🔊 Swiss Army knife for sound: That’s what Nvidia is calling Fugatto, its new AI audio generator. People are, of course, creating bizarre sounds from text prompts, like turning the sound of a train into a string orchestra. Its creators think it could spark new music genres like the electric guitar did. What do you think?
These tech tips will make you too powerful
ChatGPT
When you’re the tech-savvy friend, it’s basically your job to fix everything that plugs in. Who saves the saviors? Me! Now, depending on your OS, model, updates and general tech karma, your screen might not match mine exactly. Don’t panic, just keep moving forward. You’ve got this!
Secret Windows restart trick
A simple reboot can fix most computer issues. Instead, try a Shift shutdown to close all processes and apps and clear the RAM completely.
- Hold down the Shift key before you hit Restart.
- Keep holding it until your PC powers down.
- Choose Continue when it turns back on.
♻️ Did you know … Windows is more environmentally friendly than macOS? Windows puts your deleted files in the Recycle Bin; macOS just throws them in the Trash. (Bet you never thought of that before!)
Wipe your location from photos
Your phone is a snitch. Every photo you snap is packed with metadata, the time, camera settings and location (hello, stalkers). Here’s how to turn it off.
- On iPhone, open the image you want to share and tap the share button (square with an arrow pointing up). Next, select Options and toggle off Location.
- On Android, open your Gallery, select the photo, then go to More options (three dots) > Details > Edit > click Remove location information (red minus icon) and tap Save.
Fix your phone’s call audio
Let’s say you’re on the phone with a pal, and your background is so noisy that your friend can’t hear you. Good news if you have an iPhone: There’s Voice Isolation mode.
- Place your call, and when your recipient picks up, swipe down from the top right of your screen to access the Control Center.
- Tap Phone Controls at the top. Under Audio & Video, choose the button labeled Voice Isolation.
On a Samsung phone, open Settings > Sounds and vibration > Sound quality and effects. Here, you’ll see Adapt sound. You can customize this or choose a preset option. Super easy.
Audio AI Fugatto generates sound from text
Kim Komando Show Preview: Why does the TSA scan your face?
Rosemary from Florida wants to know what really happens to your face scan at the airport. Is it stored forever? Plus, secrets not to tell ChatGPT, why 5G isn’t always what it claims to be, and how to score money with Google Opinion Rewards.
🎬 Better foreign films? On May 9, AMC is screening the Swedish sci-fi movie Watch the Skies that’s been visually dubbed into English using AI. Instead of just swapping voices, the AI tool TrueSync adjusts the actors’ lip movements to match the English audio perfectly. Say goodbye to cringey, mismatched voice-overs. The first sentence you should learn when learning a foreign language is, “My friend is paying.”
50+
The number of languages Google’s AI podcast tool now supports. NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews can now speak everything from French to Korean, so your AI-generated podcast can sound like NPR in Istanbul or a TED Talk in Mumbai.
💡 I see the light: Make your phone flash so you never miss a call or alert. On iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > LED Flash for Alerts and toggle it on. For Android, open Settings > Notifications > Flash notifications. PSA: It’s annoying to anyone around you.
🎧 Big sound, tiny price: Whether you’re tuning into your favorite podcast or taking calls on the go, Raycon’s Everyday Earbuds deliver crisp, powerful audio, without the high price tag. They fit like a dream and last all day. I swear by them. Get up to 20% off sitewide now. Your ears (and wallet) will thank you.
Want to sound smarter? Fix your audio
People judge how smart and likable you are based on your sound quality. Here’s how to level up your mic game for Zoom and beyond.
🛠️ Bricked no more: Great news if your Chromecast recently stopped working. Google’s rolling out an update that should fix it. If your second-gen Chromecast or Chromecast Audio got bricked, check the Google Home app to update it there.
👽 Just for the record, sleeve them alone: This is wild. NASA launched the Voyager 1 and 2, each carrying a Golden Record filled with photos and audio representing life on Earth almost 50 years ago. Think a nursing mother, nature pics and human speech. The kicker? Both spacecraft are experiencing major power problems. Aliens are more into comet books anyway.
🎙️ Want to record your voice on Windows 11? The Voice Recorder app is gone, but you can use Sound Recorder, which is even better. It shows audio wavelengths while recording and lets you mark important spots. In the three-dot menu (top right), you can also tweak Recording Format and Audio Quality.
⏩ Choose your speed: On YouTube and most other video players, press Shift + > to speed things up or Shift + < to slow them down. It usually adjusts in 0.25 increments. Heads up, the audio might get a little funky!
Pump it up down: Your iPhone’s speaker goes a lot louder than what’s good for your ears. From Settings, pick Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety > Reduce Loud Audio. This one’s good to adjust for the kids, too.
Chinese hackers reportedly collect U.S. phone call audio
A Chinese group called ‘Salt Typhoon’ is accused of targeting calls involving political campaigns. Plus, a list of words you shouldn’t Google, a big no-no with your phone in the voting booth, and Disney’s latest AI moves.
Hackers steal $285M in Bitcoin
$285 million in crypto — gone. Two hackers stole over 4,100 Bitcoin from a billionaire, but they didn’t get away with it. Plus, tips for using Perplexity AI, a shocking Titan submersible update, and a fantasy football fan caught sending fake threats.
Are scammers using infidelity to manipulate you?
“Your spouse is cheating on you.” That’s the shocking line behind a new sextortion scam. The message includes a link claiming to offer “proof,” but it’s a trap to get you to click. Plus, Gen Z is moving away from Google, and strange science wins big at the Ig Nobel awards.
When you delete an email, is it gone for good?
Think your deleted emails are gone forever? Think again — Big Tech is holding onto them, and they’re making money off every last one.
It's official: Facebook censors your opinions
Mark Zuckerberg is now apologizing for censoring conservative views during the pandemic. But the real shocker? He claims it was under pressure from the White House.
Why the Pentagon is watching Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s superfans — aka Swifties — are on the government’s radar. Why? I’ll tell you the scoop in this short podcast.