Social media sites were created to keep us connected, but you may find yourself wanting to disconnect for good. Figuring out how to delete your account isn’t easy if you’re not sure where to start. In this Komando DIY, we will show you how to delete your Facebook and Twitter accounts right from your phone.
Preorders begin for SpaceX's satellite internet service but read the fine print
When not trying to land reusable rockets onto a launchpad, Elon Musk’s SpaceX company stays busy with other exciting projects. Tap or click here to find out how to take a SpaceX trip into space. One currently on the drawing board is to provide millions of people with high-speed internet through Starlink.
Satellites orbiting Earth will provide the connections, which SpaceX says will be 60-times closer than traditional satellites. With a shorter distance to Earth, the latency of internet connections should be lower in theory.
Who wouldn’t want to have super-fast internet with low latencies? There are several catches though, and you might want to reconsider if you are in a hurry.
You can sign up today
Head on over to the Starlink signup page if you want to put your name down as a beta tester. The system doesn’t support all locations across the world, but it’s worth a shot to see if your neighborhood will fall under the satellite’s coverage.
Beta testers can expect data speeds between 50 Mbps to 150 Mbps and latency from 20ms to 40ms in most locations. Those speeds will likely increase during testing and might even be higher in the final product.
To join the testing phase it will cost you $99. Candidates will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. But be warned: The system isn’t stable for the most part, and Starlink said there would be brief periods of no connectivity at all.
“As we launch more satellites, install more ground stations and improve our networking software, data speed, latency and uptime will improve dramatically,” Starlink explains. The company is also aiming to have “near-global coverage of the populated world in 2021.”
Do you get internet immediately when signing up? Well… no. A satellite internet service is costly and time-consuming to set up. After you have paid the $99 to participate, you will probably be waiting a few months.
For a Starlink connection at the Komando office’s address, the company is “targeting coverage in your area in mid to late 2021.” And the $99 is just a deposit, paid on the day that you order to secure your spot.
What do you need?
The satellite hardware to receive the connection is $499 and the actual cost of the service is another $99 a month. Then there is a $50 fee for shipping and handling, and the tax is around $47.
Comparison: SimpliSafe vs. ADT vs. Vivint
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This is pretty cool. We wanted to do a visual comparison to show you how SimpliSafe is the better choice for home security, so we decided to look at two big-name competitors — ADT and Vivint.
You never know what’s going to happen when you compare a sponsor to its competitors, but we were thrilled with what we found.
What the Biden presidency could mean for the tech world
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For quite a while, U.S. lawmakers have questioned whether Big Tech companies are too involved (or not enough) in curbing misinformation. Others have accused the big four: Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook, of antitrust behavior. This has led to several ongoing court cases brought on by federal and state law enforcement.
Here's how to order an FDA-approved COVID test on Amazon
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Vaccines for COVID-19 are being administered across the U.S., but infections are still at an all-time high. To make matters worse, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the vaccine to rip people off. Tap or click here for four ways scammers are out to get you.
White-hat hacker shows how easy it is to scam even a digital pro
Stephanie Carruthers makes her living breaking into phones, private accounts and more. But don’t worry — she’s doing it to help keep you safe. This IBM privacy expert and professional hacker shows Kim just how easy it is to get fooled by a digital criminal. Check out her tips for recognizing scams and keeping yourself secure online and offline.
How to stop your smart TV from spying on you
Not only is your smart TV gobbling up your viewing data, but it also may be gathering information about your home. Can you minimize your smart TV’s snooping activities? Our advice: Turn off its tracking features. I’ll tell you how.
SimpliSafe's winter sweater sounds the alarm when people stand too close
Sick of people standing too close to you? Here’s a great new way to enforce the six-foot social distancing rule: Sound a siren through your sweater!
That’s the idea behind SimpliSafe’s new sweater. The company that keeps your family safe and sound made its own festive garment this year, decked out in tech to inspire social distance.
The workplace goes digital with virtual reality training
We’ve all had those uncomfortable situations at work. Maybe it’s a disagreement with a coworker or a tricky customer interaction — or even firing a long-time employee. Don’t you wish you could practice? Thanks to VR, AR and AI developer Talespin, you can.
Kim chats with Talespin CEO and co-founder Kyle Jackson about how the company is bringing workplace training to the digital age with its virtual human simulations.
Take the guesswork out of home security
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It’s almost a new year, and that means you’re likely contemplating New Year’s resolutions. One of them should be to make improvements to your home security system.
Start 2021 off right and keep your family safe by adopting a security setup from our sponsor, SimpliSafe. It’s Kim’s pick for lots of reasons.
How to watch ‘Die Hard’ and all your other favorite Christmas movies this season
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It’s time to revive an important annual debate: Is “Die Hard” a Christmas movie? We could argue about this all day — but if you go to Netflix, you’ll discover a shocking lack of “Die Hard” to use as evidence. ‘Tis the season to be thankful, though: If you use ExpressVPN, you can access a Netflix library where “Die Hard” is actually available.
Why digital billboard ads change when you approach
We’re exposed to as many as 5,000 ads a day. To break through the clutter, companies track and target us. Ads are getting even more personal thanks to the next generation of digital billboards. Kim chats with Frank O’Brien, CEO of Five Tier, a company that bridges the gap between the ads you see in cyberspace and the ads you see in person. His secret? The little gadget in each of our pockets: our phones.
The biggest whack job post on Facebook that I've ever seen
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There has been no shortage of conspiracy theories being posted on Facebook during the pandemic. It is almost as if the coronavirus is affecting some people’s ability to think clearly.
Putting a Faraday cage over your router to block “harmful” 5G frequencies is just nonsensical. And as we have explained before, not only is this ineffective at stopping the spread of 5G, but it will also make your internet speeds worse!
How to find a PlayStation 5, new Xbox or Nintendo Switch (and avoid all the scams)
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Every couple of years, the video game industry is shaken up by the release of brand-new consoles. These product debuts aren’t minor affairs. They’re major events where supply rarely keeps up with demand from gamers.
Best smartphone cameras available now, ranked
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Smartphones are expensive these days, which makes choosing one a major decision. Aside from price and performance, features like 5G, durability, and cameras are all important to consider.
Smartphone cameras are good enough today that they can replace point-and-shoot cameras for many people. Some are even sufficient for business and work purposes. Tap or click here to see how to turn your smartphone into a webcam.
Kim's pick for home security: Get a FREE HD camera
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Do you feel 100% confident your home is safe from thieves and break-ins? What about disasters like a flood or fire?
Not being protected is a scary way to live. The good news is it’s easy and affordable to protect you, your home and your family 24/7. With SimpliSafe, you order everything you need online at SimpliSafeKim.com, install it in under an hour and activate the system. After that, your family is protected by professional security monitoring, all with no contracts.
Amazon Fire TV 2020 comparison chart
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Streaming movies and TV shows from Netflix, Hulu and your other favorite services has never been easier thanks to feature-packed gadgets like Amazon’s Fire TV lineup. Compare the different models below, all updated for 2020.
6 privacy and security mistakes you’re making on social media
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Pop quiz: What percentage of American adults use social media? Think about it and I’ll tell you the answer below.
From Facebook to Twitter to Instagram and all the sites in between, we’re voluntarily giving out more information online than ever. Tap or click to get a closer look at exactly what Google knows about you and the steps to erase it.
Amazon wants you to buy its new indoor security drone – It's a bad idea
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Apple isn’t the only tech company with a major event this fall. Amazon just wrapped up its own set of announcements that include a trove of new devices — as well as updates to some of your favorite gadgets.
Why so many new gadgets? Many of these products have been in the works for a while, but let’s be real: Amazon had to do something with all that money it made during the pandemic. Tap or click here to see how much it made compared to Black Friday.
These Amazon products are reportedly fire hazards - Are they in your home?
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Hungry for deals on Amazon? There are plenty of ways to save big on products without too much effort. And one of the most popular bargain brands, Amazon Basics, gives users access to a range of discounted everyday items that are easy to sort through.