Apple released two minor updates to its iOS operating system Tuesday. iOS and iPadOS 13.3.1 aim to resolve privacy issues found in the December release of iOS and ‌iPadOS‌ 13.3, after researchers discovered that certain location tracking features couldn’t be disabled in the iPhone 11 and that security features were being bypassed in Screen Time. …

5G mobile phones are projected to capture a growing slice of the global market over the next two years. On Tuesday, researchers at Gartner said they expect to see 5G phone models account for 12% of mobile phone shipments worldwide in 2020, increasing to 43% by 2022 as handset prices drop and 5G coverage zones expand. If those projections are …

Virtual private networks can be as confusing to understand as the threats they aim to protect us from. The average online denizen is often already mentally maxed-out trying to navigate the ever-shifting cyber-wilds while protecting their bank password in a digital minefield of skyrocketing malware attacks, suspicious public Wi-Fi and corpo-governmental mass surveillance. If that’s you, I’ve got your straightforward …

Chromebooks released this year will get eight years of software support and automatic updates compared to the previous average of six years, Google said Tuesday. The company said the move is intended to extend the lifespan of 40 million devices used by students and teachers — and at the same time it has increased the list price of the Chrome …

Facebook said Thursday that the Oculus Go is getting a price cut: $149 for the 32GB version. The entry-level VR headset previously cost $199, though its been on sale since at least early January. Facebook confirmed the price drop is permanent and said it would be rolling out across all relevant markets.  “Oculus Go is now priced at $149 USD, …

Microsoft’s popular swipe keyboard SwiftKey app passed 500 million installs Tuesday, according to its Google Play Store listing. First released for Android in 2010, SwiftKey was purchased by Microsoft for $250 million in 2016, and now joins a fleet of other Microsoft apps to reach more than 500 million installs, including Excel and PowerPoint. 

A virtual private network is a way of connecting to the internet in a more secure or private way, by sending your data through an encrypted tunnel and hiding your true IP address — making it harder for someone to track your online activity.  In a business environment, VPNs are often used by employees who are working remotely and need to …

More Android users will now get warnings about spam in the Messages app and be able to block pernicious accounts, Google said Thursday. The spam protection feature issues an in-app warning, including a red spam icon that’ll be familiar to Gmail users, when a suspicious text message arrives. You’re then presented with the option to report the text as spam. …

Samsung has been hinting at a forthcoming clamshell-style phone since the release of the $1,980 Galaxy Fold. But the company apparently isn’t the only one looking to bring out more foldable phones next year. Both Samsung and LG Electronics will put new foldable devices on the market in 2020, according to a Wednesday report from the Korea Herald. The Seoul-based newspaper, citing …

Spotify released its streaming numbers for the decade Tuesday in its inaugural edition of “Wrapped,” a new year-end look at the music service’s most-streamed artists and albums. Spotify’s 113 million subscribers will also be able to view their personalized streaming statistics soon. Grammy Award-winning singer Rihanna’s ex-boyfriend, Drake, was Spotify’s most-streamed artist of the decade, with more than 28 billion …