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ExpressVPN Adds Siri, Widgets and Shortcuts to Its iOS App

ExpressVPN is trying to make it easier for iPhone and iPad owners to protect their privacy when online.

Virtual private network service ExpressVPN is making it easier for iPhone and iPad users to control their VPN connections with the latest update to its iOS app. The platform announced new features that will allow integration with Apple’s Siri voice commands, Home screen widgets and Shortcuts, allowing users to manage their VPN connections without opening the app.


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With the update, users can activate or deactivate ExpressVPN by speaking to Siri. Voice commands like «Hey Siri, turn on ExpressVPN» will automatically connect the device to the most recent server location, offering hands-free protection when hopping onto public Wi-Fi networks or managing sensitive online activity. This integration is designed to make online privacy easier for people who rely on the VPN throughout the day.

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address, protecting your physical location. A VPN lets you keep your online activity private from your internet service provider or make apps and websites think you’re in a different state or country.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About VPNs and How They Work

In addition to voice controls, ExpressVPN now supports Home screen widgets. The widget displays the VPN’s current status and lets users connect or disconnect with one tap. For frequent travelers, remote workers or anyone who switches networks regularly, this provides a faster way to secure a connection without navigating through the app.

Read also: Apple Reportedly Planning AI-Enhanced Siri With Search Tool in 2026

The update also adds compatibility with Apple’s Shortcuts app, enabling users to create custom automation routines. For example, a user could set a shortcut to automatically connect to a preferred server location when opening a particular app or joining a specific Wi-Fi network. This kind of automation allows for tailored workflows and reduces the friction of manual VPN management, particularly for people who integrate multiple apps into their daily routines.

The update is available now on iPhone and iPad devices that support ExpressVPN.

Read more: Best VPN Service for 2025

CNET rates ExpressVPN as the best overall VPN service, noting that it’s «a veteran VPN provider that consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to privacy and transparency.» ExpressVPN is praised for being easy to use, but our review also notes that it is one of the most expensive VPN providers available.

Technologies

MacBook Pro May Be Finally Getting a Touchscreen

The OLED MacBook Pro reportedly will break new ground with late 2026 launch.

Get your swiping fingers ready. According to a reliable insider, Apple will introduce touchscreen capability to the MacBook Pro for the first time with the launch of the OLED MacBook Pro in late 2026.


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Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with TF International Securities, posted on X that the cheaper MacBook, scheduled to go into production later this year, will not have a touchscreen. However, he said it’s probable that the model’s second generation, slated for production in 2027, could get a touchscreen.

A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

After years of seeing how consumers use their iPads, Kuo believes that Apple realizes that «in certain scenarios, touch controls can enhance both productivity and the overall user experience.»

Read more: What exactly IS the best MacBook for you?

Apple has not confirmed the report. However, on Wednesday, Kuo listed numerous reports that have come true, including the iPhone Air specs, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the iPhone 17 Dynamic Island staying the same size.

What’s next for the MacBook?

It’s been nearly two decades since Apple introduced the first MacBook. CNET’s Scott Stein believes that the iPad and MacBook platforms will eventually merge.

YouTuber Jon Rettinger, who has 1.65M subscribers, agrees that the iPad and MacBook are «on a collision course with unity» and that consumers are always looking for the next level of interaction and form factors: in this case, a touchscreen.

But with the devices and their operating systems merging, Rettinger says a big question mark is what’s next for the iPadOS. «How will that continue to evolve?»

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Technologies

New PS5 Update Lets DualSense Controllers Pair With Multiple Devices at the Same Time

A software update brings the controller pairing feature to all users and also adds a power-saving option for some games.

All you PlayStation 5 players can now pair your wireless DualSense controllers with up to four devices at a time and toggle among them. 

For some time, you’ve been able to pair your DualSense controllers not just with PS5s and other PlayStation consoles, but also with PCs, Macs, smartphones and other Bluetooth devices. But that pairing could happen with only one device at a time; using a different device with a DualSense required pairing all over again.

That changes now, with system update 25.05-12.00.00. PS5 owners who download and install the update, which is now available, can pair their DualSense controllers with up to four different devices. The new feature also works with DualSense Edge controllers.

How to enable and use multidevice pairing on DualSense controllers

To enable the feature (which has been available to beta testers since June):

  1. Hold the PS button for 5 seconds and then hold one of the action buttons (triangle, circle, square or X) until the light bar and player indicator flash twice.
  2. Turn on Bluetooth pairing on your device and select the DualSense controller.
  3. Once pairing is done on the other device, the light bar and player indicator light should blink in one of four slots.

To use the feature once you’ve assigned other devices:

  1. Make sure the device you want to switch to is on and has Bluetooth enabled.
  2. Hold the PS button and the action button that was assigned (triangle, circle, square or X)for 3 seconds.
  3. The player indicator light (1-4) should flash according to which device pairing has been activated.

For more detailed instructions and troubleshooting, click here. 

Other PS5 system updates

The PS5 system update also brings another new feature: Some games will support power saving, which reduces power consumption by scaling back game performance. You can enable or disable that for specific games by going to Settings > System > Power Saving > Use Power Saver.

In addition, Sony says, the update improves messages and usability on some system screens, as well as software performance and stability.

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Technologies

Forget the iPhone 17, the 2025 Moto G Power Is on Sale for a Record-Low $250

This midrange Motorola is one of our favorite budget-friendly phones on the market, and right now you can snag one for $50 off the usual price.

There’s a lot of buzz about the iPhone 17, which hits shelves this Friday. But not everyone wants to spend $800 (or substantially more) on the latest Apple phone. Motorola has some great options for those looking for a more affordable alternative, and right now you can grab one for even less.

Amazon has knocked $50 off the 2025 Motorola Moto G Power, which drops the price to a record-low $250. It’s also on sale at Motorola, where you’ll get an extra $100 in credit if you’re trading in an old phone.

CNET’s mobile device experts named the Moto G Power as the best phone you can get for less than $300, with Mike Sorrentino calling it the «lowest-priced Motorola phone worth buying.» It’s not the most advanced model on the market, but can still has the hardware needed to «handle the basics without breaking the bank.»

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If features a vibrant 6.8-inch display with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, as well as an impressive 50-megapixel rear camera system that preforms surprisingly well in low light. Under the hood, it’s equipped with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and a Mediatek Dimensity 8100 CPU, as well as a respectable 5,000-mAh battery. It also has a unique «RAM Boost» feature that converts a small amount of available storage into virtual RAM to temporarily boost performance. Plus, it supports 5G connectivity and has durable IP68 design so its resistant to water and dust.

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Why this deal matters

As one of our favorite affordable models, the Motorola Moto G Power is already a decent value at full price, and a bargain whenever you can pick it up for less — especially a record-low price. It features decent specs and hardware, as well as a fairly rugged design, making it well worth the money at just $250.

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