Google Photos will soon let iPhone and Android users save their photos behind a biometrically protected locked folder as Google pushes for greater privacy features on mobile. It’s a nice way to get some peace of mind and keep sensitive personal photos off the cloud.
Locked Folder is a feature Google introduced for Pixels earlier this year that lets them hide sensitive photos out of view. If a photo is hidden away behind a “locked folder,” it won’t show up. It’s a lot like the hidden album feature on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, but with the benefit of password or biometric protection. Images in the locked folder also aren’t synced to Google Photos, but restricted to the device used. Locked Folder will come to iPhones early next year, while non-Pixel Android users will have it sometime “soon.”
Google also announced a package of other features it is bringing to Android phones and Pixel devices specifically. For Pixels, the company is adding a new Security Hub. This was first seen on the Google Pixel 6 as a mobile tool that brings all your security features into one place. You’ll be able to see if you’re overdue for a security or software update and if you have a malicious app installed, s wellas check your passwords for breaches. This comes alongside the new Privacy dashboard in Android 12 that highlights which apps have accessed your location, camera, or microphone in an easy-to-view interface.
For Android phones in general, Google is bringing the same phishing protection it provides in Gmail to Google Messages and the RCS chat service. In the same vein, Google Fi customers on Android will now have end-to-end encryption by default when making phone calls to each other. Google One subscribers will now be able to use the built-in VPN in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. This is in addition to the initial list of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. You’ll also need to pay for the 2TB Google One plan to take advantage of this.
Finally, Google is adding a HTTPS-first mode to the Chrome browser. Users will be able to prevent pages that don’t support HTTPS from loading by default, with the option being given to navigate away from the site.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.