Networking

phadventure/Getty Images When I was a kid living near Grantsville, West Virginia, a few neighbors were into amateur ham radio. I found their analog electronics and antennas and their mastery of Morse code fascinating.  They were into it because they talked with people thousands of miles away, played with tech, and knew they could help […] More

Noppawat Tom Charoensinphon/Getty Images Tonight’s potentially severe geomagnetic storm could bring the dazzling beauty of the northern lights as far south as Alabama and California — but it might also bring communication disruptions to areas where service is already sparse due to recent hurricanes. Also: How to use Android’s emergency satellite texting if you lose […] More

ZDNETNatural disasters like the hurricanes affecting Florida can easily disrupt cellular networks, preventing people from calling emergency responders or loved ones. If cellular service is down but a nearby Wi-Fi connection is still up, you can use that access to make and receive phone calls.Also: How to use Android’s emergency satellite texting if you lose cell signalBoth iPhone and Android phones offer a Wi-Fi calling feature that will allow audio and video calls if cellular service is spotty, weak, or completely down. Here’s how this works.How to use Wi-Fi calling on iPhoneWi-Fi calling has been available since the iPhone 5c. However, not all carriers support it. To find out if your carrier offers it, browse to Apple’s page on “Wireless carrier support and features for iPhone.” Select your region and look for your carrier. Check the bullet point items to see if Wi-Fi Calling is listed. More

Starlink Hurricane Helene Coverage Map Starlink I like SpaceX’s Starlink. Its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation delivers good speed and low latency to rural users who would otherwise be stuck with DSL or even — seriously — dial-up modem internet connections.  Recently, Starlink made headlines with a seemingly generous offer: “Starlink is now free for […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETAs Florida faces Hurricane Milton right on the heels of Hurricane Helene, communications is one critical area likely to be affected. People in the state may not be able to rely on cellular or Wi-Fi service to call emergency personnel for help or loved ones for comfort. Also: How to use Android’s emergency satellite texting if you lose cell signalTo deal with disruptions to cellular connectivity, iPhone owners can instead turn to satellite connections. Apple offers three features that can help help.1. Emergency SOS via SatelliteWith Emergency SOS via Satellite, iPhone users can send text messages to emergency responders. But rather than travel through a cellular or Wi-Fi network, the messages use satellites to go back and forth. Introduced late last year with iOS 16.1, this feature is available on all iPhone 14, 15, and 16 models. There’s no need for a separate app or software update; Emergency SOS via Satellite works automatically when needed.Also: 5 hurricane-tracking apps I’m using to keep an eye on Hurricane Milton from South FloridaOnce your phone has access to the satellite service, you’ll see a notification badge in the Settings app and an item labeled “Get Help During an Emergency.” You can also check the feature by opening the Settings app and selecting “Emergency SOS.” Swipe to the bottom of the page where you’ll see “Emergency SOS via Satellite” and an option to try the demo (more on that in a minute). More

My Arc browser Work profile is associated with a Space named Work. Jack Wallen/ZDNETArc browser has been my default on MacOS for nearly a year now and I’ve never once regretted the change. Arc includes the best tab management on the market, the most modern UI of any browser, and plenty of other features that help it stand out from the browser pack. I want to focus on one feature in particular — it’s a feature offered by some browsers (such as Firefox) that is often overlooked by users. The feature in question: profiles. What are profiles? Let’s say you use Arc for both personal web surfing and work. You might use the same services — say, Google Workspace — for both home and work but have different Google accounts for each. Instead of logging into your personal Google account for one task, logging out, logging in with your Google work account, and then taking care of another task, you could create separate profiles for Personal and Work. In the Personal profile, log in with your personal Google account; in the Work profile, log in with your work account. Those two profiles will not communicate with one another or exchange data.  Also: Arc browser creator believes it’s time to move on from Chrome – and I agreeWith profiles you can isolate history, logins, cookies, and extensions, essentially giving you multiple instances of the same browser for different purposes. Arc does approach profiles a bit differently than other browsers. Instead of creating multiple profiles and then selecting between them when needed, you associate a profile with a Space. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure to first create a space that will work with the new profile. For example, you could create a Space named Work and then associate it with the new Work profile. This means you work with different profiles from the same window, making it a very efficient experience. More

Deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com. Also: The best Amazon Prime Day 2024 deals  More

Arc Search offers a minimal interface for maximum efficiency. Jack Wallen/ZDNETI make no bones about shouting to the world that my default browser on MacOS is Arc. It’s superior to Chrome in every way. It has better tab management, a modern UI, built-in AI, and all the features you’ve grown accustomed to using.To date, however, Arc has only been available for MacOS (and Windows, which I do not use). All of that changes soon, with the release of Arc Search for Android. (There’s also an iOS version.)Also: I’m a browser expert and Arc is my default for MacOS. Here are two new reasons whyArc Search? Is it a browser or a search tool?It’s a browser, yes, but its primary interface is a search tool. Here’s what Arc Search does:Searches for you: Tap Browse For Me and Arc Search will search the web, read several pages, and build a tab specific for you.Clears the clutter:  Arc Search auto-archives old tabs and blocks ads, trackers, and banners.Works efficiently: When you open Arc Search, the keyboard opens automatically, so you’re ready to search right away.Removes distractions: Arc Search places Reader Mode front and center.Remains out of the way: Arc Search uses a bare minimum UI, so the browser doesn’t get in the way of what you’re viewing. More