Amazon Archives

Cheap ways to make your old tech better

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Reading this on a 6-year-old iPhone 11? It’s well past the average smartphone lifespan of 2.5 years … and I’m impressed you’ve hung onto it this long. Btw, Apple typically provides iOS updates for five to six years after a model’s release.

Upgrading your laptop or smartphone is inevitable. But wait before you throw out that clunky computer. Even when a piece of tech starts showing its age, you can give it a new lease on life.

Make room for vacation photos

Most modern phones don’t have memory card slots. Expand your cloud storage to offload photos, videos and other files to free up space. Use the option built to work with your phone.

Android friends, Google One upgrades start at $2 for 100GB.
For iPhone, iCloud+ pricing starts at $1 for 50GB.

Pro tip: If you and the family all use iPhones, share an iCloud+ account to save some money. I do this with Barry and Ian.

Playing the oldies

Want to get Spotify or Apple Music streaming around the house? You don’t have to invest in a set of pricey wireless speakers if you’re still rocking the older wired kind.

Add a Bluetooth adapter (like this Esinkin model), and those old speakers can play anything right from your phone or computer.

Wi-Fi from anywhere

Blast internet dead zones with a Wi-Fi extender like the Netgear EX6400. Way cheaper than buying a whole new router or mesh system, so if you’re having connectivity issues, it’s a good place to start.

Increase your TV’s IQ

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The $15 gadget that cuts your electricity bill

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It’s only March, and we’re nearing 100 degrees in Phoenix. I’m already sweating, dreading my power bills. It got me thinking about the stuff in your house that’s sucking up electricity 24/7, even when it’s turned off.

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Let’s get physical, physical

🏋️ Get into gear on Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.

Track your steps, heart rate and more with a Fitbit (25% off).
Get a smart scale (37% off) to measure more than pounds.
Recover from sore muscles with a massage gun (45% off).
Grab a nonslip yoga mat (34% off) for support.
If you do Pilates like I do, this bar kit (23% off) is great.
Hop with a cordless jump rope (19% off) that won’t tangle.
This running armband (23% off) holds your phone and earbuds.
Hit the trails with hiking poles (23% off) that fold up quickly.
Protect your skin with SPF 50 sunscreen (33% off).

🥤 Quench your thirst: An insulated flask (15% off) and a hydration backpack (17% off) help you stay cool on the go.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Is your Roomba spying on you? – March 29th, Hour 4

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Nancy from Santa Rosa, California, wants to know: Is her robot vacuum recording her? Plus, how to make money with Google Opinion Rewards, why Amazon doesn’t want to be responsible for third-party sellers, and a quiet breakthrough in laptop tech.

💅 Feel like a spy: Put a smart NFC chip (paywall link) under your manicure. It’s a neat party trick to share social media links, send texts or open apps with just your finger. Here’s one on Amazon, but they don’t always work smoothly. Fun but could use a bit more … polish (I know you laughed).

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Student in the family? A student Amazon Prime account is a heck of a lot cheaper than the regular price. Students get six months free, and then it’s half off a year ($69).

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

How to fix your high streaming bills

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The other day on my national radio show, I mentioned that the average American drops $110 a month on streaming services. Add another $80+ for a solid internet connection, and suddenly old-school cable doesn’t look so bad.

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Creepy data grab and how to make it stop

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This is the kind of thing that makes you wish flip phones were still a thing. The world has moved from marketing to digital profiling. We are being tracked like never before.

Advertising giant Publicis Groupe just released a video bragging that its CoreAI platform tracks a staggering 91% of all adult internet users. Yes, that probably includes you, me and everyone we know.

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From dusty to sparkly

🧽 Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has the tools you need to tackle spring-cleaning.

No more wringing out dirty water by hand with this mop and bucket combo (20% off).
Sit back, relax and let the Shark robot vacuum (45% off) do the hard work.
Dusty gadgets? Use an air duster (25% off) to blast it all away.
Polish your laptop with a cleaning kit (19% off) that gets into every nook.
Speaking of, this mini car vacuum (34% off) is perfect for tight spots.
Make your windows shine with an outdoor glass cleaner (25% off).
Spritz some pet odor eliminator (22% off) for a fresh-smelling home.
Hide cleaning supplies under the sink with a handy organizer (21% off).
Washing machine cleaner tablets (17% off) tackle residue and grime.
Smart, a laundry basket shelf combo (27% off) that looks like furniture.

🤧 Spring sniffles? Breathe easier with an air purifier (20% off) to filter out all dust and pollen.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Need a new book? If you have Amazon Prime, grab two free e-books from their monthly First Reads selections. It’s early access to popular new books. Sweet!

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

00Heaven: Meet the big guns producing the next Bond film. Amazon picked Amy Pascal from Spider-Man and David Heyman, who’s behind Harry Potter. This’ll be the first time the Broccoli family won’t take charge since Amazon MGM got the rights from them. Who do you want as the next Bond girl? Sorry, I’m way too busy.

Ready, set, let’s go

🥳 Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has everything for epic family fun.

Keep little ones busy with a foldable playpen (20% off) that’s easy to store. Grandparents, you need one!
When playtime’s over, toss all the toys in a sturdy toy box (15% off).
Kiddos’ first camera (20% off) reminds me of an old-school Polaroid.
The Amazon Fire Kids tablet (26% off) has built-in controls to keep ’em safe.
Level up your gaming setup with an LG 27-inch monitor (40% off).
This gaming keyboard (42% off) has fun, colorful LED keys.
Hear every detail of the action with a new gaming headset (43% off).
Rock out anywhere with a portable Bluetooth speaker (20% off).
Timber! A block stacking game (15% off) is a summer must.
OK, I kinda want this floating basketball game (15% off) for the pool.

🐶 Fetch and chase: When your pets get the zoomies, toss a glow-in-the-dark bouncy ball (41% off). Your cat would probably prefer a laser (24% off).

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

🛒 AI add to cart: Amazon is testing “Interests AI,” so you can chat to find things instead of typing in the search bar. Check if you have it by opening the Amazon app > Me tab (person icon) and tapping Interests. Of course, that data will help train Alexa+ with generative AI. Never stops.

Your a.m. hustle to p.m. snuggle

☀️ Wake up! Amazon just dropped some new goodies at great prices for their Big Spring Sale.

Treat yourself at breakfast with a Belgian waffle maker (25% off).
Prefer a smoothie on the go? Grab a two-pack of portable blenders (20% off).
Update your sad old pot to a Ninja coffee maker (20% off).
A mug warmer (17% off) keeps coffee and tea at the perfect temp.
Work comfortably on a seat cushion (15% off) while you tackle emails.
Give your feet a break. Slide this footrest (37% off) under your desk.
Winding down? Under-eye masks (45% off) make your couch feel like the spa.
Use a scalp massager (23% off) to melt away the day’s worries.
Dive into a good book with a Kindle Colorsoft (20% off).
Or upgrade your evening binge-watch with a TV backlight (29% off).

🛌 Temps are rising: Stay chill all night long with a cooling comforter (28% off) and bed pillows (32% off). Sweet dreams.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Vacation mode: If you’re on vacation for a week or more, hold your mail, so it doesn’t pile up. Log in or create a USPS account and verify your identity. On Amazon, go to Your Orders, find anything pending and click Reschedule. Choose a new date on the calendar and hit Confirm.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

iPad cracks the case: London police just solved a six-year-old case after finding an iPad in the bottom of the Thames River. It led the forensics team to Amazon and eBay purchases used in an attempted murder plot. Three clowns are behind bars, pointing fingers at who threw the iPad in the water thinking it would be gone for good. Meanwhile, a ton of permanent facial recognition cameras just went up in London.

Outdoor gear under $50

☀️ Because who says adventure has to be expensive? So many good deals in Amazon’s spring sale!

Grab a nice travel umbrella (32% off) that won’t blow open every 30 seconds.
Beach or park day? This tent (36% off) keeps UV rays at bay.
Sit back and relax on a folding chair (44% off) you can take anywhere.
This collapsible wagon (54% off) hauls up to 255 pounds and packs up nicely.
Burger pressers (20% off) are the trick to perfect smash burgers.
Handle the heat safely with grilling gloves (48% off).
Snag a stainless steel garden hose (20% off) that’s built to last.
Green thumb? Miracle-Gro potting mix (25% off) is your plants’ best friend.
Charge your tech on the go with a retractable car charger (39% off).
Speaking of, time to replace frayed USB-C cables (20% off).

💡 A bright idea: Power up your essentials with Duracell (49% off) or Energizer (40% off) AA batteries, so you don’t run out of juice.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

No-brainer spring deals

🐰 Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has me hopping. Need a rec? Leave me a comment.

Home: Say hi to fresh air with a humidifier (25% off) and bye to wrinkles with a clothing steamer (47% off).
Bath: Replace your scraggly bathroom rug (40% off, only $9!), and upgrade your smile with a water flosser (25% off).
Kitchen: Streamline morning tea with an electric kettle (30% off), or grab a Ninja blender (25% off) for tasty smoothies.
Drink up: Pour filtered water from a shiny new Brita pitcher (42% off) into a Stanley tumbler (25% off).
Cleaning: Wipe away messes with Dawn Powerwash spray (30% off), and keep everything tidy with an under-the-sink organizer (15% off).

📈 What’s trending? Hit this link for more great deals while they last.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Early bird gets the deals

🐣 Amazon’s throwing a Big Spring Sale. Now’s your chance to grab some tech at smokin’ deals.

Binge with an AI-powered Amazon Fire TV Stick or a Roku Express (both 40% off).
A new 32-inch smart TV (42% off) is the perfect size for a dorm room or kitchen.
This extension cord (27% off) is so thin that you’ll forget it’s behind your furniture.
An 8-in-1 laptop docking station (20% off) brings your workspace together.
Lose your wallet? Find it fast with a Tile Bluetooth tracker (30% off).

🛒 Don’t stop here: Amazon has more where this came from. Click here to snag whatever else you’ve been eyeing.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Amazon vs. The Consumer Product Safety Commission

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The feds say Amazon’s liable for unsafe third-party products. Amazon’s counter? The Safety Commission itself is unconstitutional.