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11
iPhone | iApps / iPhone Trick Can Eliminate Spam Calls for Good
« Last post by javajolt on July 28, 2026, 12:53:41 AM »
You don't have to put up with spam calls any longer.


Cole Kan/CNET/Apple/Getty Images

Spam calls are annoying. I always have my phone ringer on in case there is an emergency but that means my iPhone receives spam calls at least a handful of times a week. Spam calls can be stressful, especially if you’re trying to stay quiet so as not to disturb a napping baby. But thanks to iOS 26‘s call screening feature, spam calls haven’t bothered me for months.

Call screening isn’t an Apple Intelligence feature so any iOS 26-compatible iPhone, like the iPhone 14 Pro, can use it. I enabled the feature early in the beta process and my iPhone has diligently held back spam calls, like the Hoover Dam, ever since. But you have to enable it first.

Here’s how to enable call screening in a few easy steps and what to know about the new feature.

How to turn call screening on your iPhone

   1. Tap Settings.

   2. Tap Apps near the bottom of the menu.

   3. Tap Phone.

Under the section Screen Unknown Callers, you’ll see three options: Never, Ask Reason for Calling and Silence. Here’s what you should know about each of these options and which one is right for most people.


Apple/CNET

Which call screening option should you choose?

Choosing Never is the default option and lets calls from unsaved numbers come through and ring on your phone. It also documents missed calls in your Recents list in your Phone app, just like before call screening was available.

If you tap Ask Reason for Calling, your iPhone will ask anyone who calls you from an unsaved number why they are calling you without ringing your iPhone. After the caller answers a few questions, your iPhone will notify you with a transcript of the caller’s answers. Then you can decide whether you want to answer the call.

You can also pick Silence, which is the nuclear option for phone calls. Any unsaved numbers that call you will be silenced and sent to voicemail, no questions asked.

Ask Reason for Calling is the best option for most people who want to screen calls. I chose it, and while it notified me when scam callers answered some questions, which they rarely did, it also notified me when my doctor’s office called to go over some test results. If I had chosen Silence, I would have missed my doctor’s office (and choosing Never would mean checking every call if I was expecting something important).

If you choose Ask Reason for Calling and dislike it, you can always follow the steps above again and choose one of the other options. And remember, you can always silence your iPhone and not be bothered by any phone calls at all. My wife has not taken her phone off silent in months, and she remains blissfully unbothered by spam calls.

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12
Don't let the most essential device in your life become a liability. Our one-hour wellness check will keep your phone secure for another year.


Qi Yang/ Moment via Getty Images

   ■ A quick cybersecurity wellness check is all it takes to protect your phone from disaster.

   ■ Check your app usage, permissions, and physical security settings.

   ■ An annual checkup reduces data exposure risk, improves privacy, and optimizes your device.



Enjoying the benefits and conveniences of life in our complex world requires daily diligence, from replacing batteries and tracking finances to keeping medical appointments and maintaining vehicles.

Here's another routine task we should all have on our calendars. Conduct an annual cybersecurity wellness check of what's likely the single most important device in your life: your smartphone.

We use our smartphones to communicate, work, shop, and stay connected and entertained -- but we don't always remember to keep them optimized or secure, which can turn these essential devices into serious liabilities.

While we always recommend you accept security updates on your smartphone as soon as they are available, there are other checks that, if performed even once a year, can hugely benefit you.

Take just one hour to give your smartphone a once-over that will tighten your security, refresh your memory on app permissions, and optimize your privacy settings. Our 10-step checklist makes it a breeze and could save you some major headaches down the line.



1: Make sure your device and apps are up to date


        Screenshot by Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

The first step in any annual cybersecurity checkup is to ensure that your operating system and any mobile applications installed on your smartphone are up to date. This means accepting any new OS and app versions, as well as security updates and patches.

Depending on the make, model, and version of your iOS or Android device, the location where you check your phone's status can vary. However, you can usually find updates under Settings > Security and Privacy > Updates, or Settings > System > Update. You may also be notified when a new software update is available.

To check the status of your smartphone's apps, you can visit Settings > Apps or the Update tab.



2: Check your app and device permissions


      Screenshot by Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

The next step in your yearly audit is to review your app and device permissions. Whenever you install a mobile application, you will be asked to grant or deny specific permissions, such as access to your files, control over your location services, and permission for the app to send you push notifications.

There is also a variety of settings on your smartphone that need to be managed -- particularly security and privacy settings.

There are plenty of options to explore, including whether you want your smartphone to automatically detect and block threats; screen locks and biometrics; lost device protection; and whether you are comfortable with personalized ads and sending diagnostic data.

On Android, you typically need to go to Settings > Security and privacy > More privacy settings > Permission manager. On iOS, you will likely find permissions management under Settings > Privacy and Security, or Settings > the specific app you want to examine. To explore your device settings, simply go to Settings.

"Never do attackers' jobs for them by giving access away unnecessarily," cautioned Rob Kehoe, chief technology officer of Smarttech247. "Once a year, go through every app on your phone and check what permissions it has. Look at the camera, microphone, location, and contacts. If an app has access it doesn't need, remove it. Set location access to 'only while using' for everything. And if an app isn't useful anymore, remove it completely. This only takes 10 minutes, and most people are shocked by what they find."



3: Delete any apps you no longer use


      Screenshot by Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

You should also audit the apps installed on your smartphone. (We recommend checking this more than once a year -- preferably every few months.) Old apps can pose a risk to your privacy; they may have been granted unnecessary permissions and may also consume your device's resources and power.

If you haven't used a mobile app in a few months, ask yourself: "Do I really need it?" If the answer is no, remove it. You can always reinstall apps later, but each one you remove reduces your potential attack surface.

While both Android and iOS will revoke permissions from apps you haven't used for several months, it's still advisable to run a check yourself every so often. Take a look at the Apps section in your handset's Settings tab to refresh your memory about which apps are installed. Alternatively, check your home screen and hold your finger down on any app you want to remove -- you should see the option to uninstall it.



4: Review and refresh your passwords


Charlie Osborne / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Hardly a day goes by without a new data breach. The challenge of containing our data and protecting our accounts is now so vast that dedicated services warn consumers about data breaches affecting their accounts, and some companies now prevent users from reusing passwords found in online data leaks.

Reviewing your passwords and changing them frequently is essential to protecting your accounts and data, and this protection applies to any device you use to access them -- including your smartphone.

Passwords should be complex, made up of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols, when possible. It's also important never to reuse the same credentials across multiple online services.

If you think you will have trouble remembering complex phrases, consider using a password manager.

Troy Hunt's Have I Been Pwned search engine is also an excellent resource for checking whether your accounts have been linked to a data breach. Simply by entering your email, you'll be able to see what data might have been leaked about you, and when. If you're ever in doubt, change your password.



5: Check 2FA, multi-factor authentication settings

After you've refreshed your passwords, you should check all two-factor authentication (2FA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) settings for your online accounts and devices. Many of us rely on our smartphones for 2FA, receiving a code we need to use when 2FA is enabled on our accounts as a secondary layer of security, so it is important that this information is up to date and our phones are secure. Otherwise, attackers could intercept these codes and compromise our accounts.

If you have 2FA/MFA enabled on your online accounts, go to their privacy settings and verify that the phone number is correct and that you've selected your preferred authentication method. This could be a text message, an emailed code, an authenticator app, or a passkey. Prioritize Google, Apple, and Microsoft services, financial and banking apps, core email accounts, frequently-used shopping services if your details are stored, and work platforms.



6: Audit your physical device security


      Screenshot by Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Checking our digital services, online accounts, and app usage is only part of an annual cybersecurity audit -- it's also important to review our physical handset security.

Estimates suggest that approximately 1.3 million phones were stolen in the US in 2023. Stolen handsets can be wiped and resold; if a device is not properly secured, it can lead to the loss of personal information, compromised accounts, lost files, and even financial damage.

You'll need to dive back into your settings again. Look for options including:

Lock screen: Do you have a way to lock your smartphone from the screen? Is a passcode or biometric identifier in place? It's best to have some form of lock to prevent data theft or eavesdropping.

Safety and emergencies: You can use your smartphone to share your location or notify emergency services when needed. Check that these settings are enabled if you want them. You can also enable alerts when unknown trackers are detected near your handset.

Biometrics: Your thumbprint or retina is also a valuable way to physically secure your device. Consider enabling these to keep others out of your smartphone, its apps, and its data.

Device encryption: On modern smartphones, encryption is often enabled by default when a lock screen is enabled, but you should check, as this helps protect your data on older models. Explore settings, security, and privacy to see if enabling device encryption is possible. 



7: Look for unexpected connected apps and devices

It's also important for you to audit your online accounts, services, and smartphone for any unexpected apps, devices, or active sessions.

For example, if you are logged into your email account only on your smartphone but a laptop connection has also appeared, it could mean someone has quietly gained access to your account. This can be a serious security issue due to eavesdropping, potential data theft, and even the acquisition of 2FA codes if your email is compromised.

Check for any unrecognized locations, access times, or devices -- including older smartphones you've sold or that have been stolen. If you find any, revoke access immediately and change your passwords. You should do the same for any associated online accounts, including e-commerce platforms, work apps, and social media.

You can usually find details on any connected apps or devices in settings, recent activity, sign-in activity, signed-in devices, and similar items.



8: Run a malware scan


      Screenshot by Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Android and iOS smartphones have built-in antivirus protection, but it never hurts to run your own check -- preferably more than once a year.

There can be threats lurking on your mobile device, and most of these stem from malicious apps that are hiding information stealers, keyloggers, monitoring software, Trojans, and nuisanceware. Antivirus software can catch these apps before they run on your handset, and scans can give you peace of mind that your smartphone is clean.

Help yourself, too, by only downloading apps from trusted sources and refraining from jailbreaking your device.



9: Review your account and device recovery settings


      Screenshot by Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Do you have Android's Find My Device, Find My Mobile, or iOS's Find Devices enabled?

As part of your annual audit, consider enabling features on your smartphone that may increase the likelihood of recovering it if it is lost or stolen.

On Android, the Find Hub lets you locate any registered device on a map, remotely lock it, or erase it, even if it is offline. You mark a device as "lost," and data gathered from a global network of Android devices is used to pinpoint its location. The same type of crowdsourcing is used on iOS, too, and you can access the same functionality if your device is lost -- tracking, locking, and wiping remotely in cases of loss or theft.

Be warned: You will likely need to enable these services and register your devices before such an event occurs.

Many smartphones also offer theft protection features, remote locks, and automatic screen locks when they detect potential theft. You can find these under Settings and menu options such as Lost Device Protection.



10: Start adopting these security habits

Now that your audit is complete, consider adopting the following five security habits to improve your personal security and privacy:

Take data breach notifications seriously: If you hear a news report or receive an alert about a breach at a company you are a customer of, change your account passwords immediately.

Review apps and permissions frequently: It's best to take a few moments every few months to review your apps, their permissions, and whether you still need them installed on your device.

Physically secure your devices: Get in the habit of supervising and protecting your devices at all times. It only takes a distracted moment for your laptop to vanish from your table at a coffee shop, or for your smartphone to disappear from your pocket.

Keep your devices updated: It's the simplest step and also one of the most important. Accept new security updates for your smartphone and apps as they become available to stay protected from emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

Stay suspicious: If you receive a suspicious SMS, WhatsApp call, or email, you might be getting phished. This is one of the most common threats we face today. Don't panic and don't click any links in the message. If a message looks official but you're unsure, go directly to the organization's website to contact them.

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13
Microsoft released two new builds for Windows Insiders in the Release Preview channel. The new builds bring numerous new features and improvements.



Microsoft has released new Release Preview channel builds for Windows 11 Insiders on 24H2 and 25H2. Builds 26100.8942 and 26200.8942 bring a solid batch of new features, including Voice Isolation for Voice Access, new touchpad gesture controls, improved File Explorer and search behavior, and expanded Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security support.

The full changelog is below:

Gradual rollout

This section covers new features and enhancements delivered gradually to Windows 11 PCs. Availability might vary by device.

• File Explorer

• File sizes in Details view now display appropriate units (KB, MB, and GB) instead of KB-only, making them easier to understand at a glance.

• Middle-click to open a folder in a new tab is now supported in the address bar and Home page for a more consistent and efficient tabbed navigation experience across File Explorer.

• This update eliminates a gray flash on load and unexpected scrolling to the top on the Home page in certain cases.

• This update improves the appearance of file thumbnails in the Recommended section on Home so they're crisper and  easier to read.

• Windows Search

• This update improves file finding across local, cloud, and connected content, including support for two-character file searches.

• This update improves app search to better handle typos and partial app names when finding installed apps.

• This update improves Settings relevance to surface more useful settings higher in search results.

• Voice Access New!

• This update adds Voice Isolation to Voice Access, helping it better recognize your voice by reducing interference from other speakers and background noise.

• Voice Access now offers three speech recognition modes under Voice Access settings > Improve speech recognition:

• Voice Isolation: Filters out other speakers and background noise (one-time voice setup required).

• Remove background noise only: Filters out non-speech sounds like typing or door slams (no additional setup required).

• No filtering: Uses default microphone input with no additional processing.

To set up Voice Isolation, go to Voice Access settings > Improve speech recognition and select Voice Isolation.

• New! This update adds Korean language support for Voice Access.

• Widgets New!

• Taskbar notification badges now use your Windows accent color instead of appearing red, helping reduce unnecessary attention-grabbing alerts.

• This update also simplifies the Lock screen Widgets experience. For new users, Weather is now the only widget shown on the Lock screen by default.

• Touchpad New! New gesture controls for precision touchpads are available in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad:

• Scroll and zoom speed: Adjust the baseline speed for scroll and zoom gestures.

• Accelerated scrolling: Scroll faster the more you repeat the gesture, so you can move quickly through long documents.

• Start menu

• This update improves reliability of Start menu view preferences, ensuring your selected view is retained.

• This update improves keyboard navigation when keyboard focus is set to the apps list within Start menu.

• Voice typing Fluid dictation is now off by default for new users. A teaching tip is available when the feature is used for the first time.

• Input Improved persistence of mouse cursor size.

• Accessibility This update improves the Magnifier experience on touch-enabled devices. The horizontal and vertical touch bars used to pan the magnified view are now off by default, so they no longer obstruct magnified content. If you use touch to pan, you can turn the bars back on in Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.

• Windows Hello New! Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) now supports peripheral fingerprint sensors. This extends this secure sign-in option beyond devices with built-in fingerprint sensors to include desktops and other Windows 11 PCs, including Copilot+ PCs. To get started, plug in a supported ESS fingerprint reader, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign in options, and follow the prompts to enroll. This feature was previously disclosed in January 2026 (KB5074105) and is now beginning to roll out.

• Fonts

• This update restores support for Unicode variation sequences in the Myanmar Text font.

• This update improves character shaping and rendering for Mongolian Baiti font, providing more accurate and consistent text display.

• Account Control This update refreshes the design of the Start menu account control and adds a badge that displays your subscription status. To view account control, open Start menu and select your account picture in the lower-left corner. This experience is available for users signed in with a Microsoft account.

• Taskbar This update improves reliability of loading the system tray area of the taskbar when using the taskbar on touch devices in a tablet posture.

• AI Component This update allows you to remove the Image Generation AI component from supported Copilot+ PCs where the component is installed.

• Windows Setup This update adds a parental controls notice during Windows setup that highlights available family safety features.

• Power and battery

• Changes to global power settings such as display, sleep, hibernate timeouts, power/sleep button actions, and lid-close actions from Settings are now applied to all power plans.

• This update improves reliability of power settings by applying changes made in Settings to all power plans so your preferences are consistently maintained.

• Windows Update

• This update improves calculation of update progress in Windows Update Settings.

• This update includes changes to update clean-up logic to improve system performance immediately following an update.

• Sounds This update improves system sounds when using Windows in dark mode.

• Date and time

• This update improves detection for triggering time zone change notifications.

• This update improves daylight saving time (DST) data accuracy for Middle East Standard Time (Beirut), Morocco Standard Time (Casablanca), Israel Standard Time (Jerusalem), and Greenland Standard Time (Nuuk).

• Network This update improves reliability of DHCP renewals in a few scenarios, particularly when NACKs are received from the DHCP server and on devices that use Modern Standby.

• Print This update improves print time performance (pages per minute) for IPPS (Internet Printing Protocol Secure) printers.

• Clipboard This update improves clipboard reliability in some Remote Desktop and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) scenarios.

• Battery This update restores the ability to set a threshold for when Energy saver should enable within Settings > System > Power & battery.

• General reliability

• This update improves explorer.exe reliability, including when opening jump lists and recent files, when sharing files and folders, and when using Task View and multiple desktops.

• This update improves reliability of the Windows sign-in and lock screens, especially when system memory is low.

• This update improves reliability of Start menu and taskbar during startup.

Normal rollout

This non-security update includes quality improvements. The following summary outlines key issues addressed by the KB update after you install it. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change.

• Additional quality improvements are included with this update.

Feature availability varies by device and market.

You can find the blog post for builds Builds 26100.8942/26200.8942 here.

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14
The Intel graphics driver doesn't have support for any new games or features, but it is carrying some important bug fixes.



Intel has a fresh driver for its Arc GPU lineup, and while it doesn't have support for any new games or features, it is carrying some important bug fixes. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Rainbow Six Siege, and LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight are the focus of this 32.0.101.8864 non-WHQL driver.

The driver carries the following fixes on the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and Intel Arc B-Series hardware:

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced (DX12) may experience a crash when upgrading driver if the shaders have been compiled with the previous driver.

Assassin's Creed Shadows (DX12) may experience a crash when upgrading driver if the shaders have been compiled with the previous driver.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege (DX12) may experience a crash when upgrading driver if the shaders have been compiled with the previous driver.

Meanwhile, Arc A-Series, Intel Core Ultra Series 1, and Intel Core Ultra Series 2 hardware have all the above changes alongside a separate LEGO Batman fix:

   • LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (DX12) may exhibit corruption during cutscenes.

With the fixes out of the way, here are the known issues users can look out for:

Intel Core Ultra Series 3 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

• Mafia: The Old Country (DX12) may experience an application crash during gameplay.

• Marathon (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruption on certain objects during gameplay when using Anisotropic Filtering.

• Borderlands 4 (DX12) may experience an intermittent application crash during gameplay.

• Hogwarts Legacy (DX12) may experience corruption when raytracing is turned on in certain scenes during gameplay.

• Forza Horizon 6 (DX12) may not exhibit expected visual quality with reflections.

• 007 First Light (DX12) may exhibit corruption across the screen in certain scenes during gameplay.

Intel Arc B-Series Graphics Products:

• Marathon (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruption on certain objects during gameplay when using Anisotropic Filtering.

• Borderlands 4 (DX12) may experience an intermittent application crash during gameplay.

• Forza Horizon 6 (DX12) may not exhibit expected visual quality with reflections.

• 007 First Light (DX12) may exhibit corruption across the screen in certain scenes during gameplay.

• Echoes of Aincrad (DX12) may exhibit purple corruption during gameplay in the tutorial.

• PugetBench for Adobe Premiere Pro may experience an intermittent application crash while running the benchmark in the extended preset.

• PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio may experience an intermittent application crash while running the benchmark. Recommendation is to change the timeout slider to 1500 seconds or higher, to wait for each test to complete, in

• PugetBench benchmark settings.

Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:

• Marathon (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruption on certain objects during gameplay when using Anisotropic Filtering.

• Borderlands 4 (DX12) may experience an intermittent application crash during gameplay.

• Forza Horizon 6 (DX12) may not exhibit expected visual quality with reflections.

• Echoes of Aincrad (DX12) may exhibit purple corruption during gameplay in the tutorial.

• PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio may experience an intermittent application crash while running the benchmark. Recommendation is to change the timeout slider to 1500 seconds or higher, to wait for each test to complete, in PugetBench benchmark settings.

Intel Core Ultra Series 1 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

• Marathon (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruption on certain objects during gameplay when using Anisotropic Filtering.

• Borderlands 4 (DX12) may experience an intermittent application crash during gameplay.

• NBA 2K26 (DX12) may experience an application crash on first launch of the game.

• 007 First Light (DX12) may experience an intermittent application crash on first launch of the game.

Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

• Marathon (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruption on certain objects during gameplay when using Anisotropic Filtering.

• Borderlands 4 (DX12) may experience an intermittent application crash during gameplay.

The non-WHQL Intel graphics driver 32.0.101.8864 is now available from Intel's official download portal. Here's the official changelog (PDF).

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15
The drops this time include Halo Studios' remake of the original Halo, Game Freak's upcoming RPG Beast of Reincarnation, and more.

It's time for a brand-new Xbox Game Pass wave announcement. Subscribers to the Microsoft service will be getting access to some high-profile titles this time too, and that includes Halo Studios' remake of the original Halo, Game Freak's upcoming RPG Beast of Reincarnation, and much more.

The sole first-party entry of the bunch, Halo: Campaign Evolved, is bringing back the Chief's original introduction on a brand-new engine, 4-player co-op, and some extra missions. Only multiplayer is missing from the package.

City building fans may also want to check out Corsair Cove, for which we did a preview a few months ago. This is a pirate-themed building and management game that lets you mainly utilize cliff walls for your constructions, unlike many other games in the genre.

Here are all the games that were announced today for Xbox Game Pass, their platforms, and arrival dates:

   • The Planet Crafter (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – July 21

   • Shift at Midnight (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – July 22

   • Hell is Us (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – July 23

   • Halo: Campaign Evolved (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – July 28

   • Mistfall Hunter (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – July 30

   • Corsair Cove (PC) – July 31

   • Heretic + Hexen (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – August 4

   • Beast of Reincarnation (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 4



As new games arrive, these eight titles will be leaving Game Pass platforms on July 31, which unfortunately includes some big games like Crusader Kings 3, Celeste, and Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord:

Quote
   • Back to the Dawn (Cloud, Console, and PC)

   • Celeste (Cloud, Console, and PC)

   • Crusader Kings 3 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

   • Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord (Cloud, Console, and PC)

   • My Friendly Neighborhood (Cloud, Console, and PC)

   • Rain World (Cloud, Console, and PC)

   • Sniper Elite Resistance (Cloud, Console, and PC)

   • Whiskerwood (PC)

With the second announcement of July out of the way, expect the next Xbox Game Pass announcement to land in early August.

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16


Obsidian is the first app I open each morning at the start of my work day. Not Word, not Notes, not even my email client. When I first discovered Obsidian, I didn't know much about it; it was just an app for taking notes, and I was toying with it because I was curious. I had no idea then that it would become my central command center for my workflow, with everything — to-do lists, stray ideas, daily logs, and more — all going into it.

Now, thanks to Obsidian's versatility, I hardly even open other apps. That's not to say I never use them; some file types just don't work as well in Obsidian, even with an army of plugins fueling my vault, so I'll use something like LibreOffice to edit Word documents, PDFs, and spreadsheets, but the actual writing? That's done in Obsidian. So is managing my to-do list and calendar. Here's how I do it.

I start with a centralized, functional dashboard
It opens when Obsidian does, and my day goes from there



I've built a homepage that serves as a jumping-off point for my workday. It shows me the time, the date (and I can click on the calendar to see if I have any meetings or events that day), my recently accessed files, an overview of my vault, my to-do list, and lets me open my daily note. Sure, it has a custom background and has been tweaked to suit the overall theme of my vault, but it's both aesthetic and functional.

I used the Hearth plugin for this, but it's entirely possible to create the same setup with other homepage-oriented plugins, or even just CSS. There's no right or wrong way to do it, and the style of homepage/dashboard that works for me might look entirely different for someone else. I have multiple vaults, and each one has a different dashboard depending on its purpose.

My tasks and my notes live in the same place
Obsidian has replaced numerous other apps



My work can be broken into either writing, researching, or editing. I spend a lot of time in the research phase, either looking for new and interesting software to try out or putting it through the wringer to ensure I know all there is to know about it before I start writing about it. Then there's the writing phase, which is self-explanatory (although I do, at times, break those tasks into multiple, smaller tasks — usually different drafts). And finally, there's the editing phase. After an article is written, I go back and give it a pass to check not only for grammatical issues but also for informational accuracy.

I can draft and edit a story without ever leaving Obsidian, and when I'm done with those tasks, I can mark them as completed and move on to what's next. Before Obsidian, I would have written the article in a word processor like MS Word, opened a to-do list app like Todoist to mark it as complete, and then copied and pasted the story into whatever CMS I'm using. While that last part remains a routine part of the workflow — although I could, in theory, log in to the CMS from the Obsidian web view — I've eliminated multiple apps by working inside Obsidian.

I don't miss word processors either. There are multiple editing toolbars that make writing in Obsidian feel as good as, if not better than, writing in Microsoft Word.

I can access external info without leaving my vault
Plugins are your friend



Obsidian can do a lot, but there's a fair amount it can't do. That said, I can also access external information without the need to leave Obsidian. The Obsidian Web Viewer is a core plugin that lets me surf the web from inside my vault, and it even has an adblocker built in. And with other plugins, I can display RSS feeds inside notes that update in real time, keeping me apprised of anything I need to know. The Obsidian Web Clipper lets me save entire web pages straight to my vault, and I can even embed YouTube videos to be referenced later. With the right workflow, there's hardly ever a need to leave Obsidian.

Obsidian is an amazing command center, but not always the best tool
Some jobs are better handled with dedicated apps



Here's the thing: Obsidian isn't meant to replace every app. While its plugins can grant a lot of the same functionality, they aren't a total replacement, and often lack the polish a dedicated app might have. There are some tasks I wouldn't even dream of attempting inside Obsidian, like editing a photo. A program like Photoshop or GIMP will do the job infinitely better than an Obsidian plugin, no matter how complicated it is.

The same goes for spreadsheets. While there are ways to work with them inside Obsidian, it's typically more of a pain than it's worth. I'd rather just open up Excel and get the job done rather than fight with quirks introduced by a plugin. I love staying in one app as much as possible, but sometimes it's just easier to open a secondary app to get the job done more quickly.

Obsidian functions like a command center for my workday

Due to the nature of my work, there's a lot I can do without ever leaving Obsidian, but that isn't the same for every field. For example, programmers could write code in Obsidian — and many do — but it isn't always the best choice. I appreciate how a dedicated homepage streamlines my workflow, and many other types of work can benefit from something similar, but it's not always the right call for everyone.



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17
Players are hacking and cheating like its 2012 all over again


© Activision

Last week, Activision released PlayStation 4 and PS5 ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2. They cost $40, don’t include the paid DLC maps, and feature no quality-of-life improvements. That didn’t stop a lot of people from buying them. But players returning to BLOPS 1 or 2 all these years later are running into hackers and cheaters using exploits to ruin matches or hit max level. Things are so bad that Activision has even turned off some playlists infected with naughty players.

On July 9, after some leaks and a previous confirmation from Activision, Black Ops and Black Ops 2 arrived on PS4 and PS5. While Xbox players had been able to play these two popular CoD games for years via backward compatibility, PlayStation owners had been unable to enjoy 2010’s BLOPS or the 2012 sequel. Now, players have flooded PSN to relive the glory days of Black Ops, but because these releases appear to just be slightly modified versions of the original PS3 games, people are already hacking and cheating en masse in these new ports.



Across Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube, you can find players sharing stories of Black Ops 1 and 2 lobbies on PS4 and PS5 being filled with various cheaters. One of the most popular cheating methods involves players modifying their PS4 save data, joining matches of Domination, and then blowing themselves up to get a shit-ton of XP and reach max rank and prestige.

You can find clips of people joining CoD: Black Ops Domination lobbies on PS5, quickly followed by a kill feed showing numerous people blowing themselves away with grenades as soon as they spawn. This often leads to the match having to pause and reconnect to a new host and then filling back up—if it fills back up at all—with new players who also proceed to do the exploit.

While that’s annoying, an even worse problem involves players killing hacked players and getting a massive amount of negative XP that effectively locks them to negative level one. And because you have to be at least level one to matchmake with players, this softlocks you out of multiplayer access.

“Part of me was afraid this was gonna happen. Another massive L for CoD,” posted one Reddit user.

“Exactly the same experience here…anyone arguing this doesn’t ‘hurt’ anyone should watch this clip,” posted another user under a video of people using the exploit in a BLOPS match.

“6 games in a row unplayable… Ground war and domination is ruined,” said another player.



Things are so bad that on Monday, Activision confirmed it had disabled some playlists in Black Ops so it can “investigate reported issues.” Likely, it has turned off playlists that contain Domination or the large-scale mode Ground War, which can reportedly also be exploited.

Frustratingly, as players have pointed out online, these exploits, hacks, and cheats have been a problem for years on the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Black Ops and its sequel. And many CoD vets were worried that these new ports, being basically bare-bones transfers of the PS3 versions, would inherit the same flaws and be hacked and ruined in days. And that’s…exactly what happened. While some are hopeful Activision will fix things up, other players aren’t so sure, seeing as the Xbox 360 versions of the games are still broken and borked all these years later despite being playable again on modern Xbox hardware.

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Apple

Adventurous early adopters, your moment has arrived: the first public betas of Apple's 2027 software updates are here. Previews of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate and watchOS 27 are now available to be installed directly on your device.

Siri and Apple Intelligence


Apple

The headliner of iOS 27 is the long-awaited Siri AI. The new version transforms from a basic voice-command system into a modern AI assistant. It can hold natural conversations, understand follow-ups, answer questions about the content on the screen and perform multi-step actions inside apps. On recent Apple devices, you can even customize the expressiveness of the assistant's voice. There's also a dedicated Siri app that stores your history.

Siri AI is available in the public beta for all Apple Intelligence-capable devices. In the early developer betas, there's been a waitlist to access the new assistant. So, some patience may be required. The new Siri only works in English for now, and it won't initially be available in the EU.

Not all Apple Intelligence features are Siri-related. Photos now has more robust editing tools, including Spatial Reframing, which adjusts composition after the photo is taken. The Extend feature outcrops images past their original boundaries. There's also an improved Clean Up tool that's better at removing unwanted objects. And Image Playground can now generate higher-quality images, including photorealistic styles.

Speed boosts and more features

Even if you don't care about AI, here's an iOS 27 update that might interest you: Apple is promising big performance improvements across the board. The company says apps launch up to 30 percent faster, newly captured pictures appear in the Photos app up to 70 percent faster, and AirDrop transfers can be up to 80 percent faster. (Although I can't vouch for specific numbers, my devices felt noticeably zippier on the early iOS 27 developer betas.)

Elsewhere, Safari can declutter your workflow by automatically organizing your tabs into groups. It also has a new Notify Me feature that monitors webpages for price changes or restocks. The Passwords app can detect weak passwords and automatically update them. And in the Shortcuts app, you can create new automations by describing what you want in natural language.

iOS 27 (and its brethren) also addresses criticism of last year's big design overhaul: Liquid Glass. The new version has readability improvements, and there's a slider to customize the effect.

Once you're on the iOS 27 beta, you can install a public beta for AirPods. The new software adds a custom equalizer, an adaptive audio slider and a new settings menu.

watchOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate and iPadOS 27



Siri AI will also be coming to the wrist, where it could be handy for answering questions mid-workout or while you're otherwise on the move. watchOS 27 adds a new Dynamic App Grid that surfaces apps you're most likely to need. The Apple Watch gets a new single-tap gesture that lets you select a widget in the Smart Stack to see more info. (You can still double-tap to scroll.) Menstrual tracking adds menopause and perimenopause support. And Workout Buddy gets some upgrades: new workout data insights, the ability to work without a nearby iPhone, and Spanish-language support.

Apple is positioning Siri AI as a productivity tool in macOS 27 Golden Gate. Like with other devices, you can summon the assistant directly from Spotlight, use it to analyze what's on your screen or rely on it for writing help. There are also a few Mac-specific Liquid Glass and other design improvements, including uniform toolbars, edge-to-edge sidebars, and more refined window shapes and menu bar icons.

What about iPad owners? iPadOS 27 includes all the aforementioned iOS 27 features, but there isn't much that's unique to the tablet this year. Visual Intelligence, which can analyze anything on your display via screenshots, works with the Apple Pencil: just circle what you want to learn about. And external hard drive support gets a boost: Apple says file transfers between iPad and an SSD are now up to five times faster and "just as fast as Finder on Mac," according to the company.

How to install

Keep in mind that these are early versions of the software. Bugs, battery drain and other issues will likely pop up. (Apple hopes you'll use the Feedback app to help it optimize the software before the final release.) If you want a safer balance between cutting-edge features and stability, it couldn't hurt to wait for at least the second or third public beta.

If you've never installed pre-release software before, you'll need to enroll in the Apple Beta Software Program first. Once you're in, you can download the beta software by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update. Under the Beta Updates section, choose the "27" public beta for your device.

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The top-end model even has an anti-glare display, much like Samsung's Ultra phones.



The US has been trying to effectively kill HUAWEI since 2019, but the company still manages to launch some cutting-edge Android phones every year. It launched the HUAWEI Pura 90 series in China earlier this year, and it’s now launched the slightly rebranded Pura 90s Pro and Pura 90s Pro Max in global markets. Interestingly, the latter device in particular stands out among camera phones.

The Pura 90s Pro and Pro Max share several features. This includes a Kirin 9030s chipset, 12GB of RAM, 256GB or 512GB of storage, a flat LTPO OLED screen, IP68 and IP69 ratings, wireless charging, and a 6,000mAh battery. Unfortunately, European models only offer a 5,270mAh battery, ostensibly due to EU regulations.

HUAWEI’s Pro Max device has several upgrades over the Pro model. One notable improvement is the use of Kunlun Glass with anti-glare properties compared to the Pro’s “second-generation” Kunlun Glass. HUAWEI says you should expect reflections to be reduced by up to 70% compared to conventional glass. Either way, that’s great news if you like the Gorilla Armor protection on Samsung’s Ultra phones. Other notable differences include a 6.9-inch OLED panel versus a 6.6-inch display, and 100W wired charging versus the Pro’s 66W charging.

A cutting-edge camera setup



HUAWEI’s Pura 90s Pro Max brings a truly advanced camera system. For one, there’s a 50MP 1/1.28-inch main camera with an RYYB sensor and a variable aperture (f/1.4 to f/4.0). This sensor also offers LOFIC technology, enabling wider dynamic range (and therefore better sunset photos and backlit snaps) compared to conventional cameras. Motorola and Xiaomi have also debuted this tech in 2026, and we’re expecting to see it on plenty more phones in the future.

The Pura 90s Pro Max offers a pretty crazy telephoto camera setup as well. Expect a 200MP 4x periscope camera, complete with a large, 1/1.28-inch sensor size. Furthermore, HUAWEI says this is the first 200MP camera with an RYYB color filter. All conventional cameras use an RGB (red, blue, green) color filter, but HUAWEI has long swapped out the green elements for yellow ones. This change is meant to boost light intake, therefore delivering better low-light snaps. So we’re expecting the periscope camera to perform well when the sun goes down.

HUAWEI says the 200MP periscope camera also has CIPA 7.0 stabilization, matching the vivo X300 Ultra. The firm adds that its 200MP real-time RAW processing enables high-quality 20x shots. In fact, the manufacturer showed off a 20x video during a media briefing, revealing sharper, less washed-out video than the X300 Ultra’s output. But we’ll need to actually use the phone to see whether this bears out in real-world conditions.

Other notable Pro Max camera details include a 40MP ultrawide camera (f/2.2, RYYB) and a True-to-Color 2.0 sensor. Early RYYB cameras were susceptible to a yellow tint, so a dedicated sensor for color reproduction should be a big help if this is still a problem.

Meanwhile, the Pura 90s Pro retains the same 50MP LOFIC main camera with a variable aperture. However, it packs a 50MP 4x periscope camera (f/2.1, RYYB, 5cm macro focusing) and a 12.5MP ultrawide camera (f/2.2, RYYB). In other words, it’s a clear step down from the Pro Max, but still a very capable camera platform.

HUAWEI Pura 90s Pro series availability



HUAWEI’s phones haven’t offered official Google Play Services integration since 2019, and it’s no different on the Pura 90s range. That’s a shame in light of the impressive camera hardware on offer here, especially on the Pro Max. Otherwise, you can expect EMUI 16 and no discernible update policy.

Fancy the HUAWEI Pura 90s Pro Max? Then it’s available in Orange Ocean, Blush Gold, Blaze Purple, and Graphite Black colors. The former colorway in particular is a standout option, featuring an orange-and-blue gradient that includes the phone’s frame. Prefer the Pura 90s Pro instead? It’s available in Coconut White, Guava Soda, Orange Soda, and Mulberry Black colors.

The HUAWEI Pura 90s Pro Max starts at €1,149 (~$1,310) for the 256GB variant in Europe. Meanwhile, the Pro model starts at €899 (~$1,025) for the 256GB variant. There’s no word on wider availability just yet.

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Huawei / Huawei Pura 90 Series Global Launch Date Confirmed
« Last post by javajolt on July 14, 2026, 02:30:38 PM »
Check Release Date, Expected Price, Specifications, Launch Event Details, Models, Upgrades & All You Need to Know

Huawei Pura 90 Series global launch confirmed: Huawei confirms the Pura 90 series global launch on July 14 in Kuala Lumpur, featuring a strong camera focus, new design teasers, and expected Pro models for international markets.


Huawei Pura 90 Series global launch confirmed: Huawei confirms the Pura 90 series global launch
[Photo: Social Media]


Huawei has officially confirmed the global debut of its flagship Pura 90 series, marking one of its most important smartphone launches of 2026. The lineup, which was first introduced in China earlier this year, is now preparing for an international rollout with a strong focus on imaging technology, premium design, and high-end performance.

The global announcement is expected to attract attention from smartphone buyers and industry watchers as Huawei continues to strengthen its position in the premium camera phone segment.

Huawei Pura 90 Series Global Launch Confirmed

The company has confirmed that the Huawei Pura 90 series will launch globally on July 14, 2026. The announcement marks the next phase of Huawei’s flagship rollout strategy after its China debut in April.

The global launch is expected to highlight Huawei’s latest advancements in mobile photography and AI-powered imaging features, which remain the core identity of the Pura series.

Huawei Pura 90 Series Launch Event Date & Venue

Huawei will host its global launch event on July 14 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event is expected to serve as a major international showcase for the brand’s latest flagship smartphone lineup.

The company has already started teasing the event with promotional lines such as “Now Is Your Moment” and photography-focused slogans hinting at advanced zoom and imaging capabilities.

Huawei Pura 90 Series Expected Price

Huawei has not officially confirmed global pricing for the Pura 90 series. However, based on previous flagship launches, the series is expected to be positioned in the premium price segment.

The pricing will likely vary by model, with the base variant expected to be more accessible while the Pro and higher-end versions could target ultra-premium smartphone buyers.

Huawei Pura 90 Series Expected Models

The Pura 90 series was launched in China with multiple variants, including:

   ■ Huawei Pura 90

   ■ Huawei Pura 90 Pro

   ■ Huawei Pura 90 Pro Max

For global markets, it is still unclear whether Huawei will launch all three models or limit availability to selected variants. Industry expectations suggest that at least two models could be introduced internationally.

Huawei Pura 90 Series Specifications (Expected)

While official global specifications have not been revealed, the Pura 90 series is expected to continue Huawei’s focus on high-performance hardware. The lineup may include:

   ■ Flagship-grade processor optimised for AI and imaging

   ■ High-refresh-rate OLED display

   ■ Advanced cooling system for sustained performance

   ■ Enhanced battery efficiency with fast charging support

These upgrades are expected to position the device competitively in the premium smartphone market.

Huawei Pura 90 Series Camera Features (Expected)

Camera performance is expected to remain the biggest highlight of the Pura 90 series. Huawei is likely to continue its focus on advanced zoom and computational photography. Expected features include:

   ■ Large multi-lens rear camera system

   ■ Enhanced optical zoom capabilities

   ■ AI-powered image processing

   ■ Improved low-light photography performance

The teaser tagline “Zoom in. Notice more. Zoom out. See everything.” strongly suggests a major emphasis on zoom and detail capture.

Huawei Pura 90 Series Design & Display (Expected)

The Pura 90 series is expected to feature a premium design with a large circular camera module on the rear. Early teaser images suggest a refined and modern aesthetic with clean finishes and multiple colour options.

On the front, the device is expected to feature a high-quality OLED display with slim bezels, offering an immersive viewing experience suitable for media consumption and gaming.

Huawei Pura 90 Series: What to Expect?

The Huawei Pura 90 series is shaping up to be a major flagship release focused on camera innovation and premium design. While final global specifications are yet to be confirmed, the device is expected to continue Huawei’s strong reputation in mobile photography.

As the July 14 launch approaches, more details about pricing, availability, and final specifications are likely to be revealed, giving a clearer picture of Huawei’s global strategy for 2026.

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