US Version of TikTok off to Bumpy Start; Competitors Surge
The US version of the TikTok app is now officially controlled by a US-based joint venture instead of Chinese company ByteDance. This completes a long-delayed deal that was required by a US law passed in 2024. Users must agree to new legal terms to continue using the app, and those terms allow TikTok to collect and use more personal data than before, including precise location data. The service has also seen an uptick in glitches and errors, although TikTok blames a power outage at a data center. The deal brings US control over the service amid concerns of Chinese influence. However, some users have complained of being unable to upload anti-ICE content, sparking accusations of new censorship. The company denies this, saying the glitches are random. TikTok's new owners include Oracle, whose founder Larry Ellison is a major supporter of President Trump. Two alternative services have surged in popularity in recent days: Skylight is an open-source app built on the same AT protocol as BlueSky. Meanwhile, UpScrolled is an indie app alternative from an Australian developer.
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold Comes to US This week for $2900
Samsung's new top-end, double-hinged foldable phone will go on sale in the US this Friday for $2,899 from samsung.com. It comes in black, with 512 GB of storage.
Apple Intros Improved AirTag
Apple has introduced a new version of its popular AirTag Bluetooth location-tracking device. The new model has the same form factor, but has a new UWB (Ultra Wide-Band) radio chip that enables nearby Precision Finding (showing both distance and direction) with up to 50% more range. The speaker design is also upgraded to be 50% louder, which Apple says can be heard from twice as far away. Pricing remains the same at $29 each or $99 for a four-pack. The new version is available online today, and later this week in stores. The smooth disc of a device can be placed in a pocket, bag, or glovebox, but has no built-in lanyard hole. Apple sells an official keychain holder separately for $35.
Iridium Begins Testing its own Satellite Service for Phones
Iridium has successfully tested its new "Iridium NTN Direct" service, which will provide global direct-to-device (D2D) satellite service — including two-way messaging — for cell phones, among other devices. Iridium's service operates similarly to those currently offered for Apple, Google, and some Samsung phones, in that it requires specific support built into the phone. Iridium's service is fully standards-based, implementing the NB-IoT protocol defined by the 3GPP. Iridium's service will be the only such service to operate fully globally, including polar regions. Iridium originally partnered with Qualcomm for its Snapdragon Satellite service, but pivoted to a standards-based service when that failed to gain traction. Iridium's pivot to 5G standards is made possible by its advanced "software-defined satellites", which allowed this new capability to be added to its existing satellites via software update. Iridium will continue to test the service with partners, aiming to launch the service commercially before the end of 2026.
Verizon Offers $20 Credit for Outage
Verizon is offering a $20 credit to consumer customers affected by its recent, extended wireless network outage. The credit is not automatic, however; customers must manually request the credit. Verizon suggests that customer do this via the myVerizon app. However, Engadget reports that Verizon will also take the credit request by phone or web chat. Customers should be receiving a text message about the credit. Verizon is also reaching to its business customers about a separate credit. Verizon has yet to explain the exact cause of the outage, which lasted for ten hours last wednesday.
iOS 26.2 Fixes Major Security Flaws
All iPhone and iPad users should update their system software immediately, to fix a range of potential security issues. These includes two issues with WebKit (the core web browser software used by both Safari and most apps) that Apple says "may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals".
Google Links its AI to Your Gmail and Photos for "Personal Intelligence"
Google has introduced "Personal Intelligence" for Gemini. This new feature gives Google's Gemini AI tool access to your emails in Gmail and/or your photos in Google Photo to deliver more personalized results. This strictly opt-in (for now) feature can also link YouTube and Google Search, and works across platforms. Personal Intelligence doesn't let Google train its AI model on your personal data; instead it lets a pre-trained model access your data upon request. Personal Intelligence can be turned off at any time, and you can choose which apps to connect. It will explain where it sourced data for personalized results so you can verify yourself. It also has "guardrails" for sensitive topics like health.
Verizon Wireless Data and Voice Down
Verizon's wireless network started experiencing "an issue" starting around noon eastern today. Verizon acknowledged on social media that voice and data (but perhaps not texting) were affected.
FCC Waives 60-Day Phone Unlocking Rule for Verizon
The FCC today waived a long-standing rule that required Verizon — and only Verizon — to unlock its phones 60 days after purchase. The rule was a condition attached to the unique nationwide license for the C block of the 700 MHz band. Verizon paid nearly $5 billion for this license in 2008, and these frequencies (band 13) became the cornerstone of its 4G network. The FCC re-affirmed this rule as a condition of Verizon buying TracFone in 2021. Verizon claims that TracFone saw fraud increase 55% after adopting Verizon's 60-day policy. Verizon will now adopt unlocking policies in line with other carriers. Specifically, as a member of the CTIA industry group, Verizon will follow unlocking policies outlined in the CTIA's Consumer Code for Wireless Service. This generally means when a postpaid device is fully paid off, or after one year for a prepaid device. The FCC will no longer enforce a phone-unlocking policy.
Apple to Base Apple Intelligence on Google's AI
Apple and Google have released a statement confirming that "the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year." Apple clarified that privacy features of Apple Intelligence, and Apple's privacy promises, will remain unchanged, including on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute where necessary. After struggling to deliver competitive AI features for several years, and delaying key Apple Intelligence features several times, Apple now says that it "determined that Google's Al technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models".
Ikea Launches Cheaper Phone Chargers
Ikea has launched a new fast phone charger that it sells for just $4. The "Sjöss 20W 1-port USB charger" offers 20 watts over USB-C PD. It joins an existing 30W version in the lineup that sells for $8. Ikea also just launched a $10 Qi2 magnetic wireless charger, which can be used together with a Sjöss charger. The "Västmärke" wireless charger has a unique, donut-shaped silicone ring that can be used for cord storage or like a "pop-socket" for better grip of an attached phone.
Moto Tag 2 Lasts 500+ Days
Motorola has announced the Moto Tag 2, its newest location-tracking device for Google's Find Hub network. The tag supports both Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding and Ultra Wideband (UWB) for quick item finding with precise distance and direction information. The device has an IP68 rating for dust and water. It gets over 500 days of battery life from its user-replaceable standard CR2032 coin battery. The tag also has a 77dB speaker and a button, which can be used to make your phone play a sound so you can find it (even when it's on silent), or as a remote shutter for your phone's camera. The device is ~32mm in diameter and 8mm thick. Pricing and release date have yet to be announced.
Motorola Previews razr fold
Motorola has taken the wraps (mostly) off its newest and most ambitious foldable phone to date: the "razr fold". The device has a 6.6-inch outer display, but unfolds to reveal an 8.1-inch flexible inner display. Those measurements are just slightly larger than the displays on Samsung's competing Galaxy Z Fold7. The phone isn't coming to market until this "summer", so Motorola isn't releasing full specifications, just a handful of details. Like that it will have three rear cameras and all will be 50 megapixel, including a Sony Lytia sensor on the main camera and a 3x periscope telephoto camera. The external selfie camera will be 32 megapixel and the inner camera, 20 megapixel. It will support Dolby Vision video capture. It will also support a new moto pen ultra stylus, which has both pressure sensitivity and tilt detection. Color options will be: Pantone Blackened Blue and Pantone Lily White. Further details will announced closer to launch.
Motorola Teases Book-Style Foldable
Motorola has posted a teaser on its official US Instagram account showing a new phone that folds like a book, similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series, with the tagline "The future unfolded". The post is promoting a major press conference that Motorola and Lenovo will hold tomorrow at the CES trade show. The implication, of course, is that Motorola will announce this new foldable phone tomorrow. Few details can be gleaned from the short video clip, although it does show a large square camera bump with four "lenses", a centered camera hole on the outer display, and a camera hole in the corner of the large inner display. The press conference starts at 5pm PT at The Sphere in Las Vegas and will be streamed online. Until now, Motorola has only sold clamshell-style foldable phones under its "razr" brand. Its current lineup of includes the 2025 razr, razr+, and razr ultra.
Anker's Tiny New iPhone Charger has a Display
Anker has launched a new "Nano" smart charger for iPhones with a "smart display" and controls for a "tailored" charge. This tiny charger can charge at up to 45 watts, providing 50% more power while being 47% smaller compared to an Apple 30-watt charger. It has unique plug prongs that fold 180º. It will be available January 20 for $40.
Eufy's new Tracker Card has Wireless Charging
Anker brand Eufy has launched the new SmartTrack Card E40, a Bluetooth tracking card. It's just 1.7mm thick, making it suitable for putting in a wallet, etc. It works with both the Apple and Google Bluetooth tracking networks (Find My / Find Hub). It lasts up to five months on a single charge and supports Qi wireless charging. It also features a loud (100dB) alert speaker to assist locating a lost item when nearby. It will ship later this quarter for $35. It will be available individually or in packs of up to four.
Punkt Updates its Privacy-Focused Smartphone
Swiss phone maker Punkt has announced a new version of its privacy-centered 5G smartphone. The Punkt MC03 is an update to the Punkt MC02, with updated specs like a 120 MHz AMOLED (full-color) display, MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and an IP68 rating for dust and water. Like the MC02, it runs AphyOS (based on Android Open Source) and offers both a curated set of privacy-first apps (now referred to as "Vault"), plus the ability to run third-party Android apps with extra privacy options (now appearing in a separate section called "Wild Web"). New with the MC03, core apps like email, calendar, and cloud storage are provided by Proton. AphyOS continues to require a $10/month subscription for full functionality, which Punkt explains as replacing the money that other phone OSes make from selling your data. A one-year subscription is included. Discounts are available for purchasing several years in advance. The Punkt MC03 will be available in North America this spring for $699.
Clicks Launches New Ways to Add a Physical Keyboard to Your Life
Clicks — the company previously known for its keyboard cases — has announced two entirely new types of products: The Clicks Power Keyboard is a magnetic wireless charging power bank that snaps to the back of your phone but also has a slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard. Attached to a phone, it can be used in portrait or landscape orientation, and has multiple slide positions for phones of different sizes. It works with both iPhones and Android phones. It can also be used by itself as a small Bluetooth keyboard for a tablet, TV, or VR headset. Its battery is rated 2,150 mAh. The Clicks Communicator is a full-on Android 16 smartphone that can be used as a primary phone, or as a companion device to a traditional smartphone. It's designed to discourage "doom-scrolling" by having a smaller, 4.03-inch display. It has a notification light on the side that can light up in different colors for different contacts and/or apps. The physical keyboard is touch-sensitive for scrolling, and has a fingerprint sensor built into the space bar. It also has a 3.5mm headset jack. Its features are otherwise robust, with 5G (including good support for US networks), a 50 megapixel main camera (with OIS) and 24 megapixel front camera, 4,000 mAh battery, Qi2 wireless charging, NFC, Wi-Fi 6, and 256 GB of storage that's also expandable. The Power Keyboard will run $109, or $79 for those who pre-order soon. It ships this spring. The Communicator has a full price of $499, or $399 for those who "reserve" one before February 27. Those who pay in full when they reserve will receive two free back covers (worth $100 total). The Communicator will ship "later this year".
