Apps & Software
TechnologyThe latest on Apps & Software from our Technology desk.
GhostMap: Android bug can force a phone into a crash loop
A flaw in Android can leave a phone repeatedly crashing after a specially crafted app is installed, even if the user never opens it or
Latest
Apple Expands Siri App Actions in iOS 27.3 Developer Preview
Apple’s iOS 27.3 beta gives Siri new ways to work across Apple apps, from scheduling messages to organizing files by voice. The developer preview also opens the assistant’s expanded capabilities to third-party apps, where developers can combine tasks into app skills. Apple says the update will reach the public later this year.
Apple Sets 18+ App Store Rating for Dating Apps and Romantic AI Features
Teenagers may find dating apps and some AI companions harder to access on Apple devices under a new App Store policy requiring an adults-only age
What Is Sad Nipple Syndrome? The Sudden Mood Shift
Sad Nipple Syndrome describes a sudden wave of sadness or unease linked anecdotally to nipple stimulation. People report that it can follow an unexpected touch or friction from clothing, though the phenomenon is not an official medical diagnosis and research remains limited.
Linux Kernel 7.4 Tests a Healthier Model for AI Patches
Linus Torvalds has opened the Linux 7.4 merge window with almost 20,000 commits, above the usual ~15,000. He says he prefers AI-related work to arrive during normal development rather than as a rush of fixes during stabilization. Torvalds also cautioned that AI-suggested patches are often rewritten, and said the expected long-term support status of 7.4 may also help explain the large merge.
iOS 27.3 Expected in Mid-December, With Beta Likely to Start Monday
Apple's next big iPhone update is already in the pipeline. iOS 27.3 is expected to reach beta testers as soon as Monday, November 2, with
Adam Mosseri: Negativity Around AI Will Keep Growing
Instagram head Adam Mosseri says anger and anxiety about AI are likely to deepen, especially in creative industries. He points to concerns about ownership, jobs and safety, while saying Instagram does not plan to ban AI content. The platform is requiring AI accounts to label themselves and is still working on its response to misleading AI fakes.
Google Opens Connected Apps Platform for Gemini and Search to Developers
Google has opened a public beta of its Connected Apps Platform, letting developers in the U.S. build and submit apps that work inside Gemini and Google Search. The company says more than 50 connected apps already run in Gemini, with more coming to Search in the next few weeks.
iOS 27.2 Expands Siri’s Memory, Language Support and File Access
Apple’s latest software update aims to make Siri more useful beyond one-off commands, adding the ability to recall earlier conversations and draw on more per...
Virgin Australia unveils $12 hot chips for longer flights
Virgin Australia will sell hot chips for $12 on flights scheduled to last longer than 90 minutes, pairing the snack with aioli instead of tomato sauce. The airline says it spent months testing how to serve them hot and crispy in the air. Some passengers doubt the chips will stay crisp, while others welcome the prospect of a warm snack on evening flights.
Teen Posts Selfie Much: Meta Faces Filter Limits
Meta agreed to block some beauty filters for minors under a settlement with U.S. states, but subtle edits will remain available. Teen body-image activist Mia Lerner told NPR that small changes can make it harder for young people to resist comparing their faces with edited images. State officials now face the task of defining which filters cross the line.
PHP Maintainer Ondřej Surý Rushed Fixes to Debian and Ubuntu Users
Ondřej Surý worked in his spare time to package PHP security fixes for Debian and Ubuntu after vulnerabilities triggered an international scramble to install updates. He told BBC News that he felt responsible for people relying on his work, while urging major technology companies to support the open-source software they use.
Netflix Adapts Clips for Apple’s Foldable iPhone Duo’s Larger Screen
Developers are adapting apps to the iPhone Duo’s two displays, with Netflix shifting video from the outer screen to the larger inner display. The early examples show how software can make the foldable design useful, even as many mainstream iOS apps remain unoptimized and may appear with black bars or misplaced controls.
It’s time find browser: Google Search is changing fast
Google is reshaping Search around conversational AI, while users who dislike AI-generated results have other search engines to consider. The Verge’s weekly Installer newsletter also points readers toward a browser hunt, but its available text does not identify a replacement browser.
Black October Cybersecurity Experts Warn of AI Hacking
A PHP vulnerability announced on 21 October has prompted cybersecurity leaders to warn that AI could help attackers find and exploit software flaws faster than defenders can patch them. Cloudflare reported a sharp rise in attempts to exploit the bugs after their announcement, while the US National Security Agency urged PHP site operators to install patches immediately.
Google use your Gmail: AI settings may shape ads
Google has revised its privacy policy to say data from Gmail, Drive and Google Photos may inform personalized ads when users let services such as Search access it for AI features. Advertisers do not receive that data or identifying details, and Google says it excludes ads based on sensitive categories. Users can disconnect apps or disable Personalized Recommendations.
PHP cyber-security issue hitting millions of websites
A critical flaw in PHP has triggered a global scramble to patch websites, with Cloudflare reporting millions of hacking attempts but no evidence they succeeded. Governments and organisations have taken some services offline while applying emergency fixes. Security experts warn that attacks could accelerate as technical details become public, leaving operators with a choice: patch quickly or disconnect affected systems.
Hackers Exploited PHP Vulnerabilities Before Public Patch
Amazon Web Services says it detected attempts to exploit PHP2Shell on October 17, four days before public disclosure of two critical PHP vulnerabilities. The finding raises pressure on organizations to install fixes quickly, as researchers also recorded attempts around the disclosure and warned that exploit development is accelerating.
PHP supply chain dispute follows early release of fixes
PHP maintainers accused Chainguard of breaking an embargo by publishing images containing security fixes more than six hours before a coordinated release. The developers said the flaws could let unauthenticated attackers execute code on PHP servers. Chainguard CEO Dan Lorenc disputed the characterization, saying the company “didn't leak” and had independently found the vulnerabilities.
Meta Faces $25bn New Mexico Penalty Over User Data Claims
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $25bn after a jury found the company misled Facebook users about privacy and content moderation. The ruling stems from a case linked to Cambridge Analytica, whose data collection affected as many as 87 million users. Meta says it expects to win on appeal; the state says the money will go to its education system.
Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 Brings 21 Fixes to Pixel Phones
Eight crash-and-reboot bugs are among 21 issues Google says it has fixed in Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2, now rolling out to Pixel devices. The