The everyday tech stories our desk judged worth your time, written so anyone can follow them.
In iOS 27, the Shortcuts app lets you describe a task in plain words and builds the automation for you, but only on newer devices.
Read more: iPhone Shortcuts Now Builds Automations From a Plain SentenceWhatsApp is reportedly preparing sound stickers, which would add short audio to chat stickers. It could make your chats noisier, so a quick settings check may help.
Read more: WhatsApp is working on stickers that play short soundsA sheriff's office says scammers are calling crash victims and offering to sell them their own accident report. Real police do not do that.
Read more: Scam targets people trying to get an accident reportGoogle's Pixel phones have a VIPs feature that gathers your key contacts in one hub, and one reviewer says it has become a daily habit.
Read more: Pixel's VIPs feature puts your most important contacts in one spotAndroid Police's reviewer likes the new Googlebook laptop but won't buy one, citing AI that can see everything on screen and a $999 starting price.
Read more: Google's new Googlebook laptop has a privacy problem and a high priceScammers can make a call show a real police number. Caller ID is no proof of who is on the line, so a official-looking number should not be trusted.
Read more: Scammers fake police phone numbers to make fraud calls look realWhatsApp is testing an Android menu bar that shrinks into a small pill as you scroll, which could leave more room for your chat list.
Read more: WhatsApp is testing a menu bar that shrinks as you scrollNew French rules on sales calls began in August, but readers say spam calls continue, especially from scammers. Here is what they report and what helps.
Read more: Spam calls in France keep coming despite new cold-calling rulesGoogle says Fitbit Air will get sleep breathing quality soon, but owners will need a Google Health Premium subscription to see the data.
Read more: Google says Fitbit Air will get sleep breathing tracking after allA tech writer gave Claude, Gemini and ChatGPT separate jobs at work, home and play, and found the setup helped in some ways and cost in others.
Read more: One writer gave Claude, Gemini and ChatGPT separate jobs, with mixed resultsSamsung has posted a shutdown notice for a smart TV hub that only recently added Google Photos, so families who show photos on their TV should take note.
Read more: Samsung is shutting down a smart TV hub that just got Google PhotosAndroid Authority says Samsung's first Android XR glasses have a design problem a rival has already solved, a sign that looks may matter as much as tech.
Read more: Samsung's first smart glasses may have a looks problemOne writer fed a $400 grocery bill to ChatGPT and Gemini, followed their tips, and his next bill came in at $300.56. Here is what the bots told him to do.
Read more: A writer asked two AI chatbots to cut a $400 grocery billApple's new HomeView display, Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2 are open for preorder, and prices vary by a dollar or more depending on the store.
Read more: Apple's New Smart Home Display and Apple TV Are Open for PreorderLoop Capital downgraded Apple to Hold and expects fewer iPhones to ship this year. Here is what that means if you own the stock or plan to buy a phone.
Read more: Wall Street firm lowers Apple rating over weaker iPhone salesWhatsApp is reportedly building an optional in-app browser for iPhone, so chat links could open without leaving the app. There is no release date yet.
Read more: WhatsApp on iPhone may soon open chat links inside the appScammers cloned an Osceola County, Florida, sheriff's captain's voice with AI to run fake warrant calls. Officials in eight states have warned about similar tricks.
Read more: Scammers are cloning a sheriff captain's voice to demand moneyThe latest Android 17 beta lets you lock four key switches on the lock screen, so a thief has a harder time cutting off a lost phone.
Read more: Android 17 beta lets you lock key switches on a locked phoneA Tom's Guide how-to says three changes can calm a laggy or glitchy iPhone on iOS 27, without waiting for Apple to ship a fix.
Read more: Three iPhone settings to change if iOS 27 feels slow or glitchyA new guide explains three ways to move WhatsApp chats from Android to an iPhone Duo, and warns that Google Drive backups will not work on their own.
Read more: Moving WhatsApp chats from Android to a new iPhone, step by stepA tech CEO said AI critics would balk at losing ChatGPT. Reddit pushed back, and some daily AI users said they would still pull the plug.
Read more: Would you give up ChatGPT to stop new AI data centers? Reddit said yesThe UK competition regulator wants Apple to make it cheaper and easier for rivals to offer tap-to-pay on iPhones, which could mean more choice for users.
Read more: UK regulator wants to make it easier to rival Apple Pay on iPhonesOpenAI added Locked Chats to ChatGPT, hiding sensitive conversations behind a PIN or Face ID, but the lock does not shield them from the company.
Read more: ChatGPT now lets you lock private chats with a PIN or Face IDSecurity researchers got inside the system that sends people to fake Microsoft warnings. Here is how the scam works and how to spot it.
Read more: Researchers get inside the system behind fake Microsoft alerts
