Tom's Guide

Is your smart home's network slow or dropping its connection to your devices? Here's how to improve your speeds and diagnose which devices are the culprits.

Your smart home devices might be overloading your Wi-Fi network — here's how to fix it

Can’t access the internet while out and about on your Android phone? There’s a good chance a setting misconfiguration is causing the problem. We’ll show you how to fix that and a few other items to restore mobile data connectivity on your phone. Set the Correct SIM...

Mobile Data Not Working on Android? 8 Tips to Try

It's simple enough to get a Wi-Fi signal throughout your home, but taking it outside is another story. It's especially annoying if you're trying to connect a laptop, projector or big-screen TV for a movie night or big game. You can move your router as close to your yard or front porch as your Ethernet cable will take you, but that won't always solve the problem.

4 Simple Ways to Extend Your Wi-Fi Outside

You're out in the middle of nowhere and your car has broken down. Time to call for help. But your cell phone coverage is basically nonexistent. What now? There's no doubt that a good cell signal can save your life. If you find yourself in a pinch without a decent phone signal, there are quick and easy ways to get better reception on both iPhone and Android, like toggling Airplane mode or resetting your network settings. Check out these tried-and-true approaches below – so you never have to find yourself in this frustrating situation ever again.

How to Get Better Cell Phone Signal With Low Reception on iPhone and Android

Sifting through the offers from internet providers in your area can make your eyes glaze over. You're likely checking available speeds and pricing along with fine-print details like data caps and equipment fees to ensure you get the best plan for you. Another factor to consider is equally important but easy to overlook: the connection type or what technology your internet service provider uses to send internet to your home. We at CNET have encountered them all and can tell you first-hand the difference the connection type can make.

Internet Connection Types Explained

Soundbars are gaining in popularity because of their sleek design and ability to provide an ample boost in audio quality compared to built-in TV speakers. Despite their plug-and-play nature, you can make a few adjustments to help fulfill your pursuit of the best possible sound quality. Whether you're new to soundbar setups or a self-proclaimed audiophile, familiarizing yourself with some key settings can take your viewing and listening experience to new heights.

Have a soundbar? I found 5 ways to maximize your audio quality

Is your smart TV acting not-so-smart? Does it exhibit lag in sequences or a slow response to your remote control? You aren't the only one who's experienced the frustration of watching a juddering screen or disconcerting digital hang-ups. Also: I changed these 5 TV settings to cut down my electricity...

TV running slow? Changing these 6 settings can instantly speed up performance

Home Depot continues to expand its Hubspace smart home offerings, with its catalog now comprising nearly 100 unique products. It’s growing even larger this Friday with the rollout of the Commercial Electric Smart Exhaust Fan with Bluetooth Speaker, which packs in tons of cool features that should make it a welcome addition to any smart home.

Home Depot expands Hubspace with an intelligent bathroom fan

Here are the most luxurious gadgets that you can actually buy now, from folding TVs and high-end hair tools to brilliant kitchen appliances and hobbyist gear.

25 most luxurious gadgets on Earth that are totally worth the splurge

While VPNs, or virtual private networks, are great at protecting your privacy, there's an unavoidable trade-off: They slow down your internet speeds, often by 50% or more. It's the nature of how VPNs work, and there's really no way around it. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes your connection through a remote server. Though this keeps your online activity private, it is this process that's primarily responsible for the speed loss. It takes time to encrypt and decrypt your traffic and for your data to make the round trip to the VPN server and back to your device. However, there are several things you can try if you want to achieve the fastest possible speeds from your VPN connection.

Is Your VPN Crushing Your Internet Speeds? Here's How to Fix It

A virtual private network bolsters your privacy by hiding your public IP address, which contains information about your general geographical location and your internet service provider. Using a VPN, you can make apps and websites think you’re in a different area -- another city, state or even country -- while keeping your web browsing activity hidden from your ISP.

Mobile VPN: What Is It and How Does It Work?

If your smartphone couldn’t rely on its Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS), its location abilities would be slower and less accurate. However, WPS can prove dangerous when it exposes your whereabouts. LAS VEGAS—You rely on your smartphone to pinpoint your location and help you get to where you're going. Android...

Wi-Fi Positioning Can Expose Your Location and Movement, Here's How to Stop It

Android Police

An internet connection is essential whether you're at home or on the go. You'll need an internet service provider (ISP) at home and a mobile carrier when you're on the go to have coverage. What if your ISP could help you have coverage when you're on the go? Xfinity has Xfinity Mobile, a mobile carrier with great phones available. But what else can they do for Xfinity internet customers? That's where Xfinity's WiFi Home Hotspot comes in. This guide discusses Xfinity's Wi-Fi hotspot feature and how to turn it on and off.

How to turn an Xfinity Wi-Fi Home Hotspot on or off

Our Earthlink internet review breaks down what you need to know about this ISP that offers DSL, fiber, and satellite internet plans.

EarthLink home internet review: A guide to plans, prices and speed

Cambridge, MA

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. In context: Harvard University officially introduced the Harvard Mark I computer on August 7, 1944. Also known as the Automated Sequence Controlled Calculator or ASCC, the computer was the brainchild of US physicist Howard Aiken. IBM developed the system in about four years using Aiken's plans and military funding.

One of the world's first general-purpose computers just turned 80 years old

A major feature of Apple Home will soon work with Matter devices. With iOS 18, Apple is enabling Adaptive Lighting for smart lights connected to its smart home platform through Matter, the interoperability standard developed by Apple, Amazon, and Google. The feature, which automatically adjusts the color temperature of smart lights throughout the day, currently only works with a few brands. Adding support for Matter bulbs means it should work with many more.

Adaptive Lighting is coming to Matter smart lights in Apple Home

The allure of the Omega x Swatch Mission to the Super Blue Moonphase watch pulled me from Dallas to Austin, a journey sparked by the promise of a rare astronomical event. The super blue moon, a captivating phenomenon that merges a supermoon and a blue moon, graces our skies only once every 10 to 20 years. Such rarity naturally inspired this limited-edition watch, which Swatch and Omega designed to celebrate the celestial event and their storied collaboration.

Chasing the Moon: My Quest for the Omega x Swatch MISSION TO THE SUPER BLUE MOONPHASE

A smart home hub can connect to all your smart devices, eliminating brand-specific connectivity issues. Hybrid smart hubs support multiple connection protocols, making them more versatile. Compatibility, connectivity, and flexibility are key in choosing the right smart home hub that meets your needs. If, like me, you have gradually built...

Do You Need a Smart Home Hub? Here's How to Choose One

No one likes having a slow internet connection, especially if you depend on it to get work done as we do here at XDA. It can be incredibly frustrating, and sometimes it's hard to know what might be causing an issue. If you're not sure where to start, we've rounded up a few steps you might want to try to troubleshoot your internet connection.

Is your internet connection slow? Try these steps to fix it

SlashGear

The internet acts like a kingdom that houses all the knowledge of the world, and routers are like the keys used to enter it. Depending on your budget and needs, there are several major wireless routers brands that you can choose from, such as TP-Link, ASUS, Netgear, or Linksys. But, regardless of what router brand you own, there's always a possibility that it will have some problems.

How Often Should You Replace Your Wi-Fi Router?

NewsBreak

Top 5 WiFi Router Placement Tips for Perfect Internet Connectivity at Home

Have you ever wondered why the WiFi signal in your home is strong in one room but weak in another? Or why sometimes your internet seems...

Top 5 WiFi Router Placement Tips for Perfect Internet Connectivity at Home

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