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Today is National System Administrator Appreciation Day, but this special day will soon be off the calendars. Thank you to all the unsung heroes updating, plugging and unplugging things and reminding us, “No, you can’t use 123456 again.”
When you have a problem with your tech, you can now stop begging your spouse, your kids or your coworkers to fix it. You also don’t need to feel embarrassed asking the same question again.
You definitely don’t need to waste time scrolling forums or trying to decipher tech jargon. I’ve said that AI is replacing jobs. Now, it’s gone after the trusty IT help desk. I’ve tried it, and it works.
💬 Free AI 24/7 tech help
The makers of ChatGPT (the same AI that’s taking the world by storm) just rolled out the Tech Support Advisor. It’s like having your own personal IT assistant available anytime, day or night.
You just type your question in plain English and get clear, step-by-step help from ChatGPT, powered by the most advanced version (GPT-4o).
It doesn’t get flustered. It doesn’t make you feel dumb. It just helps you solve the problem. Love that for you!
🤯 Here’s what you can ask it
- “Why isn’t my printer connecting to Wi-Fi?”
- “How do I transfer photos from my iPhone to the computer?”
- “My apps keep crashing. How do I fix them?”
- “How do I turn a Google doc into a PDF?”
- “How do I use ChatGPT?”
🛠️ Try it now
👉 ChatGPT Tech Support Advisor
It’s not just for fixing things, it’s for learning, too. Ask it to explain the cloud or RAM, what 2FA means and how it works, or why your smart thermostat is heating the house in July.
Pan-demonium, solved
🏠 Time to evict the grime and get organized.
- ☕ Brew-tiful: A broken coffee maker will wreck your morning. Descaler solution (41% off) keeps it running for years.
- ✨ You missed a spot: This crevice brush (20% off) tackles the gunk your mop avoids like the plague.
- 🕳️ Clogged drain? Don’t call a plumber. Snake cleaners (20% off, eight-pack) pull the plug on nasty blockages.
- 🧽 Steel the deal: These double-sided wool dishcloths (30% off, 10-pack) scrub and shine without leaving a scratch.
- 🍽️ Tidy tiers: Fit all your cookware on this organizer rack (15% off). Yes, even your giant roasting pan.
🔥 Fewer hot messes: See what’s cooking on my Amazon store for more kitchen gear and smart tools that’ll make life way easier.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Four payments and a data leak
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps are everywhere. See something shiny? Tap tap, and BAM, you own it in four “easy” payments. Zero interest, no credit card shame spiral. What a dream, right?
But here’s what they’re not telling you: While you’re breaking up your payments, they’re also breaking up your data and sharing it with companies you’ve never heard of.
Find the subscriptions you forgot about: I use Rocket Money, an app that finds all your recurring subscriptions and lets you easily cancel anything you don’t want. The first time I logged in, it saved me $435!
🐱 You’ve got to be kitten me: Every year since 2016, people have gone to theaters to watch a full-length film of cats being chaotic, cute and ridiculous (case in point). CatVideoFest is a compilation of viral clips and fan submissions aka YouTube, but on the big screen. The kicker? It’s a hit. Last year alone, it clawed in over $1 million. That’s the cat’s meow.
Big tech rejected by Gen Z grads
75% of this year’s top computer engineering grads are rejecting Big Tech, choosing purpose over prestige.
5
That’s how many people it takes to keep your mental health from tanking. A study by Medibank and Growth Distillery found people with “high mental well-being” had an average of five reliable friends. Those struggling? Just three friends. That tiny gap is the difference between “I’ve got support” and “I don’t want to bother anyone.”
💸 Trade in your old tech: Amazon takes your old phones, tablets, smart speakers and more. Tell them what you’re trading in and its condition, and they’ll offer a gift card based on its value. Bonus: If you trade in Amazon gear like an Echo, you’ll also get 20% off a new qualifying device.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Scammers posing as Uber drivers
A new scam tricks riders into handing over account access. Here’s how to stay safe.
Tunnel vision: The Musk Boring Company is planning a 10-mile loop in Nashville, linking downtown to the airport. It’s privately funded, Tesla-filled (of course) and could launch by 2026 if no one panics about excavation under Music City.
Plane easy
🌎 I’ve got fixes for the most annoying travel problems.
- 👔 Wrinkled outfit? A travel steamer (18% off) puts that rusty hotel iron to shame.
- 🎧 Tune out the world: Grab these noise-canceling headphones (37% off) for peace and quiet.
- 😴 Total blackout: You + Manta’s sleep mask ($40) = out cold, even on midday flights.
- ✈️ Red-eye ready: This travel pillow (36% off) is soft enough to make the middle seat bearable.
- 🧳 Overpackers, rejoice: These smart cubes (44% off) let you squeeze more into your carry-on.
🛡️ ICYMI: Click here for 25 must-haves you need to stay safe, secure and prepared for the worst on your next trip.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Data brokers sell your secrets to stalkers
Your data is for sale online. Anyone can buy it. Darius Belejevas, the Head of Incogni, shows me how stalkers get your personal info for cheap. Plus, monkey muggings in Bali, the Tea app data breach, and a shoe with a hidden slot for an AirTag.
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.
Fur-get hide-and-seek: Whistle dog GPS trackers are shutting down on Aug. 31. Why? Rival Tractive bought them. Trade in your old Whistle for a free Tractive tracker by Sept. 30. Subscriptions roll over, but warranties don’t.
🖥️ Pick the right refresh rate: Resolution isn’t everything when buying a monitor. Refresh rate affects how smooth motion looks and helps cut down on choppy images. For everyday work, anything over 60 Hz is fine. Gamers and video editors should go for 180 Hz. And if your kids are serious about Fortnite, they’ll want 240 Hz or more.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Will Google sell Chrome? — July 26th, Hour 1
Google’s ad-tech was ruled a monopoly. Now the big question is how to break it up. Plus, a listener in Texas survived a home invasion. Did he pick the right security setup? Also: drones nearly hitting planes, and an Apple Watch rescue at sea.
Soothe operators
😌 Life’s hard. These five upgrades make it softer.
- 🔥 Your sole mate: Give your tired toes the TLC they’re begging for with a heated foot massager (26% off).
- 🛏️ Hot sleeper? These pillowcases (34% off) are cool on one side, cozy cotton on the other.
- 🧠 Wraparound relief: Freeze away tension with this migraine relief cap (10% off). 4.6 stars & 4,600+ reviews.
- 🛁 Soak it up: Your hair and skin will feel silky after a bath filter (16% off) kicks out all that bad gunk.
- 🗑️ No fuss, no smell: This touchless trash can (13% off) opens with a wave. Fewer of those “ew” moments.
🛍️ Skip the doomscrolling: Take a scroll through my Amazon store for more self-care goodies. You’ll thank me later.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Make the cursor pop: On Windows, if you’re having trouble seeing your mouse pointer, go to Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. Under Mouse pointer style, choose Custom and pick a new color. Now drag the Size slider to make it bigger.
🕰️ Gen Z raids Grandma: Turns out Grandma’s house is the new Supreme drop. Estate sales are popping with 20-somethings hunting for secondhand treasures that are cheap and well-made. It’s thrifting 2.0, but with more mid-century lamps you’ll aggressively make your personality for six months.