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Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETApple will hold its annual WWDC conference in a few days, and the leaks about what might be announced are pouring out at full speed. I recently told you how the company is reportedly planning a massive UI overhaul called Solarium for every corner of its software ecosystem. Shortly after that, reports emerged that Apple would also rename its operating systems to follow a year-based convention, with iOS 19 being called iOS 26. Now, 9to5Mac has the scoop on what, specifically, iOS 26 will introduce.Also: iOS 19 may give your iPhone a big battery life upgrade – without you needing to do a thing9to5Mac has a solid track record when it comes to Apple leaks. So when it reveals what the next major iteration of Apple’s mobile software could bring in terms of upgrades, you listen. While the Solarium redesign, which is thought to be the biggest visual overhaul since iOS 7, will undoubtedly steal the spotlight, some of the under-the-radar changes could be equally exciting.What’s coming to iOS 26?When Apple unveils iOS 26, it will supposedly discuss a few new features and software upgrades coming to Messages, Music, Notes, CarPlay, and more. Keep in mind that none of this has been revealed by Apple just yet. I’ve contacted the company for a comment, but I do not expect it to confirm 9to5Mac’s reporting. It will use WWDC 2025 to reveal the new features in iOS 26.Also: Skip the iPad Pro and save $50 on Apple’s newest 11th Gen iPad right nowMessagesiOS 26 will bring AI-powered real-time translation to Messages, automatically detecting and translating incoming texts and your replies so recipients can see them in their language. It will also add polls. You’ll be able to tap a new “Poll” button, enter your question and options, and everyone in a chat can vote, with results updating in real time. Apple Intelligence will even suggest poll options based on your conversation. So, if you’re deciding on dinner, it might offer “pizza,” “burgers,” or “sushi” as poll choices.Apple MusicThis isn’t the biggest change, but you can expect animated album art — which is already a thing inside Apple Music — to appear on your Lock Screen. So, when your iPhone is locked, album artwork should appear to come to life, in full-screen glory. NotesAnother small feature reportedly coming to the iPhone with iOS 26 should make some note‐takers and writers happy: they’ll get the ability to export notes in Markdown from Apple Notes. Until now, doing this required third‐party apps.CarPlay9to5Mac reports that Apple plans to bring the Solarium design language to CarPlay with iOS 26. That means it’ll likely update menus, buttons, and widgets to match your iPhone’s and iPad’s new look. Earlier reports had mentioned that iOS, iPadOS, WatchOS, TVOS, and VisionOS are all set to receive this visual overhaul — but now, it appears CarPlay will, too. Since Solarium is all about bright, translucent elements, you can expect CarPlay to look more modern and lightweight after the update. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Crucial X10 portable SSD is available now, starting at $139 for the 1TB version. It’s a super small SSD drive that will go anywhere, and the IP65 rating means that it can shrug off rain and dirt. It’s not exactly cheap, as the durability comes with a cost. –> For […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETWhether you’re considering buying a new TV or your old flat panel seems to be doing fine, there are still ways to optimize your viewing experience, and it all begins with your television’s settings. Let’s explore some of the key factors determining how your TV performs and what you can do to make it look even better.1. Turn down the sharpnessThe sharper the picture, the better. Right? Not necessarily.Contrary to popular belief, the “sharpness” setting on your TV doesn’t affect the actual sharpness of the displayed image. True sharpness is determined by factors such as screen resolution, source material resolution, and contrast. Instead, the sharpness setting alters the artificial edge enhancement — a processor-driven adjustment that can introduce unwanted noise and, ironically, distort details in the image.Also: I replaced my 4K TV with a UST projector – and the visual upgrade was worth itEdge enhancement is designed to make on-screen objects more distinct by emphasizing the boundaries between them, theoretically creating a more lifelike image. However, this feature acts like a universal Instagram filter, potentially leading to an unnatural appearance in some media. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Lenovo’s ThinkStation P3 Tiny is available now starting at $769, but upgrades will bring it up to $2,000. There’s some powerful hardware here packed into a tiny frame, and pro users will appreciate its upgradeability and support for up to six monitors. Higher-tier configurations are pricey, the power supply is almost […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways A Shine Turbine kit, which includes a turbine, stand, guy lines, and pegs, costs $399, while the Essentials Kit, which adds a few more bits such as a wind speed meter, costs $488 – though both are on sale right now The kit includes everything you need to turn wind into […] More

PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images Seniors looking for a capable but budget-friendly wireless plan may want to check out a new option from AT&T. Introduced on Tuesday, the carrier’s AT&T 55+ Plan<!–> offers several perks. But as usual, there are a few conditions. For $40 per month per line or $35 per month for each […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Redmagic 10 Air Android phone is available now on Amazon for $729. The 10 Air phone is as elegant as it is powerful and can handle some of the more challenging games. This camera system isn’t necessarily flagship level, and you’ll want to pay attention to network band support. –> […] More

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETPixel phones get a lot of credit for their excellent cameras and battery-saving tools, but Google’s hardware is also strong in the safety department. With a healthy dose of Google’s AI on board, Pixel devices offer some powerful personal safety features as well as integrations that will watch your back even when you let your guard down. Many of them require nothing more than a quick trip into the settings menu.Also: 7 Google Pixel phone settings you should change immediately (and how to do it)Here are a few safety tools that I make sure to activate on my Pixel, along with the quickest way to use these features in your daily routine.1. Emergency SOS is your one-button lifeline More