All tech. No filler.
Join 550,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
Spying is nothing new, and today’s tech has allowed peeping Toms to take their creepiness to a whole new level.
Satellite-based cellphone service is a game-changer and coming soon. Here’s how it works.
Malware is lurking everywhere, and just one wrong click can compromise your personal info or infect your devices. Here’s how to spot the early warning signs.
Happy Black Friday! Are you shopping? I sure am. Here are the best deals so far on Amazon.
LinkedIn tips to find your next superstar employee.
Your personal data is worth billions to insurance companies, marketing outfits, advertisers and hackers. Here are my tips for how to lock down your privacy.
Breaking news and tips
A note from Kim: So much to be thankful for
Thanksgiving has always been about family, tradition and gratitude. I think about my Dad carving the turkey with his large Russian hands, showing me exactly how to do it. My Mom always made the turkey until she couldn’t and I took over. We recorded her making it two weeks before she was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2017, her face and voice with instructions I’ll treasure forever.
Technology has found its way into Thanksgiving, but instead of replacing memories, it adds to them. Here are a few tech things I’m thankful for and how they help me carry a bit of the past into the present.
My iPhone 16 Pro Max
Remember when a quarter for a payphone was your lifeline? Dad would hand me one before I left the house. Today, my iPhone is that, and it’s my camera for capturing memories and having video calls, my connection to family far away, and my assistant to get things done.
Smart speakers
Aunt Patty was the unofficial family entertainer, part comedian and part Patsy Cline wannabe. Dang, she could sing “Crazy.” Today, Alexa has taken on some of those roles, including playing music, telling jokes and answering trivia questions.
Cloud storage
Videos of my mom are safely stored in the cloud, where I can watch them whenever I want. It’s not just a Thanksgiving Day recipe; it’s her voice, her smile and my heart, forever.
Big-screen TVs
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without football. I remember when we all crowded around a tiny TV, adjusting the antenna on the roof to get a picture. Now, it’s all about the big screen, where we can see every blade of grass and questionable call in high def.
This one’s not tech
Every Thanksgiving, I pull out my grandmother’s old aluminum roasting pan to make her stuffing. There’s something magical about using the same pan she did, surrounded by the smells and laughter that have filled my family’s kitchens for generations.
Best Cyber Monday deals
🪄 I did the digging so you don’t have to!
- 50% off clean floors? Yes, please! This voice- or app-controlled Shark robotic vacuum is a deal ($299.99, 50% off). It makes an easy gift for anyone who loves spotless spaces and doesn’t want to do the work (or doesn’t have the time).
- Salon style at home: Darling, you look marvelous! This Revlon one-step volumizer ($31.75, 55% off) dries and styles hair at the same time, giving it volume quickly and easily. It’s also perfect for traveling!
- Wrap her feet in cozy luxury: These fuzzy slippers ($15.99, 56% off) with memory foam will have her feeling like she’s walking on clouds, keeping her feet toasty and supported.
- Santa, I’d use this: This lightweight heated jacket delivers up to 10 hours of adjustable warmth, and it even warms your hands, too. Grab it for men or women ($104.99, 38% off). It’s perfect for chilly commutes, walks, outdoor work or freezing offices.
- HEYDUDE! Yup, the comfy shoes he’ll wear all the time are deeply discounted for a limited time ($38.99, 41% off).
- Rev up his style: This quality, stylish leather jacket ($134.38, 77% off) is the ultimate year-round staple, ideal for layering from fall to spring. It’s so nice!
- Brighten their space: This Amazon Echo Spot smart speaker and color-changing smart bulb bundle ($44.99, 51% off) lets you play music, get the news and ask Alexa set the mood for you, with 16 colors and schedules. Perfect for any age, really!
- Up to 60% off Amazon devices: Whether it’s a kid’s tablet, Fire TV Stick or outdoor security cam, this is the secret Cyber Monday link to use!
👉 Shop all Cyber Monday deals: Gifts under $10 | Electronics | Toys and games | Cooking and baking | All deals
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Add these to your shortcut repertoire: Use Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (Mac) to open a new tab and Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + T (Mac) to reopen a recently closed tab. Hit Ctrl + Tab (Windows) or Cmd + Option + right arrow (Mac) to quickly switch between open tabs. Sweet.
🥳 I’m gonna live to 94: That’s according to the viral Death Clock app that’s all over social media, with people sharing eerie “save the date” results. Drawing from over 1,200 life expectancy studies with 53 million participants, the app analyzes your diet, cholesterol, blood pressure, exercise, stress and sleep to calculate your expiration date. PSA: After you answer the questions, the app tries to sell you a membership. Just click the faint gray “X” in the top left corner to see your results for free.
NASA rocket engine fireplace – 8 hours in 4K
A stock fireplace illustration frames looping archival video of the blasting RS-25 engines that launched the Artemis I rocket to the moon on Nov. 16, 2022. The illustration includes stone tiling, a pillow and a basket of firewood, and it contains elements generated with AI. NASA added two framed pictures; one shows an archival image of the Orion capsule flying through space, and the other shows the Artemis logo. The audio features the roar of the rockets at a low level, with the addition of the sounds of a crackling wood fire.
7 things you must NEVER post online
Thinking about posting your family updates online this holiday season? Some things are safer kept offline. Here’s what you need to know.
“Moana” is now the No. 1 movie in streaming history: It just clocked over 1 billion hours of viewing time. The twist: It flopped in its 2016 box office release. Theories for its comeback range from its catchy songs to our love of island life (paywall link). A groaner for the kids: What is Moana’s cat called? Meowui.
Secret to trying a laptop out at home
Here’s a tech-savvy tip most people overlook: Just like returning clothes that don’t fit, you can often return a laptop if it’s not the right fit for you. The key is understanding the seller’s return policy. I’ll break it down so you don’t end up with an expensive doorstop.
🚀 Speedy scrolling: Ignore the mouse next time you read a long article on a website. Use the spacebar to scroll down and Shift + spacebar to scroll up.
He found $3,800 of his lost money with this website
Let’s talk about money! Andrew used a website to find thousands of dollars he didn’t even know went missing. Curious how he pulled it off? Plus, 5G just set a new record, a sexual enhancement trend called “honey packets,” and yes — a lickable VR device is here!
Watch Christmas movies with someone far away
Missed holidays at home? With this tech trick, you can still enjoy classics with loved ones — no matter where they are.
82%
How much a new gold-based drug slowed cancer tumor growth in animals. It even outperformed traditional chemotherapy, selectively targeting cancer cells with fewer toxic side effects. I hate cancer.
Antivirus isn’t just for your computer – Here’s why you should protect your smartphone, too
You probably know that antivirus software is essential for your computer. Without it, you’re browsing without protection, exposing yourself to ransomware, viruses, Trojans, spyware and countless other threats. But your computer isn’t the only gadget that needs antivirus protection.
25,000-mile project: Meta is building a $10 billion underwater fiber-optic cable to circle the globe. Why? To avoid geopolitical hotspots where subsea cables have been sabotaged in the past, like the Baltic Sea and Red Sea. Owning a global network cable gives Meta full control to prioritize traffic to its own products and services.
⭐️ Thanks, Microsoft: Super-high-res pictures make your Word document or PowerPoint presentation files so much larger. Save a ton of space with this trick: Lower the images’ resolution by compressing them. Word and PowerPoint will do it for you. Just search the program’s help using the phrase “compress pictures.” Lovely.
Best sites to watch movies for free
Streaming websites are more popular than ever — but free streaming services are even better. It’s easy to overspend on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and other paid apps. That’s why so many of us head to our browsers and type “free movie websites” or “watch online movie sites.”
🖥️ A solid CCleaner alternative: Microsoft released a new version of its free PC Manager app for Windows 10 and 11, and it’s way better. You can view your internet speed in real time from the taskbar and delete temp and unnecessary files even faster. Bonus: On Windows 11, you can integrate it directly into your widgets. Go get it, my Windows friends.
Trailer: ‘Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey’
Netflix’s new docuseries revisits the infamous 1996 murder mystery. It includes interviews with JonBenét’s father and unpacks the embarrassingly bad investigation, media circus, and, of course, the ransom note.
100,000-plus paid rides
Per week, taken by auto taxi service Waymo One in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix. It’s no surprise Uber and Lyft drivers say it’s hurting their earnings (paywall link). Waymo is also expanding to Atlanta and Austin early next year. I still won’t get in one.
Criminal mastermind: A Florida mom stole from Target using a barcode trick at self-checkout. She then went full “genius” and posted the evidence on TikTok. When police shared a screenshot of the would-be thief, a tipster identified her as a social media influencer with over 356,000 followers. Her account even showed her in the very same outfit, picking out the stolen goods.