All posts tagged: Phone

AT&T Shook Up Its Unlimited Phone Plans. Here’s What You’re Paying For

AT&T Shook Up Its Unlimited Phone Plans. Here’s What You’re Paying For

Published by skeptic

In just the past few months, AT&T has overhauled its unlimited phone plans with 2.0 versions, added a new top-tier option and introduced a modular option for new customers who want only the basics. The 150-year-old company also hiked the prices of some now-retired plans in what appears to be a move to encourage customers to jump to the latest options, and changed the prices of some plans even since their introduction. If you’re an AT&T customer suddenly bombarded by notifications about upgrading, or you’re looking to switch from another carrier, here’s a breakdown of the new offerings. These plans replace the AT&T Value Plus VL, Unlimited Extra EL and Unlimited Premium PL plans. The carrier also removed its Unlimited Starter SL plan, which served as the entry-level plan (you had to know where to look to find the limited, but cheaper, Value Plus VL plan). Keep in mind that AT&T plans let each person on an account have their own plan. So you might set up a package where one person has the Premium 2.0 plan for unthrottled 5G speeds and …

I Turned Off All My Phone Notifications for a Week. Here’s Why I’m Not Going Back

I Turned Off All My Phone Notifications for a Week. Here’s Why I’m Not Going Back

Published by skeptic

The first thing I noticed was the silence. I woke up, reached for my iPhone and found nothing waiting for me. No Slack messages stacked on top of Gmail alerts. No Instagram likes to feed my ego. No Apple News headline to spike my cortisol. No Uber Eats promo. No Amazon deals. No little red-numbered accusations telling me I had already fallen behind before I could gather my thoughts and wash my face. My lock screen was blank. Not “quiet” in the way Do Not Disturb makes it temporarily quiet, where everything is still piling up behind a curtain, waiting for you to turn the world back on. This was different. I had gone into my settings, app by app, and disabled notifications completely the night before. Apple doesn’t have a feature that does this automatically. I had to do it manually, and it was arduous.  Now my phone wasn’t holding its breath, waiting for permission to shout at me again. It wasn’t hiding anything from me. It simply had nothing to say. Zooey Liao/CNET/Apple/Shutterstock …

Katie Price shares update on ‘interrogated’ Lee Andrews and confronts him over phone activity

Katie Price shares update on ‘interrogated’ Lee Andrews and confronts him over phone activity

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Katie Price has shared more details about her one-minute call with husband Lee Andrews after two weeks of no contact with the businessman – who claims that he’s being held in a Dubai prison. Price announced on Wednesday (27 May) that she had finally heard from Andrews, who she revealed had gone “missing” a fortnight earlier. Dubai-based Andrews had been due to fly to the UK earlier in May but failed to show, telling Price that he had been “detained” by authorities in his final texts to her. After sharing that Andrews had been held by the authorities in Dubai on suspicion for being “a spy”, Price revealed more details on her podcast, The Katie Price Show, on Thursday (28 May). Katie Price and her sister Sophie on their podcast, ‘The Katie Price Show’ (YouTube: Katie Price) Speaking to her sister …

Vertu Is Back With a Folding Phone Powered by—Surprise—an AI Agent

Vertu Is Back With a Folding Phone Powered by—Surprise—an AI Agent

Published by skeptic

Vertu is a company known for making extraordinarily gaudy smartphones with outdated technology, luxe materials, and eye-watering prices. Now the brand is here to meet the AI moment with its first-ever book-like folding phone, complete with an AI agent on board. The company announced the AlphaFold smartphone on Thursday—targeting business executives—which comes outfitted with the Hermes Agent. This agent can purportedly handle schedules and tasks on a user’s behalf and “connect to enterprise systems.” Agents are big in the smartphone world right now, with companies like Google and Samsung offering ways for Gemini on Android smartphones to perform tasks such as booking an Uber or ordering DoorDash. Vertu is cashing in on that trend. But the company has a checkered past. Originally, Vertu was a Nokia subsidiary that made handcrafted luxury Nokia phones (in the UK!) in the early 2000s. Each phone came with access to a live concierge service. The company faced headwinds with the smartphone revolution and fell behind the times. Vertu then changed hands over several years, with various acquisitions, eventually shuttering …

The World’s Most Luxurious Foldable Phone Is Here for the 1%

The World’s Most Luxurious Foldable Phone Is Here for the 1%

Published by skeptic

If you thought Samsung’s $2,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7 is cheap, ugly and only fit for use by peasants with only four or five bedrooms in their house, then luxury-phone maker Vertu has the foldable phone for you. The Alphafold, as the company’s newest device is called, uses materials like calf skin, alligator skin, 24 karat gold and, sure, actual diamonds in its construction — and it starts at a mere $6,880.  Still too cheap and nasty for you? That’s fine, Vertu offers a complete customization service with pricing being “effectively uncapped.” Some of the company’s bespoke projects for the ultrarich have had six figure price tags attached. It sure puts the $800 Motorola Razr to shame.  Alligator skin and real gold? No problem here! Vertu So what do you get for all that money? Well, much of it goes on whatever wild materials you want Vertu to use on your phone. Each unit is made mostly to order and built by hand according to the specifications you’ve requested.  The Alphafold is a book-style foldable, …

Justice Department contractor sentenced after gambling away government phone fraud proceeds

Justice Department contractor sentenced after gambling away government phone fraud proceeds

Published by skeptic

A former Department of Justice contractor who admitted stealing and reselling thousands of government-issued cell phones was sentenced Tuesday to a little more than a year in federal prison after prosecutors said he blew much of the money on gambling. King’s theft of thousands of government phones was a brazen betrayal of the public trust that drained taxpayers of more than a million dollars. He then squandered the stolen money on gambling, luxury vacations, and a high‑end vehicle. He will now be required to repay the very… https://t.co/LWxhoFckdK pic.twitter.com/YJXnE9iPoP — US Attorney Pirro (@USAttyPirro) May 26, 2026 Javan King, 42, of Laurel, Maryland, worked as an information technology contractor in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. Investigators said he used that position to order phones the department did not actually need, then quietly sold them to phone resellers for cash. Prosecutors estimated the scheme cost the government more than $1.3 million and generated roughly the same amount in personal payments to King. Justice Department contractor luxury spending and gambling fueled phone fraud According to prosecutors, the operation ran from …

My Samsung phone stopped slowing down after I started using this widget

My Samsung phone stopped slowing down after I started using this widget

Published by skeptic

Even though I use a flagship Galaxy S26, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee smooth performance all the time. There’s usually a point after which every phone starts feeling a little “off.” Sometimes it’s apps piling up, storage getting cluttered, memory filling up, or just the occasional software hiccups that slows things down. The good thing is, I don’t have to worry about fixing things manually when this happens. Samsung phones include a Device Care feature that can optimize the entire device with a tap. And to make the whole thing even more convenient, I’ve even added the Device Care widget directly on my home screen so I can tap it whenever it feels necessary. Related 8 Settings That Actually Make Your Samsung Phone Run Faster Make your high-end phone actually feel high-end. Device Care optimization can fix a lot of things at once Restore performance in seconds Digvijay Kumar / MakeUseOfCredit: Digvijay Kumar / MakeUseOf A lot can affect your Galaxy phone’s performance over time. Things like background apps, cluttered storage, misbehaving apps, and sometimes even malware …

Does Android Auto make your phone overheat? Try these 8 ways to cool it down

Does Android Auto make your phone overheat? Try these 8 ways to cool it down

Published by skeptic

Artie Beaty/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Android Auto can cause your phone to overheat due to its intensive data usage. There are several tricks you can use to keep your phone cool. Closing apps, running your car’s AC, and using a new cable can all help. Android Auto can be an incredibly useful tool, but it’s pretty taxing on your phone.  When your device is navigating, streaming music, charging, sending data, and more at the same time, it’s no surprise it might start to run hot — especially if you live in a warm climate. I’ve seen high temperature warnings on my phone several times while using Android Auto, and it’s frustrating to have to disconnect or even turn off your device when you need it most. Also: I saw the future of Android Auto, and now Google has me dreading my own car 8 simple ways to keep your phone from overheating Fortunately, there are several tricks you can employ to help keep your phone …

I found the best Memorial Day phone deals, and it’s your last chance to save big on a new device

I found the best Memorial Day phone deals, and it’s your last chance to save big on a new device

Published by skeptic

When is Memorial Day?  Memorial Day always takes place on the last Monday of May, and in 2026, the holiday falls on May 25. However, the sales event typically spans the entire weekend. You’ll likely start seeing smartphone discounts appear on Friday, May 22, with deals continuing through Memorial Day weekend and into Monday. How did we choose these Memorial Day deals?  ZDNET only writes about deals that capture our own interest — devices and products we want, need, or would recommend not only to our readers, but to friends and family. Our experts look for deals at least 20% off (or hardly ever on sale), using established price-comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually worth your time.  We also examine customer reviews and rely on our own hands-on experience with new tech to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products we’re recommending. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice and to make you aware of price drops so you can shop …

Why the iPhone 18 Pro Max is Apple’s Heaviest Phone Yet

Why the iPhone 18 Pro Max is Apple’s Heaviest Phone Yet

Published by skeptic

The iPhone 18 Pro Max represents a significant evolution in Apple’s flagship lineup, introducing innovative advancements in camera technology, battery performance, and artificial intelligence (AI). These innovations aim to redefine the smartphone experience, offering users unparalleled functionality. However, these upgrades come with notable trade-offs, including increased size, weight, and compatibility issues with existing accessories. Apple’s strategic shift toward ultra-premium features signals a bold direction, but it may not resonate with every user. Breakthrough Camera Technology The iPhone 18 Pro Max is set to transform mobile photography with its 48-megapixel variable aperture sensor, a first for Apple. This advanced technology enables exceptional image quality in diverse lighting conditions, allowing you to capture professional-grade photos with ease. The variable aperture adjusts dynamically, making sure sharp details in bright settings and enhanced clarity in low light. However, this leap in camera innovation necessitates a larger housing, resulting in a thicker device. This design change could render many existing accessories, such as cases, gimbals and stabilizers, incompatible. For users heavily invested in their current peripherals, this may require purchasing …