track Archives

Tools of the trade

💼 Here’s your go-to gear to stay on track while you work.

A comfy under-desk footrest ($28) lifts both your legs and mood.
Typing all day? These soft pads ($20) make every click easier.
Stay neat with a valet tray (11% off) that has a built-in charger.
Jot down all your great ideas on some clear sticky notes ($9).
One USB port isn’t enough. Get four with this hub (57% off).

⌚ Dead smartwatch, again? Clip on a key chain charger (23% off) that works for both Apple and Android.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Ring doorbell app used to track ICE agents

Amazon’s Neighbors app was built to fight porch pirates. In Los Angeles, people are using it to warn each other about immigration raids.

😨 Data brokers turn deadly: This is horrifying. The man accused of assassinating Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband allegedly used people search sites (paywall link) to stalk them. If criminals can track politicians, they can track you. That’s why you need Incogni to get your info off those websites.

88%

That’s how many Gen Zers are cool with sharing their data for free. Now, Verb.AI’s giving them a reason to actually profit from the surveillance. Gen Z: simultaneously terrified of phone calls and totally fine letting a startup track their every digital move. “It’s not stalking if it’s opt-in,” apparently.

📨 Giving out your Gmail? Use an alias to track where emails are from. Just add +anything before @gmail.com (like kim+signup@gmail.com). When a message hits your inbox, you’ll see the +signup in the To field.

🔥 Wildfires go predictive: AI can now predict massive wildfires 10 days in advance. It uses CO₂ data, land maps, weather info and code that somehow knows forest vibes. Get this, it even clocked those Canadian fires before they hit. Honestly, better track record than most weathermen. AI just declared that tree has arson energy.

📚 Keep their brains busy: Want your kids to stay sharp in math or science this summer? Check out Khan Academy. Free lessons include short videos, practice exercises and hints. There’s even an AI tutor they can chat with when they’re stuck (it’s $4/month). Pro tip: Track their progress with a parent account.

Alexa’s on the case: Wondering where your Amazon package is? You could hit this link or just say, “Alexa, where’s my stuff?” or “Alexa, track my order.” She’ll give you a quick update on your delivery status. Hands-free and hassle-free.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

✍️ Faulty AI detectors: More students are being accused of using tools like ChatGPT when they didn’t. Like Leigh, who got a zero on her assignment after Turnitin said it was bot-written (paywall link). She appealed, but now records herself working. Others even track their keystrokes to avoid false positives. What a mess.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Using Gmail? Add a +keyword to your email (like you+shop@gmail.com) to track who leaks your info.

🪂 Fortnite is back on the App Store: After five years, you can finally download it again on your iPhone or iPad. It was pulled when Epic tried to skip Apple’s payment system. But now, devs can link to outside payment options. And yes, it might be a good time to keep track of your kid’s screen time.

💸 Subscriptions sneak up fast: One buck here, five there, and suddenly your bank account’s losing money fast. I use Rocket Money to track every subscription I have. Don’t want a service anymore? They’ll cancel it for you.

🔗 Don’t connect your socials: Unless you’re an influencer, it’s best to keep your accounts separate. Linking apps, like putting your Instagram in your Facebook bio, makes it easier for stalkers to track your life and location. Use different usernames, handles and profile pictures to stay safe.

Your boss knows: Turns out your free “work perk” might be a mic’d-up Trojan horse. Experts say company-issued AirPods can be linked to your boss’s Apple ID and track your location. HR “saw” you at the happy hour, Karen. Enjoy your “performance review.” You’ll need to restore the AirPods’ factory settings manually to avoid this.

What’s that song’s name? The YouTube Music app can help you track it down. Just hum, sing or whistle the tune. Open the app, tap search and hit the audio wave icon (top right) and give it a try. Heads up, it works best with popular or catchy tunes, not indie ones.

Your car knows where you went last night

Open/download audio

Modern cars track your location, speed, and even who’s with you. That data’s being sold.

Are you on track for retirement? Dreaming of retirement but not sure if you are on track to meet your goals? This calculator from Clark.com will help you see the real numbers to determine if you can retire comfortably. Subscribe to Clark.com’s free newsletter to receive more must-have tips every day.

Up to $1.4 million

How much MrBeast made from YouTube revenue in the past week, according to Viewstats. He launched the app himself to track creators’ estimated earnings, views and subscribers. And yep, you can look them up, too! It also shows what’s going viral, so if you’ve got a channel, steal some inspo.

📝 Deets in the sheets: Want free feedback? Whip up a survey on Google Forms. Just drop the link into your receipts, emails or even texts, and track responses in Google Sheets. It’s an easy way to hear from your customers, and an easier way to turn strangers’ opinions into a personality crisis.

🤳 Selfie sin? Yep, it happened. Some folks actually took selfies next to Pope Francis’ body at St. Peter’s Basilica (paywall link). Blasphemy? Definitely, but the problem isn’t just tech. Phones are changing how we act in public. From loud music on buses to zombie-like sidewalk scrolling, it’s like we’re losing track of what’s OK to do in public. What do you think?