal with AMD's graphics card drivers – it's actually not as dramatic as everyone thought!
Recently, there was a rumor going around that AMD was going to stop supporting older Radeon graphics cards. It started after the Adrenalin 25.10.2 driver came out. When people read the details, it sounded like the RX 5000 and RX 6000 series cards (you know, RDNA 1 and 2 for the tech nerds) were going to be left in the dust with little to no support. Obviously, folks got worried! Nobody wants their graphics card to become useless.
Making matters a bit worse, the update briefly messed up USB-C charging on the RX 7900 series. Not a good look. Plus, the driver download was huge –over 1 GB! The USB-C problem was fixed pretty quickly, but people were still unsure about the whole driver situation.
But there is good news! AMD heard all the chatter and stepped in to set the record straight. Basically, they said, “Hey, calm down! We're not abandoning you.” They made it clear that the RX 5000 and RX 6000 cards will still get updates with support for new games, better performance, and yes, those important bug fixes and security patches. That's a huge relief if you're still using those cards – and a lot of people are!
**So, What Did AMD *Really* Do?**
Instead of just cutting support for the older cards, AMD came up with a smarter idea: two separate driver paths.
* One is for the older cards that still work great (RDNA 1 and RDNA 2, the RX 5000 and RX 6000 series).
* The other is for the newer stuff (RDNA 3, like the RX 7000 series, and maybe RDNA 4, which would be the RX 9000 series someday).
Think of it this way: the older cards get a driver that’s reliable and has been tested a lot. It should keep games running smoothly. The newer cards get a driver that lets AMD test out new stuff and features.
**Why Should You Care?**
If you have an RX 5000 or RX 6000 series card, this is actually good. These cards are still pretty popular, so people were nervous about being left behind.
AMD said that Radeon RX 5000 and RX 6000 series cards will continue to get:
* Support for new games as they are released.
* Better Performance and work more stable.
* Security and bug fixes.
The idea here is that this new driver setup will keep the older cards running well because it won’t include changes that are only for new tech.
**Is This a Better Way to Handle Drivers?**
AMD thinks they can do both. This will let them:
* Add new features to the RX 7000 and RX 9000 cards quicker.
* Keep the RX 5000 and RX 6000 cards working and solid.
* Make sure that a change for one card doesn’t mess up another card.
This is what most software companies do now: have a stable version while people are working on a fancy new version.
**What Does This Mean for Gamers?**
The important thing is: if you're gaming on an RX 5000 or RX 6000 card, relax! AMD is sticking with you. You'll get updates to get better performance, less problems, and keep things safe. You might not get all the fancy new features for RX 7000 and RX 9000, but your games should run great.
New games need a lot of power, so it's nice to know that AMD isn’t leaving anyone behind.
**What's Next?**
AMD wants everyone to know that:
They've helped Radeon gamers for a long time, and that’s not going to change. Whether you are gaming on an RX 5000, RX 6000, or RX 7000 card, things will keep going like they are.
AMD's message is simple: they pay attention to everyone.
**What Should You Do?**
If you're using a Radeon RX 5000 or RX 6000 series card, download the Adrenalin 25.10.2 driver. It’s the new set of drivers, and it has a lot of improvements.
Then, keep an eye on future driver releases, and see how AMD’s plan works out. They said they're keeping older cards supported, so we'll see if they do.
**To Sum Up**
AMD told everyone what was going on to clear up the confusion about their driver support. Separate drivers for new and old cards helps gamers chill out.
But the test will be if AMD keeps adding support to games later on. If they do what they said, people will trust AMD. For now, if you have an older card, you can relax.
4.iOS 26 Rolls Out — Everything You Should Know About Apple’s Latest Update
Apple dropped iOS 26 this September, along with the iPhone 17 and that crazy-thin iPhone Air. And I gotta say, it's a pretty sweet update. It really does seem like they've reworked the whole system, from the way it looks to how you actually use it. You notice that immediately when you pick it up. It just feels polished, like they really spent time making things smooth. It looks like Apple's trying to make your phone faster, more personal, and super secure.
**So, What's the Deal with Liquid Glass?**
The first thing you see is this Liquid Glass design. It's all over the place, and it affects how you do things on your iPhone. We're talking transparent stuff, animations that morph into each other, and some really cool wallpapers. Even the buttons and icons look deeper. It's almost like the screen has layers now. Some people will love it, but some people will hate it.
Want to mess with the Liquid Glass settings? Easy. Go to Settings, then Display & Brightness. You can choose between a Clear look or a Tinted one. Apple also tweaked the Lock Screen. The clock moves so it doesn't hide your wallpaper. Pretty cool, right?
**Blocking Annoying Spammers and Talking to People**
One thing I noticed in iOS 26 is this Call Screening thing. Now, when random numbers call, Siri jumps in and asks who they are. And get this – you can read what they're saying on your screen! You can tell if it's a real call or just a spam call trying to get your credit card details. This is extremely useful when you're in meetings, driving, or just chilling at home and want peace and quiet. Basically, Siri asks the caller for their name and why they're calling, and then shows you the answers on your screen. Then, you can tap to answer, block them, or send them straight to voicemail.
And get this: they've added Live Translation! It's built into Messages, FaceTime, and even regular phone calls. This means you can talk to people even if you don't speak the same language. Chatting with your friends around the world just became easier! Just set the languages, and the iPhone does the rest. I gave it a shot, and it worked pretty well. Not perfect, but it's good!
**Keeping Your Personal Stuff Safe**
Apple's big on privacy, and that shows in iOS 26. They've got this AppMigrationKit that moves all your data to your new phone without any issues. I know a lot of people will be grateful for it because it makes upgrading to a new iPhone a lot smoother. They also gave PhotoKit some upgrades, so you have more say over which apps get access to your photos.
Then, there's Private Cloud Compute. Apple's built servers that try to keep things private. The goal is that what you ask Siri stays on your phone and doesn't get sent everywhere.
**It's All About the Little Things**
Besides the big changes, iOS 26 also has some smaller updates that make your iPhone easier to use.
* **Lock Screen Camera**: Ever accidentally swipe open the camera from the Lock Screen? You can turn that shortcut off now.
* **Snoozing Alarms**: Now, it's super easy to snooze your alarm – just swipe. Simple but effective.
* **Control Center**: You can now decide which buttons appear at the top of your Control Center.
**Siri's Getting Smarter**
Apple's been working on Siri, and it's paying off. Now, Siri uses Visual Intelligence to find photos. For instance, if Siri sees an address in a photo, it might ask if you want to add it to your calendar or get directions. Plus, when you're looking at pictures, you can show Siri a photo of your dog, and it'll know it's a Golden Retriever.
Siri's also getting better at understanding what you say. If you ask a question, it can usually figure out which one you mean.
**Always Changing**
Apple's already released iOS 26.1, which fixes some bugs with Liquid Glass and makes things run smoother. I'm sure, there is more to come. I’d wait for the next update or two before installing, just to be safe.
Here's how to update your device:
* Go to Settings, then tap General, then Software Update. If there's an update, tap install.
* You can also turn on Automatic Updates so it updates while you're asleep.
**Thinking About a New iPhone?**
If the iPhone 17 sounds good, Apple's doing trade-ins. You give them your old iPhone and get a discount on the new one.
**To Sum It Up**
iOS 26 is more than just another update; it changes how your iPhone feels. Though, not everyone might be a fan of the Liquid Glass look. Give it a look for yourself!
If you're into phones and gadgets, iOS 26 might be worth it. Check your phone, think about if you should trade your old phone and try it out.
5.Google Wallet Update Could Finally Solve a Major Commuting Issue
Google Wallet is about to get a cool update that'll make paying for public transportation way easier. It's called Express Transit Card, and basically, it lets you just tap your phone to pay without having to unlock it first.
Think about it: you're rushing to catch the bus, or trying to squeeze onto a crowded train. The last thing you wanna do is fumble with your phone, open the app, and pick the right card. With this new feature, you just tap and go. Boom.
So, here's the deal: you'll be able to pick one of your cards to be your go-to transit card. It's separate from your regular tap-to-pay card. Then, when you're at the train station or on the bus, you just tap your phone on the reader, and you're good. No need for a PIN, fingerprint, or face scan.
This is super handy if you have a bunch of cards or switch between them a lot. Being able to quickly pay will be a welcome relief.
Now, it's worth saying that Apple Pay and Samsung Wallet already have similar features. So, Google's kinda late to the party. But hey, better late than never, right? It means Android users can finally have the same kind of quick and easy transit payments that iPhone users have enjoyed for a while.
Why does all this even matter? Well, public transportation is a really common thing for people to use when paying with their phones. But it's also a time-sensitive thing. If you're trying to get on a bus or through a subway turnstile, a little bit of delay can be super annoying.
This Express Transit Card helps with that. It takes away those extra steps. It's really useful if you're carrying a bunch of stuff, your phone's battery is low, or you're just in a hurry.
It also makes things easier for people who have trouble getting around or have vision problems. Simplifying the payment makes using public transit less stressful.
But wait, there's more! Google Wallet has been getting upgrades too. For example:
* **Live travel updates:** If you're on Android 16, you'll be able to see real-time flight and train info in Google Wallet. That means you don't have to switch between different apps to stay in the loop.
* **Better pass management:** It's now easier to keep your boarding passes, tickets, and loyalty cards organized.
* **More places supported:** Google Wallet now works for transit payments in more cities and countries. So, if you travel a lot, that's a good thing.
Google hasn't said exactly when the Express Transit Card will be available. But since it's already in the latest version of the app, it should be soon. When it arrives, you'll probably be able to set it up in the Google Wallet settings and pick your default transit card.
It'll probably roll out slowly, starting in places where Google Wallet already works with transit systems. Hopefully, it'll expand to more cities and transit authorities over time.
Bottom line? lots of people will probably find this feature super useful. Not having to unlock your phone to pay for a ride is a small thing, but it can make a big difference. It's one of those things that once you start using it, you won't want to go back.
Whether you ride the bus every day or just travel once in a while, the Express Transit Card could make your trips simpler, quicker, and less stressful. It's a smart move. Google is making sure Android users have the same ease and speed when going about public transit as Apple and Samsung users do. Google Wallet is becoming a useful thing for everyday life. We're still waiting for the official release, but it's clear that Google Wallet is only getting better.
6.The Biggest Android Auto Problems That Desperately Need Fixing
Android Auto is one of those things you start using every single day, right? It's supposed to make driving simpler by bringing your maps, music, and messages right onto your car's dashboard screen. And, for the most part, it really does do that. That said, it's also got these little problems that can be super annoying. You know, those times where you're thinking, Seriously? Why is this so difficult? Google’s been making adjustments, which is cool, but it still feels like they need to go a bit further to get it working as well as it should.
Let's jump into what I love, what bugs me, and what I really hope Google fixes ASAP.
**Sound Levels for Directions: Why So Hard?**
Seriously, something as simple as turning up or down the voice giving you directions shouldn’t be so hard. Right now, the only way to turn up or down the volume of navigation instructions is WHILE she's actually talking. If you stop her to hear your friend better, you're stuck with the volume you have until the next direction. Trying to fix it while you're driving? That's not only annoying, but potentially unsafe.
Google Maps has a sample command hidden somewhere, but who has time to look for that? Why Not have a volume button right there in the Maps sidebar or in the settings? Tap it to get a slider, or have it cycle through soft, medium, or loud. Problem solved without risking an accident.
**Shortcuts: We want more!**
I saw that Google was thinking about letting us see more apps on the main screen, cars that have big screens. That's true, but that still misses the bigger picture. It’s not about *how many* apps you can *see*, but how immediately you can access the apps you *use the most*.
Think about it: When you’re driving, you don't want to scroll through a list of commands. You want something that you can just press with one tap. Google should allow drivers to create shortcuts for anything that they want. For example, you can add a button that immediately turns on your favorite Spotify playlist; a quick link to your home address in maps; or a button that texts the wife so she will know you're late. Pin them to the home screen, and you're done.
Think about tapping one time to start that road trip playlist, start guidance to your favorite coffee place, or just texting your friend you're running late. This kind of stuff will make the drive better and keep your attention on the road. It would make Android Auto almost feel like it *gets* you. It would make the drive not too distracting and a lot more responsive to people's needs. It would almost make your drive truly your own.
**Let Us Play With the Look!**
The way Android Auto looks has greatly changed in the last couple of years, and not in a good way. The roads on Google Maps became a darker gray, which made it difficult to see traffic. Little things like this influence the whole driver's vision and driving skills.
Right now, Google controls everything about how Android Auto looks. I know they are good with design, but their design choices suck. They should think about giving drivers choices to make it easier for them to drive.
Some other ideas:
* Give drivers a choice of what they want as a search bar. The options could be a bar that is fully-displayed, an icon only, or a dropdown menu for map searches.
* Give drivers the option of customizing roads and traffic flow to what colors they want. This will improve eyesight.
* Let drivers adjust the size of buttons or pictures on your music.
* Let drivers switch between dark and light modes with one click of a button.
Some other apps are really good at this. Android Auto should follow their lead and let people change the way they drive.
**Voice Commands: Complete Disaster!**
Talking to your car *should* be the best thing about Android Auto. It just makes sense that if you are driving, then you do not want to pick up your smartphone. It seems like a bad joke. Using wrong words, delayed words, or just any words that are not making sense, makes it not worth using.
I read that Google Assistant will change to the new assistant, but I still don't see it on my system. It could really change the way you drive because of its ability to react fast.
Until this stuff happens, it’s not going anywhere. It's not good at directions, messaging, or really anything that someone wants to do. I think it's better at setting up reminders than it is for stuff you need while driving.
If the voice recognition worked well, then people would change their mind. It would almost feel like you are talking to a co-pilot.
**Passenger Mode: The Time Is Now!**
Android Auto is about keeping the driver protected. I know that putting in information while a car is moving is disabled. Then what should the passenger do while they are there? What about the passenger choosing the music to turn on the GPS?
Android Auto treats everyone the same, because if you are driving, then no one else can do it. Then drivers start to try going around these restrictions, which is not a good idea.
There needs to be a passenger mode! Let a passenger from another device change the music or the GPS. Otherwise, unlock it on the passenger with a password.
There are quite a few choices! Android Auto is becoming more viable for the driver and other passengers.
**Final Words**
Android Auto has a good reason for being here, but it lacks a lot of stuff. It wants to be safer and more connected. Still, drivers start to be annoyed at the way they have to drive. It needs some adjustments, such as making sound better or updating voice command.
The bright side is that Google cares, and they have listened to the community. But so that the drivers can use it at the peak, then they should listen to what the drivers are saying.
By reacting to what the drivers say, then drivers will have a tool that makes them successful. Until then, we shall get excited for the future!
7.Xi Jokes About Backdoors While Gifting Xiaomi Phone to South Korea’s Lee
At this recent APEC thing, China's President Xi Jinping was hanging out with South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung. As a gift, Xi hands over a couple of Xiaomi phones. Then, get this, he jokes about how everyone's always freaking out about security problems with these phones! It was actually pretty funny.
Apparently, Xi was also shooting the breeze with Donald Trump, when Trump was still the US President, at the same APEC meeting. Someone got the phone gift on video, and naturally, it blew up online.
As Xi gave President Lee the phones, Lee was kind of joking around, asking about hacking and security. Xi laughs, points at the phones, and says, and you know he's got this smile, Hey, go ahead and look for any secret doors! They both got a good chuckle out of it. Thought it was a light and funny moment, especially when you think about all the heavy stuff they got to talk about.
**Real Concerns Behind the Joke**
Even if it was just a joke, it talks about some very real worries we have about tech and if people are spying on us. Lots of American politicians, and folks all over the globe, feel that Chinese tech companies, think Huawei, might be sneaking in ways to get into their devices. This idea is that these little ways in could be used to watch people or steal info. Because of this, some countries in the West are banning some Chinese tech or adding restrictions to it.
Huawei and other companies are saying that none of this is real. They insist that their stuff is safe and that the government doesn't mess with them. But the back and forth between the US and China still exists and affects everything from production to trade. People are starting to trust certain brands less, which changes relationships between countries.
Here's something to consider...some US officials thought about doing the same thing...adding secret ways into American tech! The US came close to gaining backdoor passage to all Nvidia chips to see what was going on in those chips, but was not granted permission. Nvidia was very afraid of all the misuse that could happen if they ever did approve such a request.
**Why Everyone's Talking About Xiaomi**
The part about Xi giving Xiaomi phones as a gift is interesting. Xiaomi, based in Beijing, because a mega company real fast, and they make a bunch of different stuff. They became famous by smartphones that are cheap, smart home gadgets, and these days, electric cars.
After the joke became super popular, Xiaomi's stock went up in Hong Kong. The present made headlines. The second reason for that was news that their electric car sales are up. When big Chinese leaders do something that helps a business, you know investors are paying attention.
When some folks watched the video, they remembered to bring up that these phones have curved screens, and that was made by a South Korean company. So that shows that China and South Korea are still working together in tech. Even when things are tense politically or business related, they seem to be friends.
**What China and South Korea Want**
The phone thing could be that China and South Korea are trying to get along better. They haven't always been on the same page, basically trade stuff and security stuff going on in the Pacific. Both of them have important relationships with the US. So just imagine how complicated things can get.
Xi visiting South Korean says that they want to work together more. Companies, like Xiaomi, are part of that, since they get parts for phone screens from South Korea. Both of them depend on each other to help tech grow.
Come on, these public things matter. The U.S. has been trying to get other countries to not use Chinese tech. China and South Korea getting along is important to see.
**What it means for business**
The joke has repercussions going way outside national relations. For Xiaomi, the exchange was a way to show their products to the world. Investors loved to see and noticed that their value for their stock went up.
Businesses are always changing, so it's important to keep an eye out. It's a combination of progress, security, and politics, and they are all taking place globally. Business need to stay compliant with policies, rules, and laws that are in place. The transparency and adaptable behavior is key and required for free trade to take place globally.
**The End.**
President Xi Jinping’s joke, which was about security issues on phones, seems basic and standard, when in reality is contains many ideas that many can learn from. Remember that having cybersecurity is the most important. Tech carries consequences. Making things less uptight is sometimes as simple as a joke.
8.Singapore’s Digital Payment Revolution: How Innovation Is Reshaping Its Financial Future
Singapore's digital payments scene is changing fast. A lot of this has to do with better APIs (application programming interfaces), improvements to the ways banks handle digital stuff, and some new rules from the government. The market for what's called embedded finance – things like loans, insurance, payments, and managing your money – seems to be going up in Singapore. This is happening because companies are working together and using APIs to connect everything. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), which is like the country's central bank, is helping by setting up rules and giving out digital banking licenses. This means you're seeing financial services popping up in apps and platforms that aren't banks, which makes things easier for people and offers more options. Experts think this will keep growing as it gets easier for small and medium-sized businesses to get loans, as more people pay with their phones, and as buy now, pay later becomes even more common. A lot of this is thanks to new technology and making data more open.
In other news from the stock market, Shriram Finance seemed to perform well, increasing by 6.4% and ending the day at ₹796.55, which is very close to its highest point in the last year. The company announced on Friday that they made more money than last year.
Also, read our article about Bitcoin ETFs to learn about the ups and downs of putting money into digital assets.
Here are some digital payment stocks that caught our attention:
Fiserv closed at $66.69, up 2.3%, but it's still near its lowest price in the past year.
SoFi Technologies ended at $29.68, up 2.2%.
PayPal Holdings closed at $69.27, up 2%.
Some financial analysts are thinking that Shriram Finance might continue to grow if they take a smart approach and if interest rates are reduced.
Want more ideas?
Take a look at our stock screener to check out 212 Digital Payment Stocks, including Wells Fargo, Jack Henry & Associates and Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M.
Looking at different investment strategies? AI is on the verge of transforming healthcare. There are 33 stocks that are working on everything from early diagnoses to drug discovery. Most exciting part? They are all under $10 billion in market cap; there is still time to get in.
This article is just meant to give you some general information. We're sharing our thoughts based on what we've seen in the past and what analysts are predicting. We're not telling you to buy or sell any stocks, and we're not taking your personal situation into account. Our goal is to provide analysis that looks at the long term and is based on solid data. Keep in mind that we might not know about the very latest news from these companies. Simply Wall St doesn't own any of the stocks mentioned.
9.OnePlus 13 Joins LineageOS’s Officially Supported Devices
OnePlus 13, even though it's an older flagship from 2025, is getting a cool update! It now supports LineageOS 23, which is awesome news if you want a different experience other than OxygenOS. This basically gives the phone a fresh start and extends its life.
Remember how the OnePlus 12 got LineageOS support last month? Well, it seems OnePlus phones, in general, work really well with custom ROMs. People who like to tweak and customize their phones, really dig them. So, the OnePlus 13 getting LineageOS 23 just keeps that reputation going.
Even though the OnePlus 15 will be released，the 13 came out in early 2025 with some serious power. We're talking a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a really smooth AMOLED screen, and cameras that can handle pretty much anything. So yeah, it's still a solid phone.
One thing that bugs OnePlus fans is that the company usually only supports its phones with updates for like, five years. Other brands, like Samsung, are doing seven years now. LineageOS becomes pretty important if you are the type of people who want to make their phone lives longer to its full potential.
LineageOS is a popular option in the Android community; it's a custom ROM (basically, a different version of Android you can install). It is well-known because it is stable, focuses on user's privacy, and is plain stock Android. If you prefer a clean Android experience, similar to what you'd get on a Google Pixel, without all the extra stuff that phone companies add, LineageOS is a great option.
So, with LineageOS 23, the OnePlus 13 can actually run a newer version of Android than what it originally shipped with. Right now, most of these phones are running Android 15, and OxygenOS 16 is still in beta. But LineageOS 23 is based on Android 16, so you get the cool new features early.
What's new in LineageOS 23? A few things! The Twelve music player got some improvements to playback experience. There is also some behind-the-scenes tweaks to make the phone faster, improve battery life, and keep things stable.
One thing to keep in mind is that LineageOS 23 doesn't have the newest Material 3 UI yet, which comes with Android 16 QPR1. Apparently, Google hasn't released the code that LineageOS developers need to implement that. It means future updates might take a little longer, and some of the visual changes will be missing for now.
Alright, so should you install LineageOS? If you are experienced with Android and custom ROMs, you probably already know what to do. But if you are new to this, there are a few things to be aware of; you'll need to unlock the bootloader on your OnePlus 13, and that will wipe all your data and might void your warranty. You'll also have to install something called TWRP (a custom recovery tool) and follow the LineageOS installation process very carefully.
Despite these things, you'll get a streamlined Android system, minus all the bloatware and ads from the phone company. You'll also get updates faster (usually), better privacy options, and the freedom to set up your phone exactly how you like it.
Again, because of the current code situation, LineageOS updates might not be quite as quick or full of changes as they normally are. If you want something that just works out of the box, you might want to wait for the official OxygenOS 16 release. But if you're excited to try Android 16 and prefer a cleaner interface, LineageOS is a great choice.
Basically, with LineageOS support, the OnePlus 13 is a more tempting option if you like keeping your phones going for a long time and having control over the software. It might not be the newest phone anymore, but it is still strong, and LineageOS helps it stay relevant.
If you're thinking of getting a OnePlus 13 and find the heavier OxygenOS interface annoying, or you want to keep the phone useful after OnePlus stops sending updates, this is a solid move. Whether you like tinkering with your phone, prefer minimalism, or just want to have more say in how your phone works, a OnePlus 13 with LineageOS 23 is a good deal.
In conclusion, the OnePlus 13 with LineageOS 23 is now a good alternative; It gives people a cleaner, faster, and more adjustable Android experience. There are some minor issues because of the delay on releasing the kernel code, but it's a worth alternative rom to keep your phone up to date.
If you're cool with unlocking your phone and installing a custom ROM, the OnePlus 13 now has great support in the Android world. And since LineageOS is known for being stable and prioritizing the user, it's a solid way to keep your phone running smoothly for years to come.
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