Some TV makers are killing off updates for models 2 or 3 years old. Here’s how to fight back without buying a whole new screen.
How to train your autocorrect to actually work
Apple.com, © Tero Vesalainen | Dreamstime.com
I bet you’re frustrated with how often autocorrect is auto-wrong. Even with new AI features included in many platforms’ latest updates, autocorrect remains annoying. Let’s fix that for iOS and Android.
🍗 Go cold turkey
Yes, you can just turn it off — no more bad guesses or awkward corrections. Just type what you mean letter by letter, like in the early days. (Note: Depending on your Android make, model and OS, your steps may differ. There are just too many variations for me to cover all of them.)
- On iOS: Tap Settings > General > Keyboard, then toggle Auto-Correction to Off. Follow the same steps to turn it back on later, if you need it.
- On Android: Go to Settings > System > Languages and input > On-screen keyboard > Gboard > Text correction. Here, you can turn off Auto-correction and Show suggestion strip, which displays predictive text.
Team Apple: In iOS, misspellings are underlined. To turn that off, head to Settings > General > Keyboard again and turn off Check Spelling.
Team Android: Under your keyboard settings, flip the switches next to “Predictive Text” and “Show Predictions Inline.”
🗣️ Add your own slang
If you’re feeling ambitious, tell your phone to replace a phrase with your shorthand. Think turning “brt” into “be right there” or “1234” into “Four Score and Seven Years Ago.” Pretty slick!
- On iOS: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Tap the + (plus sign), then add your word or phrase to the Phrase field (i.e., “On my way”). In the Shortcut field, type your slang of choice (i.e., “OMW”).
- On Android: Go to Settings > System > Languages and input > On-screen keyboard > Gboard > Dictionary > Personal dictionary > English and tap the + (plus sign) in the top right to add a custom word. Put your slang or abbreviation in the Shortcut box to trigger that custom word.
Pro tip: In iOS and Android, if you leave the Shortcut field blank, autocorrect will stop bugging you with alternate spellings.
Those are the big ones, but I’ve got a few extra tips for iOS and Android on my site!
🤭 I used to be a programmer for autocorrect. They fried me for no raisin. (I saw you smile!)
⚠️ Using a Cisco Linksys router? Check the model number. The FBI says tons are vulnerable to attacks. They don’t get security updates anymore, which makes them easy targets. Hackers install malware and turn them into botnets for cyberattacks or worse. The fix? Replace it. Here’s one that’s 18% off.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
▶️ My favorite price is free: Pro video-editing software usually comes with a pro-level price tag, unless you know where to look. Kdenlive is free, open-source and gets new updates all the time. This gem works with Windows, Mac and Linux.
🔋 Make your laptop battery last longer: Windows 11’s Dynamic Refresh Rate adjusts how often your screen updates for simple tasks. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display > Choose a refresh rate > Dynamic.
Trapped in a Waymo — May 3rd, Hour 3
Mike Johns got stuck in a robotaxi on the way to the airport. I talk to him about what happened. Plus, why kids are losing it over the Minecraft movie, how AI just took over prompt engineering, and new updates on Kim Kardashian’s 2016 robbery.
Trapped in a Waymo — May 3rd, Hour 3
Mike Johns got stuck in a robotaxi on the way to the airport. I talk to him about what happened. Plus, why kids are losing it over the Minecraft movie, how AI just took over prompt engineering, and new updates on Kim Kardashian’s 2016 robbery.
AirPlay or MalwarePlay: Apple patched its side of the AirPlay saga (paywall link), but tens of millions of third-party speakers, TVs and, yes, cars are still left wide-open thanks to bugs in Apple’s developer tools. A hacker might just need Wi-Fi access to hijack everything from the Bose speaker to the family sedan. Check your devices for any updates.
👎 Social media is over: That’s what Mark Zuckerberg says. Meta’s being sued by the government for acting like a monopoly, but Zuck says every app does the same thing. TikTok and YouTube are just news, celebrity promos and AI slop now, like Meta. So really, what hold do they have? The days of friends posting real updates are long gone (paywall link).
🐶 For pup’s sake: Want to help shelter animals but can’t bring one home? Try virtual fostering. You’ll be matched with a pet and share their updates on social media to help them get adopted. Search “[your city] virtual fostering” for programs near you.
☠️ Windows update gone wild: Microsoft confirmed this week that updates since March have been crashing some Windows 11 devices with a terrifying 0x18B SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR. For those not versed in digital Hogwarts spells, that’s a full stop blue screen of death. And yes, it kicks in right after the update + restart combo. Oof.
📈 Get more customers: Click this link to set up your free Google Business Profile. Just hit Sign in or Get started, and add your business info like your phone number, hours and logo. Pro tip: Sharing regular updates and responding to reviews boosts your SEO. Btw, AI uses Google Business Profile reviews for its recommendations. Drop me 5 stars and some kind words here. TY!
🛠️ Update your PC: Microsoft pushed out a big patch that fixes 134 security bugs, including one that hackers use to take over systems. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and hit Check for updates. FYI: If you’re using Office 2016, it might crash after this update. Grab a separate fix from Microsoft’s website.
🌦️ Avoid the storm: Planning a road trip? If you have Android Auto, just say, “Hey, Google, show me the weather radar.” You’ll get live storm updates right on your screen. It’s a handy way to stay ahead of any surprises. And remember, eyes on the road.
🍏 Fresh Apple: It’s time to hit that update button for new Apple features. For iPhones, Priority Notifications helps you see urgent messages first. On your Mac, the Mail app can automatically sort your inbox. Plus, Quick Start lets you set up a new Mac by holding your iPhone nearby. Those last two have been on iPhones and iPads for a while. About time, right? Click here for all the updates.
🖥️ Windows 11 update: Microsoft dropped an optional update packed with 38 changes. What’s new? Live captions and real-time translation for over 44 languages on Copilot+ PCs with AMD and Intel CPUs, plus a fix for random blue screen crashes. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for Updates > Download and install.
Useless $2,000 soundbar: This is big. Turn off automatic updates now if you have Samsung’s flagship HW-Q990D Dolby Atmos soundbar. A recent update just bricked them all over the world — no sound output and unresponsive. The HW-Q800D and HW-S801D models have had similar issues. What a mess.
🔍 Seen a missing Copilot? Windows folks, check if you still have the Copilot app. Microsoft’s March updates uninstalled it from Windows 10 and 11 computers. Microsoft is fixing this issue, but you can reinstall the app manually.
🔄 Want to see which apps need updating on Windows? Open the Search bar, go to Command Prompt, then right-click and select Run as administrator. Next, type “winget upgrade” and hit Enter. You’ll get a list of apps with available updates. It’s also great for finding and deleting apps you haven’t used in a while. Whoa.
🖨️ Oh Brother: The printer manufacturer quietly pushed a firmware update that blocks third-party ink cartridges. It gets worse. They scrubbed older firmware versions from their support site, so there’s no way to roll back. If you haven’t updated, keep your device offline and reject firmware updates.