Apps
iPhones to get Texting Via Satellite feature
Messages via Satellite debuts with iOS 18 on iPhone 14 and newer
When iOS 18 rolls out this summer users with an iPhone 14 or newer will be able to send Message via satellite.
A year or so ago while on a solo trip to Los Angeles, I decided to revisit a favorite hiking spot at Griffith Park in the Hollywood Hills.
From the summit of Mt. Hollywood, you get sweeping 360 views of downtown LA and the San Fernando Valley, definitely making the trek worth the effort. Just note that at some point, you’ll lose cell service.
As I was doing it alone, I did the responsible thing and let a few friends know where I was and what I was doing, and that if they didn’t hear from me in two hours they should come looking for me.
Off the grid anxiety is real. If only my iPhone was also a satellite phone.
Well fun fact, it actually is.
When Apple launched the iPhone 14 in 2022, they built in special hardware that allows the iPhone to connect to a nearby satellite. This enables a feature called Emergency SOS which gives users the ability to connect to emergency services when out of cell reception. And the ability to use satellite connectivity to send their location (every 15 minutes) to friends via the FindMy app.
Last year Apple rolled out Roadside Assistance via Satellite, letting you connect with a roadside assistance provider while off the grid, to say, get help with a flat tire or if you’ve run out of fuel or charge.
This year Apple is expanding its suite of Via Satellite features to include messaging.
Here’s how it works
If your phone detects you have no access to cell service or WiFi, as soon as you launch the Messages app, you’ll get a prompt to connect to a satellite.
The iPhone will then help you point your iPhone in the direction of the satellite. You’ll need to be outdoors, preferably with an unobstructed view of the sky.
You’ll get prompts via Dynamic Island with arrows telling you to move right or left. These satellites are about 800 miles away, traveling at about 15,000 miles per hour, but in my tests establishing a connection didn’t take very long.
Once connected you’ll get a green light and you’re ready to go.
You can send iMessages as your normally would, even use emojis. And as long as you stay connected, you can also receive replies, and even send tapbacks.
iMessages sent via satellite are end-to-end encrypted.
The service also works with SMS (for recipients who are not on iPhones) but Apple has put in some restrictions to avoid spam texts congesting the network.
You will have to initiate the text before you can get a reply, unless a user is set as an emergency contact or is a member of your iCloud family — texts from them automatically go through.
Messages via Satellite is currently free as part of the free trial that Apple is offering to users (that covers the rest of the satellite features). Pricing has yet to be announced for any of these features, but I expect it to be an optional subscription at some point.
If you’re off the grid for a while, a prompt will also appear on the Lock Screen offering you the ability to use any of the iPhone’s via satellite features.
SEE ALSO: iOS 18 lets you customize your Home Screen even more
Apps
Firefox ad reunites all your favorite memes from decades ago
The Numa Numa Guy, Annoying Orange, and Chocolate Rain are back!
Before Tung Tung Tung Sahur and Skibidi Toilet, the early internet was populated by charismatic personalities looking to make their presences felt in a land that didn’t have a lot of rules yet. As early users, we danced to “Dragostea din tei,” belted out “Chocolate Rain,” and copied “Shoes” word-for-word. Today, Firefox is bringing all those good memories back for a grand reunion.
In a new ad, the web browser featured ten of the biggest stars of the early internet including the aforementioned Numa Numa Guy, Tay Zonday, and Shoes’ Kelly. You can also see Annoying Orange, Chuck Testa, Overly Attached Girlfriend, Bad Luck Brian, Where the Hell is Matt?, the Apparently Kid, and the Success Kid.
Now, this isn’t just a reunion. The ad has a clear message about today’s most concerning issue: AI. Everything has “built-in AI, always asking, asking, asking,” as the Annoying Orange said.
“They make money by following us, and somehow, I’m the creepy one?” the Overly Attached Girlfriend asked.
All these famous personalities are asking what happened to the internet today. Obviously, the big takeaway is that we should all go back to Firefox.
Compared to other browsers, Firefox has a lot of built-in features that offer a lot of control for users. For one, it has its own VPN for privacy. Secondly, reflecting the ad’s message against AI, the browser has a toggle to minimize AI features.
SEE ALSO: Google illegally destroys 250,000 trees for a single AI data center
Apps
Salesforce introduces Slack Frontline for deskless workers
Simple, secure, mobile-first way for deskless teams across retail, healthcare, manufacturing, field service
Salesforce is bridging the massive divide between corporate headquarters and deskless workers with the launch of Slack Frontline.
This new solution is designed specifically for retail associates, healthcare providers, factory workers, and field crews.
The mobile-first workspace brings communication, data, role-specific tools, and AI together in a single clutter-free app.
While frontline employees make up about 80 percent of the global workforce, they have historically been left out of workplace transformation, often relying on paper checklists, group texts, and broken communication loops.
Slack Frontline addresses these challenges by giving mobile workers up to 10 role-relevant channels, instant Huddles with headquarters, on-demand AI agents, and automated workflows.
Backed by Salesforce data and enterprise-grade security, the platform lets IT teams govern the entire workforce under one secure layer with employee ID sign-ins, multifactor authentication, and compliance configurations like HIPAA.
This ensures that critical updates, training materials, and shift handoffs reach workers directly in their pockets without needing corporate email addresses or shared terminals.
Moreover, the platform is tailored to transform operations across multiple industries, including retail, home healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, and field services.
For instance, retail teams can instantly sync promotions and monitor inventory, while healthcare professionals can securely review patient histories and coordinate care on the go.
Manufacturing and hospitality teams benefit from drastically reduced downtime and faster issue resolution, cutting response times significantly.
Slack Frontline is available now as an add-on for businesses on the Slack Enterprise+ plan.
Apple Music is getting a revamp. In one of the tamer things going on with the brand today, Apple has introduced a new design language for its native music streaming platform.
In the midst of all the hubbub surrounding the iPhone Duo, Apple released a change in the visual identity of Apple Music. Rather than a static logo, the platform’s newest evolution offers a dynamic look that melds Liquid Glass and the power of sound together.
Confirmed through a behind-the-scenes video, Apple says that the new aesthetic was made with practical effects. Music producer Fred Again and NEST Acoustics submerged the platform’s logo in a tank of mineral oil and creating ripples with sound. The new language matches well with the chrome aesthetic typical of today’s trends and… well, Liquid Glass, of course.
Apple says that the more ripple-filled version will play before longer content like concert recordings (similar to Netflix’s startup stinger). Meanwhile, a black-and-white version will replace the app’s icon currently colored red and white. Current previews show off a simple logo, but it’s unknown whether Apple is adding a but more elements when the final version drops.
The updated version will debut for users after next week’s iOS 27.2 and macOS 27.2 updates.
SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone Duo Unboxing and Hands-on
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