On April 2, OpenAI announced it would launch ChatGPT Voice on CarPlay.
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Top AirPods Deals Available Now
If you know where to look, you can often score deals on Appleâs ever-expanding AirPods lineup. Both the AirPods Pro 3 and the AirPods 4 (with and without ANC) now consistently receive discounts, as do the AirPods Pro 3. And while major shopping events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day have delivered some of the […]
iOS 26.4 Unveils Three Fresh Customization Options for iPhone Users
# iOS 26.4: Fresh Customization Options for Your iPhone
iOS 26.4 has officially arrived, introducing numerous new features, including three innovative ways to personalize your iPhone. Here’s what’s new.
## 1. ‘Reduce Bright Effects’ Lowers Flashy Visual Elements
For those who aren’t fond of iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design, the ideal way to tone it down is through the existing ‘Tinted’ option found in Settings ⇾ Display & Brightness ⇾ Liquid Glass. However, if you’re seeking further adjustments, iOS 26.4 adds a new ‘Reduce Bright Effects’ option.
You can locate the toggle under Settings ⇾ Accessibility ⇾ Display & Text Size. Activating it will, according to Apple:
> Minimize highlighting and flashing when engaging with on-screen elements, like buttons or the keyboard.
You can view examples of the impact it makes [here](https://9to5mac.com/2026/03/09/ios-26-4s-new-setting-lets-you-disable-another-liquid-glass-effect/). Whether you enjoy Liquid Glass or prefer to avoid it, you may find the ‘Reduce Bright Effects’ option more to your liking.
## 2. Automate Various iPhone Battery Charge Limits
Your iPhone comes equipped with a battery feature dubbed ‘Charge Limit.’ This allows you to establish a maximum charge limit from 80-100% of total battery capacity. The concept behind this feature is that maintaining a lower charge limit can enhance your battery’s longevity.
With iOS 26.4, Apple introduces a new functionality to personalize your iPhone’s charge limit through automation. The Shortcuts app now includes a ‘Set Battery Charge Limit’ action, applicable in various straightforward or intricate shortcuts.
One of its most compelling applications is through the Automation feature in Shortcuts. After creating a shortcut with the new charge limit action, you can have your battery automatically charge to different levels based on various factors such as being home or away, connected to Wi-Fi or utilizing 5G, and much more.
## 3. Personalize Video Subtitle Styles
The default video player in iOS 26.4 features a new option: the capability to customize subtitle styles. Whether you’re viewing content in Safari, the Apple TV app, or any other app that utilizes the default player, you’ll now find a Style option within the Subtitles menu.
Available styles include:
– Classic
– Large Text
– Outline Text
– Transparent Background
Additionally, there’s a ‘Manage Styles’ button that allows for further customization of subtitle appearance. This leads you to the Accessibility section in Settings, where subtitle style options were previously obscured.
Are you utilizing any of the new customization features in iOS 26.4 for iPhone? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Apple Alerts Candidates About Lottery Outcomes for WWDC 2023
Apple has begun informing developers of their status in the WWDC attendance lottery. Apple revealed its Worldwide Developers Conference on March 23, allowing developers one week to indicate their interest in attending in person.
### Apple will unveil iOS 27 at WWDC in June
WWDC 2026 will commence on Monday, June 8, and conclude on Friday, June 5. During the keynote address, Apple will unveil iOS 27, macOS 27, and other OS 27 releases.
Following this announcement, Apple will welcome developers for a week-long series of sessions that explore the latest technologies, including new AI tools, aimed at creating more advanced applications.
For developers, participating in WWDC presents a special chance to engage with Apple engineers face-to-face. Consequently, the high demand for attendance has necessitated the introduction of a lottery system about ten years ago.
Instead of selling out almost immediately, Apple allows developers a week to indicate their interest in attending. Those who are chosen randomly then have the opportunity to proceed with purchasing a ticket. Should they refuse, the lottery system persists, providing some who missed out with a second chance to attend.
Top 5 Smartphones Featuring the Quickest Charging Batteries Ever
leading smartphone brands have introduced their unique fast charging technologies, like SuperVOOC from OnePlus and FlashCharge from Vivo. Purchasing a device that provides some of the quickest charging capabilities ensures you can completely recharge your phone swiftly at any time throughout the day, preventing you from being caught without power. Additionally, it means you can avoid plugging your device in before bedtime, as it requires only a few minutes to charge, which can conveniently be done in the morning as you get ready to go out.
Nonetheless, with numerous smartphones debuting each year, it can be challenging to remember which models deliver the quickest charging. Fortunately, we have conducted thorough research by examining numerous press announcements and device unveiling articles from different sources to identify the five phones that provide the quickest charging speeds to date. We have included a specific methodology section at the conclusion of the article for those interested in the complete details on how we chose these devices.
Realme GT3
Unveiled in February at MWC 2023, the Realme GT3 (known as the GT Neo5 in China) established a benchmark for the entire sector by being the smartphone with the most rapid charging speeds to date. While it was offered in two different variants, one supporting up to 150 W fast charging, there was also a version capable of 240 W wired charging through USB-C utilizing the SuperVOOC charging standard. As per the Chinese smartphone maker, the 240 W SuperVOOC charger could charge the device from 0 to 100 percent in merely nine minutes and 30 seconds.
The device was equipped with a 4,600 mAh battery, charging from 0 to 20 percent in just 80 seconds. Just a 30-second charge could provide you with two hours of voice call time, three hours of music play, or an hour of video playback, according to the manufacturer. It
AirDrop on Pixel: Compatible Google Smartphones with Apple’s Feature
Google recently added AirDrop support to Pixel phones. Can yours do it?
Pinterest Accused Him of Violating Laid-Off Colleagues’ Privacy, Now He’s Going Public
It was late January, and Pinterest engineer Teddy Martin was on edge about recent layoffs at the company. Martin had just survived a round of cuts, but he and other employees were confused about who was being let go and why, and explanations from top executives including CEO Bill Ready had done little to quell […]
The ABS Challenge System Unveils Baseball’s Poorest Umpire
During Wednesday’s game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers, umpire CB Bucknor took a foul ball to the mask and had to be helped off the field. It was the cap to what has been a particularly bad week for one of the most controversial umpires in baseball. It started with perhaps […]
Bike Rack Innovator Launches Bluetooth Suction Cups to Attach Bikes to Cars
Richard Allen didn’t invent the automobile bike rack – his 1967 patent application makes it clear that others came before. But after nearly sixty years selling popular and simple mechanical bike carriers, his company Allen Bikes now offers a line of – yes – Bluetooth-monitored suction cups to stick bikes to your car. If you […]
Flipboard’s New ‘Social Websites’ Enable Publishers and Creators to Access the Open Social Web
Flipboard’s social websites consolidate profiles and posts from Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, YouTube, podcasts, blogs, and RSS feeds into a single, shared destination.
