Productivity 15 October 2025 - 26 January 2026

Android’s ‘Extend Unlock’ productivity trick is making the rounds again — and it can leave phones exposed
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Android’s ‘Extend Unlock’ productivity trick is making the rounds again — and it can leave phones exposed

Android Police highlighted “Extend Unlock,” a setting that keeps Android phones unlocked near trusted places or Bluetooth devices, as a top productivity tool. Google warns the feature may keep devices open for hours, increasing risk if a phone is lost or stolen. The setting has drawn renewed attention as security prompts multiply and users seek faster access for work and payments.
February 9, 2026
Octopi Launcher Brings the Foldable Phone Productivity Experience to Any Android — As Crease‑Free Foldables Dominate 2026 Headlines
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Octopi Launcher Brings the Foldable Phone Productivity Experience to Any Android — As Crease‑Free Foldables Dominate 2026 Headlines

Samsung showed a nearly crease-free foldable display at CES 2026, fueling speculation about a possible Apple foldable iPhone. Google is rolling out faster app launching in Pixel Launcher, while Android 17 may add a native App Lock with hidden notifications. Octopi Launcher, updated January 9, brings foldable-style multitasking features to standard phones.
January 12, 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
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
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
New West Virginia ‘Heirloom’ App Aims to Break Doomscrolling Habits and Help People Remember What Really Matters
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New West Virginia ‘Heirloom’ App Aims to Break Doomscrolling Habits and Help People Remember What Really Matters

Clarksburg-based startup Heirloom launched a mobile app designed to let users privately document life moments without posting to social media. The app was featured by WBOY 12 News and Yahoo Tech this week. Its release comes as a new poll shows half of U.S. adults have cut back on social media use in 2025, despite most reporting anxiety without their phones.
November 28, 2025
Apple’s New iPhone App Is the Game‑Changing Document Scanner We’ve Been Waiting For
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Apple’s New iPhone App Is the Game‑Changing Document Scanner We’ve Been Waiting For

Apple’s iOS 26 update adds a native Preview app to iPhones, allowing users to view, edit, sign, and scan PDFs and images without third-party software. The app brings Mac-like features, including document scanning, annotation, Autofill for forms, and basic photo editing. Preview appears automatically after updating and has received strong early reviews from users and tech experts.
October 17, 2025
Google Keep Users Stunned by New Reminders Update – Google Tasks Takes Over
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Google Keep Users Stunned by New Reminders Update – Google Tasks Takes Over

Google began rolling out an update on October 13 that moves all Google Keep reminders into Google Tasks, with completion expected by late October. Reminders created in Keep now appear in Google Tasks and sync across Calendar and Gemini. Keep’s location-based reminders and reminder notifications are discontinued. Users must use Tasks or Calendar apps for reminder alerts.
October 16, 2025
Google’s Gemini AI Takes Over Your Calendar – No More Back‑and‑Forth on Meeting Times
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Google’s Gemini AI Takes Over Your Calendar – No More Back‑and‑Forth on Meeting Times

Google launched a “Help me schedule” feature in Gmail on October 14, using Gemini AI to suggest meeting times based on email context and Google Calendar availability. The tool supports only one-on-one meetings and is rolling out to Google Workspace customers and paid AI subscribers. Regular free Gmail users do not have access. Most eligible users will see the feature by early November 2025.
October 14, 2025