The first developer beta of iOS 26.4 is rolling out, and with it, Apple is flipping a major security switch for buyers. A security feature that was previously optional is now enabled by default for everyone, making it harder for thieves to change your iPhone’s critical settings.

We’re talking about Stolen Device Protection (first released with iOS 17.3), the feature that is designed to protect your Apple ID, saved passwords, payment methods, and other sensitive information, even if someone knows your iPhone’s passcode.

Changing critical security settings requires more than just a passcode

The feature asks for more credentials than your iPhone’s passcode (such as Face ID or Touch ID) for actions like viewing or using passwords or passkeys saved in iCloud, viewing an existing Apple card or applying for a new one, turning off the Lost Mode, and erasing all the content and settings.

Further, the feature also delays changing critical security settings, such as the Apple ID password, adding or removing trusted devices, changing the iPhone’s passcode, and adding/removing Face ID or Touch ID, for an hour.

It also requires biometric authentication, followed by a one-hour security delay and a second biometric confirmation before changes can be made.

Why this matters

Basically, by enabling Stolen Device Protection in iOS 26.4, Apple is making it harder for bad actors to exploit the critical information stored on your phone or to reset it and sell it for quick cash.

In other words, your iPhone will be more paranoid than usual, even when you’re using it, but it is better to have the feature and not need it than to need it and realize that you didn’t turn it on (which is the entire point of making it a non-optional feature).

Elsewhere, the iOS 26.4 developer beta also includes encrypted RCS messaging support, native video support in Apple Podcasts, and a new Playlist Playground feature in Apple Music. A full public release of iOS 26.4 is expected this spring.

Apple AirTags have speakers in them, and the speaker is not entirely under the owner’s control. [Shahram] shows how the speaker of an AirTag can be disabled while keeping the device watertight. Because AirTags are not intended to be opened or tampered with, doing so boils down to making a hole in just the right place, as the video demonstrates.

How does putting a hole in the enclosure not compromise water resistance? By ensuring the hole is made in an area that is already “inside” the seal. In an AirTag, that seal is integrated into the battery compartment.

Behind the battery, the enclosure has a small area of thinner plastic that sits right above the PCB, and in particular, right above the soldered wire of the speaker. Since this area is “inside” the watertight seal, a hole can be made here without affecting water resistance.

Disabling the speaker consists of melting through that thin plastic with a soldering iron then desoldering the (tiny) wire and using some solder wick to clean up. It’s not the prettiest operation, but there are no components nor any particularly heat-sensitive bits in that spot. The modification has no effect on water resistance, and isn’t even visible unless the battery is removed.

In the video below, [Shahram] uses a second generation AirTag to demonstrate the mod, then shows that the AirTag still works normally while now being permanently silenced.

Why would one want to permanently silence an AirTag, putting it into so-called “stealth mode”? That’s a good question. If you’re not familiar, one of the circumstances under which AirTags emit sound is if it is separated from its owner and has been moving with someone else for some period of time. Intended as an anti-stalking feature, [Shahram] points out that this behavior can also be a nuisance or straight up undesirable. For example, one may be using the tag on a pet collar, to track one’s luggage, or on a potential theft target like a bike. Modern phones in any case alert their owners if a tag they do not own appears to be moving with them, also as an anti-stalking measure.

In [Shahram]’s case, he has hidden an AirTag on his bike. He figures that if his bike should be stolen, a beeping AirTag would announce its existence to the thief and they would in all likelihood simply locate and discard the tracker. But if the tag is silent, the thief — still notified by their phone that a tracker is with them but unable to locate it on the bike — would be more likely to discard the bike instead, allowing it to be safely recovered.

Regardless, the process shows how a careful understanding of a device’s internals can allow for modifications that don’t require opening the whole thing, and the process is a bit reminiscent of drilling into a Stadia controller to permanently disable the mic.

Apple Music is following in Spotify’s footsteps with a new AI-powered playlist creation tool that lets users generate personalized playlists using text prompts. Apple has introduced the feature in the latest iOS 26 beta release, and it allows users to describe an activity, mood, or vibe to instantly build a custom playlist tailored to their request.

According to MacRumors, the Playlist Playground feature is live in the first iOS 26.4 beta and adds a text box to the bottom of the playlist creation page in Apple Music where users can enter their prompt. The app offers a couple of pre-set suggestions such as “morning coffee music,” “hip-hop party songs,” and “disco songs that defined the 1970s” to help users get started.

After selecting a suggestion or entering a custom prompt, Playlist Playground generates a 25-song playlist complete with a custom title. Users can further refine the mix by tapping the “Customize playlist” button at the bottom to add more prompts, change the title, or select a custom playlist cover.

It’s not immediately clear whether Playlist Playground takes a user’s playback history into account when generating a custom playlist. Spotify’s alternative does, allowing it to create mixes that more closely match the user’s taste. Apple is expected to share more details about how the feature works ahead of its stable release.

For now, Playlist Playground is limited to Apple Music users running the latest iOS beta build. The feature is expected to roll out more widely once iOS 26.4 hits the stable channel.

The report found that Irish jobseekers are applying for roles in strong numbers, compared to UK, French and German counterparts.

New data published by LinkedIn, exploring the European jobs market, has found that in comparison to other European nations, Ireland’s jobs market remains competitive. Trends in LinkedIn’s December jobs data found that there is candidate fatigue among European jobseekers, amid lower levels of hiring.

The UK recorded the largest drop in activity, down nearly 8pc year-on-year, followed by France at 5pc and Germany at 3pc year-on-year. By comparison, Ireland experienced a 2.4pc year-on-year rise in applications per candidate. 

Commenting on the data, LinkedIn Ireland’s country manager Cara O’Leary, said, “While many European countries are showing clear signs of jobseeker fatigue, Ireland is moving in the opposite direction. At a time when applications per candidate are falling in the likes of Germany and the UK, Irish jobseekers are switched on and still confident of finding their next role regardless of economic uncertainty.”

What was also discovered is that a candidate’s network is becoming increasingly important, as LinkedIn’s data showed that applicants are more than 3 times as likely to get hired if connected to an employee already at the organisation they are applying for a role at.

O’Leary said, “Our data shows who you know is just as important as what you know, with candidates significantly more likely to be hired when they know someone at the organisation, reinforcing the importance of relationships alongside experience. For employers, this highlights the growing influence of their own people in attracting talent, with referral schemes one option to incentivise staff.”

AI talent magnet

LinkedIn’s research explored how the global labour market is evolving in response to AI becoming more prevalent in the workplace and in broader industry trends. It said, “In the near term, AI is creating more jobs globally than it is replacing. In the past two years, employers across the world have created at least 1.3m ‘new collar’ AI‑related job opportunities, including data annotators, AI engineers and forward‑deployed engineers.”

Additionally, LinkedIn’s research explained that this demand for AI talent is outstripping supply in Ireland, as the country is further establishing itself as a net importer of skilled workers. 

AI engineering talent is 8 times more likely to move across borders than the average LinkedIn member and the data showed a 2.2 net increase in net migration of AI engineering talent to Ireland, placing the region second in terms of net beneficiaries globally. The UAE was the biggest AI talent magnet globally, with the top five rounded out by Germany, Australia and Singapore.

O’Leary said, “Demand for ‘new collar’ jobs continues to outpace supply, but Ireland is proving to be an AI talent magnet, successfully attracting more AI engineers to these shores than those departing. Given that many of these jobs simply didn’t exist five years ago, with the pipeline from the education system playing catch up as a result, companies need to realise that upskilling is the solution. 

“We have never seen higher levels of interest in AI content on LinkedIn, so people are clearly eager to learn. It is in employers’ best interests to give their workforce the opportunity if they are to seize a competitive advantage.”

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High-end audio is moving away from passive boxes, racks of separates, endless cable debates, and systems like the Kii SEVEN explain why. As Kii Audio brings its ultra compact wireless music system to the 2026 Bristol Hi-Fi Show, the updates being previewed underscore a broader shift: premium loudspeakers are increasingly defined by integrated amplification, software control, and flexible system architecture rather than nostalgia for traditional hi-fi hierarchies.

Introduced in 2023, the Kii SEVEN was designed to function as a complete, scalable audio solution. Each speaker can be used individually, as a stereo pair, part of a multi-speaker home theater setup including Dolby Atmos, or within a multi-room environment. This level of flexibility is not about replacing “real” hi-fi, it’s about acknowledging that the future of high-end audio is smarter, more adaptable, and far less dependent on stacks of external hardware.

“You now just need Kii SEVEN speakers, a power connection and a streaming service subscription to create a complete high-end audio system. With our unique technologies and room-optimisation tools, this means you can get rid of a traditional hi-fi stack and a spaghetti of cables, streamline your life, and improve your listening experience at the same time” says Kii Audio co-founder, Wim Weijers.

Core Features

Wireless Music System: The Kii SEVEN is a compact, high-end three-way active wireless (or wired) bookshelf sized loudspeaker designed for both professional monitoring and serious home listening. It supports a wide range of wired inputs, including AES/EBU, XLR, and TRS, alongside wireless connectivity via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2. Each speaker incorporates 600 watts of Class D amplification, delivering 1,200 watts per stereo pair, with amplification and DSP fully integrated into the cabinet.

Cardioid Speaker Design: Engineered by Kii Audio, the Kii SEVEN employs a true cardioid dispersion pattern that extends down into the low-mid and bass frequencies. By controlling rearward energy, the design reduces unwanted room interaction, improving bass definition and placement consistency across a wider range of listening environments.

Kii Home App: The Kii Home App for iOS and Android provides straightforward control of the Kii SEVEN from a mobile device. It allows users to manage playback, assemble streaming playlists, and control multiroom audio when multiple Kii SEVEN speakers are deployed throughout a home. The app is designed to handle system setup and day-to-day operation without requiring additional hardware or a separate control interface.

Active Wave Focusing: Rather than relying on conventional crossover filters alone, Kii’s Active Wave Focusing technology uses DSP and strategically positioned drive units to shape a coherent wavefront directed toward the listener. This approach enables precise time alignment across the full frequency range, improving clarity, imaging, and phase consistency without requiring external calibration hardware.

Weijers further stated, “Because our own DSP and firmware drive every Kii speaker, we’re always looking to add refinements, features, and ecosystem upgrades through software instead of forcing owners to buy a ‘Mark II’. These updates enhance the system you already own – without making it obsolete.”

What’s New for the Kii SEVEN in 2026

Since 2015, Kii Audio has focused on combining engineering-driven design with a streamlined user experience. That approach continues at the 2026 Bristol Hi-Fi Show, where the company is previewing a new color option and a series of functional updates for the Kii SEVEN.

Alongside the existing Fine Touch White and Fine Touch Dark Grey finishes, the Kii SEVEN will now be offered in a new Fine Touch Titanium finish.

Software updates are equally practical. New features include native Qobuz Connect support, improved TIDAL Connect and Spotify Connect performance including compatibility with Spotify Lossless, and even simpler setup with 24-bit/192kHz wireless communication between speakers.

The software update will be available at no cost to existing owners and can be downloaded directly through the Kii Audio Support Center.

The Bottom Line 

Rather than chasing a replacement model, Kii Audio is doing the smarter thing by keeping the Kii SEVEN current through software and a subtle hardware refresh. The addition of Qobuz Connect, improved TIDAL and Spotify Connect support (including Spotify Lossless), and higher-quality wireless speaker setup improve system performance without forcing owners into an upgrade cycle.

This approach will resonate most with listeners who want high-end performance in a compact, self-contained system and expect it to evolve with streaming standards rather than become obsolete.

Tip: The Kii SEVEN were awarded Best in Show at NAMM 2025, while the larger Kii THREE BXT Loudspeaker System earned Best in Show at NAMM 2026.

Price & Availability

The Kii SEVEN wireless active speakers can be purchased individually for $4,495 each or $9,885/pair with Kii CONTROL (remote) from Authorized Dealers. Optional companion stands are $445 each ($890/pair). The updated Kii SEVEN will be demonstrated at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show, taking place from February 20-22, 2026.

For more information: kiiaudio.com

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