Amazon hasn’t officially announced the next generation of its Kindle e-readers yet, but following leaks of several models, the UK retailer John Lewis was already selling the 12th-gen entry-level Kindle and the new Kindle Kids Edition through its website earlier today, as spotted by Good e-Reader. Both listings have since been taken down.

The 12th-gen Kindle Paperwhite recently popped up in an eBay listing that has also been taken down, and which included images of the new e-reader’s packaging revealing minor upgrades such as a slightly larger seven-inch E Ink screen.

John Lewis’ listing for the 12th-gen entry-level Kindle model appeared to confirm leaked details from September. According to those leaks, the upgraded e-reader will have a six-inch, 300ppi E Ink screen with a higher contrast ratio that’s illuminated by a front light that’s now 25 percent brighter at its max setting. However, the new entry-level Kindle’s front light will still lack the color temperature adjustments you get with the Kindle Paperwhite and other pricier E Ink devices from Amazon.

According to the listing, the 12th-gen Kindle also introduces a new dark mode that inverts its black and white E Ink screen for easier reading in the dark, offers faster page turns, and will come with 16GB of storage. John Lewis had listed the new e-reader for £94.99, which is around $124.

The store’s listing for the 12th-gen Amazon Kindle Kids Edition had the same specs as the 12th-gen entry-level Kindle, with brighter backlighting and an E Ink screen offering better contrast. As with past versions of the Kindle Kids Edition, the 12th-gen model comes with a case, an extended two year warranty, a subscription to Amazon Kids+ featuring ebooks and audiobooks targeted at kids, and a dashboard with parental controls. Pricing was £114.99, or around $150.

Previous versions of the Amazon Kindle Kids Edition came with a one year subscription to Amazon Kids+ (even in the UK), but John Lewis’ listing said the 12th-gen model only comes with a six-month subscription to the service. After that, monthly plans start at $5.99/month for Amazon Prime members, or $7.99 without.

iOS 18 brings a game-changing feature to your iPhone: the ability to hide and lock your apps. Whether you’re looking to keep certain apps private or simply declutter your home screen, this new functionality has got you covered. Let’s dive into how you can make the most of these cool new features.

GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER – THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE

Check your iOS version and update to iOS 18

Before diving into app management, it’s essential to verify that your iPhone is updated to iOS 18. Here’s how to check and update your device:

• Tap on the Settings app on your home screen.
• Scroll down and tap on General.
• Tap Software Update. Your device will check for available updates.
• If iOS 18 is available, tap Download and Install. You may be prompted to enter your passcode.
• Agree to the terms and wait for the update to download and install. Your iPhone will restart once the installation is complete.
• Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi and has sufficient battery life before starting the update process.

Steps to update your iPhone software (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

IOS 18: DISCOVER THE NEW FEATURES IN APPLE’S LATEST OPERATING SYSTEM

Hiding apps: Out of sight, not out of mind

Hiding apps is perfect for keeping certain applications discreet while still having them accessible when needed. You can hide third party apps or Apple apps that were downloaded from the App Store. Here’s how to do it:

• Long-press on the app icon until the context menu appears. In this example we’ll use the Facebook app.
• Tap on Require Face ID.
• Select Hide and Require Face ID.
• A screen will appear explaining that your app will require Face ID or your passcode to reveal, open or use Siri with the app.
• Tap Hide App at the bottom of the screen.
• The app is now hidden from your home screen and will be moved to a folder for hidden apps in app library.

Note: You will not receive notifications, calls or critical alerts from this app.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR IPHONE, IPAD FROM MALWARE

Steps in iOS 18 to hide apps on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Accessing hidden apps

Need to use a hidden app? No problem:

• Swipe left on your iPhone’s home screen until you reach the App Library.
• Look for the Hidden Apps folder at the bottom of your screen.
• Tap on it and use Face ID to unlock.
• Tap on the app you want to access.

Steps in iOS 18 to access hidden apps on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

APPLE’S BOLD MOVE INTO AI: NEW IPHONE 16, AIRPODS AND WATCHES

Unhiding apps: Bringing them back to light

Changed your mind about hiding an app? Here’s how to unhide it:

• Swipe left on your iPhone’s home screen until you reach the App Library.
• Look for the Hidden Apps folder at the bottom of your screen.
• Tap on it and use Face ID to unlock.
• Tap on the app you want to access.
• Click Add to Home Screen.
• Then tap Unhide App and this app will now be visible again on your Home Screen.

Steps in iOS 18 to unhide apps on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

WHICH IPHONE 16 IS RIGHT FOR YOU? DISCOVER YOUR PERFECT MATCH

Locking apps: Adding an extra layer of security

Let’s say you don’t want to hide the app and want to keep it visible on your home screen, but you want additional protection for sensitive apps. Here’s how to add an extra layer of security:

• Long-press on the app icon. In this example, we’ll use the Facebook app.
• Tap Require Face ID.
• Select Require Face ID again.

Now, the app can only be opened with your Face ID.

Steps in iOS 18 to lock apps on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Unlock apps: Removing Face ID from an app

To remove Face ID protection from an app in iOS 18 on your iPhone, follow these steps:

• Long-press on the app icon you want to unlock. Let’s use Facebook as an example.
• In the context menu that appears, tap on Remove Face ID.
• You’ll be prompted to confirm. Tap Remove to confirm.
• The app will now be accessible without Face ID authentication.

Steps in iOS 18 to unlock apps (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

These steps remove the extra layer of security from the app, allowing it to be opened without Face ID verification. Remember, this only affects the individual app; your overall iPhone security settings remain unchanged. Keep in mind that removing Face ID protection from sensitive apps may compromise your privacy and security. Always consider the potential risks before making such changes.

SUBSCRIBE TO KURT’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR QUICK VIDEO TIPS ON HOW TO WORK ALL OF YOUR TECH DEVICES

Kurt’s key takeaways

iOS 18’s new hide and lock features offer a simple yet effective way to enhance your iPhone’s privacy and security. Whether you’re keeping sensitive apps away from prying eyes or just tidying up your home screen, these tools put you in control of your digital space. With just a few taps, you can now customize your iPhone experience to suit your privacy needs and preferences.

Beyond hiding and locking apps, what other customization or privacy features would you like to see implemented in future iPhone operating systems? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Google plans to buy electricity from next-generation nuclear reactors. It announced the deal yesterday, which it says is the world’s first corporate agreement to purchase electricity from advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) that are still under development.

Google inked the deal with engineering company Kairos Power, which plans to get its first SMR up and running by 2030. Google agreed to purchase electricity from “multiple” reactors that would get built through 2035.

Google needs a lot more clean energy to meet its climate goals while pursuing its AI ambitions. New nuclear technologies are still unproven at scale, but the hope is that they can provide carbon pollution-free electricity while solving some of the problems that come with traditional nuclear power plants.

“Obviously, the trajectory of AI investments has added to the scale of the task needed,” CEO Sundar Pichai said in an interview with Nikkei earlier this month. “We are now looking at additional investments, be it solar, and evaluating technologies like small modular nuclear reactors, etc.”

What sets Google apart with this deal is that it’s turning to next-generation reactors rather than traditional power nuclear power plants. SMRs are roughly one-tenth to one-quarter the size in comparison. Their size and modular design are supposed to make them cheaper and easier to build and site than their larger predecessors. And unlike solar and wind energy that fluctuate with the weather and time of day, nuclear power plants can generate electricity around the clock. Even with new reactor designs, however, there are still environmental and health concerns when it comes to mining and enriching uranium for reactors and storing radioactive waste.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission certified a design for a small modular reactor for the first time last year. Experts tell The Verge they expect the first SMRs to connect to US power grids in the early 2030s at the earliest, and Big Tech’s interest in nuclear energy seems to be giving the industry a boost.

Google says its deal with Kairos Power would eventually help bring up to 500 MW of carbon-free energy to power grids in the US. Kairos broke ground on its first demonstration reactor in Tennessee in July.

“Having an agreement for multiple deployments is important to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nuclear energy by demonstrating the technical and market viability,” Jeff Olson, Kairos Power vice president of business development & finance, said in a press release.