Speaking of Alphabet, ‘G’ is also for Gemini

November 1, 2024

Speaking of Alphabet, “G” is also for Gemini: Gemini AI in Google Maps can help you find interesting spots nearby, and it even summarizes others’ reviews. Any chatbot can use this data to answer location-based questions. In Waze, you can report accidents just by talking to the app, too. They’re hoping more eyeballs in the apps equals more ad dollars.

Tags: advertisements (ads), chatbots, Gemini, Google Maps, Waze

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Weight loss drugs sold online can make you sick

“Drop 10 pounds before Thanksgiving!” That’s all over my social media feeds because I was a dope and clicked on a video of a gal showing off her svelte new figure.

Ads for Ozempic and other weight loss meds are everywhere. The weight loss drug biz is a $100 billion industry. I know a bunch of people who have taken Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus or one of the other options, and I bet you do, too.

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Sorry, your Social Security Number was probably leaked

Your Social Security number is one of the most sensitive pieces of personal information you own. Too bad yours (and mine and every other Americans’) has likely been leaked and sold on the Dark Web.

Before you panic, there are a few steps you can take right now to protect yourself and your identity.

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You’re the tech-smart one in the family: The next time someone calls you for iPhone help, try this: If both your phones are updated to at least iOS 18, start a FaceTime call. Have them tap the Share button at the top of the screen, next to the red X. When the preview pops up, tap it from your phone and choose Request Control. When you’re all done, hit the stop button.

7 LinkedIn tips for a recent high school or college grad

New to LinkedIn? Newly-graduated students may have used the platform before, but the game changes as the stakes increase after college.

Presenting a professional and friendly persona through your profile is vital to potential employers. Experience, interests and a great bio can all get you far.

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🤳🏼 Stranger danger: If you use apps like FaceTime or WhatsApp for calls, your IP address could be shared with the person you’re talking to. Want to keep your IP private? Open the app, hit Settings, find Privacy or Connection, and switch off Peer-to-peer. Your calls might not be as clear, but your IP will stay hidden.

Keyboard rockstar: Move through your open tabs with just your keyboard. Press Ctrl + Tab on Windows or Cmd + Tab on a Mac to cycle. To quickly close your active tab, hit Ctrl + W on Windows or, on a Mac, Cmd + W.

Repeat after me: I will not download some random PDF editing app. Scummy developers can sneak in malware. Next time you need to adjust a PDF or add your John Hancock, go to edit.ing or sign.ing from Adobe.

Take Apple’s hearing test: You need an iPhone running iOS 18.1 and a pair of AirPods Pro 2. Put in your earbuds, open Settings on your iPhone, then tap the shortcut for AirPods settings. Look for Hearing Health, then tap Take a hearing test. Follow the on-screen prompts. Do it in a quiet place for the best results.

🤑 Work for or volunteer at a nonprofit? Score free or discounted Microsoft 365, aka Office and all the Copilot AI tools. Hit this page to see if you qualify. To apply for a grant, have your legal identifier, physical address and contact info on hand.

Quote me on this: It used to be that putting a term in quotes told Google, “I want this exact thing.” Not anymore. The new way: Open Google in your browser, do a search, then click the Tools menu. Click All results > Verbatim. You’ll have to do this each time you want an exact search.