Do you see what I see

January 7, 2025

Do you see what I see? Apple opted you into its Enhanced Visual Search feature, which scans your photos for landmarks, and they didn’t ask your permission. Apple promises it’s all anonymous and encrypted, but you know as well as I do that some features don’t always work exactly as they should. To turn it off on an iPhone, head to Settings > Apps > Photos and toggle off Enhanced Visual Search. On a Mac, toggle it off in Photos under Settings > General.

Tags: Apple, apps

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Keep hackers out of your online life

Cybercriminals never stop coming up with ways to steal your info, so I’m always on the hunt for tools that make your digital life safer. One of their sneakiest tricks? Keyloggers.

Keyloggers secretly record every single thing you type — passwords, credit card numbers, private messages, you name it. They send your info straight to the person controlling the malware, giving them a backstage pass to your life.

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CES 2025: What’s coming at this year’s tech show

The big CES 2025 event kicks off tomorrow in Las Vegas with over 100,000 attendees. I’ve got the inside scoop on what’s hot this year.

LG’s hoping to steal the show with its Zero Connect box. No cables — it wirelessly transmits 4K video at 144Hz. Plus, LG will introduce its Dynamic QNED Color Solution system, better HDR and sound optimization, and a Magic Remote, a voice-controlled and gesture-enabled universal remote that doubles as a mouse for your TV. (Smart — the LG remote is horrible now.) They’ll also unveil the UltraGear GX9, a bendable 45-inch monitor with a 5K2K resolution (5120×2160) and a 21:9 aspect ratio.

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It’s winter travel season

Make it easier on yourself.

Store this collapsible cup ($20) in your bag whenever you’re not using it. Great for getting through the TSA lines! Click the coupon box for 25% off.
Ever tried fixing your makeup in a plane bathroom? Horrible. A travel vanity mirror ($15) solves that problem.
A security belt keeps cash safe from pickpockets.
For the over-packers: Compression packing cubes ($23) are a lifesaver (and space saver).
These mini portable chargers plug directly into your phone so you won’t have annoying cords hanging around. Click the coupon box for 15% off.

🧳 Replace your crappy old suitcase with nice new luggage. Amazon is having a big sale! Pro tip: Get a bright color so it’s easy to find at the airport.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

40 and older

Is totally hot right now. New movies like Nicole Kidman’s “Babygirl” and Anne Hathaway’s “The Idea of You” celebrate middle-aged women. Hollywood finally agrees that, yeah, older women are hot!

$10,000

Worth of a 1999 Georgia state quarter. Check the couch cushions! They were printed with all kinds of errors, and that makes them valuable. One of the rarest variations is thicker than normal, with a gold-greenish tint and no copper edge. Hit this list for the details.

$26 million

In rare medical book sales predicted for the 2020s — everything from guides to bloodletting to how-tos for treating a gunshot wound with boiling oil (paywall link). Last year, a 1555 edition of the anatomy book “Fabrica” sold for $2.2 million. Time to start browsing yard sales for old medical texts.

Nearly 200% more

Radiation level exposure for those uploading videos in rural areas using 5G, compared to someone in the city. Researchers think the extra radiation doesn’t come from the 5G towers but from mobile devices working overtime to get out the signal. Guess those hiking pics can wait, huh?

1,150% increase

In searches for VPNs after Pornhub was geo-blocked Florida. That was just hours after a new law kicked in requiring porn sites to track users by verifying their age. Friendly reminder: Free VPNs are always shady. I use ExpressVPN. Get four months free with my link.

8 feet in diameter

And 1,100 pounds — that’s the size of a metallic ring that fell from space into a village in Kenya. No one got hurt. Phew. It seems to be a piece of a rocket launch vehicle. Here’s what it looks like. Yikes!

80 years old

When the risk of getting cancer starts to decline. The risk is highest in our 60s and 70s, then it drops. Researchers studying lung cancer found a key protein, NUPR1, that behaves differently in older cells. I love reading about breakthroughs like this. I hate cancer.