YouTube Adds Options to Hide End Screens

YouTube is rolling out a tool that lets viewers hide the recommendation panels that appear at the end of videos. A new button in the top corner of the player allows the end screen to be removed so the final moments of a video remain clear. The same button can be used to restore the panel if needed.

Applies on a single video

The setting works only on the video currently being watched. It does not turn off end screens across the platform. YouTube said the change was developed in response to feedback from users who wanted fewer interruptions when finishing a clip.

Minor effect on engagement

End screens remain available for creators to add. Early testing showed that hiding them led to less than a two percent drop in clicks. YouTube also said that the subscribe option tied to the channel watermark, which appeared on hover, generated only a very small share of sign-ups. That button is being removed, since the main subscribe control already sits under the player.

Focus on viewing experience

The adjustments are designed to reduce clutter without taking away creator tools. By removing duplicate features and letting users dismiss overlays, YouTube aims to make it easier to watch videos without losing track of the content itself.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.

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by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Consumers Want AI Labels but Doubt Their Own Skills

A Pew Research Center survey of more than 5,000 adults shows that most people want to know when artificial intelligence is involved in creating content. Three out of four said it is very important to tell whether a picture, video, or piece of text comes from AI or a person. Only a small group, about 12 percent, felt confident they could make that judgment themselves.

Worries Outweigh Excitement

Half of Americans said they are more worried than excited about AI’s growing role in daily life. Ten percent said they feel more excited than concerned, and about four in ten said their feelings are mixed. More than half described the risks of AI as high, compared with a quarter who thought its benefits are high.

Calls for More Control

Sixty percent of respondents said they want more control over how AI is used in their lives. Last year the figure was 55 percent. Most people are open to AI helping with tasks like weather forecasting, fraud detection, or drug development, but they reject its role in religion or matchmaking. Nearly three quarters said AI should have no place in faith-related advice.

Impact on Human Abilities

A majority of respondents expect AI to weaken skills that are central to human life. Fifty-three percent believe it will reduce creative thinking. Fifty percent think it will make it harder to build strong personal relationships. Only a small minority expect improvements in these areas. Some see a role for AI in problem-solving, with three in ten saying it could help, though more people predict harm.

Younger Adults Show More Awareness

Awareness of AI is strongest among younger Americans. Sixty-two percent of adults under 30 said they have heard or read a lot about it. Among those 65 and older, the share drops to 32 percent. Younger adults are also more likely to believe that AI will harm creativity and relationships, even as they interact with the technology more often.

Push for Transparency

The findings suggest that Americans are not opposed to AI itself but want clear boundaries and honesty about how it is used. Labels that reveal when AI is involved could help build trust. For institutions and businesses, openness may shape how people respond to the technology in the years ahead.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

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by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

WhatsApp Adds Built-In Message Translation

WhatsApp is rolling out a translation feature that works inside chats, groups, and channel updates. The update lets people convert text into their preferred language without leaving the app or copying content into another service.

On iPhones, the option uses Apple’s Translate system. It supports more than nineteen languages at launch, including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Android has fewer choices to begin with, covering English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic. Each language requires a download before use, about 24 megabytes on average, and then works directly on the device.

To translate a message, users hold down on the text and tap “Translate.” They can pick the language direction and save it for later. Android users also get the ability to turn on automatic translation for an entire conversation, so incoming messages appear in the chosen language without extra steps.

Meta says the translations are processed locally on the phone. The company highlights that no message content is sent to its servers, keeping the process private. This follows a series of recent updates aimed at protecting chats, including alerts for unknown group invitations and extra privacy controls.

The new tool is being pushed out gradually on both platforms. More languages are expected to be added over time as the feature expands.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

Read next: iPhone Air Durability Tests Show Surprising Strength, but Trade-Offs and High Costs Remain
by Asim BN via Digital Information World

iPhone Air Durability Tests Show Surprising Strength, but Trade-Offs and High Costs Remain

Apple’s thinnest smartphone to date, the iPhone Air, has already faced tough durability testing. Reviewers wanted to know if a device that measures only 5.6 millimeters thick could handle the stresses of everyday use.

The Air is part of the iPhone 17 lineup and arrives with big claims from Apple. Executives insisted it exceeds the company’s strength standards. They even challenged journalists to bend the phone in interviews. The bold statements raised eyebrows, especially since many still remember BendGate in 2014 when iPhone 6 models bent with relative ease.

Now, independent testing gives a clearer picture of how the Air performs. It also shows where compromises have been made.

Titanium Frame and Slim Build

The frame of the iPhone Air is made from Grade 5 titanium. The alloy is strong, light, and more elastic than aluminum. That elasticity lets it bend slightly under pressure and return to its original form instead of holding a permanent curve. Apple says most of the titanium is recycled, part of its sustainability push.

Measuring just 5.6 millimeters, the Air is thinner than three stacked quarters or half a Lego brick. This makes it the slimmest iPhone the company has ever released. Within the iPhone 17 series, only the Air carries titanium. The standard iPhone 17 and the 17 Pro use aluminum frames, a shift tied to weight and cost.

Display and Scratch Resistance

Apple fitted the phone with its second-generation Ceramic Shield, developed with Corning. The company says it is three times more resistant to scratches than earlier models.

Tests seem to back that up. Scratches that would normally appear at Mohs hardness level 6 were faint. Even at level 7, marks were minimal. For an iPhone screen, this is a marked improvement.

That said, glass remains glass. The Air may resist scratches better, but drops onto hard surfaces can still shatter the screen.

Bend Tests by Hand

The main question was whether such a thin device could survive bending. Reviewer Zack Nelson tried applying force with his hands. Pushing from the back produced no visible change. Flexing it from the front caused a brief curve, but the titanium frame straightened out again in minutes.

Image: JerryRigEverything/YouTube

The results contrast sharply with the iPhone 6 era. Back then, normal use could warp the frame permanently. With the Air, titanium seems to have solved that problem.

Breaking Point Under Measured Force

To find the exact pressure needed to snap the phone, Nelson set up a test using two metal bars and a crane scale. The phone was pressed in the center until the frame gave way.

The first crack was heard at 171 pounds of pressure. The device finally broke at 216 pounds. Even then, the back glass stayed intact, though the front glass fractured near the lower volume button.

That level of force is far greater than what most users could apply in normal life. An adult weighing 216 pounds would spread that weight across clothing and the whole phone surface when sitting down. In practice, pockets are far more likely to wear out before the iPhone Air bends.

Smaller Battery and Slower Charging

The thin profile does not come without cost. The iPhone Air carries a smaller battery than its Pro counterparts. It also charges more slowly. Apple says the Air reaches 50 percent in 30 minutes, while the 17 Pro manages the same in just 20 minutes.

The Air also lacks stereo speakers. It uses a single earpiece speaker, which limits audio depth. These are real trade-offs of the slim design.

Battery Life Across the 17 Series

In independent European testing, the iPhone 17 Pro Max lasted 53 hours on a single charge. That put it ahead of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, which ran just under 45 hours, and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL at nearly 49 hours.

The iPhone Air managed about 40 hours. That result is close to Samsung’s S25 Edge, which also uses a smaller battery.

Apple rates its batteries for 1,000 charging cycles before they fall below 80 percent of their original capacity. Samsung doubles that figure with its Galaxy S25 range, promising 2,000 cycles. Google matches Apple at 1,000 cycles. So while the Air can last longer than some rivals on a single charge, its long-term endurance is not the strongest.

There are also regional differences. In the United States, the iPhone 17 Pro ships with only eSIM and a slightly larger battery. That version runs about two hours longer than the Indian model, which still uses a physical SIM slot.

Drop Tests and Repairability

Durability is not just about bending. In standardized European drop tests, the iPhone 17 Pro Max survived 180 falls before failure, earning a Class B grade. That is twice as strong as last year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Competitors went further. Both Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL survived 270 drops. They earned Class A grades.

Repairability is another measure where Apple did not shine. The iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro Max both received Class C ratings. Samsung scored the same, while Google’s Pixel achieved Class B.

Efficiency Gains

One area where Apple has taken the lead is efficiency. The iPhone 17 Pro Max received a Class A rating under the EU’s energy label system, an improvement from Class B the year before.

The gain came from the use of stacked battery cells and new vapor chamber cooling in the Pro and Pro Max. These changes help the phone stay cooler and hold charge during heavy workloads. The Air does not have all of those features, but the series as a whole benefits from the changes.

Price and Global Affordability

Performance aside, the cost remains high. The average selling price of a smartphone in 2025 is around 370 dollars. Apple’s iPhone 17 series starts near 799 dollars in the United States, with Pro models at 1,099 dollars or more.

That makes the iPhone far more expensive than the global average. For many consumers, it remains out of reach.

Measured in workdays, the gap is even clearer. In Luxembourg, buyers need about three days of wages for a Pro model. In the United States, it takes four days. In India, the number is closer to 160 days. Globally, the average is about 26 days, but the spread shows how uneven the affordability really is.

Apple has positioned the iPhone as a premium product. The iPhone Air fits that profile. It is slim, built with titanium, and priced well above the norm.

Lessons From BendGate to Today

Apple’s focus on the Air’s strength highlights how far the company has come since BendGate. In 2014, customers could bend the iPhone 6 with little effort. That episode left a mark on the brand.

The Air tells a different story. It can take more than 200 pounds of direct pressure before breaking. It shrugs off hand bending attempts. Its screen resists scratches better than earlier versions.

Still, not every measure favors Apple. Battery longevity, drop resilience, and repairability continue to trail competitors. And the price keeps the phone out of reach for many.

Outlook

The iPhone Air shows that a slim frame does not always mean weakness. Independent testing proves that titanium allows the phone to flex and recover without lasting damage. The device can survive far more pressure than anyone would apply in daily use.

Yet thinness has limits. Smaller batteries, slower charging, and weaker speakers are the cost of the design. Compared with rivals, Apple delivers efficiency and runtime, but not the strongest durability over years of use.

The high price makes the Air a premium choice rather than a mainstream one. For those who buy it, the device offers strength and refinement. For many others, it represents a product that remains desirable but unattainable.

Image: James A. Molnar / Unsplash

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

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by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Smartphone Prices to Climb Steadily Through 2029

Global smartphone prices are on a steady upward path. The average selling price is expected to move from 370 dollars in 2025 to 412 dollars by 2029. That growth rate works out to around three percent a year.

At the same time, revenue from smartphones is forecast to expand faster than prices. By 2029, worldwide sales could reach 564 billion dollars, supported by a five percent annual growth rate, as highlighted by CounterPointResearch in its Market Outlook Tracker.

Signs of Normalization

The smartphone market is showing more stable behavior after years of disruption. Shipments in 2025 are on track to rise about 2.5 percent compared with the previous year. That pace is slightly higher than earlier projections but slower than initial hopes. Higher prices, supply realignments, and wider economic pressure are the main reasons. With prices moving up more quickly than shipments, overall revenue is gaining strength.

Regional Shifts

In North America, the average price is expected to climb seven percent in 2025. The push comes from premium models, strong promotions, and growing interest in foldables. Prices in the region may reach close to 984 dollars in 2026.

China is on a slower path. Forecasts suggest a 3.6 percent increase in 2025, led by brands such as Huawei, OPPO, and vivo. Apple’s performance in China has also improved, helped by Pro model sales.

India remains a mid-range market. Average prices are still below 250 dollars this year but should rise gradually, reaching about 287 dollars in 2029. The shift from feature phones and stronger demand outside major cities are shaping this trend.

Company Profiles

Apple continues to lead the premium segment. Its prices are projected to rise from 919 dollars in 2025 to nearly 1,000 dollars in 2029. The company is widening its base with cheaper models for emerging markets while keeping its high-end focus with Pro devices. Analysts also expect an extra lift in 2026 with Apple’s first foldable release.

Samsung holds a more stable profile. Weak flagship sales in early 2025 lowered its average, though foldables and AI features are expected to provide support in the longer term. Huawei has been regaining ground in China. With fewer supply problems, its premium Mate and P series are driving prices higher, supported by strong foldable sales.

Product and Technology Factors

Generative AI smartphones added 40 to 60 dollars to production costs in 2024 and 2025. That raised prices at first. In the longer term, the perceived value of AI features is likely to keep average prices high even as costs stabilize. Foldables, though still a small fraction of global shipments, are also influencing price levels and setting new expectations for premium devices.

Outlook

The industry is heading for modest but steady growth. Tariff risks have eased, supply chains are more stable, and demand for advanced features is holding firm. Together, these factors suggest smartphone prices will continue to climb through 2029 at a controlled pace, keeping the market on a firmer footing than in recent years.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

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TikTok’s Shopping Test Raises Concern After Gaza Clips Flagged

TikTok is facing questions over a new test that uses image recognition to link videos with shopping items. The function, as spotted by TheVerge, appeared over the weekend in several regions and surprised viewers when it surfaced in footage from Gaza.

The system scans a paused frame, highlights clothing or accessories, and then suggests similar products from TikTok Shop. In one case, it identified a woman’s dress, scarf, and handbag as she searched through rubble and pulled up links to near-identical items. The same prompts appeared on humanitarian clips and children’s content.

According to TikTok, this was part of a limited trial that was not meant to apply in these contexts. The company said engineers are working to restrict where the tags appear. Access is still limited, and users can disable the option in their own settings.

The feature reflects a wider push by social media firms to blend shopping directly into feeds. Instagram and YouTube have adopted similar tools. For TikTok, visual search extends that model by letting any video act as a product trigger, not just those created for promotion.

The Gaza incident shows the risks of applying commerce engines without clear boundaries. Automated recognition treats every frame as material for sales, regardless of subject. That creates the chance that moments of personal tragedy or urgent appeals will be paired with ads for consumer goods.

Image: theverge

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

Read next: Nobel Laureates and Global Experts Push for Binding AI Safeguards
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Nobel Laureates and Global Experts Push for Binding AI Safeguards

More than 200 leaders in science, politics, and technology have signed a declaration urging governments to set binding global limits on artificial intelligence. The Global Call for AI Red Lines was released at the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the start of its high-level week.

Who signed and who organized

The signatories include Nobel Prize winners in peace, chemistry, physics, and economics, alongside AI researchers such as Geoffrey Hinton, Yoshua Bengio, Ian Goodfellow, and OpenAI co-founder Wojciech Zaremba. Support also came from Anthropic’s security chief Jason Clinton and a range of civil society organizations. The initiative was coordinated by the French Center for AI Safety, the Future Society, and the Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence at UC Berkeley.

What the letter demands

The statement calls for governments to reach an international agreement by the end of 2026. It identifies specific areas that should be off-limits, including lethal autonomous weapons, self-replicating systems, and the use of AI in nuclear command. While the European Union’s AI Act and bilateral U.S.-China agreements cover some risks, there is no global framework that addresses them.

Why voluntary pledges fall short

Technology firms have already signed voluntary commitments with governments, including U.S. and U.K. safety pledges in recent years. Independent reviews suggest those companies meet only part of their promises. Critics argue that without binding rules, commercial pressure will outweigh public safety.

Concerns over AI risks

The appeal comes after several incidents have raised alarms about AI. Recent cases have highlighted its role in spreading misinformation, enabling surveillance, and causing social harm. Researchers also point to long-term threats such as mass unemployment, biological risks, and human rights abuses if the technology advances without limits.

Global context

Organizers compared the effort to past international agreements that banned biological weapons and harmful industrial chemicals. They argue that clear restrictions are needed before AI development accelerates further. More than 60 civil society groups have already joined the call, reflecting support from research institutes and advocacy groups around the world.

What comes next

The United Nations will launch its first diplomatic body on AI later this week. World leaders are expected to discuss how red lines could be defined, monitored, and enforced through international cooperation. The backers of the initiative stress that restrictions would not prevent economic growth, but instead provide guardrails for safe development.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.

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