The report explains that maintaining internet access during a blackout depends on keeping every device between the wall jack and a laptop powered, including modems, routers, gateways and, for fiber users, the optical network terminal (ONT). It notes some providers install battery backups on ONTs, though these are typically meant for phone lines rather than internet service, so users should confirm coverage with their provider.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-07
A hobbyist project called Koppar has published the full design for a USB-C LTE modem that exposes itself to a computer as a network adapter, serial AT-command ports and a USB sound card, enabling LTE data, SMS and voice calls with audio routed over USB. The repository includes the KiCad schematic and board files, JLCPCB manufacturing and assembly files, a design review document, and RP2040 firmware, letting anyone fabricate and assemble the board themselves.
github.com
· 2026-10-31
Apple unveiled the eighth-generation iPad mini with a new OLED screen reaching 1,200 nits peak brightness and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, plus a slightly larger 8.5-inch display in a lighter, narrower body. The tablet runs the A20 Pro chip also found in the iPhone 18 Pro, adds a C2 modem for faster cellular speeds, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity via an N1 chip, and now carries an IP67 water-resistance rating. Storage starts at 128GB, with nano-texture glass display options available on 256GB and 512GB configurations for an added cost.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-27
Apple is preparing to unveil redesigned MacBook Pros at an Oct. 28 'Pro and tell' event in LA, featuring OLED displays, touch support, a lighter build, and M5 Pro/M5 Max chips. Reports have circulated about possible cellular connectivity using Apple's in-house modems, though it remains unconfirmed whether this generation will include it.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-10-26
Apple has posted a job opening for a 6G Cellular Modem Systems Engineer, offering a base salary between $175,000 and $308,500 plus stock and other benefits, according to a listing spotted by MacRumors. The role calls for defining requirements and algorithms for next-generation modems, at least 10 years of cellular industry experience, and familiarity with 3GPP standards, MATLAB, C/C++ or Python, as well as generative AI tools to speed up engineering workflows.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-10-21
Following the iPhone 18 Pro and Duo launches, reports indicate Apple will release the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e in spring 2027, followed by 20th-anniversary flagships that fall. The iPhone 18 is expected to get more RAM, thermal improvements and Apple's C2 modem, while the iPhone 18e reportedly shares components with the 18 and moves to the A20 chip.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-10-19
A networking explainer breaks down the three core pieces of home internet hardware: modems, which translate signals between your ISP connection and digital devices (replaced by an ONT on fiber lines); routers, which distribute that data to devices over Wi-Fi or Ethernet, manage local traffic, and provide security features like firewalls; and gateways, which combine a modem and router into one unit, commonly supplied by ISPs.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-18
The post recounts the author's early dial-up computing experiences on a Packard Bell 386DX, running MS-DOS before the broader internet was widely accessible outside cities and universities. It introduces Bark, a bulletin board system (BBS) from the early 1980s era that offered toll-free access for teenage users, as the focus of the retrocomputing retrospective. The piece situates BBSes as an early alternative to internet access, including email, message boards, file exchange, and IRC-style chat.
blog.bityard.net
· 2026-10-16
Apple has pushed a new carrier settings update, version 72.0.3, to iPhone 18 Pro Max users running the iOS 27.2 beta on AT&T, following last week's fix for devices on the stable iOS 27.0 release. The update addresses the same issue in which some users lost cellular service entirely, with affected phones showing an 'SOS' status indicator.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-10-09
Óscar Toledo G. has published a session replay of La Cueva BBS, a Mexican bulletin board system he accessed in 1993 using a homebrew Zilog Z280 computer and a discarded 2400-baud Hayes modem. He wrote his own serial terminal program from scratch, implementing RS-232C communication, AT dial commands, and ANSI escape sequences based on information from books rather than the internet, which did not yet exist for him. To handle discrepancies between documented standards and real-world BBS behavior, he built a capture buffer using the Z280's MMU to record raw byte sequences as they arrived.
nanochess.org
· 2026-10-07
When ISPs only offer device rentals, consumers face a decision between ongoing fees and upfront purchases. Buying a $200 modem/router can be more economical over time, especially with typical rental costs of $20 per month. If users can select their own equipment, they gain customization options, improved security, and greater privacy, though initial costs may be higher.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-06
Apple has acknowledged a bug affecting a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on AT&T's network, causing devices to display an 'SOS' symbol and lose calls, texts, and data service. The company says iOS 27.0.1, released earlier this week, along with a new carrier settings update, should help prevent the issue, though it hasn't fixed phones already affected.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-03
GoKawiil