As phones become more central to people’s lives, they’re also treasure troves of information that can reveal where people have been, who they’ve been communicating with, and what they’re doing online. But just as deleting a file from a computer doesn’t magically make its data disappear from a hard drive, deleting a text message or clearing a phone’s Web browsing history doesn’t mean that information is gone…just less accessible. Florida’s ProofPronto wants to help iPhone users step into the arena of data recovery—and, yes, even snooping—with its iPhone Recovery Stick, which can pull text messages, call histories, Web browsing history, photos, voice memos, appointments, and more from an iPhone.
“Until now, there was no simple way for parents, spouses, or business owners to recover deleted data from iPhones,” said Atlas Technology Group VP Scott Graubart, in a statement. “The technology behind our product is a game changer for law enforcement, and will be equally important for the safety and security of families and businesses around the world.”
The iPhone Recovery Stick takes the form of a USB data stick: users first connect the target iPhone via USB, then pop the iPhone Recovery Stick into another available USB port. The included software then proceeds to scan the iPhone for recoverable data; depending on the state of the iPhone, the process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours. However, the type of information that can be recovered is extensive, including call histories, Web browsing history, photos, voice memos, map history, dynamic text data (what the iPhone “learns” to assist with predictive text input), contacts, calendar and appointment information, and (of course) SMS messages.
Currently the iPhone Recovery Stick only works with iPhones running iOS 3.2.1 and earlier, but the company promises a version supporting iOS 4 should be available soon.
The ability to recover deleted data from phones is hardly unique—data recovery experts as well as law enforcement personnel have been doing it for years—but ProofPronto is aiming to take the service mainstream with its product. Obviously, products like this have a significant potential for misuse: where it might enable someone to recover crucial data off their phone in the event of damage or other problems, there are obviously illegal uses for the technology.
ProofPronto is offering the iPhone Recovery Stick for $197.95; although they don’t offer refunds for the included software, they do have a 90-day exchange policy in the event of a physical defect with the stick. Purchase also entitles the buyer to a year’s worth of software updates.
Atlas Technology is the parent company of Proof Pronto, which makes a number of other investigative and forensics products.
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.