App news
What changed in the apps you use, in our own words, with what it means for you and what to do about it.
- New feature
ChatGPT lets you lock private chats behind a PIN
If other people use your phone or computer, you can keep some ChatGPT conversations out of sight. It hides chats; it doesn't make them more secret from OpenAI.
- Heads-up
Some Galaxy phones report Android Auto and battery trouble on One UI 9
If Android Auto or your battery got worse right after the One UI 9 update, you're not the only one, and it's likely the update.
- New app
Affinity design app comes to iPad, free for individuals
If you draw, edit photos or lay out pages on an iPad, you can use a full design app without paying, as long as you skip the AI tools.
- Price change
T-Mobile Fiber launches a 5 Gig plan with a 10-year price lock
If T-Mobile Fiber reaches your address, this is a fast plan whose price shouldn't jump after an introductory year.
- Safety
Google takes down a botnet of 1.3 million Android TV boxes
If you use a cheap no-name Android TV box, it may be running a backdoor that uses your internet connection for strangers.
- New feature
Perplexity's Comet browser adds extensions on iPhone and iPad
If you want browser add-ons like a dark mode or a content blocker on your iPhone, Comet now offers them.
- New feature
MS NOW's live feed comes to TV apps without cable
If you want MS NOW live on your TV without cable, the membership now covers the TV apps too.
- Update
iOS 27.3 brings some Apple Intelligence features to China
If you use an iPhone in mainland China, you'll get part of Apple Intelligence for the first time, with Alibaba's AI in place of others.
- Update
Nothing OS 5.0 with Android 17 reaches more Nothing phones
If you have one of these Nothing phones, Android 17 and a new look are on the way or already waiting.
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In one line
- Gemini may let you choose Chat or Task as the defaultAndroid Authority found an "Answer type" setting in the Google app's code that would open Gemini straight in Chat or Task mode, instead of the buttons added last month. Google hasn't announced it.
- Zoom, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote now fit the iPhone DuoZoom and four Microsoft apps were updated to fill the iPhone Duo's inner display; Zoom shows shared content and participants at the same time. Teams isn't updated yet.
- OpenAI doubles ChatGPT Pro limits instead of cutting themAfter complaints about a planned cut, OpenAI doubled the usage limits of all ChatGPT Pro tiers and Business Premium, starting 29 October.
- Text your ChatGPT Dot from your messages appChatGPT Pro users in the US can now message their Dot, OpenAI's background assistant, through Google Messages (RCS) or iMessage, as a preview.
- Google's Gemini 4 Carbon goes to security teams firstGoogle announced Gemini 4 Carbon, its new top Gemini model; for now only selected cyber-security teams can use it, with no date for everyone else.
- Reddit's new For You feedReddit adds a For You feed with picks for you, rolling out worldwide.
- TikTok's restaurant guideTikTok launched Must Eat: restaurant tips from 40 million posts and comments (New York, LA and San Francisco first).
- Instagram tests long videosInstagram is testing long, horizontal videos called Features, US first.
- In testing
ChatGPT may soon read your Google Health data on Android
Nothing changes yet. If it arrives, you could let ChatGPT read data your watch or fitness app syncs to Google Health.
- In testing
Google is working on daily Gemini time limits for kids
If your child uses Gemini, you may get a middle ground between allowing and blocking it.
- Heads-up
Apple Watch shows the wrong hour after the clock change: the fix
If your watch face shows the old time when your wrist is down, the watch itself still has the right time and your alarms still work.
- In testing
WhatsApp is working on a new settings look for Android
Nothing changes for now: it's a design WhatsApp is working on for its Android app.
- Price change
ChatGPT and Codex will draw from one usage allowance
If you use both ChatGPT and Codex on a Pro plan, heavy Codex use can leave less for your chats, and the other way round.
- Heads-up
ChatGPT now limits paid accounts per device and payment card
If you switch between several paid ChatGPT accounts on one phone or computer, or pay for several with one card, some of them may stop working there.
- Heads-up
iOS 27: Apple Intelligence takes up to 16 GB, and a workaround
If your iPhone ran out of space after iOS 27, Apple Intelligence may be the reason, and switching it off alone won't fix it.
- Update
New Outlook's unified inbox now due by late November
If you were waiting for one shared inbox before leaving Outlook Classic, it may not be in your new Outlook yet.
- Heads-up
Amazon stops Meta's Muse AI agent from buying on its site
If you use Muse to shop, it can't complete purchases on Amazon for now.
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- Heads-up
Gemini Gems go read-only on 17 November, replaced by Skills
If you rely on a Gem, it will become a Skill you call inside your chats; check it still works the way you want.
- In testing
Apple's HomeView may work as a security camera
Nothing changes yet. If it ships, your HomeView could double as an indoor camera.
- Heads-up
Microsoft 365 Family: 2TB shared instead of 1TB each
A family that uses more than 2TB together will run out of space after the switch, even though each person had 1TB before.
- Safety
OpenAI fixed a ChatGPT share-link flaw that exposed private chats
The hole is closed, so there's nothing to fix on your side. It's a reminder that a shared chat link from a stranger is a link like any other.
- Heads-up
YouTube bug pops videos out of full screen and cuts the sound
If your videos keep shrinking and going silent, it's likely a problem in YouTube itself, not your phone.
- Rumor
Spotify reportedly plans paid AI remixes for early 2027
Nothing changes now. If it launches as reported, remixing would be an extra paid option, not part of the normal subscription.
- Update
Gemini gets a new sparkling look on Android phones
If Gemini looks different when you open it, that's this update; it works the same way.
- Safety
A hidden text message can drop calls on Android phones
Phones without recent security updates could have calls cut off by a message you never see. Phones that no longer get updates may stay exposed.
- Safety
319 Chrome extensions secretly rerouted people's searches
If your searches suddenly open on an unfamiliar site or a different search engine, an extension may be behind it.
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- Heads-up
Google AI Plus loses Gemini's Pro models on 13 November
If you pay for AI Plus to use Gemini Pro, that stops on 13 November unless you move to the more expensive AI Pro plan.
- Update
Apple Music on Android gets a new look
If you use Apple Music on Android, some buttons have moved: the Library's editing options are now in its three-dot menu.
- Offer
YouTube TV members can get 3 months of YouTube Premium free
If you pay for YouTube TV and never tried Premium, you can watch YouTube without ads for three months.
- New app
Rian Johnson's camera app gives iPhone photos a film look
A one-time-purchase camera app for people who want film-style photos without editing each one by hand.
- New feature
Agoda's app adds an AI assistant that plans and books trips
If you book with Agoda, you can describe a trip in plain words and get options you can book right away, instead of searching hotels and flights one by one.
- Heads-up
Google is working on a fix for Pixel Watch battery drain
If your Pixel Watch suddenly needs charging much more often, it's a known problem, and a reset won't fix it.
- Safety
ChatGPT tightens answers on weapons for teens and on past attacks
If your teen uses ChatGPT, it will refuse more questions about weapons. If you're an adult and suddenly get teen limits, you can verify your age.
- New feature
Gemini Notebook adds hundreds of free textbooks
If you study from one of these textbooks, you can quiz yourself on it without paying for the book.
- Heads-up
Reddit will ask for an account to read most pages
If you read Reddit without an account, for example a subreddit you check now and then, you may soon be asked to log in. Answers you find through Google should still open.
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- New feature
Gemini can now write and edit files right in the chat
You can ask Gemini for a letter, a table or slides and finish them in the same window, without copying the text into another app first.
- New feature
WhatsApp groups get four new catch-up features
In busy groups you can find the messages meant for you faster, and new members don't have to ask what they missed.
- Shutdown
Samsung News shuts down on 21 December
If you read news on your Galaxy phone's left home screen panel or in the Samsung News widget, that feed stops in December.
- New feature
Samsung Wallet adds a Cash Card for cash back
If you shop with a Galaxy phone in the US, Samsung Wallet can now pay you cash back on some purchases and keep the money in the app.
- New feature
Windows 11 lets you choose what's in the right-click menu
If the Windows 11 right-click menu feels cluttered, you can soon trim it without extra tools.
- New app
Meta's new Style Sketch app plans outfits from your own clothes
If you live in one of the three countries, you can try it now; elsewhere it isn't available yet.
- Woah
Apple's first touchscreen MacBook is here
If you've wanted to tap your Mac the way you tap your phone, this is the first MacBook that lets you.
- New feature
Chrome can now fill forms from your Gmail
Less typing when you look up an order or a flight, but only if you let Chrome's Gemini see your Gmail.
- New app
MacPaw's new Eney assistant asks before it acts on your Mac
An assistant that takes care of small chores on your Mac but waits for your OK before it changes anything.
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- Privacy
Your Discord chats could show up on Google
What you write in a big public server could be read by anyone on Google, even without your name next to it.
- New feature
ChatGPT can now read your iCloud Mail and Calendar
If your email is on iCloud, ChatGPT can now search your inbox and move meetings for you, once you connect it.
- Big news
Netflix now comes with a T-Mobile plan
On T-Mobile in the US? A streaming service can now come with your phone plan, so look at the T-Mix plans before you pay for one separately.
- Update
iOS 27.2: watch 4 live games at once
With an Apple TV subscription you can follow up to 4 live games on one iPhone screen.
