Unlock your Kindle’s hidden features. Send PDFs, borrow library books, track reading speed, use dyslexia-friendly fonts, and listen to audiobooks via Bluetooth. Read smarter and faster.
Vacuums gone rogue
Midjourney
Remember when robot vacuums were basically remote-control bumper cars with anxiety? They’d bounce around, get stuck under the couch and scare the cat. These days, they claim to do it all – vacuum, mop, empty themselves and learn your floor plan better than your dog has.
Here’s the thing no one wants you to know: Most of them still have quirks. The one that works great in your friend’s apartment might flail in your pet-hair-filled, two-story home with rugs and stairs.
Let’s break it down, so you don’t waste money on a cute little robot that ends up just sitting in the corner.
🐾 Got pets?
Pet hair gets everywhere, and the last thing you want is to clean the cleaner. Look for strong suction and a brush that doesn’t tangle every time it sees a tumbleweed of fur.
The roborock Q7 M5+ and Shark AI Ultra are great picks. Dyson’s robot vac looks cool, but it misses corners and has a hard time with thick fur. Pretty but not practical.
🏠 Hardwood or tile floor?
You don’t need turbo suction here, but navigation is key. The eufy C10 is affordable, quiet and doesn’t ram into your baseboards. Roomba’s 105 combo is also solid but isn’t as good at avoiding obstacles.
The best part? They both mop while they vacuum. Great for spills, paw prints and everyday grime. I’ll never forget my mom saying about her Roomba in that Brooklyn accent, “Watch out, Rosie’s workin’ for a livin’!”
🥿 Lots of rugs or thick carpet?
This is where cheaper vacs usually give up. The roborock S8 MaxV auto-adjusts suction and actually lifts dirt out of rugs.
Roomba Max 705 can manage medium pile, but thick shag? Forget it. Eufy? Often skips the rug edges altogether.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Kicking the bucket: Dropbox is shutting down its free password manager, Dropbox Passwords, on Aug. 27, 2025. All your logins and saved passwords will vanish. If you’re looking for a reliable alternative, NordPass is a smart, secure pick that’s easy to use, packed with features and won’t suddenly disappear on you.
41%
That’s how much Prime Day sales may have dipped this year, ouch. But a softer showing doesn’t mean there weren’t great deals. Shoppers are just choosier these days (recession brain is real). Essentials won, splurges lost, and flashy new features couldn’t quite save the cart.
💻 macOS 26: Translation is built in more than ever. In Messages, your Mac can auto-translate text and show it alongside the original. In FaceTime, you’ll get live translated captions during calls. The Phone app even adds spoken translations for regular calls. FYI: Some features require Apple Intelligence, so you’ll need a Mac with Apple Silicon.
🎬 Adobe Premiere coming to iPhone: The app includes pro tools like multitrack timelines, frame-by-frame editing, 4K support and more. The catch? You’ll need to pay for AI features or extra storage. Preorder it free on the App Store to get it automatically when it drops later this month.
iPhones are about to get a big upgrade
Apple’s iOS 26 lands September 9 with real time call screening, live translation, smarter Apple Intelligence, and faster wireless charging with features you will actually use.
Your smart car’s going dumb
Get this, the average new car has anywhere between 1,400 and 1,500 computer chips. They power everything from heated seats to emergency crash alerts. When the car’s network or support software for these features ends, so do those fancy features.
Why smart cars are getting dumber
Smart car perks are disappearing. George, your AI host, explains why features like GPS, remote start, and app controls are being dropped from Acura, Mazda, Subaru, and more. Plus: AI pregnancy robots, smart mirror privacy risks, TikTok’s dad letter trend, and simple hacks for your phone and Kindle.
Instagram is tracking you right now
Two creepy new Instagram features could expose your likes and location. If you value your privacy, turn them off now!
3 secret things your TV can do right now
These hidden features make multitasking easier than ever. Try this today!
🔌 Belkin bricks tech: Say goodbye to 27 models of its Wemo smart home devices, including some sold as recently as 2023. After January 2026, they’ll lose app access, Alexa integrations and cloud features. Warranty users might get partial refunds. Everyone else? Straight to e-waste. Your “smart” hardware’s about to get real dumb.
A free upgrade could be hidden in your TV: NextGen TV broadcasts have more vibrant colors, a higher resolution, better-quality surround sound and interactive features. Newer TVs from Sony, Hisense, Samsung and TCL have NextGen tuners built in, but you probably didn’t know it. See if your TV has NextGen here and which channels are available in your area!
🧠 Viral trend, real brain damage: Talk to your kids about TikTok’s risky new “Dusting Challenge.” This brain stunt features teens inhaling computer duster spray for what they think is a quick high. What they’re actually getting: seizures, suffocation and possible brain damage.
👩🏼⚖️ Siri’s no-show sparks suit: Apple is getting sued by shareholders for hyping Siri’s AI glow-up before it was anywhere near ready. The suit claims Apple pushed phantom features to boost stock prices, then quietly delayed everything till 2026. Siri can’t read your screen yet, but it might need to read legal briefs soon.
Google Home update: Some nine new features are here. You can now watch Nest Cam footage picture-in-picture on Google TV, and Gemini has more smart home controls. Automations take fewer steps, and you can skip through video by double-tapping. FYI: Most features are in public preview. Join here.
Look under the hood: In Chrome, type chrome://flags in the address bar and hit Enter to unlock a hidden menu of beta features. Scroll through and enable what catches your eye. Remember, these are experiments, so proceed with a little caution.
Too good to be true: Hackers are tricking people into downloading “premium AI tools” that are actually malware. Some freeze your PC. Others steal logins. One claims it’s helping humanitarian causes. Classic hacker gaslight. If an AI app offers unicorn features for free, it’s probably there to eat your bank account.
🗣️ Claude found its voice: Claude Free just leveled up with two new features: voice mode and web search. Now you can talk to Claude like it’s your AI roommate: Ask it to summarize your day, fetch docs, even send emails. And yes, it finally joined the “can Google stuff” club. Bonus: All this without paying a cent; well, you are paying with your data.
👇 Android app shortcuts: Long-pressing certain apps gives you quick access to the features you use most. For example, Google Maps shows your favorite locations like Home or Work. Gmail lets you compose a new message or switch accounts. And Instagram? You can post something new or hop straight into your DMs.