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Free is tempting, but when it comes to VPNs, it’s such a bad choice.
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 […]
My takes on this year’s winners and losers from CES 2025
You don’t want anyone snooping on your phone. Do this quick privacy audit to keep out prying eyes.
Humans don’t look at resumes anymore. AI does! I’ll share some insider tricks to get your resume past the AI bots.
A frightening, new security attack is making the rounds.
Breaking news and tips
Best (and weirdest) tech of CES 2025 so far
The annual CES show is underway, so let’s dive into some of the coolest (and, yes, weirdest) gadgets I’ve come across so far.
Foldable phones are so 2024: I told you this would be announced. I’m talking about rollable laptops. Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable has a screen that extends from 14 inches to 16.7 inches when you need more space. Neat! Too bad it starts at $3,499, oof.
Fully charged in 2 seconds: The Swippitt looks like a toaster and swaps your phone into a new battery-packed charger in seconds. Pretty sweet and not cheap — $450 for a hub with five batteries. Right now, it works with iPhone 14, 15 and 16, but they plan to expand to Samsung Galaxy S, too.
Like a car wash for your kid’s teeth: The Willo AutoFlo is a $249 toothbrush that brushes your child’s teeth in 60 seconds — no scrubbing required. They bite down on what looks like a horse bit crossed with a water flosser. Voila, clean chompers. Genius.
I can see the headlines now: Roam’s CO2 lid pops onto your water bottle to make instant fizz. Think SodaStream on the go. Imagine the waterfall when someone stores this badly in their bag.
File under “Weird but cool”: The Kirin Electric Salt Spoon uses a weak electrical current to trick your tongue into thinking what you’re eating is saltier. I wouldn’t buy this yet (the first version of tech like this usually isn’t the best), but imagine what a win that’d be for folks who have to eat a (bland) salt-free or low-salt diet.
Don’t tell me vacuums are boring: This is so smart. Eufy’s $549.99 E20 transforms from a stick vac to a handheld to a self-propelling robot. I’ll wait for the reviews, but if it works well … I want it.
Back in my day, you stuck your finger in the diaper: Bosch’s $1,000 AI crib detects changes in air quality so you know when it’s time to change your baby’s diaper. It’s got a camera, microphone and sensor to monitor heart and respiratory rates, and it rocks the baby back to sleep on its own.
I would’ve loved this when I was caring for Mom: The AI-enabled Kami Fall Detect watches 24/7 and sends loved ones an alert if there’s an accident. It has a two-way mic so you can check in and 911 emergency response if you (or another loved one) aren’t available to help.
Tweet, tweet: I’ve had a smart birdhouse on my list, but Birdify’s smart birdbath is even cooler. It has a solar-powered fountain to attract avian friends, and it records them in high-res so you can watch them from your phone. AI will tell you exactly what kind of birds they are. It’s $200.
Homegrown veggies: Plantaform’s $500 indoor smart garden (plants even I couldn’t kill!) took home the CES food and ag-tech innovation award. You add water every couple of weeks, and it slowly releases fog to keep your plants hydrated and happy. Monitor everything from an app.
That was fun, huh? On Sunday, I’ll get into the nitty-gritty on concept cars, robots, AI computers and all that tech-nerd stuff.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Fun kitchen gadgets
🍝 Because you guys and gals freakin’ loved the Fasta Pasta …
- Transform your boring work sammy with a microwave panini maker (18% off). Did you know a microwave cake maker is a thing, too?
- Get rid of the random jar of bacon grease. This grease strainer and collector ($17) is dishwasher-safe and won’t melt.
- If you also hate throwing away half-full cans, soda can lids (25% off) to the rescue. I’m totally bringing these to the beach for my seltzers.
- Slicing a banana is easy. What’d make it even easier? A banana slicer (39% off, $7). Good for kiddos!
- I found this pancake batter dispenser because I’m not ready to say au revoir to crepes after a week in Paris. If anyone has a good recipe, let me know.
🏃💸 Don’t forget about Amazon’s Winter Sale! This sweet dashcam is 40% off, plus another $20 off if you click the coupon.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
🚀 Growing your team in 2025? Post your next job for free on LinkedIn and use their tools that make sorting through the pile of resumes that come in so easy.
✈️ “Delayed Even Longer Than American”: Yup, I’m talking about Delta. Coming in 2026, all Delta cabins (even economy) will get Bluetooth and 4K seatback screens. The airline’s Delta Concierge AI bot will help you navigate airports, remind you when your passport expires and give packing tips. Great, just what we need … one more Delta acronym meaning: Delivering Everyone Late To Atlanta!
Water pumps and sprinklers saved this house from the Palisades Fire
👨🚒 DIY firefighting: A 60-year-old man saved his home from the Palisades fire with some special equipment he’d purchased in advance. He soaked his house with water pumps, sprinklers and a hydrogel retardant he mixed in his backyard hot tub. Sadly, the homes surrounding him weren’t as lucky. Here’s the video showing how he did it.
4 secret ways to use your smart TV
You use your smart TV for Netflix and chill, but let me show you how to unlock its full potential.
10,000 hours
Saved by Chick-fil-A’s lemon-squeezing robots. Their giant California factory churns through 1.6 million pounds of lemons a day in just 45 minutes. Talk about poultry in motion.
She poses as a teen girl to stop sexual predators
Roo Powell leads SOSA (Safe from Online Sex Abuse) and goes undercover as a teen with wigs, fake braces, and a staged bedroom. She works with police to catch men targeting kids online. Her work has led to over 70 arrests — every parent should know about this.
Own a Kindle? Amazon’s Send to Kindle page rocks. Use it to upload a file from your computer to your e-reader, or use the tabs on the right for instructions to email or send just about any other way you can think of.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
If you always have to help your robo-vac find its home: Your base station is probably in the wrong spot. For the best results, put it against a wall on flat ground with two to three feet of clearance to either side and about five feet of clearance in front. Those little vacs need space!
Easily delete duplicate photos on your phone
Give your phone the fresh start it deserves by ditching those duplicate pics. Follow these simple tips to clear the clutter fast — I’ve got you covered!
🤑 The art of the deal: Amazon just dropped $40 million for a behind-the-scenes documentary about Melania Trump that will debut in theaters, then stream on Prime Video. Her story is incredible. Now, this is the weird part: The film’s director is Brett Ratner, who’s been MIA since 2017, when he was hit with numerous sexual misconduct allegations that forced Warner Bros. to cancel his $450 million contract.
Introducing OMNIA: The health conceptual product designed for CES 2025
I don’t see myself in this: Omnia is a smart mirror, scale and smartwatch hybrid. Stand on the base, and it’ll take your weight and measure your heart health, then it’ll pull in data from any other tracker you use. The AI assistant gives real-time feedback out loud. Reminds me of Lululemon’s Mirror, which was a total flop.
Every parent should read this
This topic hits me personally, and I don’t like to discuss it at all. You never know who’s a child predator. I was molested by a trusted family friend when I was 6 years old. I told my parents, and they took immediate action — well, not the action my Dad wanted, which was to cut off the guy’s hands.
More like Cost of Duty: How much money does it take to make a video game? Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020) had a $700 million budget, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) cost over $640 million. For perspective, the “Avengers: Endgame” movie only cost $356 million to make. If they’re spending that kind of money, they’re making three times that at least.
Hearing aids 101: How they work and Kim’s top tech pick
Last year, my husband Barry got sick. We thought it was just a cold, but then, the strangest thing happened: He lost hearing in one ear because of a virus. After months of waiting, endless consultations and a lot of research, we learned how common this is.
Space junk falls on a Kenyan village
A metallic ring 8 feet in diameter and 1,100 pounds fell from space into a village in Kenya. No one got hurt, phew. It seems to be a piece of a rocket launch vehicle.
$200 reward
For reporting traffic offenders. In Vietnam, chaotic roads caused 30 deaths per day last year, so authorities got creative. Anyone who turns in a rulebreaker gets 5 million dong (about $200), or 10% of the offender’s fine. No one’s cashed in yet because the fear of being reported actually has drivers following the rules. Snitches get riches.
Look to Japan: There’s a global nursing shortage, and in Japan, they’ve come up with a solution. Nursing homes there are using robots for tasks like moving patients and monitoring vitals. So far, it’s a win for everyone.