Eliana Willis

Kerry Wan/ZDNETI grew up watching The X-Files. In the late 1990s, cell phone reception was nothing like it is today. So back then, I couldn’t help but question how Scully and Mulder could call their boss, Skinner, back in Quantico even when they were investigating the most remote, bizarre locations across the continental US. Also: Just installed iOS 18.3? I’d change these 3 settings first for the best experienceSuspending disbelief aside, maybe FBI agents Scully and Mulder knew real-life tricks to get reception in the middle of nowhere. We can be sure our Special Agents’ little flip phones were not satellite phones. And, that show aired before the advent of the iPhone in 2007. But if you are one of the billions of people using an iPhone or Android today, there are a few factors to consider and tricks you can try if you find yourself struggling to get a signal. More

Flip phones have resurrected in the past few years but in new form. Before phones became “phablets” and ditched physical front buttons for touch-capacitive screens, there was the humble flip phone with a T9 keyboard. Most people liked them because the idea of packing so much gadgetry into a compact unit invoked playfulness and wonder in equal parts. The new variants of flip phones keep the playfulness intact despite a missing T9 keyboard. Also: We tested the best foldables on the market: Samsung, Google, OnePlus, & moreWith the introduction of foldable, brands have forayed into two form factors. First, book-style foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and OnePlus Open, which unfold to offer a tablet-like experience. Second, flip phones like the Motorola Razr and Galaxy Z Flip 6, which flip open into full-fledged phones. While one is for productivity, the other makes the modern smartphone more pocketable than ever. If you are looking for phones with the processing power to compete with the best slab phones on the market but want a more compact design, you should look at flip phones. The best flip phones offer a good cover screen experience, versatile camera setup, intuitive software perks and a battery backup that can get you through the day. What is the best flip phone right now?Samsung and Motorola are the top two brands making flip phones right now. Of all the flip phones I’ve tested and reviewed, the Motorola Razr Plus (2024) More

The top mainstream smartphones, such as the iPhone, Pixel, and Galaxy, offer best-in-class displays, cameras, and performance. While phones now include extra protection with an IP69 rating alongside IP68-rated protection, they might not be the best bet for outdoor activities. If you drop one of these phones while hiking or camping, it can break despite the added protection of cases. That’s where rugged phones come in.The best rugged phones are meant to withstand rough elements. They are tested for military-standard durability, so you don’t have to worry about dropping them during outdoor activities. These phones ensure a better chance of screen survival when dropped. Moreover, many rugged phones come with extra battery capacity or the ability to swap out batteries so that you can continue working and playing instead of charging on the go. Also: The best satellite phones you can buyMost rugged phones are more affordable than flagship phones because you are not getting high-end cameras. Instead, they focus on providing a reliable phone for all environments without extra bells and whistles. Given their price and utility, these phones are perfect for field work or outdoor adventures and can withstand harsh environmental conditions. What is the best rugged phone right now?The Doogee S100 Pro More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Hatch Restore 3 retails for $170 and comes in three neutral colors. It has a new design with bigger buttons and an upgraded app with more bedtime routines. The device is rather large, and you’ll have to pay for a monthly subscription to utilize the app’s whole experience. –> As […] More

ZDNETIf your computer desktop looks a little chaotic and you’re noticing some performance slowdown, it might be time to do a cleanup. The best way to keep things running smoothly is to ensure you’re running the most updated version of Windows (you’d be surprised how many folks’ devices are several updates behind). But if you’re up-to-date, there are other things you can do to optimize.Also: How to clear the cache on your TV (and why you shouldn’t wait to do it)Windows has a few helpful utilities that can free up some space (and they’re already on your PC). These utilities aren’t intended for large-scale repairs but can help make things run faster by cutting excess weight.Regular computer usage results in stored cache files that can become corrupted and outdated, leading to operational quirks and slower boot times. Clearing this cache and other temporary files can improve performance and keep things running optimally. Here’s how.  More

PETER CATTERALL/Contributor/Getty Images Barely a week into its new-found fame, DeepSeek — and the story about its development — is evolving at breakneck speed. The Chinese AI startup made waves last week when it released the full version of R1, the company’s open-source reasoning model that can outperform OpenAI’s o1. On Monday, App Store downloads of […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The EcoFlow Rapid magnetic power bank normally retails for $70 on Amazon. The portable charger uses Qi2 technology to deliver 15W of wireless charging for Apple devices, with an integrated USB-C cable and a kickstand for convenience. While it can charge multiple devices at once, its 5,000mAh battery capacity is very […] More

ZDNETUPDATE: When Microsoft rolled out another Windows 11 24H2 update for January’s Patch Tuesday, instead of fixing existing issues, the update created more havoc, causing conflicts with audio, Bluetooth, webcams, and more. But a preview update released on Jan. 28 finally fixed several glitches — both old and new.In October, after months of beta testing, Microsoft officially released its major 2024 update for Windows 11. Known as Windows 11 24H2, the latest version enhances the Copilot AI, improves File Explorer, promises faster performance and greater stability, and introduces other improvements.The update, which is rolling out to eligible Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2 users, may appear on your PC’s Windows Update screen. If so, you can certainly install it from there. Otherwise, the new version is accessible on Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page, where you can grab it through the Installation Assistant, installation media, or as an ISO file.Also: The Windows January updates are a mess – here’s why you should wait to installBut before you dive into the 2024 update, know that you may run into some problems and conflicts. The new version has been plagued by bugs that could prevent you from using Windows reliably and effectively. Microsoft has documented some of the glitches, and Windows users have reported others. In response, Microsoft has put the update on hold for problematic PCs that could encounter blue screens and other issues.To address the barrage of bugs, the company has rolled out several sets of patches so far — one in late October, another in mid-November, a third on December 10 as part of the monthly Patch Tuesday, a fourth in early January, a fifth on January 14 for the month’s Patch Tuesday, and a sixth to resolve some of the bugs triggered by the Patch Tuesday update.Also: How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro – without overpayingThe October update fixed a few bugs but also created a couple of new ones. The November update resolved some, but certainly not all, of the outstanding glitches. The December update addressed one specific glitch with certain USB-connected scanners and other devices.An early January patch finally fixed conflicts with the Ubisoft games Star Wars Outlaws, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.But then came the January 14 Patch Tuesday update. Instead of resolving some of the persistent issues, this one actually introduced a host of new bugs, creating conflicts with audio devices, Bluetooth connections, webcams, and more.However, there’s been some light toward the end of the tunnel. On January 28, Microsoft released an optional preview update for Windows 24H2 that squashed a number of bugs. Several of the glitches were new ones added by the messy January 14 update. Others had been around since last year, some as old as October.But even after the latest update, several bugs persist. Here are ones that may still cause trouble for anyone running the 2024 flavor of Windows 11.1. Conflict with PCs with Citrix componentsIn one glitch introduced with the January Patch Tuesday update, PCs with certain Citrix components may not be able to complete the installation of the January patches. Microsoft said it found this issue on devices with Citrix Session Recording Agent (SRA) version 2411, which was released in December. The company is working with Citrix to resolve the problem. More