Take a look at how your NYC subway line fares with cell signals

By Julian Chokkattu February 10, 2016

nyc subspotting app subway cell signal pic 03 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Spotty service in the New York City subway isn’t really surprising — generally it’s something that’s expected given that you’re quite a few feet underground.

It can still be quite frustrating though, when you’re messaging someone at one stop, but suddenly lose all service and have to wait a while to resume your conversation, important or not. It’s why New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been pushing to get free Wi-Fi throughout all the 277 underground subway stations by the end of 2016.

While you’re waiting for that, check out a new iOS app called Subspotting for some peace of mind. It won’t magically help you get service, but it does note which stops have service or Wi-Fi available in an aesthetically pleasing format.

subspotting — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Subspotting team, consisting of Daniel Goddemeyer and Dominikus Baur, traveled across the entire subway system — that’s 21 train lines, 469 stations, 660 miles, in the span of two weeks. Goddemeyer used a data logger on four iPhones, each representing one of the four major carriers — AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. The result? Goddemeyer and Baur pooled the data together into an app.

The app, which is officially licensed by the MTA, shows data on where you can get cell service and Wi-Fi access throughout the subway system in New York City. For example, there’s a dark spot on the 2 train for nearly all carriers from Wall Street to Borough Hall.

That’s all the 99-cent, iOS-only app does — which means Governor Cuomo’s wish for Wi-Fi throughout the subway by the end of this year would make this app pretty useless, though we’ll have to see if it stays on schedule.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Julian Chokkattu

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…

Mobile

Best Samsung tablet deals: Discounted tablets as low as $184

Recent apps view on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.

Samsung makes a huge lineup of quality yet affordable tablets, many of them in competition to be among the best tablets, and many more often found among the best tablet deals. With a wide set of prices ranging from budget to premium, a Samsung tablet makes a great investment for almost anyone who enjoys the touchscreen form factor. There are quite a few Samsung tablet deals worth shopping right now, and we’ve done the heavy lifting of tracking down the best. Among them you’ll find discounts on the likes of the budget tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite and the high-end tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab S9. So whichever end of the tablet spectrum you fall on, or if you land anywhere in between, read onward for more details on the best Samsung tablet deals available right now.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 -- $184, was $230

If you need a bigger screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is another solid budget option. It is 10.5 inches and runs a much better 1920 x 1200 resolution, which also makes it a better option for watching content. It does have a much smaller capacity at 32GB, although you can always expand it with a MicroSD, so it's not a dealbreaker. That said, the 3GB of RAM is very much within the limits of what's going to give you a smoother experience, but it's the sort of compromise you deal with when going for a larger screen at a budget price.

Mobile

Is the Oura Ring waterproof?

The Oura Ring Horizon resting on a green succulent plant.

The Oura Ring is a highly sought-after wearable device available in different styles and price ranges. It allows users to track their sleep and recovery, stress levels, illnesses, and fitness routines -- and it even provides features specific to women's health. With so many features, you might wonder whether the watch is waterproof. Let's find out.
Is the Oura Ring waterproof?
Technically, the Oura Ring is not waterproof. Instead, it's water-resistant up to 330 feet (100 meters). This is the case for most modern gadgets. You'll often find water resistance protection on products, which is good, but it's not exactly the same as being waterproof. But what does that really mean? We explain below.
Can you go swimming with the Oura Ring?
The Oura Ring has a certain level of protection that allows you to wear it while swimming, showering, and snorkeling. However, wearing the Oura Ring during scuba diving or when there is a risk of extended water submersion or extreme pressure is not advisable. Oura recommends avoiding wearing the ring in such scenarios to ensure its longevity and proper functioning.

Oura further explains: "The Oura Ring operating temperature ranges from [-10 to 52 degrees Celsius and 14 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit]. You can safely wear your ring in the shower, hot tubs, saunas, ice baths, and cryotherapy tanks. However, extended exposure to extreme temperatures (below 0°C/32°F or above 35°C/95°F) may lead to battery damage."
How does this compare to other smart rings?
Of Oura's chief competitors, only the Ultrahuman Ring Air provides similar water resistance. By contrast, the Amovan Smart Ring only provides water resistance up to 50 meters. The Oura Ring offers the same level of protection as the Apple Watch Ultra, making it an excellent alternative to smartwatches. However, it surpasses the Apple Watch Series 2 or later and the Google Pixel Watch 2, which can only resist water up to 50 meters.

Mobile

Every Android tablet we’re expecting in 2024

The home screen on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.

It’s an exciting time for Android tablets. Into the vacuum left in 2023 by Apple’s first-ever dearth of new iPads stepped two new contenders offering distinct takes on what a tablet should be, while Samsung’s venerable Tab S9 lineup raised the bar by cementing the position of its largest tablet and bringing AMOLED screens to the entire family.

There’s no reason to believe that this year will be any less interesting as Samsung continues to up its game while Google and OnePlus try to refine their initial first-generation efforts into more mature products.