All tech. No filler.
Join 550,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
Best software to keep track of your small business finances.
Is someone spying on you, or are you just paranoid? Find out now.
3 reasons ExpressVPN is the best VPN on the market.
Sharing too much online can get you into big trouble. Here’s what to avoid.
Looking to hire your next superstar? Here’s why LinkedIn should be your go-to resource.
Here’s why Google Search isn’t dead yet, but it’s definitely suffered a mortal wound.
Breaking news and tips
Some great apps you need to try
Today, by popular demand, I’m sharing some of my most-used apps and a few other great ones you might not know about. Most of these are free with in-app purchases.
Apps I use
- OpenTable: Use it to book restaurant reservations. You can plan ahead or grab last-minute tables. (iPhone | Android)
- AllTrails: Get walking, running, biking and hiking routes, and filter them by distance, views and dog friendliness. (iPhone | Android)
- Instacart: Shop online and have your groceries delivered. Pro tip: Choose stores that say, “Online prices are the same as in-store prices.” (iPhone | Android)
- Google Authenticator: It’s a more secure, time-based code to replace two-factor authentication and keep out hackers. (iPhone | Android)
- Libby: Access thousands of e-books and audiobooks from your local library, all for free. (iPhone | Android)
- Hallow: This Catholic app has Fr. Mike’s Bible in a Year, homilies, the rosary, daily prayers and reflections. (iPhone | Android)
- Merlin Bird ID: Perfect for birdwatchers or nature lovers, this app provides instant identification with photos and bird sounds. (iPhone | Android)
- Amazon: Get notifications when a delivery is coming and order right from your phone. You can also take a pic of what you’re looking for and search using your photo. (iPhone | Android)
- NYT Games: I take 10 minutes a day to play Spelling Bee, Connections, Wordle and Mini Crossword. (iPhone | Android)
- Virtual Keypad: It combines all your security systems in one app. I use it to control the alarms at my house in Phoenix, my studios and my home in Santa Barbara. (iPhone | Android)
5 more worth checking out
- Too Good To Go: Buy surplus food from restaurants, cafes and bakeries at a discount. The other day, I picked up a loaded bag of bagels and rolls at Whole Foods for $3.99. (iPhone | Android)
- Capo: My friend, Chris, raves about this iPhone app. It’s designed to help musicians learn songs more efficiently by slowing down tracks and providing chord detection. For Android, check out Chordify.
- Oko: Winner of Apple’s 2024 Design Award, this AI-powered iPhone accessibility app helps individuals who are blind or have low vision safely navigate pedestrian crossings. For Android, try Lookout.
- Crouton: This iPhone app lets you organize recipes from the web, books or handwritten notes from Grandma. For Android, check out Recipes Home.
- Facetune: It’s what celebs use to touch up their pictures. Whiten your teeth and smooth your skin with zero Photoshop skills. (iPhone | Android)
And one more: MyRadar is Barry’s favorite weather app for hyper-local forecasts and notifications. (iPhone | Android)
😂 Speaking of … I meant to download a calendar app for my phone, but I downloaded a colander app. Now, my battery just keeps draining.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
🧘 It’s National Stress Awareness Day
A walk outside (with my funny podcast!) goes a long way. Need more? All these finds are under $20.
- Clip a page-turner onto your Kindle so you can stay comfy in bed while you get through that cozy mystery.
- Put a USB-powered travel diffuser in your car, breathe in the essential oils, and don’t flip off that truck that just cut you off.
- Spray this aromatherapy mist on your pillow before bedtime for max relaxation mode. Bonus: Spritz the whole house and make everyone else relax, too.
- Give your room a warm glow with a dimmable Himalayan salt lamp (10% off). There’s a reason these things are always in yoga studios.
- These aromatherapy steamers make showers even more relaxing. As they dissolve, they release the smell of eucalyptus and menthol.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Fake reviews are now illegal
Businesses are paying big bucks to flood sites with fake reviews and the FTC’s had enough. Here’s how to spot the fakes and what you can do about it.
📂 Mac quick tip: Here’s a shortcut to open folders. From your desktop, hit ⌘ (Cmd) then the down arrow. To go the other way, hold ⌘ and press the up arrow.
🎬 Plot twist: “Here” follows Tom Hanks and Robin Wright across a 60-year span, with de-aging done entirely by AI. A few years ago, this wouldn’t have been possible without Marvel-level budgets. Now? They’re pulling it off for $50 million. The trailer gave me goosebumps! At least there are still some scenes with real actors.
‘Here’ official trailer
🎬 Plot twist: “Here” follows Tom Hanks and Robin Wright across a 60-year span, de-aged entirely by AI. A few years ago, this wouldn’t have been possible without Marvel-level budgets. Now? They’re pulling it off for $50 million. The trailer gave me goosebumps!
Apple just dropped the update to test your hearing: You’ll need a pair of AirPods Pro 2 and an iPhone running iOS 18.1. Go to Settings > AirPods Pro > Take a Hearing Test. If hearing loss is detected, turn on hearing aid features under Settings > AirPods Pro > Hearing Assistance. FYI: The test takes about 10 minutes, and you’ll need to remain in a quiet room; otherwise, you’ll have to start over. Spoiler: This only works if you have mild to moderate hearing loss.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
The internet couldn’t stop this death
New York killed Peanut, the internet’s favorite squirrel. His owner is outraged. Plus, shady ‘I am not a robot’ scams, AI models stealing the spotlight in fashion, and why Microsoft’s throwing $1 million prize at you… just to use Bing.
When you set up your iPhone, invisible dots create a detailed map of your face so you can open your phone just by looking at it. How many dots are used to map a face? Is it … A.) 7,500, B.) 18,000, C.) 30,000 or D.) 50,000?
Page rage: You’re on a Windows PC and someone sends you an Apple Pages doc. Yep, you can open it. The easiest way is through iCloud for Windows. Steps here to set that up. If you don’t want to download anything, try a free online document file converter like Zamzar to turn the file into a Word doc.
Your phone’s secret app privacy report
Wondering if an app is tapping into your camera, clipboard, or contacts? Your phone has a report that shows which apps might be crossing the line on privacy.
No. 2 in EV sales
For automaker GM, which sold 32,000 electric vehicles in the U.S. during the third quarter. Ford insists they’re still in the second spot, claiming “GM is adding every brand EV” they sell, including Chevy, GMC and Cadillac. You guessed it — Tesla remains No. 1. You know what they say: 95% of electric cars are still on the road; the other 5% made it all the way home.
Talk to your kids about online predators before it’s too late
This number makes me sick. The FBI says 90% of sexual advances against kids happen in chatrooms or on instant messaging platforms. Now more than ever, it’s important to talk to your kids about online predators.
Speaking of Amazon: Bad news if you got a new Kindle Colorsoft — many people are complaining about the bottom of the color display having a yellowish tint. If you own one, contact their support for a refund or replacement. Replacements ship out next week.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
New to Google Chrome: The memory-hogger just got an efficiency update. Click the three dots (upper right) > Settings > Performance. You’ll see Memory Saver, which pauses tabs you’re not using. Your options are Moderate, Balanced or Maximum, so start with Balanced.
How does the computing power of your smartphone compare to the guidance computer aboard the 1969 Apollo 11 lunar module? Is it … A.) About as powerful, B.) 120 times more powerful, C) 12,000 times more powerful or D.) 120,000 times more powerful?
📦 Coming in hot: Amazon just got the FAA greenlight to fly new, smaller delivery drones that cross into pilots’ line of sight. First stop: Tolleson, a city west of Phoenix (not near me … yet). Fingers crossed this MK30 model is quieter than the others. Locals, no skeet shooting for prizes!
AI window-washing robots make their U.S. debut in Dallas
🧽 Window washing 2.0: Cleaning high-rise windows is risky work, but a spider-like AI robot is about to change that. Named after those gravity-defying mountain goats, Ibex only needs a button press to get to work. It climbs buildings, using cameras and sensors to scan surfaces, dodge window frames and leave no spot untouched. The robots are already in Texas, so don’t be surprised if they pop up everywhere soon.
13% risk reduction
Of cognitive decline by just exercising once a week. Even a 30-minute walk positively impacts your brain. If you can’t make it outside, take your calls or watch a show on a walking pad. You can do this!
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Another example of AI doing the work of humans: Big retailers are using AI combined with real-time weather data to time ads and discounts. Take Walmart: This year, they dropped sunscreen prices a couple of weeks early after the AI algorithm noticed rain was all over the country. Normally, inventory analysts would do this work.