Make life easier for loved ones with quick phone access. Set up fingerprint or face ID on your spouse’s, child’s, or parent’s devices for emergencies, navigation, or shared logistics. It’s secure, simple, and keeps the people you trust connected.
📞 Saved in the nick of FaceTime: Woah. A 3-year-old Michigan boy saved his mom after she collapsed from a seizure by unlocking her phone with Face ID and FaceTiming a family friend, who called 911. Little Cody’s now an honorary junior deputy, complete with badge and swag. The sheriff joked that “we’re hiring,” but maybe let him finish preschool first. Love this.
🗣️ Speak not: Don’t let strangers use your phone with just their voice. On iPhone, open Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Under Allow Access When Locked, toggle off Siri. For Android, say, “Hey, Google, open Assistant settings.” Tap Lock screen and turn off Assistant responses on lock screen.
📱“Can I use your iPhone?” Sure, but let’s keep it to a single app, no snooping around. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access to toggle it on. Open the app, triple-tap your right-side button and press Start. When they’re done, triple-click the side button again to enter your passcode or Face ID to unlock it.
First foldable iPhone will be over $2,000! Apple is going with a book-style design that’s “AI-driven” for multitasking. It’ll have a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display. Leaks also say Face ID is out this time, replaced by a Touch ID side button. As for the release? Most likely late 2026 or early 2027.
👀 All the better to see you with: Your iPhone uses the camera to detect if you’re looking at it. That’s why your notifications are quieter, your phone auto-unlocks and your brightness doesn’t dim when you’re looking at the screen. Don’t like it? Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Turn off Attention Aware Features.
🍏 So long, farewell: We’ll get the full scoop on the next budget iPhone on Feb. 19, but the SE 4 is finally ditching the Home button. Touch ID? That’s gone, too. Face ID is taking over. Lightning charging is out, too, making way for USB-C.
50 years of the cellphone, deadly Face ID crimes & ChatGPT's medical misfires
Plus, I talk to the inventor of the cellphone, Marty Cooper, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. I also shed light into the big choice of whether or not to delete a loved one’s Netflix profile after they pass away. And if you’re a bird-watching enthusiast, get ready to take your skills to the next level with a little help from AI.