YouTube admitted it suppressed COVID dissent after daily pressure from the White House. Google says it will reinstate suspended accounts but offers no apology. Here is the proof and what it means for free speech online.
Apple’s new gear just dropped on Amazon
Apple
Big news: Apple’s latest gadgets are now live on Amazon. Whether you’re due for an upgrade or just love shiny new tech, I pulled them all together so you can see what’s actually worth your money. Let’s bite in.
🍎 Apple’s fresh lineup
AirPods Pro 3 ($249): My old AirPods are jealous. Noise cancellation is twice as good. Plus, they even translate conversations in real time. Battery: Up to 24 hours
👉 All three watches below support Hypertension Notifications. They’ll warn you if your data over 30 days suggests high blood pressure.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 ($799): Ideal for adventures. The tough titanium case can take a beating, and the new satellite SOS lets you call for help off the grid. Battery: Up to 42 hours (72 hours in low power mode)
Apple Watch Series 11 ($429): Same classic style, now with 5G and better sleep tracking. Battery: Up to 24 hours (38 hours in low power mode)
Apple Watch SE 3 ($329): Looking for a budget watch? This one finally has an always-on display. Battery: Up to 18 hours (32 hours in low power mode)
🤖 Android crew, I didn’t forget you
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 ($330, 6% off): The daily driver for folks who care most about smart features. Battery: Up to 30 hours (40 hours with always-on display off)
Google Pixel Watch 4 ($350): Perfect for casual exercisers who dig Fitbit-style health tracking. Battery: Up to 30 hours (48 hours in Battery Saver mode)
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🦠 Fake downloads scam: Hackers rigged Google and Bing with fake GitHub pages for Mac apps like LastPass, Robinhood, 1Password, Audacity and Davinci Resolve. Instead of software, users got “Atomic” malware stealing passwords and crypto. The pages redirected to macprograms-pro[.]com before being pulled, but one still lingers. Pro tip: Only download apps from official sites or the App Store.
Over 500 million
That’s how many images have already been edited with Nano Banana. The AI tool is part of Google’s Gemini, which is the #1 iPhone app in the U.S. App Store. The hook? It keeps character likeness and lets you mash multiple pics together, like putting your face into a suit. Try it now on iOS and Android. You can generate or edit up to 100 images per day.
How to find your lost documents with AI
Stop wasting hours hunting for files. Learn how AI in Google Workspace and Microsoft Copilot can find your documents in seconds and boost your productivity.
✨ Try Gemini in Chrome: You can now use Google’s AI without a subscription. It’s rolling out on desktop for Windows and Mac if Chrome’s language is set to English. Look for the sparkle icon at the top, tap it and ask questions like “What clothing blog was I looking at last week?” Don’t see it yet? The update’s still rolling out.
Hold off buying any Google Home products: Reminder that on Oct. 1, at least one new Nest Cam and doorbell with Gemini built in will drop. I’ll keep you posted.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Want page numbers in Google Docs? Go to Insert > Page elements > Page numbers and choose the position. Docs update them automatically.
The best day to book a flight
Forget the myths about cheap flights. Google Flights crunched billions of bookings and found the real hacks: book five weeks ahead, fly Wednesday, and skip the Tuesday ticket myth. Here’s what you need to know.
The airlines are selling you out
Forget peanuts. Airlines are quietly handing over five billion passenger records to the feds. Then, I talk to Brian, a grieving uncle who wants to name his pond on Google Maps after his niece but isn’t sure how to get started. Plus, the U.S. keeps TikTok alive, and one woman keeps getting tickets for cars she’s never even seen.
Your phone will wait on hold for you
Tired of wasting hours on hold? Google Pixel and iPhone can now do the waiting for you. Hold for Me and Hold Assist let your phone handle customer service calls so you never miss a beat. Here’s how to set it up and reclaim your time.
Star Trek tech is finally here
Tired of wasting hours on hold? Google Pixel and iPhone can now do the waiting for you. Hold for Me and Hold Assist let your phone handle customer service calls so you never miss a beat. Here’s how to set it up and reclaim your time.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Presenting in Google Slides? Press W to turn the screen white or B for black during a slideshow. Great for pulling attention back to you instead of the slides.
🔥 Delete these apps now: Hackers snuck 224 fake apps into Google Play, downloaded over 38 million times. Yes, you read that right. Disguised with names like CreateCreatives, Foocus, ChatGLM and ClapTrack (ahem, clap to find your phone?), they looked harmless but installed shady ads. Then came the real damage: The apps hijacked devices, silently launching invisible web browsers that ran 24/7, draining battery life, eating up data, slowing down performance and overheating phones, all to generate 2.3 billion fake ad views per day. Ad networks paid out as if real users were watching, while your phone was working overtime behind your back. Check your device for any apps listed here.
📅 Invite from hell: One poisoned Google Calendar invite can trick ChatGPT into leaking Gmail if connectors are on. Apple folks recently got hit, too, with fake iCloud invites pushing PayPal scams. Different tech, same headache. Fix your calendar settings so only invites from people you actually know land on your schedule. In Google Calendar, go to Settings > Event settings > Add invitations to my calendar, and switch it to Only if the sender is known.
Why your insurance bill could suddenly soar
Identity theft insurance fraud is set to spike 49% by 2025 as scammers build synthetic identities. Laura, your AI host filling in for George, has all the details. Plus, fake Google reviews holding small businesses hostage, iPhone 17’s new security, Microsoft’s AI in File Explorer, Amazon’s AR glasses for drivers, and MIT’s telepathic wearable.
📄 Type faster in Google Docs: Instead of retyping long phrases, create shortcuts that expand into full text. Go to Tools > Preferences > Substitutions and tick Automatic substitution. To add your own, type “YTV” under Replace and “YouTube video” under With, then hit OK. Next time you type YTV, it auto-changes to YouTube video. Nice.
Two numbers, one phone, total control
Keep your old phone number while getting a new one with Google Voice. Forward calls and texts seamlessly, dodge spam, and manage both numbers from the same phone.
💥 The 1-star shakedown: Scammers are flooding small businesses with fake one-star nasty Google reviews, then demanding big money (paywall link) to take them down. Contractors, movers, roofers, you name it. Victims report losing thousands in jobs while paying bribes. Because in 2025, your biggest threat isn’t a guy named Vinnie, it’s a burner Gmail account.