All posts tagged: Phones

They Built a Legendary Privacy Tool. Now They’re Sworn Enemies

They Built a Legendary Privacy Tool. Now They’re Sworn Enemies

Published by skeptic

It’s difficult to find much information about Daniel Micay online. Google him and you’ll turn up an impersonal X account and a barren LinkedIn page, plus some YouTube “exposés” and flame wars on Reddit and HackerNews that characterize him as everything from a privacy advocate to a cybersecurity visionary to a despot. Meanwhile, Claude refers to him as a “formidable independent mobile security researcher” who is “widely described as socially abrasive” (for whatever that’s worth). “All I can tell you about Daniel is that he lives in Canada,” says Dave Wilson, the community manager of GrapheneOS, a world-famous privacy tool and Micay’s current project. Within the cybersecurity community, the mythology surrounding Micay goes beyond celebrity. He could be a ghost or a kind of egregore, like Satoshi Nakamoto or Ned Ludd. Fans pick apart scraps of biographical information; enemies take swipes at his technical achievements. Who is Daniel Micay? What does he really want? When I wrote to the email listed on the GrapheneOS website, I heard back the same day: “The team as a …

OnePlus Reveals New Phones Despite Uncertain Future

OnePlus Reveals New Phones Despite Uncertain Future

Published by skeptic

There’s uncertainty about OnePlus’ future in the UK and Europe, but it’s full steam ahead in Asia for now. The Chinese-based tech company said Monday in a post on X that it will launch two new phones — the Nord CE6 and Nord CE6 Lite — in India on May 7. OnePlus didn’t say when the phones would be available in the US and other markets and didn’t say how much they would cost. That’s unfortunate, as both Nord phones build on the brand’s recent set of phones with large-capacity batteries. But whereas last year’s flagship OnePlus 15 has a 7,300-mAh one, the Nord CE6 has a massive 8,000-mAh battery, which should last for 2.5 days on a full charge, according to the phone’s listing. While it doesn’t share how fast the phone’s wired or wireless charging is, it does note that the Nord CE6 has 27-watt reverse charging to donate battery charge to other devices. The Nord CE6 Lite, presumably the cheaper version, has a 7,000-mAh battery. The Nord CE6 and CE6 Lite, visible in …

Google Pixel phones have a useful voicemail feature that’s hidden by default – how to enable it

Google Pixel phones have a useful voicemail feature that’s hidden by default – how to enable it

Published by skeptic

Jack Wallen/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Years ago, I recorded a voicemail message for my phone that made a lot of people laugh. Some would call just to hear it. But times have changed, and dealing with voicemail these days can be a real hassle, especially if you get a lot of calls. In response, Google last year added a feature to its Pixel lineup called Take A Message. With this feature, you can get voicemail messages, filter spam calls, and view real-time transcripts of missed or declined calls, all in your Phone app’s Home tab, making it much more convenient to use than carrier-based voicemail.  Also: This hidden Pixel camera setting makes my photos absolutely pop – here’s how And when you use this feature along with call screening, the Android Phone app becomes an incredibly helpful tool. However, Android Authority recently found that nearly 60% of Android users didn’t even know that Take a Message exists. But I’ve been using the feature for a while, and trust me, you need …

Schools in England could be forced to ban mobile phones | UK News

Schools in England could be forced to ban mobile phones | UK News

Published by Sam Flores

Schools in England would be forced to ban mobile phones under government plans. Department for Education (DfE) guidance already says phones shouldn’t be allowed, but head teachers are able to ignore it if they disagree. An amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill now proposes making it a legal requirement. Many teachers have long voiced concerns that smartphones distract pupils and can add to problems such as bullying. “We have been consistently clear that mobile phones have no place in schools, and the majority already prohibit them,” said a DfE spokesperson. “This amendment makes existing guidance statutory, giving legal force to what schools are already doing in practice.” On Monday, the House of Lords voted by a majority of 107 to ban phones during the school day. The proposal, by Conservative shadow education minister Baroness Barran, includes a potential exception for sixth-formers, medical devices and some boarding school settings. The House of Commons is now expected to vote on the amendment on Wednesday. The NASUWT union previously said it supported a statutory ban, while …

Why I’m recommending last year’s phones over 2026 models – with one exception

Why I’m recommending last year’s phones over 2026 models – with one exception

Published by skeptic

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways The smartphone market is facing pressure due to the supply constraints of memory chips Phones launched in 2026 have been underwhelming, and many have seen price hikes. The top phones from 2025 are discounted now, making them a better purchase than newer devices. If you’re in the market for a new smartphone, you might be better off buying one from 2025 right now. Recent phones, especially mid-rangers, have delivered underwhelming upgrades, while also seeing price hikes. Also: Why you’ll pay more for phones and computers in 2026 As businesses scoop more and more memory for their AI data centers and hardware, fewer memory chips are available for consumer products. This is creating a shortage and subsequent price increases. The phones launched in 2026 are facing tougher competition from their predecessors than from their rivals. The dilemma with new phones in 2026 Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET According to a December report from IDC, the shortage of DRAM and NAND chips used in PCs, smartphones, and other …

The Best MagSafe Accessories (for Android, Too!): Chargers, Wallets, and More

The Best MagSafe Accessories (for Android, Too!): Chargers, Wallets, and More

Published by skeptic

Other Good MagSafe Accessories The accessories below aren’t as great as the top picks in this guide, but they’re still good options if you’re looking for more MagSafe gadgets. Belkin iPhone Mount With MagSafe. Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Belkin iPhone Mount With MagSafe: Using Apple’s Continuity Camera feature, you can wirelessly use your iPhone as a webcam for a MacBook. It supports various video calling apps too, from FaceTime to Zoom. This circular silicone puck magnetically sticks to the back of your iPhone and can be used as a phone grip or kickstand, but you need to keep your screen close to a 90-degree angle, or else the weight of the iPhone will drag the screen back or forward. There’s also a mount for external displays, in case you want one for your home desk setup. STM Goods MagPod Smarter Phone Stand: I’ve been carrying this mini tripod from STM Goods all over my apartment. When I’m not using it to see notifications at a glance at my desk, I’ll place it on my kitchen counter …

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review: A Close Second

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review: A Close Second

Published by skeptic

Battery life has been more than adequate. The 5,080-mAh cell easily lasts me a full day, and that’s with more than seven hours of screen-on time. I recently broke my leg, so I’m usually sitting in one place and on my phone. I often end up with 20 percent left by 9 pm or so, and the Phone (4a) Pro has managed to handle hours of watching Instagram Reels without issue (don’t judge). It recharges fairly quickly, though I still think Nothing should have added wireless charging as an alternate way to juice up; the Pixel 10a supports it. Initially, when I set up the phone, it didn’t connect to my eSIM. I had to manually turn on eSIM functionality after setting it up, and was then able to connect it to my carrier, Google Fi. Thankfully, I haven’t had any connectivity problems since. The phone should work on all major carriers in the US, though you may have to do some extra legwork if you’re on AT&T or Verizon (and their subsequent MVNOs) to …

The 10 Best MagSafe Phone Grips for Your Butter Fingers (2026)

The 10 Best MagSafe Phone Grips for Your Butter Fingers (2026)

Published by skeptic

Other MagSafe Grips We’ve Tested Spigen OM104 MagSafe Phone Grip: The OM104 is a phone/grip combo accessory for MagSafe and Qi2 devices that comes with a flexible nylon strap to slide your finger through while holding your phone. Dual magnets and a robust metal construction make the OM104 feel like money well spent, and even after hours of sliding my finger in and out of the strap, it still feels soft, flexible, and most importantly, comfortable. It has one annoying design oversight. As you slide your phone in and out of your pocket, the nylon strap will start to droop down. The strap is longer than the grip itself, so when you close the kickstand, it’ll get pinched inside and won’t allow the stand to fully close. It’s comfortable to use, but that quibble knocks it down. Casely MagRing: Unlike other metal grips we’ve tested, Casely’s MagRing is made of soft silicone. We find it more comfortable on the fingers. It also has a 360-degree swivel, so you can position the grip at virtually any …

The 23 Best iPhone 17 Cases and Accessories Out of More Than 100 (2026)

The 23 Best iPhone 17 Cases and Accessories Out of More Than 100 (2026)

Published by skeptic

A 45-Watt Charger Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Anker Nano 45W With USB-C Cable Did you know your new iPhone can charge faster than ever? With a 40-watt charging adapter, you can get up to 50 percent in just 20 minutes. Your old charger will still be fine, but if you want the fastest speeds, I like this simple, no-frills charger from Anker. At 45W, it covers your bases and can even juice up a laptop like a MacBook Air. The prongs fold up, making it nice for travel, too. I tested it with the iPhone 17 Pro and confirmed that the phone was receiving 35 watts when it was close to zero percent (the iPhone 17 Pro accepts up to 36 watts), which is great. My fast-charge speeds beat Apple’s claims, though. The device went from 7 to 83 percent in 30 minutes. Wowza. Better yet, Anker includes a 6-foot USB-C to USB-C cable. —Julian Chokkattu Other Screen Protectors We’ve Tested Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Spigen AluminaCore Tempered Glass Screen Protector for $28: Spigen’s Glas.tR EZ Fit …

Huawei Pura X Max might usher the era of wide foldable phones

Huawei Pura X Max might usher the era of wide foldable phones

Published by skeptic

Step aside, Apple and Samsung; it’s China’s Huawei that currently rules the unusually-wide-foldable-phones niche. On Monday, the company published a teaser video of its upcoming Huawei Pura X Max foldable phone. SEE ALSO: Every foldable phone planned or rumored for 2026 The Pura X Max will officially launch on Apr. 20 alongside the more conventional Pura 90 Pro, so we don’t know all of the exact specs yet. Huawei, however, did say the foldable will come with a triple rear camera, with 12/16GB of RAM, and 256/512/1,024GB of storage. Mashable Light Speed I could watch a movie on this. Credit: Huawei The video clearly shows the device from all sides, including some of its color options (the phone will be offered in five colors: Interstellar Blue, Olive Gold, Phantom Night Black, Vibrant Orange, and Zero Degree White). Huawei hasn’t been very popular in the U.S. since it was restricted from using U.S. tech seven years ago, forcing the phone maker to give up on Android as an operating system. But what makes this particular phone …