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December 24, 2024

💳 Oh, crap: You forgot to buy a present for your cousin, Linda, and she’s coming over tomorrow. Grab an Amazon gift card online now, and write something kind in a lovely card. Bam, done.

HIT CAPS LOCK? I didn’t mean to scream; I could’ve used convertcase.net. The website transforms text into different formats so you don’t have to rewrite a whole email or doc. Change it to UPPER, lower, aLtErNaTiNg cAsE and more. There are generators for s̶t̶r̶i̶k̶e̶t̶h̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶t̶e̶x̶t, social media and coding, too — all free!

🦶 No more stubbed toes: When you’re navigating a poorly lit area, don’t waste time fumbling with your phone. Simply call out “Hey, Siri” or “OK, Google,” then say, “Turn on the flashlight.” Quick, easy and toe-friendly.

Free AI test drive: Nothing has changed our lives quite like AI has — and will. That’s why you need to start using AI in your business before it’s too late. Take a free test drive of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure now at Oracle.com/kim.* No one does data better than Oracle.

Subtitles rock: My son, Ian, switched them on one day and I won’t go back! You can change how they look to make them easier to read. On the Netflix TV app, pause your show and open Settings. Choose Size and Style to change ‘em. On the Hulu TV app, go to your profile > Settings > Subtitles and Captions. Change the color, opacity and shadowing.

📶 Goodnight, kids! If yours sneak back onto their phones, tablets and computers at night, disable the Wi‑Fi after a specific time. You can do this for all your devices or just certain ones, like your kiddo’s iPad. If you use an app to control your internet, pop in there. Otherwise, log into your router’s web interface. Steps here!

Elf yourself: Yep, I’m talking about those videos where you turn your favorite people into dancing elves. Instead of downloading the app, just use the website. So fun!

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Unsecure page error: 5 things to try if you get this warning

Photo © Cammeraydave | Photo © Wavebreakmedia Ltd | Dreamstime.com

There are countless threats on the internet, from scams to malware-infested websites. Then there are unsecured websites, which your browser warns you about. If you get a message that says, “Your connection is not private,” you might jolt in alarm.

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Tips to take the best holiday photos

Forget getting everyone together at Christmas for a photo opp and having them all say, “Cheese!” Instead, use words that end in ‑ah. These sounds put the muscles around the mouth to work, creating a genuine smile. Try “yoga,” “mocha” or “banana.”

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Stuck on hold: There’s a hidden redial button on your smartphone. Hit the call button without typing a number or choosing a contact to call the last person you talked to.

Calling all trivia buffs: Did you know Barbados gained its independence in 2021? How about this? South Korea is smaller than Pennsylvania. Wild. Check out the CIA’s online World Factbook if you love geography or history … or to find trivia to stump your friends and fam.

It’s the spending season: You have to save where you can. No kidding, the first time I logged into Rocket Money, it saved me $360. It finds all your recurring subscriptions and lets you easily cancel those you no longer want.

“How come no one told me?” That’s what you’ll think if you don’t know this tip. On your Mac, click on a file and hit Return. Now, you can type in a new name. On a PC, click, wait a beat, then click again. Done!

Stop using your Google profile this way: Logging into other services using your Google creds puts one of your most important accounts at risk. Log in at myaccount.google.com and tap Security. Scroll to Your connections to third-party apps & services > See all connections. You’ll see a list of apps currently using your Google login. Open the details, then click Stop using Sign in with Google.

I hear you loud and clear! Coming soon: My guide to AI for total newbies. In the meantime, here are three practical ways to try ChatGPT: 1.) Event planning — Ask for itineraries, packing lists, or ideas for parties or vacations; 2.) Writing help — Ask it to spot typos or areas you can clean up; and 3.) Brainstorming — Anything goes, from blog topics and gift suggestions to medical issues and small-business names.

Growing your side hustle? Switch your Instagram account to a Business profile to add shopping links to your posts, run ads and lots more. From your profile, tap Edit profile > Switch to professional account.

💳 “Kim, how do I take credit cards?” I get this question from small-biz owners. Stripe is a solid option that’s safe and won’t cost you a fortune. They’re not a sponsor; we use Stripe and like it here at Komando HQ!