The robots are coming

Open/download audio

Ten years ago I said home robots were coming. Listen now to find out how close we really are.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tags: AdChoices, choices, home, Robots


Cool trick to get your iPhone to warn you right before it rains

There are plenty of weather apps available with varying degrees of functionality. Most of them will give you basic information like the temperature, humidity and the forecast for the next few days.

But what if you want to receive alerts when it’s about to rain? Well, if you have been looking for an app just like that, you don’t have to search very far. You already have one on your Apple device. A little-known update in the latest version of iOS 15 is there to help.

Continue reading

Want a TV that lasts? This brand promises 4 more years of updates (even for older models)

Technology from companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Google has spoiled many of us into demanding faster, better, and more powerful gadgets. Sometimes features can be added through firmware or operating system updates.

Continue reading

You should keep your phone number private to avoid scammers - Here's how

Too many people have your phone number. Beyond the friends and loved ones you knowingly shared it with, how many accounts have you signed up with over the years, and how many times did you put your phone number on a form?

Continue reading

5 clever scams making the rounds you need to know about

Another day, another scam. Or should we say scams? There seems to be no end to discovering crooked schemes that use every means imaginable to trick people out of their information, data and finances.

Everyone’s received text messages from unknown numbers. Sometimes it’s a service or business you use that isn’t in your contacts. It could be your food delivery app letting you know that your grub is on the way. It could also be the first step in a scam. Tap or click here to learn how the scheme works and how to keep from falling victim to it.

Continue reading

Anyone can see the layout of your home and what you paid for it - Do this to stay safe

There’s more information about you online than you probably realize. Your hacked passwords, your address, even your credit card details.

Details about your home are everywhere, too. Government sites and resources like Zillow and Redfin list everything from what you paid to the very layout of your house.

Continue reading

Another phony IRS email is making the rounds - DO NOT click it

It’s a shame that thieves are taking advantage of the pandemic. Countless scams related to vaccines, vaccination cards, economic relief, employment and the COVID virus itself have surfaced.

One scam making the rounds involves a text message informing recipients that their unemployment benefits are expiring. The message includes a link to a fake state workforce agency site that requests personal information. Tap or click here for details on this scheme.

Continue reading

Roku is cracking down on private channels (and banning porn streams)

Roku has been in a bitter tussle with Google over rights regarding YouTube TV being available to its users. If negotiations fail by December, it could see the disappearance of 85 channels from Roku.

But the platform is now bringing down the hammer on private channels. As part of the Independent Developer Kit (IDK) launch, Roku adds a beta channel to the list of available options.

Continue reading

Answering this call can hack your bank account - Here's how it works

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is one of the best ways to prevent criminals from breaching your accounts. For platforms like Google, you are often required to enter the 2FA code when signing into a new device. Tap or click here to see how your texts could be hijacked.

Continue reading

Must-have download: Quick, simple screen capture and file sharing tool

Grabbing a screenshot can be an essential part of your everyday workflow, whether for your use or to share with others. While taking a screenshot is nothing new, historically, the most simple way to do so has been to click the Print Screen key. Even then, you would have to use another program to change the screenshot to something usable.

Continue reading

Chinese hacking contest reveals weaknesses in iPhones, Windows and other tech we use every day

Operating systems and software are put through thorough testing before public release. That doesn’t mean flaws don’t fall through the cracks. Hackers can exploit some of those flaws, forcing the developer to issue a quick update to patch them. Tap or click here for signs your device has been hacked.

Continue reading