Technology

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

Published

3 hours 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)

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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)

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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.

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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.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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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

OpenAI says its latest GPT-4o model is ‘medium’ risk

Published

2 hours ago

August 8, 2024

Press Room

OpenAI has released its GPT-4o System Card, a research document that outlines the safety measures and risk evaluations the startup conducted before releasing its latest model.

GPT-4o was launched publicly in May of this year. Before its debut, OpenAI used an external group of red teamers, or security experts trying to find weaknesses in a system, to find key risks in the model (which is a fairly standard practice). They examined risks like the possibility that GPT-4o would create unauthorized clones of someone’s voice, erotic and violent content, or chunks of reproduced copyrighted audio. Now, the results are being released.

According to OpenAI’s own framework, the researchers found GPT-4o to be of “medium” risk. The overall risk level was taken from the highest risk rating of four overall categories: cybersecurity, biological threats, persuasion, and model autonomy. All of these were deemed low risk except persuasion, where the researchers found some writing samples from GPT-4o could be better at swaying readers’ opinions than human-written text — although the model’s samples weren’t more persuasive overall.

An OpenAI spokesperson, Lindsay McCallum Rémy, told The Verge that the system card includes preparedness evaluations created by an internal team, alongside external testers listed on OpenAI’s website as Model Evaluation and Threat Research (METR) and Apollo Research, both of which build evaluations for AI systems.

Moreover, the company is releasing a highly capable multimodal model just ahead of a US presidential election. There’s a clear potential risk of the model accidentally spreading misinformation or getting hijacked by malicious actors — even if OpenAI is hoping to highlight that the company is testing real-world scenarios to prevent misuse.

There have been plenty of calls for OpenAI to be more transparent, not just with the model’s training data (is it trained on YouTube?), but with its safety testing. In California, where OpenAI and many other leading AI labs are based, state Sen. Scott Wiener is working to pass a bill to regulate large language models, including restrictions that would hold companies legally accountable if their AI is used in harmful ways. If that bill is passed, OpenAI’s frontier models would have to comply with state-mandated risk assessments before making models available for public use. But the biggest takeaway from the GPT-4o System Card is that, despite the group of external red teamers and testers, a lot of this relies on OpenAI to evaluate itself.

Technology

You can stack and sync up to 300 of Nanoleaf’s new color-changing display cases

Published

9 hours ago

August 8, 2024

Press Room

You can stack and sync up to 300 of Nanoleaf’s new color-changing display cases

Nanoleaf’s new Expo Smart Display Cases are an eye-catching way to make a carefully curated collection the focus of any room. Each case features diffused color-changing LED lighting, and multiple cases can be stacked to create a larger display with colors and animated lighting that syncs across hundreds of cases. They’re available now individually for $79.99, or you can save $20 by opting for a four-pack for $299.99.

Made from “premium grade ABS resin,” the cases feature evenly diffused LED lighting to minimize shadows and hotspots around what’s displayed inside. Unlike display cases with a single overhead spotlight, Nanoleaf is taking an approach similar to the product lighting used in professional photoshoots.

Each case features its own button controls so that changing lighting settings isn’t completely dependent on the mobile app.

Image: Nanoleaf

A transparent door keeps dust at bay while triggering “subtle lighting effects” when opened and closed thanks to hidden magnetic sensors. Each display case also has its own control panel, allowing its individual lighting to be adjusted, but the LED effects get even more impressive when you group a few of them together.

The Expo Smart Display Cases can be stacked and arranged either side by side or on top of each other, automatically creating connections that share power between them. Up to eight of the cases can be powered by a single 42W power supply or up to 16 of them with a 75W power source.

When connected to a Wi-Fi network and the Nanoleaf mobile app, the company’s LayoutDetect technology automatically determines the location of each case in a custom layout — up to 300 of them at once — simplifying the setup process for those with lots of figures (or sneakers) to display.

Each Expo case features diffused color-changing LED lighting that can be customized in the Nanoleaf app.

Image: Nanoleaf

By knowing the location of each display case relative to the others, users can activate animated lighting displays that spread across them, including thousands of preset scenes or custom effects created in Nanoleaf’s app. The LEDs in the display cases can even be used as a music visualizer, pulsing to the beat of a song, or as bias lighting, mirroring the colors of what’s on a nearby TV screen.

The only thing that might give collectors pause is the price. If you were to max out the system’s capabilities and fill a giant wall with 300 of them, you’d pay $22,499.25. That’s a lot of money that could be spent on more shoes, more Funko Pops, or more Lego sets.

Technology

How to optimize your sleep with your Apple Watch

Published

10 hours ago

August 8, 2024

Press Room

How to optimize your sleep with your Apple Watch

Feeling groggy in the morning? Wondering if you’re getting enough shut-eye? Your Apple Watch might have the answers you’re looking for.

With the built-in sleep app, you can easily track your sleep patterns right from your wrist. It’s a great way to get insights into how much rest you’re actually getting and the quality of your sleep.

Here’s why you might want to give it a try.

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A man wearing an Apple Watch

5 reasons why you might want to give the built-in Sleep app a try

1. Effortless tracking: Just wear your watch to bed, and it’ll do the rest. No need to fiddle with buttons or apps before dozing off.

2. Detailed sleep stages: The app can estimate how much time you spend in Awake, REM, Core and Deep sleep, giving you a clearer picture of your sleep quality. While we sleep, our brains and bodies restore themselves. Each sleep stage plays a different role, but they’re all essential to waking up refreshed.

Apple Sleep app’s detailed sleep stages (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

3. Sleep goals and schedules: Set up sleep goals and create schedules to help you maintain a consistent sleep routine.

4. Wake-up alarms: Use gentle, customizable alarms to wake up at the optimal time in your sleep cycle.

5. Sleep Focus mode: Limit distractions before bedtime and during sleep to help you wind down and rest better.

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A woman wearing an Apple Watch (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Enable built-in sleep tracking on Apple Watch

To use the built-in Sleep app on your Apple Watch, ensure your device is running watchOS 7 or later and paired with an iPhone 6s or later running iOS 14 or higher. Also, be sure to update your software by opening the Watch app on your iPhone, navigating to General > Software Update and installing any available updates. Now, here’s how to set up sleep tracking:

Open the Watch app on your iPhone
Click My Watch in the bottom left of the screen
Scroll down and tap Sleep.
Tap Use this Watch for Sleep to enable the feature
Ensure the switches next to Track Sleep with Apple Watch and Charging Reminders are turned on

Steps to enable built-in sleep tracking on Apple Watch (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Set up your sleep schedule

Creating a sleep schedule helps you meet your sleep goals. You can set your sleep schedule from the Health app. Follow these steps to set it up:

On your iPhone, open the Health app
Tap the Browse icon at the bottom
Scroll down and select Sleep
In the Your Schedule section, tap Add to set the schedule for tonight
Here, you can adjust Bedtime and Wake up
Then tap Add in the upper right

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Steps to set up your sleep schedule (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

To set up additional options, tap Full Schedule & Options
You can now set a permanent schedule based on different days of the week by clicking where it says Set Your First Schedule
A calendar or list of days will appear. Tap on the days you want to include in this schedule.
You can adjust the Bedtime and Wake up for each day of the week
Tap Add in the upper right

Steps to set up your sleep schedule (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

You can also change the Wind Down time and indicate the number of hours you’d like to sleep as your goal where it says Sleep Goal

Steps to adjust additional sleep details (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How to set up Focus filters

You can also set up Focus filters to determine how your device behaves when you’re asleep.

On your iPhone, go to Settings
Scroll down and click Focus
Tap Sleep
In the Allow Notifications section, tap People

Steps to set of Focus filters (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Click Add People with a plus sign above it
Next, select the contacts you want to allow to reach you or send notifications while you’re asleep by tapping the bubble next to their name
Then tap Done
Under PHONE CALLS, select who you want to Allow Calls From by selecting Allowed People Only

Steps to set of Focus filters (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to view your sleep data

In the morning, you can check your sleep data on both your Apple Watch and iPhone:

On Your iPhone:

Open the Health app
Tap Browse
Click Sleep
View a bar graph showing your sleep start and end times.
Tap a specific day, week, month, or 6 months to see detailed sleep data for that period of time
Tap Show More Sleep Data to see specific data on Awake, REM, Core and Deep

Steps to view your sleep data (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

On Your Apple Watch:

Open the Sleep app to see the total number of hours slept, a graph of different sleep stages (REM, Core, Deep) and a record of your sleep over the past 14 days.

Graph on Apple Watch of sleep data (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

To use Siri: On Apple Watch Series 9, using watchOS 10.2 or later, say, “How much did I sleep last night?” your Apple Watch will provide you with information about your sleep duration from the previous night.

Third-party sleep-tracking apps

While the built-in Apple Watch Sleep app is effective, you might want more detailed insights. Several third-party apps offer advanced features. Click this link to check out our article on how to “Sleep better tonight with these top-rated apps.”

Kurt’s key takeaways

Tracking your sleep with an Apple Watch can provide valuable insights into your sleep patterns and help you improve your overall sleep quality. Whether you use the built-in Sleep app or a third-party app, the data collected can guide you toward better sleep habits. While these features can help improve your sleep habits, they’re not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have serious sleep concerns, it’s always best to consult a healthcare provider.

How do you think tracking your sleep with an Apple Watch could impact your daily life and overall well-being? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Follow Kurt on his social channels:

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions: