Every time Apple released a new iOS update, people swore their iPhones suddenly felt slower. This rumor has followed Apple for years and while the company always denied it, the suspicion never really went away. With its latest iOS 27 update, I believe Apple has finally put this rumor to rest. 

I installed the beta on my iPhone Air, but the bigger story is what’s happening on the older models. Reports from people running iOS 27 on even older iPhones say their phones feel faster, not slower.

That’s the opposite of what the planned obsolescence crowd has been claiming all these years, and it’s happening in a developer beta, which is usually the buggiest, least-optimized version you can get.

So what changed this time around?

According to Apple, the speed gains come from rebuilding how the system handles things like CPU scheduling, memory, and background tasks. In plain terms, your iPhone is now smarter about where it spends its energy, so older chips don’t get bogged down doing work they don’t need to.

Apple is throwing out some crazy numbers. It claims app launches are up to 30% faster, AirDrop is 80% faster, Photos load about 70% faster, and a few other improvements across the board. I usually take these figures with a pinch of salt, since there’s no way to quantitatively test them. But with the results I am seeing on my iPhone Air, I will say that something genuinely feels different. 

I am especially impressed by the new AirDrop. You can actually feel the improvement in transfer speeds. Smaller files transfer in a jiffy, and even larger video files take almost half as long to transfer as they did on iOS 26.

But the best part is that Apple didn’t lock these improvements behind the newest iPhones. Every device that can run iOS 26 can run iOS 27, going all the way back to the iPhone 11. Yes, older devices might miss out on the new AI features, but they all get the speed and stability improvements that will prolong the life of these devices. 

Does this mean the rumors were always wrong?

I wouldn’t say so. Older iPhones do slow down over time, but it’s not some evil master plan. New features require more powerful chips, apps get heavier, and battery health naturally declines, which can throttle performance. Apple itself admitted to slowing down the performance of older iPhones to eke out more battery. The company even had to pay more than $600 million to settle lawsuits. 

iOS 27 update has changed this narrative. Instead of adding flashy new features that need the latest hardware to run well, Apple spent this year making the experience better for everyone, including people holding on to older phones. For this reason, the iOS 27 is the most important update Apple has released in years.

It ensures that my iPhone will last me for a long time, and that I’m not on some invisible countdown to my next upgrade. I have always argued for a maintenance update every few year if not every other year. If Apple keeps on delivering such updates, these planned obsolescence rumors will quietly fade away.

YouTube officially announced that its in-app video sharing and messaging feature is now rolling out to the US, UK, Brazil, and Singapore, bringing the total number of supported countries to 40.

The feature is available to users aged 18 and older who are logged into a YouTube channel. The rollout is gradual, so it may not appear in your app immediately.

How to DM on YouTube?

Once the feature is enabled for you, a messaging icon appears in the top right corner of the app. You can also share any video or Short directly from the Share button while watching.

The catch is that starting a conversation is not as simple as searching for someone. You have to send an invite link first, and that link must go out through a third-party app like WhatsApp, iMessage, or SMS. The other person then accepts the invite and gets added to your YouTube contacts. This extra step is designed to prevent spam and unwanted messages.

Once connected, you can send text messages freely, react to content in real time, unsend messages by long-pressing them, delete entire conversations, and block or report contacts if needed. The only media you can share inside the chat is YouTube content, including videos, livestreams, and Shorts. No images, GIFs, or files allowed.

Why is YouTube bringing messaging back now?

YouTube had a direct messaging feature in 2017, but it was quietly killed off in 2019. Now, it’s back once again in a much bigger way.

The feature has already been available in over 30 European countries since March 2026. YouTube says the positive response from countries where the feature was already live drove the decision to expand. Recently, the platform also added three new podcast features, but they are only for Premium subscribers.

After years of forcing Bing into nearly every corner of Windows Search, Microsoft may finally be giving users a way out. The company is reportedly testing changes in Windows 11 that would allow people to completely disable Bing-powered web results from the operating system’s built-in Search experience.

For many PC users, this is a long-overdue change. Windows Search has spent years blending local file searches with Bing suggestions, online results, news links, and Microsoft services – often frustrating users who simply wanted to find an app, document, or system setting on their computer.

According to a report by PCMag, Microsoft is now introducing options that separate local Windows search functionality from Bing’s web integration. That means users could eventually type into the Start menu or taskbar and receive only local PC results instead of being pushed toward online Bing content.

The shift appears connected to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is forcing major technology companies to provide users with greater control over bundled services and platform defaults. Microsoft has already begun making several Europe-specific Windows changes, including easier browser switching and fewer prompts pushing Edge and Bing.

Windows Search may finally become simpler again

For years, Windows users criticized Microsoft for aggressively integrating Bing into Windows Search, even when it reduced usability. Searching for local files could surface unrelated web links, online recommendations, or Bing-powered suggestions that many users never wanted in the first place.

The frustration became even more noticeable after Microsoft began integrating AI-powered Bing and Copilot features directly into Windows 11. While the company positioned those additions as productivity enhancements, many users felt Windows Search became increasingly cluttered and less focused on core desktop functionality.

The reported update could significantly improve the experience for people who mainly use Search to launch apps, locate files, or navigate Windows settings. Removing Bing integration may also improve responsiveness and reduce unnecessary online queries happening in the background.

For Microsoft, however, the move represents something larger than just a settings toggle. Bing has long been a strategic part of the company’s ecosystem push, helping drive users toward Microsoft services, search advertising, Edge, and now AI-powered Copilot experiences.

Allowing users to disable Bing more freely suggests regulators are having a measurable impact on how Microsoft designs Windows.

Microsoft still wants AI everywhere in Windows

Even with the potential Bing removal option, Microsoft is not stepping away from AI or online integrations inside Windows 11. The company continues investing heavily in Copilot and AI-powered productivity tools, which remain central to its long-term strategy for Windows.

That means the upcoming changes are less about abandoning Bing entirely and more about giving users additional control over how deeply Microsoft services are integrated into the desktop experience.

The bigger question now is whether these Bing-removal features remain limited to Europe due to DMA compliance or eventually expand worldwide. If Microsoft rolls the option out globally, it could become one of the most user-friendly Windows Search changes in years.

For longtime Windows users, though, the update already feels symbolic. After years of Microsoft insisting Bing belonged inside Windows Search, users may finally get the choice they have been requesting all along: the ability to search their PC without Microsoft’s search engine constantly getting in the way.

Apple’s next major Mac software update may mark the beginning of the end for Intel-powered Macs while also pushing deeper into AI-powered experiences. New rumors surrounding macOS 27 suggest Apple is preparing significant changes ranging from smarter Siri capabilities to refinements for its controversial “Liquid Glass” design language.

According to reports, macOS 27 could become the first version of macOS to substantially reduce or fully end support for Intel-based Macs, completing a transition Apple began in 2020 with the launch of its first Apple Silicon chips. While Apple has steadily shifted focus toward M-series processors over the past several years, macOS 27 may represent the clearest sign yet that the company is ready to leave Intel hardware behind. Although this is not new news – Apple was already looking to phase out Intel-powered Macs when it rolled out macOS Tahoe last year.

The timing would align with Apple’s typical software support cycle. Intel Macs have already started missing out on some Apple Intelligence features introduced during the AI push across iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Ending support entirely would allow Apple to focus more aggressively on AI, machine learning, and hardware-specific optimizations designed around Apple Silicon.

Apple appears ready to fully embrace its AI-first Mac future

One of the biggest rumored changes involves Siri. Reports suggest Apple is continuing work on a significantly smarter version of the assistant capable of handling more natural conversations, contextual awareness, and deeper app integration. While Apple’s AI rollout has faced criticism for moving more slowly than rivals like Google and OpenAI, macOS 27 could become an important part of the company’s broader Apple Intelligence strategy.

The update may also refine Apple’s newer “Liquid Glass” visual style, which reportedly focuses on translucent layers, reflective interface elements, and smoother animations across macOS. Early reactions to the design direction have been mixed, with some users praising the futuristic appearance while others argue it prioritizes aesthetics over clarity and usability.

Apple is also expected to continue integrating AI-powered productivity tools throughout macOS. Features involving summarization, writing assistance, smarter search, and proactive recommendations could become more deeply embedded into the operating system as Apple tries to make AI feel native to the Mac experience instead of functioning as a separate tool.

For users still relying on Intel Macs, however, the rumored support changes may become the biggest story. Millions of Intel-based MacBooks and desktops remain in active use, especially in businesses, schools, and creative industries. If Apple significantly cuts compatibility, many users could face difficult upgrade decisions sooner than expected.

macOS 27 may reveal Apple’s long-term strategy for the Mac

The rumored update reflects a broader shift happening across Apple’s ecosystem. The company increasingly designs software around its own custom chips, allowing tighter integration between hardware and software features. Apple Silicon Macs already deliver major advantages in battery life, performance efficiency, and AI processing compared to older Intel systems.

Ending Intel support would also simplify development for Apple and third-party app makers by reducing the number of architectures they need to support. However, it risks frustrating long-time Mac users whose devices may still feel perfectly functional despite losing future software support.

Apple is expected to officially unveil macOS 27 during WWDC 2026, where the company will likely detail its next-generation AI strategy across Macs, iPhones, and iPads. Until then, many of the reported features remain speculative, but the rumors strongly suggest Apple is preparing one of the most significant transitions in Mac history since the move away from Intel first began.

Apple TV‘s hit sci-fi series is back, and the new Silo season 3 trailer makes it clear that the show is finally ready to answer its biggest question: how did the world end?

The 10-episode third season premieres on July 3, with new episodes dropping every Friday through September 4. And if this trailer is anything to go by, the wait has been worth it.

Juliette is back, but she’s not quite herself

Rebecca Ferguson’s Juliette survived the incinerator at the end of season 2, but she didn’t walk away unscathed. She’s lost all her memories, and that’s where things get truly exciting.

Camille Sims (Alexandria Riley) has been feeding her a false narrative for three months, and mysterious pills spotted in the trailer appear to be playing a role in keeping those memories buried. A voice identified only as The Algorithm confirms it, telling Camille that Juliette has had no memories other than the ones she was given.

There’s even a cryptic note warning Juliette not to take the mysterious pills, so someone out there wants her to remember. This memory manipulation is a bold departure from Hugh Howey’s Wool novels, and it adds another layer of tension.

The trailer also suggests that Juliette will become the mayor of the silo in season 3, settling into a powerful role she has no memory of earning. On top of all that, a countdown in the trailer hints that the silo itself is running out of time.

As one character ominously puts it, the amount of panic, if people knew how little time they had left, would be unthinkable. Meanwhile, Steve Zahn also makes a welcome return as Solo, whose fate was left uncertain at the end of season 2.

The past timeline is where Silo season 3 gets really interesting

While Juliette’s arc drives the present-day story, the trailer’s most exciting reveal is its deep dive into the past. Journalist Helen Drew (Jessica Henwick) and Congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman), who were briefly introduced in the season 2 finale, are now central characters.

Their storyline is set centuries before the events of the silo and draws heavily from Shift, the second book in Howey’s trilogy. The two uncover a conspiracy involving what appears to be a radiological weapon attack, a chain of events that ultimately forced humanity underground. As the trailer tagline puts it, “the truth lies in the past.”

Joining the cast this season are Laura Innes, Jessica Brown Findlay, Morven Christie, Reed Birney, Matt Craven, and Colin Hanks. Silo season 3 looks like the show has rediscovered everything that made season 1 so gripping – the paranoia, the mystery, and that nagging sense that nobody can be trusted.

With an origin story that goes back centuries now in play, this is shaping up to be its most ambitious chapter yet. If you haven’t started watching, now is the perfect time to catch up before July 3.

For the past two years, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series has largely been confined to notebooks. The chips delivered impressive battery life and surprisingly competitive performance, but they never got the chance to challenge compact desktop machines like Apple’s Mac mini or even the more powerful Mac Studio. The Ascent QN10 changes that.

Packing the 18-core Snapdragon X2 Elite processor alongside Qualcomm’s integrated Adreno GPU, the tiny desktop also becomes the world’s first mini PC to offer 80 TOPS of AI performance through its dedicated Hexagon NPU. So, ASUS is introducing a new form factor for Qualcomm’s most powerful PC silicon.

The desktop debut Snapdragon needed

The most interesting thing about the Ascent QN10 is the fact that Qualcomm’s flagship PC chip has finally made its way into a desktop. Until now, comparing Snapdragon-powered systems to Apple’s Mac mini has always felt slightly unfair. One sat inside a laptop chassis with battery constraints, while the other was a dedicated desktop built for sustained performance. The QN10 brings Qualcomm into that conversation.

ASUS says the system combines the X2 Elite’s 18-core CPU with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 9600MHz, promising a balance of performance and efficiency while maintaining cool, quiet operation. That’s the same pitch Apple has successfully used for years with the Mac mini: serious performance without the noise and heat of traditional desktop PCs. Whether the QN10 can truly compete with Apple’s compact desktops remains to be seen, but for the first time, Qualcomm finally has the hardware platform to make that comparison meaningful.

The chip leaves the nest

Of course, ASUS and Qualcomm are leaning heavily into AI. At Microsoft Build, the companies demonstrated the QN10 running developer tools such as Visual Studio Code and GitHub Copilot while processing AI-assisted workflows locally. Another demonstration showed the machine running private large language models using LLMWare and AnythingLLM without relying on cloud servers.

That’s where the 80 TOPS NPU comes into play. Instead of sending data to external servers, developers can run AI workloads directly on the machine, which offers advantages in privacy, security, and responsiveness. The QN10 also supports Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC experiences, making it one of the first desktop-focused systems built around Microsoft’s growing AI ecosystem.

Still, the biggest takeaway from ASUS’ announcement is that the Snapdragon X2 Elite has finally escaped the laptop category. And if Qualcomm wants Windows on Arm to be taken seriously as a long-term alternative to Apple’s silicon strategy, a compact desktop like the Ascent QN10 is exactly the kind of product it needed to build.