Mozilla will end support for its Firefox Lockwise password management app this year, the company said in a post on its site. The app, currently available on iOS and Android, will no longer be available to install or reinstall starting Dec. 13. That means iOS version 1.8.1 and Android version 4.0.3 will be the app’s …

Google is developing and testing an app designed to help people with speech impairments more easily communicate with others. Project Relate, an app for Android, is now inviting an “initial group of people” to test the product, the company said in a blog post Tuesday. The app is also designed to help facilitate interactions with the Google Assistant. “[We] realized …

Apple’s new MacBook Pro, featuring the next generation of the company’s in-house chips and the much-welcomed return of an HDMI port and SD card reader, makes “better use of interior space,” according to a teardown by iFixit. But when it comes to repairability, there’s room for improvement. “Apple’s M1 silicon is rocketing the industry forward in a bunch of ways, and …

Google Fi, the search giant’s mobile service, is rolling out end-to-end encrypted calls, the company said Thursday. The feature is starting with Android phones using Fi in the coming weeks. End-to-end encryption essentially blocks anyone beside the parties communicating from accessing a conversation. Popular Facebook-owned chat app WhatsApp is among the other services that offer end-to-end encryption for calls and texts. …

Now just about anyone on Instagram can add links in Stories. The Facebook-owned company said Wednesday that it’s expanding the capability to more accounts, whereas before it was limited to verified accounts or people with a certain number of followers.  “We’ve heard from the rest of our community that they also want to share things that matter with their friends and family,” …

Palm, an early maker of smartphones that fell out of relevance years ago, is back with a new offering: wireless earbuds. The company on Tuesday unveiled Palm Buds Pro, which feature active noise canceling, environmental noise canceling and an “emphasis on studio grade audio and enhanced bass,” according to a release.  Palm Buds Pro are available for preorder at a …

Now playing: Watch this: New MacBook Pro: MagSafe returns 4:44 Apple’s new MacBook Pro laptops mark the return of the HDMI port and SD card reader, the company said during its Unleashed event Monday. Apple removed the SD card slot and HDMI port in 2016, to the dismay of some users.  Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted the comeback earlier this year, after …

Apple appears to have quietly extended its service program for addressing AirPods Pro sound issues from two years to three years after initial purchase. MacRumors reported the extension Wednesday after users on Reddit noticed the change.  Apple rolled out the service program last October after some customers experienced crackling or static sounds on their devices, as well as issues with active …

This story is part of Tech for a Better World, stories about the diverse teams creating products, apps and services to improve our lives and society. Google said Thursday that it’s adding more “human-sounding” voices to its Select-to-speak feature on Chromebooks. Select-to-speak lets Chromebook users hear selected text on their screen spoken aloud. The new voices are aimed at making that …

Palm appears to be waking from its slumber to release some new hardware, according to a tweet the phone maker posted Tuesday. An accompanying image seems to show the outline of several wireless earbuds, with overlaid text that reads, “We’ve been busy.”  The new product will apparently be unveiled on Oct. 26, according to the tweet, which also reads: “Get …