🙋‍♀️ Happy Wednesday to you, friend. Kids say the darndest things, like, “Can we stop the TV, so I can potty?” Instead of saying, “Honey, that’s not how it works,” the dad said, “Sure.” That tiny parenting moment turned into a massive shift in how we watch TV.

Can you guess what now-standard feature was born from one kid’s real-life bathroom emergency? A) Fast-forward commercials, B) Record multiple shows at once, C) Pause a show, or D) On-screen TV guide. The answer is waiting for you at the end. Just don’t fast-forward, or you’ll miss some really good stuff! 

👀 Know someone who reads reviews like it’s a trust fall? Forward this. AI’s got them surrounded, but I’ve got their back. — Kim

When you’re the tech-savvy friend, it’s basically your job to fix everything that plugs in. Who saves the saviors? Me! Now, depending on your OS, model, updates and general tech karma, your screen might not match mine exactly. Don’t panic, just keep moving forward. You’ve got this!

Secret Windows restart trick

A simple reboot can fix most computer issues. Instead, try a Shift shutdown to close all processes and apps and clear the RAM completely.

• Hold down the Shift key before you hit Restart.
• Keep holding it until your PC powers down. 
• Choose Continue when it turns back on.

♻️ Did you know … Windows is more environmentally friendly than macOS? Windows puts your deleted files in the Recycle Bin; macOS just throws them in the Trash. (Bet you never thought of that before!)

Wipe your location from photos

Your phone is a snitch. Every photo you snap is packed with metadata, the time, camera settings and location (hello, stalkers). Here’s how to turn it off.

• On iPhone, open the image you want to share and tap the share button (square with an arrow pointing up). Next, select Options and toggle off Location.
• On Android, open your Gallery, select the photo, then go to More options (three dots) > Details > Edit > click Remove location information (red minus icon) and tap Save.

Fix your phone’s call audio

Let’s say you’re on the phone with a pal, and your background is so noisy that your friend can’t hear you. Good news if you have an iPhone: There’s Voice Isolation mode.

• Place your call, and when your recipient picks up, swipe down from the top right of your screen to access the Control Center.
• Tap Phone Controls at the top. Under Audio & Video, choose the button labeled Voice Isolation.

On a Samsung phone, open Settings > Sounds and vibration > Sound quality and effects. Here, you’ll see Adapt sound. You can customize this or choose a preset option. Super easy.

Have a newer Google Pixel? Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Clear calling. Toggle on Use Clear Calling.

Remote in like an IT pro

I know how frustrating it can be to walk someone through tech steps. Try Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop. Install the free browser extension on both your computer and the computer of someone you’re helping. When it’s time to remote in, go to the Remote Desktop site. Easy!

Opt out of ad tracking

Just say no to personalized advertising on your phone. This is the best tip on this list, don’t you think?

• On iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll down and tap Apple Advertising. Toggle left on the switch next to Personalized Ads.
• On Android, tap Settings > Privacy > Advanced > Ads, and toggle the switch for Opt out of Ads Personalization.

🧻 Go ahead and share these tips to make yourself look like a genius. A real one, unlike the guy who invented one-ply toilet paper. I’d never shake his hand.

👇 Here’s your go-to team for keeping things spotless and sane.

• This gooey dust gel cleaner ($7) gets those crumb-filled crevices.
• Grab a small sink plunger (12% off ) that really packs a punch.
• Can’t reach it? This microfiber duster ($26) extends over 8 feet.
• Keep your cleaning stuff out of the way with a wall mount ($17).
• Over 33K folks gave this screen cleaner (21% off) five stars on Amazon.

⚡ Germ-zap: Parents, check out a mini UV case (5% off) that sanitizes pacifiers in just 59 seconds.

🛒 Amazon carts get heavier: Thanks to new tariffs on Chinese imports, Amazon sellers have jacked up prices on nearly 1,000 products by an average of almost 30%. The White House is blasting Amazon for planning to add a “tariff cost” display price to products affected. Your $14 impulse buy just became a $27 mistake.

Tariff relief? More like tariff thief. If you spot ads on Facebook for things like a $750 “tariff relief credit,” don’t click on them (paywall link). These bogus posts trick you into filling out forms or calling a number that steals your info. Everywhere you turn, there’s another scam.

🤖 Llama mia: Meta just launched a stand-alone AI app (iOS, Android) to compete against ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, Claude and all the others. It’s the same chatbot you’ve used inside Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp, built on their Llama model. I’ll report back after I’ve used it for a bit.

🕯️ Lights out: Spain and Portugal got power-washed into the 1800s on Monday. The entire grid collapsed in 3.5 seconds, and power was out across entire countries for several hours. Spain’s thinking the massive blackout is sabotage. Some blame Russia. Others say freak weather. Either way, lights are back, but answers are not.

Scammers are deepfaking finance pros: They’re posting videos impersonating experts like Abby Joseph Cohen, promising to make you rich fast. All you have to do? Join their WhatsApp group for “undervalued” stock tips. Please don’t. Anytime a complete stranger promises you wealth or love and wants to use WhatsApp for a conversation, that is a major scam red flag.

🗻 Double rescue on Mount Fuji: A 27-year-old had to be saved twice in just four days trying to scale the mountain. Yep, twice. First, he lost his crampons (those spiky things for walking on ice) and couldn’t climb down. Rescuers got  him back to the parking lot. There, he realized he did not have his phone. So he hiked back up to find his phone and got altitude sickness. Maybe just take the L next time, dude.

👀 Maybe a blindness cure: This is amazing! Scientists just figured out how to reverse retinal damage by blocking a protein that stops our eyes from healing themselves. The tech is still in early trials, but human tests could start by 2028, giving new hope to millions with glaucoma, macular degeneration and other vision loss. Btw, it’s been almost two years since my corneal transplant. It didn’t heal exactly the way I hoped because initially I had 20/20 vision. But hey, I’ll take it: 20/100 vision is a whole lot better than 20/400!

Know this about LinkedIn: The best days to post are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Aim for early mornings (around 8-10 a.m.) or around lunch (12-1 p.m.) in your local time zone to capture the most engagement. Use my special link to post a job for free on LinkedIn.*

Are you still relying on QuickBooks? There’s a smarter, more powerful solution waiting for you. Here’s why NetSuite by Oracle is the right choice for your business:

• All-in-one solution: Manage financials, HR, inventory and more from one platform.
• Boost efficiency: Eliminate tedious paperwork and get real-time insights to grow your business.
• Proven success: Trusted by over 41,000 companies.

Whether your business earns hundreds of thousands or hundreds of millions, who wouldn’t want less manual work, better decision-making and higher profits? Now’s the time to make the switch.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: UWB = Ultra-Wideband. This tech powers super-precise location like AirTags knowing exactly which couch cushion your keys are under. Use that to impress your family and friends.

Deepfake red flags: Here’s how to spot if someone on a Google Meet, Zoom call or Teams meeting is really an AI bot. Ask them to wave their hand across their face. This can trigger a glitch. Watch for their lips not matching what they’re saying, changes in lighting, robotic movements or if they say, “AI is my master.”

✍️ On the dotted line: Sign PDFs fast without extra apps. On a Mac, open the PDF and select Show Markup Toolbar (circle with a pin icon) at the top. Hit Signature (cursive icon) to sign with your trackpad or camera. For Windows, open the PDF in Microsoft Edge and click Draw (pen icon) in the toolbar to sign.

Lock down your device security: If you’re still browsing, shopping and working online without antivirus software, you’re making a mistake. My trusted pick is $19 for the first year.*

📝 Deets in the sheets: Want free feedback? Whip up a survey on Google Forms. Just drop the link into your receipts, emails or even texts, and track responses in Google Sheets. It’s an easy way to hear from your customers, and an easier way to turn strangers’ opinions into a personality crisis.

🛍️ Don’t pay full price: When stores clear out their inventory at the end of each season, that’s your chance to save. Type “end of season clearance” into Amazon’s search bar and use the filters on the left to find what you need. And check out Amazon Outlet for overstocked and off-season deals.

📺 The answer: C) Live pause on DVR.  

Yep, TiVo’s most iconic feature was born because a curious kid just wanted to press pause to run to the bathroom. Her dad, TiVo cofounder Jim Barton, realized that maybe TV didn’t have to be a hostage situation. 

From Elvis to this: What makes Miley Cyrus’ toilet so special? It’s a potty in the USA!

Well, there’s another edition of the best tech newsletter in the USA in the books. Tomorrow, I’ve got more smart stuff you’ll accidentally quote in conversation. See you there.

Consider yourself tech royalty. Long may you reign. 👑💻— Kim

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