March 5, 2024

Navigating the Network: The Quest for Innocence in a World of Complexity

Navigating the Network: The Quest for Innocence in a World of Complexity

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Welcome to the digital age, where the marvels of self-driving cars and sophisticated AI like ChatGPT grace our everyday lives. Yet, amidst these advancements, a battleground often goes unnoticed, hidden within the layers of our network infrastructures. It’s a world where network teams are the unsung heroes, tirelessly working behind the scenes to keep our digital lifelines seamless and uninterrupted. Today, I want to take you on a journey through Network Observability, a beacon of hope in the relentless quest to avoid outages, understand the impact of change, and quickly and accurately root cause complex situations.

In the intricate dance of troubleshooting network, workload, application, and user issues, the goal is clear but daunting: prevent changes that would cause outages and cut down the time it takes to prove the network isn’t the culprit. Picture this: the network is the usual suspect in the courtroom of digital operations, guilty until proven innocent. This challenge becomes a Herculean task when problems arise in the dead of night or are lost in the echoes of the past, leaving network operations (NetOps) teams in a never-ending chase to vindicate their own and their network’s reputation.

But what if there was a way to shift the narrative? To move from a world of reactive scrambles to one of proactive insight and understanding? This is where Network Observability steps in, not just as a tool but as a fundamental shift in how we approach network management.

The Heartbeat of Network Observability

Network Observability is about more than just seeing what’s happening in real-time. It’s about diving deeper, looking back into the past, and even predicting future challenges. It’s about truly understanding the pulse of our networks, deciphering their complex rhythms, and anticipating potential hurdles before they become obstacles.

So, how does Network Observability transform our approach? It stands on three powerful pillars:

Reducing the Time to Detect

Imagine having x-ray vision across your entire network landscape, capturing every whisper between users, applications, devices, and cloud workloads. This isn’t just about visibility; it’s about pervasive, optimal awareness. It’s the foundation of security, the cornerstone of troubleshooting, and the first step in ensuring we’re always in tune with the network’s every change, flap, convergence, and state change.

Reducing the Time to Analyze

With the avalanche of data our networks generate, it’s crucial to channel this information into a centralized reservoir of knowledge—a Data Lake. Here, the fusion of machine intelligence and high-performance analysis takes the stage, sifting through data at lightning speed. It’s not just about collecting information; it’s about weaving a tapestry of insights, uncovering the story behind every anomaly and every interaction, and driving straight to the heart of the matter: is it the network or the application?

Reducing the Time to Remediate

All the insights in the world mean nothing without the agility to act – this is where the rubber meets the road, where swift, precise responses ensure our networks not only detect issues but correct course with minimal disruption. It’s about maintaining the integrity and resilience of our digital ecosystems, ensuring they’re robust enough to withstand whatever comes their way.

UNO-Launch-Blog

UNO: A Beacon in the Dark

Enter Arista’s CloudVisionⓇ Universal Network ObservabilityTM (CV UNOTM) product. CV UNO isn’t just a tool; it’s a guardian, offering risk analysis to preempt unintended consequences from network changes, near real-time impact analysis to detect outages post-change, and the ability to rollback almost instantaneously. But CV UNO’s prowess doesn’t stop there. It’s also about providing network teams with a crystal-clear understanding of the root cause of performance issues, whether they’re lurking in the shadows of the network or hidden within the complexity of applications.

CV UNO stands as a testament to what’s possible when we harness the power of observability. It’s about empowering network teams with the insights and agility they need to navigate the complexities of the digital age. With CV UNO, the mean time to innocence isn’t just reduced; it’s transformed, offering a pathway to vindicate and elevate the network’s role in driving business success.

The Journey Ahead

As we stand on the brink of this new era, it’s clear that the path forward is paved with data, insights, and proactive strategies. Network Observability isn’t just a solution; it’s a journey toward a future where networks are no longer the default culprits but the unsung heroes of the digital age.

So, as we navigate this complex landscape, let’s embrace the power of observability. Let’s empower network operations and engineering teams with the tools, insights, and confidence they need to prove innocence and ensure our networks are robust, resilient, and ready for whatever lies ahead.

In the world of Network Observability, the quest for swift innocence is not just a goal; it’s a reality. And with tools like the CV UNO product leading the charge, we’re not just solving problems; we’re redefining the future of network management.



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A hackers’ guide to online voting systems - Intigriti

A hackers’ guide to online voting systems – Intigriti

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In today’s digital world, online voting systems are pivotal in various domains. Businesses rely on them for award shows where the public’s vote determines winners. Music charts use online voting to influence album sales, shaping the music industry. Even self-driven communities depend on voting to maintain democratic processes. However, ensuring the fairness and integrity of these systems is a complex task.

The methods used to ensure fairness vary and often involve balancing usability and security. In this blog post, we’ll delve into techniques for manipulating online voting systems, focusing on attacks that go beyond classic web vulnerabilities, and distinguishing between two common security contexts: anonymous polls and authenticated polls.

Anonymous polls

Anonymous polls utilize identifiers like cookies, IP addresses, or email/phone verification. However, these methods aren’t foolproof. For instance, email or phone numbers can be manipulated using tricks like catch-all wildcards, allowing individuals to vote multiple times unfairly.

Cookie-based

Most anonymous polls place a cookie on the users’ machine after they have voted. The presence of the cookie prevents them from casting a vote again, even after they have refreshed the webpage. Clearing cookies or swapping browsers is the easiest way to get across this defense mechanism.

IP-based

In IP-based anonymous polls, the system tracks users’ IP addresses to prevent multiple votes from the same device or network. While this method may be more effective in stopping individual attempts to manipulate votes, it also has limitations. Users within the same household or business, sharing the same IP address, may find themselves unable to cast separate votes. However, determined individuals can still bypass this restriction using methods like relying on virtual private networks (VPNs) or IP spoofing to change their true IP addresses and cast multiple votes.

E-mail / phone number verification

While not providing complete anonymity, phone number or email verification serves as a simple barrier to entry in online voting systems. In the event that a voter can only rely on a single e-mail address or phone number for verification purposes, multiple notations may be used to fool the system into thinking the phone number or e-mail address hasn’t been used before.

E-mail addresses could use wildcards or comments to achieve this, e.g. e-mails sent to [email protected] and john.smith+1@gmail.com will both arrive in the same e-mail inbox, despite them looking different to an input validation rule. The same can be done by adding padding zeroes to phone numbers, e.g.  +44 13371337 becomes +04413371337, +004413371337, etc.

Authenticated polls

Authenticated polls add an extra layer of security but can still be vulnerable to manipulation. Attackers might attempt to change the weight of a vote or manipulate the quantity of votes cast. For example, they could submit the same vote in different formats, exploiting loopholes in the system. These attacks undermine the integrity of the voting process and threaten the democratic principles online voting seeks to uphold.

Vote weight manipulation

Vote weight manipulation involves altering the weight assigned to voting items within an online voting system. For instance, if users are allowed to select their top three choices with varying weights (e.g., 3 points for the first choice, 2 points for the second, and 1 point for the third), attackers may intercept the request and increase the weight of their preferred choice significantly.

For example:

POST /vote

{item : 14, votes : 3}

In this request, the user assigns 3 votes to item 14.

POST /vote

{item : 14, votes : 3000}

In contrast, the attacker manipulates the request to assign 3000 votes to item 14, skewing the results in favor of their preferred choice.

Furthermore, attackers may employ negative votes on other contenders, subtracting votes rather than adding them, to further manipulate the outcome of the voting process. For instance:

POST /vote

{item : 15, votes : -3000}

This request subtracts 3000 votes from item 15, diminishing its chances of success. These manipulative tactics highlight the necessity for robust security measures to uphold the integrity of online voting systems.

Vote quantity manipulation

Vote quantity manipulation can occur in scenarios where users are limited to voting once for each item, but some form of normalization occurs after this validation. For example, consider a situation where a user wants to vote for item 42. The initial request might look like this:

POST /vote

{item : 42}

If the user attempts to repeat this request, they will encounter an error message indicating that they have already voted for the item:

{status : 409, message: “You’ve already voted for this item”}

However, crafty attackers may exploit type casting vulnerabilities to bypass the duplication check while still registering a valid vote. For instance:

POST /vote

{item : 42e0}
POST /vote

{item : "42"}
  • As an explicitly declared positive number:
POST /vote

{item : "+42"}
POST /vote

{item : [42]}

In each of these cases, the system accepts the vote despite variations in data type, thereby allowing the attacker to manipulate the voting process surreptitiously. This underscores the importance of robust input validation and stringent duplication checks in safeguarding the integrity of online voting systems.

If the data types are currently normalised prior to validating the votes, or only one vote per account is permitted regardless of what item is voted on, a race condition attack could be leveraged to gain extra votes. This occurs when multiple requests are sent simultaneously, overwhelming the system and exploiting the window between the initial validation and the final vote submission, potentially allowing for multiple votes to be cast from a single account.

Wrapping up

In conclusion, the effectiveness and credibility of online voting systems hinge on the diligent application of robust security measures. Prioritizing thorough authentication protocols, rigorous validation procedures, and manual oversight is essential for reinforcing the integrity of the voting process and fostering trust among participants.

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Rivian R2 launch event: the EV company’s more affordable SUV is here

Rivian R2 launch event: the EV company’s more affordable SUV is here

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Rivian released its first-ever environmental and social impact report, in which the company commits to building a new generation of electric vehicles that are even less polluting than its current generation.

Rivian said its goal is to launch a product by 2030 “with half the lifecycle carbon footprint” as its 2022 R1 vehicles, which include the R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV. “Lifecycle carbon footprint” refers to all the greenhouse gas emissions, direct and indirect, associated with a product’s activities. For an EV, that would include its production, operation, and charging, from conception to junkyard.

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Our favorite smart home automations

Our favorite smart home automations

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For many of us, the path to the smart home starts with a simple problem. You lock yourself out of the house one too many times, so you buy a smart lock. You want to change the temperature without getting out of bed, so you get a smart thermostat. You always forget to turn the porch lights off, so you buy a smart switch that automates them. For most people, that’s as far as it goes and as far as it needs to go. 

But other people see a temperature sensor and a smart plug, or a light switch and a smart bulb on different circuits, plus a platform that lets them talk to each other, and think, “Ah, I could go wild with this. Why shouldn’t the lights come on automatically when I walk into a room? Why can’t my bed be perfectly toasty every night? What if I could hit the light switch twice to turn on a different lamp?”

Not everyone at The Verge fits into the latter category, but some of us do. Here are some of our favorite smart home automations. (Note that Home Assistant is a recurring theme; while all smart home platforms now support some level of automation, Home Assistant’s flexibility is unmatched.)

The perfect morning shower routine

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, smart home reviewer

I use dozens of automations throughout my home to make things run smoothly. Motion sensors turn lights on and off, Good Morning and Good Night routines wake up and close down my home (lock doors, lower shades, adjust thermostats), and a Movie Night routine sets the scene for an evening of relaxation. 

I also put my smart home to work caring for my pets. One automation using a camera feeds my cat when he approaches his food bowl (limited to twice a day). On hot days, a climate sensor turns on the sprinklers for my chickens. And I even use smart security cameras as a digital pet door

But my Morning Shower routine is my favorite. Most newer Echo Dots and smart displays can listen for sounds — water running, a dog barking, an appliance beeping, snoring, or a baby crying — and use them to trigger an automation. When the Echo Dot Clock in my bathroom hears running water between 5:30 and 8AM, it announces the date and weather and plays NPR for 20 minutes at a set level. After 20 minutes, it tells me the time, which is handy if I’m running late.

I have the same routine set up in my children’s bathroom, and it has proved hugely helpful in getting them out of the bathroom on time, with the bonus that they’re very clued in on current events. (I have yet to let them pick their own radio station.)

A warm bed on a cold night

Jon Porter, senior news reporter

With energy prices so high recently, I’ve been looking for more efficient ways to heat my home. That meant buying a heated mattress topper to keep me warm at night and avoid the need to heat my whole bedroom. And I’ve been using Home Assistant to automate turning it on and off, so I (ideally) never have to get into a cold bed.

It’s a relatively simple setup. When my Tado smart heating system detects that my bedroom is below a certain temperature in the evening, it triggers Home Assistant to turn on the Kasa smart plug that my mattress topper is plugged into. But where it gets tricky is working around the limitations of the mattress topper, which wasn’t designed to be smart or to be controlled remotely. When it gets turned on at the plug, it defaults to full power, and a built-in timer turns it off after an hour.

These constraints mean I’ve had to experiment to get it working right. I’ve had to work out what temperature I want the bed to be when I crawl into it, and then I had to figure out when to turn the topper on so it’s not too hot by the time I actually want to sleep on it. After some trial and error, I’ve settled on triggering the automation once the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius, and I give it 45 minutes to cool down so it’s the perfect sleeping temperature for me. Your mileage may vary, obviously.

Automating multiroom audio with the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button

Wes Davis, weekend editor 

When Apple announced the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro, I was skeptical about the removal of the mute switch, which has long been one of my favorite features of the iPhone. But I was able to map so much of the stuff I do on a regular basis to that button, like setting Apple Home scenes or playing music. 

I created a menu that pops up when I press the button, and as time has gone on, I’ve tweaked it to automate a lot of things that would otherwise require an annoying set of swipes, long-presses, scrolls, and taps. That may not annoy most people, but I have the early signs of a hereditary tremor condition that my father has, making some of those actions occasionally mildly difficult to get on the first try.

I get the most mileage out of a “play podcasts” option I added to the menu. When tapped, it queues up my podcasts from wherever they left off, then pops up a list of all the AirPlay 2 targets in my home. I select the ones I want, then tap “Done,” and my podcasts start playing from whichever speakers I chose — which includes a mix of HomePods and speakers with either a WiiM Mini or second-generation AirPort Express connected via aux cable.

I did this all within the iOS Shortcuts app, using the Choose from Menu action to start. Once you fill out the menu with options, it automatically creates nested “folders” under it that you can populate with further actions. You can even add more menus if you want, like navigating a file system! 

I love this because it lets me do all of this in as little as two clicks, even from the lock screen. If I wanted — and I may do this eventually — I could easily configure this shortcut with groups of speakers as options, say, if I wanted to only cast to my kitchen and office. I could also add preset volume levels or set lights to turn on in the rooms I know I’ll be moving between while I’m cleaning — or whatever I’m doing that necessitates multiroom podcast listening. 

Don’t forget the laundry!

Callie Wright, junior editor, The Vergecast and Decoder

My washer and dryer are far enough away from my main living areas that I can’t always hear the bloops and bleeps they make when they’re done. I also have ADHD and don’t always remember to check on them. So I rigged my home automation system to know when they’re running and when they stop and bug me until I unload my washer so I don’t forget my clothes in there and let them get all mildewy.

My non-smart Samsung washer is plugged into an Aqara smart plug that monitors the power draw. Once it goes above 10 watts, Home Assistant knows it’s running, and when it drops below 10 watts for more than five minutes, Home Assistant knows it’s done. This triggers a notification on my Alexa speakers that goes off every 15 minutes until I open the washer door, which has a contact sensor attached. The Echo speaker in my laundry room tells me, “Yay, you did it!” 

Since my dryer uses a 50-amp plug, I can’t monitor its power draw in the same way, so I attached a temperature sensor near the vent. When the vent temperature goes above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, Home Assistant knows the dryer is running, and when the temp drops below 90 degrees Fahrenheit for five minutes, it lets me know. Since there’s no risk of moldy clothes, there’s no passive-aggressive recurring notification set there.

Smarter smart switches 

Chris Grant, group publisher, Polygon and The Verge

I often criticize smart home tech as moving switches from your walls to your phones, when the whole “switches on the wall” thing has worked out okay for over a century. But what if you could use those same wall switches to do more than just turn a light off and on? Enter: your old friend, the double (or triple!) tap. 

With certain compatible switches, you can use those alternative inputs to trigger different automations, and this works for both the down and up actions. This is most commonly used to turn on a group of lights instead of just the light hardwired to the switch. For example, a single click up turns on a ceiling light, but a double click up turns on the ceiling light plus a lamp wired to a smart outlet. Another example: one click down turns off the lights, but a double click dims the lights and turns the fireplace on. Cozy! 

My smart home platform of choice is Home Assistant, but I’ve also used this feature on a SmartThings house with no issues. In Home Assistant, I usually search the “Blueprints Exchange” forums for my brand of switch plus “double tap” and then just drop in the variables I want to change. I use these affordable UltraPro Z-Wave rockers, which are just rebadged GE / Jasco switches, but others swear by the Inovelli series of switches. In SmartThings, I just set the input to “Toggled down 2 times” or “Toggled up 2 times,” depending on the action. 

I also have a couple of Ikea’s new Rodret remotes, which use AAA batteries so I can place them anywhere and are supported in Home Assistant via this Blueprint, including a double click. I’ve found that once I rewired my brain to expect light switches to enable various automations, it’s very difficult to go back. But that said, the ones we use the most often are the simplest: 

  • A double click up and down, in various rooms, to control a lighting group instead of a single light. In one room, we set it so when the single switch-controlled light is on, it’s bright, but when turned on in a group, they’re dimmed appropriately. 
  • A triple click at the switch near our front door turns off all the lights in the house — or at least all the lights I have connected to Home Assistant. This could also be used to automate a Goodbye routine, which could arm an alarm panel, lock any other doors in the house, and make sure a garage is closed… all stuff for my punch list.
  • A double click up on the Rodret remote triggers a Bedtime scene in the kids room. That scene includes: lowering the blinds, turning on the humidifier in the winter, and turning the ceiling light off and the bedside lamps on. This scene is usually triggered automatically during the school week, but on the weekends, we leave it off to provide some flexibility. A double click down turns off both lights. 

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Make Your iPhone and Android's Reception Better With These 10 Tips and Tricks

Make Your iPhone and Android’s Reception Better With These 10 Tips and Tricks

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We live in a connected world, where losing your cell phone signal doesn’t just mean you can’t check Instagram. The stakes are now higher, and having no connection could mean getting stuck in the middle of nowhere without directions or missing out on important travel updates and advisories.

That’s why it’s important to know the tips and tricks that work to improve your phone’s reception, like toggling Airplane mode or resetting your network settings. In this story, we’ll take a look at some tried-and-true approaches, as well as some more unique methods, that can help get your phone working at peak performance.

Here’s what you need to know.

Note: Although software across different iPhone models is relatively the same, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android devices may have different software versions, and so certain settings and where they are located might differ from device to device.

For more, check out how you can use Google Maps when you’re offline and how you can maybe fix your internet when it’s down.

To improve your cell phone service, try these steps first

The settings on your phone can help you get better cell service, but there are other tricks for improving your reception without even touching your phone’s software.

  • Move yourself so that there are no obstructions between your phone and any cell towers outside. That might involve stepping away from metal objects or concrete walls, which both kill reception. Instead, get to a window or go outside if possible.
  • Remove your phone case. It doesn’t hurt to remove whatever case you have on your phone, especially if it’s thick, so that the phone’s antenna isn’t blocked by anything and can get a better signal.
  • Make sure your phone is charged. Searching for and connecting to a stronger signal drains power, so if your phone battery is already low on charge, you may have a difficult time getting good service.

Moshi iPhone 13 cases Moshi iPhone 13 cases

Some phone cases cause more cell signal disruption than others.

David Carnoy/CNET

Always start by turning Airplane mode on and off

Turning your phone’s connection off and then back on is the quickest and easiest way to try and fix your signal woes. If you’re moving around from one location to another, toggling Airplane mode restarts the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular network modems, which forces them to find the best signal in the area.

Android: Swipe down from the top of your screen — to access the Quick Settings panel — and then tap the Airplane mode icon. Wait for your phone to completely disconnect from its Wi-Fi and cellular connections. It doesn’t happen instantly, so give it a good 15 seconds before you tap on the Airplane mode icon again.

iPhone: On the iPhone, you can access Airplane mode from the Control Center, but that varies depending on which iPhone model you have. On the iPhone X and later, swipe down from the top-right corner to access the Control Center. On older iPhone models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Then tap the Airplane mode icon, which will turn orange when it’s enabled. Again, wait up to 15 seconds before turning it off.

airplane-mode-android-iphone airplane-mode-android-iphone

Left: Toggle Airplane mode on your iPhone. Right: The Airplane mode toggle on an Android.

Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET

If airplane mode doesn’t work, restart your phone

Our phones are miniature computers, and just like computers, sometimes you can fix issues like network connection by simply restarting them.

Android: Hold down the power button, or the power button and the volume down key (depending on your Android phone), until the on-screen menu shows up, and then tap Restart. If your phone doesn’t offer a restart option, you can simply tap Power Off to shut down your device, and then boot it back up with the power button.

iPhone: On the iPhone X and older models, hold down the sleep/wake button and either one of the volume buttons and then swipe right on the power slider to turn off the device. Wait until it fully turns off, then press down on the sleep/wake button to turn it back on. 

Alternatively, you can do a force reset on your iPhone: Press the volume up button, followed by the volume down button and then press and hold the side button. Keep holding it in, after your phone’s screen goes black and until you see the Apple logo appear again. 

If your iPhone has a home button, hold down the sleep/wake button until the power slider is displayed and then drag the slider to the right. Once the device is turned off, press and hold the sleep/wake button until you see the Apple logo. 

restart-android-iphone restart-android-iphone

Left: Restarting an Android phone. Right: Powering off an iPhone. 

Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Take your SIM card out of your phone

Another troubleshooting step that might help is to remove your SIM card, if your phone has one, and then place it back in with the phone turned on. If the SIM card is dirty, clean it. If it has any physical defects, you may need to replace it.

You’ll need a SIM card tool — usually included in your phone’s box — or an unfolded paper clip or sewing needle to get the SIM tray out of your phone.

All phones: Remove the SIM card, check to see if it’s damaged and positioned in the SIM tray correctly, then put it back in your phone.

eSIM: For phones with an eSIM — that is, an embedded electronic SIM in your phone — there’s nothing for you to remove. The best you can do is restart your phone.

sim-pixel-3-xl sim-pixel-3-xl

Removing and putting your SIM card back into your phone takes just a couple of seconds. 

Jason Cipriani/CNET

Check your carrier settings (and update your software)

Mobile carriers frequently send out carrier settings updates to help improve connectivity for calls, data and messages on their network. Although this feature is available on all iPhone models, it’s not universal on Android, so you might not find carrier settings if you don’t have a supported phone.

iPhone: Carrier updates should just appear, and you can update from the pop-up message that appears. To force your iPhone to check for a carrier settings update, go to Settings > General > About on your phone. If an update is available, you’ll be prompted to install it.

Android: As mentioned before, not all Android phones have carrier settings, so you’ll have to open the Settings app and type in “carrier settings” to find any possible updates. On supported Pixels, go to Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap the gear next to your carrier name and then tap Carrier settings versions.

Carrier settings on iOS and Android Carrier settings on iOS and Android

Left: iOS carrier settings. Right: Android carrier settings version.

Nelson Aguilar/CNET

Reset your phone’s network settings

Sometimes all you need is a clean slate to fix an annoying connectivity issue. Refreshing your phone’s network settings is one way to do that. But be forewarned, resetting your network settings will also reset any saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN connections and custom APN settings for those on carriers that require additional setup.

Android: In the Settings app, search for “reset” or more specifically “reset network settings” and tap on the setting. On the Pixel, the setting is called Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. After you reset your network settings, remember to reconnect your phone to your home and work Wi-Fi networks.

iPhone: Go to Settings > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network settings. The next page will warn you that resetting your network settings will reset your settings for Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth. Tap Reset Network Settings and your phone will restart.

Network settings on iOS and Android Network settings on iOS and Android

Resetting network settings should be one of the last troubleshooting steps you try. 

Nelson Aguilar/CNET

Contact your phone carrier

Sometimes unexpected signal issues can be traced back to problems with your wireless carrier. A cell tower could be down, or the tower’s fiber optic cable could have been cut, causing an outage.

For consistent problems connecting to or staying connected to a cellular or data network, it’s possible your carrier’s coverage doesn’t extend well into your neighborhood. 

Other times, a newfound signal issue can be due to a defect with your phone or a SIM card that’s gone bad. Contacting your carrier to begin troubleshooting after you’ve tried these fixes is the next best step to resolving your spotty signal.

galaxy-s10-plus-macro-1 galaxy-s10-plus-macro-1

Sometimes contacting your carrier is the only way to get signal issues resolved. 

Angela Lang/CNET

If all else fails, try a signal booster to improve cell reception

If after going through all of our troubleshooting steps, including talking to your carrier to go over your options, you’re still struggling to keep a good signal — try a booster. A signal booster receives the same cellular signal your carrier uses, then amplifies it just enough to provide coverage in a room or your entire house. 

The big downside here is the cost. Wilson has three different boosters designed for home use, ranging in price from $349 for single room coverage to $999 to cover your entire home. To be clear, we haven’t specifically tested these models. Wilson offers a 30-day money back guarantee and a two-year warranty should you have any trouble with its products. 

If you’re looking for iPhone-specific tips and tricks, check out our guide to hidden features on iOS 17. And for Android fans, here’s how you can get Android 14 right now.



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iPad Pro, with Magic Keyboard Case and Pencil.

iPad 2024: What to Expect, and What I Want Next

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There hasn’t been a new iPad since late 2022, but new models could be right around the corner. The iPad Pro line is expected to have new OLED displays, while iPad Air models with larger screens could arrive right alongside. 

Does this mean your dream iPad is almost here? Well, maybe, maybe not. Apple’s next wave of iPads, according to some of the latest reports, is likely refreshes of the priciest models; the entry-level iPad and iPad Mini could be coming later on.

Watch this: New iPads in 2024: What We Expect (OLED, M3 and Beyond)

I’ve covered Apple’s iPad lineup for years and reviewed nearly every model for CNET. I’ve been hoping that, someday, the iPad might finally even fold MacOS into its iPadOS software, becoming a true MacBook replacement in tablet form. Despite the iPad Pro and Air now sharing the same processors as Macs, I’ve given up on some of those hopes. It’s not that people aren’t still dreaming of this type of product: it’s just that Apple hasn’t made one. Clearly, Apple is evolving the iPad — slowly — to get a bit more like a Mac each year without ever actually making it run MacOS. And I expect that plan to continue.

But, if you want a tablet that’s a surprisingly versatile portable computer, the iPad is already great at that. Apple may not change the equation too much over the models we already know, but some helpful overdue improvements should be on deck. Here’s what to expect and also, what I want for the entry-level models later on.

Two Samsung tablets, one in front of the other, on a shelf Two Samsung tablets, one in front of the other, on a shelf

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 already has OLED displays across the board.

Scott Stein/CNET

iPad Pro: OLED, new cameras, new Pencil…higher price?

Apple’s never had OLED displays on its iPads, and all reports indicate the next iPad Pro models will get them. Will this upgrade be only on the larger-screen model, however? Hard to tell. The previous M2 iPad Pros only had improved mini-LED displays, which offered better black levels and contrast, on the 12.9-inch models. Adding OLED displays to both the 11- and 12.9-inch versions would mean even better color and dynamic range regardless of size. 

Apple’s late to OLED on tablets: Samsung’s Galaxy tablet lineup has had OLED displays for years. While iPad displays are already pretty great in general, OLED is a logical upgrade for a premium tablet focused on delivering the best display. Apple’s iPhone models switched to OLED screens, starting with the iPhone X back in 2017.

The new iPad Pros could also get bumped to the M3 chip instead of M2, much like recent Macs. M3 performance may not be a massive jump compared to M2, but it should improve graphics and on-device AI performance.

Apple's new iPad 10th generation Apple's new iPad 10th generation

The 10th-gen iPad added a newly oriented front camera. The iPad Pro is overdue.

Scott Stein/CNET

Another overdue change that’s almost guaranteed: a proper landscape-oriented front camera. The 10th-gen iPad is the only one with the “proper” position for front-facing video chats; its camera is along the long edge, like a laptop. With a keyboard attached, it means I don’t look off-center in Zoom or FaceTime chats. The iPad Pro should get this upgrade, finally, with the next model.

Will a new Pencil and Magic Keyboard case come too? The Pencil 2 debuted all the way back in 2018. Apple could make a new smaller version, possibly enabling it to snap on the side of the iPad instead of the top to charge. And as far as the awkwardly designed and expensive Magic Keyboard case goes (which I still love to use), Apple may need a new one regardless to fit what could be a thinner new iPad Pro design. Maybe Apple has figured out a better way for the case to fold open and work in a flat folio mode too.

Making these moves could mean a price bump, though. Reports say these OLED models could be significantly more expensive. That alone might be enough to encourage most iPad shoppers to stick with the one they already have or aim lower.

ipad-pro-m1-2021-cnet-2021-029 ipad-pro-m1-2021-cnet-2021-029

The iPad Pro comes in two sizes. The iPad Air should follow suit.

Scott Stein/CNET

iPad Air: Bigger at last

The iPad Air line is where Apple puts last-gen iPad Pros — with slight redesigns — at a discount. Expect the newer Airs to be the same, maybe with M2 chips and re-oriented front cameras. The biggest expected change is a 12.9-inch model similar to the 2022 iPad Pro, offering a larger, more affordable option than the likely super-expensive OLED iPad Pro. Maybe it’ll have the mini-LED display that the larger Pros had too.

Apple is expected to announce the new iPad Pros and Airs at the same time this spring, likely sometime in March. If you’ve been looking to get a higher-end iPad, hang tight.

The new iPad Mini sits between a Rubik's cube and a mug for size comparison. The new iPad Mini sits between a Rubik's cube and a mug for size comparison.

The iPad Mini should have a smaller Pencil.

Scott Stein/CNET

Budget options: What could iPad and Mini bring?

Lower-cost iPads tend to arrive in the fall, and I’d expect the same for the 11th-gen iPad and iPad Mini. The last budget iPad was more expensive than previous models but introduced a more modern design, USB-C and a much better landscape-oriented front camera for video chats. The last Mini had USB-C and Pencil 2 support as well, all the way back in 2021.

I’d love it if an entry-level iPad had a dock similar to Google’s Pixel Tablet dock for use at home and family video chats. It could turn the iPad into more of a home hub. Of course, a better processor would be nice too, and, hopefully, better integrated Pencil 2 support instead of the weirder, lower-cost Pencil Apple debuted last year, which needs to be charged via USB-C.

The iPad Mini was already great the last time, but it cost a lot for its relative size. A smaller, more portable Pencil for a new Mini would be great if I could dream up my own wish list for the next one. A refreshed front-camera placement might be nice too, but it’s not as necessary for a small device that’s more regularly held like a book rather than in a laptop-like keyboard mode. Would Apple add M1 processors to these models, making all iPads part of the M-series family of chips, or would they continue to use iPhone-based A-series chips? It’s hard to say, but most people I know who are interested in budget iPads, they’re more concerned about the price. And for now, it doesn’t seem like new affordable budget iPads are coming this spring…so, just be patient and wait until the fall, if you can.



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Cars will need fewer screens and more buttons to earn five-star safety rating in Europe

Cars will need fewer screens and more buttons to earn five-star safety rating in Europe

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Car makers in Europe are being encouraged to stop using touchscreens for basic functions like turn signals and wipers in an attempt to promote safer driving. As reported by the Times, the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) — an independent and well-regarded safety body for the automotive industry  — is set to introduce new rules in January 2026 that require the vehicles it assesses to have physical controls to receive a full five-star safety rating.

While Euro NCAP testing is voluntary, it is widely backed by several EU governments with companies like Tesla, Volvo, and BMW using their 5-star scores to boast about the safety of their vehicles to potential buyers.

“The overuse of touchscreens is an industry-wide problem”

“The overuse of touchscreens is an industry-wide problem, with almost every vehicle-maker moving key controls onto central touchscreens, obliging drivers to take their eyes off the road and raising the risk of distraction crashes,” said Matthew Avery, director of strategic development at Euro NCAP, to the Times. To be eligible for the maximum safety rating after the new testing guidelines go into effect, cars will need to use buttons, dials, or stalks for hazard warning lights, indicators, windscreen wipers, SOS calls, and the horn.

Some manufacturers like Tesla and Volkswagen have gained a reputation for placing basic vehicle controls behind touch-sensitive interfaces. There’s no shortage of complaints about such features, but equipment manufacturers continue to push touchscreen interfaces because they’re more cost-effective to produce than physical buttons and dials.

The Euro NCAP’s safety guidelines aren’t a legal requirement, however, car makers take safety ratings pretty seriously, so any risk of points being docked during such assessments is likely to be taken into consideration. “As this work is in progress, we have not yet finalized the evaluation procedure,” Avery told the Verge. “However, it is our intention to adopt these new requirements in 2026 as stated and the vehicle manufacturers are aware and are in support of the initiative.”

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The Nothing Phone 2A

Nothing Phone 2A Cuts the Price and the Lights

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We liked the Nothing Phone 2 because of its solid overall performance and unique flashing lights on the back of the phone. The Nothing Phone 2A inherits some of that flashiness but strips back the specs to make the price tag even more affordable. 

In the US, the Phone 2A with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage will cost $349, while the same configuration in the UK will set you back £349. That’s half the price of the Nothing Phone 2 with the same storage and memory. 

Watch this: First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day

So what do you get for your money? Two rear cameras, a generously large 6.7-inch display — which seems bright and vibrant enough to do mobile games and YouTube videos justice — and a 5,000-mAh battery that should provide at least a full day of use. 

Read more: Best of MWC 2024: AI, Wearables and Bending Phone Concepts That Amaze

Watch this: Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More

The main 50-megapixel camera takes decent photos in most conditions, capturing plenty of detail and colors that seem generally accurate. There’s also a 32MP ultrawide camera that also does its job perfectly well. Is it a camera to catapult you into photography stardom? Probably not. But it’s fine for quick snaps of your friends.

Here are some photos I’ve taken with the phone so far.

A photo taken with the Nothing Phone 2A A photo taken with the Nothing Phone 2A

A photo taken with the Nothing Phone 2A.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

A photo of the inside of a store taken on the Nothing Phone 2A. A photo of the inside of a store taken on the Nothing Phone 2A.

A photo of the inside of a store taken on the Nothing Phone 2A.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Nothing Phone 2A Photo Nothing Phone 2A Photo

Another image shot on the Nothing Phone 2A. 

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

An outdoor shot taken on the Nothing Phone 2A. An outdoor shot taken on the Nothing Phone 2A.

An outdoor shot taken on the Nothing Phone 2A.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The phone runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Pro chip, rather than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 found in its pricier sibling. It’s nowhere near as powerful on benchmark tests as the Nothing Phone 2, but that’s to be expected given its lower price. I found it fairly nippy in everyday use with no noticeable lag or stuttering. 

The back of the Nothing Phone 2A The back of the Nothing Phone 2A

The Nothing Phone 2A’s flashing lights.

Jide Akinrinade/CNET

So what about Nothing’s signature flashing glyph lights? Well, there are a small number of them on the back, though apparently you need to spend bigger bucks on the regular Nothing Phone 2 if you want the complete light show. The LEDs it does have can alert you to incoming calls or act as a small fill light when shooting video at night. 

We’ve spent only a short amount of time with the phone, so we’ll reserve judgement on whether it’s worth the money for the full review. But so far, it certainly seems like a decent and affordable alternative for those who don’t want to spend more on the Nothing Phone 2. 

Nothing Phone 2A Gallery: An Affordable Option With Better Specs Than Style

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First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day - Video

First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day – Video

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First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day

Speaker 1: We liked the nothing phone two, because of its solid overall performance and its unique flashing lights, the nothing Phone two A takes a bit of that flashiness, but strips the specs back to come with an even more affordable price tag in the us The phone two A with 12 gig of Ram and 256 gig of storage will go on sale for $349. That’s half the price of the nothing phone two in the same configuration. So what do you get for your money? Well, you get a generous 6.7 inch display, which seems [00:00:30] bright and vibrant enough to do justice to your games and YouTube videos. A 5,000 milliamp power battery, which should give you at least a full day of use and a dual rear camera setup. The main 50 megapixel camera takes decent photos in most conditions, capturing plenty of detail and colors that seem pretty accurate.

Speaker 1: There’s also a 32 megapixel ultra wide, which again does the job perfectly well. This is a camera to catapult you into photography stardom. Well, probably not, but it’s fine For quick snaps of your friends [00:01:00] phone two A runs on the Media Tech Dimity 7,200 Pro Chip rather than the Snapdragon eight Gen one chip found in its Prier sibling. It’s nowhere near as powerful on benchmark tests as the nothing. Phone two, but given its much lower price, that’s probably to be expected In general use, though, I found it fairly nippy with no noticeable lag or stuttering. So what about nothing signature flashing Glyph lights? Well, there are a small number on the back [00:01:30] though. Apparently you need to spend bigger bucks if you want the complete light show. The LEDs it does have will do the usual things of alerting you to incoming calls or act as a small fill light when you are shooting video at night. We only spent a short amount of time with the phone so far, so we’ll reserve judgment on whether it’s worth its money in the full review. But so far it certainly seems like a decent, affordable alternative. For those of you who don’t want to spend the bigger money on the Nothing. Phone two.

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Nothing Phone (2a) Hands-on: A Phone to Challenge Google and Samsung's Budget Offerings

Nothing Phone (2a) Hands-on: A Phone to Challenge Google and Samsung’s Budget Offerings

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The point of a budget smartphone is to exist as the “fast fashion” equivalent of its flagship counterparts. For instance, in the case of the top Android phone seller, Samsung, its A-series delivers some of the brand’s premium experiences at a fraction of the cost. Mid-range Samsung devices are known for sporting the brightest, most vibrant displays, just like their Big Phone counterparts. Or, in the case of Google’s Pixel A-series, it’s a cheaper way to access Google’s camera algorithms and other AI smarts without buying into unnecessary features—like a temperature sensor.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 5: Hands-on first Impressions of Samsung’s Big-Screen Flagship Foldable

Nothing, the brainchild of Carl Pei, who previously helped lead OnePlus into the open arms of its Oppo Daddy, is launching a budget offering to bring to the mix. Based on the spec sheet, the Nothing Phone (2a) reprises the first-generation Nothing Phone (1). Indeed, when you hold it, it feels like a tribute to the previous phone until you turn the device around to check out the light-up Glyphs—a key Nothing feature—and see that the camera array is horizontal rather than vertical. For $350, the Nothing Phone (2a) may be one of the fanciest phones you can get at this price as long as you don’t mind a version of Android that feels like it’s in progress.

Nothing Phone (2a) Specs

A photo of the Nothing Phone (2a)

The backside of the Nothing Phone (2a) has been compared to a pig’s snout.
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo

If the Nothing Phone (2a) were a piece of clothing, it would be an athleisure set that didn’t sell so well at the usual brick-and-mortar, so now it’s at the Nordstrom Rack. This isn’t Nothing’s best foot forward, but it’s trying something new here. As a result, the Nothing Phone (2a) has the essence of a fashion statement that didn’t entirely take off when it was supposed to be in vogue.

Like its siblings, the backside is see-through, so you can look at the coils and screws that make up the rear aesthetic of the device. But the relative lightness of the Nothing Phone (2a) reminds you that this is different from what you bought at a higher price.

The Glyphs are here—they’re a core part of the Nothing experience, and on the Phone (2a), there are three Glyph light bars arranged around the circular rear-facing camera module. The camera lenses—a 50-MP primary sensor with OIS and a secondary 50-MP ultra-wide—are stacked across the back of the device. It’s a curious design decision from Nothing, as the last two smartphone devices had a traffic light motif with each lens stacked on top of the other. Some folks have referred to the (2a) back camera array as a “pig snout,” which I think is rude, considering pigs are beautiful creatures. At the very least, this distinct backside will make the Nothing Phone (2a) stand out as the mid-range offering. It’s in stark contrast to Google’s playbook, which is to have the Pixel A series closely resemble the model it’s succeeding.

The Nothing Phone (2a) is squarely a mid-tier device. It runs a Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Pro processor, and it’s available with 8GB or 12GB of RAM. However, the developer program sells it to U.S. users, which will default to 12GB at the same price point. The Phone (2a) has up to 256GB of storage space. For those with access to the 8GB models, the phone starts at roughly $320.

The Phone (2a)‘s 6.7-inch flexible AMOLED display is brighter and bigger than the phone it’s based on, the first-generation Phone (1), which had a 6.5-inch display. The Phone (2a)‘s display brightness tops at 1,300 nits in extreme sunlight, though Nothing says its typical brightness is around 700 nits. That’s still plenty bright. I’m happy that the flexible AMOLED also supports Android’s built-in “Extra Dim” mode, so it goes dark enough at night.

The battery is another selling point of the Nothing Phone (2a). The 5,000 mAh pack promises up to two days of battery on a single charge. I plan to put this through its paces with the review unit. Overall, Android devices have improved with battery offerings in this latest batch of releases. Nothing has to compete with Samsung and Motorola for battery longevity among the mid-range set.

Nothing Phone (2a) OS

A photo of the Nothing Phone (2a)

Nothing’s widgets are why you’d use a Nothing phone in the first place.
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo

The other reason you’d choose a mid-range model from Nothing versus the different brands on the market is the company’s version of Android. It comes chock full of heavily-designed widgets, plus a launcher that lets you change the icons. There are also themed Lock Screen widgets from Nothing, which are sleek with the always-on display.

The Nothing Phone (2a) runs Android 14 right out of the box, underneath Nothing OS 2.5. If you want the whole Nothing experience, you’ll have to adjust how things are set up. I tried to increase the number of icons on the Home screen from four a row to five, and it shrunk the Nothing widgets that they felt were too small to tap. Your mileage may vary, but it’s clear there’s a path you have to take to get the branding.

Screenshots of the Nothing Phone (2a)

A look at Nothing OS 2.5.
Screenshot: Florence Ion / Gizmodo

I also found some inconsistencies pawing through Nothing’s version of Android. For example, some settings options require me to hit “apply” before the change takes place, whereas other options let me tap to adjust a setting, and then I can back out of the screen on to the next thing. It’s subtle but the kind of interface kink that comes up when a manufacturer heavily customizes Android.

On the flip side, there are upsides, too. The Phone (2a)‘s camera system features Nothing’s “TrueLens Engine.” That engine, featuring a host of algorithmic woo-woo, also includes support for Ultra XDR, which Nothing says was co-developed with Google to “ensure a more accurate display of highlights and shadows in every shot.” Mid-range smartphones are bundling in better cameras, but I have concerns, considering Nothing’s Phone (1) was an abysmal shooter.

Where to buy the Nothing Phone (2a)

There’s more to come on the Nothing Phone (2a). Though it’s not likely to be a significant seller the way a phone of this caliber would be from the likes of Samsung or Google—Google has had the most success with its A-series lineup—I’ll be curious to see how this release ranks among the competition. I like the Glyphs and the whimsy they suggest when they light up and go off. But without a camera that can compete with Samsung and Google’s respective releases, the Glyphs are a gimmick.

The Nothing Phone (2a) will be available starting today in select markets. If you’re in London, you can even go to the Nothing Store in Soho and physically be one of the first people to shop for the Phone (2a). For everyone else, you can pre-order today, with the phone becoming publicly available in “most global markets” beginning March 12.

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