XChat, X’s standalone messaging app, currently unavailable on App Store

9to5mac.com Sep 14, 2026

XChat, X’s standalone messaging app, currently unavailable on App Store

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 14, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, announced its standalone messaging app XChat for iPhone and iPad earlier this year. The app, which allowed direct messaging between X users without opening the main X app, is now missing from Apple’s App Store. No official statement has explained the removal, and the iOS version cannot be downloaded or updated. In contrast, the Android counterpart remains listed on Google Play and is functional for users on that platform. The disappearance occurs amid X’s broader efforts to monetize its services and restructure its product lineup. As of the report, existing iOS users who previously installed XChat retain the app on their devices but cannot receive new installs or updates until further notice.

💡 Why It Matters

· Apple users lose a native X messaging experience, pushing them toward web or Android alternatives and deepening platform fragmentation.

Apps Capsules

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Google Home app brings battery-efficient widget, reduces gray device tiles

Google rolled out updates to its Home app, adding a battery‑saving homescreen widget that pauses background updates and polling when the phone’s screen is off, locked, or displaying a screensaver, then refreshes instantly upon unlock. The change also reduces power draw on connected cameras. In the same release, Google fixed a visual glitch that left sensor, camera, smoke and carbon‑monoxide detector tiles gray after users returned from device controller screens, eliminating the need to reload those pages. Additionally, three camera‑related bugs were resolved, and five Gemini for Home voice‑assistant enhancements were introduced. The updates were announced alongside Home MCP improvements and are now available to users of the Google Home ecosystem.

💡 By cutting unnecessary background activity, the widget extends device battery life while keeping smart‑home status current, addressing a common user complaint about power drain.

ign.com · Sep 15

Sydney Sweeney Criticized by Female Athletes as Nude Sports Trading App Ad…

Sydney Sweeney sparked controversy after appearing nude in promotional videos for sports trading app Novig, using footballs and basketballs to cover her body. The ads, aimed at emphasizing the app’s focus on sports, drew criticism from female athletes, including boxer Skye Nicolson, gymnast Gracie Kramer, water‑polo Olympian Tilly Kearns, and sprinter Amy Hunt, who condemned the portrayal as disrespectful to women in sport. Sweeney responded via Instagram, citing her own sports background, but the backlash has cost her over 200,000 followers.

💡 The incident underscores how advertising can perpetuate objectification, prompting athletes to demand respectful representation. It also highlights the growing influence of athlete voices in holding brands accountable for cultural sensitivity.

9to5google.com · Sep 15

Google Wallet for Android getting vertically stacked card list

Google Wallet has begun a trial of a vertically stacked card list, replacing the current horizontal carousel that shows only partial cards. The new layout mirrors the iPhone Wallet, displaying full card designs and allowing users to reorder and set defaults. It is designed to improve one‑handed usability, especially for those with many saved cards, and to better integrate passes on the homepage. Early reports of the rollout come mainly from international users.

💡 The shift signals Google’s push to match iOS’s user‑friendly design, potentially reshaping how mobile payments are accessed worldwide.

gizmodo.com · Sep 14

ExpressVPN Review 2026: What You Get for $2.99 a Month

ExpressVPN’s 2026 review highlights its consistent speed performance, with Lightway Turbo delivering 186.19 Mbps on a British server—only 0.5 % faster than standard Lightway and WireGuard. Across three server locations, the service lost 7.8 % of a 190.36 Mbps baseline, a loss matched solely by NordVPN. All major streaming platforms tested, including Netflix and iPlayer, opened without issue, and the kill‑switch function succeeded in both simulated failure scenarios. A PayPal refund request was processed in 15 minutes, demonstrating responsive customer service. Advanced Protection, the built‑in ad and tracker blocker, filtered 71 % of test domains (96 of 135). The review notes strengths such as fast distant‑server speeds, default obfuscation, post‑quantum encryption, and simple apps, while citing the absence of multi‑hop routing, port forwarding, and a comparatively weak ad‑blocking feature.

💡 ExpressVPN’s ability to maintain near‑baseline speeds on distant servers and unblock every major streaming service positions it as a reliable choice for users seeking high‑quality, hassle‑free VPN performance.

windowslatest.com · Sep 14

Microsoft tried to kill Paint in Windows for a successor nobody wanted,…

Microsoft’s classic Paint survived two attempts to replace it, first by declaring it deprecated in 2017 and promoting Paint 3D as a “3D for everyone” successor. User backlash forced a rapid reversal, keeping Paint alive and moving it to the Microsoft Store, while Paint 3D lingered until its deprecation in August 2024 and removal from the Store in November 2024. The final vestige of the 3D push, 3D Viewer, was announced for removal in July 2026, ending the Creators Update’s 3D ambitions. Meanwhile, Paint received substantial upgrades, including layers, background removal, a project file format, and AI tools such as Generative Erase, Image Creator, and Copilot‑powered features, turning the legacy app into an AI‑enhanced graphics hub.

💡 The shift shows Microsoft can revive legacy software by integrating AI, turning a nostalgic utility into a modern creative platform.

9to5mac.com · Sep 14

Things 3.24 update arrives with OS 27 support, Siri AI integration, new…

Cultured Code’s project‑management app Things released version 3.24, adding full support for Apple’s newly launched iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate. The update introduces Siri AI integration, Spotlight search compatibility, and a redesigned widget size, expanding the app’s functionality across all Apple devices. The release follows last month’s update that added repeating to‑do support. All platform builds are now available on the App Store, coinciding with Apple’s scheduled OS launch at 10 a.m. PT.

💡 The integration of Siri AI and Spotlight search positions Things as a more seamless productivity tool within Apple’s ecosystem, potentially reshaping how users manage tasks across devices.