In an age where reliable internet connectivity is essential for both work and leisure, understanding the nuances of your connection is more important than ever. While traditional speed tests have served their purpose, they often fall short in providing a complete picture of your network’s performance. This is where Orb comes into play, a new application designed to offer a more detailed analysis of your internet connection.
A New Perspective on Internet Performance
Orb, developed by Doug Suttles, the former CEO of a well-known network testing company, aims to go beyond mere speed measurements. Launched in 2023, this innovative tool evaluates not just the speed of your internet but also critical factors such as latency, packet loss, and jitter. By assessing these elements, Orb provides users with a clearer understanding of their connection’s stability and reliability.
Understanding Your Connection with Orb
Unlike conventional speed tests that only indicate how fast your internet is, Orb offers a comprehensive dashboard that highlights various performance metrics. Suttles likens traditional speed tests to a car’s dipstick, which only reveals issues after they occur. In contrast, Orb acts as a proactive tool, alerting users to potential problems before they impact their online experience.
Key Metrics for a Stable Connection
Orb evaluates three primary metrics: responsiveness, reliability, and speed. Responsiveness encompasses factors like lag and jitter, while reliability assesses performance consistency over time. Speed remains a familiar measure of download and upload rates. Users can track these metrics over different time frames, including one minute, five minutes, one hour, and 24 hours, allowing for a thorough analysis of their internet performance.
Scoring Your Internet Connection
After evaluating the key metrics, Orb generates a score that reflects the stability of your connection. A score above 80 indicates a strong connection, while scores between 70 and 80 suggest moderate performance. Anything below 70 may signal significant issues that require attention. For users with lower scores, Orb provides actionable recommendations to enhance their network performance, utilizing advanced algorithms to identify and explain potential problems.
Cross-Platform Accessibility
Orb is designed to be user-friendly and accessible across various platforms, including iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux. Additionally, the application offers installation guides for devices like Raspberry Pi and Docker, catering to tech-savvy users who wish to monitor their connections more frequently.
Future Features and Community Sharing
Looking ahead, the developers of Orb are working on features that will allow users to share their connection data with others. This collaborative approach means that both parties can receive notifications if there are fluctuations in connection quality, fostering a community of informed users.
Commitment to Free Access
Currently, Orb is free to use, with plans to maintain this model. The team envisions licensing their technology to businesses and internet service providers, enabling them to monitor network issues with enhanced analytics and alerts.
Funding and Future Aspirations
Having secured $3.8 million in funding from various investors, Orb is poised for growth. The team is also focused on developing features that help users verify access to popular services like streaming platforms and cloud storage, ensuring that users can quickly determine if issues are service-related or connection-related.