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Here are some hints — and the answers — for Connections No. 505 for Oct. 28.

Republican president nominee Donald Trump put on a splashy rally at New York's hallmark Madison Square Garden, but repeated insults and at times racist and misogynistic remarks from guest speakers threatened to grab the most attention.

(Image credit: Michael M. Santiago)

Nextbase makes some of the best dash cams, including the iQ, which we labelled the smartest dash cam ever. However, the UK-based company's first smart dash cam is also the priciest add-on car security solution around, with some wide-ranging smart features that could be overkill for many users. That's where the new Nextbase Piqo comes in.

Think of the Piqo as a baby iQ: it has a similar fresh look, but is a much smaller and simpler package, with cleverly implemented 'Lite' versions of IQ's smart features that are designed to appeal to younger drivers.

The Piqo is available globally from the Nextbase website and leading retailers in two versions: 1K (HD 1080p) for just $129.99 / £99.99 / AU$199 and 2K (HD 1440p) for $149.99 / £129.99 / $299. Contrast that to the iQ, which starts at $399.99 / £349.99, and the Piqo's appeal is clear – particularly when you consider that you also need to pay for a monthly data plan to make the most of the more expensive model's smart features.

That's a big difference in price, so let's take a look at what the Piqo can do and where necessary compromises have been made.

(Image credit: Nextbase) A cleverly watered-down iQ

Video resolution in the 1K HD version of the Piqo is actually slightly more detailed than standard 1080p, with a 2560x1080 pixel resolution and 140-degree field of view. The 2K version, meanwhile, has a max resolution of 2560x1440 pixels and 145-degree field of view. Unlike the iQ, there's no 4K version of the Piqo.

I asked Bryn Brooker, Nextbase's Head of Marketing, why there's no 4K version of the Piqo, and he told me that according to Nextbase research, at least 83% of UK dash cam owners see no need for a pricier 4K dash cam, plus Nextbase is confident in the video quality of the Piqo.

Bryn also told me that the dash cam market is evolving. In 2020 the majority of dash cam customers were 45 years of age and older, but four years later and this demographic has reversed. Nextbase has consequently adapted the Piqo's design and features to appeal to a younger audience.

It doesn't have a screen – because most people today use their phones, after all. Instead, you can connect to the Piqo through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and view the video feed and recordings through an entirely new Nextbase app that's currently exclusive to the Piqo. The app is stripped back to make it easy for you to do key things such as view and share videos.

There are also new 'skins': customized overlays that display crucial stats on your video, such as speed. They're more for fun than anything else, but you get one skin thrown in with the free 'Solo' subscription, and can get more via the paid-for 'Protect' plan that costs £29.99 per year.

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(Image credit: Nextbase)Image 2 of 3

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(Image credit: Nextbase)

With its own data plan, the pricier iQ is an always-connected camera, with smart features such as emergency SOS, Guardian Mode, Witness Mode and Smart Parking that can update you in realtime, like if your car has been pranged while parked, or tell your loved ones if you've had an accident and upload the footage to the cloud for you. The Piqo has all of these modes, too, but here they're light versions.

For example, in Guardian Lite mode your emergency contact gets a text from the Piqo rather than the video being sent to them, which is what the iQ does. Likewise, Witness Lite mode uploads content when you are back home with a Wi-Fi connection.

Elsewhere, smart parking auto-records any prangs, but like any dash cam you'll need constant power for a feature like this. Nextbase sells two kits for constant power separately, the pro install cable kit and the connect cable kit. The Piqo is also equipped with G-Sense tech and automatically increases sensitivity when it detects the car is parked.

Other features include 10Ghz GPS and voice control, plus a newly designed and rigorously tested click mount. Overall, the Piqo seems like a clever implementation of smart iQ tech in a simpler and cheaper dash cam. We're currently reviewing the Nextbase Piqo and will share our experiences very soon.

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Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #505) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SPELL
• LOVE
• PLEASE
• HOLD
• PRESTO
• MEAN
• THANK YOU
• SHAZAM
• AUDIBLE
• ABRACADABRA
• SIGNIFY
• TIDAL
• SUGGEST
• HAVE
• PANDORA
• CHERISH

NYT Connections today (game #505) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• Yellow: Not Spotify
• Green: Point towards
• Blue: I do
• Purple: Could conjure up a good response

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #505) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: AUDIO APPS
• GREEN: INDICATE
• BLUE: CHURCH OF ENGLAND WEDDING VOW VERBS
• PURPLE: MAGIC WORDS

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #505) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #505, are…

• YELLOW: AUDIO APPS AUDIBLE, PANDORA, SHAZAM, TIDAL
• GREEN: INDICATE MEAN, SIGNIFY, SPELL, SUGGEST
• BLUE: CHURCH OF ENGLAND WEDDING VOW VERBS CHERISH, HAVE, HOLD, LOVE
• PURPLE: MAGIC WORDS ABRACADABRA, PLEASE, PRESTO, THANK YOU

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

There's no way that yellow today is the easiest one. Or if it is, it just points the way to this being a relatively tricky Connections to solve. The four AUDIO APPS here – AUDIBLE, PANDORA, SHAZAM and TIDAL – are all familiar to me, sure, but I'm a technology journalist and former music journalist. I sincerely doubt the average person will spot all four of these. It feels more like a blue group, or even purple.

To make matters worse, one of the words here – SHAZAM – could easily have gone with ABRACADABRA and PRESTO as part of MAGIC WORDS. Instead, the missing two were PLEASE and THANK YOU – which gave me a proper moment when I realized what the NYT had done here. Smart.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, 27 October, game #504)

• YELLOW: SASSY CUTE, FRESH, SMART, WISE
• GREEN: AMBIENCE AIR, FEELING, MOOD, QUALITY
• BLUE: UNITS BAR, BEL, LUX, MOLE
• PURPLE: THE LITTLE ___ MERMAID, PRINCE, RASCALS, TRAMP

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1008) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1008) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 3.

Quordle today (game #1008) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1008) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1008) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• M

• L

• G

• C

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1008) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1008, are…

• MACAW
• LIEGE
• GOUGE
• CARGO

Quordle really threw all of the repeats at us today, with MACAW, LIEGE and GOUGE each containing one. These are all fairly tough words in their own right, too. MACAW has a W at the end, which isn't a common thing, while LIEGE is just not a widely used word at all. I solved all four thanks to help from my start words but I suspect others won't be so lucky today.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #1008) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1008, are…

• LINGO
• MAIZE
• PLACE
• SWEAT

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1007, Sunday 27 October: STUNG, CLOUT, SOWER, BASIS
• Quordle #1006, Saturday 26 October: DUCHY, CANNY, BLOCK, SMART
• Quordle #1005, Friday 25 October: PRANK, EXIST, RUDDY, PICKY
• Quordle #1004, Thursday 24 October: DAIRY, RALLY, CURLY, LABEL
• Quordle #1003, Wednesday 23 October: DROSS, ANNEX, GRAVE, BROKE
• Quordle #1002, Tuesday 22 October: ADORE, SMITH, AFOOT, LUCID
• Quordle #1001, Monday 21 October: TREAD, NINTH, GRIEF, UNSET
• Quordle #1000, Sunday 20 October: CORAL, WHOSE, HEIST, SOAPY
• Quordle #999, Saturday 19 October: GUSTY, BROKE, ENJOY, HAZEL
• Quordle #998, Friday 18 October: PUPIL, MOCHA, EGRET, NATAL
• Quordle #997, Thursday 17 October: BUILD, BIRTH, LURCH, SASSY
• Quordle #996, Wednesday 16 October: EERIE, SMIRK, HUNCH, EMBED
• Quordle #995, Tuesday 15 October: UMBRA, BRIEF, GRAVY, TORUS
• Quordle #994, Monday 14 October: ROGUE, STORY, EMCEE, AUNTY
• Quordle #993, Sunday 13 October: UNFIT, NYMPH, THUMB, PUREE
• Quordle #992, Saturday 12 October: SAUCY, UNDUE, EGRET, HELLO
• Quordle #991, Friday 11 October: RINSE, ANIME, PUSHY, ZEBRA
• Quordle #990, Thursday 10 October: UNTIL, MARSH, METAL, WINDY
• Quordle #989, Wednesday 9 October: TRIAL, HUSKY, DOWNY, TRADE
• Quordle #988, Tuesday 8 October: TROUT, HATER, BARGE, DOZEN

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #239) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Fall fun

NYT Strands today (game #239) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• PUMP
• PLUS
• AIDE
• PAID
• DIRE
• CHAMP

NYT Strands today (game #239) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Pick your own

NYT Strands today (game #239) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: left, 5th row

Last: right, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #239) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #239, are…

• PUMPKINS
• APPLES
• MAZE
• CIDER
• DOUGHNUTS
• HAYRIDES
• SPANGRAM: ORCHARDS

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 hints

I suspect many people will find today's Strands a lot easier than I did – but it may well depend entirely on where in the world you live. If that's the United States, then this may be easy enough, with the theme of 'Fall fun' and the spangram of ORCHARDS making perfect sense. For me, born and bred in the UK, it was all a bit alien. Sure, I know what an orchard is but it has no connection to 'fall' particularly, let alone to CIDER, MAZE or HAYRIDES. And then there's DOUGHNUTS, which seems entirely out of place here – and indeed out of place among all that fresh fruit and outdoor goodness. I think we have to chalk this one off as a case of transatlantic differences.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, 27 October, game #238)

• CLASS
• PARTY
• LITTER
• LIFE
• CREAM
• CROP
• HEAD
• PICK
• SPANGRAM: PERFECTPAIR

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Our experts have done the work to find the best internet service providers in Miami Beach.

RingConn Gen 2: Two minute review

Smart rings have been picking up steam in the wearables space since the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring, which helped to put this burgeoning tech trend on the map. However, hone in on the price – or the ongoing subscription fees – and it’s easy to be put off. That’s where a more affordable option such as the RingConn Gen 2 smart ring comes in.

At $299 (around £250 / AU$485) it isn't "cheap" in real terms, but next to the competition the RingConn Gen 2 is an appealing option – especially when you consider it delivers solid health metric tracking in a sleek and stylish package.

It tracks your sleep, heart rate, activity, and stress, to determine your overall wellness score – plus it can gamify keeping healthy further with badges awarded for good habits. You’ll find it falls down somewhat when it comes to fitness tracking, because it doesn’t start this tracking automatically, so you can forget to log your workouts. In addition, it only tracks running, cycling, and walking right now. So if you’re someone looking for tech to help you achieve your sporting goals, this ring is unlikely to be for you.

The band itself – which comes in sizes 6 to 14, in black, gold or silver – looks just like any other regular ring, and it’s durable with a top-class IP68 dust-proof and waterproof rating plus a design that even after a few weeks of regular use didn't appear to become scratched.

The RingConn Gen 2 also offers a supremely long battery life, remaining charged for up to 12 days. With the charging case you can get an additional 150 days out of it before you need to search out a plug socket again.

This long battery life helps ensure the RingConn Gen 2 won’t run out of power overnight for several nights in a row, which is of importance for its new sleep apnea monitoring feature. It isn't yet FDA-approved, but it does apparently boast a 90.7% accuracy rating, and can help to either warn you of potential health issues or provide some peace of mind – although it isn't a replacement for a medical professional.

Overall, then, the RingConn Gen 2 is a solid option for people who want to try a smart ring but don’t want to over-commit, and while it's a little pricier than its predecessor, the upgrades go some way to justify its higher price.

(Image credit: Future) RingConn Gen 2: Specs RingConn Gen 2: Price and Availability

The RingConn Gen 2 is available for purchase online through the company's website for $299 or around £250 / AU$485. RingConn does ship to the UK and Australia, although the price online is only given in dollars.

One major cost advantage of the RingConn Gen 2 and its predecessor – beyond their already relatively budget-friendly price – is that RingConn doesn’t charge you a monthly fee to access its full set of features. On the flipside the RingConn’s tracking isn’t quite as in depth as you’ll find from pricier options on our list of the best smart rings.

It’s a slight disappointment that the Gen 2 model is pricier than its $279 predecessor, although given how frequently the previous model was on sale, we expect this new RingConn smart ring will be discounted regularly, too. In particular, keep an eye out for sales events such as Black Friday to see if you can pick it up for a lower price.

RingConn Gen 2: Design

• Thin yet durable design
• Comes in three colors
• Supports sizes from 6 to 14

The RingConn Gen 2 doesn't reinvent the wheel, so to speak, when it comes to smart ring design. It's a classic band shape that's available in sizes from 6 to 14. Based on your size, it weighs between 2g and 3g, and has a width of 6.8mm, and a thickness of 2mm. In essence, you won't be able to tell the difference between this ring and any other band unless someone catches it glowing when the sensors are monitoring your health metrics.

It's available in three colors; I’m a fan of the matte black finish, but jewelry traditionalists might prefer the silver or gold options. Whichever band you choose, the RingConn Gen 2 arrives with an IP68 dust-proof and waterproof rating, so it can survive being worn to the beach, or when you’re washing the dishes.

(Image credit: Future)

I can’t speak for the durability of the other bands, but even following several weeks of constant use, my matte black RingConn Gen 2 is showing no visible signs of wear and tear – the band is scuff-free and about as pristine as the day I received it in the mail.

Just a few point to note for those of you who haven’t used a smart ring before. Before buying a RingConn smart ring, I’d recommend requesting a free sizing kit – you do this when you order your ring by selecting the “Don’t know my size” option. I'd request the kit even if you regularly wear a ring or have a smart ring from a different brand, since the RingConn sizes might not be an exact match to what you’re wearing because of the bumps on the inside edge from the placement of sensors.

Wear the dummy rings constantly for a couple of days; your ring size fluctuates through the day, so the "perfect fit" at the time you happen test could end up being too big or too small overall. The ideal size will fit snuggly: it shouldn’t slide off, but neither should it be a struggle to remove. This will mean the ring sits in the correct position throughout the day, rather than moving out of its proper orientation – something that can lead to inaccurate readings. Place your order once you’re certain of the size you need.

In addition, if like me you're not a regular ring wearer, you’ll need to get into the habit of not losing your band when you take it off. I recommend putting the ring in its case if you do take it off, or leaving it in a specific spot each time.

• Design score: 4/5

RingConn Gen 2: Features

• New sleep apnea tracking
• Monitors health vitals, sleep, stress and activity
• Limited fitness tracking

Using the smart ring and accompanying RingConn app, you can monitor five key stats: Sleep, Activity, Stress, Heart Rate and SpO2 levels. Using these metrics, the RingConn app provides you with an overall Wellness Balance score, and tips on how to improve your rating. I’ve taken it easy these past few days, so right now for me it’s recommending I try some moderate or high-intensity workouts to relieve some stress and up my activity rating.

Beyond a simple score for each metric you can click into the Sleep, Stress, Vital Signs and Activity sub-menus to view more in-depth stats such as a graph of your sleep cycle, your heart rate throughout the day, and a record of the calories the ring estimates you’ve burned.

If stats alone aren’t enough to keep you motivated, the app awards badges for achieving optimal health targets for a little added gamification.

(Image credit: Future)

In addition to the main stats, there’s also a fifth menu for the RingConn Gen 2’s brand new Sleep Apnea tracking, which is reportedly 90.7% reliable according to RingConn’s studies (although it's yet to be FDA approved). After initiating a comprehensive assessment over three nights of sleep, the app will either end regular monitoring if you don’t appear to have an issue, or will recommend that you speak to a medical professional if it believes you might have sleep apnea.

While the RingConn Gen 2 isn't suitable for in-depth monitoring or treatment of the condition, the sleep apnea feature can help to put your mind at ease if you’re concerned about your sleep health (although a doctor is the best person to speak to if you’re worried about sleep apnea).

However, it's with fitness tracking that the RingConn Gen 2 falls down. It doesn't have the capability to automatically detect when you start exercising; you have to manually start tracking from within the app – with it currently only supporting running, cycling and walking. As such, I often didn't remember to activate fitness tracking, meaning much of my activity went unrecorded.

• Features score: 3.5/5

RingConn Gen 2: Performance

• 12-day battery life
• In-depth sleep stats
• Fitness tracking is easy to forget to activate

Throughout the day, the RingConn Gen 2 automatically collects your health metrics – at five- or thirty-minute intervals based on your preferences – and stores them on the device until it can sync with the RingConn app. Note, however, that you can manually request a scan using the RingConn app.

I did find it had some occasional syncing issues during testing, although on these occasions I was simply left waiting for a few more seconds for the app to update with the latest info. Overall, it was a seamless experience.

The app itself is fairly intuitive, and while there is a fair amount going on, the homescreen struck the right balance between busy and informative. Conversely, the sub-menus that deliver more in-depth analysis of your stats were a little more cluttered, although the ability to edit those busier menus and rearrange the blocks meant I was able to move the stats I cared most about to the top to help simplify my health data monitoring.

When it comes to accuracy, the RingConn Gen 2 appears to do a great job, with its results matching up closely with the scores achieved through my Fitbit.

(Image credit: RingConn)

The smart ring’s fitness tracking it isn't too bad, but as mentioned, it's held back by limited sports options and the fact it doesn’t activate automatically. If you do switch it on for your walk, run, or bike ride, the app will deliver an in-depth breakdown in the activity menu that shows how far you travelled (complete with a map of your route), the number of calories you burned, and a graph of your heart rate, color-coded to different heart rate zones such as Warm-Up, Fat Burning, and Aerobic. In terms of the latter, it will even break down precisely how long you spent in each zone as you'll see with other fitness trackers.

The one area that the RingConn Gen 2 is truly superb is battery life, with its 12-day offering trumping even top-end rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy Ring with its seven-day battery life. During tests, the RingConn Gen 2 delivered on its promise, and when it did eventually start to run low, the ring’s charging case – which can store an additional 150 days worth of charge – was able to top it up fairly speedily.

Now, I simply charge the ring whenever I take a shower, to keep it hovering steadily around the upper end of its battery life. In the app I can see the percentage and estimated usage time it has remaining by tapping on the ring icon in the top-right corner.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the RingConn Gen 2 Buy it if...

You want an affordable option
At only $299, and with no monthly fees, the RingConn Gen 2 smart ring is a solid, affordable yet still well-specced alternative to the best smart rings out there.

You need a long battery life
Offering a 12-day battery life and a charging case that can extend it to 150 days before you need to rely on a power outlet, this smart ring can definitely go the distance.

You’re not sure about smart rings
With its relatively easy set-up process and low(ish) cost, the RingConn Gen 2 is an excellent choice for people who want to try the smart ring experience without over-committing.

Don’t buy it if…

You want a fitness tracker
Smart rings are useful for health monitoring, but this ring isn’t the best for fitness tracking due to limited workout options and because it won’t turn on automatically.

You want something high-end
While there’s a lot to be said for an affordable option, high-end models from rivals such as Oura and Samsung do offer a more seamless and in-depth experience (albeit at a higher cost).

You value function over fashion
Smart rings are ideal for people who want to wear a regular watch but don’t want to lose out on health tracking. If you’d rather get something more feature-rich, a smartwatch or fitness tracker would be a better bet.

Also Consider

Samsung Galaxy Ring
With excellent software, and no monthly payments, the Galaxy Ring is our current pick for the best smart ring available. It's pricier, but its added benefits could be enough to sway you.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Ring review

Oura Gen 4
Oura is almost synonymous with smart rings, and its latest gen 4 model has just entered the scene. While it's pricier (especially when you factor in the subscription), those interested in buying a smart ring should at least give this one some attention.
Read our Oura Ring 4 review

Fitbit Luxe
If you aren’t dead-set on getting a smart ring, then the Fitbit Luxe is our pick for the best fitness tracker in general thanks to its excellent monitoring abilities and stylish design
Read our Fitbit Luxe review

How I tested the RingConn Gen 2

To test the RingConn Gen 2 I wore it pretty much all day, every day for a few weeks. It tracked me while I worked from home, when I did workouts, when I went out for walks, and while I slept. This meant I was able to see how well the ring performed in my regular daily routine as a health monitoring tool.

For a few days of testing the RingConn Gen 2, I wore my trusty Fitbit tracker alongside to compare the results of both devices and gauge accuracy. The results weren’t always an exact match, but for the stats that both devices were monitoring, they did align fairly closely.

Read more about how we test.

• First reviewed October 2024

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Japan is often seen as a global leader in cutting-edge technology, known for innovations in robotics, electronics, and high-speed trains - however, the country is also known for its tendency to hold onto older technology long after it has been abandoned elsewhere.

Only recently has Japan begun to phase out floppy disks in government offices, and far too many of its laptops and devices still come equipped with legacy features like VGA connectors. Most recently, we covered a PCI Express adapter that adds a parallel port to modern PCs, allowing buyers to connect long-forgotten devices like HP LaserJet or dot matrix printers. For bonus nostalgia points, the driver for it comes on a CD, and it’s compatible with Windows XP and newer.

But now, Planex Communications has embraced Japan’s unwillingness to fully move on with the release of its PL-US56K2(A) USB-connected 56K modem, ideal for anyone who still needs to dial into the internet like it’s 1999.

BEEEEEE-DEEEE-DEEEEEE-KEEEEEE-SHHHHH-BRRRRR-DEEEEE-KRRRRRR-WEEEEEEEEE-SHHHHHHH

For around 5,980 yen (about $40) on Amazon, this device is designed for PCs without built-in modems, enabling access to analog public phone lines for internet connectivity, data transmission, and even faxing - all without needing to install any drivers.

The modem supports the ITU-T V.90 and V.92 protocols, offering a maximum theoretical data reception speed of 56Kbps and a transmission speed of up to 33.6Kbps. At those speeds, you won’t be streaming HD videos, but you can at least check your emails or send a fax while reflecting on how far technology has come - or hasn’t, depending on your perspective.

Powered via USB 2.0, the PL-US56K2(A) is small and light, weighing just 28 grams and measuring a compact 25mm x 75mm x 18mm, making it easy to tuck away next to your other relics from the late '90s like your floppy disks, PalmPilot, and that stack of AOL free trial CDs.

The PL-US56K2(A) isn’t likely to take the world by storm, but it’s a handy solution for anyone still navigating the world of dial-up or needing to send the occasional fax.

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Reolink Altas PT Ultra: two-minute review

A brand new model from a company that has been producing security solutions since 2009, the Altas (not Atlas) PT Ultra is intended for those who are serious about security. A bulky model featuring a 355-degree pan and 90-degree tilt camera, it’s ideally suited for small businesses and individuals wanting to monitor their premises on a regular, or even constant, basis.

However, it’s not the most straightforward to install, requiring a little bit of DIY skill to mount the bracket which the camera then slots into. Thankfully though, mounting templates, screws, and wall plugs are all provided in the box. Various mounting options are catered for, including a ceiling and wall mount. It’s even possible to install on a tree using the tree mounting strap provided.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

As with most of the best home security cameras these days, the Altas is controlled via your smartphone. Simply download the Reolink app and scan the QR code printed on the device to go through the setup instructions, complete with voice commands. Unlike many security cameras, the Reolink Altas PT Ultra supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi frequencies. It can also store footage on a MicroSD card up to 512GB (not supplied) or the company’s Home Hub/Home Hub Pro server (also not supplied).

Alternatively, you can pay for a subscription to store footage in the cloud. Currently the standard plan costs $6.99 / £3.49 / AU$4.99 per month or $69.99 / £34.49 / AU$49.99 a year for 30-day cloud video history, 30GB video storage and support for up to five cameras.

Using the app, you can set the pan and tilt camera both to record and track different types of movement automatically (human, animals, cars etc.) or you can control the camera manually via the app using the up and down arrow keys. There’s even a 10-second pre-record option which, like a body-worn camera or dashcam, constantly records in the background (this can be switched off if the battery falls to below a certain level).

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Notifications can either be pushed to your mobile phone or via email if you want to go old school. If you want to record more than just motion-triggered events, you can set the camera up for continuous recording. Alternatively, it’s possible to set up a timer schedule of when you want recordings to take place using the slider controls in the menu.

Finally, in addition to recording footage there’s also the option of talking to potential intruders via the built-in microphone. And if reasoning with them doesn’t work there are also options to trigger the onboard alarm or switch the camera’s bright lights on all at the touch of a button.

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: subscription options

Reolink Cloud, Classic Plan Series. Standard Plan: Up to 30-day cloud video history, up to five cameras supported, up to 30GB cloud storage. $6.99 / £3.49 / AU$4.99 per month or $69.99 / £34.49 / AU$49.99 per year.

Reolink Cloud, Classic Plan Series. Premier Plan: Up to 30-day cloud video history, up to 10 cameras supported, up to 80GB cloud storage. $10.99 / £6.89 / AU$9.99 per month, $104.99 / £68.19 / AU$99 per year.

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: price and availability

• How much does it cost? $229 / £229 / AU$359
• When is it available? Available since October 2024
• Where is it available? UK / US / Australia

Given you can now get an outdoor security camera for under £100 (such as the £89 Ring Stick-Up Cam) the Reolink seems very expensive at first glance. But then this device isn’t just intended for personal use. It’s also ideal for small businesses who want to keep an eye on their premises.

Another benefit is that you don’t have to pay the monthly subscription fee which often helps to subsidise the price of security cameras, rather like expensive printer cartridges subsidise cheap printers. Instead, you can use a MicroSD card or a ReoLink home hub to store footage rather than paying to store it in the cloud.

Also, unlike other models, the Reolink Altas PT Ultra combines a very large integrated lithium ion battery with a stand-alone solar panel as standard whereas often this is an optional extra. And while the solar panel didn’t prove particularly useful in the UK during a rainy and overcast couple of weeks in Autumn, it’s a great way of supplementing the device’s power in sunnier times.

Of course, the Reolink Atlas PT Ultra isn’t for everyone. There are much certainly much cheaper models on the market if you just want to track occasional motion. But if it’s constant monitoring combined with high performance video you are after then it’s certainly worth paying the premium.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: design

• Solidly built
• Hefty mounting bracket provided
• Large integrated camera

The first thing you notice about the ReoLink Altas PT Ultra is just how big and heavy it is. Not that this is a criticism necessarily, just that it feels much chunkier than other models on the market. It also requires some DIY skills to drill all the necessary holes to install the mounting bracket into which the camera slots.

We installed the ReoLink Atlas on the front of a back garden office, but equally it could have been mounted on a ceiling. The only thing you need to be mindful of is leaving enough room for the built-in antenna which is designed to be angled directly upwards from the pan and tilt camera.

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(Image credit: Chris Price)

A waterproof cover beneath the lens hides the MicroSD storage while above the lens are the powerful white lights. These lights are triggered by motion when it’s dark or can be switched on by pressing a button on the app. A microphone hole and daylight sensor are also provided in the main camera housing with a large speaker and USB-C charging port located on the underside of the unit close to the mounting bracket.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

You can simply slide the camera out of the mounting bracket to charge it via the mains using the USB-C cable provided (you will need your own USB plug as this isn’t supplied). Alternatively, you can connect the camera via the same USB-port to the solar panel for additional power on sunny days. A generous amount of cable is provided for the solar panel and it’s surprisingly easy both to install (just three screws required), as well as angle towards the sky.

• Design score: 4/5

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: performance

• 4K ultra high-definition resolution
• Large battery for continuous recording
• Color night vision

Undoubtedly, it’s when it comes to performance that the Reolink Altas PT really comes into its own. Testing the video quality during the day, I was impressed with the 4K resolution which displayed the flora and fauna of my garden in rich detail as well as capturing family members and pets in high resolution (no intruders were spotted during the test period!)

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(Image credit: Chris Price)

However, it’s at night where the camera really excels. Whereas most security cameras only display poor black and white images at night, the Reolink features ColorX technology enabling full-color footage without the need for spotlights (though in extremely dark environments the built-in spotlights will come on to enhance visibility).

Obviously, because the Reolink Altas PT is a 355-degree pan and 90-degree tilt camera it’s able to track and record movement from various sources without worrying about any blind spots. Another bonus is the large built in 20,000 mAh battery – over twice the size of the battery in the Eufy 4K S330 security camera, for example. This enables continuous recording 12 hours a day for over a week.

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(Image credit: Chris Price)

Reolink claims that the 6W solar panel can charge up to 35% of the battery with just one day of sunshine. However, we found that the solar panel actually contributed very little during rainy Autumn days in London – certainly not more than a couple of percent in a day. Nevertheless, even without the solar panels contributing much power, we found that during a 10 day period outdoors we didn’t need to remove the camera from its mount once for charging.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Reolink Altas PT Ultra? Buy it if

You want to monitor your property constantly

The large rechargeable battery combined with solar panel means that can record footage 12 hours a day for over a week.

You want high quality video footage

The Reolink offers exceptional video quality, particularly at night thanks to its color night vision facility.

Don't buy it if

You want a lightweight plug and play solution

The Reolink is a bulky unit which requires DIY installation.

You're on a limited budget

Featuring a wealth of features, the Reolink is more expensive than some of its lower-specification competitors.

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: also consider

Not completely sold on the Reolink Altas PT Ultra? Here are two more options to consider.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (Battery)

Available in black or white, this outdoor security camera from Amazon-owned Ring boasts two 3,000K spotlights. You can also buy a mains-powered version as well as a separate solar panel.

Read our full Ring Spotlight Cam Pro review

Eufy 4K S330 Security Camera

An extremely innovative battery and solar-powered camera, the Eufy can be used with the supplied 4G Sim card to capture recordings, making it ideal for those who live in areas with poor Wi-Fi/broadband.

Read our full Eufy 4K S330 Security Camera review

How I tested the Reolink Altas PT Ultra

• I used the Reolink every day for two weeks
• I set it up myself using the fittings provided by the manufacturer
• The security camera was installed on the outside of my garden office (the solar panel was set up temporarily)

I installed the Reolink Altas on the front of my garden office for around 10 days so it could capture footage from the garden. After this period I then brought it indoors so I could use it to track movement a little more and also check battery usage.

Before setting up I made sure that the camera only focused on my own property by excluding parts of the frame that could capture the neighbour’s garden using the app. I also switched off the siren and only used the powerful spotlights briefly outdoors. Both the siren and spotlights were tested more thoroughly indoors.

Because it was autumn in the UK and the solar panel was largely ineffective, this was installed only temporarily on an outdoor table and also on the garden office door for a few days.

Learn more about how we test on TechRadar.

First reviewed October 2024