Technologies

Apple Has New iPhone Satellite Features in the Works, Report Says

Upcoming additions could greatly expand how your iPhone can benefit from satellite connections.

Slowly but steadily, Apple has been tucking satellite-powered features into its iPhones. Get ready for that to blossom into a whole set of new capabilities.

According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is working to expand the capabilities of iPhones, as well as some Apple Watches, when operating over satellite links. That includes Maps features that work when you’re off the grid, ways for third-party apps to access satellite connectivity, more messaging features such as transmitting images in addition to texts, and, potentially, ways to use satellite connections without a direct line of sight to the sky.

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Over the last few years, Apple has introduced features that utilize satellite technology, including emergency SOS, roadside assistance, and texting while offline.

A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Apple’s satellite ambitions could eventually compete more directly with services from major wireless carriers including AT&T and Verizon, according to Bloomberg. That could give Apple more control over security and design, making it less reliant on those telecom partners.

How will Apple pull this off?

To enable these ambitious plans, Apple will need to build out its infrastructure, or at least partner with companies that are undertaking similar buildouts.

The company has already made plans for a $1.5 billion investment in Globalstar to help fund a new satellite constellation and could enlist SpaceX’s Starlink to beef up its services over satellite.

In the short term, Apple is likely to roll out new consumer-friendly features as it expands its satellite capabilities.

«The next generation could let hikers, travelers, and remote workers download map data, share images, and even receive live weather updates without cellular coverage,» said Mahdi Eslamimehr, executive vice president at Quandary Peak Research.

For now, Apple hasn’t charged for the satellite features it has already rolled out, but that could change with the introduction of new capabilities.

«Basic satellite features are expected to remain free, while advanced capabilities, such as high-bandwidth image sharing or third-party integrations, may be available through paid subscriptions or bundled carrier plans,» Eslaminehr said.

If Apple can provide more wireless access through satellites, combined with cell towers as backups, that could prove valuable during natural disasters or network outages, he said.

What will carriers do?

Wireless carriers aren’t expected to simply wait for Apple to catch up to the services they provide. They’re working on their own satellite-enabled services, either by building their own or partnerships with satellite companies.

Apple could wind up being one of several players offering hybrid connectivity in the future.

«For users outside the Apple ecosystem, this competition should accelerate industrywide adoption of hybrid cellular-satellite services, improving reliability, expanding rural coverage and potentially lowering prices,» Eslaminehr.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Nov. 16, #889

Here are some hints — and the answers — for the NYT Connections puzzle for Nov. 16, #889.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is a fun one. As a pop-culture junkie and game lover, I enjoyed the purple category. If you need help sorting the answers into groups, you’re in the right place. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Different strokes for different folks.

Green group hint: Ho-hum.

Blue group hint: Flags often qualify.

Purple group hint: Do not pass Go.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Technique.

Green group: Run-of-the-mill.

Blue group: Stripy things.

Purple group: Words on Monopoly squares.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is technique. The four answers are approach, method, philosophy and school.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is run-of-the-mill. The four answers are banal, everday, humdrum and pedestrian.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is stripy things.The four answers are barcode, IBM logo, rugby shirt and zebra.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is words on Monopoly squares. The four answers are avenue, parking, railroad and tax.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Nov. 16 #623

Here are hints — and answers — for the NYT Strands puzzle for Nov. 16, No. 623.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is tough. It’s a weird theme, and some of the answers are difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Around it goes.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: They’re often on a roll.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

CARE, SCARE, CRASS, SWAT, PELL, HELL, SCAR, HALT, STENT, HALTS, TENT, POLL, LOTS

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

FOIL, SCARF, SHAWL, STOLE, FLATBREAD, CELLOPHANE

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is THATSAWRAP. To find it, start with the T that’s three letters up from the bottom of the far-left row, and wind down, over and then up.