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For Waymo driverless taxis. That’s across Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles, where the robotaxis operate 24/7. I’m still not ready to hop in one.
Tags: Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco
The new Komando Reddit page: Find it here. I’m not sure who set it up, but it’s a nice spot to share tech intel, helpful info you read in my newsletter and anything else you want to share. I’d like each of you to make one post in this new subreddit today. Before you say, “I don’t do Reddit, Kim,” just try it. Let’s make it huge together!
The first mistake: A children’s jewelry maker promoted its products using photos of a 5-year-old girl on Instagram. Guess what? The ad mainly reached adult men. The New York Times (paywall link) repeated the test, attracting convicted sex offenders and solicitations. IG’s blaming the algorithm again.
😸 You’re kitten me: Shares in GameStop are surging. Before you jump on the bandwagon, “short sellers” (those betting against the retailer) are facing over $1 billion in losses after the stock roughly tripled this month. What happened? “Roaring Kitty,” the man behind the 2021 GameStop mania, just posted on X for the first time in nearly three years.
Buh-bye, Temu poo-poo: Will we start seeing fewer ads for Temu? You betcha! Temu has peaked in the U.S. (WSJ, paywall link) and doesn’t want to turn into another TikTok by getting banned, so it’s moving on to selling cheap junk in other countries now.
Apple + Google: The latest updates (iOS 17.5 and Android 6.0) let iPhones and Android devices know if any Bluetooth tracker is “found moving with you,” not just AirTags. You can make the tracker play a sound so it’s easier to find or disable it altogether — finally.
Let’s hear it for great news: In a world first, a 16-minute gene therapy procedure was performed on 18-month-old Opal Sandy, a British girl who was born deaf. She can now hear without needing an external device. Amazing!
Apple’s iPhone spyware problem is worsening: Attacks mostly against journalists, activists and government representatives have been reported in over 150 countries. Common red flags: Faster-than-usual battery drainage, high data usage and unexpected shutdowns. If you’re a journalist or activist, or if you work for the government, turn on Lockdown mode.
Strikeout: A gullible 70-year-old woman was fooled by an online scammer posing as Phillies shortstop Trea Turner. After weeks of messaging with “Trea,” the scammer got the woman to send him $50,000 under the guise of “marriage problems.” The lesson: Don’t just watch out for phishing emails and DMs; you’re also a target when you comment on social media posts.
Slap on the wrist: Verizon, AT&T and T‑Mobile will pay $10.22 million to a group of states to settle claims of false advertising. Their ads promised unlimited data plans and free phones, but guess what? Restrictions applied, conditions had to be met, and hidden fees lurked in the fine print. Check your bills.
Solar storm tech issues: There weren’t too many disruptions from the recent global light show, but Starlink’s satellites had a few glitches. Interestingly, GPS navigation systems used by John Deere tractors and other brands to create ultra-tight, straight lines for planting were knocked out — and during a peak planting season. I was so bummed I saw nothing in the skies over Phoenix.
