Mobile Apps 28 November 2025 - 19 January 2026

Hidden iOS 26 Photos trick: Apple’s “ticket” icon pulls concert set lists and sports scores
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Hidden iOS 26 Photos trick: Apple’s “ticket” icon pulls concert set lists and sports scores

Apple’s iOS 26 Photos app now detects concert and sports photos, displaying a ticket icon that links to event details, playlists, and upcoming shows. The feature appears in the Info view and pulls data from sources like Bandsintown and Ticketmaster. Apple says some features depend on region and device. No immediate trading impact, as U.S. markets are closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
January 19, 2026
UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hello Heels App Redesign Drives Student Engagement — A 2026 Blueprint for Campus Mobile Apps
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UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hello Heels App Redesign Drives Student Engagement — A 2026 Blueprint for Campus Mobile Apps

UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hello Heels app saw weekly usage jump from 6,000 to 37,000 users after a student-guided redesign, with page views rising from 10,000 to 90,000. The revamped app integrates dining, transit, course info, and campus resources, serving as a daily utility for students. Other universities are expected to adopt similar models in 2026.
January 15, 2026
Google Wallet adds full transaction history and search on Android: what the January 2026 update changes
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Google Wallet adds full transaction history and search on Android: what the January 2026 update changes

Google Wallet will soon let users view and search their complete payment history across Android phones and Wear OS watches, according to Google’s January 2026 update notes. The upgrade includes transactions from other devices and online purchases made with virtual card numbers. A search function is also in development for the mobile app. Google has not specified when these features will roll out.
January 15, 2026
Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 rolls out to Pixel: battery drain, charging-limit and Wi‑Fi fixes — plus a quiet Recents change
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Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 rolls out to Pixel: battery drain, charging-limit and Wi‑Fi fixes — plus a quiet Recents change

Google began rolling out Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 to eligible Pixel phones, foldables, and tablets on January 14, 2026. The update includes the January 2026 security patch and targets battery drain, charging bugs, Wi‑Fi slowness, and system crashes. The Recents screen loses “save image” and “open in Lens” actions. Pixel 10 models receive the update only via on-device OTA, not downloadable images.
January 15, 2026
iOS 26 Preview App Turns Your iPhone Into a PDF Power Tool: Edit, Sign, Scan, and Export Documents (January 10, 2026)
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iOS 26 Preview App Turns Your iPhone Into a PDF Power Tool: Edit, Sign, Scan, and Export Documents (January 10, 2026)

Apple’s iOS 26 adds a full-featured Preview app to iPhone, allowing users to edit, sign, scan, and manage PDFs without third-party software. Tom’s Guide reports users can now add text fields and signatures directly on their phones. AppleInsider details expanded tools for markup, page control, and security. Official Apple docs confirm support for form filling, document scanning, and password protection.
January 10, 2026
Nothing Removes Lock Glimpse Lock Screen Ads in Latest Update — Meta Bloatware and App Recommendations Also Get Changes (Jan 10, 2026)
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Nothing Removes Lock Glimpse Lock Screen Ads in Latest Update — Meta Bloatware and App Recommendations Also Get Changes (Jan 10, 2026)

Nothing will remove the Lock Glimpse lock screen feature from most Nothing Phone (a) Series devices, except the Lite model. The company also announced easier removal of Meta system services and the ability to disable app recommendation prompts during setup. Disabling Meta services on the Phone (3a) Lite now triggers a reboot and removes them from the system partition until a factory reset.
January 10, 2026
Google Play Store may soon let you try paid Android games for free before buying
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Google Play Store may soon let you try paid Android games for free before buying

Code in Google’s Play Store app shows Google is developing a “Try before you buy” feature for paid games, allowing limited-time trials with progress carrying into purchases, according to Android Authority. Strings in the code reference trial periods from minutes to hours. Google has not announced a release date. The feature appears limited to games and would require developer participation.
January 8, 2026
iOS 26 Preview App on iPhone: How to Scan, Sign, Edit, and Protect PDFs (Dec. 31, 2025)
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iOS 26 Preview App on iPhone: How to Scan, Sign, Edit, and Protect PDFs (Dec. 31, 2025)

Apple’s iOS 26 adds a dedicated Preview app for iPhone and iPad, bringing built-in tools for scanning, form filling, signatures, annotations, and exporting PDFs and images. Users can now handle documents without switching between multiple apps. Preview opens PDFs and images by default and supports features like AutoFill, password protection, and background removal.
December 31, 2025
4 Android Apps Most Users Rarely Open in 2025 — Nintendo Music, Apple TV, Blackmagic Camera, and Steam (But They’re Worth Trying)
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4 Android Apps Most Users Rarely Open in 2025 — Nintendo Music, Apple TV, Blackmagic Camera, and Steam (But They’re Worth Trying)

Google Play Store’s app count fell from 3.4 million to 1.8 million between early 2024 and April 2025, following stricter quality rules. As the store shrinks, apps like Nintendo Music, Apple TV, Blackmagic Camera, and Steam remain underused despite offering advanced features for Android users. Google will phase out Play Instant starting December 2025.
December 29, 2025
Japan’s New Mobile Software Competition Act Forces Apple and Google Changes: iOS 26.2 Opens Alternative App Stores, New Payments, and Choice Screens
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Japan’s New Mobile Software Competition Act Forces Apple and Google Changes: iOS 26.2 Opens Alternative App Stores, New Payments, and Choice Screens

Apple has begun rolling out iOS 26.2 in Japan, enabling alternative app marketplaces and expanded payment options after the Mobile Software Competition Act took effect December 18. Google is adding search and browser choice screens and expanding billing alternatives. Apple set external payment fees up to 15%, Google up to 20%. The law prohibits blocking third-party payment services and imposes penalties for violations.
December 19, 2025
iOS 26.2 RC Released: AirDrop Codes, Reminders Alarms, Liquid Glass Tweaks and More Coming to iPhone
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iOS 26.2 RC Released: AirDrop Codes, Reminders Alarms, Liquid Glass Tweaks and More Coming to iPhone

Apple released iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers and public beta testers on December 3, signaling a public launch within days. The update includes one-time AirDrop sharing codes, new Reminders alarms, a refined Liquid Glass lock screen, and expanded AirPods Live Translation in the EU. RC builds for iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS were also issued.
December 4, 2025
Android’s QR Code Scanner Redesign Returns in Play Services 25.46.32 – What’s New and How to Get It (December 3, 2025)
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Android’s QR Code Scanner Redesign Returns in Play Services 25.46.32 – What’s New and How to Get It (December 3, 2025)

Google has resumed rolling out its redesigned Android QR code scanner through a Google Play Services update, after pulling it earlier this year. The new interface, featuring a bottom pill-shaped control bar, began appearing on more devices as of December 3, 2025. The update is tied to version 25.46.32 but remains unavailable to some users. Rollout is gradual and server-side.
December 3, 2025
Google brings ‘Call Reason’ urgent-call labels and one‑tap spam reporting to Android in December 2025 update
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Google brings ‘Call Reason’ urgent-call labels and one‑tap spam reporting to Android in December 2025 update

Google has begun testing Call Reason, a beta feature in the Phone by Google app that lets users mark outgoing calls as urgent, displaying a prominent “It’s urgent!” badge on the recipient’s screen. The update, part of Android 16’s December 2025 feature drop, also adds one-tap spam reporting and quick exit controls to group chats in Google Messages started by unknown numbers.
December 3, 2025
Best New Android Apps for December 2025 (Dec 2): Comet, Sift, Escape Launcher, Red Dead Redemption & OmniTools
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Best New Android Apps for December 2025 (Dec 2): Comet, Sift, Escape Launcher, Red Dead Redemption & OmniTools

Perplexity’s Comet AI browser launched on Android in late November, offering built-in ad blocking, AI-powered summarization, and integration with Perplexity Pro subscriptions. The app arrives alongside a wave of new Android releases, including a privacy-focused recipe keeper and a console game port. Security audits flagged earlier vulnerabilities in Comet, prompting recent updates.
December 2, 2025
Google Play Store Update: Delete These Spyware Apps Now and Lock Down Your Android (November 30, 2025)
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Google Play Store Update: Delete These Spyware Apps Now and Lock Down Your Android (November 30, 2025)

Security researchers found 239 malicious Android apps on Google Play, downloaded 42 million times from June 2024 to May 2025. Google has begun removing spyware-like and ad-fraud apps after reports of surging malware and privacy risks. Forbes and tech outlets warn that even legitimate-looking apps may collect sensitive data without clear disclosure. Google plans stricter controls on anonymous developers and sideloaded apps.
November 30, 2025
How to Use Your Android Phone as a Light & Sound Meter in 2025 (And How Accurate It Really Is)
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How to Use Your Android Phone as a Light & Sound Meter in 2025 (And How Accurate It Really Is)

A MakeUseOf feature highlighting Android phones’ ability to measure light and noise is going viral. Decibel meter apps are climbing Google Play charts, with Sound Meter App: Decibel Meter updated November 21. The global market for smartphone sound level meters is projected to reach $210 million by 2031. New York has launched an official app turning residents’ phones into urban noise monitors.
November 30, 2025
Android 16 Phone Detox: How Today’s Updates Turn Your Smartphone Into an Anti‑Distraction Tool (November 28, 2025)
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Android 16 Phone Detox: How Today’s Updates Turn Your Smartphone Into an Anti‑Distraction Tool (November 28, 2025)

Xiaomi began rolling out HyperOS 3 based on Android 16 to Xiaomi 14 users worldwide on November 28, 2025. A new report projects the digital detox app market will grow from $0.9 billion in 2024 to $3.9 billion by 2034, driven by concerns over screen addiction. Research from March 2025 found that reducing smartphone use for 72 hours lowered stress and anxiety in young adults.
November 28, 2025
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Stock Market Today

  • 3 ASX Dividend Shares Yielding Up to 9% With Monthly Payouts
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