Tech Boys

The iPhone 18 is about to launch , along with the final version of its operating system, iOS 27 , most likely in September. But a new report says it may arrive with a feature that lets Apple, and third-party lenders, remotely deactivate phones if customers fall behind on payments. With the iOS 27 beta now widely available, 9to5Mac found code that would let Apple place delinquent iPhones in "Restricted Mode." This would limit users to a short list of widgets and apps, including the App Store, Clock, Settings, Wallet, and Passwords, according to the report. In theory, 9to5Mac says the system could work like this: Authorized financing partners who lease iPhones to customers get to perform regular status checks to see if the contract is still valid. If a customer falls behind, Restricted Mode would be activated. The feature is "unequivocally present" in the iOS 27 beta, according to 9to5Mac — and a future update to iOS 26 could bring this feature to older iPhones as w...

The company wants people to be anti-doomer, but doesn't say why. from Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews https://ift.tt/UczPuXL via IFTTT

Samsung set up a gym, a kitchen and a darkened test room to show off the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, Z Flip 8 and Watch Ultra 2. Here's everything we got our hands on. from Mashable https://ift.tt/nQSGu7I via IFTTT

Adding new dimensions to the device. from Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews https://ift.tt/AaPFBDx via IFTTT

You can now gift games without a Steam account and sort your wishlist into categories. from Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews https://ift.tt/YJoSX5q via IFTTT

Several federal agencies are contributing toward the interdisciplinary research efforts. from Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews https://ift.tt/f5zynuQ via IFTTT

The country's new law also bans the use of mobile phones in schools. from Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews https://ift.tt/82UXjc3 via IFTTT

A federal judge in San Francisco has granted final approval to a $1.5 billion settlement between Anthropic and a class of authors who accused the AI company of illegally downloading their copyrighted books, closing out what the court called the largest copyright class action settlement in history. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín signed the order on July 20 , resolving claims brought by lead plaintiffs Andrea Bartz, Kirk Wallace Johnson, and others over Anthropic's use of pirated libraries LibGen and PiLiMi to build its book collection. Notably, the underlying dispute centered on how Anthropic acquired the books, not on whether training AI models with copyrighted material is lawful. SEE ALSO: Anthropic to provide California government with AI tools In an earlier ruling cited throughout the order , the court had already determined that the use of training itself constituted fair use. Per the settlement, ...

The elevated streaming experience is happening in collaboration with Prime Video. from Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews https://ift.tt/ptglcxR via IFTTT

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is finding new fans in more places than the stadium. According to new data from the league , views across its YouTube channels increased 41.7 percent through the first 10 weeks of the 2026 season, reaching 11.2 million. Watch time climbed nearly 50 percent, while subscribers grew 17.9 percent. Those gains are part of a strong first half of the season for the NWSL . Attendance is up, the league’s social following has expanded, and merchandise sales have increased. New clubs and a wider mix of broadcast and streaming options are also creating more ways for people to follow the league. So, who are these new fans, how are they discovering the NWSL, and what is turning their interest into a lasting connection with the league? Who is watching the NWSL? The NWSL's audience is broader than the young, predominantly female fan base often associated with women's sports. Nielsen estimated that the league had 39.3 million fans in the United St...