Smartphone Use

Google begins wider rollout of call recording feature on Pixel phones

Google starts wider rollout of call recording on Pixel phones, bringing the feature to Pixel 6 and newer models with Android 14

Slouch-sit-scroll: Aiims study says high gadget use reshaping teen bodies

From neck pain to flat feet, Aiims researchers reveal how gadget-glued teens are already showing signs of musculoskeletal strain linked to prolonged screen use

Doomscrolling rewires your brain: Why nonstop bad news feels addictive

Endless negative news may feel unavoidable, but doctors warn doomscrolling can rewire brain pathways, impair decision-making, and fuel anxiety in young professionals

Pings that sting: Why too many phone notifications may be bad for your heart

Doctors warn that constant notifications, late-night alerts and heavy screen time do not just disturb sleep, they spike blood pressure, disrupt rhythm and quietly harm young hearts

Schools tried to ban phones and avoid politics. Then came Kirk's murder

Some students watched the video in the middle of class. Others pulled out their phones as they walked out of school and found themselves watching the videos over and over. Some teachers interrupted lessons to discuss the horrific news. Almost instantly after Charlie Kirk was assassinated Wednesday at Utah Valley University, the news captured on video in grisly detail sent shockwaves through classrooms everywhere. Because no matter teens' political opinions, everyone knew Kirk. In high school classes in Spanish Fork, Utah, chatter spread fast Wednesday, as students learned of the shooting and began to wonder if Kirk would live or die. A cellphone ban meant many students didn't learn of Kirk's fate until the final bell pushing tough conversations in class to the next day. "By the end of the day, I was worn out," said English teacher Andrew Apsley. He discussed the shooting with each of his four classes Thursday at Landmark High School, about 15 miles south of UVU. In the current .

Scrolling on toilet increases your risk of haemorrhoids, new study shows

Prolonged sitting on a toilet seat is believed to increase pressure inside the pelvic floor and lead to blood pooling in the vascular cushions of the anus, making haemorrhoids more likely to develop

Phones in pockets: Could heat and radiation be hurting male fertility?

Carrying your phone in your trouser pocket may be convenient, but doctor says heat and radiation could slowly impact sperm health and fertility

Lava Play Ultra 5G to be launched on Aug 20: Where to watch, what to expect

Lava Play Ultra 5G is to be launched today. Check livestream details, expected specifications and more here

Vivo V60 India launch on Aug 12: Specs, camera, design, livestream details

Vivo V60 with Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, Zeiss telephoto camera, 6,500mAh battery, and IP68/69 rating launches in India on Aug 12. Event to stream live on YouTube at 12 pm

Vivo V60 with Zeiss camera, 6500mAh battery launched in India: Price, specs

Vivo V60 5G debuts in India with Zeiss cameras, Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, 6,500mAh battery, 90W charging, and Google Gemini AI features. Price starts at Rs 36,999

Realme 15 series India launch on July 24: Where to watch and what to expect

Realme will launch the 15 Pro and 15 smartphones in India on July 24. Alongside, the Chinese smartphone maker will launch the T200 wireless earbuds

iQOO Z10R with MediaTek 7400, 50MP camera to launch on July 24 in India

iQOO Z10R launching in India on July 24 with MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chip, 50MP Sony sensor, 4K video support, and a 6.77-inch AMOLED display

Honor X9c 5G phone coming soon to India with MagicOS 9.0: What to expect

Honor X9c 5G is launching soon in India with Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, 108MP camera, 6.78-inch AMOLED display, 6,600mAh battery, and MagicOS 9.0

Google releases new 'Pixel VIPs' app for select Pixel phones: What is it

Pixel VIPs helps Pixel users stay close to important contacts with features like location sharing, reminders, notes, and more

What happens if you leave device chargers plugged in? An expert explains

Chargers left plugged in might seem harmless, but they quietly waste power and wear out over time. Here's what you need to know about hidden risks and costs

Delhi govt directs schools to frame smartphone usage policy after HC ruling

Following a recent Delhi High Court judgment, the Delhi Government has directed schools to formulate policies regarding students' use of smartphones.The Delhi High Court has outlined guiding principles to strike a balance between the advantages and potential drawbacks of allowing students to use smartphones while in school.Accordingly, the Education Department of the Delhi Government has instructed all heads of government, government-aided, and unaided recognised private schools in Delhi to develop and implement a school-level policy on this matter.The Directorate of Education, in its circular dated April 17, 2025, states, "The Hon'ble court has drawn up guiding principles to balance the beneficial and deleterious effect of permitting the use of smartphones in the hands of students while attending the school. Accordingly, all the Heads of Govt., Govt. Aided & Unaided Recognised Private Schools of Delhi are hereby directed to develop a policy on the above said matter on school ...

Delhi HC rejects total smartphone ban in schools, issues guidelines

The court noted that its intent is to establish guiding principles to balance the positive and negative effects of allowing students to use smartphones

A new way to measure digital capability: Tracking tech progress globally

Developing countries are moving from the margins to the mainstream of digital innovation. They account for the global majority of internet and smartphone users

Brazil restricts smartphone use in schools amid concern over its impact

Brazilian students returned to class this week with a new task: staying away from their smartphones as a new law restricting their use in schools takes effect. President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva signed a bill in January limiting smartphone access at schools, in line with a trend seen in the U.S. and Europe. It applies to public and private schools, and applies to classrooms and the halls. Phones are still allowed for educational purposes, with the teacher's permission, and when needed for the student's accessibility and health. Schools have the autonomy to set their own guidelines, such as whether students can keep phones in backpacks or store them in lockers or designated baskets. Before the federal law, most of Brazil's 26 states - including Rio de Janeiro, Maranhao and Goias - had already passed measures applying some restrictions to phone use in schools. As of 2023, nearly two-thirds of Brazilian schools had some limitations, with 28 per cent banning them entirely, according to

Samsung rolls out One UI 7 beta with AI, security upgrades in India

Korean smartphone maker Samsung has rolled out a new version of its mobile interface, One UI 7 beta, in select countries including India with AI, security and privacy upgrades, the company said on Thursday. The new version of One UI 7 will be first available for Galaxy S24 series devices and will be made available in upcoming Galaxy S Series devices. The company will also roll out the update across other Galaxy devices gradually. "The official One UI 7 release will commence with upcoming Galaxy S series devices, featuring additional AI capabilities including enhanced on-device AI functions, starting from the first quarter of 2025. The One UI 7 beta programme will be first available for Galaxy S24 series devices in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US, from December 5," the Samsung statement said. AI applications are considered to be one of the major use cases for high speed 5G networks as it requires high bandwidth to offer services. The statement said that One UI 7 ..