A very happy Thursday to you! It’s the moment half the planet’s been waiting for: “Squid Game” is back with Season Two on Netflix! Barry, Ian and I are going to snuggle in to watch the latest episodes. We did the same for the first season, too.

🚦 Here’s something fun to try: Google “Squid Game” and click the invitation that pops up at the bottom of the screen. You can play the Red Light, Green Light game from the show. Just hit “O” to go and “X” to stop.

If you gifted anything tech, help them out and share today’s top story. Just use the buttons below it. Warning: Today’s newsletter is jam-packed with what you need to be tech‑ahead! — Kim

Unwrapping a new gadget is a thrill, but what comes next? If you’ve received a smart speaker, fitness tracker, tablet or any other high-tech gift, I’ll show you how to go beyond the basics.

Feeling jealous? I have links for you, too, in case there’s a gift card burning a hole in your pocket.

Smart speakers: Make them work for you

Your new Amazon Echo or Google Nest smart speaker isn’t just for playing music.

• Create custom routines: Use voice commands to automate your day. Saying “Good morning” could trigger your speaker to turn on lights, read you the weather and play your favorite podcast.
• Add skills or actions: Browse your speaker’s app store for extras, like games, guided meditations or even cooking timers that sync with recipes.
• Control your smart home: Link it to other devices like thermostats, lights or security cameras. Say goodbye to manually turning things on or off.
• Insider tips: Ask, “What’s on my calendar?” to get a quick rundown of your day. Enable voice purchasing (with a PIN to prevent accidents) to order essentials you need all the time.

Fitness trackers: Dive into the data

A Fitbit, Apple Watch or Garmin can do way more than count steps.

• Sleep optimization: Use sleep data to adjust your bedtime or nighttime habits. Most trackers offer insights into your REM cycles and tips to improve your sleep quality.
• Stress management: Look for built-in mindfulness tools and guided breathing exercises.
• Set micro goals: Instead of only 10,000 steps, track smaller, meaningful milestones, like active minutes or calories burned during a workout.
• Gotcha moment: If your tracker isn’t syncing with your phone, check if the app needs permissions for Bluetooth or background activity. It’s a common issue that’s easy to fix.

Tablets: Turn it into a productivity powerhouse

Today’s tablets are more powerful than some computers. Use yours like one!

• Note-taking apps: Transform your tablet into a digital notebook. For taking handwritten notes, pair it with a stylus like the Apple Pencil or a $20 version that works with iPads. This model ($20) works with Android tablets.
• Remote work setup: Apps like Zoom, Slack and Microsoft Teams can transform your new tablet into a portable workstation. Add a Bluetooth keyboard for a full setup. This one for iPads is way more affordable than the Apple version. Here’s one for Android.
• Creative tools: Dive into photo editing with apps like Lightroom, or sketch your next masterpiece using Procreate.

Pro tip: On iPads, enable Sidecar to turn your tablet into a second monitor for your Mac — perfect for multitasking.

Smart TVs: Beyond streaming

Your smart TV does a heck of a lot more than letting you watch Netflix.

• Mirror your screen: Use it as a giant display for photos, Zoom calls or presentations from your phone or laptop.
• Turn it into a gaming hub: Connect controllers and explore game-streaming platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming or NVIDIA GeForce NOW.
• Fitness classes at home: Stream guided workouts from apps like Peloton or Apple Fitness+ right to your screen.
• Surprise feature: Many TVs support Bluetooth headphones, which is perfect for when you want to do some late-night binge-watching without waking the house. Raycon’s earbuds sound just like the fancy-schmancy pairs* but without the fancy-schmancy price tag!

Optimize security: Protect your privacy

Any connected gadget is a potential target for cyber threats. Here’s how to lock things down:

1. Change your default passwords: Replace weak default passwords with strong, unique ones for every device. Use a password manager to make it easy (58% off my pick with this link*).
2. Disable any unnecessary features: Turn off voice recording or location tracking if you don’t need them. You can always reenable them later.
3. Update regularly: Most gadgets have at least one firmware update right when you unwrap it. Don’t skip those.

Heads-up: Check if your device comes with a sharing feature enabled by default, like TVs that auto-share your viewing data. Pop into the settings and turn it off for more privacy.

✅ Tech gifts are tools to make life easier, more fun and sometimes even healthier. Take some time to experiment. If you need a hand, let me know. I’m always here for you.

🛀 You know you need ‘em.

• Tough holidays? Roll this migraine stick ($13) on your temples, forehead and neck to tackle your headache.
• Pair this bath pillow (20% off) with a bathtub wine holder ($14) and forget all your worries. Ahh.
• Holiday cooking is basically a full-time job. Heel your feet with a wooden foot roller ($15).
• A heated, vibrating gua sha stone ($55)? Say less.
• What’s your favorite tea? Oolong? Earl Grey? Jasmine? Chamomile? This tea sampler box has ‘em all.

🐶 Hold onto your leash: Have you seen the viral videos of dogs pressing buttons on soundboards to “talk”? They’re real! A study tracked over 190,000 button presses from 152 dogs over 21 months. Dogs pressed buttons like “play + ball” in a way that showed they knew what they wanted. (That’s why your pup isn’t hitting the “bath” button.) I’m eyeing this set so I can teach Abby!

Memory lane: Here’s a hot TikTok trend I told you about (checks watch) 10 years ago. Pop into old Street View photos on Google Maps for a hit of virtual nostalgia. Fun finds: One gal spotted her childhood dog in the yard, and another found herself in high school cleaning eggs off her car. Open Google Maps on a browser, type in an address and click the photo that pops up. Choose See more dates. Find something great? Let me know!

🚘 Looking for a cheap Tesla? Try renting one on Hertz. One Reddit user did, then scored a 2023 Tesla Model 3 with 30,000 miles for just $17,913. Be careful — most are pretty beaten up by the time they hit over 100,000 miles. That’s when Tesla’s battery warranty expires, so it may not be such a steal after all.

Pushing out the little guy: Google’s algorithm changes are hitting smaller independent websites hard. Between AI-generated answers, sponsored ads and bigger publishers getting all the play, gaming site Retro Dodo says its traffic has tanked 85% since September 2023. Just 16 companies own over 400 sites that receive 3.8 billion clicks a month from Google. Let that sink in for a moment.

Slice of tech history: A YouTuber just saved a 440-pound retro CRT TV from demolition in Osaka, Japan. What’s the big deal? The 45-inch TV is the largest CRT ever made, and it originally sold in the ‘80s for the equivalent of $100,000 today. It’s the stuff of legends. Here’s a video of the rescue mission.

🛸 I want to believe: AI-generated videos of UFOs and drone swarms are flooding the web and fooling a lot of people. Saucers flying over NYC, “motherships” hovering over the Pacific and shots of ships straight from “Star Wars” are getting hundreds of thousands of likes. This video shows you just how easy it is to make AI drone videos. Don’t fall for it!

I have specs appeal: Meta’s speeding up (paywall link) the release of a bunch of new features for its Ray‑Ban smart glasses, including an AR display that’ll show you notifications. They’re also hoping to push out their $10,000 Orion AR glasses. Sales of smart glasses are up 73% this year, so they’d better get to scootin’.

🇷🇺 Did this happen to you? The U.S. government banned Kaspersky because of its ties to the Kremlin. Without warning, the Russian company deleted its software from its subscribers’ computers and replaced it with something called UltraAV. If you were using Kaspersky for antivirus protection, try my antivirus pick instead.*

Finding the perfect candidate for an open job can feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack. Enter LinkedIn.

With millions of job seekers at your fingertips, LinkedIn is a treasure trove of skilled folks ready to make a difference. I’ve used LinkedIn to assemble my standout team who help put together this newsletter, my national radio show, our podcast and everything else we do.

LinkedIn’s advanced tools make the hiring process smoother than ever. They even help you put together the ideal job description so you can focus on what matters — growing your business.

So, you unwrapped something techy and you’re already having trouble. Before searching online for help, know it’s dangerous to Google tech company phone numbers.

Scammers work the system to get spoofed websites and numbers as the top search results via ads. Instead of waiting for a response to an online form, try calling the manufacturer or tech company directly. I’ve included links below in case you’d rather use a contact form or chat service:

• Amazon: 888‑280‑4331; Amazon website
• Microsoft: 800‑642‑7676; Microsoft support
• Apple: 800‑275‑2273; Apple support
• Google: 650‑253‑0000; Google support
• Meta: 650‑543‑4800 (Heads-up: It’s hard to get someone to answer); Facebook support, Instagram support
• Roku: 816‑272‑8106; Roku support
• Samsung: 800‑726‑7864; Samsung support
• PayPal: 888‑221‑1161; PayPal support

An older CEO, long past retirement, called IT for support. He asked, “How can I print this document?” IT said, “All you need to do is Ctrl + P.” The CEO replied, “I haven’t been able to do that for years!” (I heard you laugh!)

The longest walkable road stretches from Cape Town, South Africa, to Magadan, Russia. At 13,911 miles in length, it’d take you 187 days nonstop (or 561 days walking 8 hours a day) to complete. The route passes through 17 countries and six time zones!

OK, I’m still thinking about “Squid Game.” A wild 330 million people watched the first season. It’s been viewed for over 2.8 billion hours. That’s almost 320,000 years of straight TV. Let’s hope Season Two is good. I’ll report back.

🦑 How does a squid go into battle? Well-armed. Oof, OK, let me try again! I just heard a really good joke about a giant squid. It’s Kraken me up! (Fine, I’m done.)

Better skin in 2025: I’ve taken collagen for years. It’s scientifically proven to help increase bone density, support cartilage regrowth, smooth wrinkles, strengthen nails and make your hair thicker. Get up to 45% off and free shipping at NativePath with my link.*

Enjoy your day, friend! See you back here tomorrow with another issue of the best tech newsletter in the U.S. — Kim