All posts tagged: default

Burnout Is Now The Default For The Majority Of Mums. WTF Can We Do?

Burnout Is Now The Default For The Majority Of Mums. WTF Can We Do?

!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement(‘iframe’);t.display=’none’,t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement(‘script’);c.src=”//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js”,c.setAttribute(‘async’,’1′),c.setAttribute(‘type’,’text/javascript’),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);(new Image()).src=”https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb”;cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({“playerId”:”8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb”,”mediaId”:”eba97976-f596-4dee-924c-0d7195ccf52b”}).render(“6a1ed776e4b0ba3173036069”);}); If you’re a mother who isn’t running on fumes thanks to a prolonged state of burnout, you are doing pretty well.  Burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, according to Mental Health UK. It can occur after periods of long-term stress and constant pressure. New polling of 4,000 mums has revealed burnout is very much the new normal: nine in 10 mums (93%) have experienced burnout and almost six in 10 (58%) say they feel burnt out “often” or “almost always”. (A previous survey found 81% of mums had experienced it, so the issue is clearly on the rise.) It’s got to the point where some medical professionals are using the term ‘depleted motherhood syndrome’ to refer to the deep, chronic burnout many mothers are quietly living with. Many of us are working, parenting, caring for ageing parents, and trying to manage a household, on repeat, with little respite and support. The latest survey, from Peanut and baby brand Nuna, found seven in 10 mums are doing more childcare or domestic labour than their partner. …

Discord Voice and Video Calls Now End-to-End Encrypted by Default

Discord Voice and Video Calls Now End-to-End Encrypted by Default

Discord says it has switched on end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default for every voice and video call across its platforms, including desktop, mobile, web, and consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. The rollout covers DMs, group DMs, voice channels, and Go Live streams. There’s no opt-in required, or any setting to change. Stage channels are the only exception, given that they’re built for broadcasting to larger audiences rather than personal chats. The protection runs on DAVE, an open-source protocol Discord first introduced in September 2024. In a blog post, Discord’s Mark Smith said building it was slow and complicated, partly because a single Discord call can mix people on phones, laptops, browsers, and game consoles in the same conversation. Announcing the change, Smith said: “Building an E2EE protocol that works seamlessly across all of those surfaces simultaneously is, to my knowledge, unlike anything else that’s been shipped. DAVE is likely one of the internet’s most platform-diverse E2EE voice and video implementations.” Discord says it’s now stripping out the remaining client code that allowed unencrypted fallback, so …

My 4 favorite Android Auto settings are seriously useful – but hidden by default

My 4 favorite Android Auto settings are seriously useful – but hidden by default

Artie Beaty/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways You can customize your Android Auto through developer mode. This mode is usually for developers and app creators. It’s easy to access, and you can make significant improvements. For most users, Android Auto is simply an easy way to handle navigation, music, and messages while driving. But if you’re willing to tinker a bit, you’ll find several settings that can completely change the look and functionality of your car’s infotainment system.  Just like your Android phone, Android Auto has its own developer mode that lets you access settings not intended for everyday users. And like your phone’s version, you can actually make some significant improvements. It’s not difficult to access, and it only takes a minute.  Also: I’ve used Android Auto for years, and these 5 changes solved my biggest issues Here’s how to dive in.  The Android Auto app doesn’t appear among your regular apps, so you’ll need to go through your settings to find it.  From Settings, search …

My new favorite Android file manager is way better than Google’s default – and it’s free

My new favorite Android file manager is way better than Google’s default – and it’s free

Jack Wallen/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET key takeaways Material Files is a well-designed Android file manager. This app blows away the competition. Material Files is free and can be installed from the Play Store. I’ve tried so many Android file managers over the years. I’ve seen those that look good but lack features, those that have too many features and a pleasing aesthetic, and those that look terrible and don’t have enough features.  It’s been a tiresome journey, one that eventually had me giving up and sticking with the default. Until now. Also: 7 apps I use to lock down, encrypt, and store my private files – and most are free Recently, I stumbled upon Material Files, which is an open-source Android app, and I almost instantly proclaimed it the perfect Android file manager. It looks native on my Pixel 9 Pro and has exactly the right amount of features. When you open Material Files, you would think that it was built by Google specifically for Android, but it’s …

This default setting is why your Samsung phone battery doesn’t last all day

This default setting is why your Samsung phone battery doesn’t last all day

I recently upgraded to the Galaxy S26, and while I love it with all my heart, the thing that constantly bothers me is its relatively smaller, 4300mAh battery. Because of that, I’ve been looking for ways to stretch the battery life as much as possible without, of course, compromising the performance. And that search led me to Samsung’s default performance profile. By default, all Galaxy phones are configured to prioritize performance so everything always feels fast and responsive. And while that makes sense, it’s not exactly ideal for the battery life. Thankfully, One UI includes a more efficient mode hidden inside the settings that improves battery life while keeping the overall experience almost identical. Related 8 Settings That Actually Make Your Samsung Phone Run Faster Make your high-end phone actually feel high-end. The default performance profile isn’t ideal for battery life It’s overkill for everyday use Credit: Shimul Sood / MakeUseOf Out of the box, all Galaxy phones are set to the “Standard” performance profile. This basically promises a balance between processing speed, battery life, and …

OpenAI releases GPT-5.5 Instant, a new default model for ChatGPT

OpenAI releases GPT-5.5 Instant, a new default model for ChatGPT

On Monday, OpenAI released a new foundation model called GPT-5.5 Instant, which will replace GPT-5.3 Instant as the default ChatGPT model. The company said the model reduces hallucination in sensitive areas such as law, medicine, and finance, while maintaining the low latency of its predecessor. OpenAI released the latest GPT-5.5 model last month with the company claiming improvements in areas like coding and knowledge work. The new model also achieved a score of 81.2 in the AIME 2025 math test, compared to 65.4 for the older model. It also outperformed its predecessor on the MMMU-Pro multimodal reasoning benchmark, with a score of 76.0 vs 69.2. The release placed a particular emphasis on context management. GPT-5.5 Instant can use its search tool to refer back to past conversations, files, and Gmail to give you more personalized answers. This feature will be available to Plus and Pro users on the web, with plans to roll it out to mobile soon. OpenAI said that it plans to extend access to this feature to Free, Go Business, and enterprise …

Android has three great features turned off by default — here’s how to enable them

Android has three great features turned off by default — here’s how to enable them

Android ships with a ton of features already enabled by default that you didn’t ask for, like an adaptive battery that can throttle your background apps, pre-installed Google apps that sync in the background, and default usage and diagnostics sharing, which you’ll only notice if you go looking in the Privacy Dashboard. But what about the opposite issue, like features that are genuinely useful and ready for use that just aren’t enabled from the start? I went looking for some of those and found three that made me wonder why they weren’t already an active part of my Android system. Theft Detection Lock It’s on any device with Android 10 or newer Theft Detection Lock uses on-device AI systems along with your phone’s motion sensors, Wi-Fi connection status, and Bluetooth to detect when someone has grabbed your phone and run off with it. If the system’s algorithm senses this snatch-and-run pattern, it locks the screen immediately so the thief has no time to start rifling through your banking apps or Google account. The feature rolled …

OpenAI Enables Marketing Cookies by Default for Free ChatGPT Users

OpenAI Enables Marketing Cookies by Default for Free ChatGPT Users

OpenAI is ready to target free users of its services with advertisements around the web, based on what it knows about them. On Thursday, OpenAI sent an email to users laying out major changes to the AI company’s privacy policy in the US. “We’ll now use cookies to promote OpenAI products and services on other websites,” reads the email sent on April 30. “This does not impact your conversations in ChatGPT. Your conversations with ChatGPT are private and are not shared with marketing partners.” Cookies store information in users’ browsers as they explore the web. Chats with the bot aren’t shared with third parties. Even so, details OpenAI collects as users interact with its services may soon be used to market those same services, like ChatGPT, outside the platform. This appears to be targeted at converting free users (WIRED found that marketing settings were “on” by default) and seeing how effective its ads are at conversions. The move comes as OpenAI looks to expand its own advertising network inside ChatGPT. The company started rolling out …

How These 10 Default iPhone Settings Protect Your Device

How These 10 Default iPhone Settings Protect Your Device

Your iPhone is more than just a communication device; it’s a sophisticated tool designed to enhance your daily life, protect your personal data, and ensure optimal performance. Certain settings are so essential that turning them off could compromise your device’s functionality, security, or overall usability. Below, iReviews explores ten critical iPhone settings you should always keep enabled and explains their importance in detail. 1. Face ID: Your First Line of Defense Face ID is a cornerstone of your iPhone’s security system. By allowing the “Require Attention for Face ID” feature, your device ensures it only unlocks when you’re actively looking at it. This prevents unauthorized access, even in situations where someone might attempt to unlock your phone while you’re distracted or asleep. Beyond unlocking your device, Face ID also safeguards sensitive areas such as hidden and recently deleted photo albums, making sure your private data remains secure. Keeping this feature enabled is a simple yet powerful way to protect your personal information. 2. Location Services: Safety and Convenience Location Services play a dual role in …

Google Pixel phones have a useful voicemail feature that’s hidden by default – how to enable it

Google Pixel phones have a useful voicemail feature that’s hidden by default – how to enable it

Jack Wallen/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Years ago, I recorded a voicemail message for my phone that made a lot of people laugh. Some would call just to hear it. But times have changed, and dealing with voicemail these days can be a real hassle, especially if you get a lot of calls. In response, Google last year added a feature to its Pixel lineup called Take A Message. With this feature, you can get voicemail messages, filter spam calls, and view real-time transcripts of missed or declined calls, all in your Phone app’s Home tab, making it much more convenient to use than carrier-based voicemail.  Also: This hidden Pixel camera setting makes my photos absolutely pop – here’s how And when you use this feature along with call screening, the Android Phone app becomes an incredibly helpful tool. However, Android Authority recently found that nearly 60% of Android users didn’t even know that Take a Message exists. But I’ve been using the feature for a while, and trust me, you need …