⌛ 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).
To do: Change your smart speaker settings before the holidays
True story: Last year, a friend’s toddler ordered 20 pounds of dog food and a karaoke machine using only their smart speaker. Mom had no idea till the Amazon boxes arrived. Voice commands and toddlers? Not a great combo.
Funny, yes, but a massive pain — and it’s more likely to happen around the holidays when you’re busy and ordering lots of gifts and last-minute supplies. I’ll show you how to stop that and get your smart speakers in tip-top shape for guests.
Turn off voice purchasing
- Open the Alexa app, select More > Settings > Account Settings > Voice Purchasing. Turn it off entirely.
From here, you can also set up a code for voice purchasing if you prefer to keep it on but protected.
Know your mute buttons
When you have guests and it looks like overindulgence in voice commands (and/or cocktails) could be a problem, tap the mute button on your smart speaker to stop any commands. It looks like a crossed-out speaker icon. For Amazon Echo displays, an accompanying switch turns off the camera, too … just in case.
Set up parental controls
There are things you don’t want voice assistants to look up when guests are around. Parental blocks prevent certain searches, no matter how naughty or rambunctious people get. It is eggnog season, after all.
- If you use Alexa, open the app and select More > Settings > Music & Podcasts. You can then toggle the Explicit Language Filter on or off.
In the Google Home app, open Digital Wellbeing and add filters to specific devices to block unwelcome content.
Change your wake word
Hidden trackers invade your browser – How to delete them
Internet cookies have been around for the last 30 years. Blame them on a programmer at Netscape who figured out a way for websites to “remember” users. Today, there are a few different types of cookies.
A first-party cookie is stored in your browser when you visit a website. It keeps things like your account or login info and shopping cart so you don’t have to fill them in each time. We like those kinds of cookies.
The exploding pager espionage caper
Thousands of pagers and walkie talkies mysteriously exploded all at once in Lebanon, set off by a secret code. What happened? Get the story in this quick podcast.
$100M podcast deal
For football players Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason. “New Heights” recently hit No. 4 on the podcast charts. Hope they thanked Taylor Swift for the boost. Amazon’s podcast division, Wondery, will host the livestream and give paying subs early ad-free access. Jeff, call me. I’ll do it for $50 million.
Surveys that can make you a ton of cash (really!)
People always call the show and ask, “How do I make money with online surveys?” I tell them two things: First, you’ll probably earn gift cards instead of actual cash, and second, those gift cards could be worth $50 with the right sites.
Holiday tech hacks: Digital cookbook, easier cards, group pic tips
I’m not sure where this year went, but it’s time to dive headfirst into the festive frenzy. I’ve got some tech tips up my sleeve that’ll sprinkle a little magic on your celebrations. You’re gonna love ‘em!
If your recipes are printed or handwritten, snap a pic with your phone or tablet. Add them all to one folder (or try the Notes app on iOS or Google Keep for Android) for easy swiping. Listen here for more tips about that.
Streaming costs inching up? Cheapskate secrets you need to know
The top-tier Netflix plan is now a jaw-dropping $22.99 a month. I remember being shocked when it hit $19.99, and here we are again. And Netflix isn’t alone; Disney+ and Hulu have raised their prices, and you can bet every other streaming service will soon follow suit.
Can your phone be rigged to explode?
This past week, a frenzy of small explosions rocked Lebanon, causing thousands of injuries and killing at least 25 people. The cause? Thousands of Apollo AR924 pagers and ICOM walkie-talkies blew up in the hands of members of Hezbollah leaders and their families.
Traveling for the holidays? Best days to book
It’s beginning to look a lot like … fall. Before you enter a pumpkin-spice stupor, do your future self a favor and get this year’s travel plans organized.
From the best times to book to how to search for flights, I’ve got everything you need to score the sweetest deal on your holiday season trip.
Use ‘em or lose ‘em: Tech account inactivity policies
Did you know most online services have policies that allow them to delete inactive accounts and all associated data? In fact, Google is in the process of deleting old Gmail accounts as we speak.
It’s amazing how that can turn a simple mistake or moment of forgetfulness into a full-scale data catastrophe.
Will we merge with AI by 2050?
ChatGPT launched in November 2022. I’ll never forget the thought that hit me after a few minutes of playing around with it: This is going to change every single thing.
Less than two years later, yep, it has. Website traffic is in the tank, Google is panicking and the web as we know it has changed already. Now imagine what’s coming in the next five, 10 or 20 years.
🎤 Listen up: Adobe has a free tool to test if your mic is set correctly for a podcast or video meeting. Try it here. You’ll get pointers on where to sit relative to your mic and whether there’s too much going on in the background. Nice!
Is your car spying for the government?
A new Ford patent could turn your car into a police informant, automatically reporting speeders to the authorities. Here’s how that could change the way we drive, in this short podcast.
Online dating the safe way
You may not be looking for love online, but Tinder says about 40% of couples meet via apps. I know a couple who met on a dating app for farmers. They’re perfect for each other — they got married and have two boys and two girls under age 8 with another on the way. But for others, dating apps can be a complete nightmare.
Why the Pentagon is watching Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s superfans — aka Swifties — are on the government’s radar. Why? I’ll tell you the scoop in this short podcast.
Google filters out Trump
The search engine giant claims they’re filtering out political violence, but could there be more to the story? Get the scoop in this short podcast.
450,000 podcasts
Are currently publishing new episodes. But get this: The 25 most popular podcasts account for nearly 50% of all U.S. weekly listeners. Wow, I need each and every one of you to tune into my show’s podcast. Maybe I can break into the top 100!
Guy Kawasaki on being remarkable
Guy Kawasaki, host of the “Remarkable People” podcast, has a new book, “Think Remarkable,” that you’ve got to check out. Plus, there’s a new AI danger lurking at work, the death of ad-free streaming, and why you’re still getting scam calls. Feeling lonely? Everyone’s connected, yet isolation is at record levels.
3 podcasts to fall asleep to
You’re in your pajamas, ready for bed, but can’t fall asleep. Try this trick: listen to a podcast.