Apple has just introduced more than just new features, like an AI playlist generator, with iOS 26.4 in the UK. The company now requires users in the region to verify their ages and to prove they’re 18 years old or above before they can access "certain services or features, or take certain actions on their account."

Users can verify their ages in Settings by linking a credit card to their account or scanning an ID. For people who’ve had an Apple account for a while, the company will check if they already have a payment method on file that can prove they’re of age.

The company says it will automatically switch on its Web Content Filter and Communication Safety features for everyone under 18 and for those who haven’t verified their ages. These tools are integrated into Apple’s operating systems and can restrict users from accessing specific websites on Safari and third-party browsers, as well as warn users when they're receiving or sending images and videos containing nudity.

Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, praised Apple for the decision, especially since it’s not required to implement age verification for the iOS or its App Store under the region’s Online Safety Act.

"Apple’s decision that the UK will be one of the first countries in the world to receive new child safety protections on devices is a real win for children and families," the regulator said.

"Our rules are flexible and designed to encourage innovation, particularly in age assurance. We've worked closely with Apple and other services to ensure they can be applied in a variety of contexts in order to ensure users are protected. This will build on the strong foundations of the Online Safety Act, from widespread age checks that keep young people away from harmful content, to blocking high-risk sites and stepping up action against child sexual abuse material."

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Fast-food giant McDonalds has begun testing robotic staff as a way of seeing how the restaurant chain could go fully automated. The test was carried out in Shanghai using robots to deliver meals to customers and collect food trays.

The age of robotics and AI is truly here and that's very apparent, as it's arrived in McDonalds. Yup, the major food chain has begin testing robotic staff in its actual restaurants.

The Shanghai McDonalds was the home of Keenon Robotics machines, which went to work serving customers this week.

The bots covered a host of tasks, from greeting and providing information, cleaning, to delivering food to customers, and even collecting trays.

While this was a test, the future of robots in restaurants could look similar to this setup. The idea is to go fully automated with a single location no longer requiring many human staff at all.

From front end human interactions with service to back end kitchen staff cooking the food, McDonalds is looking into making it all robot run.

The reality is that this was very much a test and the idea that this could work as a restaurant, at this early stage, is still a reach.

While robots running restaurants is still years away, this could sign us edging that much closer to humanoid robots working alongside people in the near future.

The androids serving customers certain look capable, while the wheel based screen-toting bots appear far more fun.

What all this means for jobs, the economy and our future is a far bigger question that this burger based trial can't answer right now.

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Two brothers from the U.K. just a new milestone in robotics by designing a robot capable of solving a complex puzzle cube at incredible speed.

Their robot recently earned recognition from Guinness World Records after it successfully solved a 4×4 puzzle cube in just 45.3 seconds, surpassing a record that had remained unbeaten for more than a decade.

The record-setting project was developed by Matthew Pidden and Thomas Pidden. The brothers combined their technical skills to build the robot.

Matthew focused mainly on the software and control system, developing the algorithms that allow the robot to analyze the cube and determine the correct sequence of moves needed to solve it. Thomas contributed by designing and producing many of the robot’s mechanical parts using 3D printing technology.

Their collaboration allowed them to merge programming expertise with creative engineering, resulting in a machine that works both accurately and efficiently.

The robot is built around a central frame that holds the cube in place. It uses four mechanical arms positioned around the cube. Each arm can rotate different layers of the puzzle with precision. Once the cube is scanned and its pattern is identified, the robot calculates the fastest solution using programmed algorithms. It then performs a rapid series of rotations until every face of the cube is correctly aligned.

During the demonstration, the robot moved quickly and smoothly as each arm twisted the cube in a carefully calculated sequence. Within seconds, the puzzle was completely solved.

The successful record attempt did not happen immediately. The brothers faced a few unsuccessful trials before achieving the final result. After refining the robot’s performance and improving its speed, they managed to complete the puzzle in 45.3 seconds, officially setting the new world record.

Interestingly, the idea for the robot began as a student project while studying at the University of Bristol. What started as an academic experiment eventually developed into an advanced robotic system capable of achieving a world record.

The accomplishment of the Pidden brothers demonstrates how creativity, persistence, and technical knowledge can lead to remarkable achievements. Their robot not only showcases the growing capabilities of robotics but also highlights how technology can tackle complex challenges with speed and accuracy.

This achievement may inspire many young engineers and programmers to explore robotics and develop new technologies that push the limits of what machines can do.

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Researchers have discovered a new iOS exploit, dubbed "DarkSword", that was used to steal saved passwords, data from cryptocurrency apps and more. Fortunately, you may be able to avoid it.

DarkSword targets iPhones that are running older versions of iOS, specifically iOS 18.4 through iOS 18.7. Apparently, it's been leaked to multiple malicious actors.

The exploit was discovered by researchers at Lookout, a mobile security company, who were investigating a previous "Coruna" attack. Their findings were verified by a collaboration between Google's Threat Intelligence Group and iVerify, which created a more comprehensive analysis of this threat.

In total, DarkSword uses six vulnerabilities tracked as: CVE-2025-31277, CVE-2025-43529, CVE-2026-20700, CVE-2025-14174, CVE-2025-43510, and CVE-2025-43520. It's been actively used since November 2025 by multiple bad actors who deployed it as as three separate malware "GHOST" families.

Ghostblade is a dataminer that stole a gamut of information from crypto data to browser history, photos and emails. Ghostknife was used to get into signed-in accounts, messages and location history. While Ghostsaber was used to execute code and steal data.

"This malware is highly sophisticated and appears to be a professionally designed platform enabling rapid development of modules through access to a high level programming language," Lookout says. "This extra step shows a significant effort put into the development of this malware with thoughts about maintainability, long-term development and extensibility."

"This malware is highly sophisticated and appears to be a professionally designed platform enabling rapid development of modules.

Lookout researchers"

The attacks had a global impact hitting iPhone owners in Saudia Arabia, Ukraine and Malaysia according to the reports. The exploit was delivered through a Sandbox exploit using compromised websites, though it's not clear how the sites themselves were compromised.

To stay safe, very simply, update your iPhone.

If your device is capable of running iOS 26.3.1 (the most recent iOS update), you should upgrade to that version. If not, see if you can at least update to iOS 18.7.6, which appears to be safe according to iVerify.

iVerify's research suggests that only iOS 18.7 and iOS 26.3 versions are safe, which means even earlier versions of iOS 26 might be exploitable.

An Apple spokesperson reached out to clarify that the latest versions of iOS 15 through iOS 26 are safe. However, if you're still on iOS 13 or 14, you need to update to iOS 15 to receive protections. They added that iPhone 17 owners are safe thanks to the new Memory Integrity Enforcement feature, an always-on memory-safety protection that helps block spyware.

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Looks like Huawei might be edging ahead in the triple-fold race. While the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design managed a broader rollout, Samsung’s attempt may already be nearing the exit. This was suggested by a new report that says Samsung Electronics could end sales of the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold in South Korea just months after launch.

According to a report from Dong-A Ilbo, Samsung plans to stop selling the device in its home market on 17 March. The phone debuted there roughly four months ago.

In the United States, the situation appears slightly different. The report states the TriFold will remain available until "the current production volume is sold out."

That suggests US buyers may still see limited restocks. However, inventory may vanish quickly.

Samsung priced the futuristic foldable at about US$ 2,899. The device introduced a new triple-folding design to the smartphone market.

Despite strong interest, Samsung never intended the TriFold for mass production.

Samsung released the TriFold in small batches through its website. Each restock sold out within minutes.

Reports suggest the company shipped extremely limited quantities. Industry estimates place the first two batches at roughly 3,000 units each.

Samsung also avoided traditional marketing for the device. The company did not send review units to major publications.

That approach reinforced the device’s experimental nature. Analysts believe Samsung treated the TriFold more as a technology showcase.

Sources speaking to Dong-A Ilbo described the strategy clearly. They said the phone existed primarily to demonstrate engineering capabilities.

The report suggests Samsung wanted to test real-world demand for triple-folding designs. Allowing consumers to buy the device created practical feedback.

Even with limited production, the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold attracted strong interest from early adopters. Each restock disappeared within minutes.

Demand spilled into the resale market. In South Korea, some units reportedly sold for nearly three times the retail price.

That frenzy highlighted the device’s rarity.

Despite its premium price, the TriFold appears difficult to produce profitably.

Industry sources cited "high production costs" as a major issue. Expensive components leave little room for margins.

Memory pricing also adds pressure. Rising costs for DRAM and NAND flash have tightened profitability further.

The TriFold’s complex hinge system likely increases manufacturing challenges. Triple-fold displays require additional materials and precise engineering.

That complexity drives up production expenses. Lower manufacturing volumes also raise costs per device.

For Samsung, the TriFold likely served a different purpose. The device allowed engineers to explore new foldable hardware concepts.

The company could study durability, user behavior, and software optimization for multi-fold displays.

Those lessons may influence future products. Samsung continues to dominate the foldable market with devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series.

Still, the TriFold experiment may have a short lifespan.

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The rumors have swirled for years that Apple has been toiling away on a foldable iPhone, nicknamed the iPhone Fold. Those drips of intel have accelerated over the last year, with numerous leaks suggesting that the device could actually be released in 2026.

The latest rumor comes from leaker Sonny Dickson, who whipped up 3D CAD renders of a potential iPhone Fold design that depicted a squat, wide layout similar to the Google Pixel Fold and different from the tall, thin Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Design leaks have been scarce, driving curiosity about how Apple's foldable will look. Recently, an Apple fan made a 3D-printed mock-up for an Apple book-style foldable's possible design, looking more like a Microsoft Surface Duo merged with an iPhone 17 Pro than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

In other words, a vision of two separate iPhone screens linked together rather than a continuous, folding display. Given the lack of consensus on layout, any of these designs could end up being correct.

Separate displays are an interesting proposition, considering rumors have spoken of Apple's efforts to reduce the seam where a foldable screen bends. The one on the iPhone Fold is rumored to have little or no crease, according to a recent report by the Chinese publication UDN. Screen creases, especially on early foldable phones, have long annoyed some consumers and critics. And while the crease on more recent foldables looks a lot less deep, it's still there.

Samsung's new Galaxy Z TriFold has two screen creases, one for each of its hinges. It would be a major breakthrough if Apple has indeed found a way to fold a screen in half without leaving a crease.

Foldable phones represent a tiny fraction of all phones sold globally. CNET found that 64 percent of people surveyed said they don't want a foldable phone. But those numbers could change if Apple were to sell a foldable iPhone. Analysts at IDC forecast a 30 percent year-over-year growth if Apple were to launch a foldable iPhone in 2026.

Apple launched the iPhone 17 series along with the new super-thin iPhone Air in September. Given all the engineering it took to cram cameras and components into the top half of the Air, some have theorized that the device is a stepping stone to a foldable, which could take advantage of the Air's internal design.

A lot of hope and expectation has been placed on Apple to release one, and if rumors are correct, we won't have to wait much longer for the company to do so.

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