The New York Times - Personal Tech

1. A Packing List of Apps to Download Before You Travel

   Your bags may be ready to go, but do you really have everything you need? Here are some apps that can make your travels smoother, safer and more fun.

2. How to Use A.I.-Powered Writing Tools on Your iPhone and Android

   Artificial intelligence software — some already free on your device — can quickly compose and edit documents. But be sure to check its work.

3. How to Protect Your Phone While Traveling Abroad

   Here are some best practices for safeguarding sensitive personal data.

4. The Cybercriminals Who Organized a $243 Million Crypto Heist

   How luxury cars, $500,000 bar tabs and a mysterious kidnapping attempt helped investigators unravel the heist of a lifetime.

5. Time-Saving New iPhone and Android Features You Might Have Missed

   From photo timers to music identifiers, here are a few new iPhone and Android tools to make your life easier.

6. Trump Tariffs Could Raise iPhone Prices, But Affordable Options Remain

   Even if gadget prices surge, we have plenty of cheaper options, like buying last year’s phone model instead of the latest and greatest.

7. How Do the iPhone 16E and Google Pixel 9A Compare to More Expensive Models?

   With tariffs threatening to drive up the costs of most things, the new entry-level phones from Apple and Google present a timely opportunity to save some bucks.

8. Can Using the Light Phone III Help Cure ‘Brain Rot’?

   Minimalist gadgets like the new Light Phone III, a smartphone that barely does anything, promise to help us focus. The trade-offs are big.

9. The UK Government Wouldn’t Ban Smartphones in Schools. These Parents Stepped Up.

   In Britain, amid growing evidence of harm to young people from extreme content online, a “Smartphone Free Childhood” campaign is going viral.

10. Facebook’s New Friends Tab Brings App Back to Its Roots

    A new Friends Tab will feature posts from a user’s friends and relatives, which was the original mission of the app.