All articles tagged with #cellphones
A 49-year-old man attempting to board at Sacramento International Airport was found carrying a homemade explosive, a butane torch lighter, a knife, zip ties, and five cellphones (one with a timer, another displaying a threatening message). Bomb technicians deemed the device viable and capable of damaging a plane; police arrested him on charges of unlawful possession of explosive material in an airport.
A former congressional staffer from Glen Burnie, Christopher Southerland, 43, was federally indicted for theft of government property after allegedly ordering 240 cellphones for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and selling at least 200 at a pawn shop from January–March 2023; investigators traced the scheme when a pawned phone connected to the House Technology Service Desk, revealing unaccounted devices. The indictment was unsealed in October; his attorney did not comment.
Kylie Kelce's approach to kids having cellphones sparks mixed reactions online, with some emphasizing responsible use and others noting the challenges during teenage years and peer pressure.
Critics of Donald Trump fear potential retribution if he returns to office, as he has hinted at targeting those who have wronged him. Meanwhile, a historic drought is causing rare November wildfires in the Northeast, with significant blazes in New Jersey and New York. In sports, the Detroit Lions made a dramatic comeback against the Houston Texans in "Sunday Night Football." Additionally, 25 of 43 escaped monkeys from a South Carolina research facility have been recovered, and debates over cellphone bans in schools continue in Florida.
A recent cellphone outage in the United States highlighted the dwindling presence of landline telephones, with only about 1% of American adults living in households with only landlines. The shift from landlines to cellphones has been driven by the rise of smartphones, which fundamentally changed people's relationships with their devices. While the outage raised questions about the reliance on cellphones, it's unlikely to prompt a resurgence in landline usage due to the widespread satisfaction with mobile connectivity.
In a gridlocked Congress, bipartisan efforts have emerged to address the impact of cellphones and social media on children, with lawmakers proposing legislation and amendments to study and curb their influence in schools. Senators Tom Cotton and Tim Kaine have partnered to launch an Education Department study of school district cellphone policies, while Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn are championing legislation to enhance online safety for kids. Additionally, concerns about TikTok's influence have led to proposals and legislation from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, reflecting growing bipartisan alliances on the issue.
Experts say there is no need to worry about radiation exposure from cellphones, as nearly three decades of scientific research have not linked such exposures to medical issues like cancer. While cellphones do emit radiation, it is not considered hazardous or dangerous. Excess phone use has been associated with other concerns such as sleep issues, elevated cortisol levels, joint pain, and relationship problems.
A new study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility has found that men who regularly use their cell phones have over a 20% lower concentration of sperm compared to those who do not. The study, which collected data and semen samples from 2,886 men, suggests a potential link between cell phone use and decreased semen quality. However, the study also notes that the relationship between cell phone use and sperm characteristics has decreased over time with the transition to newer, more efficient generations of mobile networks. Further research is needed to better understand the connection between cell phone use and male fertility.
Phone repair expert Kewin Charron shares tips on how to identify and address apps that drain your cellphone battery. Users can check their smartphone's battery usage list to prioritize and remove apps consuming excessive power. Additionally, disabling background app refresh, reviewing app permissions, and ensuring apps are up to date can help optimize battery life. Charron advises uninstalling apps suspected of causing battery issues to see if it improves performance.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is hosting an exhibition called "Cellphone: Unseen Connections," which explores the cultural and technological connections created through cellphones. The exhibition educates visitors about the science behind cellphones, including touchscreens, wireless networks, and data transmission through fiber optic cables. It also highlights the environmental impact of cellphones and promotes sustainability by emphasizing the reuse and repair of existing devices. The exhibition aims to humanize the supply chain and raise awareness about conflict minerals.
Donald Trump reportedly got frustrated with NBC News journalist Vaughn Hillyard's questions about the Stormy Daniels hush money case during a press gaggle on his airplane and "tossed" Hillyard's two cellphones to the side. Trump told Hillyard not to ask him any more questions and called him "not a nice guy." The incident occurred on March 25, and Hillyard has not commented on it.
The state of Florida apologized for an emergency text alert that was sent out as a test at 4:45am on Thursday, causing a disturbance to many residents who were sleeping. The state Division of Emergency Management promised to remove the company responsible for submitting the alert and take appropriate action. The alert was intended to appear on TV, not on cellphones, and caused a racket on more than 22.8 million wireless subscribers in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis promised swift accountability for the mistake.
Florida officials have ended the state's contract with a software company that erroneously sent an emergency alert test to cellphones in the early hours of Thursday. The alert was supposed to be a test run for television networks and wasn't intended to disturb anyone already sleeping. Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the head of the state's emergency-management agency to bring swift accountability for the mistake.
When getting rid of an old cellphone, it's important to securely wipe all data to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. This can be done by transferring data directly to a new device or backing up the old device via iCloud or iTunes. To securely get rid of data on an iPhone, unpair devices, sign out of iCloud, iTunes, and the App Store, and reset the device. For Android and Samsung devices, go to Settings, select System, then Advanced, and under Reset options, select Erase all data. Instead of throwing away old cellphones, consider selling, recycling, or donating them through various programs.