Google Shopping changes: Vision Match lets you create what you can’t find — just enter a prompt like “colorful dress with daisies,” and AI will match it to real items. Virtual try-on now works for skirts and pants, and the See this look on you lets you try on beauty products with AR tech.
Try these April Fools' tech tricks on friends and family!
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Tuesday is April 1, and I can’t let it go by without recommending some techy April Fools’ pranks! If you know me, you know I love a good gag. If you know Barry, you know he’s my most frequent victim.
These sneaky tricks are harmless (and hilarious), but be forewarned — they require a little bit of device snooping. Hey, what else do you have going on this weekend?
Keyboard switcharoo
When your kids or partner aren’t watching, reprogram their computer keyboard so the wrong characters come up some (or all) of the time. You just need the right bit of software and a few minutes.
Use Microsoft PowerToys for Windows or Karabiner-Elements for a Mac. Sit back and watch your victim lose it as they press the “E” key but keep seeing an “R” appear on the screen.
Pro mode: Program half the letters with an “h” and half with an “e” … then, when your mark starts typing, they’ll see “hehehehehehe” 🤭
“Alexa, go turtle mode”
Have an Amazon Echo at home? Just say “Alexa, speaker slower,” while no one’s around — then give it the same command again. Enjoy watching the rest of your household wonder what’s wrong with Alexa.
Say, “Alexa, speak at your default rate” when you’re done prankin’.
Here’s my fave Alexa prank that requires a little work. You can train Alexa to answer a specific question however you want. When Barry asks Alexa for the weather in our home in Santa Barbara, she says, “Look out the window. You live in a glass house.”
Pick a contact, any contact
OK, limit this one to people you know very well … and who can take a joke. If you can get into their phone, swap a couple of contacts that you know they’ll be communicating with on April 1.
The secret meanings behind emojis
Emojis are your digital body language, and just like in real life, one wrong move can send the totally wrong message. 😬 The right emoji adds personality, sarcasm or a playful tone. But some of these tiny icons carry hidden meanings you might not realize.
⚡ Free of charge: Check out PlugShare’s map to find free EV stations near you. Filter by “free” on their site, or download the app (iOS, Android). Pro tip: Your local library might have Level 2 chargers for faster top-offs, so you can charge your EV while pretending to read Tolstoy inside.
🌳 Grow like a pro: Fast Growing Trees makes it simple to plant like a pro. They’ll recommend the best trees and shrubs for your exact location and ship them straight to your door. No hauling, no guesswork. Use promo code KIM to save an extra 15%. I got an avocado tree, and it’s thriving!
🍿 Sup, movie buffs: Wanna dish about your favorite films? Say hello to Letterboxd. It’s like Goodreads but for cinephiles. This free site lets you rate, review, keep a diary of your watch list, and even follow friends to see what they’re loving (or hate-watching).
🌎 A whole new world: Bored with Netflix? Change your language to find new shows and movies. Open the Netflix app, tap My Netflix > Menu (three lines) > Manage Profiles. Select your profile and hit Display Language. You can switch back to English anytime. Bravo!
Feeling lucky? Download the DraftKings Pick Six app today and use code KIM for new customers to play $5 and get $50 in Pick Six credits.
🎉 You’re invited! This weekend, my award-winning national radio show is broadcasting on 420+ stations across the U.S., and I’d love for you to join the fun. I’m talking tech tips, digital life hacks, wild stories I can’t fit in the newsletter and taking calls from listeners just like you. Find your local station or get the podcast.
Check this out: Library Extension shows you what’s at over 5,000 libraries while you browse the web. You can borrow books, music or audiobooks without spending a dime. Best part? You don’t need to sign up. Get it on Chrome, Firefox and Edge.
Calling fellow tricksters: I love a prank. Hit my list of April Fools’ tech tricks to make your friends and family laugh, groan and say, “How the heck did you do that?” Love the super slo-o-o-w Alexa.
😓 To-do list stress? Goblin.tools uses AI to estimate how long tasks take and breaks them into easy steps. Type in your to-do (like spring-cleaning the house) and hit Add (+). Rate how detailed you want the steps by clicking the 🌶 icon. Yup, it’s free.
Your time matters: Before you start a book, show or movie, see how many hours you’re locking yourself in for. For books, use How Long to Read. It has millions of books. For movies, try Bingeclock, and for TV show times, head to Tiii.me.
📍 Friend finder: Meeting up can be tricky if your friends use different phones. If you all have Facebook, use Messenger to share your location. Open the Messenger app, then create a chat group with your crew. Tap the plus sign, then Start Sharing Live Location. You can do this on Google Maps, too.
Alexa alerts you when your Whole Foods order is ready: Just open your Alexa app > More (three lines at the bottom) > Settings > Notifications > Amazon Shopping and toggle it on. When you get notified, just say, “Alexa, check into Whole Foods,” so they know you’re on your way.
Call me bilingual: The Microsoft Translator app is like a personal interpreter. Download the app, start your call on Teams and go to the conversation site. Type your name and language in the form and hit Enter. Share the session code, QR code or link so others can join the call and understand you.
📵 Kids glued to their phones? Pick a day or time for the whole family to unplug and spend time together. Download my kids’ tech contract for them to sign and hang it on the fridge as a reminder.
📱TikTok’s parental controls: In a total PR move and after seven years in the U.S., the app is rolling out Family Pairing tools. You can block access at certain times and check who’s following your teens. There’s a new “Time Away” feature to set a schedule and a “wind down” option for bedtime. Why now? It’s looking at a sale or ban next month, silly.
💻 Kids having tech tantrums? You’re not alone. A 12-week study points to three winning strategies: 1.) Tell kids how much screen time they have in minutes, 2.) Involve kids in activities inspired by their favorite shows, and 3.) Let kids decide on the duration of their screen time. Been there, done that. Good luck!
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