Alexa sure is handy, as long as you know the pro tricks for getting the most out of the Amazon smart assistant. Kim shares 7 tips to make your Echo experience more secure, useful and fun. Learn how to adjust your privacy settings, change the way Alexa sounds, upgrade your audio and much more with this week’s Digital Life Hack.
Want to protect your privacy? Here's what to buy and what to skip
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With new tech items hitting the market all the time, it’s opened a whole new world for gift-giving. Kids and adults alike would rather have the latest and greatest gadgets and video games than the old-school board game or necktie.
There are plenty of places to find great deals on gifts people want to receive. Tap or click here for 5 unique items coffee lovers will love.
But you really need to be careful when giving technology as gifts. Not all gadgets are created equal when it comes to protecting the users’ privacy. Keep reading and we’ll show you some products that are great, and others that aren’t.
Creepy gifts you should avoid
Mozilla recently put out its annual report and shopping guide identifying which tech items are secure and can be trusted, along with others that are not so trustworthy. It’s called the “Privacy Not Included” report, and the goal is to help shoppers know which gifts could be harming the privacy of their friends and family.
Let’s jump right into some of the items that made the creepy list. Keep reading to the end and we’ll show you some items that are safe to gift this year.
Google Nest Hub Max
Google’s Nest Hub comes with a camera, microphone and touchscreen display. You can use it to make video calls, watch YouTube, monitor your video doorbell, share photos and more.
The privacy issue is Google may target you with ads based on your searches, location, websites and apps you’ve used, videos and ads you’ve watched, age range, gender and more.
It also collects biometrics data. Google may review voice data from interactions with your device, and face data from its Face Match recognition feature may be sent to Google’s servers for product improvement or testing.
Needless to say, this isn’t a very private system and you might not want to gift it to someone who doesn’t know the risks going in.
Buying guide: Best smart speakers on sale right now
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Ready to get new smart speakers for your home or office? Luckily, there are always tons of sales going on, and we’ve got the inside scoop.
Gone are the days of paying full price for smart speakers and other tech. If you’re a savvy shopper, you know how to hunt down deals. Tap or click for the best tech deals to upgrade your business.
The next big thing in tech
There have been a lot of big fails in consumer tech over the years. Remember the exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and Amazon’s Fire Phone? Add Google Glass to the list. But now all the major tech companies are going back to the drawing board to create a better version of those dorky glasses.
Buying guide: Best TVs on a budget
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It doesn’t matter what time of year it is — a new TV is a new TV! And who doesn’t want a new television to stream content and watch sports?
Everyone seems to want a new TV, but how do you know which sets are worth the money? Here’s a simple guide to the best TVs you can buy on a budget, so you’ll have enough leftover cash to spend on yourself or to take the family out for a nice meal.
6 fitness gadgets that you'll actually use
When it comes to losing weight and staying healthy, there’s a long history of snake oil. They’re still out there, but technology is shaking things up for the better.
If you do your homework and are prepared to do the physical work as well, you’ll be sure to find high-tech gadgets that will help you get healthy. Some of the gadgets are wearable, others get you moving, but all are aimed at keeping you fit.
Comparing TV streaming devices: Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast
Which streaming player is best? Kim breaks down the options and tells you why you may want to choose one device over the others. Whether you’re looking to cut the cord and ditch cable, or just get access to even more content, this complete guide to the top streaming devices can help.
Travel back in time online with Wayback and Internet Archive founder
Meet Brewster Kahle, founder of the Wayback Machine and Archive.org, a free online digital library that’s been archiving web pages since the mid-1990s. After earning a fortune selling technologies to AOL and Amazon, Kahle set out on a mission to create an archive of web content so anyone can access it free and without barriers.
Amazon's stupid decision, tips from the Contest Queen, 7 apps for forgetful people
Amazon has a new, but dumb, plan to help Alexa next time you ask a tough question. Feeling forgetful? These apps will help keep you organized, remind you to pay your bills on time and more. Kim talks with the Contest Queen, Carolyn Wilman, who has won more than $250,000 in prizes from contests and sweepstakes. Plus, meet an engineer who makes big money developing Alexa skills.
Apple's new iPhone 11, online safety tips from a hacker, 20 ways to make money online
Apple unveiled its new fall product lineup, including the iPhone 11, and Kim answers your top 5 questions. Amazon’s relationship with local police forces is growing through the Ring doorbell video network, and it could impact your privacy. Meet a white-hat hacker who shows Kim just how easy it is to fall victim to a phishing scam — and she’s got the pro tips on how to stay safe. Plus, a startup CEO fighting crime in neighborhoods across the country. And 20 ways to make extra cash online, on your schedu
5 affordable laptops starting as low as $140
School is back in session, and you know what that means: leaves falling, weather cooling, and great deals on school and office supplies! And when it comes to school and office supplies, none is more desirable than a new laptop — but finding one for a price that fits your budget can be a struggle all its own.
Amazon Prime Day starts Monday, but deals are already here
If you’ve got your eye on a new piece of tech, now’s the time. Amazon Prime Day starts Monday, but deals have already begun. I’ll tell you how to find the best deals of the summer — on Amazon and otherwise.
Amazon Prime Day is like Christmas in July
You don’t want to miss Amazon’s annual sale. This year it’s expanded to two days, and other retailers are getting in on the fun with their own discounts. That means even better deals on great tech and gadgets for you.
Amazon brazenly uses your Ring doorbell videos in ads
What happens when you sign up for something and don’t read the terms of service? Your personal information can end up on the internet for the world to see. Maybe the intent was good in the story you’re about to hear, but listen and learn so it doesn’t happen to you.
Grab millions of free e-books for your summer reading
What’s on your summer reading list? OpenLibrary.org is the largest online library with millions of books available for free download. It’s part of the Internet Archive, creators of the Wayback Machine, which crawls and indexes billions of web pages.
5 sites for streaming TV for free
Streaming video is still a relatively young technology, but most of us can no longer imagine sticking a disc into a DVD player. Yes, some of us still enjoy our Redbox rentals, and Blu-ray still offers some of the best imaging available.
Amazon loses round 1 of the drone wars
After years of hearing about Amazon’s impending drone delivery service, many Americans braced themselves for a dystopian future where Amazon drones filled the sky. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to dystopia.
You won't believe which book tops Amazon.com
Aspiring writers can turn to Amazon.com to get their books published. Or some enterprising folks can take a government report and publish it through Amazon.com. One such report making headlines already is a bestseller on the online giant’s site.
Alexa is always listening
Well, Alexa and Amazon are quite the busybodies. It turns out Alexa and Amazon employees don’t listen only when you give a command. I’ll tell you what to do.
Tips to lock down your phone and keep your information safe
Take note — no one is immune to hacking. As you know, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ phone was hacked and his private photos were leaked. You may not be a billionaire like Bezos, but you can take steps to make your phone hack-proof.