Latest news with #phonecalls
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
8 Horror Movies That Send Terror Through Old-School Phone Lines
The new Black Phone 2 trailer centers on a phone booth that allows the Grabber—who seemingly met his end in the first Black Phone movie—to hiss new threats at his intended prey. That's a shade more sinister than how the phone was used in the 2021 original, when a mysterious land line allowed the dead to impart survival advice to the living. But 'scary phone calls' are a time-honored horror tradition (check out io9's taxonomy here!). Forget cell phones, FaceTime, and internet ghosts: today we're looking at 10 memorable showcases of land-line terror brought to the screen. Scream Opening the film with a faux 'wrong number' that's actually a killer's way of taunting his next victim is scary; having the killer get all meta and steer the conversation toward favorite horror movies is even scarier; having the dying victim's mother pick up the extension and hear her daughter gasping her last breath is the scariest. Scream hit theaters in 1996, long before cellphones became ubiquitous, and while the franchise has continued on as technology has advanced, the first film's clever use of such a well-known trope remains a series standout. Black Christmas The groundbreaking 1974 holiday slasher is not only the most effective on-screen depiction of 'the call is coming from inside the house' of all time, it also features maybe the most genuinely distressing series of phone calls ever. The shrieking, overlapping voices are otherworldly and reference a narrative that has seemingly nothing to do with the freaked-out sorority sisters hanging on to the receiver. Black Christmas also goes hard with its call-tracing subplot, showing us just how much effort that used to involve in the days before cell phone towers could pinpoint creeps within 100 feet. And it ends with a phone ringing, hammering home that in the right context, there's no more frightful sound. When a Stranger Calls Released in 1979, When a Stranger Calls leans into that same urban legend of the call coming from inside the house, with the added flavor of a babysitter in peril and, when the story flash-forwards, the ol' 'escaped lunatic' storyline. These are all familiar now, but they weren't back then, and no matter how many times you hear it, 'Have you checked the children?' is a gut-punch of an opener when you pick up. Clown in a Cornfield This recent release (haven't checked it out yet? What are you waiting for?) takes place in the present day, which means when a pair of teenage girls are desperately trying to call for help, their levels of panic skyrocket when they're confronted by a rotary-dial phone. It's such a relic and so unhelpful, it might as well be the possessed Fisher Price phone from Skinamarink instead. Compliance This skin-crawling 2021 thriller starring The Handmaid's Tale's Ann Dowd is based on a true story, which makes its ick factor even higher. A fast food restaurant manager takes a phone call from someone who claims to be a cop investigating a theft involving an employee who's still there working her shift—and as the hours pass, the voice on the phone coaxes all involved to do some very regrettable things. Compliance is technically not a horror movie, but in so much as ordinary human beings can be cruel monsters, it might as well be. Telefon Another thriller with a horror-movie idea at its core, this 1977 Cold War tale has action star Charles Bronson propelling the narrative as a series of sleeper agents are activated one by one. The phone enters into its Manchurian Candidate plot because the 'on' switch is activated when a brainwashed, deep-cover agent overhears lines from a certain Robert Frost poem. The title alone tells you how important the phone is here; it's fully weaponized to turn seemingly ordinary folks into assassins with just a conversation fragment. 976-Evil Robert Englund directed this 1988 cautionary tale about pay-by-the-minute phone lines—which may seem like a novelty (in addition to being a very outdated distraction in 2025), but instead might actually be providing a direct link to Satan. Teen cousins find out the hard way what happens when you get too excited by a new devilish influence in your life, but only one ends up getting dragged to hell in the end. The Ring Of all the dreaded calls to come through your land line, what could be worse than a demonic child reminding you that because you watched a certain cursed video tape, you have just seven days to live? Even the Grabber doesn't have a ticking clock that precise.
The Verge
3 days ago
- General
- The Verge
I need to know so much more about Trump's iPhone.
Posted Jun 2, 2025 at 7:57 PM UTC I need to know so much more about Trump's iPhone. This fun story from The Atlantic is about President Trump's love of phone calls, and the risks that entails: impersonation, hacking, and much more. But as soon as I read an advisor saying that 'he is not walking around with a run-of-the-mill iPhone off the shelf,' I immediately had one thousand more questions. I now need to go find answers. (Also, if, like me, you've never stopped wondering how Obama's BlackBerry worked, there are some interesting details here.) The Secret History of Trump's Private Cellphone [
The Verge
3 days ago
- General
- The Verge
Posted Jun 2, 2025 at 3:57 PM EDT 0 Comments
I need to know so much more about Trump's iPhone. This fun story from The Atlantic is about President Trump's love of phone calls, and the risks that entails: impersonation, hacking, and much more. But as soon as I read an advisor saying that 'he is not walking around with a run-of-the-mill iPhone off the shelf,' I immediately had one thousand more questions. I now need to go find answers. (Also, if, like me, you've never stopped wondering how Obama's BlackBerry worked, there are some interesting details here.)
CNET
23-05-2025
- CNET
You Can Make Your iPhone Call Quality Better With Voice Isolation. Here's How
Taking a phone call in a busy area can be a pain for the person on the other end of your call. They can have a hard time hearing what you're saying if you're in a busy cafe or on a packed bus. But there's a hidden iPhone feature that can make your calls clearer for the person on the other end, and it's called Voice Isolation. Apple introduced Voice Isolation in 2023 with iOS 16.4. The tech company added the feature, alongside Wide Spectrum, to FaceTime calls with iOS 15 in 2021, but only Voice Isolation is available for regular phone calls at this time. Read more: An Expert's Guide to All Features in iOS 18 When Voice Isolation is enabled, it muffles distracting background noises that interrupt your calls. That way, if you're on a business call or catching up with friends, you won't be interrupted by your dog's barking or construction outside your home. To enable Voice Isolation, you have to be on an active phone call, as the feature isn't located in Settings. Once activated, Voice Isolation will remain on for all future calls unless you manually turn it off. Here's how to activate and disable Voice Isolation for phone calls. You can also see what iOS 18.5 brings to your iPhone. How to enable Voice Isolation Apple/Screenshot by CNET 1. Tap your Phone app. 2. While in a phone call, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to access your Control Center. 3. Tap Phone Controls near the top of your screen. 4. Tap Voice Isolation. To disable Voice Isolation, follow the same steps above and tap Standard in Phone Controls. This will return your microphone back to its default setting. What is Wide Spectrum? Apple/Screenshot by CNET Next to Voice Isolation in Phone Controls, you'll also find Wide Spectrum. Unlike Voice Isolation -- which muffles background sounds -- Wide Spectrum amplifies background sounds without affecting your voice. Wide Spectrum is useful for calls with multiple people on one phone line. That way, everyone can be heard, not just the person holding the phone. Currently, Wide Spectrum is only available for FaceTime calls. Since the feature is still present in Phone Controls, it could become available for phone calls in the future. For more on iOS 18, here's all the features included in iOS 18.5 and iOS 18.4. You can also check out our iOS 18 cheat sheet and what we hope to see in iOS 19.
News.com.au
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Influencer sparks debate over common phone act
Ask anyone who isn't Gen Z, and they'll tell you that basic etiquette seems to be a thing of the past. People no longer pick up the phone and instead, just fire off a text, opting for convenience over a human interaction. Then, when they have to actually make a phone call, for a restaurant reservation or to inquire about an item at a shop, it's little wonder many lack the skills to converse with a stranger. A TikTok video has recently highlighted this issue and sparked debate over whether we should introduce ourselves at the beginning of a phone call or just start yapping away. The video that started it all The clip was shared by Bronte Rose, a Sydney-based influencer who describes herself as a 'chronic over-sharer' to her 103k followers. 'When I am calling a restaurant or anywhere, I say, 'Hi, my name is Bronte. I'm just wondering if you have a table for two tonight?'' she explained to her friends in the video. Her friend pushed back, asking if she'd do the same when calling somewhere like JB Hi-Fi. 'Yeah, it's just common courtesy,' Rose insisted. Her friend, clearly surprised, replied, 'Like, it's nice, you're very polite, but I think no one else does it'. 'Second nature' After the video went viral, with people in the comments fiercely divided, Rose explained to that she had no idea 'it was a strange thing to do,' as the behaviour is 'second nature' to her. 'I personally like to know who I'm talking to when I pick up the phone. Nine times out of ten, it's also very relevant information,' she said. 'It's something I have always done, and I think it was taught to me as good manners.' But does she think it's rude not to? 'I might ruffle feathers here, as I know lots of people disagree with me, but I do think it's rude,' she admits. 'The person you're ordering a pizza from is human too, and I'll always try to make every interaction a good one'. The internet weighs in 'Bronte is correct and polite,' wrote one person in the comments. Another chimed in, 'Bronte, you are 100% correct. Not enough people know how to communicate on the phone'. A call centre worker added, 'I work in a call centre and LOVE when people say their names at the start! It's just polite to let the other person know who they're talking to'. But not everyone agreed. 'Wait, I have NEVER done this,' revealed one user. 'Nah, been a receptionist for 10 years and I constantly make fun of people for saying their name … like why do I care, just tell me what you need,' another joked. Others said they just launch right into their query: 'I just say, 'Hi, how are you doing?', then proceed to ask my question'. What does an expert think? To settle the debate, spoke with Kate Heussler, a modern etiquette coach, who says the answer isn't black or white. 'Introducing yourself at the start of any call is a must,' she continues, 'especially if it's someone you haven't spoken to before or if the number is unfamiliar. 'It's like knocking on someone's door before you walk in – simple, considerate, and it sets the tone.' Heussler notes that it may even be worthwhile to do a quick intro when talking to people you know. 'If you're calling your best friend, a family member, or someone you speak to daily, diving straight into the conversation is totally fine. It's all about familiarity,' she says. 'But even then, a quick, 'Hey, it's me!' or 'me again' still adds a touch of respect and clarity'. How to introduce yourself When you do find yourself wanting to introduce yourself to a stranger over the phone, she suggests keeping it 'clear, confident and warm'. She advises: 'Lead with your name, a touch of context, and a check-in. Something like, 'Hi, it's (name) – I'm just calling to chat about (topic). Is now a good time?' It shows respect for their schedule and instantly breaks down barriers'. Other common phone call mistakes According to Heussler, other phone call missteps include skipping the check-in ('It's considerate to ask if it's a good time, especially if it's unexpected'), talking too fast or too loudly ('Slowing down just a touch makes you sound confident and clear'), and not being prepared ('Jotting down a few key points beforehand can be a game-changer').
