Wi-Fi

Delta Air Lines chief executive Ed Bastian has given an interview to the Wall Street Journal covering several major company decisions. He explains why Delta skipped Starlink for onboard Wi-Fi, discusses the surge in demand for premium cabin travel, and addresses how persistently high fuel prices are shaping the airline's costs and strategy.

How-To Geek tested a range of viral Wi-Fi tips circulating online, from the absurd to the plausible, and found five that genuinely improved home connectivity. The piece walks through which tricks are worth trying—such as repositioning a router or adjusting settings—and which popular ones fail under real testing, offering a practical guide for readers struggling with slow or patchy wireless coverage.

A guide is circulating on what Quality of Service (QoS) does on home routers, an acronym many users ignore in their settings. QoS lets a router prioritise certain traffic, such as video calls or gaming, over less time-sensitive data. The advice: it can be worth turning on when bandwidth is stretched, though it is not always necessary for everyone.

American Airlines has announced plans to equip more than 1,000 aircraft with SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service. The rollout would give passengers high-speed Wi-Fi across the airline's fleet, a significant upgrade over current connectivity options. Details on timing and pricing have not been included in the initial coverage.

The Modi government is preparing the rollout of Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting, a technology that would let users watch live TV, news and sports on compatible phones without internet, Wi-Fi or mobile data. Working like FM radio, it uses broadcast frequencies, and backers say it could reduce data costs and expand access to information for millions of Indians.

A new examination of home Wi-Fi performance asks whether the technology, not internet providers, is the real bottleneck for households paying for gigabit service. The piece looks at what 1 Gbps connections can actually carry over wireless, and how routers, interference and home layouts cut real-world speeds well below advertised rates. It has drawn attention among readers debating whether Wi-Fi is unfairly blamed for slow speeds.

Airlines are moving to modernize onboard internet, and Delta has partnered with Elon Musk's Starlink for satellite-based Wi-Fi, but other carriers are taking different paths. The split reflects a broader industry decision over whether to adopt SpaceX's satellite service or stick with rival providers, making in-flight connectivity a competitive frontier.

A practical guide is circulating on how to reduce mobile data consumption on the iPhone. The tips focus on adjusting settings such as background app refresh, Wi-Fi assist and app-level data controls so users stay within their monthly data allowances and avoid extra charges.

An IT professional says his parents' Keurig K-Supreme SMART coffee maker transmitted roughly 1TB of data over their home Wi-Fi in ten days, enough to saturate their access point. The claim, reported by Tom's Hardware, is raising questions about how much data smart appliances use in the background and whether connected coffee makers need that kind of connectivity at all.

A hardware hacking write-up has been published detailing research into the Eufy HomeStation 2, covering exposed Wi-Fi credentials, locked-down UART debug ports and a damaged flash memory chip encountered during firmware extraction. Security researchers and hardware hacking enthusiasts are sharing the piece, which documents the obstacles of reversing the device's firmware and the techniques used to overcome them.

Airlines are planning to expand use of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet for in-flight Wi-Fi, according to aviation industry coverage. The rollout comes as carriers adjust to broader shifts in travel demand and passenger expectations for connectivity. Starlink deals have been gaining traction with airlines seeking faster onboard internet, though the report offers no further detail on which carriers or timelines are involved.

Delta has not signed on to offer SpaceX's Starlink Wi-Fi, making it the only one of the four largest US airlines without a deal for the satellite internet service. According to the Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk is frustrated by the airline's refusal to adopt Starlink, even as rivals including United, American and Southwest move ahead with installations.

Apple's Low Data Mode on iPhone reduces cellular data consumption by lowering media and video-call quality, disabling automatic updates, backups and Background App Refresh. Users can also set background refresh to Wi-Fi only and review per-app data usage for the current billing period to identify the biggest data consumers on their plan.

American Airlines says it will bring Starlink satellite Wi-Fi to its entire mainline fleet by 2027. The number of aircraft covered is more than double what the airline quoted earlier this year, making it one of the largest in-flight connectivity rollouts to date. Travelers and industry watchers are discussing what this means for free, faster internet on domestic flights and for rival Wi-Fi providers.

NBC4 Washington is examining whether robot vacuums could pose a cybersecurity risk in people's homes. The report raises concerns about smart vacuum devices that map floor plans, collect household data and connect to home Wi-Fi networks, potentially exposing users to hacking or data breaches if the devices lack adequate security protections.

RTINGS has published its updated ranking of the six best routers for Xfinity internet users in 2026. The guide compares models on speed, range and value for Comcast's network. It lands as households upgrade home Wi-Fi to handle more connected devices and faster Xfinity plans, and shoppers look for independent recommendations before buying.

Sony could be preparing to launch new versions of its PlayStation Portal handheld, with fresh Wi-Fi Alliance filings pointing to two unannounced PlayStation devices. The regulatory listings have fueled speculation about a possible refresh of the streaming accessory, which lets users play PS5 games remotely, though Sony has not confirmed anything yet.

Airlines are investing in improved in-flight Wi-Fi, but carriers are divided over whether to adopt Elon Musk's Starlink service. Some airlines have signed on with Starlink's satellite internet, while others are choosing competing providers, weighing cost, reliability and the implications of tying passenger connectivity to Musk's network. The split highlights how in-flight connectivity is becoming a competitive selling point for airlines.

Network diagnostics experts point out that a speed test briefly showing 500 Mbit/s proves little about real connection quality. Streaming can still stutter if the line or Wi-Fi drops under sustained load. The advice is to test download and upload throughput over a longer period, since short peak readings can mask instability that only appears during continuous use.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is set to introduce Starlink's ultra-fast satellite internet, but initially only on its long-haul routes. Short-haul travellers will not get the service for now, which has drawn attention from frequent flyers debating the split rollout.

A guide from TechRadar walks readers through securing their internet connection using Proton VPN, covering setup and privacy basics. Interest in VPN services continues as users look to protect their traffic on public Wi-Fi and limit tracking. The piece offers practical steps rather than news of a specific incident.

A new article from Lifemote examines whether home Wi-Fi, rather than the internet provider, is what limits gigabit speeds in the home. The piece looks at what a 1 Gbps subscription can realistically carry over wireless links, reigniting the common debate over whether slow Wi-Fi equipment and placement deserve the blame for underwhelming speeds.