Apple and Google will soon be "encouraged" to build nudity-detection algorithms into their software by default, as part of the UK government's strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, reports the Financial Times. According to the report, Home Office officials want device operating systems to prevent any nudity from being displayed unless users can verify that they're adults through biometric checks or official ID. The proposal is said to target mobile devices initially, but it could extend to desktops. The government reportedly explored making the controls mandatory for devices sold in the UK, but it has apparently decided against that approach for now. Apple currently offers Communication Safety tools that parents can activate and which detect nude photos and videos in apps like Messages, AirDrop, and FaceTime. However, teenagers can still view flagged images after dismissing an alert, while under-13s must enter a passcode. Google also provides parental controls through its Family Link feature and includes "sensitive content warnings" in Google Messages. But neither company offers system-wide nudity blocking that extends to third-party apps like WhatsApp. The proposal is sure to face objections from privacy and civil liberties groups, as well as questions about how effective any such measures would be. When the UK instituted age checks for porn websites earlier this year as part of the Online Safety Act, users got around restrictions using fake photos and VPN services. The proposals are expected to be officially unveiled in the coming days, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to FT.Tags: Apple Child Safety Features, Financial Times, United Kingdom This article, "UK Wants All iPhones to Block Explicit Images Unless You Prove Age" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

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Acclaimed sports thriller "F1: The Movie" starring Brad Pitt is now available to stream on Apple TV. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer alongside Formula 1 icon Lewis Hamilton, the film casts Pitt as a veteran driver chasing one last shot at glory. According to Deadline, the film has surged to $629 million at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing Apple Original Film to date, and the biggest sports movie of the year. After premiering worldwide on June 27, the film's momentum was strong enough to justify a rare second theatrical run in August, coinciding with its home-release debut. The success has reportedly gone beyond ticket sales. The film's popularity apparently emboldened Apple to bid for the U.S. streaming rights to Formula 1 itself. In October, Apple and Formula 1 announced a five-year partnership that will bring all F1 races exclusively to Apple TV in the United States beginning next year. And in case you missed it, Apple updated the logo and name for its streaming service in November – what was once "Apple TV+" is now simply "Apple TV."Tag: Apple TV Shows This article, "The Biggest Sports Movie of the Year Is Now Streaming on Apple TV" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Apple is working on a smart home hub that will rely heavily on the more capable version of Siri that's coming next year. We've heard quite a bit about the hub over the last two years, but a recent iOS 26 code leak provides additional insight into what we can expect and confirms rumored features. Macworld claims to have access to an internal version of ‌iOS 26‌ that references several upcoming Apple devices, including the home hub. The site said that the code hints at these options: * Camera - The device will have a camera, but it will be limited to 1080p. * Face ID - The home hub will use Face ID for authentication and to identify who is in a room. * Profile switching - With the ‌Face ID‌ feature, the home hub will be able to switch to the profile for the person in the home who is interacting with the device. Apple engineers are apparently using an app to test the accuracy of the system. * Apple Intelligence - It will support Apple Intelligence and the new version of ‌Siri‌. Other rumors suggest that the home hub will be something of a cross between an iPad and a HomePod. It will have a square-shaped screen that's around seven inches, and an optional speaker base. We're expecting the home hub to launch right around the time that the new version of ‌Siri‌ comes out in iOS 26.4, likely March or April. Macworld also spotted signs of another device, identified as J229. This is apparently a "never-before-seen product" that has multiple sensors that can detect alarm sounds and capture images, but it is an accessory rather than a standalone device. Apple is rumored to be working on a home security camera to go along with the home hub. There's no word on when the camera could launch.Tag: Apple Command Center This article, "iOS 26 Code Leak Reveals Apple Smart Home Hub Details" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

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Google Maps on iOS quietly gained a new feature recently that automatically recognizes where you've parked your vehicle and saves the location for you. Announced on LinkedIn by Rio Akasaka, Google Maps' senior product manager, the new feature auto-detects your parked location even if you don't use the parking pin function, saves it for up to 48 hours, and then automatically removes it once you start driving again. Saving your parking spot in Maps isn't a new ability in itself. You could already do that manually by tapping your location on the map and then choosing Saved Parking. The difference here is that the whole process is automated for you. Akasaka explains what you need to do to get the feature to work: Get in a car with Google Maps and connect to your car with USB, Bluetooth or CarPlay, and once you're done driving, there's a little pin waiting for you when you open Google Maps next – a personal parking Maps valet, just for you. When you drive again, the pin goes away, just like that.Automatic parking location saving started rolling out on iPhone about a month ago, but since then another feature has gone live that will now use any custom car icons you've set up as a parking icon, instead of the default "P" icon. Google added custom car icons to Maps in 2020, and eight new car shapes and colors were added earlier this year. As things stand, the new auto-save parking place feature only works on iOS. While a similar parking reminder can be found on Android, the icon will only go away if the user manually removes it. (Via 9to5Google.)Tag: Google Maps This article, "Google Maps Quietly Added This Long-Overdue Feature for Drivers" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums