Holiday Tech Gifts: 10 Useful Accessories for the iPad Owner in Your Life

Holiday Tech Gifts: 10 Useful Accessories for the iPad Owner in Your Life

If there’s one group that’s notoriously tricky to shop for during the holidays, it’s the iPad crowd. They’re particular about their tools, they already have the basics, and their wish lists are usually… aspirational. But with the right mix of practicality and delight, you can absolutely surprise the iPad owner in your life this season. Whether they use their device for work, creativity, travel, or simply to unwind, these 10 holiday tech gifts for iPad users in 2025 offer real value — not clutter. Best of all, each item pairs beautifully with the newest iPad Pro and iPad Air models, […] The post Holiday Tech Gifts: 10 Useful Accessories for the iPad Owner in Your Life appeared first on Phandroid .

Interviews with copywriters on generative AI's impact: job losses to AI, work used for training, falling wages and rates, freelancers losing clients, and more (Brian Merchant/Blood in the Machine)

Interviews with copywriters on generative AI's impact: job losses to AI, work used for training, falling wages and rates, freelancers losing clients, and more (Brian Merchant/Blood in the Machine)

Brian Merchant / Blood in the Machine : Interviews with copywriters on generative AI's impact: job losses to AI, work used for training, falling wages and rates, freelancers losing clients, and more —  Copywriters were one of the first to have their jobs targeted by AI firms.  These are their stories, three years into the AI era.

The best Secret Santa gift ideas for 2025: Affordable gifts you can still get from Lego, Apple, Yeti and more

The best Secret Santa gift ideas for 2025: Affordable gifts you can still get from Lego, Apple, Yeti and more

Secret Santa gift exchanges can be chaotic in the best way. One minute you’re drawing a name from a hat, the next you’re scrambling to figure out what they’d actually like. The trick is finding something that’s thoughtful, gets a laugh or feels useful without going over budget. Luckily there are plenty of gifts that do exactly that, whether you’re shopping for the office exchange, a family swap or a friend group tradition. From clever gadgets to playful desk toys and little luxuries, these ideas prove you can spend less than $50 and still land the perfect Secret Santa present. Best Secret Santa gift ideas Check out the rest of our gift ideas here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-best-secret-santa-gift-ideas-for-2025-affordable-gifts-you-can-still-get-from-lego-apple-yeti-and-more-130014284.html?src=rss

iPhone 12 Users in Australia Should Update to iOS 26.2, Here's Why

iPhone 12 Users in Australia Should Update to iOS 26.2, Here's Why

In a support document published on Friday, Apple said that a "technical failure" in Australia prevented some older mobile phones from being able to make emergency calls by dialing 000, and it said there is a low chance that it could happen again. "In the rare event that these exceptional circumstances affecting mobile operators' networks were to happen again, some older mobile phones may still encounter the same issue reaching emergency services through an alternate available network," said Apple. The document does not provide many specific details, but there are some recent news reports about what sounds like a related issue affecting Samsung phones. Apple said the issue "impacted some Australians in regional areas who attempted to make an emergency call when their primary mobile network was unavailable, even though an alternate network was available and should have connected the call." Apple said "mobile operators are taking steps to mitigate future issues." For iPhone 12 users specifically, Apple vaguely stated that the iOS 26.2 update released last week "provides support for this scenario." "iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, and all iPhone models from iPhone 13 and newer are not affected," said Apple. "For iPhone 12 users, iOS 26.2 provides support for this scenario. If it is determined that any earlier iPhone models are impacted, customers will receive additional information and guidance directly from their mobile operator." To update your iPhone, open the Settings app on the device and tap General → Software Update. Related Roundups: iOS 26 , iPadOS 26 Related Forum: iOS 26 This article, " iPhone 12 Users in Australia Should Update to iOS 26.2, Here's Why " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

iRobot has filed for bankruptcy and may be taken over by its primary supplier

iRobot has filed for bankruptcy and may be taken over by its primary supplier

iRobot, which brought robotic vacuum cleaners to the masses with its iconic Roomba models, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy . The Massachusetts-based company plans to sell all assets to its primary supplier, a Chinese company known as Picea Robotics. If approved by a bankruptcy court, the move would allow iRobot to "continue operating in the ordinary course, pursue its product development roadmap, and maintain its global footprint," iRobot wrote in a press release. The company expects the deal to close in February 2026, but says it will continue to operate "with no anticipated disruption to its app functionality, customer programs, global partners, supply chain relationships or ongoing product support." That means your Roomba should continue to clean normally and you'll be able to get consumables and replacement parts. However, investors of common stock "will experience a total loss and not receive recovery on their investment" if the deal is approved, iRobot stated. The company didn't discuss how the move might affect its employees in the US or elsewhere. Bankruptcy seemed a likely outcome for iRobot after Amazon dropped its $1.7 billion acquisition of the company last year following a veto threat by European regulators. The company's fortunes continued to decline and it issued a statement to investors in March 2025 that it had "substantial doubt about [its] ability to continue." It's a sad turn of events for the company that invented the robotic vacuum niche and launched its first product, the Roomba, back in 2002. It dominated that space for more than a decade, but its market size has steadily shrunk more recently, particularly since Covid, due to competition from rivals like Roborock and Dreame. Though iRobot retooled its product lineup earlier this year with new models like the Roomba 105 Vac Robot series and Roomba Plus 505 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock, but they failed to move the sales needle enough. The company was reportedly hit hard by Trump's 46 percent tariff in Vietnam where it manufactures products for the US market. If the sale is approved, iRobot says it will return in force. "Today's announcement marks a pivotal milestone in securing iRobot's long-term future," said CEO Gary Cohen. "The transaction will strengthen our financial position and will help deliver continuity for our consumers, customers, and partners." This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/irobot-has-filed-for-bankruptcy-and-may-be-taken-over-by-its-primary-supplier-091602257.html?src=rss

Leak Reveals Foldable iPhone Details

Leak Reveals Foldable iPhone Details

The first foldable iPhone will feature a series of design and hardware firsts for Apple, according to details shared by the Weibo leaker known as Digital Chat Station . According to a new post, via machine translation, Apple is developing what the leaker describes as a "wide foldable" device, a term used to refer to a horizontally oriented, book-style foldable with a large internal display. The device is said to prioritize thinness, with several major design decisions reportedly made to reduce the overall thickness of the chassis. Chief among these is the use of a side-mounted Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The leaker claims Apple has chosen not to include 3D Face ID hardware or a 3D ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor, as both systems would add internal volume and complicate efforts to slim down the device. The post further claims that the foldable's hinge has been engineered to a particularly high standard, describing the hinge design as "very strong." While no deeper technical details are provided, this aligns with long-standing industry expectations that Apple is placing heavy emphasis on hinge durability and crease reduction , areas where foldable devices have historically faced criticism. The leaker states that the current engineering prototype features a 7.58-inch internal display equipped with an under-panel front-facing camera, often abbreviated as UPC. Under-panel camera technology allows the camera to sit beneath the display layer, eliminating visible cutouts when the camera is not in use. For the external display, the leaker claims Apple is using a 5.25-inch panel with a punch-hole camera implemented via a HIAA (Hole-In-Active-Area) design, a technique that minimizes inactive screen space around the cutout. It is unclear what will happen to the Dynamic Island in both instances. The post also claims the device will feature a dual 48-megapixel rear camera system described as having a "large base," which suggests a physically larger sensor size than pixel count alone indicates. Digital Chat Station adds that the foldable smartphone segment will be "reinvigorated" next year, implying that there will be renewed momentum after a period of slower growth and incremental updates. The leaker reiterated an earlier claim that Samsung is also evaluating a new wide-format foldable device. Digital Chat Station has a relatively good track record for Apple rumors. They accurately revealed the overall design of the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro , the triple 48-megapixel rear camera system of the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌, the iPhone 17 's slimmer bezels and a larger display with ProMotion , ‌iPhone‌ 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus's slightly smaller 48-megapixel sensor , and display panel design of the ‌iPhone‌ 12. Tags: Digital Chat Station , Foldable iPhone This article, " Leak Reveals Foldable iPhone Details " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

AI image generators like Nano Banana have increased realism by mimicking phone camera traits in contrast, exposure, and sharpening to avoid the uncanny valley (Allison Johnson/The Verge)

AI image generators like Nano Banana have increased realism by mimicking phone camera traits in contrast, exposure, and sharpening to avoid the uncanny valley (Allison Johnson/The Verge)

Allison Johnson / The Verge : AI image generators like Nano Banana have increased realism by mimicking phone camera traits in contrast, exposure, and sharpening to avoid the uncanny valley —  Remember the early days of AI image generation?  Oh how we laughed when our prompts resulted in people with too many fingers …

Apple Fitness+ Comes to 28 New Countries Today

Apple Fitness+ Comes to 28 New Countries Today

Apple Fitness+ today expanded to 28 new markets in the service's largest international rollout since launch, accompanied by new language dubbing and a K-Pop music genre. The service today became available in Norway, Poland, the Philippines, Sweden, Vietnam, Chile, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, and additional regions, with Japan scheduled to follow early next year. The expansion increases total availability to 49 countries, with a full list available at the bottom of Apple's press release . Hundreds of sessions are initially available with digitally generated voice dubbing in Spanish and German, with Japanese set to be added when the service launches in Japan. New dubbed episodes will be released weekly across all supported regions. The new dubbing system uses a generated voice modeled on each of the 28 Fitness+ trainers' real voices. Users will be able to switch audio tracks after starting a session or set a preferred language in the Fitness app, which will automatically default to the dubbed version when available. Apple has not previously offered dubbed workout content on Fitness+, instead relying on subtitles for non-English markets since the service launched in 2020. Apple is also adding a new K-Pop music genre to the service, which will be available across workout types. The new category joins existing genres such as Upbeat Anthems, Latest Hits, Hip-Hop/R&B, and Latin Grooves. Prior to today, Fitness+ was already available in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK, and the U.S. Tag: Apple Fitness Plus This article, " Apple Fitness+ Comes to 28 New Countries Today " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Invincible VS Gets April Release Date Alongside 'Ella Mental' Character Reveal In Gameplay Trailer

Invincible VS Gets April Release Date Alongside 'Ella Mental' Character Reveal In Gameplay Trailer

Invincible VS is bringing Robert Kirkman's critically acclaimed superhero comic to the video game fighting space, and the latest trailer reveals that it launches on April 30 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. That same trailer also reveals Ella Mental, an all-new original character who will be making her Invincible universe debut in Invincible VS when it launches next year. The trailer, which debuted at The Game Awards 2025 , highlights Ella Mental's abilities to command earth, wind, fire, and water after discovering an ancient family totem that grants her superpowers. She will be voiced by rapper Tierra Whack, too. Check out Ella Mental in the latest Invincible VS trailer below: "Created by Invincible co-creators Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, Ella Mental's story begins as an heiress to her family's fortune," a press release reads. "Known for being studious and hardworking, she becomes her grandfather's favorite and gains access to his inheritance, where she discovers an ancient totem that grants her superpowers." In the press release, Tierra Whack, Ella Mental's voice actor, says, "When I was reading the role for Ella Mental, it felt just like I was reading about myself; it felt divine. We're so alike. She's powerful, she's strong, and she knows what she wants. She's a trailblazer, and as an Invincible fan, I'm so excited to get to voice her." Ella Mental is one of the 18 playable fighters available in Invincible VS when it launches in April. She joins the likes of Invincible himself, Mark Grayson, Thula, Bulletproof, Atom Eve, Rex Splode, Omni-Man, Battle Beast, Cecil Stedman, Robot, and Monster Girl. While waiting for Invincible VS, read Game Informer's hands-on preview of the game, and then check out this preview for more details about Cecil. Are you checking out Invincible VS when it launches in April? Let us know in the comments below!