TechCapsules

Over a five‑day vacation, tech reporter Alex Miller tested Apple’s $2,000 iPhone Duo alongside his iPhone 17 Pro Max, initially bringing the latter as a safety net. Early frustrations included broken apps, unfamiliar Touch ID gestures, and a cramped outer screen that forced extra scrolling. Despite these issues, the Duo proved surprisingly durable, surviving multiple drops on concrete, tile and wood without cracking, and fitting comfortably in both front and back pockets even with a case. Software hiccups were limited to the Google Search [...]

Nothing OS 5.0, based on Android 17, is now rolling out to the Nothing Phone 3a, 3a Pro, 4a, and 4a Pro worldwide. The update arrives in staged batches, so users may see the notification over the next few days or manually check via system settings. Key features include a new Glyph app, split‑mode Quick Settings, bulk icon management, three new widgets, a translucent theme, lock‑screen customization, a refreshed camera UI, dual‑view video, and an AI‑processing status [...]

Apple’s newly released iPhone Duo impressed a tech journalist who spent half an hour with the fold‑able device at an Apple Store. The reviewer praised the inner display’s nano‑textured surface, describing it as “paper‑like” and far superior to the glossy outer screen, and suggested the texture be offered on other iPhones. The Duo’s split‑screen gesture was quickly mastered, allowing two apps to snap side‑by‑side for tasks such as dragging a photo into a note. While the reviewer, [...]

Apple’s rollout of Siri AI with iOS 27 has transformed how a driver uses his iPhone, turning the voice assistant from a basic command tool into a contextual memory aid. The author, a 40‑year‑old diagnosed with inattentive ADHD, explains that Siri AI now captures spoken content, creates reminders with linked iMessage notes, and retrieves information from emails or other apps when prompted from the steering wheel. These capabilities, which rely on stronger 5G connectivity and the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s hardware, [...]

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, launched in late 2021, marked Google’s most ambitious hardware overhaul, introducing a new design language, the in‑house Tensor G1 chip, larger camera sensors and a lower price point. The devices aimed to shed the brand’s “second‑place” image after years of experimental features and modest flagships. While the bold camera bar, pastel glass backs and dynamic Material You UI earned praise, early adopters endured software bugs, slow biometric unlock, thermal throttling and poor cellular performance. The shift [...]

Apple’s latest public release, iOS 27.2, includes a security update that patches more than 160 vulnerabilities, among them a critical flaw that allowed a malicious application to activate the iPhone or Mac camera without user consent. The bug, unrelated to hardware design, exploited software permissions to bypass the green LED indicator that normally signals camera use. Security researcher 9to5Mac notes that while the fix mitigates the immediate risk, it also underscores the limited protection offered by physical camera [...]

Apple’s iOS 27.2 update expands FaceTime’s Dual Capture to all video calls, including group chats, allowing simultaneous front‑and‑rear‑camera streams with a single tap of the Flip button on iPhone 17 or newer. The feature now requires all participants to run iOS 27, iPadOS 27 or macOS 27. The release also adds third‑party sign‑language interpreter support via a new Sign Language button that launches a VRS app as a call participant, and enhances live captioning with optional built‑in captions configurable in Settings. [...]

Motorola has released a hands‑on video of its upcoming Signature 27 flagship ahead of the November 5 launch. The clip, presented by YouTube reviewer Danny Winget, confirms the phone will feature an “Extreme AMOLED Duo” display built with Tandem OLED technology, a layered diode approach previously seen in Apple’s PROLED MacBook Pro and Honor’s Magic 6 RSR. Motorola claims the screen can reach a peak brightness of 12,000 nits, far above typical flagship levels. The device’s design includes textured backs in two [...]