Latest news with #FindMy
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Planning a solo trip? 9 expert-backed safety rules you have to follow before packing your bags
Planning a solo trip can be exciting, liberating, and full of unforgettable moments, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. When you're navigating unfamiliar places on your own, staying safe becomes even more important. From dealing with emergencies and trusting your instincts to using tech wisely and blending in with the local crowd, solo travel requires a mix of courage and caution. Check out 9 essential safety tips for solo travellers to ensure a secure adventure. (Pexels) To help you make the most of your adventure without compromising on safety, Sanjay Jadoun, CEO, YoloBus, shared with HT Lifestyle 9 important rules every solo traveller should know before setting off. 1. Keep someone in loop Always inform a trusted friend or family member about your itinerary, accommodations, and check in with them daily. 2. Share your live location Use apps like Google Maps location sharing or Apple's Find My to let someone track your movements in real time. Stay connected with trusted contacts and opt for secure lodgings to enjoy your adventure. (Pexel) 3. Carry physical copies of important documents Keep printed copies of your passport, ID, tickets, and bookings, especially when internet access is limited. 4. Trust your instincts If something doesn't feel right, a person, place, or situation, don't second-guess yourself. Leave immediately. 5. Stay in well-populated areas after dark Avoid deserted streets and don't flaunt expensive gadgets or jewellery. Prioritise safety by booking verified accommodations. (Unsplash) 6. Choose verified stays Book accommodations with strong, verified reviews on travel OTAs. 7. Respect local customs Dress and behave according to local norms to avoid drawing unwanted attention. 8. Be discreet with personal info Don't reveal you're travelling alone or share details like your hotel or next destination with strangers. 9. Prioritise security features Choose places with lockable doors, 24/7 front desk staff, safety lockers, and visible CCTV.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Woman who had mobile phone stolen issues important security advice to others
Grania Nesbitt recalled the distressing situation in which her phone was stolen giving a thief access to her bank details and photos of her children, and now she's explained how some of her stress could have been avoided A woman who suffered the misfortune of having her mobile phone stolen has issued advice to others, admitting there are a number of security measures she wished she had been aware of prior to the incident unfolding last week. Grania Nesbitt recalled the mobile phone theft on TikTok, where she explained in a video what people can do to "make your life easier" should it happen to them too. "I want to share what I have learned because I didn't know a few of these points and if I had it would have made my life a lot easier," she began. According to Grania, there are a number of things you should "do today" in case your mobile phone is ever lost or stolen - beginning with backing everything up and two-factor authentication is employed. WARNING – explicit language in TikTok video below, viewer discretion advised Grania continued: "Make sure you know your passwords for everything and you have the FindMy app switched on and you know the login details for your iCloud account." She continued, pointing out that once you realise your phone is missing, the first thing you should do is try and log into the FindMy app as quickly as possible. "If you're with someone you trust, use their phone to do it," Grania advised, speaking from experience. Unfortunately for her, however, the phone's location hadn't updated meaning she could only see where it was a few hours prior. "The thief had turned my phone off," Grania continued. "So if you don't get there quick enough, you can't set it into 'lost mode', which gives you so much more protection." Grania added that although most phones require a pin to unlock them, a shop would be more willing to unknowingly assist thieves if there is no sign of the device being in lost mode. "When it's in lost mode they can tell it's been stolen," she said, Because she was too late, Grania was left cursing the fact that she runs two businesses via her phone, which only added to her stress. "I'm a solo mum of two girls trying to run my businesses and that phone had everything I needed on it - all my clients' contacts, access to my website, emails, WhatsApp and TikTok - I literally couldn't do anything," she explained. The second important thing to be aware of, which Grania confessed she wasn't, also concerns the FindMy app. "When you log in, there are two options," she explained. "There's 'erase' and 'remove' and I think remove is at the top so you'd think as it's in that order, you would click that first." However, as Grania discovered to her peril, this only complicated matters. "What I didn't realise is when you click remove, it takes off your activation lock so it removes iCloud, but it also takes off the lock and therefore if you aren't in lost mode, which gave them complete access to my phone," she detailed further. Now unable to select the erase option, Grania said she raced to her nearest Three [her network provider] store who provided her with a new sim card. "To erase, you need a code sent to your phone, which I didn't have," she explained. "I had a three-hour period where I couldn't so anything - and that is tehe scariest thing when your phone contains pictures of your kids and all of your bank details." However, the replacement sim card enabled her to receive a code and therefore erase everything. By this point, a new location of the phone was showing a particular address, which she has since reported to the police - though it later moved to a mobile phone shop, prompting Grania to believe it will be sold for parts. Closing, she advised others to seek insurance of their device - something she had failed to do. "I learned the hardest way by not having it," she said. Writing in response, one TikTok user provided an additional tip, stating: "Turn off the ability to access the pull down menu when your phone is unlocked. This might also help in some cases as it can't have data turned off or be put into airplane mode." To which a grateful Grania replied: "Thank you for this! I didn't know this either."
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Parents find simple trick to keep kids safe on family days out with this on-sale gadget
Parents are always looking for a way to ensure their kids are safe when on family trips, in crowded places, or in the countryside, and this simple gadget may be just the ticket Parents on social media have been discussing their tips or tricks for family days out, whether you're heading to a busy fairground or a hike in the woods, knowing where your kids are and that they are safe is of the utmost importance for ensuring your family day out is successful and enjoyable for everyone. One mum took to TikTok to share her simple solution to knowing where her kids were at all times and ensuring their safety no matter where they were or what they were doing. It can be achieved using one simple gadget, which you can currently buy on Amazon for half its usual price. Apple's AirTags became all the rage for their convenience and the security they offered users when it came to protecting their belongings. Commonly used for attaching to electronics, keys, and luggage when traveling, tracker tags actually have another beneficial use that can save a lot of stress and anxiety when you're out with your kids. And these Amazon alternatives offer the same assurance at a fraction of the price of name brands like Apple (£28 per Air Tag) or Samsung (£34 per tag). This 4-piece set of Air Tracker Tags on Amazon would normally sell for £59.99, but it is currently available for half that, at £29.99, while this limited-time deal lasts. These Bluetooth tags can seamlessly be connected to your smart device (though this particular model is only compatible with iOS devices), so you can track your tag from your phone or tablet with ease. If you're looking for an affordable alternative to pair with your Android devices, check out these Air Tags-Android Smart Tags that are on sale for £31.99 down from £49.99 for a pack of four. The finder and location tags are perfect for use in your wallet, luggage, backpack, suitcase, car, and more. Protect lost or stolen stuff and make day-to-day life easier without the stress of losing essential items. You can easily attach these Tukio air tag trackers to everyday things like keys, water bottles, or bags, ensuring you don't have to spend mornings searching before you leave the house, and promising to make them super easy to find if misplaced or lost. The smart tag can connect easily with your iPhone or iPad. Simply open the pre-installed "Find My" app, add the AirTag tracker to the "Items" tab, and start tracking. Then you can keep track of and find your items alongside friends and devices in the "Find My" app. Tukio's trackers allow real-time tracking of your items. When within 200 feet, the Bluetooth tracker emits an 80-100dB beep to help you find your things, or you can just ask Siri. For greater distances, leverage the power of the 'Find My' network, and hundreds of millions of Apple devices will help you locate the tracked location. What's even more impressive is that these tags boast up to one year of uninterrupted use, without the need to replace the battery. When the battery is low, the smart tracker tag will notify you to replace it. Plus, the unique cover design prevents children from opening the device and causing damage. With an IP67 rating, item finders withstand immersion in water up to 3 feet for 30 minutes, making them especially useful for outdoor activities. But how does this keep your child safe while out for the day? The TikTok user mentioned above told her followers she'd found a simple and effective way of using Bluetooth trackers like these to keep a real-time, exact account of where her child is, so that if anything were to go wrong, she'd be able to locate her young child in minutes. This user recommended placing the tracker inside your kids' shoes, whether underneath the insole or if the outer sole can be removed, to be able to track them wherever they may wander. Equally, you can place these trackers in pockets, though it isn't advisable to place them in things like coats or jumpers that could be removed at random.
Engadget
4 days ago
- Engadget
Ember's Travel Mug 2 with Find My is $30 off right now
The annoying thing about coffee is that its ideal temperature is fleeting. Get caught up in a particularly lively debate in your morning meeting and by the time you return to your cup of joe, it's cooled right down. That's where Ember's smart heated mugs come in, and right now one of its best models is $30 off. The Ember Travel Mug 2 — this one is the 12-ounce variant — usually costs $130, but right now can be snagged for $100 when purchased online from Walmart. It can keep your beverage of choice at your preferred temperature between 120-145 degrees Fahrenheit for up to three hours on a full charge, thanks to the extended battery life. If that isn't long enough, the included charging coaster can maintain optimum heat all day. You can pair your mug with the Ember app to tweak the temperature (there's also a touch display on the cup itself if you don't want to open your phone), and this model also supports Apple's Find My service, so you can locate it on your Apple device using the Find My app's map if you misplace it. The Ember Travel Mug 2+ is IP67-rated but bear in mind that it's washable by hand only. This model is available in black. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice .
CNET
5 days ago
- CNET
How Is T-Mobile's Starlink-Based Satellite Service Different from the Rest? I Tried It First Hand
T-Mobile's new T-Satellite service, commercially launched this week, uses the Starlink satellite network to send and receive text messages from space. For $10 a month (or included in the cost of the company's Experience Beyond plan), the service can be a communications lifeline when you're out of cellular coverage. But that's the thing: for me to test it out, I could only be in a cellular dead zone. T-Mobile estimates there are 500,000 square miles in the US with no cell coverage, so I left my home in Seattle to find one. After three hours of driving to the wooded North Cascades, I got my chance to see if satellite texting is as easy as everyday cellular texting, and how T-Satellite differs from other satellite services. Now Playing: Hands-On with T-Mobile's T-Satellite Service 01:55 How T-Satellite differs from other satellite services Satellite texting is now a big deal: the wireless providers and phone-makers including Apple are betting satellite connectivity is the answer for travelers and people who live in remote areas (and even those impacted by emergencies such as the massive flooding in Texas). It also isn't new. Apple started offering SOS communication backed by Globalstar on the iPhone 14. And later, that allowed emergency texting when you're outside coverage areas -- a literal lifesaver for people injured, lost or stranded in remote areas. The feature also allowed you to share you location via satellite in the Find My app. Apple then expanded the service to include any texting using the Messages app, as well as calling for roadside assistance. CNET's David Lumb used Messages via satellite on his iPhone 15 Pro to text friends and share his thoughts when he summited Mount Haleakalā's peak in Hawaii. Google has a similar feature in its Pixel 9 phones, except the Pixel 9A, which works with satellite provider Skylo. Samsung Galaxy phones, like the recently released Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, can use Verizon for satellite texting and to contact emergency services through Skylo, too. However, that communication involves a few steps to activate the feature. You need to be outdoors with a clear view of the sky -- no trees or buildings -- and point your phone at a passing satellite, keeping it steady to maintain the connection. With T-Satellite, the experience is quite different. Texting is almost indistinguishable from when you're within cellular coverage. On a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with a T-Mobile plan, opening the Messages app showed the phone already connected to satellite, with a banner reading "You're messaging by satellite." A small satellite icon appears in the menu bar with radiating curves to indicate the status of the connection. The phone has automatically connected to the T-Satellite network, as indicated by its (teeny) status icon. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET This is due in part to the fact that there are now more than 650 Starlink satellites overhead providing wider coverage, but also because they use a frequency band compatible with most phones sold in the last four don't need a specific phone model that has satellite messaging hardware, such as the Motorola Razr Ultra. The experience of setting up T-Satellite on my iPhone 16 Pro was generally the same. One unique thing about T-Satellite is that T-Mobile is offering the service to anyone, even if they use another carrier for cellular service. In my case, I set up the T-Satellite beta using the second eSIM slot on my phone, and turned off the primary service (AT&T) in order to test just T-Mobile's feature. A solid black satellite icon appears in the menu bar. I should note that I performed this testing a couple days before T-Satellite went live, so it was technically during the T-Satellite beta period, and using a beta version of the Messages app on Android. Plus, I didn't attempt to make an emergency call, either, which on the T-Satellite service would mean dialing 911 in the phone app, versus initiating an SOS text communication using Apple's service. Texting, but sometimes slower Mostly, texting via satellite is just like texting via cellular. The data pipe between the phone and a satellite flying overhead at 17,000 miles per hour is small, so occasionally texts would take several seconds to go through. But sometimes a conversation would happen without any extended lag. By comparison, when CNET's Patrick Holland tested Apple's Messages via satellite feature, he noted that "most sends were nearly instantaneous, others took 15 to 20 seconds with one taking over a minute." One feature going live today for Android is the ability to send images, videos and audio files using Multimedia Messaging Service over the satellite network. On the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I snapped a photo of the lake and sent it using Messages as I normally would. The only difference over satellite is that it took around two and a half minutes to send. On Android, you can send photos via MMS even over the satellite connection. The feature is coming later for iOS. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET However, MMS is currently only supported on Android; iOS support is coming later. Also arriving in the future -- October, specifically -- is the ability for apps to send and receive data over the satellite connection. T-Mobile has cited AllTrails as an example of apps that'll be compatible with the service. This would be a great use of data for other mapping tools. Although I was never lost on this trip --I pulled into a well-marked scenic overlook to test with a stunning view -- I also made a point of downloading an offline map of the area using Apple Maps while I was still within cellular range. Lingering questions and challenges Not every message went through, and after my limited testing, there are a few areas where more clarity would help. For example, on Android, it wasn't always obvious when I'd lost satellite connection. In theory, with many Starlink satellites overhead, you shouldn't have to worry about pointing at a specific patch of sky to maintain a connection. But at one point after sending a message, some text below it said the app was waiting to connect. Only then did I notice the tiny satellite icon was showing thin gray bars instead of thin black bars. Compare that to Apple's implementation, which uses Dynamic Island to show an impossible-to-miss green status button to indicate a solid connection to a satellite. Or Google's Satellite SOS service, with its full-screen visual prompts that help you stay connected to a satellite or connect to a new one if needed. The prominent green icon in the Dynamic Island indicates a satellite connection when using Apple's satellite texting feature. (The red icon shows that the screen is being recorded and isn't related to the connection.) Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET I also ran into some confusion with my iPhone 16 Pro running T-Satellite as a secondary eSIM. When attempting to text a friend who came along with me and was using Apple's method on his iPhone, I got a message that he was connected via satellite and was given the option to tap Send via Satellite. What I didn't realize at the time was that the connection dropped as I was typing the text. On further research, I discovered that an active third-party satellite connection shows "SAT" in the menu bar. When SAT is replaced by a black satellite icon, it means T-Satellite is no longer connected, but that Apple's satellite option is available; I thought it meant that I was still connected. At one point, I was unable to text my friend who was also using satellite access, even though it appeared to be connected (see the satellite icon in the menu bar). (The red button in the Dynamic Island shows that the screen is being recorded.) Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Look up, and ahead Will satellite services cover the remaining dead zones and allow easy communication even in remote areas? Based on my experience, the potential is definitely there. It's been less than two years since Apple first launched Emergency SOS via satellite on the iPhone and it's impressive how satellite connectivity has expanded so quickly with the ability to support texting. I appreciate that the T-Satellite implementation is similar to the way millions of people communicate every day via text. Removing friction is key to adopting technologies like this. As companies build up the capacity and performance of satellite services, it's easy to see a near future where you don't have to think about how you're getting data, just as we currently don't ever think about which cellular tower is relaying our data. As someone who lives in cellular-saturated Seattle, I probably won't need to rely on satellite data. But the North Cascades is where I've gone camping for years, so I can see it being occasionally useful, especially if there's ever an emergency situation. As I was juggling my phones and pestering my friends and family with texts, a couple approached to ask what I was doing. They were visiting the area from a small town in northern Idaho near the Canadian border, where cellular coverage is a rarity. After talking for a few minutes, I realized that being able to connect wirelessly via satellite could be a real boon for them, especially in emergencies, but also everyday annoyances when other forms of communication aren't available, like during power outages.
