The everyday tech stories our desk judged worth your time, written so anyone can follow them.
A Samsung add-on called Good Lock lets Galaxy owners change grids, icons, widgets and wallpapers for free, which one reviewer says beats paid launcher apps.
Read more: Six Samsung phone settings that make your home screen look betterSmart bulbs go dark when someone flips the wall switch. Engadget says smart switches fix that and work better in homes where not everyone likes apps.
Read more: Smart light switches beat smart bulbs for shared homesGoogle is working on a Messages feature to catch fake delivery and bank ID texts early, which could help protect your bank details.
Read more: Google Messages may soon flag fake courier and bank ID textsBenQ's new INFTYLAB PS01 mouse is built for Macs, lets you assign trackpad gestures to its buttons, and a reviewer found it far gentler on the hand than Apple's.
Read more: A comfortable mouse for Mac users that can copy trackpad gesturesA writer at Android Authority canceled Google's AI Plus plan after a downgrade but still uses Gemini. Paid AI plans can change, so check before you renew.
Read more: A writer canceled Google's AI Plus plan but still uses GeminiWhatsApp is testing a built-in tool that filters background noise on calls, so your voice could come through clearer without a headset or extra app.
Read more: WhatsApp is testing a built-in way to cut background noise on callsHMRC says fake texts asking for crypto tax details are rising. A real tax body will not ask for your personal or financial details by text.
Read more: Fake tax texts about crypto are targeting UK taxpayersGoogle Messages has put its effort into RCS, and an author says plain SMS features got left behind. A free, open source app may fill the gap.
Read more: Google Messages neglects plain text messages; a free app fills the gapAndroid Authority compared the Fitbit Edge and Fitbit Air on health tools, and its teaser hints the Air may win despite the Edge having more going on.
Read more: Fitbit Edge or Fitbit Air: which one gives you the health featuresAndroid Police says four phone settings keep Android Auto reliable: location, mobile data, automatic start and battery exceptions. Turning them off can break trips.
Read more: Four phone settings to leave on when you use Android AutoA How-To Geek writer swapped his Galaxy's camera app for a free open source one to get photos that show what the sensor saw, with less AI added.
Read more: A writer ditched his Galaxy's camera app to avoid AI-edited photosCarPlay and Android Auto make your phone work harder, so it heats up and drains faster. A few simple changes in the car can keep it cooler.
Read more: Why Your Phone Gets Hot in the Car, and How to Cool It DownA report says ChatGPT put 53 private photos online, and OpenAI is under pressure. Here is what is known, what is not, and why it matters for your own pictures.
Read more: 53 private photos ended up online through ChatGPTGemini's Scheduled actions run a prompt on a timetable and leave the answer waiting, which could cut the daily habit of asking the same questions.
Read more: Gemini can now run your daily chores on a schedulePeople are already finding ways around OpenAI's ban on romantic companion bots in its GPT Store, so families and businesses should expect them to keep appearing.
Read more: People are sneaking AI girlfriend bots past OpenAI's new rulesA Tom's Guide editor tested iOS 27 for about three months and picked five favorite features. The scam protection is off until you turn it on.
Read more: Five iOS 27 features a tester says made updating worth itThe Better Business Bureau warns that fake texts about donations, polls and voter registration are going around before Election Day, and one reply could cost you.
Read more: Fake political texts are targeting voters before Election DayApple's first foldable iPhone is arriving, and some popular apps like Instagram leave empty space on its screens. Past launches suggest updates will fix it.
Read more: Apple's first foldable iPhone launches with some apps that look offAndroid Authority says Samsung's One UI 9 still falls short of making its main selling point solid. Galaxy owners and buyers should know what that means.
Read more: Samsung's next phone software gets closer to Google's, but a gap remainsA message called a 'phishing test' is usually a harmless drill from an employer, but scammers use the same words as bait, so check before you click.
Read more: That 'phishing test' message may be harmless, or it may be a scamA research team released open phone agents that tap through apps for you, and they posted the best score among open models on real Android phones.
Read more: Free AI that taps through phone apps for you now rivals paid onesAmazon's new Alexa Tablet 12 Pro starts at $499, runs full Android, and one reviewer says its screen and build rival the best iPads.
Read more: Amazon's new Alexa Tablet 12 Pro wins a reviewer over with its screenGoogle Messages, the default texting app on many Android phones, is reportedly tidying its crowded settings menu so options are easier to find.
Read more: Google Messages is cleaning up its cluttered settings menuInstagram now has an app for Apple TV, so Reels, longer videos and live shows can play on the big screen. It needs recent Apple TV software.
Read more: Instagram now has an app for Apple TV
