Cut the cord? Maybe you didn’t… Amazon, Apple and YouTube sell competitors’ services under one roof. I talk to a drone operator who saved a dog from a coyote. Plus: AirPods turn into live translators, and Google drops a $2,300 folding Pixel. Don’t miss this one!
Kim’s Outlet picks: All 50% off or better
ChatGPT
Hidden gems, big discounts, and yes, I dug through the digital outlet bins so you don’t have to. Amazon’s Outlet is packed with brand-name gadgets.
The best part? Everything here is at least 50% off. Now, if you’re not into saving money on some great stuff, scroll on down to the Web Watercooler section, so you’re up-to-date on the latest tech news and security alerts. Don’t miss the big Google one.
🔊 Monster Bluetooth speaker – $30 (75% off)
Crank it up in the shower, on the beach or at your next BBQ. It’s travel-size and lasts all day on a single charge.
🔌 Surge protector outlet extender – $8 (50% off)
Why settle for two sad plugs? This splitter gives you six outlets and four USB ports. No more hunting for chargers.
🚗 All-in-one jump-starter – $50 (50% off)
Be prepared. This powerhouse works for gas and diesel engines, charges phones and even doubles as a camping lantern.
📱 Wireless CarPlay adapter – $35 (50% off)
Say goodbye to tangled cords in your car. Plug it in once, and boom, enjoy automatic connections. Android crew, here’s one for you.
❤️ Blood pressure monitor – $23 (50% off)
Your portable doctor’s office, without the copay. There’s a big LED screen and voice guidance if you need help seeing or hearing.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
No translator, no problem
Midjourney
I’ll never forget the time I was in Paris, sitting at a café, staring down at a menu I couldn’t read. Out came Google Translate on my phone, and suddenly I thought, Wow the future is here. Fast-forward to this fall, and that “future” looks downright primitive compared to what Apple and Google are about to roll out.
🚨 Gmail scam alert: If you use Gmail or Google Cloud, heads up, hackers just leaked a massive database with over 2.5 billion names, email addresses and company details. That means you’re more likely to be hit with phishing emails, scam login pages or fake calls pretending to be Google support. Google says your passwords are safe for now, but don’t wait to take action. Turn on passkeys for phishing-proof logins, run a Google Security Checkup, and never trust an unexpected call claiming to be from Google. Once your info is out there, it’s out there, but how you protect yourself next is what counts.
🎊 Hey, Swifties: If you search “Taylor Swift” on Google, you’ll get a confetti shower and a flaming heart that says, “And, baby, that’s show business for you.” A number counter pops up (already in the millions), and if you click it, more confetti drops. Why the celebration? Taylor announced her 12th album.
Schools spy on kids even at home
Midjourney
School is back in session, but here’s something no one told you at orientation: Your kids may have more eyes on them than just their teachers’. Even if you don’t have kids in school, you really need to know about this.
5 free AI tools you’ll want to try the second you see them
Midjourney
You’re really gonna love this.
I’ve been diving into the latest AI tools, and some of them are so jaw-dropping I couldn’t wait to get them in your hands. They don’t feel like tech. They feel like creative black magic.
Why are billionaires buying so much farmland?
Bezos has 462K acres, Gates 275K, and Buffett once tried to buy 1% of U.S. farmland. Also in this show: how to erase everything Google knows about you, the freeloading crackdown on Netflix and Costco, and the most surveilled city in the world.
Google’s $2,800 folding phone
Google just unveiled its most expensive smartphone ever: the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Closed, you get a 6.4-inch outer screen. Open it up, and bam: a massive 8-inch display.
Protect your wallet by tapping
Still swiping your credit card? You’re putting your number on display. Contactless payments like Apple or Google Pay are faster, safer, and way smarter.
🏀 Steph Curry signs with Google: No joke, it’s a multiyear partnership where he’s going to use their AI to get better at basketball. How? Their so-called Coach will use Gemini and Pixel cameras to study his jump shot, break down his form and give him visual feedback. Part of the deal is no vacations. After all, basketball players aren’t allowed to travel. (Get it? Tough crowd today.)
Trim silence in YouTube Music: Yep, that cool feature from Google Podcasts is now in YouTube Music. It automatically skips over silent or dead-air parts in podcasts, making episodes shorter. To use it: Open the YouTube Music app, start a podcast, tap the playback speed option, and toggle on Trim silence.
📱 Google unpacks Pixel 10: Today, Google unveils the Pixel 10 lineup, including Pro, Pro XL and foldable Pro Fold, plus the Pixel Watch 4 and new Pixel Buds 2A. Phones drop Aug. 28, then the Fold, Watch and Buds arrive in October, just in time for holiday shopping. On Sept. 9 (just my guess, they haven’t announced the date yet), Apple will roll out their newest and greatest.
👀 Interviews go analog: AI cheating has gotten so bad, big names like Google, Cisco and McKinsey are dragging job interviews back into the real world (paywall link). Forget whispering to ChatGPT off-screen, now you have to sweat under fluorescent lights like it’s 2015 again. In case you forgot, the real world is like Zoom, but with pants.
See where your Google account’s signed in: Google shows a list of devices you’ve used in the last 28 days, along with their locations. Notice something suspicious? Sign it out and change your password ASAP. Remember, you might see multiple sessions from the same device, so don’t panic too fast.
We got scammed out of $200K
Bill and his wife thought they were investing in crypto. Instead, they got wiped out. Then, how AI could take down Google Chrome. Plus, Silicon Valley’s obsession with “super smart” babies, the secret world of spy radio, and crypto’s path to your 401(k).
Add GIFs to your presentations: In Google Slides, go to Insert > Image > Stock & web. A panel will pop up on the right of your screen. Select GIFs, search for the one you want and click it. Your spicy meme will drop into the current slide, ready to resize and move wherever you want. Nice.
🌐 Better Chrome: You can change those little shortcut icons in the middle of the Google home page. Open a new tab, click Customize Chrome (bottom right) and scroll to Shortcuts. Toggle on Show shortcuts, and select My shortcuts or Most-visited sites. To remove one, click the three-dot menu and hit Remove.
📅 Hookups now have time stamps: College students at schools like Cornell, USC, Duke and UC Berkeley are scheduling everything via Google Calendar. I mean every single thing such as crying, dates, teeth-brushing, you name it. Seriously. GCal is a second brain, and spontaneity is dead. Imagine missing your scheduled breakdown because of a time zone error.
Earhart on Google Earth? British pilot Justin Myers says he’s “99% sure” he’s found Amelia Earhart’s missing plane off Nikumaroro Island, using only Google Earth images. The shapes match her Lockheed Electra’s dimensions. Nobody’s funding his dive yet, but a rival November expedition might beat him to it. Historic aviation meets the “zoom in and squint” method.