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Even Queen Bey ain’t safe
You’d think Beyoncé’s secret files crew would be protected by a force field of security, privacy settings and Sasha Fierce energy. But nope, real-world crime doesn’t care how many Grammys you have.
Right before her recent Atlanta show, thieves smashed the glass of a rental Jeep used by her crew and made off with two suitcases. Inside? A laptop, five thumb drives filled with unreleased, watermarked music, confidential tour plans and one very important piece of tech.
No elaborate heist, no cybercriminal with a keyboard on fire. Just your average smash-and-grab with potentially Grammy-winning consequences.
The suitcases belonged to Beyoncé’s lead dancer and choreographer. They had just wrapped rehearsals and left the gear in the car. Moments later, it was gone.
But here’s the part that made me smile and the lesson for you.
👮🏼♀️ Tech cracked the case
One of the stolen items was a pair of Apple AirPods Max. These are Apple’s $450 headphones, and fortunately, the Find My feature was turned on.
Here’s what that means. When activated, “Find My” sends a sneaky little Bluetooth signal from your Apple gadget. Then any nearby Apple device (of which there are a billion+) picks up the signal and sends the location back to you, anonymously, quietly, undetectably.
That’s exactly what happened. Police tracked the AirPods, found a suspect vehicle on surveillance video, and now there’s an active warrant. All thanks to one little toggle in your settings.
🍎 Team Apple
The Find My app is built into every iPhone, iPad and Mac. It’s how you track your Apple devices if they’re lost or stolen, and it works with AirTags (21% off), too.
Those are the little discs you can drop in your luggage, attach to your keys or even hide in your car. I’ve got one on my dogs. Not kidding.
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Fortify your life
🧑💻 From snoops to trackers, these tools give you peace of mind.
- 🔑 Fort Knox at home: This smart lock (42% off) unlocks automatically. Great when your hands are full.
- 🔎 I spy a creep: Whip out a hidden camera detector (33% off) at your next Airbnb. Catch bugs before they catch you.
- 🔒 OG security: Master Lock’s padlocks (15% off) still do the trick. Ideal for gym lockers.
- 📍 Lost your bag? Not with a slim smart card (10% off) that tracks your wallet right from your phone.
- 🐶 Tag that tail: A waterproof AirTag holder ($5.99) clips to your pup’s collar. Helps me keep track of my pup Bella.
🚨 Don’t stop lockin’: Dive into Amazon’s smart security gear, and hit up my shop for more handpicked privacy gadgets.
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Adpocalypse survival guide
“Kim, I am so sick and tired of all the ads on websites. It feels like they’ve gotten worse since ChatGPT is taking away site traffic from Google. How do I block the annoying ads?” — Terry in Ohio
Terry, you’re right. Websites are loading up with more ads than ever.
🛜 Full bars, slow internet? Those little Wi-Fi bars only show your connection to the router, not your internet speed. So even if they’re full, apps can run slower than a Monday morning. When in doubt, run a speed test and check if your download, upload and ping match what you’re paying for.
💖 Fastpass to love: You can now find your Disney partner obsession in a new dating app called Single Riders. You can plan park dates, geek out over hidden Mickeys or sing “It’s a small world” together. If Goofy offers you style goals, this one’s for you.
Is your iPhone too old to fix?
If Apple won’t even look at it, you might be past due for an upgrade. Here’s why.
80%
That’s how accurately one dog sniffed out Parkinson’s, just from skin oil. Wow, right? In a double-blind trial, a lab-golden mix nailed 32 out of 40 cases of a disease that normally takes years to diagnose. No blood. No scans. Man’s best friend? More like neurology’s new MVP.
📱 Samsung S25 Ultra display fix: By default, it doesn’t use its highest screen resolution. Go to Settings > Display > Screen resolution, switch to QHD+ and hit Apply. Then go back to Display, tap Motion smoothness and choose Adaptive. It’ll use more battery, but everything will look way better. FYI: The price just dropped.
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Hackers love when you do this
Still getting security codes via text? Hackers can steal them in seconds.
🧠 Fight bots with bots: Getting fake iPhone charge alerts? Sketchy emails pretending to be PayPal? You’re not alone. The good news: PayPal’s new fraud-detecting AI is watching for this stuff in real time, and it’s getting freakishly good at it. Remember, it won’t catch all the scams though.
For your inner neat freak
✨ You bring the motivation, these gadgets bring the polish.
- 🌬️ “Alexa, clear the air”: Kick allergens and odors to the curb with a smart air purifier (48% off).
- 😌 Let’s face it: Your blackheads won’t clean themselves. This cleansing brush (33% off) massages them away.
- 🔥 Cooking catastrophe? Snag a cleaner kit (6% off) that won’t scratch glass cooktops. 4.6 stars & 23,000+ reviews.
- 👓 Bye-bye, smudges: Polish your eyeglasses with a lens cleaner combo (23% off). Works great on phones, too.
- 🧽 Floor it: This isn’t your grandma’s mop and bucket (21% off). It wrings itself and reaches over 5 feet. Neat.
🛒 Tidy up your cart: Click this secret link for more cleaning steals. Find the everyday things I actually use on my Amazon storefront.
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China’s spherical spybot is terrifying
It rolls like a tire, fires nets, and sprays tear gas. Plus, NASA lost pricey footage, Hertz nickel-and-dimes with tech, and McDonald’s big password problem. What’s your childhood home look like now? Google Maps lets you time travel. Let’s go!
Charlie Chaplin’s in theaters after 100 years
Charlie Chaplin famously rereleased his 1925 silent classic The Gold Rush in 1942 with new narration and edits, believing it would connect better with modern audiences. Now, thanks to film archivists and AI, the silent masterpiece has been painstakingly restored. The 4K version just premiered at Cannes and hit 250 theaters worldwide.
📞 AI’s on the line, fur real: Google’s Gemini bots can now phone your local pet groomer for you. Ask about prices, availability or just vibe checks, all without saying a word yourself. Only in the U.S., only for certain biz types (pet stuff, dry cleaners, auto shops), and yes, businesses can opt out. Gemini Premium folks get more AI call credits, because obviously money talks, and now so does AI.
🍏 Save a web page as a PDF: On iPad, let’s say you’re in Safari on a Wikipedia article. Tap the Share icon in the top right and select Print. Choose the Range (pages you want), then hit the Share icon again. Select Save to Files, choose On My iPad or iCloud Drive, and press Save.
Make $80K a year renting out your yard — July 12th, Hour 1
I talk to a guy who makes big money with his unused space through the Neighbor app. Here’s how you can do it, too. Plus, the demise of Google, Apple vs. p*rn, and the first foldable iPhone. Also, how sending out a smiley face could save your relationship.
Virtual party list
🥳 Hosting or heading to a get-together? Let’s get the fun started.
- 🎁 Wrapping, handled: This double-sided organizer (28% off) keeps your gift bags, ribbons and bows tidy.
- 🍷 Pop, pour, press: All with a four-in-one wine opener (15% off) that aerates and seals when the party’s over.
- 🍫 More like fun-do: NutriChef’s electric fondue pot (8% off) makes gooey goodness in minutes.
- 🚀 Vibes in overdrive: Bring the night sky indoors with a galaxy light projector (19% off). 4.4 stars and 7,000+ reviews.
- ⛺ “No adults allowed” zone: From playing to reading, this kid’s canopy (28% off) gives ’em a cozy space to do it.
🛍️ Still stumped? I got you. An e-gift card is a great last-minute idea. And don’t forget, more gift-worthy finds are on my Amazon store.
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Batteries that don’t burn: Lithium batteries are super efficient and occasionally super explode-y. But researchers just made a version that stops itself from catching fire. When the battery gets too hot, built-in flame retardants release chemicals that shut down the reaction before it becomes a fireworks show. No flames. No smoke. No 30,000-gallon fire truck cameo. EVs really need this pronto.