New Atlas

Mobile Technology Audio available

Wi-Fi Porter puck lets guests log into your wireless network with a single tap

David Nield January 22, 2019

You know the scenario: a group of friends and family come to visit, and they all want to get on your Wi-Fi network, which means several tedious minutes of reading out the lengthy passcode for your network. That's a problem that the new Wi-Fi Porter could solve.

Put the Wi-Fi Porter anywhere you like – no power or batteries required

Telecommunications Audio available

Australian government passes controversial world-first anti-encryption law amid broad criticism

Rich Haridy December 6, 2018

The Australian government yesterday passed a bill allowing law enforcement agencies to compel tech companies to hand over encrypted messaging data. The legislation has been broadly condemned with suggestions it could not only harm the Australian tech industry, but undermine encryption worldwide.

The Australian government has just passed an anti-encryption law that could have global implications

Telecommunications

LinkSure is building a satellite network to provide global internet access for free

David Nield November 30, 2018

It's easy to take web access for granted, but in many regions getting online isn't as simple as just opening up a browser window. Now Chinese firm LinkSure Network has announced a system of satellites to be launched by 2026, which it wants to provide internet access across the globe, free of charge.

LinkSure is aiming to have 272 satellites and data processing centers operational within the next eight ...

Telecommunications

Tiny device speeds up the internet 100 times over by reading "twisted" light

Michael Irving October 24, 2018

Fiber optics allows for ultra-fast communication systems, and more data can be crammed in by "twisting" the light. Now, Australian researchers have developed a device to decode beams that’s small enough to fit over the end of a fiber optic cable.

Australian researchers have developed a device that can decode information from "twisted" light through fiber optics

Environment

Low-tech Mag's new solar-powered website will go down in cloudy weather

James Holloway September 26, 2018

Low-tech Magazine has rebuilt its website to be entirely solar powered, and is wilfully designed to go offline when conditions dictate. The new site has a much-reduced energy footprint, and is something of an exemplar in efficient website design.

Low-tech Magazines new solar-powered server, shown here in a storage space-saving dithered image

Around The Home

Devolo Magic doubles the speed of your home Powerline Wi-Fi network

David Nield August 31, 2018

We've already seen plenty of weird and wonderful gadgets at IFA 2018, but sometimes the most useful devices come in the plainest form – and so it is with the Devolo Magic. The Powerline networking kit hits a new high of 2,400 Mbps, enabling you to get super-fast internet running through your home.

The Devolo Magic plugs can give your home internet a serious upgrade

Drones

Facebook cancels development of Aquila internet-beaming drone

Ben Coxworth June 27, 2018

It was back in 2014 that Facebook first announced its Aquila program, in which high-altitude solar-powered autonomous drones would be used to provide developing countries with broadband internet coverage. This Tuesday, however, the company announced that it is cancelling the program.

The prototype Aquila drone on one of its two test flights

Space

SpaceX launches first Starlink satellites for global broadband internet access by 2024

Dario Borghino February 22, 2018

Earlier today, SpaceX successfully launched and deployed its first two test satellites for Starlink, the rocket company's own constellation of thousands of communications satellites that aims to provide worldwide broadband internet access by 2024.

The latest SpaceX mission successfully deployed two test satellites for an upcoming communications network that could ...

Telecommunications

UK Government moves to classify high-speed broadband access as a "legal right"

Rich Haridy December 20, 2017

The UK Government has just announced that from 2020, high-speed broadband will be considered a legal right for all its citizens, meaning service providers must offer access to any person that requests it

Hot on the heels of the FCC's net neutrality repeal, the UK Government has offered up ...

Telecommunications

FCC shoots down net neutrality: Welcome to the age of "internet freedom"

Rich Haridy December 14, 2017

After a brief couple of years of Obama-era net neutrality rules, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has now officially overturned the regulations that blocked internet service providers from throttling or prioritizing certain packets of information as they see fit.

FCC chairman Ajit Pai has long had net neutrality regulations in his sights and the FCC ...