Operational Delivery Profession (ODP), the public face of the civil service, must keep pace with advances in technology and artificial intelligence (AI), which has implications on skills, a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report has concluded.

In the Smarter delivery of public services report, the PAC noted that while the ODP has created a skills framework, which sets out the skills that staff need at different stages of their careers, the capabilities and expertise that its members need are changing and will require skills associated with other professions, particularly digital.

“Automating straightforward types of demand means that staff can spend their time dealing with customers with more complex needs, or who cannot access digital services,” the report’s authors said.

The evidence submitted to the PAC shows that the civil service needs understand how technology can reshape interactions with citizens. In response to a question from the committee on the need for operational delivery capabilities in government services, Peter Schofield, permanent secretary for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), said: “At its heart, this is about delivering the services. That is partly about making sure that we have people who are able to think about how to deliver customer service at its best, and partly about how we innovate and how we use technology in different ways.”

Schofield used the online portal for child maintenance as an example of where technology helps to improve service. “People can do the most straightforward accessing of information about their claim or their case online. It frees up our people to deal with the more complex situations,” he said.

When asked about creating an operating environment to improve operational delivery, Schofield said: “During the really difficult time we had during the pandemic in 2020, there was a huge amount of innovation and creativity … at every level in DWP to find ways of changing and improving processes, and bringing in automation … to have that objective was quite phenomenal. It did not require me or the leadership of DWP coming up with the ideas – these ideas were happening across the organisation.”

Another witness statement in the PAC report shows that there may be a need to overhaul services to make better use of the new technology that is now available.

In his written statement to the PAC, Mark Thompson, professor of digital economy at University of Exeter Business School, said: “The prevailing culture of ‘digital skills’ which, in its focus on building and/or procuring technology, glosses or actively disregards the growing need to overhaul the business and operating models of public services – to ask questions about what it is we think we are building for the future.”

Thompson warned that there is currently little-to-no business education about technology-enabled business, or operating models and their implications for UK public services, and very few with the capability to provide such education.

He also noted that modern, digitally and AI-enabled organisations are modular in structure, and are able to point to clearly defined operating models that show where it is appropriate to innovate and spend money, versus where such innovation/spend is inappropriate and undesirable. Where innovation is inappropriate, he said: “Capabilities are routinely standardised, shared and consumed as services over the internet.”

A tech slowdown post lockdown

The challenge the government faces is that it appears to have lost momentum for making significant, transformational changes that can be empowered through the smart use of technological innovation.

Prior to the publication of the PAC report, David Barber, director of the UCL centre for AI and distinguished scientist at UiPath, spoke to Computer Weekly about the ability of UK businesses and government departments to make the most of new technology innovation such as AI, adding: “There are some fairly straightforward processes in government that probably are ready for automation, and the UK [government] should think more about that.” 

He believes that AI has advanced to a stage where the majority of queries from citizens could probably be handled by automated systems. 

UiPath was involved in a robotic process automation (RPA) initiative at DWP Digital, the service delivery arm of the Department for Work and Pensions, which began in 2017 and saw the creation of the Intelligent Automation Garage to scale-out automation projects. Among them was the DWP’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, focused on new Universal Credit claims. The automation made it easier to apply for a Budgeting Advance to give financial support prior to the first Universal Credit payment being made.

The momentum to rework government processes during the pandemic seems to have subsided, and while the Labour government appears to have pinned its hopes on AI boosting government efficiency, it also has to deal with an AI legacy left by the previous Tory government.

Barber said that during Covid, “there was an urgency to fight the pandemic”, but he felt that the former Tory government failed to capitalise on the automation momentum afterwards, adding: “I feel the previous administration wasn’t particularly convinced about AI.”

As an example, he noted that the Bletchley Park AI Summit, held in November 2023, focused on “the apocalyptic scenarios of AI” rather than the real opportunities it offers business and government services.

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After launching the Galaxy XR headset a few days ago, Samsung plans to launch one more high‑end mobile product this year: its first trifold foldable phone. The device appeared in rumors and leaks earlier this year, with some reports calling it the Galaxy G Fold or Galaxy G Fold 7. The latest report on the Samsung trifold comes from reliable leaker Evan Blass (via Android Police), who says the first Samsung trifold might not launch in the U.S. Instead, Samsung might only sell the phone in select Asian countries, including South Korea, China, Singapore, and the U.A.E.

Blass routinely provides accurate information about unreleased devices, including Samsung products. It’s unclear what information he’s basing his prediction on, as he doesn’t offer any supporting evidence. Blass only says it’s unlikely for the first trifold foldable to launch in the U.S. and notes that he’d love to be wrong about this launch detail. There is precedent for a limited launch. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition late last year. Its first ultra-slim foldable phone launched only in Korea and China. However, Samsung used that design to create the Galaxy Z Fold 7 model that saw a worldwide release this summer. It wouldn’t be surprising for the Galaxy G Fold to follow the same recipe.

Why is Samsung making a trifold phone?

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Trifold phones, or foldable phones featuring two hinges and three display sections, aren’t new. Chinese vendors Tecno and Huawei have already produced such devices. Tecno showcased two concept trifold models, including a G Fold-type device, without turning them into commercial products. Huawei also unveiled the Mate XT last year — an expensive trifold available only in China.

The advantage of trifold phones over regular foldables is that they can be turned into larger tablets, or better said, devices that look more like traditional tablets, with a wider screen. Phones like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 offer a square display when unfolded, which might not be ideal when using a single app on the screen. The disadvantage of a trifold phone is that it contains more moving parts. Also, these components might be more expensive to manufacture. Like the Huawei Mate XT, the first Samsung trifold phone will probably be prohibitively expensive.

It’s likely that Samsung needs to show it can compete against Chinese vendors, especially considering that Samsung pioneered the foldable phone concept. After the Galaxy Z Fold 7 launch in mid-July, TM Roh, Samsung’s acting head of the Device Experience division, confirmed the company is working on trifold handsets: “We are working hard on a tri-fold smartphone with the goal of launching it at the end of this year.” Making the Samsung trifold available only in Asia before the U.S. and other international markets is a good strategy for Samsung to compete against Huawei. After that, Samsung can always release a second-generation Galaxy G Fold handset in Western markets, including North America.

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Following Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference this past June, the company indicated that iOS 26 would allow users to add a U.S. passport to their Apple Wallet. In doing so, users would be able to use their iPhone or Apple Watch as a Digital ID when traveling domestically. The underlying benefit is that the Digital ID is compliant with REAL ID. This is particularly important because state-issued driver’s licenses that aren’t compliant with REAL ID are no longer sufficient for travel. If you show up to the airport without a form of REAL ID, you may not be allowed through security. At best, you’ll be subjected to additional security screening and potential delays.

Apple’s new passport feature would help users avoid this frustration. Apple included the feature on its iOS 26 features page in June, albeit with a footnote that it would arrive “later this year.” Now comes word from Apple executive Jennifer Bailey, via MacRumors, that the feature will be… “coming later this year.” Bailey did not share a specific timeline, but don’t be surprised if Apple delays the feature until December. It would, however, be nice to have the feature go live before the busy Thanksgiving travel season.

Apple’s Digital ID can’t replace your passport

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It’s important to mention that Apple’s Digital ID is by no means a replacement for a regular passport. First and foremost, Apple’s passport feature only works for domestic travel. It cannot be used for international trips. If you’re traveling abroad, a regular passport is still necessary. Second, the feature only works in the U.S. If you’re an iPhone or Apple Watch user outside of the United States, you’re unfortunately out of luck. The feature might come to users in other countries at some point in the future, but there’s no timetable for that at the moment.

Third, the feature may not be available at every U.S. airport, though most major airports will likely take it without a problem. The U.S. currently boasts about 487 commercial service airports, of which the TSA notes that more than 250 accept Digital ID. You’re likely fine if you’re traveling between two major U.S. cities, but you might want to double-check with each airport if your digital passport is going to be your only form of ID. Lastly, using a passport as a Digital ID is not uniquely an Apple feature. Similar functionality is already available on Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet.

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Government departments in Sweden are considering deploying “open network” encrypted messaging services as an alternative to proprietary collaboration tools.

Some 40 of Sweden’s government agencies are collaborating on a project that could see them rolling out a secure messaging service across government departments.

The initiative comes as European governments are accelerating the deployment of “sovereign” technologies that allow them to be less reliant on “siloed” software from technology suppliers.

The trend has been given new impetus by the war in Ukraine and growing political upheaval in the US.

A membership organisation for government agencies interested in digital technology, eSam has proposed developing a government messaging service based on Matrix, an open network offering secure decentralised messaging.

Replacing emails and phone calls

Kenneth Edwall, a government employee and member of the eSam group working on the project, told Computer Weekly that one of the aims of the proposal is to make it possible for government departments to communicate more efficiently.

“We as agencies need to collaborate with each other,” he said. “Having email is not the best tool, and having phone calls is not a good method either.”

When eSam first began evaluating collaboration technology in 2021, government departments in Sweden had standardised on Skype for Business as a collaboration tool across government.

The tool was easy to use, and it was possible for government employees to collaborate with colleagues by searching on their email and initiating a chat.

They deployed Skype in a decentralised way, giving agencies the freedom to buy the service from suppliers or deploy it on their own datacentres.

This created a robust, decentralised network, said Edwall. “If you have 100 different deployments of Skype, it’s hard to target them all in a cyber attack,” he added.

Multiple messaging services

Since then, partly as a result of Microsoft phasing out Skype in favour of its Teams software, government departments have taken up a range of incompatible messaging apps. They include Rocket.chat, Teams, Zoom, open source platform Mattermost, video platform Jitsi Meet, and Element.

“We are now seeing at least five or six messaging tools being chosen by authorities today, and if it continues, we are going to have a big mess of fragmented systems,” said Edwall. “There is no open protocol that allows them to interoperate with each other.”

Imagine taking email and splitting it among five or six different email suppliers, each of which was incompatible with the other. “That is what we have today with messaging,” he added.

This means government employees in Sweden are having to learn several collaboration tools so that they communicate with people in other parts of government.

The security risks 

The apps pose security risks as collaboration tools fall outside security safeguards, and when people leave their jobs, they may still be connected to government-focused chat groups.

In January this year, eSam began a review to look at how to solve these problems. One option was to do nothing and leave it to technology providers to develop interoperable messaging services, but it ruled that out.

“We don’t believe that the entire market wants to be interoperable,” said Edwall. “We believe that some of the larger vendors have an incentive not to be interoperable with other vendors.”

Another idea was for Swedish government departments to standardise on a propriety platform, such as Zoom or Microsoft teams. However, under Swedish law, government departments can not legally chose to buy technology from a favoured supplier. Each contract has to go out to tender.

Federated open source messaging

Eventually, eSam settled on an open-source federated messaging standard that allows government departments to build interoperable collaboration platforms, either in-house, or bought in from a provider.

“The key is we are not taking sides in regards to public cloud, private cloud or on premise,” said Edwall. “We are not taking sides on proprietary or open source solutions, but we want them all to have the same open protocol that allows them to interact with each other.”

The eSam members looked at a variety of options, including the Matrix protocol, Signal, XMPP and others, before deciding on Matrix.

“We had meetings with other public sector authorities in the EU [European Union] and we realised that most of the authorities we talked to were looking at the Matrix protocol,” he said. “Some of them were already in it and others were evaluating it.”

For eSam, Matrix offers a number of advantages. First, it is federated, which means the Matrix network relies on decentralised nodes. If one fails, or is hit by a cyber attack, messages can still re-route to the right destination.

Second, different government agencies can chose to deploy the technology in different ways. “You can also decide who you want to deploy our setup,” said Edwall. “You could use public cloud services or private on-premise services.”

European governments are using Matrix

Matrix is widely used by the public sector in France, Switzerland – where it has been championed by Swiss Post – and Germany. The European Commission and the Netherlands also have plans to roll out the technology.

The team has prepared a report that it will present to the eSam board in November.

Its recommendations are to build on open standards and protocols to ensure government agencies can avoid being locked into one supplier, and to give organisations the ability to choose how they want to deliver technology, either through public cloud, private cloud, on-premise systems or third-party suppliers.

If the plan is approved, the move to Matrix-based messaging is likely to take years – or even decades.

“We don’t want authorities to just throw out their current communication, because they might have a five or 10-year contract,” said Edwall.

“We want the market to shift so the vendors understand what they gain from using an open standard, similar to the open standards we use in email,” he added. “We want the market to understand that they should start adapting their products.”

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In this podcast, we talk to Axel Stoermann, Kioxia’s vice-president and chief technology officer for memory and solid-state disk (SSD) products in Europe, about energy efficiency in flash storage hard disk drives (HDDs).

Stoermann outlines why HDDs still rule the roost for data where access requirements aren’t so pressing, but how flash storage is king for low-latency workloads.

He talks about how PCIe 6 has pushed throughput to new heights and how future generations of SSDs can achieve greater performance and improved form factors.

How much more energy efficient is flash storage than spinning disk hard drives, and why is that?

I would say it depends. SSD is very efficient and sustainable, per se.

And focusing on scale, performance or power and endurance, it is really the future after HDD as the most popular storage subsystem.

SSD is growing and further developing. So after HDD and SATA, with around 300MBps throughput performance, we are now talking about PCIe 5 or 6 [throughput of 256GBps for the latter].

Coming back to the question – how energy efficient is SSD? – we can say this really depends on the use case. We have different categories of storage – cold storage, warm storage, hot storage – and here the requirements are very different.

Today, in datacentres or in hyperscalers, more than 80% of drives are HDD. So, SSD is nowhere near 100% replacing traditional technologies. However, we can see there is a need for higher performance, higher scale and better form factors, and more efficiency in terms of [space].

All this is driving new technologies, and there is definitely a need for efficiency and capabilities to create efficiency on SSD.

How much more energy efficient is flash storage than spinning disk?

Spinning disk consists of mechanical equipment, where we have a lot of mechanical [components] and also mechanical momentum. On the other hand, SSD is silicon. It is based on flash technology, and this is a big differentiator.

A hard disk can be spinning up or in sustained spin while reading and writing, or in hibernation or low power mode. Here we have a lot more power consumption than on SSDs. On SSDs, you don’t need to spin up or spin like rotating disks, so the efficiency can be handled in a different way.

Flash technology is creating efficiency in terms of better form factors and also integration of much higher scaling and better performance, as mentioned with PCIe 5 and 6.

Market requirements and system requirements can be covered by SSD much better than on HDDs, for example, operating or close to GPUs [graphics processing units] or AI [artificial intelligence] cores during training and inferencing.

And SSD can create a lot of efficiency. On the other hand, the HDD is definitely the technology of choice for warm storage, where it can bring the best cost performance.

Can flash storage become more efficient than it is now, and how would that happen?

As already mentioned, the big difference between HDDs and SSDs is the implementation of storage on silicon. We started in the mid-1980s with NAND flash, and now we are at a 3D NAND architecture, which is called BICS in [Kioxia].

It is moving through the generations, and now we are at generation 8, where we stack more than 200 layers on the silicon to get higher scaling, higher performance and better power efficiency. For example, if we talk about generation 6 and compare it with today’s generation 8, then we have around an 80% higher interface speed.

We also have improvements on latency. Latencies are lower by 10- 20% than the previous generation. We have higher write performance, which is more than 200MBps.

Then we also have better power efficiency, calculated in GBps per watt. So, here the technology is driving efficiency and our core technology is flash.

We have further developments in mind. We will do further stacking. We will improve power consumption in future. And we are already working on generations 9 and 10.

What’s coming in the next generations?

We see storage and storage efficiency as hybrid. So, we see still HDD as one of the big storage areas for keeping media data and stuff. On the other hand, SSD, as a fast, silent and sustainable technology, we see growing further in AI and AI datacentres. Also with the migration to high-performance endpoints in automation in industry.

We see that SSD technology is further developing, and here, the key parameters are high performance to support AI training and inferencing or better form factors. Also, support for better cooling capabilities with new form factors like EDSSF.

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In regional Asian coups for the comms tech provider, Nokia has announced a partnership with ST Engineering and First One Systems to deploy Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM) railway communications network for enhanced safety and services .

Meanwhile, operator Gulf Bridge International (GBI) has selected Nokia’s optical networking solution to build a new high-capacity terrestrial network, also designed for subsea backhauling, enhancing connectivity between Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Explaining the project taking place in Thailand’s capital, Nokia said that railway systems worldwide are undergoing digital transformation to enhance operational efficiency, reliability and safety. The new internet protocol/multi-protocol label switching (IP/MPLS)-based mission-critical backbone transmission network (BTN) will be deployed on BEM’s 35.9 km mass rapid transit (MRT) Orange Line, which is due to be completed by 2030. The line will connect the east and west sides of Bangkok, featuring both underground and elevated transit systems.

When deployed, the IP/MPLS solution is intended to enable BEM to have a high-capacity, low-latency, reliable and secure transmission backbone to support both vital and non-vital railway applications, including CCTV surveillance, public announcements, passenger information displays, radio communication, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA).

As part of the project, Nokia will develop two BTNs, 10G and 40G, each to support network speeds for voice, data and video transmission between stations and operations control centre (OCC). Nokia’s solution includes the 7250 Interconnect Router, Nokia Service Platform Nokia, 7210 Service Access System and professional services. The solution is designed to help BEM to simplify operations and maintenance while providing real-time visibility into network performance.

“We are honoured to be part of this landmark project alongside Nokia and ST Engineering, contributing our local expertise and strong integration capabilities to support BEM’s vision for safer and smarter rail transport in Bangkok,” said First One Systems chief executive officer Terdsak Kijjatikankun. “Our deep understanding of the local landscape, combined with Nokia’s proven technology and ST Engineering’s system integration excellence, ensures that this mission-critical communication system will meet the highest international standards.”

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Qatar-based GBI aims to establish an entirely new terrestrial route through Iraq, providing an alternative pathway that bypasses traditional subsea corridors, offering greater diversity and resilience for regional and international data traffic.

Once live, the network is seen as being able to deliver more than 50 Tbps of capacity to its customers, supporting the region’s growing digital economy and increasing demand for reliable, scalable bandwidth. Using the 1830 GX optical networking platform, GBI said its network will enable cloud and content providers, telecom operators and enterprises to deliver services with significantly lower latency, higher capacity and improved network availability.

“The award of Nokia for this new network represents a major step forward in delivering enhanced connectivity to our customers and partners,” said Gulf Bridge International CEO Ahmad Mohamed AL-Kuwari. “By collaborating with Nokia and leveraging the latest 1830 GX platform, we are creating a robust, high-capacity network that strengthens regional resilience and supports digital transformation across key markets. This project reinforces GBI’s commitment to enabling reliable, high-quality infrastructure that fuels economic growth and innovation.” 

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A sketchy rumor that appeared on Weibo this week claims that Apple’s next-gen iPhone 18 Pro will include a Face ID sensor embedded underneath the display. This would dramatically shrink the Dynamic Island and potentially leave the front-facing selfie camera as the only cutout. Of course, the Dynamic Island is a unique identifier for the iPhone, and it remains to be seen if Apple opts for a design similar to Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25.

Rumors of an iPhone with Face ID underneath the display have persisted for years, with some going all the way back to 2021. In other words, you’d be well-advised to take this particular rumor with a grain of salt. Apple is certainly exploring the possibility of bringing an iPhone with an embedded Face ID sensor to market, but whether it actually ships is another question entirely.

It’s worth noting that we’ve also seen reports suggesting that there won’t be a dramatic change in the iPhone 18 design. At most, some reports speculate that the iPhone 18 will feature a slightly smaller Dynamic Island.

Apple’s iPhone 18 lineup may include a foldable iPhone

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The same source on Weibo relays that Apple’s 2026 iPhone lineup will include new iPhone 18 models, a refreshed iPhone Air, and the long-rumored iPhone Fold. Rumors of Apple releasing a foldable iPhone are nothing new, and have only picked up steam in recent months. Most recently, we’ve seen reports claiming that the foldable iPhone will look like two iPhone Air devices glued together in the middle. The device is said to boast a 5.5-inch display when closed and a 7.8-inch display when fully opened. Other rumored specs include Apple’s A20 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage on the entry-level model.

At the same time, Apple reportedly has big plans for its 20th anniversary iPhone design in 2027. To this end, some anticipate that this is when we’ll see Apple release a device with a full edge-to-edge display, with Face ID and camera components embedded beneath the display. Adding fuel to the fire is a report that Apple in 2027 will bypass the iPhone 19 name and instead jump from the iPhone 18 to the iPhone 20. 

There are also rumors that Apple’s foldable iPhone may be the first in a series of foldable devices. One particularly intriguing rumor claims that Apple is working on a flip-style iPhone, similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 design.

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If you’re looking for a cheap smart TV on Amazon for your dorm or guest room, the latest deal on the 50-inch model of the Insignia F50 is hard to ignore. While the TV carries a list price of $300, you can buy it for just $180 right now. Despite this low price tag, the TV has all the essentials you want from a modern TV, including a smart TV operating system in the form of Amazon’s Fire OS, which brings access to all popular streaming services and the Alexa voice assistant to help you control the TV and compatible smart home devices.

AirPlay support is also present to stream content directly from your Apple devices. The Insignia F50 is pretty popular on Amazon and has accumulated a solid average rating of 4.3 out of 5, with reviews from thousands of verified buyers who praise the TV’s vibrant colors, sharp 4K visuals, and excellent value for the price.

Lots of exciting features

The F50 from Insignia, which is a Best Buy brand, is an LED TV with 4K resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. While it lacks dynamic HDR formats, such as Dolby Vision and HDR10+, it supports HDR10, allowing you to enjoy compatible content in high-dynamic range for lifelike visuals. Additionally, the company has included DTS Virtual X support for a surround sound experience through the TV’s built-in speakers and a host of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 5 and Ethernet. Among other highlights, you get three HDMI ports, out of which one port doubles as an eARC port to connect a soundbar. There is also an optical output and a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting non-HDMI audio devices.

Plus, you get a USB 2.0 Type-A port for plugging in your external storage drives and composite video RCA connectors for legacy devices. However, being a budget TV, the F50 has a fairly basic design with thin bezels on three sizes and a thick bottom bezel. That said, it houses VESA mounting holes for easy wall installation. Although there is much to like about the Insignia TV, we would be remiss not to mention that a small selection of Amazon buyers complain of receiving defective units that stopped working or malfunctioned after days or weeks.

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Longtime Apple Watch users who are used to creating custom workouts on the wearable know that it’s not an ideal experience. You have to rely on the relatively small Apple Watch screen to create and edit the custom workouts. One wrong tap, and you have to restart the process. You can mirror the Apple Watch to your iPhone, but that’s still not ideal. Thankfully, the iOS 26 update comes to the rescue via a handy new feature Apple added to the Fitness app. The new Workout menu lets you create custom training sessions directly on the iPhone.

Apple added the Workout menu to the Fitness app so iPhone users who own the AirPods Pro 3 but don’t have an Apple Watch can initiate training sessions from the handset. The AirPods Pro 3 feature heart rate sensors, which operate only during workouts. Meanwhile, Apple Watch owners accustomed to tracking workouts from the wrist might ignore the new menu, especially if they don’t take the iPhone with them while training. Therefore, the ability to create custom Apple Watch workouts on the iPhone might go unnoticed.

The customization feature isn’t immediately obvious, even if you use the Workout menu in the Fitness app. As a marathon runner, I use the Apple Watch to track and customize my runs. I ignored the Workout menu on the iPhone until recently. I needed a new custom session, and that’s how I discovered that Apple added support for creating custom workouts to the Fitness app in iOS 26. Not only is it extremely easy to set up custom workouts on the iPhone, but you can also share them with friends and family with ease.

How to use the workouts feature on the iPhone

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To find the hidden customization feature, go to the Fitness app and tap the new Workouts button. Scroll to find your activity, like outdoor running, and tap the button that has a timer icon. Tap the “Custom” filter in the new menu to see all the preloaded custom workouts Apple includes in the app. You can tap an item to start (the play button) the activity or edit it.

Chris Smith/BGR

To create a brand-new custom workout, tap the plus sign. The next screen will let you name the workout and set up its rules. I made a run-walk workout where I want to run for five minutes and then walk for one minute. I needed to repeat these steps 15 times, and I also wanted warm-up and cooldown steps. As you can see in the next screenshots, it’s all easy to set up. You can further tweak the custom workout to add music and targets for the work and recovery phases.

Chris Smith/BGR

The example above covers outdoor running, but other activities support custom workouts. The process of setting them up should be similarly easy. Once you’re done customizing your workouts, you’ll find them on the Apple Watch. 

Deleting and sharing workouts is also possible; slide a workout to the left to see the share and delete buttons. Sharing a workout is similar to sharing a photo or a link. You can send it via your messaging app of choice. The recipient can add it to their Fitness and Workouts app on iPhone and Apple Watch, respectively.

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Apple is widely expected to celebrate the 20th iPhone anniversary in 2027 by launching a special iPhone 20 design. Apple did the same thing with the iPhone X in 2017, which marked the iPhone’s 10th birthday. Like the iPhone X, the iPhone 20 should introduce a few design elements and features that Apple then might use across its iPhone lineup. The iPhone X introduced OLED panels with thin, uniform bezels and a notch at the top that housed the Face ID authentication system. All these features were then used in the iPhone generations that followed. Previous reports said the iPhone 20 would introduce an all-glass design with the screen curving along all four edges. The handset might not feature a Dynamic Island cutout at the top. Instead, the Face ID and selfie camera components will be placed under the display.

A new report on Tuesday reveals another key design detail for the iPhone 20 model. A leaker said on Weibo that Apple will move forward with solid-state button technology, planning to introduce it with the iPhone 20 in 2027. According to Instant Digital, Apple has completed tests for solid-state buttons and plans to use the technology for all the iPhone 20 buttons, including the power button and Camera Control button on the right side and the Action button and volume keys on the left side.

Speaking of the Camera Control button (seen below in use), the report also notes that Apple plans to simplify it for next year’s iPhone 18 series. Apple will reportedly eliminate the capacitive sensing layer but keep the pressure-sensitive tech that allows users to perform different actions depending on how they press the button.

What is solid-state button tech and why does the iPhone 20 need it?

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Apple fans who follow iPhone rumors closely might remember the various solid-state button rumors that appeared online in the past three years. In October 2022, almost a year before the iPhone 15 launched, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the Pro models would feature solid-state buttons with additional Taptic Engines providing the vibrations. By April 2023, Kuo revised his prediction, saying Apple had abandoned the plan due to unresolved technical issues. Some reports said the feature would be postponed until 2024, but the iPhone 16 series did not feature solid-state buttons.

The technology refers to buttons that don’t actually move when you press them. Solid-state buttons don’t make a click when tapped, with the Taptic Engine providing the sensory experience. Apple has already used this button technology in the iPhone. The Touch ID home button on the iPhone 7 and other models was a solid-state button. The MacBook’s trackpad features similar technology. The trackpad doesn’t travel when pressed, it just simulates clicks.

The advantages of having solid-state buttons on the iPhone mainly concern durability. Buttons that don’t travel when pressed require fewer parts. They might not break as easily. Moreover, solid-state buttons might help Apple improve water ingress protection. There are disadvantages as well. Solid-state buttons will require power to work. Also, the buttons need to work when the iPhone is placed in a case. If Instant Digital’s information is accurate, Apple might have already solved any issues that prevented it from shipping the technology before the iPhone 20.

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