The purr-fect translator

October 24, 2024

😸 The purr-fect translator? Computer scientists have developed MeowTalk, an AI app that can apparently tell you what your cat is saying. The free app records your feline’s meows and gives you phrases like “I’m annoyed” or “Feed me!” You can then rate how accurate it is, helping to refine the model. Will it work? Well, with over a billion meows analyzed … you’ve gotta be kitten me!

Tags: AI (artificial intelligence), apps, MeowTalk, translation

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Best way to stop spam texts for good

“Official notice from USPS. Your delivery is on hold.” I wonder why …

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Forgot why you walked into the kitchen? I love this trick to use with a smartphone assistant. Say, “Hey, Siri/Google, remind me to do [task] when I get to [location].” This is perfect for when you need to do something specific when you arrive at a place, like, “Remind me to defrost the chicken when I get home.”

If you won’t be using your e-bike for a while, how much charge should you leave on the battery? Is it 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%?

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🎄 ICYMI: It’s not the holidays without a Hallmark movie (or five). Luckily, Hallmark just released its holiday movie schedule. Here’s a link so you can print it out for friends, family — or yourself. ‘Tis the season!

Dino-mite: That little dino game Google displays in Chrome when your internet is out is surprisingly fun. You can play it even if your connection is good. Type chrome://dino into the Chrome browser address bar and hit Enter. Use the spacebar to hop over obstacles.

🛣️ Hitting the road? Download a map of where you’re going in case you hit a no-service zone. Make sure you’re connected to the internet and not in Incognito mode. Then, open the Google Maps app and search for your destination or city. Tap the name or address > the three dots > select Download offline map > Download.

🔔 Put a ring(tone) on it: It’s easier than ever to create your own custom ringtones. For Android, you’ll need to trim your audio file to 30 seconds or less, then export it as an MP3 and transfer it to your phone. Once it’s there, head to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Phone ringtone > My Sounds > + (plus sign) to select your clip. Full steps for iPhone here.

Windows, quit showing me ads: Microsoft places ads in the Start menu. Go to the Start menu > Settings. Choose Personalization > Start and toggle off Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more. Magic? Nope — tech smarts!