📵 Network meltdown: A massive outage across AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile left about 80,000 folks without service yesterday. No calls — a total mess. In a pinch, text 911, use Wi-Fi calling if you need to reach someone, or try data roaming. The cause? Still a big question mark. I share my hunch on the video podcast.
Blockbuster had around 9,000 video-rental stores worldwide at its peak. When it filed for bankruptcy in 2010, it had just 1,700 stores. How many are open today: One, 10, 18 or 30?
Pro tip: Scan it and you’re in
Instead of giving guests your Wi-Fi password, post a QR code they can scan with their phones. It’s a secure shortcut with your password hidden inside.
QIFI.org is a free online QR code generator for Wi-Fi access that works with Apple and Android. You need three pieces of info to use it:
- Look at the back of your modem for the SSID. It might be shown as “Wi-Fi Network Name (SSID).” It’ll be about a dozen numbers and letters; type those where it says “SSID” on QIFI’s Code Generator page.
- Choose your secure network type; the site defaults to WPA/WPA2/WPA3, but you may have WEP. (Really bad news if you do — get a new router.) If you don’t know, ask your internet provider or your home’s resident geek.
- And, lastly, type in your router’s security key password.
Print your unique code, put it in a nice frame and your guests will just need to scan it to join the network. Smart idea to use at your home or if you run a coffee shop or another biz with Wi-Fi access!
UnitedHealth’s Change Healthcare hacked: Change is one of the largest healthcare tech companies out there, so this isn’t just a hiccup — it’s a full-blown crisis. A reported one in three U.S. patients is impacted. Systems went offline, and folks may not be able to get their prescriptions for days. Picking up meds? Bring cash or wait until the insurance problems are fixed.
Fabulous health news: Emily Hollenbeck, who suffers from treatment-resistant depression, found a new lease on life with deep brain stimulation (DBS). It involves placing thin metal electrodes in a part of the brain that regulates emotional behavior. The results? She could actually taste food, and music moved her again. The FDA is pushing to bring this miracle tech to more people in need. Amazing, right?
💰 Small wins, big drama: AMC is forking out $8.3 million because it got too share-happy with customers’ personal deets. If you were a subscriber between January 2021 and 2024, grab a slice of the settlement pie. Don’t get too excited, though; you might be looking at less than $1. Everyone gets a free week of AMC+, too. Gee, thanks.
🔊 Fun fact: AirPods can stand up to stomach acid for at least 9 hours. That’s how long it took to remove one from a gal named Moe Kennedy, who swallowed the earbud in her sleep. Get this: It worked just fine in her stomach and after her emergency endoscopy to remove it.
Catfish crackdown: Tinder’s new ID verification system could slow scammers. You get a blue checkmark by submitting a video selfie with your driver’s license or passport. Not keen on ID show-and-tell? A video selfie alone earns you a blue camera icon. Better than nothing, I suppose.
Apple did what? Apple just doubled the battery life for iPhone 15 models to a whopping 1,000 cycles with a free update. Translation: Your phone’s battery stays fresher for longer. Check your battery health in your phone settings. Apple must have a lawsuit coming over battery life to have made this change.