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The truth behind airplane mode (no, it’s not a myth)
You know the drill. You find your seat, wrestle your carry-on into the overhead bin like it’s a CrossFit challenge, and then, ding! The flight attendant reminds you to switch to airplane mode.
So … what happens if you don’t? Are you going to crash the plane? Trigger the emergency slide midair?
🛑 Da plane, da plane!
Let’s start with the obvious: Your phone isn’t powerful enough to take down a jetliner. Planes are built tough, with shielding and redundant systems to prevent any one gadget from causing a disaster. Your phone? Not that powerful. Sorry, Apple.
But if you and everyone else leave your phones on full blast, the radio noise from all those signals can interfere with the pilots’ communications.
It’s not dramatic. It’s just obnoxious. Think low-level buzzing and static in the pilot’s headset when they’re trying to talk to air traffic control.
It won’t crash the plane. It might make the pilot say, “Can you repeat that?” to air traffic control, which, y’know, isn’t ideal when they’re, oh, coordinating more than a few 900,000-pound hunks of metal going 500 mph across an invisible highway in the sky.
🛩️ It’s not the paint job
This interference is more likely on planes with older electronics, typically ones built before 2005. Some older aircraft have had systems upgraded though. It’s not about the plane’s birthday, it’s about what’s under the hood.
That’s why the rule is still around: It’s easier to just have everyone use airplane mode than risk messing with cockpit comms on the one plane with vintage wiring.
📶 No bars anyway
At 35,000 feet, your phone is desperately pinging towers it flew past five minutes ago. It won’t connect. All it does is kill your battery and waste your time.
Grate tools for great meals
👩🍳 Kitchen gadgets stuck in the ’90s? Start here.
- Cook rice, veggies and more with a food steamer (21% off).
- Smoothie to go? Power up your personal blender (40% off).
- This garlic press (20% off) comes with a peeler and a brush.
- A baking mat ($9) with printed measurements? Yes, please.
- Grab an under-sink organizer (5% off) with slide-out shelves.
☕ Better brew: Your coffee maker works hard. A year’s supply of descaling solution ($18) will keep it running longer.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The bots are coming for your 401(k)
One question I get all the time is, “Kim, can AI help me pick stocks?”
Spoiler: Not only can it help, it might do a better job than a guy in a Patagonia vest yelling about yield curves.
▶️ Test for success: Compare up to three thumbnails in YouTube Studio to see which gets the most engagement. Pick a video, click Test & compare under Thumbnail and hit Done. The test starts when your video is public. Wait up to two weeks to see the result: Winner (your best thumbnail), Preferred (good but just by a little) or None (no difference).
👂 Listen up. Watching my husband Barry struggle to hear was tough, so I did my research and found these high-tech hearing aids. See if you qualify for a 45-day, risk-free trial and a lifetime of support. Don’t wait, check today!
The illusion of intelligence
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claims AI has already surpassed human intelligence. Is he missing the bigger picture?
Around $500 a night
What some travelers are paying to stay at luxury hotels inside airports (paywall link). No Ubers needed here, just walk off the plane and into your room. Added perks? Fancy food, upscale bars, blackout curtains and spa-like bathrooms. Hey, jet lag with lobster sounds pretty nice.
Make your own travel movie with Google Earth
It’s not just for maps. You can build a visual scrapbook of your trips, complete with photos, notes, and slideshows.
🚘 Waymo’s not cheap: A study in San Francisco found it costs about $10 more than Lyft or Uber during peak hours. The twist? Some people actually prefer it. The quiet, driverless ride and having the car to yourself is enough to win them over. Introverts stay winning.
Life in the fast lane
🚘 A smoother, cleaner, more organized ride starts here.
- Clip sunglasses to your visor with a magnetic holder ($10).
- These headrest hooks ($10) hold just about anything.
- One car charger (20% off) = four ways to power up.
- Clean your seat creases using this mini vacuum (26% off).
- Get that “just waxed” shine with a scratch repair kit (22% off).
📦 Cargo or car go? A two-pack of ratchet straps (10% off) keeps your equipment locked down where it belongs.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Scan your eyes for crypto
Forget passwords. The creator of ChatGPT wants to build a global crypto economy by scanning your eyes. Also, Noah from Virginia bought an old laptop and found a kid’s ’90s homework saved on it. He read it on TikTok and made the internet cry. Plus, an Apple AirPlay hack and the chance to buy your own Waymo.
Smarter seat belts soon
Remember when you’d sit in your dad’s car sans seat belt? Me, too. Well, Volvo’s working on adaptive seat belts that tighten or loosen based on your size and how serious the crash is. So if you’re smaller, it eases up to protect your ribs.
Got an old Cloud Cam? Unplug it ASAP. Amazon shut down app support in 2022. If it’s still connected to the internet, hackers could break in and spy on you at home. The worst part? There’s no word yet how long this has been a risk. Appreciate the notice, Amazon … really.
Not now, Microsoft: Don’t let a surprise Windows update crash your workflow. Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update. Then, choose how long you want to pause it. Think carefully, because once that time’s up, it’ll install before letting you pause again.
Google’s eating itself alive — June 14th, Hour 1
Google’s new AI-powered search is tanking its own traffic. Plus, your ChatGPT chats live forever, a job offer scam, and a car rental side hustle making real money. Then I talk to Holly from Kentucky, whose kiddo ordered 70,000 suckers on Amazon.
Less mess, more yes
👑 Your bathroom should be fit for a queen (or king).
- This soap bar ($15) is gentle on skin but tough on odors.
- Grab a double soap dish (6% off) for you and your partner.
- Reach those tricky spots with a flexible toilet brush (15% off).
- Tap an auto-dispenser (10% off) for a shot of mouthwash.
- A tongue scraper (40% off) helps freshen up bad breath.
- These moisture absorbers (35% off) fight mold growth.
🛒 Peek at my cart: I’ve got a whole list of essentials I reorder all the time. Nothing flashy, just solid.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📌 Pin your top emojis: No need to scroll to find your faves. On a Mac, press Fn (or Globe key) + E or Edit > Emoji & Symbols to open the Character Viewer. If the viewer is collapsed, click the Expand button (top right). Pick an emoji you love and hit Add to Favorites.
🪙 Retail crypto grab: Walmart and Amazon are both reportedly exploring launching brand-backed crypto stablecoins. Insiders say it could let them ditch banks (and bank fees), process payments faster and soak up even more of your money. Finally, you can pay for eggs with Jeff Coins™.