🔎 NotebookLM is getting an upgrade this week: Until now, you had to manually upload files and links for the AI research assistant. Well, not anymore. A new Discover button (look for the magnifying glass) is coming to the Sources panel. Click it, type in a topic or question and the AI will search the web and return up to 10 links with summaries. Pretty neat.
Easy ways to tidy up your tech
ChatGPT
We all love a clean house, but what about your digital life? Clutter builds up fast: old contacts, forgotten files, 127 versions of the same photo and a desktop that’s basically an overflowing junk drawer.
That doesn’t just hog storage, it slows down your tech and drains your focus.
Let’s tackle it, step-by-step. I’m here for you.
📸 Delete duplicate photos
You love your pet. I get it. But do you really need all 15 blurry attempts to get the perfect tail wag?
Here’s how to clean it up:
- On iPhone: Go to Photos > Utilities > Duplicates and tap Merge.
- For Android: Open Google Photos > Storage > Review and delete.
📌 Pro tip: Use CleanMyPhone (iOS) or Remo Duplicate Photos Remover (Android) for deeper cleanups.
📇 Declutter your contacts
If your contact list includes “Tina from that one happy hour” or someone labeled “maybe Brad??”, it’s time to let go.
- On iPhone, open the Contacts and tap on one you don’t need. Press Edit > Delete Contact.
- For Android, use Google Contacts. Check the box next to the contact name > More > Delete.
📌 Pro tip: Search for blank or “no name” and get rid of those, too.
🤳 Look your best: Ever been caught checking your hair in a video call? Kind of embarrassing. Adjust yourself and the lighting before the meeting. On a Windows PC, open your Start menu and search for the Camera app; on a Mac, open Photo Booth.
LinkedIn lesson: Want to give someone a shout-out, boost your post’s visibility, or simply say thanks in a more public (and professional) way? Use the @mention feature! And for a limited time, use my special link to post a job for free on LinkedIn.
Mouse moves: Move text around with just your mouse. Just highlight the words you want, hold Ctrl (PC) or Cmd (Mac), then click and drag them to a new spot. Let go, and boom, your text will be right there. No need to copy and paste.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: On YouTube, press K to pause/play, J to rewind 10 sec, L to fast-forward. You’re now a keyboard video ninja. (Mac & PC)
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: On your iPhone, search your photos using emojis. 🍕 pulls up pizza pics. 🐶 finds your dog. Weird but fun. I just typed in 💀 and it pulled up my neighbor’s haircut.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Gmail, type “unsubscribe” in the search bar. Boom, every promo list you forgot you signed up for, ready to nuke. This tip alone is worth the price of this newsletter.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Word or Google Docs, press Ctrl + Enter (Windows) or Command + Enter (Mac) to start a fresh page. No need to smash Enter 10 times. Saves time, so you can get back to Googling, “How can I get my cat TikTok famous?”
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Quickly find emails in Gmail by typing @ into the search bar to view emails from your contacts. Easy way to find everyone you’ve been avoiding!
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Google Maps, tap your profile > “Offline maps” and download your area. Because “no signal” shouldn’t mean “no clue where I am.”
⏰ Take a rest: BreakTimer is a free app that reminds you to take a breather. Because apparently just blinking isn’t enough, now they want you to breathe? You can set how often and how long breaks should last. If you’re busy, just skip or snooze it. The countdown resets if you’re away from your computer.
🤔 Is that surface flat? Your iPhone can check. Just open the Measure app. If you can’t find it, swipe down from your home screen and search for it. Tap Level and place your phone down to see if it’s even. On Android, there are free third-party apps like Bubble level.
👨👩👧👦 Eyes on your teens: If your kid is between 13 and 17, set up Supervision on Instagram. You or your teen can send the invite by going to your profile, tapping Menu (three lines) > Family Center > Invite your teen. Find their name and hit Invite. Then, open their account and tap the invite > Next > Allow. Simple.
🎶 Binge-worthy tunes: Stream music from your favorite shows on Spotify and Apple Music’s hubs for Netflix, Disney+, Max and more. Just tap Search > TV & Movies (Spotify) or Film, TV & Stage (Apple Music) for playlists filled with hits from those iconic moments.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Made a mistake in the iPhone Calculator app? Simply swipe left on the numbers to delete the last digit. Still not gonna help you with taxes, but it’s handy.
📝 No scanner? No worries. On your iPhone, go to the Notes app > create a new note > Attachment button (paper clip icon) > Scan Documents to open your camera. Tap Insert to grab the text. For Androids, open Google Drive > (+) icon > Scan document > Save > Upload, and you’re good to go. Congrats, your phone is now a scanner/copier/fax from 2002.
💬 From basic to bold: Want your YouTube comments to pop? To write in bold, put an asterisk ( ) before and after the word: like this. For italics, put underscores on both sides: _for example_. Head over to my channel and give it a shot. I’ll see you in the comments.
🖥️ Unfreeze that screen: Stuck computer? Close those unresponsive apps. For Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. On a Mac, hit Cmd + Option + Esc to get to the Force Quit menu. And no, shaking your monitor won’t help. It’s the digital equivalent of “pull yourself together.”
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Quickly mute and unmute on Zoom by holding down the space bar.