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These Android Verizon Users Can Now Send Satellite Messages to Anyone

These Android Verizon Users Can Now Send Satellite Messages to Anyone

WIRED22-03-2025
Plus: Analogue delays its Nintendo 64 console, Fujifilm unveils a medium format camera, and Microsoft's Adaptive Joystick game controller goes on sale. Photograph: JHVEPhoto/Getty Images
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On Verizon? If you own a Google Pixel 9 or Samsung Galaxy S25 series phone and find yourself in a cellular dead zone, you can now send texts to your friends and family via satellite. This is the same functionality Apple introduced for the iPhone 14 and newer (regardless of carrier) in iOS 18.
While these Android phones have been able to connect to emergency services via satellite, they can now use satellite connectivity to send texts to anyone, regardless of the recipient's device or carrier. Verizon says this capability has already started to roll out but will take two weeks to complete.
Verizon isn't the only carrier focused on providing this kind of satellite connectivity to fill in the gaps in terrestrial cellular network coverage. T-Mobile recently announced a partnership with Starlink that's currently in beta until July. It lets you send and receive texts, and the carrier says you'll soon be able to share photos, use data, make voice calls, and more. T-Mobile's solution will be included for subscribers on its Go5G Next plan, and other customers can add it to their existing plan for $15 per month. AT&T is also working with AST SpaceMobile and recently tested a video call over satellite connectivity. This Handheld Console Lets You Relive Your Nintendo DS Dreams
You've seen the Steam Deck, you've seen the Switch, and you no doubt remember the Nintendo DS. But this newly announced gaming handheld, the OneXSugar, claims to do that all in one. The device has two screens and rotating gamepad controllers to allow it to transform into all sorts of clever modes of use. There's the standard landscape mode, using the primary 6-inch screen and the two sides of the controller. But flip up that screen and you'll get access to the 3.92-inch secondary square screen. That secondary screen can be used as a kickstand, or you can rotate the controllers to attach to the square screen. Now that's definitely unlike anything we've seen before.
The Android-based device, announced on Indiegogo, was unveiled alongside a new series of chips from Qualcomm designed specifically for gaming handhelds. The Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 boasts 28 percent improved graphics with ray tracing, specifically designed for cloud-based gaming and retro emulators. Just don't expect it to support Windows-level games like AMD's Ryzen Z-series chips, which you can find in handhelds like the popular Asus ROG Ally X.
The company behind the OneXSugar also has something more powerful in its lineup, the OneXPlayer G1, which is part laptop, part gaming handheld. No word on the price or release date yet, but hopefully we'll hear more details about the OneXSugar soon. — Luke Larsen Velotric's Breeze 1 Is a Commuting, Crusing Ebike
After multiple rounds of layoffs and pulling out of the European market, Rad Power Bikes' new CEO recently stepped down. That leaves a big, Rad-sized hole in the direct-to-consumer electric bike space—a space the company created when Mike Radenbaugh founded Rad in 2007.
Which company will fill in the gap? We're most excited to test one of the new bikes from the up-and-coming Velotric. The Breeze 1 launched on March 18. It's a commuter bike built like a cruiser, with a comfortable, upright seating position on a step-through frame and a powerful 750-watt motor with a 70-mile range.
The bike also has a few cool tricks up its sleeve. For example, you can switch between using a torque sensor, which will adjust the pressure you need to pedal on mixed terrain, versus the more old-fashioned cadence sensor, which is best for longer stretches of roads. It's also integrated with Apple Find My and Apple Health, so if you're an iPhone user, you don't have to fiddle with your fitness tracker to log a bike ride. Most importantly, it weighs under 50 pounds and costs under $2,000. I'm unboxing my tester ride (in Violet Haze, naturally) as we speak. —Adrienne So Fujifilm Debuts a Medium Format Compact Camera
Anyone who's ever dreamed of a medium format Fujifilm X100 camera, dream no more. The new GFX100RF is just that. It takes the same minimalist, rangefinder styling of the X100 series, with dial controls and a nice wide-angle prime lens on the front, but adds a 102-megapixel medium format sensor.
There is a price to be paid for that much larger sensor though—the GFX100RF is larger and heavier than any of the X100 cameras. At 5.26 by 3.56 inches, with a depth of 3 inches, this isn't fitting in your pocket, nor is the 25.9 ounces (735 grams) light enough to let you throw it in your bag and forget about it. To make the GFX100RF weather-sealed you'll need to further bulk it up with an adapter ring and filter, just as you do with the X100VI.
Still, this is a very compelling camera, at least on paper. The 28-mm (full-frame equivalent) lens is a good all-around choice, though it's not the fastest at f/4 (f/3.1 full-frame equivalent). The huge sensor means you'll have considerable cropping ability. As you would expect from Fujifilm there are plenty of film simulations (20 in all) and ways to customize them. There's also an internal 4-stop neutral density filter that offers more exposure control options.
The back of the camera bears a striking resemblance to a competitor, namely the similarly priced Leica Q3 (9/10, WIRED Recommends). The GFX100RF has a slightly slower lens and a much larger sensor, but otherwise, the two cameras are closely matched in both specs and price. The GFX100RF is available for pre-order now for $4,900. It's also listed on Amazon, though the website says it's temporarily out of stock. — Scott Gilbertson Analogue Delays Its Retro N64 Console (Again)
The prospect of a new console capable of playing Nintendo 64 cartridges from the makers of the excellent Analogue Pocket got us excited, whether you loved the original N64 controller or not. But we'll have to wait longer to indulge in the N64 nostalgia because Analogue's 4K Nintendo 64 retro console is delayed until July. Originally planned to ship in 2024, then bumped to Q1 2025, preorders of the $250 Analogue 3D console are now closed. Analogue has employed field-programmable gate array (FPGA) tech in the new console, so it can play N64 cartridges from any region and plug into your TV via HDMI. The original N64 only outputs composite and s-video, making it difficult to pair with modern TVs. Analogue also partnered with one of our favorite game controller makers, 8BitDo on the 64 Controller.
Analogue has a good track record, and delays and production issues are sadly not uncommon for retro game consoles, but the company may have some competition after controversial ModRetro founder Palmer Luckey posted a teaser on X suggesting that he is also working on an N64 console (the M64). If you can't wait, the Polymega's Ultra Module Set allows you to play N64 carts on its console today, but it is far pricier than Analogue's 3D. If you preordered and fed up, you can cancel for a full refund. — Simon Hill You Can Now Buy Microsoft's Xbox Adaptive Joystick
Microsoft's Xbox Adaptive Joystick is now available for a cool $30. Announced at the company's Ability Summit, the Joystick is designed for people with limited mobility. It plugs directly into an Xbox or PC, and all the buttons can be remapped to a user's preference. You can also craft your own 3D-printed customizable thumbstick toppers through Xbox's Design Lab. Naturally, it's compatible with Microsoft's Xbox Adaptive controller.
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This Handheld May Be Our Best Hope to Relive the Nintendo DS Glory Days
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Vornado Realty Trust Leases 203,000 SF to Verizon for New York Headquarters in THE PENN DISTRICT
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Shop Top Mortgage Rates Personalized rates in minutes A quicker path to financial freedom Your Path to Homeownership 'We are thrilled to welcome Verizon to the growing roster of world-renowned business, communications, technology, finance, and entertainment firms that have chosen THE PENN DISTRICT for their corporate homes,' said Glen Weiss, Executive Vice President - Office Leasing and Co-Head of Real Estate for Vornado Realty Trust. 'Our reinvention of THE PENN DISTRICT has produced a vibrant gateway to New York's new West Side and represents a new era of workplace thinking, where dynamic environments, unparalleled connectivity, and employee-focused design come together to inspire collaboration and innovation.' Vornado's PENN 2 transformation incorporates a completely new, modern, and highly efficient curtain wall, a striking triple-height lobby; 16 distinctive double-height outdoor tenant loggias; and The Bustle. The new PENN 2 also encompasses 30,000 square feet of curated retail, including The Dynamo Room, a 7,100 square foot full-service restaurant and bar from Sunday Hospitality. The building features 72,000 square feet of outdoor green spaces; The Perch, a rooftop glass pavilion and event space that opens onto a lushly landscaped 17,000-square foot private green space available to all tenants; and a 280-seat Town Hall suspended above the 33rd Street promenade. PENN 2 also serves as the corporate headquarters for Madison Square Garden, Universal Music Group and Major League Soccer. Together with its neighboring PENN 1, the towers create a two-building connected campus in the heart of THE PENN DISTRICT. The twin projects encompass 4.4 million square feet of premium office space; a host of new and improved entrances to Penn Station and the surrounding subway system; and acres of new public plazas, landscaping, and new granite stone-paved sidewalks. All PENN DISTRICT tenants have access to 180,000 square feet of Vornado's WorkLife program, the most extensive and comprehensive amenity package in the City, highlighted by The Landing, a full-service restaurant, bar and private dining rooms; a 53,000-square-foot sports, wellness and fitness center; and 100,000 square feet of flexible workspace and conference facilities. THE PENN DISTRICT campus is situated directly above Penn Station, North America's most accessible and active mass transit hub. A total of 15 subway lines, along with Long Island Railroad, New Jersey Transit, PATH, Amtrak all converge in the district. They will be joined by Metro-North commuters starting in 2027. A Cushman & Wakefield team led by Executive Vice Chairman, Josh N. Kuriloff, Peyton Horn, Heather Thomas, and Kyle Ernest represented Verizon in this strategic transaction. Vornado was represented in-house by Glen Weiss, Josh Glick, Jared Silverman and Anthony Cugini. Additional information on PENN 2 and images can be found at About Vornado Realty TrustVornado is a fully integrated real estate investment trust ('REIT') with a portfolio of premier New York City office and retail assets and the developer of the new PENN DISTRICT. While concentrated in New York, Vornado also owns premier assets in both Chicago and San Francisco. Vornado is a real estate industry leader in sustainability, with 100% of our in-service offices buildings LEED certified and over 95% certified LEED Gold or Platinum. C O N T A C T Thomas J. Sanelli(212) 894-7000 Certain statements contained herein may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They represent our intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Our future results, financial condition and business may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. You can find many of these statements by looking for words such as "approximates," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "would," "may" or other similar expressions in this press release. For a discussion of factors that could materially affect the outcome of our forward-looking statements and our future results and financial condition, see 'Risk Factors' in Part I, Item 1A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Currently, some of the factors are interest rate fluctuations and the effects of inflation on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, operating performance and the effect that these factors have had and may continue to have on our tenants, the global, national, regional and local economies and financial markets and the real estate market in general. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

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