Technology

How to stay connected no matter where you travel in the world

Published

5 months ago

August 8, 2024

How to stay connected no matter where you travel in the world

These days, we are so reliant on our phones that it’s important to be able to use them when we travel. After all, imagine landing in another country only to find out you can’t make phone calls, send texts or even open your email to pull up your hotel reservation.

What about using the map to find out where you’re going? And who wants to spend their vacation trying to figure out how to get their phone to work abroad instead of just having it work when they get there?

What makes this all worse is if you discussed this with your phone company beforehand and were assured your phone would work, only to arrive and it doesn’t.

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Smartphone with a SIM card displayed next to it (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Will my phone work abroad?

This happened to Jack, who wrote to tell us about his situation. When he arrived at his destination — despite already confirming with his phone service provider that his wife’s new iPhone would work properly — she could not make or receive calls. Eventually, they ran out to buy a SIM card to use, only to discover that the phone only accepts eSIM and does not have a SIM card slot. Unfortunately, this situation is all too common. So, how can you stay connected no matter where you travel in the world? Here are some tips.

A couple taking a selfie on vacation (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

THE BEST TRAVEL GEAR FOR 2024

What are my phone options when traveling abroad?

Even though our phones have become more sophisticated and the globe is more connected, getting your phone to work in another country (or countries) isn’t so straightforward. Each phone company has its own policies, and each device has capabilities and limitations when installing other SIM cards. This means that when you travel, you essentially have five options to use your device abroad:

1. Pay for an international plan: Some phone providers have international plans. You essentially pay more on your monthly bill for the time you’re traveling, and you can use your phone. However, there may still be restrictions in terms of how many calls and texts you can make and/or how much data you can use. Be sure to check this.

2. Buy an international SIM card: If you don’t want to pay more for your phone plan in order to be able to use your phone internationally as is, then you can buy an international SIM card. These come in the form of an eSIM (a downloadable sim card) or a physical SIM card that you can put in your phone, swapping with the one you normally use or inserting it in the other slot as some phones have more than one sim card slot for this very reason. ESIM cards can be purchased online/downloaded, and physical SIMs are generally purchased in the country upon arrival. They can typically be purchased at the airport.

3. Use data only: Some people opt to only use data plans when they go abroad, as they may not need to make phone calls or send SMS. They may use communication apps like Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger, map applications, etc., with no need for a calling/texting plan. Some phone companies offer this or have specific rates for data used abroad.

4. Use Wi-Fi only: This isn’t always recommended, as it is important to be able to use your cellphone when traveling. However, for many years, people traveled this way. So, if you’re up for it and the situation allows for it, then you can decide to use Wi-Fi only during your travel, perhaps at your accommodation or in public areas. However, be cautious when using public Wi-Fi, as it can pose security risks to your personal information. Some people may also try this Wi-Fi-only option out first, and then, if they need it, they can purchase a sim card, as some cities have free Wi-Fi all over. You can also consider purchasing a mobile hot spot.

5. Buy a prepaid phone abroad: If none of the options work for you (we’ll cover more on why this could be below), you can also opt to buy a cheap phone while abroad. This option could also be ideal for someone who will be outdoors a lot or traveling to an area that may be less safe, so you don’t want to risk bringing your actual phone.

A woman looking at her cellphone while on vacation (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

HOW TO SET UP FREE MESSAGING ON YOUR PHONE WHILE TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY

How to ensure you’re connected while traveling

If you want to be absolutely sure you’ll be able to use your phone while traveling, follow the steps below. At least if one option is not available or does not work, you’ll know what other options are out there so you don’t end up in a bind and unable to use your phone.

Step 1: Before you travel

Before you travel — and, in some cases, before you even purchase your phone — there are some things you’ll want to verify before hitting the road to ensure your phone will work abroad:

Check device compatibility: Ensure your phone is unlocked, can use eSIM technology and/or if it has a sim card slot. Again, some devices even have two slots, so you don’t have to risk losing that tiny sim card you normally use when you’d swap it out. Most newer iPhones (specifically, iPhone XS and newer), Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices support eSIMs. This is important to know if your carrier does not have a suitable international plan.

Check mobile standards: Contact your phone manufacturer for verification about which mobile standards your phone uses. A GSM-compliant phone is more likely to work around the world than a CDMA-compliant phone.

Check your carrier’s options: Every mobile service provider understands that their customers might need to travel overseas occasionally and has specific service plans for this. Carriers might include international roaming on select data plans without additional fees. Be sure to understand how this works and confirm prices, scenarios, etc.

If needed, purchase an eSIM: If an international plan is not an option, look into purchasing an eSIM for the country you’re going to. Many carriers offer prepaid plan options that you can purchase from the carriers’ websites or apps before you arrive, and there are also new companies out there that offer this. Be sure to check that your device is compatible with the company and understand their rules. For instance, some companies require you to install the eSIM once you’re in that country, so you won’t want to install it before.

Opt to buy a physical SIM card or prepaid phone when you arrive: Even people who have phones that are compatible with eSIM can still run into unexpected problems. Otherwise, some people may just prefer to purchase a physical SIM card that they can insert into their phone when they arrive. This also goes for prepaid phones. We’ll cover this more in a bit.

Check cell signals where you’re going: Even if your device is technically compatible, it could be the case that where you’re going it won’t matter due to the infrastructure. For example, if you’re traveling somewhere very remote, you may not have connectivity regardless. Of course, in some cases, you may not be able to know this until you arrive.

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A woman holding up her phone with eSIM displayed on her device (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Step 2: When you arrive

When you arrive at your destination — depending on which option you’ve opted for — you’ll have to set it up to get it working. This may look slightly different depending on the carrier and device, but generally, these are the next steps:

To use your international phone plan from your provider

If you’ve already spoken to your phone provider and paid for an international plan, they should be able to tell you how to set this up on your unique device when you arrive. But generally, you’ll need to turn on data roaming.

Turn on data roaming on iPhone:

Open the Settings app
Tap Cellular (or Mobile Data)
Tap Cellular Data Options (or Mobile Data Options)
Toggle on Data Roaming

Turn on data roaming on Android:

(Note: These steps may vary slightly depending on the device model and Android version.)

Open the Settings app
Tap Network & Internet (or Connections)
Tap Mobile Network (or Cellular Networks)
Toggle on Data Roaming

To use an eSIM

If you’ve decided to go with the eSIM option, you’ll need to activate it. Usually, you download it and activate when you arrive at your destination, but not always. This, again, should be clarified before purchasing the eSIM, as many companies are strict about their return policies. Typically, you can use a QR code to activate that plan via the eSIM card on your cellular device.

BEST PREPAID SIMS & ESIM CARDS FOR TRAVELERS

To purchase and use a physical SIM card

If you plan on buying a physical SIM card when you arrive, sometimes the best place is at the airport. This way, you can use your phone right away.

Install a physical SIM card on iPhone:

Locate the SIM tray on the side of your iPhone.
Use a SIM ejector tool or a paperclip to press into the small hole next to the SIM tray to eject it.
Remove the SIM tray and place your new SIM card into the tray.
Reinsert the SIM tray back into the iPhone.
Your iPhone should automatically detect the new SIM card and connect to the network.

Install a physical SIM card on Android:

(Note: These steps may vary slightly depending on the device model and Android version.)

Locate the SIM tray on the side or back of your Android device.
Use a SIM ejector tool or a paperclip to press into the small hole next to the SIM tray to eject it.
Remove the SIM tray and place your new SIM card into the tray.
Reinsert the SIM tray back into the Android device.
Your Android device should automatically detect the new SIM card and connect to the network.

To buy a prepaid phone

If the above options don’t work for whatever reason, you can also purchase a disposable phone for travel. Similar to purchasing a physical sim card once you arrive, purchasing that prepaid phone at the airport may be best, as they can help you get connected immediately.

A man on his phone while on vacation (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Step 3: When you get back home

When you’re finished with your trip, and you’re back home, you’ll want to use your normal phone again.

If you had an international plan:

Contact your phone provider to ensure your international plan is deactivated or adjust it according to your future needs.
Confirm that your domestic plan is active and that your settings are back to normal.

If you had an eSIM:

Go to your phone’s Settings.For iPhone: Open Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Select your eSIM plan > Remove Cellular Plan.For Android: Open Settings > Network & Internet (or Connections) > Mobile Network > Advanced > Select your eSIM plan > Delete.
For iPhone: Open Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Select your eSIM plan > Remove Cellular Plan.
For Android: Open Settings > Network & Internet (or Connections) > Mobile Network > Advanced > Select your eSIM plan > Delete.
Ensure your primary SIM is active and set as the default for calls, messages and data.

If you had a physical SIM card:

Remove the international SIM card from your phone.For iPhone: Use a SIM ejector tool or a paperclip to press into the small hole next to the SIM tray to eject it.For Android: Use a SIM ejector tool or a paperclip to press into the small hole next to the SIM tray to eject it.
For iPhone: Use a SIM ejector tool or a paperclip to press into the small hole next to the SIM tray to eject it.
For Android: Use a SIM ejector tool or a paperclip to press into the small hole next to the SIM tray to eject it.
Reinsert your domestic SIM card back into your phone.
Ensure your phone connects to your home network and all settings revert to your domestic plan.

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Kurt’s key takeaway

Don’t let all these options overwhelm you. Remember, the key is to plan ahead and choose the method that best fits your needs and destination. Whether you’re team eSIM, physical SIM card or even considering going old school with a prepaid phone, there’s a solution out there for every globetrotter. And hey, let’s not forget the most important part of traveling — actually enjoying your trip. Once you’ve sorted out your phone situation, make sure to put it down every now and then to soak in the sights, sounds and experiences of your destination. After all, isn’t that what traveling is all about?

How has technology changed how you experience and document your travels, and do you think these changes have enhanced or detracted from exploring new places? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Intel still dreams of modular PCs — it brought a tablet laptop gaming handheld to CES

Published

7 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Intel still dreams of modular PCs — it brought a tablet laptop gaming handheld to CES

At CES 2025, Intel let journalists into its private “Innovation Showcase,” where we saw things like prototype next-gen laptops and giant stereo 3D handheld gaming PCs.

While I was there, I also spotted a heavy metal handheld on a table that didn’t seem… fully attached… to its screen. When I lifted the screen, it came away easily.

It felt suspiciously light to be a real tablet, so I flipped it over and saw three connectors underneath:

Above it, on a shelf, was a laptop with a suspiciously sized chunk of plastic on the bottom that looked like a perfect match. A minute later, Intel gaming evangelist Colin Helms confirmed: I was looking at a concept modular PC.

That module contains a complete Intel Lunar Lake computer, the entire guts you’d need to make one work outside of peripherals and screen. It’s basically a reboot of Intel’s abandoned Compute Card idea, except it’s not all Intel’s doing and you probably shouldn’t ever expect it to ship.

It’s a concept from Quanta, a company whose name you don’t typically see on the laptops and tablets they create, because Quanta is an ODM (like Compal, Pegatron, Wistron, and Apple’s better known iPhone supplier Foxconn) that designs and manufactures hardware on behalf of brand names.

Quanta’s calling the whole modular system the “AI8A,” and the aforementioned module at its heart is the “Detachable AI Core.” Helms told me it plugs into other concept computers as well, including an all-in-one desktop that Intel didn’t have to show off. And presumably, like the Compute Card idea, you could upgrade your computer just by putting a new new module into it.

The modular laptop has lots of concept-y bells and whistles too, so many that Intel’s CES staff hadn’t even worked them all out yet.

For starts, the laptop has a motorized hinge, so you can tell it to open and close its own lid; it also claims to offer eye-tracking that lets you sling around multitasking windows just by looking at where you’d like them to be. It apparently comes with a mouse integrated into a ring that you could wear.

The most mundane: a built-in Qi wireless charging pad in the palmrest, with indicator lights to show your battery’s remaining capacity.

I couldn’t try any of it working, unfortunately, nor did I manage to ask what “AI8A” means, because I mistakenly thought it said Aiba until I checked my photos closely just now. Nor could we hotswap the module between the handheld and laptop, since the module apparently doesn’t have a battery inside.

Again, this is a cool computing concept car: it’s not likely that this computer will ever ship, even in a more practical / less gadgety form. Thankfully, we have begun to see some real, practical modularity in the laptop space since the death of Intel’s Compute Card. Framework just celebrated its fifth anniversary this week, and Dell took a smaller step forward at CES with its first modular repairable USB-C port.

Photos by Sean Hollister / The Verge

Technology

AI isn’t going anywhere: Prompts to make life easier

Published

7 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

AI isn’t going anywhere: Prompts to make life easier

I was having dinner with my husband in Paris. We got the wine menu and all the names, of course, were in French. Barry wanted something equivalent to a Napa cabernet, so I took a picture of the menu and asked ChatGPT. In seconds, it recommended a wine. I double-checked with the waiter, and he gave it a thumbs-up.

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You might think AI is just for businesses, programmers, or the ultra tech-savvy, but it’s not. It’s for anyone willing to give it a try.

AI EXPERT: CHATGPT PROMPTS YOU’LL WISH YOU KNEW SOONER

Instead of ignoring this powerful tool, make this the year you embrace AI. It’s easier and more helpful than you think.

Let’s start with the basics

“So, uh, where do I find ChatGPT?” I get that in my email every day. Use it on the web or download it for iPhone or Android.

The free tier works for most people. I pay $20 a month for ChatGPT Plus. It’s worth it to me for access to the better features and faster response times. Start with free. If you find yourself relying on your favorite AI tool regularly, consider upgrading. It is worth considering.

A man is pictured working on an airplane and using a cellphone. (iStock)

ChatGPT isn’t the only option, but it is my preference (at least for now) and the most popular. You can also try Google Gemini, Perplexity and Claude.

With all these, the workflow is the same. Think of it like Google, but instead of punching in one search term and scrolling through results, you have a “conversation” with the bot to get exactly the output you want.

Like any tool, you need to use AI wisely and triple-check its results. Trust me, you don’t want to end up like those lawyers who used AI to draft court documents, only to have the judge catch the glaring mistakes.

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You’ve heard of prompts, right?

This is what we call the text, question or command you provide an AI system to guide its response or action. It’s your instruction on what you want, so the better your prompt, the more useful and accurate the response will be.

“Priming” is the insider term for telling a chatbot exactly what you want from it. With ChatGPT or any other, the more constraints you give, the better your answer. Examples: “Limit your response to 250 words,” “Give me the list in bullet points,” “Format the results as a table,” “Use this data to create a bar chart.”

Remember, AI can’t read your mind. It only knows what you tell it. Use “do” and “don’t” in your prompts to get the results you want. Say you’re cooking for friends, and some have allergies. Say, “Create a recipe for six people. Do include protein, fruits, vegetables and carbs. Don’t include dairy products, shellfish or nuts.”

ChatGPT app shown on a iPhone screen with many apps.

Close-up of the icon of the ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot app logo on a cellphone screen. (iStock)

7 prompts to make life easier

Make your goals actionable: “I have a goal for 2025 to [fill in the blank]. Can you help me make it SMART?” (SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and Time-related.) Maybe you’re not there yet. Try this: “I want to [fill in the blank], but it feels overwhelming, and I don’t know where to start. Can you help me by breaking it down into more manageable tasks?”

“Give me 10 more examples”: That’s a prompt I use with ChatGPT all the time to make the chatbot a better brainstorming buddy. Some of its “ideas” are downright bad, but it might spark something creative in your brain, too.

“How can I make this better?” Add in anything you’ve written — a blog post, a travel plan, a resume or even a heartfelt email. This prompt works wonders for polishing your work and pointing out improvements, like a personal editor at your fingertips.

DO THIS WITH YOUR FAMILY VIDEOS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

Your very own free assistant: Say you have messy notes from a meeting. By hand, you’d spend 15 minutes turning those into an email fit for your boss or team. Instead, open a chatbot and say, “Turn these notes into a professional, friendly email to my team.” Paste your notes at the end and voila. Pro tip: Ask your bot of choice, “Is there anything that needs more details?” to fill in any missing info.

Shortcut your inbox: When you get a really long email, open your AI chatbot of choice, and type in the prompt, “Summarize this email for me. Tell me what I need to do, then write a thoughtful reply. Here is the email.” Paste in the email and let AI do its magic.

Wanna get in shape? Ask your AI to create a custom fitness plan. Try this: “Create a 30-day fitness plan for fat loss and muscle gain tailored to a [male/female] beginner at [your age].” Or get specific: “Create a four-week fitness plan to help me run a mile for the first time.” Don’t sweat it.

A 12-year-old boy types as he uses a laptop computer on December 19, 2023, in Bath, England. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Spouse forgot to load the dishes again? Instead of firing off a rage-filled text, let AI step in. Ask your fave chatbot to reframe your frustration into something a bit more … constructive. I like this prompt: “Make this message sound more friendly.”

Don’t forget about privacy

It’s easy to think your bot is a trusted ally, especially when it’s pumping out helpful answers all day long. But it’s definitely not. It’s a data-collecting tool like any other.

Be smart about what you say. Never type in passwords, sensitive financial data, or confidential work or business information. My rule of thumb: Don’t tell a chatbot anything you wouldn’t want made public.

With a free ChatGPT or Perplexity account, you can turn off memory features in the app settings that remember everything you type in. For Google Gemini, you need a paid account to do this.

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Technology

Amazon is ‘winding down’ some of its DEI programs

Published

19 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Amazon is ‘winding down’ some of its DEI programs

As we head toward the end of the year, I want to give another update on the work we’ve been doing around representation and inclusion.

As a large, global company that operates in different countries and industries, we serve hundreds of millions of customers from a range of backgrounds and globally diverse communities. To serve them effectively, we need millions of employees and partners that reflect our customers and communities. We strive to be representative of those customers and build a culture that’s inclusive for everyone.

In the last few years we took a new approach, reviewing hundreds of programs across the company, using science to evaluate their effectiveness, impact, and ROI – identifying the ones we believed should continue. Each one of these addresses a specific disparity, and is designed to end when that disparity is eliminated. In parallel, we worked to unify employee groups together under one umbrella, and build programs that are open to all. Rather than have individual groups build programs, we are focusing on programs with proven outcomes – and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture. You can read more about this on our Together at Amazon page on A to Z.

This approach – where we move away from programs that were separate from our existing processes, and instead integrating our work into existing processes so they become durable— is the evolution to “built in” and “born inclusive,” instead of “bolted on.” As part of this evolution, we’ve been winding down outdated programs and materials, and we’re aiming to complete that by the end of 2024. We also know there will always be individuals or teams who continue to do well-intentioned things that don’t align with our company-wide approach, and we might not always see those right away. But we’ll keep at it.

We’ll continue to share ongoing updates, and appreciate your hard work in driving this progress. We believe this is important work, so we’ll keep investing in programs that help us reflect those audiences, help employees grow, thrive, and connect, and we remain dedicated to delivering inclusive experiences for customers, employees, and communities around the world.