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iOS 26.4 Brings New iCloud Functionality: How to Activate It

**iOS 26.4: Improvements to iCloud and Fresh Features for Apple Services**

iOS 26.4 was released last month, bringing an array of new functionalities for Apple Music, Podcasts, and beyond. A major highlight of this update is the upgrade of iCloud on the web, especially with the inclusion of a search option that enhances accessibility for users visiting iCloud.com.

### Apple’s Online Services: A Change in Emphasis

Traditionally, Apple has favored native applications over web services, leading to online interfaces that frequently trail behind their app versions. This strategy supports Apple’s ecosystem, where users mainly interact with services on Apple devices, gaining an improved experience from native applications.

Nevertheless, with the arrival of iOS 26.4, Apple has taken significant steps to advance its web services, specifically iCloud.com. The newly added search capability enables users to locate files and images directly through the web interface, a feature that was previously confined to the native Files and Photos apps on iOS.

### The Updated Search Feature

The iOS 26.4 update features a toggle for ‘Allow Search,’ which is off by default. When activated, this feature permits users to search for files in iCloud Drive and photos in iCloud Photos via the web. Per Apple’s support guidelines, users may receive suggestions depending on their search terms, such as:

– **For iCloud Drive:** File names, folder titles, and document categories.
– **For iCloud Photos:** Dates, individuals, and geographical locations.

Crucially, searches performed via iCloud.com are encrypted and use on-device processing, guaranteeing that no search history is retained on Apple servers.

### Activating Search on iCloud.com

To turn on the search function on iCloud.com, users must adhere to these instructions:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap your name at the top.
3. Tap ‘iCloud.’
4. Scroll down and select ‘iCloud.com.’
5. Toggle ‘Allow Search’ to on.
6. Confirm ‘Allow’ on the prompt.

This setting needs to be activated on every device that the user wants to yield search results to iCloud.com. However, if all devices are synced with the same files and images, enabling it once on an iPhone will be adequate.

### Consequences for Users

While users with a fully Apple ecosystem may not regularly use iCloud.com, the new search capability is especially advantageous for those who operate across various platforms, like Windows or Android devices. This upgrade streamlines access and management of files and photos on iCloud.com, making it more efficient and user-friendly.

To summarize, iOS 26.4 has brought notable advancements to iCloud’s web services, closing the gap between Apple’s native applications and online capabilities. As users begin to adjust to these updates, the lingering question is: how frequently will you utilize iCloud on the web, and has the new search feature affected your usage?

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iOS 26.4 Brings New iCloud Functionality: How to Activate It
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YouTube Introduces Free Picture-in-Picture (PiP) Function Globally for Android and iOS Users

YouTube has recently revealed that it will be offering its Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for free to all users worldwide, following a successful rollout in the United States. This functionality enables users to view longform, non-music content while engaging in multitasking on their mobile devices, thereby enhancing the overall viewing experience.

### What is Picture-in-Picture Mode?

Picture-in-Picture mode allows users to keep watching videos in a compact, resizable window while they explore other applications on their smartphones. To enable this feature, users merely need to start a video in the YouTube app and then exit the app. The video will continue to play in a small window that can be repositioned on the screen. Users can tap the window for play/pause controls or to return to the full app.

### Availability

The complimentary PiP feature will be available to all non-YouTube Premium subscribers on both Android and iOS devices. The rollout is currently underway and is anticipated to reach all users globally in the upcoming months.

### Impact on YouTube Premium Subscribers

For YouTube Premium subscribers, there will be no alterations to their existing perks. Premium members will continue to have access to PiP for both music and non-music content, ensuring a completely uninterrupted viewing experience. Additionally, Premium Lite members will maintain access to PiP for longform, non-music content.

### Conclusion

The launch of free Picture-in-Picture mode represents a significant upgrade for YouTube users, enabling greater flexibility and convenience while consuming content. As this feature becomes available globally, it is likely to enhance user engagement and satisfaction on the platform.

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Gemini Unveils Features for Generating PDF, Word, and Excel Files

**Gemini’s New Feature: Generate and Download Files Directly from Chat**

Google’s AI, Gemini, has unveiled an innovative feature that empowers users to create and download a variety of file types straight from chat. This enhancement removes the necessity for manual copy-pasting and reformatting, optimizing the procedure of generating documents in formats like PDFs, Word, Excel, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more.

**Key Highlights:**

– **Instant File Creation:** Users can now request Gemini to produce files in their preferred format immediately, without the need to export to another application.
– **Supported Formats:** The feature accommodates an extensive array of formats including Docs, Sheets, Slides, PDF, DOCX, XLSX, CSV, TXT, RTF, and Markdown.
– **Ease of Use:** This update streamlines actions such as transforming a budget into an Excel sheet or changing notes into a PDF or Word document directly within the chat interface.

**Missing PowerPoint Export:**

Although the feature supports numerous formats, direct export to Microsoft PowerPoint is currently unavailable. Nevertheless, users can export to Google Slides and download it as a PPT file.

**Availability:**

The feature is being rolled out to all Gemini users commencing today. If it is not yet visible, it may be part of a phased rollout.

**Conclusion:**

This update signifies a notable improvement in Gemini’s capabilities, offering users a more effective method to manage document creation directly from chat interactions.

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Gemini Unveils Features for Generating PDF, Word, and Excel Files
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Selecting the Ideal Color for Your Motorola Razr Fold Acquisition

Motorola has unveiled its newest foldable smartphone, the Razr Fold, which is released in two unique colors: PANTONE Blackened Blue and PANTONE Lily White. This fresh model, revealed at CES 2026, aims to rival other premium foldable phones and is priced lower than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. It features remarkable aspects such as high-performance cameras, swift charging abilities, and ample memory and storage options, including 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage in all color variants.

The PANTONE Blackened Blue edition presents a rich, nearly black shade with a matte finish that delivers a sleek, piqué-like texture. This color variant radiates a dark and moody vibe, making it an ideal selection for individuals who favor a more subtle appearance.

Conversely, the PANTONE Lily White variant showcases an elegant satin finish in a beige-ish off-white shade. This option is minimalist and soothing, reminiscent of an “old money” aesthetic with its luxurious look. However, prospective buyers should keep in mind that the lighter shade may be more susceptible to showing dirt and scratches than its darker sibling.

Both color variants feature identical memory configurations, enabling users to select based on personal taste without concerns about performance disparities. The Motorola Razr Fold’s distinctive faux leather finish distinguishes it from standard glass-backed smartphones, providing a hint of grace and sophistication.

In conclusion, the Motorola Razr Fold offers an attractive option for consumers interested in foldable smartphones, with its top-tier specifications and chic color selections catering to various aesthetic tastes. Whether choosing the dark charm of Blackened Blue or the polished sophistication of Lily White, users can revel in a premium device that merges practicality with style.

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Selecting the Ideal Color for Your Motorola Razr Fold Acquisition
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Unveiled Evidence in Musk vs. Altman

The Musk v. Altman trial is underway, and that means exhibits, or the evidence to be presented in court, are being revealed piece by piece. So far, email exchanges, photos, and corporate documents are circulating from the earliest days of OpenAI – and from before the AI lab even had a name. Some high-level takeaways: […]

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Unveiled Evidence in Musk vs. Altman
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Actors Who Have Fought a Xenomorph, Predator, and Terminator

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, two extraterrestrial fiends along with a robotic menace were wreaking havoc on movie screens, leading some misguided individuals to think they stood a chance against them. A remarkable assembly of esteemed talent confronted the nightmares of outer space, namely the Xenomorph from the “Alien” series, the Yautja from “Predator” films, and Skynet’s assassin from “The Terminator” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (also nightmarish creations). Yet, there were merely three actors who had the (dis)privilege of battling all three.

Lance Henriksen, Michael Biehn, and Bill Paxton fought valiantly against extraterrestrial creatures and time-traveling robotic assassins and survived to narrate their experiences, unlike their on-screen characters. The trio first encountered the killer from a grim future in “The Terminator,” with Paxton as a punk whose clothes were stolen at a bus stop, Henriksen pursuing the enigmatic assassin as Detective Vukovich, and Biehn portraying Kyle Reese, the time-displaced warrior dedicated to safeguarding the human resistance’s leader, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton).

The trio then came together again in 1986 for “Aliens,” where Paxton and Biehn portrayed Colonial Marines, Hudson and Hicks, while Henriksen played the android Bishop. However, it was during their confrontations with the Predator that they all faced the alien hunters individually, each on distinct occasions, but only one of them achieved a unique distinction.

Bill Paxton holds the singular distinction of being killed by a Xenomorph, a Predator, and a Terminator. Regarding the Predator’s encounters with Biehn, Henriksen, and Paxton, they all confronted the Yautja years apart. Paxton was the first, when the Yautja invaded Los Angeles in “Predator 2” in 1990. This was followed by Henriksen, who, as Charles Bishop Weyland, found himself trapped amidst the clash of the creatures in 2004’s “Alien vs. Predator.” As for Biehn, he wouldn’t face a Yautja until 2025, depicted in animated form, when he battled a Yautja alien ship in “Predator: Killer of Killers.”

However, it is the late, great Paxton who will long be remembered as the sole star to be slain by all three movie monsters. The punk was terminated by Arnie, Hudson was dragged underwater in “Aliens,” and his wisecracking cop met his end on a train in “Predator 2.” In contrast, Henriksen met his demise off-screen at the hands of the Terminator, was speared by a Yautja in “Alien vs. Predator,” and exited peacefully in “Alien 3” when Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) turned off his power.

As for Biehn, while he did indeed perish in “The Terminator,” it was through an act of self-sacrifice, and the Xenomorphs did not take his life either. Instead, Hicks was killed during the opening credits of “Alien 3,” after being impaled during cryosleep. Then, in “Killer of Killers,” he was impressively animated in a decapitation scene. All those exits are quite remarkable, but they pale in comparison to Paxton’s award-winning deaths in his films. Following that, it’s simply game over.

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Actors Who Have Fought a Xenomorph, Predator, and Terminator
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Google TV Improves Family Photo Functions with AI and Launches New Shorts Row

Google has recently introduced a series of enhancements for Google TV, concentrating on improving the user experience through AI and photo integration. At the center of these enhancements is Gemini, an AI capability that enables users to search for specific images stored in their Google Photos library by merely instructing the AI to retrieve photos from particular events or periods. This function is crafted to make photo searching more intuitive and individualized.

Moreover, Google TV now provides the option to transform photo albums into lively slideshow screensavers, adding a personal flair to the viewing experience. Users can access this feature via the Quick Settings menu by selecting Google Photos as the source for screensavers. A new “Remix” button enables users to apply AI-generated styles to their photos, offering creative and distinctive visual alterations.

The update also brings a “Create” option, utilizing Nano Banana and Veo technologies to convert stored images into AI-generated content. This includes generating short videos or imaginative scenes from simple photos, presenting a fun and inventive approach to interact with personal media.

In addition, Google TV is poised to incorporate YouTube Shorts, with a dedicated “Short videos for you” row anticipated to debut in the summer. This feature will customize content according to user preferences, enriching the entertainment selections available on Google TV.

These enhancements are part of Google’s larger effort to embed AI into everyday technology, making user interactions smoother and more engaging. The rollout of these features is currently in progress, with initial availability on Gemini-enabled devices and TCL Google TVs in the U.S.

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Google TV Improves Family Photo Functions with AI and Launches New Shorts Row
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