I just swiped through my apps and found, uh, six I’ve never used or haven’t opened in months. Yep, it even happens to me. You have grand plans to meditate, organize your to-dos, fix your pics, whatever, and you download an app for the job. But then, the romance ends.
You should know that it’s not enough just to press down on the app, wait for the wiggle and press delete. Most folks have no clue that deleting an app doesn’t stop the app developer from accessing your data. I’ll show you the tech pro way to say goodbye.
If you signed into an app using your Google, Apple or Facebook account, that connection is probably still live. That means the app is free to keep pulling data like your name, email, contacts and calendar.
Some apps back up data to iCloud or Google Drive. Deleting the app doesn’t delete that backup. It sits there waiting to sync again if you reinstall.
And if the app sold or shared your data with advertisers or data brokers (and let’s face it, so many do), deleting it doesn’t magically erase what’s already out there.
Before we dive into the steps, know they may vary slightly depending on your phone or operating system. Makes and models have their quirks.
Step 1: Revoke third-party access
✅ Google: Go to myaccount.google.com > Security > Under “Your connection to third-party apps and services,” tap See all connections. Choose one to delete the connection.
✅ Apple: Settings > Your Name > Sign in with Apple. Remove anything unnecessary.
✅ Facebook: Settings & privacy > Settings > Apps and websites. Remove access from unused apps.
The other day on my national radio show, I mentioned that the average American drops $110 a month on streaming services. Add another $80+ for a solid internet connection, and suddenly old-school cable doesn’t look so bad.
Good news if you have an Aura frame: It’ll keep auto-syncing with Google Photos after all. ICYMI, the feature was supposed to shut off this month, but Aura’s working with Google to keep it going. They make great gifts for grandparents. You can remotely share new pics.
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🗑️ Trash your big files: Running out of space on Google Drive? On the web, click Storage on the left to see your files from largest to smallest. On the Google Drive app, go to Files and tap on Name under My Drive near the top left. Then tap Storage used to sort it by file size. Delete what you don’t need. Ah, space.
This is the kind of thing that makes you wish flip phones were still a thing. The world has moved from marketing to digital profiling. We are being tracked like never before.
Advertising giant Publicis Groupe just released a video bragging that its CoreAI platform tracks a staggering 91% of all adult internet users. Yes, that probably includes you, me and everyone we know.
I wish that I could wave my magic wand and automatically reinstate all the accounts for anyone who asks me for help because their Facebook account got hacked, their ex knows everywhere they go or they’ve lost access to everything and even money for some reason.
🚨 Red alert for Androids: Be careful what you download. Hackers are using a tool called .NET MAUI to create what look like legit banking, dating and social media apps. They spread through texts and shady links instead of the Google Play Store. Always stick to the official app store, and keep your OS updated. Mahalo!
🌤️ Rise and shine: Have an Echo or Google speaker? Say, “[Alexa or Hey, Google], good morning,” to turn on your lights, hear the weather and play the news. Personalize it in the Alexa app by tapping More (three-line icon) > Routines > Morning. On the Google Home app, head to Automations (three stars) > Add (+) > Personal.
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🛑 Stop ad trackers: It makes it harder for advertisers and data brokers to snoop on you. On iPhones, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and toggle off Allow Apps to Request to Track. For Androids, open Settings > Google > Ads, then enable Opt out of Ads Personalization.
Sometimes life is eye-ronic: Google’s AI assistant Gemini can now “see” and use your camera in real time. Point it at your dying houseplant for tips on how to save it, or ask what is the water dripping from your car’s engine. (I did that, and it was 100% right!) It costs $20/month to use it. ChatGPT does the same for $20/month, too.
Google’s new AI video tool: I’ve been playing around with it and wow, it’s something. It can take text and create a full-blown video. Try it out. I think you’ll be amazed.
🐭 Coming to Disney next year: This is freakin’ awesome. Real Star Wars droids roaming around. They’re working with Google DeepMind and Nvidia’s new Newton model to bring them to life. This will help them walk around the parks, be more expressive and do tricky tasks on their own. What do you call a pirate droid? Arr-2 D2. (Good one, right?)
Scam alert: Google’s new call-scanning feature tells you in real time if you’re getting swindled on the phone. AI analyzes conversations, and if something sketchy happens, you get an audio, vibration and visual warning. It’s for Pixel 9 or later only. Go to the Phone app > Settings > Scan Detection. PSA: Google says they’re not saving your calls. Yea, right.
⏱️ Never be late again: Google Maps and Apple Maps are great at predicting traffic. Next time you need directions, look for the option to set your arrival time. The map app will let you know when you should leave home. Drive safe!
📍 Bait and switch: Google found over 10,000 fake listings on Google Maps and is now suing the scammers behind it. People would search for a service (often an emergency one) and get directed to a phony business. Then the scam service would show up and demand way more money than originally quoted. That’s why you need to verify details, folks.
I hit up a bin store the other day. It’s where returned and overstock items find a second chance. I spotted a sealed 2-by-2-foot mystery box for 10 bucks. Naturally, I had to buy it. What was inside?
Four pairs of men’s black socks, a cat bell, two potato peelers, an iPhone stand and a women’s tee that said, “Cowboys in my veins. Jesus in my heart.”
Use Google Docs at work? You may have the Gemini AI bot to help write. Hover over the star icon next to your pic that says Ask Gemini. Click on it to open a sidebar with the writing tools. Choose options like Refine or Rephrase this document, or type in your ideas at the bottom.
📍 Friend finder: Meeting up can be tricky if your friends use different phones. If you all have Facebook, use Messenger to share your location. Open the Messenger app, then create a chat group with your crew. Tap the plus sign, then Start Sharing Live Location. You can do this on Google Maps, too.
🖼️ Hue here among us can Saturate me: Google’s new Gemini AI Flash 2.0 Experimental mode lets you edit images by simply asking. Want to add or delete objects, change scenery or zoom in and out? Just type it in, and boom, done. Don’t worry, Photoshoppers, you get to keep your job for a while. I used it to create an image of me, on a dolphin, in Hawaii at the end.
