All tech. No filler.
Join 600,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
I’ll tell you how to access it, plus I’ll share some wild Haul deals.
I’ll never forget when my son, Ian, asked me where in Los Angeles I lived. I told him I couldn’t remember — it was 30 years ago, and I lived there for maybe six months. A few minutes later, he called and had the address. It was available for free to anyone on the internet […]
I’ll walk through how it happened and what you can do to secure your info.
Booking a rental property for your next vacation? There’s a scam for that!
Is your digital life a mess? You can fix that in just a few minutes.
A fun list of phrases today’s tech has made obsolete
Breaking news and tips
5 cool ways to use your home network (beyond getting online)
When you connect your gadgets to the same Wi-Fi network, you’re not just getting them online; you’re building a system so they can communicate with each other. You don’t need to be a tech wizard — just follow the steps below:
1. Share printers. Tired of running back and forth or emailing between devices just to print? Save yourself the hassle.
- In Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer, then click Printer properties. On the Sharing tab, check Change Sharing Options.
- On a Mac, open System Settings > General > Sharing, then click the info button next to Printer Sharing. Turn on printer sharing, select the printer to share, and click Done.
Your selected printer should show up when you try to print from other computers on your network. Just make sure you leave the printer and the computer it’s connected to both switched on.
2. Create a DIY streaming service. Tools like Plex and Jellyfin make movies, TV shows, songs and anything else you’ve downloaded streamable from any device on your network. The best part? They’re free to use. It’s like having your own private Netflix or Spotify, just for your family. Neat!
3. Share screens. This one’s for you if you’ve ever thought the person sharing photos from a laptop or phone to the TV was a genius.
- Use AirPlay if you’re on a MacBook, plus a TV or streaming gadget that supports AirPlay (check the specs if you’re not sure). On macOS, click the Control Center button in the toolbar (the two toggle switches), then Screen Mirroring.
- For TVs or streaming dongles that support Google Chromecast, connect from Windows or macOS using the Chrome browser. Click the three dots (top left) in any browser tab, then Cast, save and share > Cast. Once you’re connected to the TV or dongle, click Sources > Cast screen.
4. Swap files between devices. My nerds know about network-attached storage (NAS). It’s a storage drive that connects directly to your router so any device on your network can access it. Something like the $250 Synology DS223 is perfect.
NAS units come with setup instructions, and you can access any computer, tablet or phone on your network. It’s a great place to store documents, photos and music.
5. Game together or from different rooms. If you have a Steam gaming library on one PC, you can access those games from other computers on your network.
- In the Steam desktop app, choose Settings from the Steam menu, then Family > Authorize Library Sharing on this device. You need to install Steam (but not the games) on any computer you want to connect from.
Even better, all these tricks work even if your main internet goes down, so you can keep gaming, watching movies and … printing, I guess!
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Problem, meet solution
I love an easy fix. These are worth having around when you need ‘em.
- Bridge the annoying gap between your stove and counter with these easy-to-clean silicone covers (37% off a 2-pack, $10).
- Your hair sheds. A pack of drain clog removers ($8 for a 9-piece set) will keep things flowing smoothly.
- If your old charging cables are starting to fray, slap on some cord protectors to keep ‘em going (4-pack for under $5).
- Your plant babies are looking sad. Spritz on some leaf shine spray from Miracle-Gro (under $6).
- Boots looking dingy and water-spotted? Reviewers say this suede and leather brush is a miracle worker (35% off, $6.49).
💡 Have old tech sitting around? Send it to Amazon through its Trade-in Program and get a gift card for the value. It doesn’t even need to work!
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Because who uses Samsung Internet? Your phone probably has a couple of browsers. Disable or delete the unused one to save your battery life, free up storage space and prevent accidental opens. On Android, open Settings > Apps. Find the unused browser, then tap Disable or Uninstall. On iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > [browser] > Default Browser App. Then, manage or delete the other browser under Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
❄️ 8.9 inches of snow: Blanketing Pensacola, Florida, and the pictures on social media are a riot. My favorites: A gator lounging in the snow and the coldest-looking beach I’ve ever seen! Stay safe, folks. Time to pull out a big heated blanket.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
A father’s love
An IT director from Toronto called corporate life quits after doctors told him his son had an ultra-rare neurodegenerative disease with no cure. They said his boy would be paralyzed from the waist down by 10 and quadriplegic by 20. Dad liquidated his savings and teamed up with researchers working on a promising gene therapy. Years later, his son received the treatment and can now stand up.
Don’t become another victim of the California wildfires
California wildfires hit hard, but some celebs are exploiting fans on TikTok and GoFundMe. Here’s what you need to know.
Welcome to the future: Wish you had an assistant to update your website or plan your summer trip? That’s what AI operators do, taking control of your tech to get stuff done. Code leaked from OpenAI’s macOS app shows options like “Toggle Operator” and “Force Quit Operator,” so theirs may be coming soon.
64
iPhones filmed OK Go’s new music video. The indie rock band arranged them into a mosaic of split screens for their track “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill” and edited them into a single take. It took their 31-person team over 1,000 takes and 577 hours of prep to nail the four-minute video. Even Tim Cook was impressed. You’ve gotta see it for yourself.
Cheaters don’t want you to know this iPhone trick
Think someone’s two-timing you? They could be using this sneaky iPhone app to cover their tracks. We’ll also talk about China’s control over TikTok, IRS changes for online sellers, and Trump’s new memecoin.
I did the work for you: Protecting yourself online doesn’t have to be complicated. I’ve handpicked the five best tools to safeguard your devices, data and identity.
Nosy, nosy: On your iPhone, bring up a list of all the apps with access to your contacts. Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Contacts. Tap Limited Access for any that shouldn’t get every little detail.
Borrow software you’ll never buy
Using programs like MS Word, Photoshop, or Final Cut on your computer can get pricey fast. Check out these tips to snag them for free!
😅 I can’t believe I’m typing this: Women on TikTok are pouring castor oil into their belly buttons every night to help with digestion and bloating. Castor oil does have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, so maybe they’re onto something. No crude jokes, OK?
64 iPhones, one music video
OK Go’s new music video for “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill” was filmed on 64 iPhones. arranged them into a mosaic of split screens and edited it all into a single take. It took their 31-person team of 31 over 1,000 takes and more than 577 hours of prep to nail the 4-minute video. Even Tim Cook was impressed.
Wait, are public phone chargers dangerous?
Those charging kiosks in airports, hotels and malls are so tempting when you’re out and about with a dying phone. Their owners promise they’re safe. The government disagrees, and so do I. Groan, I know.
Welcome to the newest phase of juice jacking. The phenomenon has been around for more than 10 years. Hackers use public phone-charging stations to upload malware to your devices. Then, they ransom your device or steal your passwords. Super-duper.
🎓 Absolutely ridiculous: AI detection software is flagging loads of false positives. A University of North Georgia student accused of cheating on an assignment lost her scholarship. The crime? She turned on Grammarly for spellchecking, something the university recommends. Parents, tell your kids to leave a trail of proof they did their own work, like a Google Doc with a draft history.
Carmakers will charge for anything, including your safety
New cars are basically snazzy computers on wheels, packing 1,000 to 3,000 processors. That means we get all kinds of great features, but that’s not all — the more complex our cars get, the more at risk we are. I’m not talking about theft; I mean remote carjacking … or worse.
The sky is falling
On Prince Edward Island, Canada Laura Kelly’s doorbell cam caught the exact moment a meteorite fell. In a big first, the cam also caught the sound it made on impact. It happened last July, but scientists just dropped their findings. Huh, sounds different than I expected.
$18
New monthly price for Netflix’s ad-free Standard plan. Oh, goodie, another $3 price hike. The ad tier is now $8 (up from $7), and Premium is $25 (from $23). Account sharing went up a buck to $9. In the final quarter of 2024, Netflix pulled in $10 billion, and its revenue shot up 16%.
Color me surprised: Samsung just dropped the details about its new Galaxy S25 smartphones, and they’re basically S24 models with better processors to handle the real upgrade: Samsung AI. Neat, new features include a lock screen summary with info to help you plan your day; Photoshop-level editing with a swipe of your finger; and cross-app actions that let you layer multiple requests into one, like, “Find a well-rated coffee shop nearby and text the address to Barry.”