What does it all mean? AI writing tools like Evernote can make sense of your messy notes. In ChatGPT, for instance, you can paste in what you have and ask, “Help me organize these notes into categories.” Be sure to check the output to verify your original meaning wasn’t changed. Pro tip: Ask your bot of choice, “Is there anything that needs more details?” to fill in any missing info.
How to check your phone's expiration date
Your phone won’t last forever. There’s a site that will tell you when yours hits end of life.
👋 Don’t fall for this: There’s a new viral post making the rounds on Facebook, Instagram and other Meta platforms. The post says if you don’t copy the post and share it, you’re fine with Meta using your info and photos. Reality check: It’s fake and won’t do diddly-squat. Make your account private; Meta AI (supposedly) only pulls from public posts.
What retro video game console is selling on eBay for the most right now in the U.S.? Is it the … A.) Sega Master System, B.) Nintendo Virtual Boy, C.) Super Nintendo or D.) Atari Jaguar CD?
20 drivers stranded
When GPS directions led them to a snowy, unpaved road. Drivers were trying to avoid traffic on an Oregon interstate. It took hours for rescuers to clear a path. Always double-check your GPS directions. I changed my GPS so instead of hearing, “You have reached your destination,” it says, “Whoomp, there it is!”
Are you getting the speeds you pay for? Use fast.com and speedtest.net to run internet speed tests. (Be careful not to go to the .com version of Speedtest.) Both report your current speeds a little differently, so I like to check ‘em both. If you’re way, way below what you pay for, call your ISP and ask them to fix it.
🧱 Don’t buy a brick: Before you buy a used phone, check its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. Here’s how: Just dial *#06# on the phone to display its IMEI. Now, pop that number into the Stolen Phone Checker to see if the phone has been reported lost, stolen or blocked by a carrier.
GPS dog collars are smart: Use Battery Optimization mode so you don’t have to charge the collar so frequently. As long as your furbaby stays in a safe zone, it’ll check less often, saving your battery. If they leave the safe zone, real-time tracking will kick in. My golden retriever, Abby, wears a Fi collar, and this is her favorite ball (10% off today!).
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Save money: Check this page to see if anything you’ve bought on Amazon is on sale right now. This way, you can stock up!
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
5-minute phone privacy check
In just five minutes, you can secure your phone from unwanted snooping. Follow these quick steps to stay safe.
Love this idea: Two Colorado sisters launched a dating app designed for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Users can tap “X” or “❤️” to sort through matches, and there’s a “Dateability Deets” section where you check off terms that describe your condition. Check it out on iOS and Android.
Small-biz tip: Getting the right domain is an important part of settling on your business name. Check for a site name across different top-level domains (think .com, .net. and .biz), and see how much they cost at iwantmyname.com.
I pita the fool: Amazon just launched its own food brand: Amazon Saver. They say it’s to fight high grocery prices, but it’s really meant to take on Target and Walmart brands. Most Amazon Saver items are under $5. For example, a pound of smoked ham is $3.79, but dang … there are a ton of preservatives in there. Be sure to check the ingredients. Prime members score an extra 10% off.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
🔄 Patch Tuesday: Microsoft rolled out fixes for 79 flaws, including four zero-days. One of the worst is a Windows Update that could roll back security fixes. Yikes. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, then click Check for updates.
✅ Be a real smarty-pants: Use Google’s Fact Check Explorer to win any argument — or see if what you read online is true. Search by keywords and see a list of matching claims and corresponding fact-checks. You’re welcome.
How to check your phone's radiation levels
Worried about your phone’s radiation? Here’s a quick trick to check how much it’s giving off — you’ll be surprised.
💵 Wads up? Social media is buzzing about a clever Chase bank “glitch” that gets you free money. How it works: Deposit a fake check into an ATM and withdraw cash before it bounces. Chase is onto it, and the dummies who tried it now face negative account balances in the tens of thousands.
Suite dreams: Next time you check into a hotel, don’t be surprised if there are no keycards. Digital options using Apple Wallet and Google Wallet are soaring. Just tap your phone near the door handle to get in. Earlier this year, hackers cracked over 3 million hotel rooms with Saflok locks, so I’m all for this.
U.S. states are holding onto $70 billion in unclaimed assets: Visit the National Association of Unclaimed Property online to find the link for your state’s treasury website. Pro tip: If you have a frequently misspelled name, go by a nickname or have any former names, check those, too. You never know — I helped one listener find $25,000. No, I didn’t get a cut.
📰 Save for later: On Google News, see all the stories you’ve used the heart icon to mark as favorites. Go to google.com/interests/liked to check yours. In the Apple News app, hit the ribbon in the top right to save a story, and then you’ll find it under Saved Stories.