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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 […]
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.
From sharing printers to creating a personalized streaming service, you’re sure to learn something new.
A few clever ways to keep your devices juiced without fear of being infected with malware
Breaking news and tips
‘Can you tape that?’ Phrases tech has killed off
I’m sure you remember this: “You hang up first.” “No, you hang up first.” Not quite as romantic when you fumble for the “End call” button on your iPhone, eh? As times change and our tech changes, so, too, do the phrases we use.
Let’s take a little trip down memory lane this Sunday with something different in our quest for the ultimate tech know-how. It’s gonna be fun, I promise. See how many of these phrases you’ve said at least a few times in your life:
- “Roll down the window.” Cars have had automatic windows for ages, making the manual rolling down of windows a thing of the past. I still say this, though, in my 1964 Mustang.
- “Check the answering machine.” Voicemail on cellphones has obliterated the need for a physical answering machine.
- “Dial 411.” My mother designed the 411 directory system for Bell Labs. Now, just look up someone online and you’ll have their digits.
- “Page me.” Pagers were all the rage once upon a time. Today, they’re used almost exclusively in health care or other specific industries.
- “I’ll tape it.” You no longer tape shows with DVR and streaming services. You just hit “Record” on your device or catch it later on demand.
- “Boot up the computer.” That’s when computers took several (annoying) minutes to start.
- “Drop it in the mail.” This refers to snail mail, which has been largely replaced by email or instant messaging for everyday communication.
- “Don’t touch that dial.” TVs and radios used to rely on analog dials. Modern devices no longer have physical dials.
- “Rewind” or “fast-forward.” These phrases made perfect sense for cassettes and VHS tapes. While we still use them metaphorically, you’re not winding anything.
- “I need to find a payphone.” My dad used to make me carry a quarter in case I needed to make a call. With a cellphone in nearly everyone’s pocket, payphones have become an urban relic.
- “Get the film developed” or “Don’t waste the film.” Oh, the good old days of waiting to see a picture you looked horrible in. Digital cameras and smartphones have done away with this.
- “Look it up in the White (or Yellow) Pages.” Online directories have replaced those hefty books.
- “Burn a CD.” Once a standard way to share music or files, burning CDs is mostly obsolete with streaming and cloud storage.
- “Check the TV Guide.” Printed TV schedules have given way to on-screen program guides or streaming menus.
- “I’ll fax it to you.” Fax machines are nearly extinct. Warren Buffett once told me that’s the only way he’ll do contracts. Why? No one can hack a fax machine, unlike email. Good point, Warren.
😃 Want to share a saying not on this list? Follow me on social and leave a comment. I’m on Instagram, X, YouTube, Facebook and everywhere else. And if this made you smile, use the buttons below to share it with a friend.
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.
Bonus keyboard shortcut: In Word, Google Docs and lots of other programs, you can add a hyperlink to your existing text. Highlight the text you want to link and hit the Windows key + K (Windows) or Cmd + K (Mac), then paste or type in the web address. Done.
🌠 The sky is falling: On Prince Edward Island in 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. This happened last July, but scientists just released their findings. Huh … sounds different than I expected.
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.
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!
🛑 Stop letting Big Tech decide what you see: StartMail is my pick for privacy-first email. It’s super easy to switch over your contacts and mail, or you can treat it as a fresh inbox for only your VIPs. Save 60% now with my special link.
$0
To stream Super Bowl LIX on Tubi. All you need to sign up is an email address (no credit card, yay!). Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 9. No idea who’s playing yet, but I know you love it when something’s free!
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.
Google Docs shortcut: Editing a doc? There’s an easy way to open links with no mouse required. With your cursor over the link, on Windows, hit Alt + Enter. On a Mac, it’s Option + Enter.
🔌 There are never enough airport outlets: Smart charging protects your phone’s battery over time by only topping you up to 85%. But if you’re on the go or need every bit of juice, you can turn it off. On iPhone, head to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging, then turn off Optimized Battery Charging. On Android, go to Settings > Battery > Adaptive Charging, and turn off Use Adaptive Charging.
Rent out your gear for cash
Have a house full of tech you don’t use much? Make some extra money renting it out.
Adult diaper influencer: You read that right. It’s 27-year-old YouTuber Bumble Pree, who has trouble controlling her bladder as a result of multiple sclerosis. Her two diaper companies, InControl and Rearz, make options with trendy designs like kawaii-style cats and unicorns. Their ads feature cute gals in crop tops. The adult diaper biz is set to hit $24 billion by 2030. Hooray, I wrote all that without making a poop joke!
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.
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.
Space heaters recalled: Nearly 8,000 Vornado VH2 Whole Room Heaters sold on Amazon are being recalled. The power cord could detach, leading to electric shocks and fires. Check your heater for the date codes “JUL24” or “AUG24,” along with “TYPE VH2” on the silver label. Hit this link for help.
When AI Goes Wrong! | Best of AO Animated in Week 1 | Australian Open 2025
🎾 This is causing quite a racket: The Australian Open is live on YouTube … sort of. Due to broadcast rights sold to media companies, live coverage is limited to animated avatars playing on a computer-generated court. It’s less Grand Slam and more Nintendo Wii. Don’t believe me? Check out this hilarious Week 1 recap. Unbelievable.
$580 million
How much Tom got for Myspace. Remember that guy in the white T-shirt from your Top 8? That’s Tom Anderson. He doesn’t show his face much these days, but he was just spotted in California. Tom and co-creator Chris DeWolfe sold the early social media site to News Corp in 2005. A few years later, Tom retired to Hawaii to lei around.
👀 The IRS is watching: If you sold over $5,000 on sites like eBay, Etsy or StubHub last year, keep an eye out for a 1099-K form in the mail (paywall link). The reporting threshold used to be $20,000. Now, you need to report side hustle earnings over $5,000, even if you don’t get a form from a specific site.