Taking a trip soon

February 21, 2024

Taking a trip soon? Do what I do. Before you get on the plane, Team Android, stick a Tile Mate tracker (or, Team Apple, an AirTag) into your suitcase. If the airline loses your luggage, the app can help track it down.

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Tags: airlines, Android, Apple, Apple AirTags, apps, track, tracker, trip

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Tech hack: Make your computer more useful with widgets

I’ve been writing this newsletter for almost a year, and somehow, some way, we’ve never talked about widgets. “Whoa, Kim! Too exciting for a Wednesday!” I know, I know. But trust me, you’ll be glad you spent a few minutes fiddling with your computer to set these up.

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7 things you should never ask Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa

You’re suddenly thrown into a situation where you must perform CPR to save a life. Oh, no — you don’t remember anything from that course 15 years ago.

You might think a quick “Hey, Siri” would pull up the instructions clearly, but that’s absolutely the worst thing to do. In a recent study, researchers asked voice assistants about cardiac arrest emergencies. Yep, it was a complete disaster.

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Remember when your mom nagged about toys and games everywhere? That old stash could be worth a fortune. That mint Pikachu card? A cool $6 million. Pristine SNES games and special-edition Barbies? Thousands. Even an old Nintendo 64 is worth a pretty penny.

Instagram, chill out

Instagram recently got some privacy tech Facebook’s had for years. You can now block the platforms’ parent company, Meta, from watching what you do once you close Instagram and move on to other apps and sites.

Open Instagram, then tap the silhouette (profile icon) in the bottom right corner.
Select the three-line More menu > Settings and privacy > Accounts Center.
Select Your information and permissions.
Tap Your activity off Meta technologies. Here, you can see what info IG is getting.
For each one, you need to choose Disconnect specific activity.
You should also remove your history. Tap the Clear previous activity button to do that.

“Kim, I feel like they could’ve made it easier.” Yes, you’re right. It’s almost like they don’t want you to go through all those steps.

3 secrets to building a successful business

Chasing your passions can be scary because it comes with many risks. When I was 25, I left behind a job that paid $150,000 a year so I could help people understand media and technology. Since then, I’ve flourished — and I’d like to teach you three essential tips for starting a business.

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No Photoshop skills? No prob. Use AI to edit your photos

All right, let’s dive into the digital realm where your photos hold the power to amaze, inspire, and tell stories that words alone can’t capture.

But here’s the kicker — getting those images to shine and share your vision can often feel like you’re navigating a minefield of technical jargon and complex software. It’s enough to make anyone feel like throwing in the towel.

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Have a Facebook account? Here's who is watching

Yes, we know why those shoes we clicked on yesterday are now in our Facebook feed. That’s old news. But just how deep is Meta’s surveillance rabbit hole? And how much of our data comes from other companies? It’s unbelievable.

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“Make me look 18 again”: Yeah, that level of voice editing is here. Apple’s new AI model takes your commands to edit pictures — crop, resize, brighten, crop out the cat, anything you want. Try it here.

The last straw: Password manager LastPass has all kinds of drama around keeping its customers’ logins safe. The latest: A fake app pretending to be the real deal was pulled from the Apple App Store. If you recently downloaded LastPass onto your iPhone, iPad or Mac, it’s time for a complete password purge. I recommend Total Password (it’s just $19).

Job hunting on LinkedIn? Change this setting to keep your searches private

LinkedIn has become quite the powerhouse since its launch in 2003. What began as a platform to connect with other professionals has expanded into a revolutionary workspace for building partnerships, hiring new talent, and finding rewarding new jobs.

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