All articles tagged with #software update
Apple seeded release-candidate builds of iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to developers, signaling a final testing step before a public rollout if no major bugs are found. The RC updates introduce an iPhone-to-Android data transfer tool during setup, add a Notification Forwarding option for third-party wearables in the EU, and include minor Weather wallpaper tweaks. A public release is expected next week barring issues.
Apple released iOS 12.5.8 for the 12-year-old iPhone 5s (and iPhone 6) to keep FaceTime, iMessage, and device activation working through January 2027, marking the first update for these models since 2023; the company also rolled out newer iOS builds (18.7.4, 16.7.13, 15.8.6) for other devices, reflecting its ongoing but uneven long‑term support for older hardware.
Apple released iOS 12.5.8 for the aging iPhone 5s and iPhone 6, extending the certificates that enable iMessage, FaceTime, and activation so these features keep working past 2027, continuing Apple’s policy of long-term security updates for devices launched in 2013–2014.
iOS 26.3, now in beta, emphasizes performance improvements and better battery life with only minor feature tweaks, and does not introduce major new features yet; potential encrypted RCS messaging and cross‑device notifications for third‑party accessories are uncertain and being refined for a future rollout. Benchmarks on newer devices show stronger single- and multi-core scores, and users report extended active use with battery health around 83%; Apple also released AirPods Pro firmware 8B34. The final iOS 26.3 release is expected in early February 2024, followed by iOS 26.4 mid‑February with a revamped Siri and other usability enhancements, plus a small iOS 26.2.1 patch to address bugs.
Google released Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 for Pixel devices (phones, tablets and foldables) on January 14, 2026, with OTA updates rolling out and emulator support listed as TBA. The beta carries builds CP11.251209.007.A1/CP11.251209.007 for supported devices and includes fixes for at least a dozen issues, such as unresponsive app drawer, Android Auto logging heavy battery usage, display/UI rendering glitches, charging-limit handling, Wi‑Fi speeds, radio/app crashes, audio routing during calls, and foldable activity lifecycle issues. Users can enroll in the Android Beta or install via OTA/files; supported devices include Pixel 6/6 Pro, 6a, 7/Pro, 7a, Fold, Tablet, 8/Pro, 8a, 9/9 Pro/XL/Fold, 9a, and 10 series, with security patch level 2026-01-05 and Google Play services 25.47.33.
Debian 13.3, the latest stable release for Debian Trixie, has been launched, featuring numerous security patches, bug fixes, and updates for various software components including GNOME Mutter, Chromium, and Thunderbird, enhancing stability and security.
Microsoft has introduced a new, streamlined way to add hyperlinks in Word documents, allowing users to simply paste a URL onto selected text instead of using menus or shortcuts. This feature, now available across Word for the web, Windows, and Mac, aims to make linking faster and easier, similar to content management systems like WordPress. It is being rolled out to all users with compatible versions of Word.
iOS 26 is experiencing unusually slow adoption several months after its release, indicating a potential issue or user hesitation with the update.
Cisco has released patches for a medium-severity security flaw in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) following the public release of a proof-of-concept exploit, which could allow attackers with administrative credentials to access sensitive information. The vulnerability affects multiple Cisco versions, and users are urged to update to the latest releases as no workarounds are available. Additionally, fixes have been provided for two other medium-severity bugs impacting Cisco products like Cisco Secure Firewall and Cisco IOS XE.
Nvidia has significantly boosted the performance of its DGX Spark AI mini PC with a new software update, improving compute-intensive tasks by an average of 2.5x, and is expanding its AI Enterprise suite to support the platform, along with new features like Nsight CUDA, RTX Remix, and robotics integrations. The company also hints at larger Spark clusters in development.
GNU ddrescue 1.30 significantly improves automatic data recovery from drives with dead heads, reducing the number of read errors needed for successful recovery by orders of magnitude, making it accessible for less experienced users. The update also introduces a new '--no-sweep' option and other enhancements.
Samsung is expanding its One UI 8.5 beta testing to include more Galaxy devices such as the Galaxy M56, F56, and A15 5G, with a stable release expected alongside the Galaxy S26 series next year. The update features a redesigned software update interface, UI enhancements, and improved user experience, while Samsung continues to address issues with the Galaxy Watch 4 series after initial rollout problems.
Ncurses 6.6, a library for creating terminal-based user interfaces, has been released with significant improvements, especially for Windows Terminal support, along with various bug fixes and enhancements, maintaining compatibility with previous versions.
Samsung's upcoming One UI 8.5 update, currently in beta, introduces a redesigned, more modern and minimalistic Software Update screen that enhances visual appeal and user-friendliness compared to One UI 8.0, with the stable version expected on the Galaxy S26 series next year.
Pinta 3.1, an open-source cross-platform image editor, has been released with new features including axonometric grids, enhanced selection tools with marching ants animation, gradient adjustments, and various bug fixes, improving its capabilities for digital artists.