Grandma got played, but not by bingo
These tech tips will make you too powerful
How the Vatican is locking down the conclave
AI isn’t optional anymore

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Wi-Fi slow? It’s probably this

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Tech deals hiding in plain sight

ChatGPT

You made it through the week. Time to treat yourself! I dug through the sea of fake reviews and gimmicks for sweet savings on gadgets you’ll actually want. Let’s dive in.

🚘 Eyes on the road 24/7: Redtiger’s 4K dual dash cam ($118.99, 30% off) covers your ride from front to back, even when parked. Your protection is worth the investment.

Comfort you can click: Sore wrist? Logitech’s ergonomic mouse ($69.25, 13% off) keeps your hand in a natural pose. Perfect for those marathon workdays or late-night scrolling.

🔋 Power in a pinch: Dead phone? Not on my watch. Grab a slim portable charger ($15.99, 36% off) that works with Apple and Android.

🔌 “Alexa, let there be light”: Control your lights and appliances with just your voice. These smart plugs ($25.99, 7% off) work with all the big smart assistants like Alexa, Google and Siri.

📖 Treadmill reading = solved: Flip through e-books without lifting a finger with a page turner clicker ($15.99, 20% off) that comes with a nifty bag. Lazy? Maybe. Brilliant? Definitely.

13 hours of fun: That’s the battery life of Amazon’s new Fire HD 10 tablet ($94.99, 32% off). You’ll save a cool $45 to stream, browse and more.

📺 Cut the cord: The Google TV Streamer 4K ($79, 21% off) turns any screen into a smart TV. Say “hello” to Google Voice and “bye” to your cable bill.

🎧 Wireless wins again: Don’t get stuck in 2005. An AirFly Pro ($46.99, 15% off) turns your old-school headphones into wireless ones.

Rock on, rain or shine: BolaButty’s waterproof speaker ($21.99, 19% off) brings the tunes for 20 hours. Great for pool parties or beach days.

🔥 Is it hot in here? It’s almost BBQ season! This digital meat thermometer ($16.98, 15% off) has over 60K five-star reviews. Take the guesswork out of cooking.

🍷 Stubborn corks, meet your match: This electric bottle opener ($24.69, 18% off) can pop open 30 bottles on a single charge. Cheers to that!

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Mother’s Day is 10 days away!

💝 Forget boring. These ideas are personal and heartfelt.

🌻 Shop my Mother’s Day Ultimate Gift List now. You’ll find the perfect gift for the special person in your life.

Your privacy restored

© Eduard Goricev | Dreamstime.com, © Tero Vesalainen | Dreamstime.com

Ever Googled yourself and thought, “What the heck is that doing online?” Old addresses, phone numbers and even the car you drive are all out there. Worse, it’s probably on some sketchy people search site or buried in a mountain of search results.

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Watch TV for $0: Clark Howard says, “The hottest thing in streaming right now is free streaming products.” You can stream content from a dozen or so companies that won’t charge you a dime. They don’t even ask for a credit card number. Here’s a list of the best free streaming services. Subscribe to Clark.com’s free newsletter to receive more must-have money tips every day.

✈️ Heading overseas? Don’t get slammed with roaming fees. I use Saily, the eSIM that gives you secure, affordable mobile data in over 200 countries. Just download the app, choose your destination, and boom … You’re connected. No physical SIM, no hassle. It’s that easy! Grab 10% off your first plan today.

Did you drop $20?

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Someone asked Sarah that question at a grocery store. Minutes later, her debit card was gone.

🪂 Star Wars drops in Fortnite: A new animated series, Tales of the Underworld, is premiering in Fortnite. Yes, like inside the actual video game. It airs tomorrow, May 2 at 10 a.m. ET, two days before Disney+ gets it. Of course, there’s in-game merch for kids to buy. The trailer doesn’t look too bad.

By the numbers

$0

That’s the price for the dish and router when you sign up for a new 12-month Starlink plan. You’ll save $349, the monthly service fee stays the same, and you’ll have 30 days to return it for a refund. The catch? If you then cancel or change your service address, you’ll have to pay a prorated cost for the hardware.

Star Wars drops in Fortnite

A new animated series “Tales of the Underworld” is premiering in Fortnite. Yes, like inside the actual video game. It airs tomorrow, May 2 at 10 AM ET, two days before Disney+ gets it. Of course, there’s in-game merch for kids to buy. The trailer doesn’t look too bad.

Another one fights the dust

👇 Here’s your go-to team for keeping things spotless and sane.

⚡ Germ-zap: Parents, check out a mini UV case (5% off) that sanitizes pacifiers in just 59 seconds.

🩺 ChatGPT spotted what doctors missed: A 40-year-old mom couldn’t bend her fingers and was told it was rheumatoid arthritis. Then came stomach pains and weight loss, and she heard it was just acid reflux. She asked ChatGPT, which suggested it might be Hashimoto’s disease. Turns out it was right … and an ultrasound found two cancerous lumps.

The $1 Wi-Fi trick blowing up online

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Weak signal? Grab some foil. This kitchen hack might actually boost your Wi-Fi.

 🚗 Big GM recall: General Motors is recalling nearly 600,000 Chevy, Cadillac and GMC vehicles over major engine issues. If you’ve got a 2021-2024 model with a 6.2L V8 gas engine, you might be on the list. Owner letters go out June 9, but don’t wait. Head to your nearest dealer now for a free fix before something blows.

💎 Kim K’s robbery trial update: Not me, silly. That Paris heist from 2016 when she was held at gunpoint and lost $10 million in jewelry. One of the thieves now says he regrets it because of, wait for it, all the media attention. FYI: They tracked her through her nonstop social media posts. She’s still oversharing today. Classic.

AirPlay or MalwarePlay: Apple patched its side of the AirPlay saga (paywall link), but tens of millions of third-party speakers, TVs and, yes, cars are still left wide-open thanks to bugs in Apple’s developer tools. A hacker might just need Wi-Fi access to hijack everything from the Bose speaker to the family sedan. Check your devices for any updates.

Posting deepfake nudes is now a federal crime

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Finally, victims have protections. That doesn’t mean the internet will forget.

By the numbers

Over 6 hours

If you sit still for that long every day, you’re basically asking for neck pain. The main culprit is your phone (paywall link). Why? You hunch your neck and slouch your shoulders. Over time, that throws off the muscle balance in your neck and upper back, leading to major aches and musculoskeletal issues. So yeah, remember to move around.

By the numbers

$150 billion

How much IBM plans to invest in the U.S. over the next five years. Some of the money’s going into research and development for their mainframes and quantum computers (paywall link). Not bad for a company that’s been around for 114 years.

Crying in my pillow

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The MyPillow guy’s lawyer used AI to write court filings in the Dominion case. Big mistake.