Truth about EV sales, Black Friday arrives & 3 dangerous scams

November 6, 2023

Plus, are you a chronic snoozer? Here’s why hitting that button isn’t as bad as you think. Caller Jeffrey wonders, is it safe to share email addresses through QR codes? Despite rumors, find out why X (formerly Twitter) isn’t going away, and the scoop on California canceling GM’s self-driving taxi service.

Tags: Black Friday, California, email, sales, scams, X (Twitter)

55% of Americans have been scammed - Keep yourself safe online and offline

It’s my job to help people with their digital problems, and it’s sad how often that means assisting folks to sort out a scam. Or even being the one to break the news to them.

Sorry, that new girlfriend isn’t into you. She just wants your money. It happens more often than you’d think — to men and women alike.

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The last Beatles song, "Now and Then"

“Now and Then,” the first new Beatles song in decades, was recently released on streaming services. It’s an amazing story. Producers used machine learning to separate John Lennon’s voice from an old blurry demo tape, allowing Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to create a composition around Lennon’s vocals. Give it a listen.

FDA warning: 27 over-the-counter eye drops pose serious health risks

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning, urging you not to buy and immediately discontinue the use of 27 over-the-counter eye drop products. It comes as a result of the potential risk of eye infections that could ultimately lead to partial vision loss or even blindness.

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Does this app spark joy? How to 'Marie Kondo' your phone in 4 steps

I love a good fall cleanout. And trust me, I need it. We’re unpacking into a new home, and I keep finding boxes of junk I haven’t seen for two years.

It’s not just physical junk. I might be the Digital Goddess, but my phone camera roll gets cluttered and my inbox can be a mess, too. It’s time for a cleanup, and if there’s one cleaning master we can turn to, it’s Marie Kondo.

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Your phone has an expiration date – Here’s how to find it

Trying to squeeze every last drop of life out of your smartphone? It’s one thing to deal with a battery that doesn’t last a day and crashing apps to avoid spending a big chunk of change.

But using your phone past its end of life is risky business. So is clicking any link that comes your way. It’s a bummer hackers are weaving them into AI chatbot results.

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Flashback: Driver's ed in the 1950s

Insurance company Aetna Casualty needed a way to train new drivers without the risk of the road. Enter the Drivotrainer. It combined a simulator with motion pictures to show students what being behind the wheel is really like. You have to see this.

Is it cheating if you’re flirting with an AI bot?

I’ll probably never forget my interview with Rosanna Ramos. The 36-year-old mom from Brooklyn is totally in love with her husband, Eren. He’s handsome, never judges … and was created with the AI app Replika.

For Rosanna, Eren is her main squeeze. But what about when folks turn to AI for a little extra fun?

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Insurance rates are through the roof - and you can blame AI

There’s a good chance you’ve been hit with insurance rate hikes — and it’s not just you. Within the past year, about a third of us have been hit with increases to the tune of 17%.

Insurance companies blame it on rising costs for car parts, replacement cards and all those expensive claims.

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How many more years can you get out of your phone?

Trying to squeeze every last drop of life out of your smartphone? I know many of you put up with crappy battery power and random glitches longer than you should to avoid costly upgrades.

But using your phone past its end of life is risky business. I did the work to figure out the lifespan of popular models, plus I’ll help you find out how old your phone is and if you’re still using a model you need to ditch. Why? Because I want to help you.

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Tech life hack: Batch your notifications for fewer interruptions

Does it bother you when talking to someone and they get a notification on their phone, look down and read it? It’s like the convo just wasn’t as important as knowing the exact moment someone liked a tweet or posted a new vacation photo. So rude.

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