Technologies
New Year’s Greeting!
Happy New Year, dear friends!

Dear citizens of Israel and kind-hearted people around the world,
From the bottom of our hearts, we wish you a Happy New Year! This holiday symbolizes hope, renewal, and faith in a better future. May the New Year bring peace, stability, and prosperity to Israel and all its residents.
We wish our beautiful country eternal prosperity, its citizens good health, and true, kind allies ready to support one another in any situation. May each of our hearts be filled with kindness and understanding.
We especially hope for the swift resolution of all suffering caused by conflicts and challenges. Let every person held captive return home as soon as possible—alive, healthy, and surrounded by the love of their family.
May this New Year be a year of unity, peace, and new achievements for Israel and the entire world. May each day be filled with light, joy, and success.
Happy New Year, dear friends!
Sincerely,
Verum World
Technologies
Samsung Pauses One UI 7 Rollout After Bug Locks Users Out of Phones
One UI 7 was designed to showcase Samsung’s AI ambitions, but a bug now appears to be getting in the way of momentum.

Samsung has paused the global rollout of its AI-driven One UI interface after a bug prevented some customers from unlocking their phones. The pause, flagged earlier by frequent Samsung leaker Ice Universe, appears to have affected Samsung Galaxy S24 models receiving the update in South Korea. People who upgraded to One UI 7 (aka Android 15) reported repeated issues unlocking their phones.
The company has since pulled the update across all Galaxy models and regions, likely as a precautionary measure. Samsung told CNET that the software’s «new timing and availability will be shared shortly.»
«The One UI 7 rollout schedule is being updated to ensure the best possible experience,» Samsung added.
Samsung began rolling out the One UI 7 update to Galaxy phones and tablets on April 7, starting with the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6. Other devices were expected to follow soon.
One UI 7 introduces a redesigned interface built around AI, offering people more personalization and control. The software uses artificial intelligence to help edit videos, write messages and suggest places to go for dinner.
The move comes as tech companies race to embed more AI features into mobile devices, turning them into smarter personal assistants that can help complete everyday tasks.
Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at market research firm Creative Insights, noted that most consumers are still only experimenting with AI and not buying devices based on its promise.
«While I am sure Samsung could have done without the bug, I doubt this will have a long-term impact on Galaxy AI uptake or consumers’ interest in Samsung,» she told CNET. «Better pull the update than disjoint customers with an experience that is not great.»
Technologies
Best Cheap iPhone 16 Case? These Two $10 Transparent MagSafe Cases Stand Out
If you don’t want to spend a lot on a new iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro case, these cases from Caseology and ESR are among the best budget cases I’ve tested.

Thanks to the fluid situation with tariffs and the uncertainty about future iPhone pricing, a lot of folks have been rushing out to buy new iPhone 16 models lately, including my father, who picked up an iPhone 16 Pro Max this past weekend. With that in mind, I recently updated our list of best iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases and saw that one of my favorite budget iPhone 16 cases, the Caseology Capella Mag Kickstand, was on sale for $10 or 33% off its list price of $15.
Read more: Best iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases of 2025
Caseology makes a few decent budget cases that cost $10, including the Athlex Mag
, Nano Pop Mag, Nano Pop Kickstand and Capella Mag. Its Capella Mag Kickstand is one of the cheaper transparent MagSafe cases I’ve seen, with a built-in kickstand that retracts into the case when not in use so you can attach MagSafe accessories. The case is available for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max but isn’t available for the standard iPhone 16. However, the Capella Mag (without an integrated kickstand) is available for the iPhone 16 for $10.
Another good budget iPhone 16 case option is ESR’s transparent Classic Hybrid case, which is also on sale for less than $10. I like ESR’s Stash Stand case ($21), which features a built-in retractable camera protection ring that turns into a kickstand. But the more basic Classic Hybrid costs less than half the price. I should note the case has an integrated touch-sensitive cover for the iPhone 16’s camera control button. The Caselogy Capella Mag Kickstand has a cutout in the case that exposes the button. I tend to prefer the touch-sensitive cover.
There’s nothing fancy or terribly unique about these sub-$10 cases, but they’re slim and offer decent protection. True, more premium brands like Otterbox and Speck may hold up better over time (these budget transparent cases now have anti-yellowing UV protection, though I find it isn’t always effective). That said, some people have a hard time spending $40 to $50 on a case — and I don’t blame them.
Technologies
Apple Reportedly Planning New Vision Pro Models, Prioritizing Meta Ray-Ban Glasses Rival
The Meta AI-style glasses would serve as a placeholder until Apple can deliver more advanced AR eyewear, a new report suggests.

Apple is developing two new models of its Vision Pro headset, according to a report: one that’s expected to be lighter and more affordable than the original, and another designed to tether with Macs. Despite sluggish demand, the company remains focused on creating versions of the AR/VR headset with broader mainstream appeal, Bloomberg reported on Monday.
The lower-cost Vision Pro will likely have a less powerful chip and scaled-back features, bringing the price down significantly from the original $3,500. It’s also expected to include an ultralow-latency system for streaming a Mac display, according to the report. And in line with previous reports, Apple is also still working on its own smart glasses equipped with cameras and microphones, similar to Meta’s Ray-Ban line.
CEO Tim Cook «cares about nothing else» more than delivering a true pair of AR glasses, calling it a «top priority,» Bloomberg said, citing an anonymous Apple engineer. But until the technology can be perfected in a way that’s comfortable and as wearable as traditional eyewear, Apple sees camera- and mic-enabled glasses as a stepping stone into the space.
This builds on earlier reports that Apple intends to channel some of the Vision Pro’s billion-dollar R&D investment in visual intelligence into future products, including smart glasses expected to launch in 2027.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In recent years, Apple has often focused on refining buzzy, existing technologies, from mixed-reality headsets to AI features. As it stands, Meta is better positioned to dominate the smart glasses category, particularly as it continues to enhance its hardware, software and growing ecosystem of services. But Cook, according to Bloomberg, is «hell-bent on creating an industry-leading product before Meta can.»
The report said the glasses would use Siri and Visual Intelligence as part of Apple’s broader Apple Intelligence AI platform. In keeping with Apple’s overall product strategy, privacy would remain a central focus.
Still, the company may face challenges in making the device as indispensable as its other products, particularly the iPhone — and at a price that’s accessible enough to drive mass adoption.
A long-term priority
Eric Abbruzzese, research director at market research firm ABI Research, called Apple’s interest in smart glasses a long-term priority.
«AR has simply proven more difficult than VR to go to market with devices that balance cost and capability,» he said. «AR as a supplement to the smartphone, similar to an Apple Watch, is a very compelling product category that is truthfully only just starting to be served appropriately.»
Glasses like Meta’s Ray-Bans show that people are interested in smart eyewear but building ones with screens still presents a major challenge, Abbruzzese said. At the same time, AR and AI are increasingly intertwined, with companies like Apple, Meta and Google designing products that blend the two. Abbruzzese described the «holy grail» product as mass-market smart glasses — an affordable, display-enabled wearable that pairs with a smartphone and uses sensors, voice input and AI agents for natural, hands-free interaction.
«The relationship between AR and AI is a significant, mutually beneficial relationship where each technology benefits from the other,» he said.
-
Technologies2 года ago
Tech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
-
Technologies2 года ago
Best Handheld Game Console in 2023
-
Technologies2 года ago
Tighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
-
Technologies4 года ago
Verum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
-
Technologies4 года ago
Google to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
-
Technologies3 года ago
Olivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger
-
Technologies3 года ago
Black Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
-
Technologies4 года ago
iPhone 13 event: How to watch Apple’s big announcement tomorrow