The latest iOS update, 18, is in beta and you can try it on your phone now. We’ll walk you through the process. A word of warning: Beta software is still in the buggy phase, so not everything will work smoothly.
What the heck does “xiphoid” mean? Sweet iPad trick for you: Next time you read a word that stumps ya, press and hold down on it, then select Look Up for the definition. Works on a Kindle, too!
Ways to contact SOS with phones and trackers
What if your voice wasn’t an option in an emergency? It’s a scary thought, but there are ways to get help without saying a word.
⚠️ Don’t lose your work: A bug in Microsoft 365 Word (version 2409, build 18025.20104) is deleting local files instead of saving them. The error happens after you edit a doc and then close Word. It’s more likely to happen if your file name includes a “#” character or a capitalized extension, like “DOCX” or “RTF.” Temporary fix? Hit Save manually instead of waiting for the prompt.
Around this date 41 years ago, Microsoft released its very first software application. Was it … A.) Flight Simulator, B.) Excel, C.) Notepad or D.) Word?
Tesla hit-and-run crash
A Jeep plowed through an intersection in Nevada, hitting a Tesla. The Tesla immediately sped away from the scene. Its driver managed to get the EV under control, but they soon realized the Jeep had driven away, too. No word yet on whether the Tesla’s Autopilot or Full Self-Drive mode was enabled during the crash. Check out the video!
⌛ Podcast magic: You can listen to a podcast more quickly to save time or more slowly when you want to catch every word. There’s usually a “1x” on the now-playing screen. It’s your playback speed. You can increase it (e.g., by 1.25x, 1.5x or 2x) or decrease it (e.g., by 0.75x).
Which word is most frequently corrected for typos by Microsoft Word’s spellchecker? Is it … A.) Accommodate, B.) Definitely, C.) Separate or D.) Receive?
Free advertising: I heard from a reader who runs a nonprofit and wants to get the word out. That led me to Google Ad Grants. Qualifying nonprofits get up to $10,000 a month in free search ads. More info here.
Vampires keep their money in a blood bank: This is unbelievable. A dumb Kansas bank CEO got 24 years in prison after falling for a massive crypto scam. He blew through his money and his daughter’s college fund, and then he ordered $47 million in bank funds to be transferred to a secret crypto wallet, thinking he’d get rich. No word on if or when the bank’s customers will get their money.
🧠 You have a dirty mind: Brain samples from corpses found nearly 0.05% were made up of microplastics, double the amount in 2016. It’s coming from bottled water, sugar and even the air we breathe. The next time your doctor says you’re overweight, reply, “I want to say one word to you. Just one word. Plastics.” (Yes, that’s a throwback to “The Graduate.”)
Slang lesson of the day: Gen Alpha (those born since 2010) is tossing around the word “Ohio,” and it’s got zilch to do with the state. They’re using it to call out something weird, cringey or random (paywall link). Spot a lawnmower on the freeway? “Only in Ohio.” Rock a polka dot and stripes combo? “You’re so Ohio.” Mew.
Copy that: On your computer, double-click with your mouse or trackpad to highlight a word, or triple-click to highlight an entire paragraph. Simple little life-changer!
After my Volvo broke, I was Saab-ing: Cybercriminals leaked 240GB of Toyota customer info on a hacking forum. The stolen data includes emails, passwords, contracts and financial details. Toyota says they’ve reached out to those impacted. No word on how many folks that is.
📚 When the e-book is … complicated: Activate Word Wise on your Kindle to get brief definitions above tricky words. Open your book, then tap the Aa menu. Select More, then Word Wise. Toggle it on.
Going green: There’s a new code word for smoking marijuana: “Gardening.” Teens use the term to get past content filters on TikTok and other sites. Now you know.
A big crowd is a big target: Taylor Swift’s Vienna concerts were canceled after two men were arrested for plotting terrorist attacks. One suspect, a 19-year-old would-be ISIS member, was radicalized online and. planned to use “chemicals” at the Eras Tour shows. No word yet if it was a bomb. Frightening.
Two down, eight to go: Neuralink successfully implanted another brain chip into a human patient. No word on when its second trial recipient had surgery, but Elon Musk says it’s “gone extremely well.” The plan is to have eight more brain chip implants completed this year. I interviewed the first recipient, Noland. Amazing guy!
No takebacks: After Google vowed to get rid of third-party cookies on Chrome, they basically said, “Just kidding.” Instead, you’ll get a “new experience in Chrome” that lets you “adjust” your cookie preferences. No word on how yet. Get ahead of it: Try Total Adblock for an ad-free experience.