Networking

Kerry Wan/ZDNETApple appears to be future-proofing its new iPads and Macs: Many — but not necessarily all — devices launched since September 2023 have Thread radios built in. Apple hasn’t confirmed this or added the information to the devices’ specifications, but FCC reports confirm the presence of these smart home radios in several iPads and Macs.The catch? Apple hasn’t made official announcements about it, and it doesn’t appear that these devices can function as Thread border routers yet. However, the fact that the capability is there indicates that Apple could enable these radios in future updates, making iPads and Macs ready to function as Thread border routers.Also: 10 iPad tips and settings every Apple newbie and pro needs to knowWhen Apple launched the iPhone 15 lineup last fall, it announced that the 15 Pro and 15 Pro models have a Thread radio. Aside from the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, here’s a list of the Apple devices with Thread radios launched as of September 2023:iPads with a Thread radio:Macs with a Thread radio:If and when Apple enables these radios in iPads and Macs, these devices could use the Thread protocol to connect smart home devices as well as peripherals with low-power and low-latency connection requirements, like the Apple Watch, AirTags, keyboards, and mice.  More

nensuria/Getty Images The DNS, or Domain Name System, acts as a phone book for the internet to convert between IP address and domain name. By default, your Windows computer uses whatever DNS server is set up by your internet provider. But you don’t have to stick with that server.  Why would you want to change […] More

Jack Wallen/ZDNETVPNs are all about security. They protect your privacy online and mask your IP address. For example, when your phone is connected to a public network, such as in a coffee shop, and you need to log in to your bank account or some other service that carries sensitive data, you’ll want as much privacy and security as possible. That’s where a VPN comes in.One thing to keep in mind, however, is that a VPN is not a guaranteed way of protecting your privacy. Even though your real IP address is spoofed, there are other ways of tracking you, such as web browser fingerprinting. Any tracking service that doesn’t rely on location can still track you.The best VPN services (and how to choose the right one for you)However, and this is the important part, most good VPNs encrypt your network traffic, making it harder for ne’er do wells to read your data. If you transmit unencrypted data, anyone with the right skills can intercept that information without jumping through many hoops. The ‘hoops’ put up by a VPN are crucial for your data privacy and security. More

Anadolu/Getty Images Have you ever wanted to save an image from a webpage, only to find that the format it suggests is one you’ve never heard of? While JPG, GIF, and PNG are all standard and simple-to-use formats, Google has shifted the Chrome browser to save image files in the WebP format.  Also: The best […] More

Arc has become my go-to browser for MacOS. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNETDo you find yourself struggling to stay organized within your web browser? Too many tabs? Too many accounts? Too much everything that you wind up feeling overwhelmed?Or maybe you simply need to put a wall up between your work and personal browsing. Whatever is driving your need for better organization, the Arc browser can help. Arc makes it easy to create separate profiles and keep things organized.Also: Why I love Arc browser’s Shared Folders – and how they workWhat do profiles do? Essentially, a profile isolates logins, cookies, browsing history, archive timing, favorites, extensions, and even settings (within arc://settings). You can have a profile for Work, Personal, School, Children — anything you need.Arc has a slightly different take on profiles from other browsers. Instead of creating a separate browser profile, you create a profile for your Arc Spaces. This way, not only can you switch quickly between profiles, but you also can include the spaces you’ve already created for each new profile. By doing this, you don’t have to then re-create every space you’ve already added. But don’t worry, when the new profile uses a pre-existing space , it doesn’t inherit anything from the profile that created the space . It’s as if you’ve cloned the spaces for the new profile, without the associated data or information. More

You can see the sites I’ve added as Favorites above the Workspace name (WORK). Jack Wallen/ZDNETThe Arc browser has put the fun back in browsing. It’s unique and well-designed, and the longer you use the browser, the more features you’ll find to help you enjoy the web even more. One feature I’ve discovered that makes collaboration (or just sharing information) easier is Shared Folders. Folders? In a browser?Also: 5 ways Arc browser makes browsing the web fun againSeriously. And they’re really helpful for keeping your tabs even more organized. You can create folders for any topic or category and drag and drop open tabs into them so they don’t clutter the interface.Those folders also serve another purpose — sharing. You can create a folder, fill it with tabs, and then share it with others — regardless of which browser they use.One thing to note: The folks with whom you’ve shared folders will not receive updates about the folders, and you cannot delete the permalink for a folder. Therefore, the only way to revoke access to a folder is to delete the folder. With that in mind, I like to think of Shared Folders as temporary repositories for links that I will eventually delete when I’m finished with them. More

New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia BackyardProduction/Getty Image I have 2 Gigabits per second (Gbps) of fiber internet in my home for $120 a month. I’m lucky. I have access to that kind of broadband and the money to pay for it. Many people aren’t that fortunate.  On May 1, the Affordable Connectivity Program […] More

akinbostanci/Getty Images Many people were surprised to hear recently that ICQ — the once-popular instant messaging (IM) client — will shut down on June 26. I suspect more people were surprised to hear that ICQ (supposedly short for “I Seek You”) was still around. Back in 1996, though, ICQ was the IM client. Launched by Mirabilis, […] More