What’s happened? Conflicting reports this week are generating speculation around what Apple plans to do with its dedicated Camera Control button for the iPhone 18.
This is important because: It was somewhat of a surprise to see Apple add an additional button when it launched the iPhone 16 series last year, after years of removing buttons, switches and ports. For Apple to potentially ditch the feature after just two years would be seen as a major failing – something it’ll likely want to avoid.
Why should I care? This could be a sign Apple is possibly doing what it can to keep iPhone prices as they are. We’ve enjoyed a couple of years of static iPhone pricing, but at some point they will have to rise. If Apple can stave off a price hike for longer, or reduce the amount it has to increase, the better for us consumers.
Okay, so what’s next? With the iPhone 18 launch still over a year away, a lot can change between now and then, so we’d advise taking these rumors with a generous pinch of salt.
A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server run by the VPN provider. Websites see the VPN server’s IP address instead of yours, and you can get around geo-blocks, censorship, and ISP throttling. The best VPN services are paid, but there are still a handful of free options that do the job well.
Most free VPNs come with a hidden cost, because running servers isn’t cheap and a company that doesn’t charge you has to make its money somewhere else. Many do so by logging your browsing activity and selling it to advertisers, while others flood you with ads and track you across apps.
There's nothing quite like curling up with a good book on a cold evening. As much as I love the feel of a physical book, books take up a lot of space, and carrying more than one on a trip quickly becomes a chore. That's where e-readers come in, and the Amazon Kindle remains one of the best options.
Amazon just refreshed its Kindle lineup with thinner, lighter designs, a new flush-front display, and colors that wrap from front to back. Add the Kindle Scribe and the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft to the mix, and you have more choices than ever before.
A good Android app should earn its place on your phone. It might make an everyday task easier, handle something the built-in software can't, or let you change an experience that never quite worked for you.
These 20 apps cover everything from quick notes and password management to automation and local file sharing. Some are free, others charge for advanced features, and a few take some effort to figure out. The point isn't to install them all. It's to find the ones that make your phone work better for you.