Apple introduced a variety of new features to its Messages app at WWDC this week. With iOS 18 - slated to arrive this coming September - iPhone users will finally be able to schedule texts and enjoy more expansive tapback options. On top of that, one of the more intriguing and exciting new Messages features is that iPhone users can leverage satellite coverage and send texts even without a cellular and Wi-Fi connection. Now that WWDC is wrapping up, we've gleaned a few more details about how the feature works. Of course, the underlying technology is no different from Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite, which enables iPhone 14 users and above to contact emergency services when outside of range. For those unfamiliar, Emergency SOS via satellite is a free service Apple provides to new iPhone users for 2 years post-activation. Earlier this week, CNET got a hands-on look at the new iOS 18 feature with Kurt Knight, Apple's Senior Director of World Wide Product Marketing. Knight relayed that all messages sent via satellite are end-to-end encrypted. "It is just like using iMessage that you're used to, super easy," Knight said. "We have a custom protocol so that this is still end-to-end encrypted. We had to do extra work to make the [data] packets extra small because you need to be really efficient sending things up to space and back." Apple added some limitations As for keeping the data transmissions manageable, Apple instituted a few guardrails to ensure the service runs smoothly for everyone. For instance, iPhone users can rely on the feature to send text messages to anyone. Similarly, incoming texts from iPhone users will come in without a problem. However, non-iPhone users can't initiate an SMS conversation to a device linked up to a satellite unless they are a designated emergency contact or family member. Of course, SMS messages from non-iPhone users will go through if the conversation was previously started by the iPhone user. Additionally, the new feature doesn't support the transmission of photos or video. It also doesn't work with group chats. Also of note is that recipients will receive an alert indicating that an incoming message was sent via satellite. With respect to sending messages, when your iPhone finds itself disconnected from Wi-Fi and cellular networks, the phone will go into SOS mode, whereupon users can activate Messages via satellite either from the lock screen or directly from within the Messages app. To ensure a smooth connection, Apple advises users to engage with the feature as follows: Be outside with a clear view of the sky and the horizon. Be aware that trees with light foliage might slow down the connection. Dense foliage, hills or mountains, canyons, and tall structures might block the connection. Hold your iPhone naturally in your hand. You don't need to raise your arm or hold your phone up, but don't put it in a pocket or backpack. If you need to turn left or right or move to avoid a blocked signal, your iPhone provides onscreen instructions. The satellite connection can be maintained even if your phone screen is locked. Satellite connectivity might not work in places above 62° latitude, such as northern parts of Alaska. Expect the service to be a tad slow As you might expect, communication via satellite will be slower than traditional connections. Apple advises that sent messages will take about 15 seconds to go through. If you happen to find yourself under trees or other subtle obstructions, messages might take over a minute to send. A demo of the feature in use from iJustine is below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BZMqOATNXE Don't Miss: Father’s Day deals: $20 Amazon credit, ASUS gaming laptops, Braun shavers, $160 off DJI Mini 3 drone, more The post A closer look at iOS 18’s new Messages via Satellite feature appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Best Apple Watch deals for June 2024 Today’s deals: $30 Thermacell mosquito repeller, $16 wireless fast charger, $140 eufy robot vacuum, more Today’s deals: $150 Beats Solo 4, $55 HP printer, $248 Sony XM5 earbuds, 25% off eero Pro 6E, more Today’s deals: $20 Amazon credit, $79 AirPods, $20 Echo Pop, $899 M3 MacBook Air, $289 iScooter, more

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Cape Arkona, a truly dramatic and poignant headland on the island of Rügen in Germany, stands as an important historical and cultural monument, and one of the most important places in the history of the Slavic peoples. Once a formidable bastion of Slavic paganism, it was the final refuge of the Slavic tribe known as the Rani, who were the last to be forcefully converted to Christianity. This headland, rising steeply from the Baltic Sea, offers not just stunning vistas but also a deep dive into a period when Europe was in the throes of major religious transformation. For centuries, Cape Arkona was a spiritual and strategic hub of the local tribes, its cliffs bearing witness to the rise and fall of paganism in Northern Europe.  The Hanseatic League: Dominating the Baltic Maritime Trade  Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyAncient PlacesEuropeHistoryImportant EventsRead Later 

The Cyrus Cylinder, discovered in 1879 during a British Museum expedition to Babylon, encapsulates the grandeur and complexities of ancient Persia under the reign of Cyrus the Great. Crafted over two millennia ago, this small barrel-shaped artifact, adorned with cuneiform inscriptions, serves as a tangible link to a pivotal moment in history.  Cyrus the Great – Conqueror or Uber Human Rights Activist?  Read moreSection: ArtifactsAncient WritingsNewsHistory & ArchaeologyVideosRead Later 

The enigma of how Stonehenge's massive bluestones were transported from Wales has baffled archaeologists for generations. A new revolutionary investigation suggests that glacial ice, rather than human effort, may have carried these stones. A recently discovered boulder shows evidence of glacial transit, raising questions regarding the long-held belief that Neolithic builders carried the stones directly from the Preseli Hills. Based on the examination of the Newall Boulder, this discovery has the potential to shake up centuries-old assumptions in archaeology and change our perception of how Stonehenge was built.   Stonehenge Is Not The Only Prehistoric Monument That Has Been Moved - But It Is Still Unique  Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyAncient PlacesEuropeRead Later 

Perhaps one of the most mysterious and elusive deities of the ancient Egyptian pantheon, Nephthys was known as the shadowy goddess of the night, of death and decay. She was the dark sister of Isis, wife of Seth, mother to Anubis, and a member of the Great Ennead of nine, the first gods, those who reigned supreme. Like many goddesses, she was of otherworldly beauty, often displayed with majestic wings, symbolizing her relationship to the hawk or kite and her protective nature. Her true name was Nebthwt, represented in the crown she wore atop her head, the house and basket. These hieroglyphic symbols translate to “Lady of the House,” or more appropriately, “Lady of the Temple.” As such, her image can be found at sacred sites, carved into the pylons that protect the inner sanctum. She was the protector of the body as well, portrayed along with her sister in tombs and on sarcophagi. Together, they were often depicted as guardians of the head and feet, standing at either end of a funerary bier. As complimentary opposites, they both ensured the dead would be mourned and their afterlife successful. A Captivating Family Drama As a fourth-generation goddess, Nephthys was born from the sky, Nut, and the earth, Geb. Alongside her were Osiris, Seth, Isis, and the elder Horus. Osiris ruled over Egypt with his wife, Isis, and in perfect opposition, Seth wed Nephthys. Though, it was not an ideal marriage. After all, Seth was the god of chaos and storms, whose thoughtless actions cause irreparable damage. Presumably, their marriage was never consummated, as Plutarch refers to the wife of Typhon (Seth) as, “an imitation of a woman,” barren and unfertile like the desert. Read moreSection: NewsMyths & LegendsAfricaPremiumPreviewRead Later 

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