Zoom has been one of the few beneficiaries of the ongoing pandemic, with the videoconferencing tool seeing a huge uptick in users in the last 12 months as families, friends, and workers connect increasingly online instead of in person.
Just as it did for Thanksgiving, the company will lift the 40-minute limit for free accounts during various holidays in the coming weeks, giving folks the chance to talk for as long as they like with loved ones near and far.
Of course, those with free accounts can always start a new meeting with the same participants if they hit the 40-minute limit, but such an interruption during a festive online gathering is likely to be an annoyance.
Using Zoom, you’ll be able to chat to your heart’s content during these periods:
You don’t need to change any settings on the software to make use of the offer as the limit will automatically disappear during the listed times.
For Zoom customers with paid plans, unlimited calls are already part of the package.
“COVID-19 has changed how we live, work, and celebrate in 2020, and like everything else this year, the holiday season doesn’t look the same,” the company said in a post announcing the move. “As a token of appreciation to our users during an extraordinary time, we’re removing the 40-minute limit on free Zoom accounts for all meetings globally for several upcoming special occasions.”
It added: “Whether coming together on the final day of Hanukkah, celebrating Christmas, ringing in the new year, or marking the last days of Kwanzaa, those connecting with friends and family won’t get cut short.”
Google Meet is also offering unlimited video calls through March 2021 for users of its free tier. Of course, there are a bunch of platforms out there offering video calls — just be certain to plan ahead to ensure all of the intended participants have the same software installed so you don’t waste time on the day of the meetup.
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.