All tech. No filler.
Join 900,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
Breaking news and tips
Even Queen Bey ain’t safe
You’d think Beyoncé’s secret files crew would be protected by a force field of security, privacy settings and Sasha Fierce energy. But nope, real-world crime doesn’t care how many Grammys you have.
Right before her recent Atlanta show, thieves smashed the glass of a rental Jeep used by her crew and made off with two suitcases. Inside? A laptop, five thumb drives filled with unreleased, watermarked music, confidential tour plans and one very important piece of tech.
No elaborate heist, no cybercriminal with a keyboard on fire. Just your average smash-and-grab with potentially Grammy-winning consequences.
The suitcases belonged to Beyoncé’s lead dancer and choreographer. They had just wrapped rehearsals and left the gear in the car. Moments later, it was gone.
But here’s the part that made me smile and the lesson for you.
👮🏼♀️ Tech cracked the case
One of the stolen items was a pair of Apple AirPods Max. These are Apple’s $450 headphones, and fortunately, the Find My feature was turned on.
Here’s what that means. When activated, “Find My” sends a sneaky little Bluetooth signal from your Apple gadget. Then any nearby Apple device (of which there are a billion+) picks up the signal and sends the location back to you, anonymously, quietly, undetectably.
That’s exactly what happened. Police tracked the AirPods, found a suspect vehicle on surveillance video, and now there’s an active warrant. All thanks to one little toggle in your settings.
🍎 Team Apple
The Find My app is built into every iPhone, iPad and Mac. It’s how you track your Apple devices if they’re lost or stolen, and it works with AirTags (21% off), too.
Those are the little discs you can drop in your luggage, attach to your keys or even hide in your car. I’ve got one on my dogs. Not kidding.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Fortify your life
🧑💻 From snoops to trackers, these tools give you peace of mind.
- 🔑 Fort Knox at home: This smart lock (42% off) unlocks automatically. Great when your hands are full.
- 🔎 I spy a creep: Whip out a hidden camera detector (33% off) at your next Airbnb. Catch bugs before they catch you.
- 🔒 OG security: Master Lock’s padlocks (15% off) still do the trick. Ideal for gym lockers.
- 📍 Lost your bag? Not with a slim smart card (10% off) that tracks your wallet right from your phone.
- 🐶 Tag that tail: A waterproof AirTag holder ($5.99) clips to your pup’s collar. Helps me keep track of my pup Bella.
🚨 Don’t stop lockin’: Dive into Amazon’s smart security gear, and hit up my shop for more handpicked privacy gadgets.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Adpocalypse survival guide
“Kim, I am so sick and tired of all the ads on websites. It feels like they’ve gotten worse since ChatGPT is taking away site traffic from Google. How do I block the annoying ads?” — Terry in Ohio
Terry, you’re right. Websites are loading up with more ads than ever.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: When your cell service is acting up, switch on Airplane mode, wait a few seconds and turn it off. Your phone will reconnect to the nearest tower. Nice.
Lonely kids, synthetic pals: This is so sad to me. A new report says a third of kids using AI chatbots feel like they’re talking to a real friend. A quarter say they turn to AI because they literally have no one else. Make sure the kiddos in your family aren’t one of them.
Why the Cybertruck is a bust
Elon Musk promised it would be the next big thing. Instead, its design and overhyped performance left it stuck between revolution and reality.
$340
The top-end price for a custom spell on Etsy. That’s right, people are shelling out grocery money for mystical assurance (paywall link). I get it, times are tough, but there’s no need to make it harder on your wallet. Hope, apparently, isn’t just a strategy, it’s a billable service on Etsy.
👋 Weekend chores are more fun with company. Catch my award-winning weekend radio show on a station near you. Not sure where and when? Enter your ZIP code into my handy-dandy station finder, or get my show’s podcast to listen on your schedule.
Hackers love when you do this
Still getting security codes via text? Hackers can steal them in seconds.
🏡 Yelp is not treason: Turns out, leaving a three-star review can cost you $2K. A Scottsdale renter who dared to complain got fined $4,000 for “negativity.” Why? A sneaky non-disparagement clause in the lease. The company only walked it back after local news and the FTC caught wind.
For your inner neat freak
✨ You bring the motivation, these gadgets bring the polish.
- 🌬️ “Alexa, clear the air”: Kick allergens and odors to the curb with a smart air purifier (48% off).
- 😌 Let’s face it: Your blackheads won’t clean themselves. This cleansing brush (33% off) massages them away.
- 🔥 Cooking catastrophe? Snag a cleaner kit (6% off) that won’t scratch glass cooktops. 4.6 stars & 23,000+ reviews.
- 👓 Bye-bye, smudges: Polish your eyeglasses with a lens cleaner combo (23% off). Works great on phones, too.
- 🧽 Floor it: This isn’t your grandma’s mop and bucket (21% off). It wrings itself and reaches over 5 feet. Neat.
🛒 Tidy up your cart: Click this secret link for more cleaning steals. Find the everyday things I actually use on my Amazon storefront.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
China’s spherical spybot is terrifying
It rolls like a tire, fires nets, and sprays tear gas. Plus, NASA lost pricey footage, Hertz nickel-and-dimes with tech, and McDonald’s big password problem. What’s your childhood home look like now? Google Maps lets you time travel. Let’s go!
Charlie Chaplin’s in theaters after 100 years
Charlie Chaplin famously rereleased his 1925 silent classic The Gold Rush in 1942 with new narration and edits, believing it would connect better with modern audiences. Now, thanks to film archivists and AI, the silent masterpiece has been painstakingly restored. The 4K version just premiered at Cannes and hit 250 theaters worldwide.
Zooming on the Autobahn: Mercedes-Benz is letting drivers hop on Microsoft Teams calls while driving. Yes, really. You can use the in-car camera to broadcast your face mid-merge, just no screen sharing (thankfully). It’s launching in the new CLA first, part of a push to make your car a third workspace. Because apparently, two weren’t exhausting enough.
🛜 Full bars, slow internet? Those little Wi-Fi bars only show your connection to the router, not your internet speed. So even if they’re full, apps can run slower than a Monday morning. When in doubt, run a speed test and check if your download, upload and ping match what you’re paying for.
Amazon packages pile up on her porch — July 19th, Hour 1
What if your house became an Amazon warehouse? Listener Karen from California is stuck in this nightmare. Plus, AI superintelligence, Beyoncé’s secret music files stolen, and how a bad Yelp review could cost you thousands.
Virtual party list
🥳 Hosting or heading to a get-together? Let’s get the fun started.
- 🎁 Wrapping, handled: This double-sided organizer (28% off) keeps your gift bags, ribbons and bows tidy.
- 🍷 Pop, pour, press: All with a four-in-one wine opener (15% off) that aerates and seals when the party’s over.
- 🍫 More like fun-do: NutriChef’s electric fondue pot (8% off) makes gooey goodness in minutes.
- 🚀 Vibes in overdrive: Bring the night sky indoors with a galaxy light projector (19% off). 4.4 stars and 7,000+ reviews.
- ⛺ “No adults allowed” zone: From playing to reading, this kid’s canopy (28% off) gives ’em a cozy space to do it.
🛍️ Still stumped? I got you. An e-gift card is a great last-minute idea. And don’t forget, more gift-worthy finds are on my Amazon store.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📱 Samsung S25 Ultra display fix: By default, it doesn’t use its highest screen resolution. Go to Settings > Display > Screen resolution, switch to QHD+ and hit Apply. Then go back to Display, tap Motion smoothness and choose Adaptive. It’ll use more battery, but everything will look way better. FYI: The price just dropped.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🕵️♀️ Tracked and terrified: A Nebraska woman thought she dropped her AirPods. Instead, she pulled a tracking device from her car, then found four more. The kicker? That’s not illegal in her state. No consent laws, no tracking rules. She installed cameras, caught her ex, and is now pushing to change the law. Here’s what to do if you find one.