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That’s how long the average Character.AI user chats with a bot every day. More time than most people spend talking to their actual friends. But hey, Sherlock Holmes never zones out mid-convo to scroll Instagram, right? Turns out, you can put a price on friendship (paywall link): $10 a month, to be exact.
Tags: friends, Instagram, Link, price, scroll
You know that little GPS icon that pops up when an app is using your location? That’s the polite part. The tip of the iceberg. The warm handshake before your phone whispers your every movement to Big Tech behind your back.
🧳 Panic in the skies: Midway through a plane ride, Will’s AirTag said his suitcase was “left behind” at the last airport. No Wi-Fi meant two hours of imagining his luggage sipping cocktails without him. Landing? Bag was fine. An AirTag glitch. Therapy bill pending. At least Reddit is free; Will’s post is going viral.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Your TV’s USB ports can charge your phone, tablet and other mobile gadgets. If a pop-up asks to access the device, just ignore it. It’ll keep charging anyway. Genius.
Data today, gone tomorrow: Back it up before it backs out on you. Total Drive automatically saves your photos, videos and important documents in the cloud, safe and sound. Simple, secure, and yes, I trust it with my own files. Get 10TB for just $18.
Are you on carrier cruise control? I use Consumer Cellular, which offers the same reliable coverage as the big guys but for much less. Two lines for just $60 with unlimited talk, text and data. No hidden fees, just great coverage and U.S.-based customer service. AARP discounts available, too. Save $25 with the code KIM25.
đź“Ž Clippy’s cursed reboot: Microsoft dropped “365 companions,” mini-apps that haunt your task bar like friendly ghosts of productivity. They do just enough (search files, poke calendars, hover over your contacts) to pretend they’re helpful.Â
NYC’s newest side hustle: Gotta give it up to ingenuity! A woman’s making cash “car-sitting” so folks don’t get street-cleaning tickets. In New York, if you don’t move your car, you get fined. Her gig? You stay at work while she chills in your ride until the sweeper passes. Beats paying the $65 ticket.
🕵️ The app store’s worst roommate: Cybercrime crew VexTrio Viper has been publishing fake VPNs, RAM cleaners and dating apps in official stores, pulling millions into their ad-and-scam trap since 2015. That store badge? Just lipstick on a hacker pig. Treat the app store like a public bathroom: Use it, but don’t touch anything without checking first.
On a wing and a snack: This is the start of something huge! Auntie Anne’s, Jamba and Schlotzsky’s are going airborne. DoorDash and Alphabet-owned Wing are piloting drone delivery in three Texas cities, promising pretzels and smoothies in just under three minutes, if you live within 4 miles. And get this. Delivery costs only $3.99. The mall food court just learned to fly.
🌀 Grift of gab: An AI deepfake of their grandson’s voice convinced an 83-year-old Pennsylvania woman and her husband to hand over $18K in cash. Scammers even used rideshare drivers to ferry them to the bank, twice. Police have the footage, but the cash is gone. Family code words could’ve saved them.