Technologies

Impress Me, Apple. Make This One Unexpected Change With the iPhone 17

Commentary: As someone who has been writing about the iPhone for over a decade, I’m ready to see Apple step it up in this perhaps unexpected way.

We’re now less than a month away from Apple unveiling the iPhone 17, if rumors are to be believed. I always look forward to this highlight of the tech calendar, especially since I’ve been writing about and primarily using an iPhone for well over a decade.

When it comes to the 2025 iPhone, there’s one thing I’d love to see Apple prioritize — and it might not be what you expect. It’s not a cool new design, a bigger battery or a more impressive camera. It’s definitely not advanced AI capabilities.

Instead what I’d love to see from the iPhone 17 is even better repairability, particularly more self-repair options. A lot of tech inevitably passes through my hands as part of my job, but I feel a keen responsibility not to feed into the culture of over-consumption. Treating gadgets as disposable is an unrealistic way to live, and it places a heavy burden on our already overburdened planet.

Extending the life of our tech through repair is one of the tools at our disposal to reduce that burden. Increasingly, and partly due to an increase in right-to-repair legislation coming into force around the world, tech companies are making it easier for us to perform these repairs ourselves, rather than relying solely on costly in-house repair schemes.

For a long time, Apple was not among them. In fact, it strongly advised people not to tinker with their iPhones at home at all. That all changed in 2021 when it introduced its Self-Repair Program. It’s continued to take strides in making it easier to repair phones — which, let’s not forget, are complex, intricately designed pieces of technology. But it still has some way to go, especially when it comes to ease and accessibility.

I’m currently using an iPhone 15 Pro Max that’s rapidly approaching its second birthday. It’s no spring chicken, but aside from its waning battery capacity, I have absolutely no complaints about its performance. Next month it will get its annual software upgrade with the release of iOS 26 and it will feel brand new to me all over again. This is a phone that has years of life left in it — if I choose to replace the battery, that is.

But in all truthfulness, I’m nervous to do it. I’ve repaired plenty of tech in my time, usually under the supervision of someone far more skilled than I am, but the stakes feel so much higher. The spare parts and repair tools aren’t cheap, and it could quickly get even more expensive if I mess it up. Then I’d have no choice but to invest in a new phone after all.

I’m determined to try, but I’d also like Apple to make it even easier in the future for me to replace the battery — I don’t want to feel like I’m conducting open-heart surgery on my phone. I have to commend the company for its efforts in this direction already.

When Kyle Wiens, CEO of online community, advocacy group and parts retailer iFixit, performed his first teardown of the iPhone 16 last year, he pointed out many of the repairability improvements Apple introduced with the model and praised the company for releasing the repair manual on the same day as the phone.

Two months later, Apple started selling replacement components via its Self-Repair Program. Even better, the company lets people rent, rather than buy, the repair kits they need, reducing further waste and the overall cost of making repairs.

It was an important step in the right direction for Apple and spurred iFixit to award the iPhone 16 a repairability score of 7/10. That still leaves room for improvement, and I hope to see the iPhone take at least one additional step toward becoming the gold standard in phone repairability this year. It’s not an easy thing for a phone-maker to do, but Apple has been a pioneer in so many respects. Why not this one too?

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube

Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im

Technologies

Why Travelers Are Switching to Verum E-SIM This Summer

Summer Travel, Freedom, and Seamless Connectivity: Why Verum E-SIM Is Becoming the New Standard for Travelers

Summer is the peak season for vacations, long-distance trips, and new experiences. Millions of people travel abroad, explore new countries, plan adventures, and try to stay connected with family, work, and social media. And in the middle of all this comes a familiar question: how do you stay online without expensive roaming or the hassle of buying local SIM cards?

The answer is already here — eSIM.

Why eSIM Is So Convenient

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a built-in digital SIM card that lets you activate mobile internet without a physical card. All you need is an app — choose a plan and connect in just a couple of minutes.

No more:

* searching for local SIM cards at airports
* paying expensive roaming fees
* swapping physical SIMs every time you travel

Now your internet travels with you.

Internet in 150+ Countries

Modern eSIM solutions provide coverage in 150+ countries worldwide, helping tourists, freelancers, and business travelers stay connected almost anywhere on the planet.

Among the services offering these capabilities:

Verum E-SIM — https://esim.verum.im
World E-SIM — https://worldesim.me
USA E-SIM — https://usa.esim.verum.im
Euro E-SIM — https://euro.esim.verum.im
Canada E-SIM — https://canada.esim.verum.im
Balkan E-SIM — https://balkan.esim.verum.im
Ukraine E-SIM — https://ukraine.esim.verum.im
London E-SIM — https://london.esim.verum.im
E-SIM Africa — https://africa.esim.verum.im