Amazon is dropping six new AI models. Reel turns simple text prompts into short videos. Here’s a little snippet. I’m impressed! For now, three text-generation models are live for certain developers. The rest drop for me and you to try early next year.
8 ways your phone is tracking you - That you can stop now
You understand that your phone knows where you’re located. This is how GPS works, how Find My sees your location and why you get local ads on Facebook and Google. Like other data on your phone, that location data is a hot commodity for internet marketers.
Thankfully, you don’t have to stand for this kind of data collection. These tactics are legal because the companies behind them give you a choice to opt in or out, but not everyone knows how to change the settings. We’ll show you how to stop your phone from tracking you. Ready to go dark? Let’s get started.
This tip is brought to you by our sponsor, TotalAV. Right now, get an annual plan of TotalAV Internet Security for only $19 at ProtectWithKim.com. That’s over 85% off the regular price.
1. Tweak your phone’s location settings
You can prevent iOS and Android from tracking you, but companies don’t make it easy. The feature is buried inside your device’s privacy settings and, by default, records your daily routine.
Known as “Frequent Locations,” it keeps track of where you are and how long you stay there. It even knows where you live and work based on how long you’re there and when you visit.
If you find this unsettling, you can turn the feature off. Here are the basic steps, but depending on your specific model and operating system, you may need to follow different instructions.
Turn off location settings on Apple devices
- Open Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Select Location Services.
- Scroll down and tap System Services.
- Choose Significant Locations to see the logged record of where you’ve been and toggle it off.
You can also clear your history here by clicking Clear History.
The morning habits of CEOs (including me!)
I ran across this story (paywall link) about the morning routines of tech billionaire CEOs. It was interesting but not that thorough, so I did additional research. Here’s what I found, and even though I’m far from a billionaire, I’ll share my morning recipe for success, too.
Gifts for dads and dudes
🧔 … Because let’s be real: They never know what they want.
- His golf game will finally be up to par with a rangefinder (43% off). This thing is sweet.
- This beard-care kit (22% off) comes with wash, oil, balm, conditioner and shea butter.
- Is a man cave really a man cave if it doesn’t have a foosball table?
- A pizza stone ($35) is a nice change for the griller who wants to expand his cooking skills. It’s the yeast you can do!
- An RFID-blocking wallet (under $20), because how is he still using the same one from 1991?
✅ Need more ideas? I have a whole gift guide for guys on my Amazon Picks page.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
You should stop texting ASAP
The FBI warns: Stop texting and use encrypted apps. A Chinese hack hit over a million Americans, with hackers reading texts and listening to calls. Also, Walmart buys Vizio, an update on Hannah Kobayashi, and Amazon’s Garage delivery service.
Reel-y impressive tech: Amazon is dropping six new AI models. Reel turns simple text prompts into short videos. Here’s a little snippet. I’m impressed! For now, three text-generation models are live for certain developers. The rest drop for everyone else to try early next year.
To do: Change your smart speaker settings before the holidays
True story: Last year, a friend’s toddler ordered 20 pounds of dog food and a karaoke machine using only their smart speaker. Mom had no idea till the Amazon boxes arrived. Voice commands and toddlers? Not a great combo.
Surveys that can make you a ton of cash (really!)
People always call the show and ask, “How do I make money with online surveys?” I tell them two things: First, you’ll probably earn gift cards instead of actual cash, and second, those gift cards could be worth $50 with the right sites.
Pasta City, created with Amazon Nova Reel by Amazon Ads
Reel-y impressive tech: Amazon is dropping six new AI models. Reel turns simple text prompts into short videos. Check out the video above for a little snippet. I’m impressed! For now, only three text-generation models are live for certain developers. The rest drop for everyone else early next year.
Home-run tech gifts
✅ Stop searching — I did the hard work for you.
- A MacBook Air (23% off) is small enough to fit in a backpack and has up to 18 hours of battery life. That’s a lot of Netflix.
- A 55-inch Samsung 4K QLED TV for under $500? Say less.
- Swap their crusty, old phone for a fancy, new Samsung S24 (27% off). It comes in eight colors! I like the violet.
- The most voracious reader you know definitely wants a new Kindle Paperwhite (19% off).
- Catch Santa before he steals all the milk and cookies with a Google Nest outdoor camera (36% off, $209.99).
- The Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is under $75 right now.
- An Amazon Echo Dot is the perfect intro to smart home gear (54% off, $22.99).
- Bet you know someone who’d love a PS5 (15% off, $424). It’s backward compatible so they can play PS4 games, too.
- A Lenovo Chromebook is already affordable, but 40% off? An absolute steal!
- The Fitbit Versa 4 smartwatch (40% off) for your health-obsessed friend.
💸 Or shop by price: Under $10 | Under $25 | Under $50
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Shortcut to reading annoying privacy policies
Tech privacy policies are confusing on purpose. I know, big shocker! But I’m always surprised by just how difficult these things are to comb through and what they hide.
Today, I’m calling out the biggest offenders — and sharing one of my favorite, easy-to-use privacy tools.
$2 to $3
Estimated hourly operating costs for Amazon’s robot workers in 2025. Right now, bots that walk on two legs are being used alongside humans and cost $10 to $12 an hour to run. Amazon says its plan is for bots and humans to always work together. Sure.
Don't fall for this Amazon scam
Holiday cheer meets holiday scams! Fake Amazon alerts are flooding inboxes, texts, and calls to steal your info. Here’s how to outsmart them.
Un-bell-ievable: The FCC is slapping Chinese video doorbell maker Eken with a $735,000 fine. Sold by big names like Amazon and Walmart, Eken’s doorbells exposed users’ IP addresses and Wi-Fi network names and gave others unauthorized access to videos.
Minimalist vibes, maximalist court fees: One influencer is suing another, claiming she copied her posts and “aesthetic.” Both hawk Amazon affiliate links for minimalistic “clean girl” products (aka everything boring and beige). Can vibes be copyrighted? Common sense tells me no.
🚨 Use Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail or Yahoo? No joke, three out of every four Black Friday-themed emails are scams. The scammers’ goal? To steal your credit card info or plant malware. Brands most impersonated include Amazon, Shein and Costco. Stay safe: Always double-check the sender’s email address (not just the sender’s name) before you click.
💸 Thinking about opening an e-commerce store? Be careful who you trust. One guy lost $56,000 after paying Ascend CapVentures Inc. to open and manage an Amazon storefront on his behalf. They dangled six-figure sales projections but didn’t deliver. Even worse, they stocked his store with counterfeit products that got him banned.
Espresso yourself
☕ From mugs to machines, these gifts will have your loved ones sipping in style.
- Ever wished your Keurig could make a whiskey sour, too? With a cocktail maker machine (14% off), all you have to do is pop in a drink capsule, and voila!
- This adorable coffee mug set works overtime as a cup and a cute decoration.
- The best travel mug in their favorite color. No joke, it keeps drinks hot or cold for 8 hours!
- Give coffee lovers who don’t have much counter space a portable espresso machine. Click the coupon box for $10 off!
- No one deserves a cold cup of joe. Give the gift of warmth with an app-controlled smart coffee mug (20% off).
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Holiday tech hacks: Digital cookbook, easier cards, group pic tips
I’m not sure where this year went, but it’s time to dive headfirst into the festive frenzy. I’ve got some tech tips up my sleeve that’ll sprinkle a little magic on your celebrations. You’re gonna love ‘em!
If your recipes are printed or handwritten, snap a pic with your phone or tablet. Add them all to one folder (or try the Notes app on iOS or Google Keep for Android) for easy swiping. Listen here for more tips about that.