Daily tracking can help you establish a baseline for your version of “normal,” and chart any changes to your levels over time. Work and life stress can cause a spike in your readings, and so can some of the foods you eat. Tracking your blood pressure can also help with early diagnosis and false readings (like if you only have high BP at the doctor’s office), and help you keep an eye on the effects of any new blood pressure medication.
While at-home monitoring won’t replace a visit to the doctor’s office, it can give you the data you need to know when it’s time to go in.
The Health app on your Apple Watch is a convenient way to sync your blood pressure data in one place on a device that’s always with you.
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The smartwatch isn’t equipped to measure your blood pressure alone, but there are tools and devices you can pair it with it that can — usually wireless monitors that connect to your iPhone ($752 at Amazon) or Apple Watch and come with an arm cuff and their own app. These devices will automatically sync the data with your Apple Watch’s health app.
Here are some ways your Apple Watch can help keep your blood pressure and health in check.
Omron Evolv Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor ($90): This portable monitor takes clinically accurate readings, and has a built-in screen that shows your readings so you don’t have to consult your phone screen each time. The Omron BPM syncs to your Apple watch via the Omron Connect mobile app using Bluetooth.
Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor ($100): Provides instant color-coded feedback and creates a chart of all your past measurements for easy tracking in its Health Mate app. You can sync your Withings BPM to your Apple Watch via Bluetooth.
QardioArm Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor ($99) — Geotracks your readings across locations. Measures your systolic and diastolic blood pressure and can detect an irregular heartbeat. You can set up reminders to notify you when it’s time to check your blood pressure. Connect your QardioArm BPM to your Apple Watch via Bluetooth.
iHealth Feel Wireless Arm Blood Pressure Monitor ($100) — Offers up to 200 offline readings. Shows your systolic and diastolic blood pressure on the iHealth App and lets you know if your reading is normal or above average. The iHealth blood pressure monitor syncs to your Apple Watch using Bluetooth.
A&D Medical Ultraconnect Wireless Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor ($100) — Has fit and movement sensors designed to ensure your readings are accurate. It can store up to 100 readings in the device and unlimited readings in the A&D Connect app. Connect the blood pressure monitor to your Apple Watch via Bluetooth to monitor your health.
It’s well known that regular exercise can help your heart stay strong and healthy.
You can use your Apple Watch to count your steps so you know if you’re hitting your goal.
Your watch can track your heart rate with the sensor on the back to help you get fit — you’ll know you’re reaching your goals when your resting heart rate is getting lower.
You can track your workouts — the watch offers 12 workouts you can choose from, or you can begin any workout and the watch will automatically detect it.
While working out, you can easily monitor your heart rate and set up heart-rate thresholds that notify you in case your heart rate is too high or low.
You can use the new ECG app (this is the same as EKG, an electrocardiogram) on your watch if you have WatchOS 5.1.2, after setting up the ECG feature in the Health app. We also recommend importing your health records so you can stay on top of any changes.
Johnson & Johnson is using the Apple Watch in its stroke prevention research to test if an app can quickly diagnose AFib. The watch has already been able to detect irregular heartbeats on some users — it’ll be interesting to see how Apple turns future iterations of the Apple Watch into even more of a medical device.
Monitor fitness goals without breaking the bank.
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You’ll need to be subscribed to Switch Online’s $50-a-year Expansion Pack tier to access GoldenEye and other N64 games. Online multiplayer is exclusive to the Switch release, the official 007 website noted, but this version is otherwise the same as the N64 original.
The default control scheme will likely feel a little weird, but Reddit user Cuesport77 suggested changes that’ll bring it in line with modern shooters. I tested this, and it works beautifully (though I opted to use the left analog stick to move around, right for aiming).
1. Go to System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Change Button Assignments.
2. Create a control profile for GoldenEye.
3. Remap the left analog stick to function as right analog.
4. Remap the right analog stick to function as left analog.
5. Remap ZR button to function as ZL, so you can fire with ZR.
6. Remap ZL to function as L, so you can manual aim with ZL.
7. (Optional) Remap L to function as B, so you can activate things with L.
8. (Optional) Remap R to function as A, so you can switch weapons with R.
(You will now have to navigate using the right analog stick and either A/B or L/R, depending on whether you followed steps 6 and 7.)
9. Launch GoldenEye and begin a mission, navigating menus with the right analog stick.
10. Pause, and go over to Controls.
11. Switch from 1.1 Honey to 1.2 Solitaire.
12. Go over to Settings, and turn the Look Up/Down setting to Upright.
Playing GoldenEye 007 on Xbox
The Game Pass version is playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X and S. A subscription costs $10 a month, though people who own a digital copy of Rare Replay, the 30-game compilation of classics that came out in 2015, can also get access to GoldenEye for free. That doesn’t apply to physical copies of Rare Replay, and the game isn’t available to purchase separately.
“The game now offers modern control options (including support for dual analog sticks) and a consistent refresh rate, running at a native 16:9 resolution up to 4K Ultra HD (where supported),” Craig Duncan, head of Microsoft-owned developer Rare, said in a blog post marking the game’s release. “There’s also a full roster of Xbox achievements to strive for, some of which are sure to test the mettle of proficient 00 Agents.”
So it offers more modern bells and whistles than the Switch release, but lacks online multiplayer (you’ll still have local splitscreen).
As a licensed tie-in to the 1995 movie that introduced actor Pierce Brosnan as the legendary British secret agent, the game won critical acclaim for its fun single-player campaign and epic split-screen competitive multiplayer. It became the N64’s third bestselling title, with 8.09 million units sold — it was only topped by Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64, which sold 11.91 million and 9.87 million copies, respectively.
Rare also developed GoldenEye followup Perfect Dark for the N64 in 2000, before Microsoft acquired the company in 2002.
Prepare to revisit some ’90s splitscreen multiplayer chaos.
Rare
Fans have been expecting a remaster for Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and S to be revealed for months, since achievements for it have leaked multiple times. It was reportedly planned for release on Xbox 360 in the late 2010s, and an apparent extended gameplay video appeared in 2016. At the time, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said the game’s licensing rights complicated efforts to get it on the console. The versions that came to Switch and Xbox aren’t remasters, but upscaled versions of the original game.
“It is heartwarming and very special to see the outpouring of love and nostalgia for the game, it is amazing to have been part of the team that created something that has touched so many people in a positive way,” he wrote. “Disappointing that none of the parties involved in this re-release have made any attempt to involve that original team in any way. Feels shabby and disingenuous.”
Doak regularly tweets about the game and engages with fans. Last September, he posted a shot of himselef dressed like his in-game counterpart, and joked that players shouldn’t “come crying” to him if they have trouble unlocking the infamous Invincibility cheat. That’s one of the game’s most difficult challenges — you have to beat the Facility level in under 2 minutes, 5 seconds to get it. He’s spoken at length about the game’s development over the years, and tweeted a 1997 shot of the original development team on Wednesday.
A couple weeks ago, my friends and I got lost while driving back to our cabin in Mariposa, near Yosemite National Park. A major snowstorm had just swept through the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and so many busy highways, streets and smaller roads were shut down. We wanted to save time on our drive, so we decided to take a shortcut (bad decision) — and of course we soon realized we were heading the wrong way. To top it off, none of us had service, so we couldn’t even use Google Maps to find our way back.
Eventually, after hours of trying different roads, we managed to get to our cabin, but we could have avoided all that trouble by simply downloading Google Maps offline (and also by not taking that “shortcut”). Even without internet service, Google Maps can still help you navigate where you need to go — you just have to download the correct map.
If you’re planning a trip somewhere you may not have internet service, you should download a map (or several) offline on Google Maps. Here’s what you need to know.
First off, you don’t need to download Google Maps in its entirety. Instead, before your trip, you’ll want to download a specific area, which could be a city, county or region where you’ll be spending time and might not have service on your phone.
To download a map in Google Maps offline, open the Google Maps application on iOS or Android and tap your profile picture on the top right (you must be logged in to your Google account for this to work). In the menu that appears, tap Offline maps > Select Your Own Map.
You can download multiple Google Maps areas offline.
Nelson Aguilar/CNET
Use your fingers to place the map you want to download within the confines of the rectangle border. Use one finger to move across the map, and a two-finger pinch to zoom in and out. As you move around the map, you’ll see how much storage space the download will take up on your phone. Once you’re happy with the area, tap Download.
Note: Alternatively, you can type a city or other area into Google Maps and then hit the Download button that appears in the pull-up window to download the map offline, but this only works on the iPhone.
You must be connected to Wi-Fi to download the map. If you want to download over cellular, go to the Offline maps page, tap the gear icon on the top right, tap When to download offline maps and select Over Wi-Fi or mobile network. Once your map is downloaded, you’ll be sent back to the Offline maps page, where you can see all your offline maps.
You can only download a map that’s a maximum 250 MB (what will appear in the selected map as roughly the size of Maine).
Nelson Aguilar/CNET
Now you’ll be able to use Google Maps even when you’re offline in the area you downloaded — and in that area only. You won’t get extremely accurate travel times or alternate route options because traffic and other road issues are not accounted for, but you will get a general ballpark of how long your trip should take. Transit, bicycling and walking directions are also not available offline — only driving directions.
You’ll know you’re using your offline map when you see a little cloud icon with a line through it in Google Maps.
You might want to hold off until next week before buying a Galaxy S22.
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 lineup is expected to launch on Feb. 1, meaning the Galaxy S22 you’re thinking about purchasing could feel outdated in just a matter of days. Even if you just want to score a discount and don’t necessarily care about having the latest phone, there are good reasons to wait.
The biggest one, of course, is that the Galaxy S23 family will likely have Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which should bring perks like better graphics and power efficiency. Purportedly leaked images published by the blog WinFuture also indicate that a slightly different design might be in store.
The most significant update, however, is expected to arrive on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which is rumored to get a 200-megapixel camera, according to often-correct leaker Ice Universe. Samsung’s new 200-megapixel image sensor should provide both high resolution and solid performance in challenging conditions, as my colleague Stephen Shankland reported. However, we won’t know whether that chip will be in the Galaxy S23 Ultra until Samsung announces the phone.
Those changes might not sound like much, especially when it comes to the regular Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus. But it’s still a good idea to wait if you can.
You’ll get more longevity out of the Galaxy S23 compared with an older phone like the Galaxy S22 for two simple reasons. One is that the processor is newer, so performance will remain speedy for a longer period of time. But the more important point is that it will likely get an extra year of software and security updates.
Samsung committed to offering four generations of Android updates and five years of security updates for the Galaxy S22 last year, and it will probably do the same for the Galaxy S23. The Galaxy S22 is already one year into that upgrade cycle.
You might be tempted to buy the Galaxy S22 anyway, since there are plenty of deals available through Samsung and other retailers. I’d encourage you to consider that similar discounts on the Galaxy S23 lineup may surface once the devices launch. Last year, for example, AT&T shaved $800 off the Galaxy S22 even when trading in an older, broken phone. Samsung also offered some bargains last year to promote the Galaxy S22 family at launch. Those who preordered the device before Feb. 24 were eligible to upgrade to the next storage tier and gain Samsung credit that could be applied toward the Galaxy Watch 4 or Samsung Freestyle projector.
There’s also a chance that we may see some Galaxy S22 discounts after the Galaxy S23 launches. Samsung released the Galaxy S21 FE in 2022 as a slightly cheaper alternative to the Galaxy S22, targeting the audience that would typically opt to save a few bucks by going for the prior year’s model. Since Samsung didn’t release a Galaxy S22 FE, perhaps it’ll keep a version of the Galaxy S22 around at a lower price.
Regardless, it’s a good idea to wait if you’re in a position to do so. Learning about what the Galaxy S23 has to offer and seeing which discounts are available will help you make a more informed decision. And of course, CNET will have plenty of advice on whether the Galaxy S23 is worth the upgrade once it launches.
Video calls have become an important part of our daily work and personal lives in recent years because they enable remote communication, but having the right webcam to improve the quality of video calls can make a big difference.
Laptop webcams are not always the best option for video calls. They can be low-quality, and the webcam might not be in the best position for your needs. A separate webcam can give you a better image and has features that most built-in cameras lack, which can be important if you’re presenting something to colleagues or sharing content. And while video quality may not be the most significant aspect of the call, it never hurts to look good while chatting with friends and co-workers. Using a great webcam will help you look and sound more professional, and there are some solid deals on webcams worth taking advantage of.
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From affordable options that are good for moderate use to ones made for streamers, we’ve rounded up webcams for everyone.
This webcam features 1080p resolution, automatic light correction and a 110-degree wide-screen perspective view, which is a great option for videoconferencing and multiperson chat. The microphone can pick up your voice from up to 10 feet away and its universal clip works with laptops, desktop monitors and other flat surfaces. It also has a privacy shutter and comes with a tripod stand, so you have the flexibility to use the camera however you want. It connects through USB with no additional driver required.
Be sure to clip the on-page coupon for the best deal. And if you’re a Prime member you can get it for $19.
This Logitech webcam is compact and folds up neatly so that you can travel anywhere with it. Inside, there’s a built-in microphone, so it’s an all-in-one answer to your video-calling needs. Using the Logitech software you can one-click capture and upload video clips to sites like YouTube and Twitter. And it has HD Light Correction to help enhance your video quality and keep things looking great even in poorly lit situations.
If you’re looking for an affordable webcam that has a physical shutter cover, this may be the one for you. It has a 110-degree field of view for capturing the space around you for your video calls and the built-in microphone offers noise cancellation, as well. All you have to do is plug it in and start using it, and it works with Mac, Chrome OS and Windows.
This webcam features a built-in ring light with three adjustable levels so that you always look your best, as well as a five-level zoom, autofocus and auto-brightness for low-light correction. It’s 1080p full high-definition and has dual noise-canceling microphones to reduce ambient noise and make sure you’re heard loud and clear.
Be sure to clip the on-page coupon for the lowest price.
This 1080p webcam works with all computers, including Mac, Windows and Chromebooks. The video quality is more than enough for personal group chats with friends and remote business calls. It has a physical privacy shutter so that you can cover the camera lens when it’s not in use, just to be extra-cautious. Getting it set up is as simple as plugging it in and starting to use it. You will have to have a Sam’s Club membership to take advantage of this deal, however you can get it at Amazon for $79 right now.
If you frequently find that you don’t have enough light for your video calls but don’t want to get a big lighting setup, this may be the webcam for you. It offers a 1080p feed at 30fps and has a built-in ring light with adjustable brightness to keep your face properly lit during your calls.
Razer’s 1080p Kiyo Pro webcam has a wide-angle lens that you can adjust the field of view on. It comes with a mount that you can use to sit it on a monitor, as well as a small tripod, making it versatile and great for just about any situation. The adaptive light sensor helps keep the picture clear even in environments that don’t offer great lighting conditions.
This webcam offers ultra-4K high-definition resolution to keep you looking your professional best. It also features 5x HD zoom and RightLight 3 with HDR technology that automatically adjusts, even working with low-light and backlit situations to keep you illuminated and clear. This webcam also features dual omnidirectional mics with noise-canceling technology. It even has three field-of-view presets to allow you to show more of your environment or keep a narrow focus on yourself depending on your needs and preferences.
This 1080p webcam features a built-in adjustable ring light with touch control, a built-in noise canceling microphone to reduce ambient noise, autofocus to find the optical focal distance for your video and more. It even has a privacy cover for when you don’t want to be seen or it’s not in use. It’s plug-and-play, requiring no additional drivers.
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English football turns its attention today to the oldest national cup competition in the world. A blockbuster fourth-round clash between the English Premier League’s top two teams kicks off a weekend of FA Cup soccer, as Man City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
This cup showdown looks likely to set the tone for the crucial Premier League meeting between the two title contenders next month. The teams haven’t played each other for over a year, and a lot has changed since City beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates. In the summer, City sold striker Gabriel Jesus and full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal and they look a team reborn: Arsenal currently hold a five-point lead over City at the top of the EPL.
Since lifting the FA Cup in 2019, City have fallen to three successive semifinal exits. Arsenal have gone one better than last season, after they were knocked out in the third round in 2022’s tournament by a shock defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Both teams are expected to field full-strength sides for today’s game, with the likes of Erling Haaland and Bukayo Saka both set to feature. There’s also added intrigue with City boss Pep Guardiola coming up against his former assistant (and former Barcelona teammate) Mikel Arteta for the first time this season.
Will the apprentice outfox the master this time? Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live, wherever you are in the world.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta takes on his mentor Pep Guardiola in this FA Cup fourth round clash.
Getty Images
Manchester City vs. Arsenal: When and where?
Man City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Friday, Jan. 27. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time in the UK (3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 7 a.m. AEDT on Jan. 28 in Australia).
How to watch the Manchester City vs. Arsenal game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch the game — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 per month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 49% plus get three months of access for free — the equivalent of $6.67 per month — if you get an annual subscription.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream the Man City vs. Arsenal game in the US
Friday’s match at the Etihad Stadium is streaming exclusively live in the US on ESPN Plus. Kick-off is at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) for viewers in the States.
ESPN’s standalone streaming service costs $10 a month or $100 for an annual subscription. With it, you’ll be able to watch all of this season’s FA Cup fixtures, including this big match at the Etihad. Read our ESPN Plus review.
With the match being broadcast on ITV1, that also means you’ll also be able to watch the game online for free via the network’s on-demand streaming service, ITVX (formerly ITV Hub).
The service has an updated new app that’s available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs.
Canadian soccer fans looking to watch this big FA Cup fixture can watch all the action live via Sportsnet, with kickoff at the Etihad set for 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) on Friday afternoon.
Sportsnet is available via most cable operators, but cord-cutters can subscribe to the network’s standalone streaming service SN Now instead, with prices starting at CA$15 per month or CA$150 per year.
ViacomCBS now holds the broadcast rights for the FA Cup in Australia, which means you can now watch matches from the tournament live Down Under via streaming service Paramount Plus. You’ll just have to set an alarm for early Saturday morning: kickoff is at 7 a.m. AEDT.
An Australian Paramount Plus subscription currently costs AU$9 a month, which gives you access to Paramount’s coverage of this year’s tournament, as well as Hollywood movies such as Top Gun: Maverick and original shows like Picard and Tulsa King.
The next time you find yourself needing to send a text while stuck in the middle of nowhere, you may be able to look to the sky, where low-Earth satellites can help send an SOS, no matter what device you have.
Last year, Apple became the first tech company to offer new satellite texting capabilities to its devices, introducing it with the iPhone 14 as a system to call for help in emergencies. The idea is easy enough: Point your phone at the sky, line it up with a satellite passing overhead and send a text to authorities. You can even send GPS data too.
Now, other companies are poised to jump on board, making satellite texting a new frontier for the phone world.
“I think 2023 is certainly shaping up to be the year of mobile satellite connectivity,” said Avi Greengart, an analyst at research firm Techsponential. “Everyone’s doing it. Everyone is doing it differently.”
Sadly, it’s not as easy as adding a satellite texting app and an extra satellite radio to the phone. Low Earth-orbiting satellite systems cost money to run and maintain, just like cellular internet and phone systems do. Apple has said it’ll give iPhone owners free access to emergency services for two years after they buy their device, but it hasn’t said what happens after. Other satellite texting systems haven’t launched yet and seem likely to charge users for the privilege.
There’s no debate about whether this technology can be useful. We’ve already heard stories of people’s lives being saved because of it. The question is whether people are willing to pay for it. And if not, will satellite texting be just another fad, like 3D TV?
Currently, satellite tech on our phones is only for emergencies and only in expensive smartphones like Apple’s iPhone 14, which starts at $799. That makes the technology a nice-to-have feature that the broader population of phone owners won’t have access to for some time. Those that do may never end up in a dire situation without signal when the feature would come in handy — a group that IDC research director Nabila Popal counts herself among. “I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have cell service,” Popal said.
Given satellite texting’s niche use, Popal doesn’t believe having it will sway consumers into buying one phone over another. It will certainly appeal to backcountry hikers, desert drag racers and remote truckers who plan to head beyond cell networks. But, for everyone else, it’s not an important enough feature to rush out to buy.
Instead, it’s more like one more feather in the cap of modern smartphones, which have already bundled together so many other technologies we used to have to carry separately in our bags, like cameras and handheld video games.
For its Snapdragon Satellite feature, Qualcomm went with satellite communications provider Iridium, which has a constellation of 66 orbiting satellites with global coverage.
Iridium
The current state of satellite texting
Satellite phones have been around for decades, showing up in films as far back as Steven Seagal’s 1992 classic military thriller Under Siege whenever someone needs to make calls from the middle of the ocean. A satellite phone also played a critical role in getting people off dinosaur-infested island in 2001’s Jurassic Park III.
“Where’s the phone? Get the phone!” yells veteran dino survivor Alan Grant as it nearly slides off a boat and into a river during a Spinosaurus attack. (Spoilers, he grabs it at the last minute and is able to signal for help.)
The real-life versions aren’t as exciting, but they can be just as helpful. They use networks of dozens of satellites orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes or so to relay phone signals to the ground. The first of these systems was Iridium, which launched its service in 1998 and a dozen other satellite networks have survived by offering connectivity to frequent travelers, but the prospect became popular recently after Elon Musk’s rocket startup SpaceX borrowed the idea to surround the globe with internet coverage through its Starlink program.
You can still get satellite phone coverage by purchasing a bulky, nearly $900 feature phone and paying a premium of at least $50 for 5 minutes of call time for service from companies that own a private network of satellites. But phone makers are building in the capability to use those orbital networks to send emergency texts because smartphone radios have gotten good enough to communicate with satellites directly, instead of relying on a separate — and often large — antenna.
Phone radios have “gotten so good now that you can build satellite connectivity into a phone without needing an external antenna,” said Anshel Sag, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.
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Among mainstream smartphone makers, Apple was the first with its iPhone 14 line. The company partnered with GlobalStar, which has limited coverage of the US, Europe, Australia and limited parts of South America. Apple only activates this feature in a handful of countries in those continents, and it only works for emergency text messages made outside (it won’t reach deep within buildings), but the company pledged that new iPhone 14 owners get two years of service included when they buy the phone.
Earlier this month, Qualcomm revealed a new feature coming in Android phones that will let users send and receive text messages through satellites. It uses the Iridium network and Qualcomm says it will have global coverage, which is more than Apple’s services says.
The service, called Snapdragon Satellite, will only be for emergencies to start but will eventually be able to exchange messages socially and even use data, likely as part of a premium service. It’s not available yet and will come in phones launching in the second half of 2023 that use Qualcomm’s latest premium chips, though the company is leaving it up to phonemakers whether to have the service at all in their phones or if they should charge for the privilege. That leaves lots of unknowns.
And there are smaller players with their own niche devices, like Bullitt, which announced its Motorola-branded rugged phone powered by a MediaTek chipset at CES 2023 that will launch in the first quarter of 2023 for an undisclosed price tag. Bullitt promises two-way satellite texting through connectivity partner Skylo, which leases time on existing satellite constellations. Huawei actually launched its Mate 50 series of phones with satellite texting through China’s BeiDou satellite network a day ahead of Apple’s iPhone 14 debuted, though Huawei’s reach has diminished over the years.
More individual phones coming out with their own ideas of satellite texting will likely follow, and the big US carriers have all selected their own satellite partners to eventually offer mobile service beyond their networks’ edges, though none has a firm launch date yet.
Everyone’s in on the race because they can see the potential value of providing satellite safety nets as a service, analysts say. Apple could easily add it alongside its subscription services, like the $7 per month Apple TV Plus, $10 per month Apple Music Plus or $17 Apple One bundle. Carriers could use it to sweeten the deal for the priciest subscription plans, betting that the risk-averse among us are willing to pay extra for peace of mind. “It’s hard to overstate how important telling someone you’re out of gas in the middle of the Gobi Desert or Death Valley or the Adirondacks is,” Techsponential’s Greengart said.
The text message interface of Apple’s Emergency SOS feature.
Kevin Heinz/CNET
Is it a bad thing to be the new phone trend?
Of course, the phone industry doesn’t have the best track record with new technologies. Analysts broadly consider the last couple years of transition to 5G wireless to have been a letdown, particularly because coverage has been spotty and speeds are sometimes as slow as the 4G LTE service we’ve had for years.
Satellite texting could be even more finicky than 5G was, particularly because it depends on the availability of satellites and the yet-untested strain of having many people relaying help requests through them.
Still, early signs seem promising. At CES 2023, Qualcomm took journalists outside Las Vegas to test its Snapdragon Satellite feature, and it worked. CNET phone editor Patrick Holland tested Apple’s Emergency SOS feature on his iPhone 14 and found that it worked — in fact, anyone can try it out without sending an emergency message thanks to a demo mode in the phone’s settings.
This seems like the next frontier — to use satellites to bolster mobile networks and keep people in contact. Even if most people will never have the misfortune to need it, the feature still acts as a safety net, helping the more adventurous phone users who wander beyond cell towers or disaster survivors after mobile networks fail.
Some iPhone 14 owners have reportedly been saved already thanks to the feature, including one man stranded when traveling by snow machine in Alaska above the Arctic Circle. In another case, a couple tumbled down into a deep canyon in a Los Angeles forest and used an iPhone to send for help. In less than 30 minutes, they were rescued. Without the iPhone’s satellite texting feature, emergency services wouldn’t have been contacted, and “nobody would have known to look for them,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Sgt. John Gilbert told The Los Angeles Times.
We’ve come a long way from needing to buy big, clunky satellite phones if we want to venture safely beyond the range of cell networks. Pretty soon, many smartphones will be able to call for help, whether you’ve taken a wrong turn in the wilderness or been attacked by dinosaurs on a remote island that you should have just stayed away from.
Google’s ChromeOS is now more than a decade old and a lot has changed. In the past couple of years, Google revved up what you can do with a Chromebook, dramatically improving or adding tools to help increase your productivity, whether you’re working or learning from home, school, the office or somewhere in between.
Android users get extra benefits to make it easier to jump between a Chromebook and an Android phone, and on Android you can also share your Wi-Fi connection.
New Chromebook users and veterans alike can learn some new tricks to boost productivity in Chrom OS. Read on for 11 features that make your life more efficient on a Chromebook.
Your Chromebook’s webcam can be used for scanning documents. Open up the Camera app and along with photo and video options you’ll see Scan. Select it and you’ll have the option to scan a document or a QR code. For documents, just put what you want to scan in front of the webcam and your Chromebook will find it and detect the document’s edges. Tap or click the big, white shutter release on the right side of the interface and it will capture your scan. If you like what you got, you can save it as a JPEG or PDF.
Admittedly, the results are better with an external webcam than the built-in camera unless you happen to have a Chromebook with front- and rear-facing cameras. But it still works OK with just the webcam above your Chromebook’s display if you need to create a quick PDF to email. Just make sure you have plenty of light so you can capture a crisp image.
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Edit PDFs with the Gallery app
Need to sign or form or show someone where to sign a form? Google eliminated the need to print and scan PDF documents with editing features built into your Chromebook’s Gallery app. The PDF editor lets you fill out and sign forms, highlight text and add text annotations.
Pan, tilt and zoom your external webcam
Screenshot by Josh Goldman/CNET
If you use an external webcam with pan, tilt and zoom support with your Chromebook, there are controls in the Camera app to let you move and zoom with the camera. With the external camera connected to your Chromebook, open the Camera app and select your external webcam using the camera switch icon at the lower left of the interface. Just above that icon is a diamond-shaped icon with a circle at its center. Click on that icon and it’ll open a control panel with zoom, pan and tilt controls. What’s really convenient, though, is the camera settings you use will stick once you leave the Camera app. That means you can jump into a Google Meet chat and have the camera angle set up just how you like it.
Phone Hub
Google
Android users can access their phones from Chrome’s Shelf. The hub lets you see the last couple of tabs you viewed on your phone, see its battery level and wireless connection strength and get notifications from chat apps. It can also be used to locate your phone by setting off its ringtone, and it can silence your phone entirely.
Wi-Fi Sync
Wi-Fi Sync lets you share your network settings between devices. This means if your phone connects to a safe Wi-Fi network, your phone can share the network password with your Chromebook so you’re ready to work when you lift the lid. No more reentering passwords or having to hunt them down again to connect.
Screen Capture
Josh Goldman/CNET
Can’t remember the key combo to take a screenshot? From the Quick Settings on Chrome’s Shelf, you can select Capture. The tool not only lets you take screenshots but can be used to capture screen recordings as well. The tool can capture a window, a crop of a specific area of your screen or the entire screen.
Also, if you want to create a screencast to record, view and share transcribed videos and presentations for a demo or how-to video or a virtual lesson, there’s a Screencast app that’s part of ChromeOS. Just click on the Launcher in the lower left corner of your screen and search for it.
Tote
Josh Goldman/CNET
Google added a holding spot on the Shelf called Tote. It’s where you’ll find your most recent screenshots. But you’re also able to see downloads without having to launch the file browser. You can pin files to Tote, too, which means you can keep an important document readily available to open without searching for it.
Clipboard
Alongside the Tote feature is an enhanced Clipboard. It’s now able to store the last five things you saved to it. To view what’s available, press the Everything button plus V.
Desks
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Desks lets you create separate workspaces for different projects you’re working on. Google added a right-click option to send an open window to a different Desk than the one it’s in, or all of your Desks if necessary. A four-finger swipe across your touchpad will let you switch between Desks, too.
Need to convert a measurement from imperial to metric or need the definition of a word you’re reading? Just highlight whatever it is and right-click on it and you’ll be given a definition, conversion or translation along with your other options. This can be toggled on and off in the settings menu under Related Info.
Nearby Share is the Android version of Apple’s AirDrop. It lets you and your contacts quickly share photos, files, links and more directly to another Android device or a Chromebook. Search the Settings on your Chromebook for Nearby Share and you can toggle the feature on and off. You’ll have to turn on Nearby Share on the sending/receiving device, as well.
To use it, once you’ve turned it on, pick what you want to send from your device, tap the Share icon (it’s the one with three dots with one dot joined to the other two by single lines) and Nearby Share should appear as an option. Tap Nearby Share and it will search for available devices which should include your Chromebook. Select it, and you’ll get a notification on your Chromebook to accept or reject it.
If you’re yet to try out Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming platform, or you’ve let your subscription lapse, there’s a great New Year deal there to entice you in. For a limited time, you can get a year of Peacock Premium for just $30, a saving of 40% versus the annual plan’s usual cost and the equivalent of paying for just six months if you went the no-commitment route. All you have to do use the coupon code NEWYEAR23 at checkout.
Although Peacock isn’t as popular as other streaming services, such as Netflix or Disney Plus, it still has plenty to offer. The platform itself is easy to use, and similar to its competitors with a tiled interface of shows and movies. By subscribing to a Premium Peacock plan you can stream more than 80,000 hours of original, current and classic movies and TV shows.
Stream episodes of your favorite reruns, like Parks and Recreation or The Office. Or get next-day access to current NBC and Bravo shows. Peacock also shows live sporting events, including Premier League soccer, WWE, Sunday Night Football and MLB Sunday Leadoff.
Note that Peacock Premium is the ad-supported tier, though the above coupon code also works for Peacock Premium Plus if you want to go for the ad-free version. A year of Peacock Premium Plus streaming will cost $35 with the code if you go for that option.
If you were planning to upgrade to Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S23 series, you may have to pony out more money than before — depending on where you live. According to reliable leaker, Roland Quandt, the price of the Samsung’s upcoming flagship phones are tipped to go higher in parts of Europe compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S22 series. However, if you live in the US, prices are tipped to remain the same.
On Twitter, Quandt posted prices of Samsung’s upcoming flagship phone lineup in Spain saying the Galaxy S23 will start at 959 euros for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage version, while an Galaxy S23 Ultra with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage will cost 1,589 euros. According to Samsung’s Spanish website, the Galaxy S22 costs 859 euros and the Galaxy S22 Ultra costs 1,459 euros. Similar price increases are also expected in Germany and the Czech Republic. 9to5Google has reported that the Galaxy S23 phones could cost AUS $100 more than the S22 series.
Rumors of the price increases comes as inflation persists at stubbornly high levels, putting upward pressure on the price of components and raw materials required to build a smartphone.
Samsung has announced it’ll hold its annual Unpacked event in San Francisco on Feb. 1, where it will probably show off the Galaxy S23, the Galaxy S23 Plus and the top-spec Galaxy S23 Ultra if the company maintains the pattern it’s followed for the last three generations.
Samsung didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
