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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.For the first time since the Focus Friend app overtook ChatGPT on the App Store, there’s a major addition that lets you unlock a new set of rewards. Previously, setting your phone down gave your bean time to knit socks, and you could trade those socks for decorations for the bean’s room. Now, there’s a whole new room to unlock. Focus Friend is a focus timer app in the same tradition as Forest and Flora. When you start a timer in Focus Friend, the little bean guy begins knitting, and the idea is that you put your phone down and don't use any other apps unti...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Late last month, Google launched the Pixel 10 and the Pixel 10 Pro. They’re the latest big releases in the Android world, which might carry more weight given the muted response to the iPhone 17 from some corners of the internet. But even if you are thinking of making the move to a new operating system, I wouldn’t recommend either flavor of Pixel 10 as your first port of call.Instead, I think the Pixel 9a is easily Google’s best phone for almost everyone. It’s technically got the Pixel 9 name, but it’s also Google’s most recent budget variant, so it’s as current-generation as anything else. And while it does make some concessions to bring the price down, they're fairly minor—and the device actually offers a few unique b...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.The rumor mill is working overtime about news that might drop at next week's Meta Connect 2025. Two new pieces of gossip: Meta may announce that its rumored AR smart glasses are powered by a smart watch, and the company may reveal Meta-powered Prada frames during the event. Both a potential Prada Meta release and a Meta watch-controller for its expected AR glasses require a little "internet rumor math" and conclusion-jumping, so take it with a grain a salt, but here's the breakdown: The "Meta smart watch" speculation comes from a late July post on Digitime...

Use the three-dot menu to branch a conversation. Credit: Lifehacker Over the past few years, we haven't had to wait long for the launch of new ChatGPT features, and the latest upgrade pushed out by OpenAI is the ability to branch conversation. This means you can steer your chats with the language bot in a different direction, and then return to where you started to continue the main thread of the conversation.According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the feature had been introduced by popular request, and it's not difficult to imagine ways in which it could be useful. Think if it like being able to create threads on Slack or Discord—you can follow tangents and related ideas without cluttering up the...

It's not just you: Google Maps is down. According to 9to5Google, the outage started sometime around 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. PT), and seems to be isolated to the Google Maps mobile app. If you try to load Google Maps' web app, it should work. That's the case on my end: I can use Google Maps in a web browser without any issue, but when I open the app on my phone, I run into problems. It seems Google is working on the issue, because the map will load when I open the app on my iPhone. However, if I try to search for a location, the results won't load. If I tap on a location, I get an "unable to resolve details" error. And if I try to pull up directions to a location, I get a "Can't reach the internet" error, as it the problem is with my wifi or cellular connection. ...

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.The iPhone 17 series has left the realm of mere rumor. Apple announced its four new iPhones at yesterday's "Awe Dropping" event—the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. All four use the company's new A19 chip, though different models come equipped with different versions of it: The iPhone 17 uses the base model A19, while the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max use the A19 Pro. The iPhone Air has an A19 Pro, but it's a "binned" chip. There's a lengthy explanation of what that means, but in short, the Air uses a weaker version of the A19 Pro, so it isn't quite as powerful as the version you'll find on the Pro...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.Apple recently announced the features coming to the new Series 11 and Ultra 3 Apple Watches. We have highlights here of what was in that announcement, and everything we know about the Apple Watch Ultra 3, if you're still catching up. But if you’re ready to dive into the details and are wondering how those specs stack up with Pixel watches, including the Pixel Watch 3 and the upcoming Pixel Watch 4, here’s a comparison. Display type and brightnessThe new Apple Watch Ultra 3 has the most impressive display of all the watches I’ll discuss here today. Wide-ang...

You may have missed it during the high-profile launch of the iPhone 17, but Apple has extended the free trial of its satellite services for the iPhone 14 and 15. The satellite features include Emergency SOS via satellite, which lets you connect to emergency services when you have no mobile or wifi coverage. This feature can also automatically contact emergency services in case your Apple Watch detects a hard fall or a vehicle crash.Initially launched with the iPhone 14, this feature is offered for free for up to two years with a new iPhone. During the September 2025 iPhone event, Apple announced that it's extending satellite features for one more year for people who have iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. The announcement only excludes the iPhone 16 because it's only been one year since its launch, ...

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news.AI continues to take over more and more of our day-to-day activities: Anthropic recently announced a Chrome extension that allows Claude AI to see browser activity and run actions on behalf of users, while Perplexity's Comet is an AI-powered browser that the company calls both a "personal assistant" and a "thinking partner." Agentic browsers may be able to do a lot of things for you, such as scheduling meetings, replying to emails, and ordering DoorDash, but handing all of this control (and personal information) over to AI comes with potential security risks. One of these is a prompt injection attack, which allows hackers ...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news.I reviewed the TCL QM7 a year ago, and I'm still impressed at the quality and value for the money offered by this mid-tier QLED TV. Along with Hisense, TCL has raised the bar for QLED TVs, with both brands battling it out to become the go-to for the best value QLED TV. One of the highlights of the QM7 is its incredible brightness—up to 2,400 nits, thanks to the mini-LED backlight for the display. But this can actually be overwhelming when watching TV at night in a dark bedroom, especially if you're getting ready to go to sleep (or if someone else in the...