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Since the iPhone 18 series launched, some iPhone 18 Pro Max owners on AT&T have reported their phones dropping into SOS mode, blocking calls, texts, data and even 911 access, while Wi-Fi keeps working. AT&T has sent customers a text urging them to install Apple's iOS 27.0.1 update, warning that some phones may be unable to complete calls, texts or data connections.
56k.rip is a browser-based simulation of using the internet in 1996, including the dial-up handshake sound, a choice of 14.4, 28.8 or 56k connection speeds, and a recreated period web of pages like classifieds, a webring and a weather report. Page load times genuinely vary by the chosen connection speed, with images rendering line by line and downloads often failing, mimicking real dial-up behavior. The experience runs entirely client-side with no accounts or stored data, using synthesized sound effects and procedurally generated web-safe-palette graphics, aside from a recorded real modem handshake credited on the site.
Android Headlines has published leaked renders of Google's upcoming Pixel 11a, showing a design similar to the Pixel 10a with a slightly reshaped camera module and four color options including black, silver, green, and purple. The leak also details specs including a Tensor G6 chip, MediaTek modem, Titan M3 security chip, 8GB RAM, a 6.3-inch display with 3,350 nits peak brightness, and a battery estimated around 5,000mAh.
Google's Pixel 11 series switched to a new MediaTek modem, replacing Samsung's Exynos chip used in prior models. While early testing shows overall connectivity improvements, a number of owners have reported mobile data and Wi-Fi problems, and Android Authority has compiled troubleshooting steps such as toggling Airplane mode and reseating the SIM card.
Bloomberg reports that Meta's upcoming Muse Charm, a handheld device housing its Muse AI agent, will be able to recognize and interact with other Charms nearby. The gadget includes a built-in 5G modem, a two-inch OLED touchscreen, a fingerprint sensor, cameras, speakers, microphones, and a USB-C port, and can be set up via Meta's Muse app on iOS or Android. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the device is planned to launch in time for the December holidays, though pricing has not been confirmed.
Android Authority ran side-by-side tests comparing the Pixel 11 Pro's new MediaTek modem against the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, covering signal strength, cellular data speeds, and battery drain while streaming. Both phones used identical SIM cards, software, and starting battery levels, disconnected from Wi-Fi, to keep the comparison controlled. Google switched from Samsung's Exynos modem to MediaTek for the Pixel 11 series, following reported gains over last year's Pixel 10 Pro in speed, reception, and efficiency.
A TechInsights teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro Max confirms that the US model uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 modem instead of Apple's own C2 chip, which powers the device everywhere else and in the smaller iPhone 18 Pro globally. The X80 is the same modem found in last year's iPhone 17 Pro line, meaning Apple hasn't fully extended its in-house modem rollout to this specific US model.
Google's September 2026 security bulletin fixes 110 vulnerabilities in Pixel devices, including a high-severity flaw (CVE-2026-58704) in the Cellular Modem component that is being exploited in limited, targeted attacks. The bug stems from a logic error that lets an attacker on an adjacent network bypass permissions and escalate privileges without user interaction. The update, rolling out at patch level 2026-09-05, also addresses 12 critical remote code execution bugs and 89 privilege escalation issues.
Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro uses its own C2 modem, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max sticks with a Qualcomm modem despite otherwise similar specs like mmWave support. Meanwhile, battery life improved for both models, but the Pro Max jumped by six hours of video playback to 45 hours total, compared to just a three-hour gain to 36 hours for the standard Pro.
Apple unveiled the A20 Pro, its first 2-nanometer chip built for iPhones, alongside a new in-house C2 modem, at an event led by CEO John Ternus. The chip will power the new foldable iPhone Duo as well as the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, featuring a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU, dual neural engines, and a redesigned cooling system with a larger vapor chamber.
Router manufacturers and security experts note that routers, as small computers, accumulate memory buildup and temporary files that degrade performance over time. Restarting a router clears this cache, refreshes connections with your modem and internet provider, forces a rescan of less congested Wi-Fi channels, and disrupts malware or lingering connections attackers could exploit. This differs from a factory reset, which erases all saved settings including network name and password.
Google switched the Pixel 11 series from Samsung's Exynos modem to a MediaTek chip to fix years of connectivity complaints, but a subset of owners are now reporting 5G icons with no data, Wi-Fi dropouts, slow speeds, and network switching issues shortly after purchase. Reports have surfaced on Reddit from multiple Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro XL owners, though many other buyers say their devices work fine.