Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Satellite phones are a game-changer for individuals who venture into remote areas that traditional mobile networks can’t reach. Unlike standard smartphones that rely on cellular networks, satellite phones maintain communication by connecting directly to orbiting satellites. This capability makes them invaluable in scenarios where maintaining contact is crucial, yet challenging due to the lack of cellular coverage. Also: The best rugged phonesWhile referring to it as a “sat phone” lends an air of…

At last, it appears to be safe to update your Mac again!Earlier this month, Apple released MacOS 14.4 and users swiftly reported a plethora of frustrating issues. Reported bugs included printers and hubs vanishing, DRM plugins for professional audio software failing to work, applications dependent on Java crashing, and iCloud Drive trashing saved versions of files. Also: MacOS Sonoma 14.4 bug round-up: What to know before you updateWhy didn’t users simply skip this problematic update? Many ins…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Zeus-X Go 6-in-1 universal cable is .It’s a well-made universal cable that features every combination most people will ever need while supporting a 240W power transfer. It’s bulky, and the powder-coated finish isn’t all that durable. Plus, if you primarily use USB-C, you probably don’t need it.When I shared details about my keychain EDC (Every Day Carry), several readers inquired why my setup lacked a multi-connector x-in-1 “universal” keychain charge cable, like the…

ZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Jackery Explorer 100 is available from .Expect the very best quality, flawless performance, and a large capacity despite being compliant with air and train travel.The rather bulky design doesn’t sit well in laptop bags, and there’s no AC output.Regular readers are well aware of my fascination with power stations. These products are colossal power banks that can carry vast amounts of power off-grid and harness the sun when connected to solar panels.I never imagined that…

[UPDATE: March 30, 2024: Apple posted a security bulletin listing two security patches present in iOS 17.4.1 and iOS 17.4.1.]Last week, Apple rolled out iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1, a swift follow-up to the 17.4 release earlier this month.So, what exactly does this update include?The bottom line is that we don’t know, as Apple isn’t saying much about what’s inside. The release notes offer the standard mention of “bug fixes and security updates,” as well as urging users to install the latest v…

Over the past week or so we’ve seen a lot of chatter about people shifting their messaging platform from WhatsApp to Signal as a result of fallout from a change to its privacy policy. People were concerned that WhatsApp was going to start funneling data to its parent company Facebook. There’s been subsequent clarification, but the damage has been done. But what data do these apps have about you? That seems like a good place to start when comparing services. Also: Best VPNs • Best security keys…

What’s the deal?Right now, the Samsung 900 Pro M.2 SSD can be picked up for $179, which is $70 off the regular listed price of $249. Why this deal is ZDNET-recommendedIf you’ve got a PC made in the last few years then chances are good that you can equip it with a super-fast M.2 SSD drive. And these drives don’t get much faster than the This is one of the fastest M.2 drives out there, with sequential read and write speeds up to 7,450/6,900 MB/s, is 40%-55% faster than the Samsung 980 Pro, and…

ZDNET’s key takeawaysThe is a portable power station that won’t break your back (or the bank, as it’s on sale for $449).It’s a powerful unit, capable of 1,000W output for regular loads, increasing to 2,000W for resistive loads, such as heaters and hair dryers.You’ll need the companion app to access more advanced features.Portable battery packs have revolutionized power. Forget noisy, smelly gasoline generators or trailing extension cables, these packs are a convenient way to take power with y…

Samsung is giving its and a major speed boost and will roll out 1TB microSD cards later this year.These updated cards are said to offer a 23 percent increase in transfer speeds compared to the previous versions, delivering speeds up to 160MB/s. That should be most beneficial for content creators and professionals who want reliable and quick file-transferring when they’re out and about.Also: The best microSD cards you can buy: Expert testedThe new Evo Select and Evo Plus cards will be offere…

Earlier this year, owners of the and started experiencing unintended touches and swipes on their displays. This “ghost touches” phenomenon causes the screen to jump around and behave erratically without any input from the user.Also: My MacBook Pro stopped charging - here’s how I fixed it for freeThe “ghost touch” issue has been causing significant inconvenience to Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users, leading to everything from minor embarrassments to severe access problems. For so…