Bluetooth Archives

Three things to keep tabs on YOU

No one else will do it better than you.

On the level: Check your blood oxygen levels, pulse rate and pulse strength with this fingertip monitor. This is especially useful when you have a respiratory infection and are wondering when to call a doc or go to the ER.
Cuff me: It’s important to monitor your blood pressure at home. This model connects to your phone via Bluetooth to store your readings, plus it’s a bargain at 44% off ($27.99).
Tip the scale: See your weight displayed digitally in big numbers on this smart scale, or head to its app to see your weight and 12 other metrics, including your BMI. Right now, it’s 43% off ($19.99).

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Sharing is caring: Bruce in Reno called my show with a bright idea. He just got an iPad and wants to watch movies on it with his wife on an upcoming trip. “Is there a way to split the audio signal?” There sure is, Bruce. This handy gadget connects two sets of Bluetooth headphones to any device with a headphone jack. Sweet.

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He fell for an online Ponzi scheme

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YouTuber Antenna Man is opening up about being a victim of the Agridime Ponzi scheme. He hopes others don’t fall into the same trap. Plus, a woman tracks down a thief with an AirTag, and someone hacks a guy’s Bluetooth headphones — creepy stuff!

🚨 Recall alert: Anker is recalling 80,000 Bluetooth speakers after 33 reports of overheating batteries and fires. If you have a Soundcore or PowerConf speaker with the model number A3102016, A3302011 or A3302031, stop using it and get a free replacement.

Listen on your stereo

Pam in Fort Lauderdale wrote to me to ask if there’s a cheap, easy way for her to play music from her phone on her home stereo.

📻 Heck yes, there are, Pam. Each one works a little differently. Follow the included instructions and you’ll be rockin’ in no time.

Super affordable: Connect this receiver ($23.99) to your stereo’s audio port, give it some juice via a USB cable, and then push one button to pair it with your phone. Easy-peasy.
Pricer but better sound: Audiophiles, this one is for you. A Wi-Fi connection will give you better sound than a Bluetooth option. The WiiM Mini audio player ($89) is worth the money.
Get smart: Some Echo models, like this refurbished 4th-gen Echo Dot (34% off, $58.99), can connect to your stereo with a 3.5mm aux cable. That’s pretty sweet.

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Windows 11 smarts: “Quick settings” lets you control Airplane mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Battery-saver mode and lots more, all in one place. To open it, left-click on the taskbar where the speaker icon is. To edit what you see, click the pencil icon. Unpin anything you don’t use. Easy-peasy.

🎶 Update your AirPods: Too many models to list just got a firmware update. Apple says your AirPods will update when they connect to your iPhone via Bluetooth. To make sure, charge ‘em both for 30 minutes.

🔐 Smart lock: You can set your Windows PC to lock itself when you walk away. Pair your phone via Bluetooth, then activate Dynamic Lock in your Windows settings. When you step away and your phone loses its Bluetooth connection, your PC locks itself. So cool.

🆕 Bluetooth 6.0 is incredible: One of the coolest new features is channel sounding, which calculates distance with crazy precision — think tracking devices with centimeter-level accuracy. Imagine finding your lost TV remote or some other gadget in an instant. Give it about a year till this tech is ready for you and me to use.

Before you toss your headphones because they won’t pair: Turn them off and switch off Bluetooth on your phone. Here’s the trick: Be patient! Wait 30 seconds so everything can fully disconnect, then you’ll get a fresh start.

🥞 First-world problems: A home cook got a surprise when their smart stove “hacked” their Bluetooth headphones. The Siemens cooktop’s magnetic field messed with the touch controls on their Sony headset. When they turned up the heat, the volume went up, too. If this ever happens to you, try disabling touch controls on your headphones.

Don’t throw your Bluetooth speaker in a lake; it’ll sync: Sonos rolled out a screwed-up app in May that’s missing basic features, and now speakers are turning off intermittently. They’re working on a fix that’ll cost a cool $20 million or more, but there’s no timeline yet. I’m sure it doesn’t help that they just laid off 100 people yesterday …

🚬 Let’s not vape around the bush: Swype is a disposable e-cig, fitness tracker and “dumbphone.” In other words, you can vape with it, but you can’t make calls. It syncs to your smartphone via Bluetooth and shows you notifications on a touchscreen. Hard pass.

🚨 Do it right now: The National Security Agency (NSA) has a hot security tip: Power off and restart your phone weekly. Sounds like a “duh,” but it works to combat zero-click exploits and spear phishing. More tips (that I’ve been giving you for years): Keep your OS updated, and disable Bluetooth and location services when you don’t need ‘em.

Didn’t want you to hear that: When you use Bluetooth to take a phone call in the car, the sound leaks like crazy. Before you say something really embarrassing while sitting in a parking lot (“Doctor, this rash is all over my …”), turn the volume way down.

For your phone: Swipe down on your home screen to open quick settings like Bluetooth, Airplane mode and Do Not Disturb. Even better, you can customize what’s there. On Android, hit the pencil icon. On iPhone, head to Settings > Control Center.

Apple and Google team up to fix their stalking problem

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Stalkers are using AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers to follow people. When two major tech rivals work together, you know it’s serious.

My picks to bring your records into the digital age

Got vinyl? You need a USB-based turntable that connects to your PC or Mac’s USB port. Just hit “record” and bring those records into 2024, ready for your phone, smart speaker and more!

Low: This retro-looking beauty has built-in stereo speakers, RCA outputs for connecting additional speakers, a Bluetooth input to turn it into a Bluetooth speaker, and USB outputs so you can record your LPs as MP3s. Best of all, it’s 39% off (only $42.99!).
Mid: This one has a slightly more modern look — white marble! — and the sound quality on the built-in speakers is a step up from the bargain pick. It also has Bluetooth input so you can play music on it from your phone, along with USB input and output options. It’s $129.98 (don’t forget to click the 15% coupon!).
High: Audio-Technica is one of the biggest names in sound, which means a big price point but also big sound quality. This player ($279) doesn’t have a built-in speaker (audiophiles would never do a two-in-one!), but it does have RCA and Bluetooth outputs for connecting it to your own speakers or sound system and a USB output for ripping your LPs.

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PSA: When you use Bluetooth to take a phone call in the car, the sound leaks like crazy. Before you say something really embarrassing while sitting in a parking lot (“Doctor, this rash is all over my …”), turn the volume way down.

Rising car thefts: With just a smartphone app or a $25 Bluetooth signal finder, clever criminals can scan your car for valuable tech. The signals from turned-on devices tell them which vehicles will deliver the biggest paydays. Keep your electronics with you, folks — or at least turn them off.