💾 Windows 10’s doomsday date: Microsoft is pulling the plug on Windows 10 support Oct. 14. Europe gets free updates for a year, but here in the U.S.? You’ve got three options: cough up $30, burn 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or back up your stuff to OneDrive and pray you don’t run out of storage. Protection ends October 2026.
🖥️ Bought a high refresh rate monitor? Make sure it’s actually running at full speed and not stuck at 60 Hz. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. Select your monitor (top right), then pick 144 Hz or 240 Hz under Choose a refresh rate. If you don’t see those options, get an HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort cable.
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💄 Google Meet’s AI makeup is rolling out: You can now add virtual makeup during video calls, with 12 options to choose from like eyeliner, lipstick, blush and more. Go to Backgrounds and effects > Appearance > Makeup to try it out. The best part? The filter moves with your face, so it won’t slide off when you sip your coffee. I tried it and looked marvelous!
🖥️ Speed up Windows startup: You can make your PC boot faster. On Windows 11, open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options. Click Choose what the power buttons do, then select Change settings that are currently unavailable. Check Turn on fast startup (recommended) at the bottom and hit Save changes.
Remove ads in File Explorer: Windows 11 sometimes slips in ads for OneDrive and other Microsoft services. To turn them off, open This PC, click the three-dot menu at the top, and select Options. In the new window, go to the View tab > Advanced settings, untick Show sync provider notifications, then hit Apply and OK.
📚 Make Kindle pages cleaner: Ever notice a faint imprint of the last page after you turn? Fix it by forcing a full refresh each time. Go to All Settings > Home and Library > Reading Options > Page Refresh. FYI: It may nibble a bit more battery, but you’ll barely notice.
📱 iOS 26: Go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers. You’ll see two options: Silence, which has always been there, or the new Ask Reason for Calling. With it on, your iPhone will auto-answer unknown numbers, ask the caller to state their name and reason, then ring your phone with that info so you can decide whether to pick up. The best.
Fix Windows 11 right-click menus: Microsoft messed with context menus so you only see “important” options, and the rest are hidden under Show more options. Annoying, right? Quick fix: Hold Shift + right-click on any file or folder to see the full menu instantly. So much for simplifying things.
🔒 Lock your Kindle library: Make sure no one snoops on your books. On the Home screen, tap the three-dot menu (top right) > Settings > Device Options > Device Passcode. Enter a code, confirm it and hit OK. Done.
Meta’s new smart glasses come in two flavors: Oakley Meta ($449) for sporty types with 3K video, 12MP photos, eight-hour battery and rugged, polarized lens options. Or go sleek with Ray‑Ban Display ($799) for AR in your lens, hands-free texting, calling and navigation. So if you see anyone wearing these, you’re probably being recorded.
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📱 iOS 26: The Camera app’s been fully redesigned. At the bottom, everything revolves around two main buttons: Video and Photo. Swipe left from Video for capture modes like Slo-Mo, or right from Photo for modes like Portrait. Once you’ve picked a mode, swipe up for options like Flash and other controls.
⌚ watchOS 26: Developers can finally make Widgets for Control Center, a feature that used to be Apple-only. To try them, press the Side button, scroll to the bottom and tap Edit. Select the plus (+) icon in the top left for suggested widgets, then scroll to From Your iPhone to find third-party options.
👀 Trading goes social: Robinhood’s turning into a social app. You’ll see verified trades (paywall link) like time stamps and profits. Even follow public moves like Pelosi’s options game or Zuck’s stock moves. Beta’s just 10,000 people early next year. Basically, a social feature for Wall Street gossip making it way too easy to copy.
🎧 Spotify hits a high note: If you’re a Premium subscriber, you might now have lossless streaming, aka CD‑quality 24‑bit/44.1 kHz FLAC audio. I say “might” because it’s rolling out gradually. To turn it on, go to Settings > Audio Quality and choose Lossless under streaming options.
🗂️ Show hidden files: By default, Windows 11 hides certain system files and app data. But sometimes you need to see them to clean up old folders or fix an issue. Open This PC or any folder, click the three dots at the top and choose Options. In the new window, go to View and toggle on Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
🍲 Not sure what’s for dinner? Tell a chatbot what’s in your pantry. I prompted: “I have rice, canned beans, onion, garlic, cumin and olive oil. What can I make?” It came back with two options: Simmer everything with broth for a bean-and-rice stew, or keep it dry and pan-fry for a burrito filling. Same ingredients, totally different meals.
🤖 Fork yeah: Google’s AI Mode now helps you find restaurant reservations but won’t actually book them. You describe what you want (omakase at 8?), and it digs up options, then punts you to the booking page. Think research intern but not personal assistant (yet). If you’re an Ultra subscriber ($250/month 😵), you get access to it before the rest of us who are cheap.
🕒 Stay focused on Windows 11: Need to work without distractions? Go to Settings > System > Focus. Set your Session duration, and choose options like Do Not Disturb or Hiding taskbar flashes. When you’re ready, click Start focus session, and a timer will begin in the Clock app to keep you on track.
Change Haptic Touch speed on iPhone: Haptic Touch is that press-and-hold gesture that reveals extra options. You can change how quickly it responds. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Haptic Touch. Pick Fast, Default or Slow.