iOS is Apple’s operating system for the iPhone and iPad. It’s also the basis for tvOS for the Apple TV and watchOS for the Apple Watch. It’s even beginning to infiltrate the Mac in some ways. Apple has worked hard to keep iOS private and secure, and it has a huge ecosystem of apps via its official App Store. Some have argued that it is too locked down, but the trade-off is that it’s fast and stable for most users.
Earlier this month, 404 Media reported that the FBI obtained deleted Signal messages saved inside an iPhone’s notification database. It looks like the iOS 26.4.2 security update addresses this, as Apple says it has fixed an issue where “notifications marked for deletion could be unexpectedly retained on the device.”
[Apple Support]
The update adds protections against DarkSword, a security vulnerability that can steal information from your phone if you visit an infected link. Apple previously released iOS 18.7.7 to the iPhone XS and XR, but if you have a newer phone and don’t want to download iOS 26, now you can install the patch without worrying about getting Liquid Glass.
Apple is currently testing the feature, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. I hope it makes the cut; I think I’d use it way more than any of Siri’s long-delayed features we’re still waiting on.
Apple started testing the feature with its iOS 26.4 betas, but at the time, the company said the feature would actually arrive in a “future update.” Encrypted RCS messages are back with the first iOS 26.5 developer beta, 9to5Mac reports, so perhaps they will launch publicly on iOS soon.
After users in China reported seeing Apple Intelligence on their iPhones, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said these AI-powered features launched in “error” and that Apple has since taken them offline. The Chinese government currently requires Apple to partner with local companies, like Alibaba, to power AI features in the country.
A newer version of the DarkSword exploit that targets devices running iOS 18.4 to 18.6.2 has appeared on GitHub. About 34 percent of iPhone and 43 percent of iPad users are still running iOS 18 or earlier, according to Apple, which issued an emergency patch on March 11th. Update your devices, folks!
The iOS launch for the AI-powered browser follows an Android release in November.
[Perplexity]
According to 9to5Mac:
iOS 26.4 specifically focuses on fixing a bug where characters on the keyboard appeared as if they were tapped, but were not actually inserted. Those missing characters then affected how Apple’s Auto-Correction feature was able to predict what you actually meant to type.
Apple has released a release candidate of the update, indicating it should launch publicly soon.
Spokesperson Peter Ajemian tells The Verge that Apple has since removed the prompt, which showed up for UK users who downloaded the latest iOS 26.4 beta:
Some users on the beta software in the UK temporarily saw a message suggesting age verification is required to download apps. That message was displayed in error, and has been fixed. Developers may continue to use the Declared Age Range API to provide age appropriate experiences for users.
Blizzard apparently isn’t busy enough with Overwatch, announcing a mobile version of the game that “will begin select region testing soon.” Unlike mobile versions of games like Call of Duty, PUBG, or Fortnite, it’s not an attempt at an FPS and is being made by a separate team.
A gameplay preview trailer shows a similar feeling but slower-paced game capable of running on devices like an iPhone XS or Pixel 4a.
The very good Ball x Pit is coming to iOS and Android on March 12th.
Sonic The Hedgehog Classic and Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Classic are the latest games from Sega’s Forever program that could soon disappear from the Google Play and Apple app stores. Both games now display a pop-up message warning that “support for this game will be discontinued, but you can continue playing offline!”
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Google is adding Meet’s automatic conference room detection feature to the Meet and Gmail mobile apps. First launched on laptops last year, it uses silent ultrasound signals that are picked up by your phone’s mic to automatically check you into your conference room and prompt you to join Meet calls with your device in Companion mode, avoiding annoying feedback or other problems.
The iOS 26.3 beta introduces a new “Notification Forwarding” setting that you can use to forward alerts to non-Apple watches, according to MacRumors. The feature comes in response to an order from the EU, and is still a bit limited, as it only forwards notifications to one device at a time.
