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Easy ways to tidy up your tech
ChatGPT
We all love a clean house, but what about your digital life? Clutter builds up fast: old contacts, forgotten files, 127 versions of the same photo and a desktop that’s basically an overflowing junk drawer.
That doesn’t just hog storage, it slows down your tech and drains your focus.
Let’s tackle it, step-by-step. I’m here for you.
📸 Delete duplicate photos
You love your pet. I get it. But do you really need all 15 blurry attempts to get the perfect tail wag?
Here’s how to clean it up:
- On iPhone: Go to Photos > Utilities > Duplicates and tap Merge.
- For Android: Open Google Photos > Storage > Review and delete.
📌 Pro tip: Use CleanMyPhone (iOS) or Remo Duplicate Photos Remover (Android) for deeper cleanups.
📇 Declutter your contacts
If your contact list includes “Tina from that one happy hour” or someone labeled “maybe Brad??”, it’s time to let go.
- On iPhone, open the Contacts and tap on one you don’t need. Press Edit > Delete Contact.
- For Android, use Google Contacts. Check the box next to the contact name > More > Delete.
📌 Pro tip: Search for blank or “no name” and get rid of those, too.
8 ways your phone is tracking you - That you can stop now
© Wrightstudio | Dreamstime.com
You understand that your phone knows where you’re located. This is how GPS works, how Find My sees your location and why you get local ads on Facebook and Google. Like other data on your phone, that location data is a hot commodity for internet marketers.
TikTok: If you don't have It, you can't get it
TikTok got a 75-day extension thanks to President Trump’s Executive Order, but new downloads are banned in the U.S. Some are so desperate they’re buying phones with TikTok pre-installed on eBay for thousands.
Don’t fall for this! Fake CAPTCHA tests are popping up. They’ll ask you to do three things: Press Windows Key + R (opens the Run command box), then Ctrl + V (pastes “I am not a robot – reCAPTCHA Verification ID: XXXX”) and hit Enter. You’ve just executed a hidden prompt that downloads malware onto your computer. Snap.
514% jump
Taobao downloads spiked this month. The Chinese shopping app is now the No. 2 free iPhone app, behind DHgate at No. 1. Folks are buying directly from China after watching TikToks of luxury items being relabeled and marked up. Now for $12.99, you too can own a “Gucchi” belt with radiation.
▶️ Sharing is caring: Tired of ads on YouTube? Get the YouTube Premium Family Plan for $22.99 a month and split it with up to five friends. That’s $4.60 each for perks like background play, offline downloads and YouTube Music Premium.
Antivirus comparison: Which option is best for your PC or Mac?
© Thomas Holt | Dreamstime.com
If you browse the internet regularly, you can’t get around the fact that you need antivirus software. Viruses can pop up in unexpected places, and you want your device to be able to fight one off if it appears.
Dangerous malware making the rounds is what makes having antivirus software protecting you so critical. But what’s the best antivirus software for a Mac or Windows computer? Keep reading to see the best options.
Using free antivirus? Here's what it could cost you
The internet is dangerous and laden with hidden threats. Luckily, antivirus (AV) software can spot lurking dangers that want to take over your computer. Tap or click here to find out why you need antivirus software.
You may consider a free version if you’re looking for an antivirus tool. A few solutions won’t cost you a dime, which can be appealing. But, as with all things, you get what you pay for.
🍕 Serving up files: Try File.pizza to send large files from your computer without using up your cloud’s storage space. Just drag and drop it into your browser, set a password if you’d like (yes) and hit Start. You’ll get a link and a QR code to share. Keep the site open until whoever you send it to downloads it. Once you click out, the file is gone.
Hate YouTube ads? There’s a cheaper fix. YouTube is rolling out Premium Lite for $7.99/month, cutting down on “most” ads. News, fashion and gaming videos will be ad-free, but if you want music without ads, you’ll still need the $13.99/month standard Premium plan. That one also includes offline downloads.
84.5%
Of ChatGPT’s mobile users are guys. With 353 million downloads, there’s a serious gender gap in AI. Women are way more skeptical (not me); about 53% won’t let their kids touch AI, compared to 26% of men. Remember, artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
400 million
Downloads of LibreOffice since 2011. Wowsie! Last year alone, over 35 million folks downloaded the open-source Microsoft Office competitor. I love free, too!
216% more people
Learning Chinese on Duolingo compared to this time last year. With the TikTok ban looming and so many people running over to another Chinese app, RedNote, they likely need a crash course. RedNote is in Mandarin by default. Duolingo downloads are up 36%, too.
QR codes used in warfare
You won’t believe how powerful scanning one of these malicious QR codes is. Plus, the app that turned into a marketing nightmare, three must-have downloads and OpenAI’s duet shows just how far language models are coming.
5 ways to increase your PC's download speed
You may have a poor internet connection if downloads take forever to reach 100%. Outages or poorly-constructed websites could also be to blame. Whatever the cause is, try these tricks to increase the download speed on your PC.
Top apps of the year, Twitter bans sharing certain photos, Alexa guest mode
It’s that time again: The list of the top apps and streaming music of 2021 is out. Are these great downloads on your phone? Plus, Twitter just banned sharing a certain kind of photo — and Ben has the details on how this affects you. Plus, how to switch your Echo to guest mode before holiday visitors arrive.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tech Refresh: Delete this app, AirPods mishap, photo storage 101
The Google Play Store just pulled a dangerous app with 10 million downloads. Is it on your phone? Plus, the mother of all data leaks could put you at risk and a cautionary tale before you fall asleep with earbuds in. Then, the team dives into digital photo storage and a Valentine’s Day gift no one wants.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Shark Tank $400K scam - Smart home 101 - Stop spam calls for good
Kim chats with fellow radio host Joe Pags about a $400K Shark Tank scam that just about anyone could fall for, the alarming rate at which smart speaks accidentally listen in on our conversations and the gross reality of ride share cars. (You’ll think twice before you book your next Uber.) Kim has a few simple tools to help you fight unwanted spam calls, no downloads required.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices