phone

American consumers and businesses should soon find it much easier to cancel subscriptions, "free trials" and other ongoing payments. The FTC has added what it's dubbed the "Click to Cancel" rule that means it must be as easy to cancel such ... arrangements as it is to start them. The regulation is formally known as the "Rule Concerning Recurring Subscriptions and Other Negative Option Programs." In this case "negative" means the provider will start or continue to take payments unless the user expressly cancels the arrangement. Free Trials Have Surprise Catch The FTC has been working on the ... (view more)

Google has announced a range of security and privacy boosts for Android 15. It's also rolling out a key feature called Theft Detection Lock to older handsets. The new version of Android is coming to Google's own Pixel handsets almost immediately and ... then will go out to other manufacturers. The release date and which handsets it works on depends on the manufacturer. Theft Detection Lock Explained Unlike some previous new versions of Android which have often seemed more focused on appearance and style, the focus this time is much more practical. The most high-profile change is Theft Detection ... (view more)

Windows users will soon be able to access files on their Android phone or tablet without a USB cable. The feature is already available in test editions of Windows 11. The feature, first reported back in June, has now arrived for members of the ... Windows Insider Program, which gives early access to in-development and test features. They will also need to install the "Cross device experience host" tool from the Microsoft store. Windows does already offer some wireless connectivity with Android phones such as using it as a webcam or getting on-screen notifications from the phone replicated on the ... (view more)

YouTube videos that claim to fix a waterlogged phone really can work according to a semi-scientific test. But results are not guaranteed and it's not a reason to take excessive risks. Numerous videos (and some dedicated phone apps) all claim to fix ... a soggy phone in the same way. The theory is that the main risk is liquid getting into the phone through the speaker, which inherently can't be airtight - rather, quite the opposite. The videos "work" simply by playing a specific oscillating tone at a deep frequency that causes the speaker to push air at just the right force to dislodge the water. ... (view more)

The makers of a Barbie-branded fliphone say it could help overcome smartphone addiction in young people. If nothing else, it could be a test case of form vs function. The handset is as overwhelmingly pink as you might expect, but is closer to a late ... 90s handset than a modern smartphone. It's made from HMD, which is the company that makes Nokia branded handsets. The device has virtually no modern features and doesn't allow app installation. It supports voice calls and basic texting but has no web browser or touchscreen. It has a single game, a Barbie-themed version of Snake. A Plethora Of Pink ... (view more)

Google has warned Android users to disable 2G connectivity. It says scammers are taking advantage of the outdated tech to send phishing messages and other spam that gets past all filters. 2G cellphone service was commonplace in the 1990s before ... being followed by 3G in the 2000s. 2G was the beginning of digital mobile phone connections and allowed for SMS text messaging, though it wasn't fast enough to support reliable mobile Internet services. While most US carriers have disabled their 2G networks, many handsets still support it. It can be useful as a last resort in places with either limited ... (view more)

The next version of Android will make it easier to diagnose performance and hardware issues. It will remove the need to use hidden codes. The changes are coming to Android 15, which is expected to roll out in finished form in August. Google has just ... released the third beta testing version of the update and testers have noticed a new feature in the System section of the Settings app. Labeled "Device diagnostics", the feature has two elements. The first, "Evaluation Mode" reportedly lets users "use one device to assess another device", which sounds more useful for dedicated tech enthusiasts or ... (view more)

Google has launched a "find my phone" feature that can work even after the battery has run out. It's part of a major upgrade delayed by a dispute with Apple, though privacy remains a hot topic. The big upgrade is to the "Find My Device" network of ... what Google says is more than a billion Android devices including phones, watches and earbuds. It aims to overcome the problems that it's not necessarily viable (or desirable) for all portable devices to constantly be connected to cellular networks or WiFi, broadcasting their location ready to be tracked by their owner. Instead the idea is that each ... (view more)

Apple has warned users not to dry an iPhone in a bag of rice. It says the popular "tip" won't repair water damage and could cause even more problems. Numerous online guides have suggested the fix in cases where a phone is dropped into water and ... stops working. They usually suggest putting the phone in a zip-lock bag with uncooked rice, the logic being that the rice will absorb moisture, eventually drying out even the inside of a phone. Apple has now updated its official advice to include examples of what not to do: Don't dry your iPhone using an external heat source or compressed air. Don't ... (view more)

Apple is beefing up security measures to reduce the damage caused by iPhone thefts. The new "Stolen Device Protection" feature is opt-in, possibly because it comes at the expense of convenience. The feature is designed for cases when somebody steals ... a device and successfully enters the passcode. That could happen when a thief spots somebody typing in the passcode before they steal the handset. It could also happen if the thief knows some details about the victim and they have a predictable passcode such as a birth date. Anyone who unlocks a phone will still be able to use it and access apps ... (view more)