Category Archives: Technology

Technology

Sonic and Uncharted’s success is inspiring more video game movies.

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Fresh off the success of Uncharted and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 respectively, Sony and Sega are planning film adaptations of even more of their franchises. Deadline reports that Sony is developing Days Gone for the big screen, while Sega says it’s developing adaptations of Space Channel 5 and Comix Zone.

These join a dizzying number of adaptations currently in development or production from Sony alone, including Gran Turismo, Ghost of Tsushima, Jak and Daxter, The Last of Us and God of War. As it stands, the number of upcoming projects listed from other studios on the Wikipedia page for movies adapted from video games is almost half of the total number of movies ever historically released within the genre. Notable upcoming projects also include movies based on Minecraft, Five Nights at Freddy’s and Metal Gear Solid.

The Day’s Gone adaptation from Sheldon Turner is reportedly in development within the movie division of Sony Playstation Productions (distinct from Sony Pictures), with Outlander star Sam Heughan currently in consideration for the lead role of Deacon St. John.

Meanwhile, Barry Battles and Nir Paniry are credited with writing the story for Space Channel 5, which involves “the story of a hapless fast-food worker who is recruited by a freedom reporter from the future to save the world from aliens using the one thing that unites all people on the planet: our love of silly viral dances.”

Mae Catt, credited for writing Young Justice and the How To Train Your Dragon spinoff series Dragons: The Nine Realms is attached to write Comix Zone. Presently, the plot follows a “jaded comic book creator and a young, queer writer of color who, when sucked into the final issue of his popular series, must put aside their differences to stop a dangerous supervillain from sowing complete destruction.”

We should note here that the fact that these adaptations are ‘in development’ doesn’t guarantee that they’ll definitely happen, only that Sony and Sega would like them to. There’s no mention of a prospective release date for any of the three projects.

It’s unclear how big the audience might be for films and TV shows based on more obscure video games. Neither Space Channel 5 nor Comix Zone are household names in the same way that Sonic the Hedgehog is, and Days Gone’s sales pale in comparison to Uncharted’s four entries.

Still, It does appear that videogame adaptations are getting a lot of additional love these days. Providing these projects are actually released and well received, we could be on the verge of a videogame movie revival. Let’s just hope that the upcoming (and currently untitled) Mario movie does a better job than the 1993 Super Mario Bros monstrosity.

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Technology

‘Cars’ Porsche 911 sold for $3.6 million at charity auction

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A one-of-a-kind Porsche designed as a tribute to a beloved cartoon character has been auctioned for an astonishing amount.

The Sally Special was built by Porsche in collaboration with Pixar in the style of Sally Carrera from the “Cars” film franchise.

It’s based on a 2022 911 GTS and features unique paint color and twisted turbo style wheels fashioned after the animated car’s.

The color is also used on the herringbone upholstery and the car is equipped with a seven-speed manual transmission and a 473 horsepower turbocharged flat-6-cylinder engine.

THE PORSCHE TAYCAN JUST RECLAIMED THIS RECORD FROM THE TESLA MODEL S

The Sally Special is modeled after Sally Carrera from the “Cars” franchise.
(Porsche)

A “tattoo” like the one Sally has is applied to the spoiler and the engine compartment has a comic book-style “GTS Powered” logo.

The car features a Kachow Mode button referencing Lightning McQueen’s catchphrase.
(Porsche)

“Cars” valve caps and a “Kachow Mode” button on the steering wheel are additional callbacks to the movie.

The unique Sally Blue color is also featured on the seats.
(Porsche)

The car was offered at the RM Sotheby’s auction during Monterey Car Week in California for charity with Bonnie Hunt, the actress who voiced Sally, on hand.

A recreation of Sally Carrera’s “tattoo” has been added to the spoiler.
(Porsche)

It sold for a final bid of $3.6 million, with all the proceeds split between USA for UNHCR’s support for refugees of the war in Ukraine and Girls Inc.

PORSCHE ONCE BUILT A BIZARRE CONVERTIBLE CAYENNE SUV WITH TWO REAR ENDS

A standard GTS currently lists with a starting price of $144,050.

This 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider sold for $22,005,000.
(RM Sotheby’s)

The Sally Special was one of over two dozen cars that sold at the auction for multi-million prices that included a 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider racing car that went for $22,005,000.

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Gary Gastelu is Fox News Digital’s Automotive Editor.

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Technology

iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max: Biggest rumored upgrades

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The Apple September event is nearly upon us, making an iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max comparison more relevant than ever. At that event, Apple will likely introduce its latest iPhones, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max figures to be the top device in the iPhone 14 lineup.

After all, the iPhone 13 Pro Max currently claims that title. It’s the best phone you can buy right now, and it’s the winner of the Tom’s Guide Award 2022 for the best phone of the past year. Topping the iPhone 13 Pro Max figures to be a tall order, even for a phone maker with Apple’s track record of rolling out improved devices every fall.

Based on the iPhone 14 Pro rumors we’ve heard in the build-up to this fall’s release, though, Apple may be up to the task. The Pro lineup is tipped to get the most substantial upgrades among Apple’s newest handsets and as the biggest and most expensive model, the iPhone 13 Pro Max should reap the most benefits from that strategy.

We won’t know how the new Pro Max model compares to its predecessor until Apple officially unveils the iPhone 14 lineup. But thanks to the steady stream of rumors about Apple’s upcoming iPhone plans, we have a pretty good idea of the iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max differences.

iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max specs

iPhone 14 Pro Max (rumored) iPhone 13 Pro Max
Starting price $1,199 $1,099
Screen size 6.7 inches 6.7 inches
Refresh rate 1-120Hz 10-120Hz
CPU A16 Bionic A15 Bionic
RAM 6GB LPDDR5 6GB LPDDR4X
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Rear cameras 48MP main; 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto 12MP main; 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto
Front camera 12MP (f/1.9) with autofocus 12MP (f/2.2)
Battery size 4,323 mAh 4,352 mAh
Colors Graphite, gold, silver, purple Graphite, gold, silver, blue, green

iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max price

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first — you’re probably going to pay more for the iPhone 14 Pro Max than you would have paid for the same-sized iPhone Pro model last year. Multiple rumors indicate that the price of the iPhone 14 Pro models is going up by $100. That would mean the iPhone 14 Pro would start at the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s debut price of $1,099 while the iPhone 14 Pro Max itself would cost $1,199. That’s as much as Samsung charges for the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the nearest competitor to the iPhone Pro Max model.

You’re not totally out of luck if you want a big-screen iPhone but don’t want to pay more than $1,000 for it. Reportedly, Apple is introducing a new iPhone 14 Max model this fall. Think the standard iPhone only with a Max-sized screen. That phone is tipped to come in at $899, though as our iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Pro comparison indicates, the Pro model’s going to have more enhancements to justify the higher price.

And that’s what an iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max comparison comes down to, if Apple really does opt for that $100 price hike. Will the new features on this year’s model make people forget about the higher price? Let’s dive deeper into the rumored features to find out.

iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max design and display

At first glance, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is likely to resemble its predecessor, with flat edges surrounding a 6.7-inch display that takes up much of the phone’s face. The difference this time around is that there’s not expected to be any notch dipping into the top of the screen. Instead, the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s front camera and Face ID sensors are rumored to be housed in dual cutouts that should give you a little bit more screen space to work with. Whether the cutouts prove to be more distracting than the notch on the iPhone 13 Pro Max remains to be seen.

(Image credit: @AR72014 / Twitter)

The back of the phones should look the same, with one noticeable difference. Because the iPhone 14 Pro Max is getting a bigger camera sensor, it may mean a slightly larger camera array. That’s notable since it’s not like the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s camera array was considered svelte.

(Image credit: Unbox Therapy/YouTube)

The graphite, silver and gold colors from the iPhone 13 Pro Max are likely sticking around for the new model. Other iPhone 14 color rumors point to a new purple option for the pro models. That would leave the current Sierra Blue and Alpine Green colors on the iPhone 13 Pro Max out in the cold.

Apple’s current Pro models feature Pro Motion displays, with dynamic refresh rates that scale between 10Hz and 120Hz depending on the on-screen action. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is almost certain to retain this adaptive refresh rate, and there’s a rumor that hints at the refresh rate going as low as 1Hz, which mould match the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s range. It would also clear the way for an always-on display feature for the iPhone 14 Pro models.

iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max cameras

While the same rear camera array featuring wide, ultrawide and telephoto lenses is coming to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, expect a big change to that main camera. Rumors tip the iPhone 14 Pro series to have a 48MP main camera, ending years of 12MP sensors appearing on Apple’s phones. Along with a bigger sensor, the new camera is expected to deliver brighter images than past iPhones while also supporting 8K video.

(Image credit: Unbox Therapy/YouTube)

We haven’t heard about any rumored changes to the ultrawide and telephoto lenses of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It’s possible Apple could also introduce new camera software features similar to the Cinematic Mode that debuted with the iPhone 13 lineup.

Up front, at least one analyst believes the entire iPhone 14 lineup is getting a new selfie cam. The updated camera is expected to feature a wider aperture and a more complex 6-part lens; it’s tipped to include autofocus as well. The rumored changes make sense given Apple’s recent focus on video chats.

Add up all these changes, and it’s looking like the iPhone 14 Pro Max will provide a better camera experience than the iPhone 13 Pro Max — impressive, since that latter phone already ranks as the best camera phone in our estimation.

iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max performance

While some rumors suggest the standard iPhone 14 isn’t going to see an upgrade over the A15 Bionic processor that powered the iPhone 13 lineup, there’s no such concern for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The Pro models of this year’s iPhone lineup should be in line for a new A16 Bionic chipset that promises better performance and more efficient use of power.

(Image credit: @VNchocoTaco/Twitter)

Just how much better? An A16 Bionic vs. A15 Bionic comparison suggests it won’t be a big jump, as the new chipset is going to be built on the same 5-nanometer process as its predecessor. Since the A16 will be Apple’s third 5nm chipset, any overall boost is going to be modest at best. There’s some talk of Apple adding another core to the A16’s GPU, which would be a boost to graphics performance, though. Since the A15 already outperforms Android phones, we’d expect the iPhone 14 Pro Max to ride the A16 Bionic to the best benchmark numbers we’ve seen from a phone.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max will likely have the same amount of RAM as the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but Apple’s new Pro models may turn to faster LPDDR5 memory. Another rumor suggests that the Pro models this year will start with 256GB of storage instead of 128GB, possibly as a way to take the sting out of that $100 price hike; however, a more recent report shoots down this iPhone 14 Pro Max storage rumor.

iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max battery life and charging

For the iPhone 13 lineup, Apple increased battery sizes all around, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max jumping to a 4,352 mAh cell. That helped the phone last 12 hours and 16 minutes on our battery test, putting the iPhone 13 Pro Max on our best phone battery life list.

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

It’s unlikely Apple can squeeze in an even bigger battery for the iPhone 14 Pro Max — in fact, one report suggests a slightly smaller battery compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Still, given the likely power efficiency improvements of both the A16 Bionic chipset and the display refresh rate, the iPhone 14 Pro Max should be able to keep pace with its predecessor.

iPhones continue to charge at 20W, while rival Android devices push for faster and faster charging speeds. We haven’t heard much about the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s expected charging prowess, though a rumor earlier this year said that Apple was working on 30W charging. Any improvement would be welcome here, though the iPhone 13 Pro Max does reach 50% capacity after half-an-hour.

There’s at least one change we’re pretty confident the iPhone 14 Pro Max won’t make: we’re unlikely to see a USB-C port on this year’s models. There had been some hope for that, as European regulators are pushing Apple to move away from its proprietary Lightning charging. But analysts aren’t expecting that switch to happen until 2023.

iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max outlook

The iPhone 13 Pro Max was a near-perfect phone that raised the bar for every phone that came after it — the iPhone 14 Pro Max, included. We’ll soon see if Apple’s upcoming phone is up to the challenge of topping last year’s model, but the many rumored changes suggest that Apple’s leaving nothing to chance.

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Technology

Halo Infinite is already removing its new Last Spartan Standing game mode

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What you need to know

  • 343 Industries is removing the Last Spartan Standing mode from Halo Infinite matchmaking on Aug. 23.
  • The mode is being replaced by Team Doubles and Ranked Doubles, a pair of 2v2 playlists.
  • In-game, Halo Infinite estimates that Last Spartan Standing matchmaking will take three times as long to find games compared to other playlists, suggesting that the mode has not been popular. This may be why it’s being rotated out.

Recently, Halo Infinite developer 343 Industries announced in a blog post that Last Spartan Standing, a battle royale-esque mode that released earlier in Season 2, will be removed from the game’s matchmaking options on Aug. 23 to “help make room” for new playlists. From 11 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET that day onward, players will be unable to play Last Spartan Standing. The 2v2 Team Doubles and Ranked Doubles playlists will then go live three hours later at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET.

Last Spartan Standing is considered the premier game mode of Halo Infinite Season 2, as it was the centerpiece of two of its main events and has been available since the season started on May 3. The developers even made it playable on all of the game’s Big Team Battle maps in an update, which many players took as a sign that it would be sticking around. However, we now know that that is not the case.

Since the announcement, fans have questioned why the developers have chosen to replace Last Spartan Standing with the 2v2 modes instead of keeping it available alongside the new additions. If we had to guess, we’d say that it’s probably due to a declining player count. At the time of writing, Halo Infinite estimates that you’ll need to wait 15-30 seconds to find a match in most of its playlists. If you want to play Last Spartan Standing, though, you’ll need to wait a full minute and a half before you can get into a game. This suggests that the mode isn’t as popular as Halo Infinite’s other offerings.

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Ultimately, it’s understandable that the developers would rotate Last Spartan Standing out of matchmaking in response to diminishing performance, though it’s still unfortunate that Season 2’s biggest mode isn’t even staying available throughout its full runtime. One of the biggest criticisms that fans have about Halo Infinite is that it doesn’t offer enough content variety, so it’s a bummer to see an existing mode get removed as a new one arrives.

Would Last Spartan Standing become more popular if it got some updates and balance changes? It’s impossible to say for sure, but it would be interesting to see how a refined version of the mode with significant tweaks based on player feedback would perform. Hopefully this isn’t the last we’ll see of Season 2’s experimental free-for-all mode.

Halo Infinite is available now on Xbox and PC. Despite some of its issues, it’s one of the best Xbox shooters on the market right now for fans of arena-style FPS combat, and since the multiplayer is free-to-play, there’s zero barrier to entry. The campaign is fantastic, too, as it features exhilarating gameplay and an excellent story. 



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Technology

Mortal Kombat’s 30th Anniversary Bundle for PS5 Gets Over Here

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Mortal Kombat is a treasured franchise among fighting game fans, and is celebrating its 30th anniversary at the beginning of October. Many had hoped that developer NetherRealm Games would commemorate the occasion as loudly as one of Johnny Cage’s jackets, and while that may still turn out to be true – well, the firm’s 30th Anniversary Ultimate Bundle isn’t going to be earning the firm many Friendships.

Available to pre-order on Amazon UK – but technically not yet officially announced – the package includes a copy of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate for PS5 and last year’s maligned movie in 4K Ultra HD. To be fair, it does only cost £29.99, which is likely to work out at around $34.99 in the United States. Moreover, it includes a pretty tasty Amazon Exclusive steelbook case, which looks really nice.

Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.

But we’re not entirely sure who this is for. You’ve got to imagine that Mortal Kombat super-fans will already own Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate in some form, and will probably have seen the film, too. It’s likely this is just part of NetherRealm Games’ series celebrations, with the bundle due out on 26th September, 2022 – a whole two weeks before the anniversary itself. Hopefully this is merely a case of Warner Bros trying to find a creative way to flog more copies of the game – and the really exciting stuff will come later in the year.



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Technology

The Last of Us PS5 Remake Pays Tribute to Some of PlayStation’s Greats

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You didn’t think Naughty Dog was going to miss an opportunity to add some cool additional content to its remake of The Last of Us, did you? This game has been leaking for months now, and it seems a ton of sensitive details are beginning to seep online. As such, while this article merely pertains to bonus content, we’ll give you an opportunity to back out if you don’t want to be spoiled.

All good? So it seems that you’ll be able to customise Ellie’s look in The Last of Us: Part I, and some of the options include God of War Ragnarok, Sly Cooper, Resistance, Shadow of the Colossus, Horizon, and Ghost of Tsushima shirts. It looks like there are a couple of Uncharted threads as well.

Even cooler is the fact that it appears you’ll be able to equip Ellie with some Jak & Daxter accessories, including the former’s famous goggles and the latter in backpack form. See: Naughty Dog hasn’t forgotten about Jak & Daxter, after all!

Obviously, these merely appear to be fun little extra unlocks, but they should make your Grounded run that little bit more light-hearted, eh? How are you hoping to dress Ellie on PS5?



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Technology

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Competitive Play Trailer Reveals Cyclizar Alongside New Moves and Items

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A new competitive play trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was released and it revealed new moves, new items, and Cyclizar, a Dragon and Normal type Pokemon that very well may be the pre-evolution of these new games’ legendary Pokemon Miraidon and Koraidon.

The trailer was revealed during the 2022 Pokemon World Championships and gave us another look at battles in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Cyclizar was one of the main focuses of the new footage and, as you can see below, the new Pokemon not only resembles the previously mentioned legendaries in look, but it can be used as a mount in-game like Miraidon and Koraidon. Their connection hasn’t been confirmed one way or another, but the clues are there to lead to the possibility.

Cyclizar, Koraidon, and Miraidon

On Pokemon.com, it is reaveled that Cyclizar “has lived in many households in the Paldea region since ancient times. It has a mild disposition, and people riding Cyclizar are a very common sight. It appears Cyclizar don’t mind being ridden because the warmth of a rider helps stave off the cold.​”

It can also sprint over 70 MPH while carrying a human, and it comes with a new move called Shed Tail that “creates a substitute for [Cyclizar] using its own HP before switching places with a party Pokémon in waiting.”

We were also shown a few items in the trailer and on Pokemon.com, and they are as follows;

  • Mirror Herb: This herb will allow the holder to mirror an opponent’s stat increases and boost its own stats–but only once.
  • Covert Cloak: This hooded cloak conceals the holder, protecting it from the additional effects of moves.
  • Loaded Dice: If a Pokémon holding this item uses a multistrike move, that move will be more likely to hit more times.

Lastly, Terastallizing was showcased and teased the phenomenon in the Paldea region that makes Pokemon “shine and glimmer like gems.” Alongside looking extra sparkly, Terastallizing in battle changes the type of your Pokemon to its Tera Type.

There is also a TM that can teach Pokemon the Normal-type move Tera Blast which will become a move of the same type as the Pokemon’s Tera Type.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will be released on Nintendo Switch on November 18, 2022. For more, check out how these new games will have three story campaigns that you can tackle in any order, our wiki page that has gathered all the new Pokemon revealed so far, and what it was like for IGN’s Joshua Yehl to compete in the Pokemon TCG World Championships for the first time.

We were also given a glimpse of Koraidon and Miraidon in the Pokemon Trading Card Game, and they will obviously be two of the cards featured in the upcoming Scarlet and Violet sets.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.



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Technology

5 reasons to replace your old router

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Your router is responsible for sending Wi-Fi signals to your phone, laptop, smart TV, security cameras and more. It has a big job. 

Sometimes it’s the reason your internet connection is spotty, but not always. Tap or click for my guide to troubleshooting your bad Wi-Fi. 

Your router plays a crucial role in network security, too. It’s bad news should someone hack into your router. Tap or click for a free check to see if yours has been compromised. 

There’s a limit to what your old router can do, no matter how well you take care of it. Do you need a new router? Read on to find out and get help selecting the right one for your home. 

Wireless router with three antennas and cable connected. Man using smartphone in background
(iStock)

4 QUICK CYBERSECURITY STEPS EVERYONE MUST TAKE RIGHT NOW 

1. Your old router is easier to hack 

Your router may be doing a fine job keeping you connected to the internet, but is it keeping you safe? The latest security standard is WPA-3, released back in 2018. Any router that uses WPA-2 encryption needs to be replaced. 

Run an encryption check on your router. Go to your router’s admin menu. Under the Wireless or Security menu, you’ll see the encryption status. Need help? Tap or click for the steps to do this on my site. 

If your router is not WPA3 compatible, WPA2-PSK AES is the next most secure option. It’s also a sign you need to get a new router. I’ll tell you how to select the best router below. 

More tech tips to your inbox: Try my free emails packed with tech know-how. 

2. You’re missing out  

When buying a router, you might as well future-proof your network. More and more devices support Wi-Fi 6, but that doesn’t mean a thing if your router doesn’t. 

Wi-Fi 6 significantly improves two critical categories: speed and range.  

Homes with a lot of connected technology — phones, computers, smart TVs, printers, smart speakers, and smart home devices — put a definite strain on a network. Wi-Fi 6 routers can easily handle 50 devices or more.  

There’s something even better than Wi-Fi 6, though not many devices can utilize it yet. Wi-Fi 6 uses the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, while Wi-Fi 6e operates on the 6 GHz band. You’ll find this tech built into many mesh networks. 

Location, location, location: Where to put your router for better speeds 

3. Your signal is weak in certain spots 

Your home should have a consistent, speedy network. A single router works fine for small spaces, but what about multiple rooms and floors? 

Mesh networks are more popular and affordable than ever. Rather than relying on one router, a mesh network adds satellite modules around your home, blanketing the entire area with coverage. 

These systems usually come in sets of two or more units that work together. As far as your gadgets are concerned, the Wi-Fi mesh is one big continuous network that eliminates poor coverage, dead spots, and buffering. 

Internet out? Before you unplug everything, read this: The only way tech pros reboot their routers. 

Home internet connection. A wlan router on desk with notebook in background.
(iStock)

4. Your devices need more juice 

How old is your router? Routers that only support 2.4 GHz frequencies are dinosaurs. 

Single-band routers only utilize the 2.4 GHz band and one wireless signal. 

Dual-band routers use 2.4 and 5 GHz bands to transmit two simultaneous wireless signals, providing better performance. 

Tri-band routers typically have 2.4 and 5 GHz bands and an additional 5 or 6 GHz band to transmit three total wireless signals. 

Single-band routers need to be replaced. A dual-band router that supports 2.4 and 5 GHz will do the job for homes with less than five connected devices. Get a tri-band router that supports three signals for homes with more than five connected devices. 

5. How to choose a new router 

I always get requests from folks looking for help choosing a router. It’s tough if you have no idea what to look for. There are pages for sale on Amazon with prices ranging from $20 to over $1,000. 

Good news: My team and I did the hard work for you. Take our patented router quiz. Answer a few questions, and we will recommend the best router for your home that gives you the best security and fastest speeds. It only takes a minute or so. 

The bottom line is this: Replacing the router is a must if your connection is spotty, isn’t equipped with the latest security standards, or is more than three years old. 

Tap or click here to take our quick router-finder quiz. You’ll be glad you did! 

NEW YORK, USA – 01 MAY, 2020: Police officers performing his duties on the streets of Manhattan. Amazon Ring: Amazon
(iStock / Amazon)

HACKERS WANT GOOGLE ACCOUNTS; GIVE YOURS THIS SECURITY CHECK NOW

Keep your tech-know going  

My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode. 

PODCAST PICK: Most invasive home tech, Facebook dangers, new Google tricks 

Your privacy could be in danger if you have any smart home devices. In this episode, learn new Google tricks, keyboard shortcuts and a few Facebook dangers. Also, here’s why you should never use in-app browsers. (If you put your info in them, you’re in big trouble!)

Find my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast player. 

Just search for my last name, “Komando.” 

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What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call Kim’s national radio show and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. 

You can listen to or watch The Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet, television or computer. Or tap or click here for Kim’s free podcasts.

Copyright 2019, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.

Learn about all the latest technology on The Kim Komando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters, and more, visit her website at Komando.com. 

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Technology

TikTok Browser Can Track Users’ Keystrokes, According to New Research

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The web browser used within the TikTok app can track every keystroke made by its users, according to new research that is surfacing as the Chinese-owned video app grapples with U.S. lawmakers’ concerns over its data practices.

The research from Felix Krause, a privacy researcher and former Google engineer, did not show how TikTok used the capability, which is embedded within the in-app browser that pops up when someone clicks an outside link. But Mr. Krause said the development was concerning because it showed TikTok had built in functionality to track users’ online habits if it chose to do so.

Collecting information on what people type on their phones while visiting outside websites, which can reveal credit card numbers and passwords, is often a feature of malware and other hacking tools. While major technology companies might use such trackers as they test new software, it is not common for them to release a major commercial app with the feature, whether or not it is enabled, researchers said.

“Based on Krause’s findings, the way TikTok’s custom in-app browser monitors keystrokes is problematic, as the user might enter their sensitive data such as login credentials on external websites,” said Jane Manchun Wong, an independent software engineer and security researcher who studies apps for new features.

She said TikTok’s in-app browser could “extract information from the user’s external browsing sessions, which some users find overreaching.”

In a statement, TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese internet firm ByteDance, said Mr. Krause’s report was “incorrect and misleading” and that the feature was used for “debugging, troubleshooting and performance monitoring.”

“Contrary to the report’s claims, we do not collect keystroke or text inputs through this code,” TikTok said.

Mr. Krause, 28, said he was unable to ascertain whether keystrokes were actively being tracked, and whether that data was being sent to TikTok.

The research could raise questions for TikTok in the United States, where government officials have scrutinized whether the popular app could endanger U.S. national security by sharing information about Americans with China. Although debate in Washington about the app had receded under the Biden administration, new concerns have boiled over in recent months after revelations from BuzzFeed News and other news outlets about TikTok’s data practices and ties to its Chinese parent.

Apps sometimes use in-app browsers to prevent people from visiting malicious sites or to make online browsing easier with the auto-filling of text. But while Facebook and Instagram can use in-app browsers to track data like what sites a person visited, what they highlighted and which buttons they pressed on a website, TikTok goes further by using code that can track each character entered by users, Mr. Krause said.

A spokesman for Meta, the parent company for Facebook and Instagram, declined to comment.

Mr. Krause said he carried out the research on TikTok only on Apple’s iOS operating system and noted that the keystroke tracking would only occur within the in-app browser.

As with many apps, TikTok offers few chances for people to click away from its service. Instead of redirecting to mobile web browsers like Safari or Chrome, an in-app browser appears when users click on ads or links embedded within the profiles of other users. These are often the moments people enter key information like credit card details or passwords.

In a CNN interview in July, Michael Beckerman, a TikTok policy executive, denied that the company logs users’ keystrokes but acknowledged monitoring their patterns, such as typing frequency, to safeguard against fraud.

Mr. Krause said he feared those tools had “very similar architectures” and could be repurposed to track keystroke content.

“The problem is they have infrastructure set up to do this stuff,” he said.

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Technology

Gurman: Apple Planning to Show Ads in Maps App Starting Next Year

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Apple plans to begin showing search ads in its Maps app on the iPhone starting next year, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.

“I believe the engineering work is already underway to launch search ads in the Apple Maps app, and we should begin to see it be implemented sometime next year,” wrote Gurman, in the subscriber-only version of his “Power On” newsletter today.

Ads in the Apple Maps app would not be the traditional banner ads that you see on websites, but rather paid search results. For example, a fast food chain could pay Apple to appear near the top of the results when a user searches for “burgers” or “fries.” Many similar apps already offer search ads, including Google Maps, Waze, and Yelp.

Apple already displays search ads in the App Store, allowing developers to pay to promote their apps to users who search for relevant keywords. Apple is also planning to show ads in the App Store’s “Today” tab and in a new “You Might Also Like” section at the bottom of app listings, while banner ads are displayed in Apple’s News and Stocks apps.

Last week, Gurman said Apple is planning to significantly expand its advertising business over time. In his newsletter, he said that Apple’s advertising division is generating about $4 billion in revenue annually and that Apple’s advertising chief Todd Teresi wants to increase that figure to at least $10 billion per year over time.

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