| Plus: macOS security bug, AI Van Halen, mute your browser tabs  In partnership with RYSE | | Hey, hi and hello to another terrific tech Tuesday, friends! Let's start with a little trivia. Many of today's big tech companies have a "Chief Evangelist," whose sole job is building a community of passionate users. Was the first company to adopt this position … A.) Amazon, B.) Apple, C.) Microsoft or D.) Sony? You'll find the answer at the end. Before you dive in, do your part to keep this free newsletter coming at you daily. Click this link to check out RYSE. They're changing the smart shades game, and it's not too late to invest. Now, let's expand your tech horizons! — Kim 💡 Digital Life Hack: Watch out for QR code email scams ⏱️ Daily Tech Update: TikTok addicts your kids in 30 minutes 📬 Was this email forwarded? Sign up here for free | TODAY'S TOP STORY Whoomp, there it is  My husband, Barry, loses track of everything. Well, he did until I AirTagged his life. That's where Bluetooth trackers come in handy. These tiny devices attach to what you don't want to lose, and they sync directly to your phone. The tracker shares its location when you can't find it. Here are 15 practical and creative ways you could use a tracker: - Keys: Attach one to your car or house keys to easily locate them.
- Wallet or purse: Slip a tracker inside to find your wallet or bag if it's misplaced.
- Backpack: Perfect for keeping an eye on your kids (or your own bag) at school, work or while traveling.
- Luggage: Track your suitcase during flights or other travel to ensure it doesn't get lost.
- Pet collar: Attach a tracker to your pet's collar in case they wander off.
- Bicycle or scooter: Hide a tracker on your bike or scooter to help recover it if it gets stolen.
- Remote controls: Trackers are great for finding TV remotes that always seem to disappear.
- Laptop or tablet case: Put a tracker in your device case for an extra layer of security.
- Car: Leave one in your car to help you locate where you've parked.
- Sports equipment: Use a tracker on expensive gear like golf bags or tennis rackets, especially if you leave them in public places.
- Musical instruments: Attach one to your instrument's case for quick tracking.
- Tools or toolboxes: Keep track of your tools or toolkits, especially if you take them to different job sites.
- Boat or kayak: Attach one to a paddle or other boat equipment for peace of mind on the water.
- Toy or stuffed animal: Trackers are perfect for your kiddo's fave toys … that they always seem to misplace.
- Storage boxes: Attach trackers to storage containers with your holiday decorations, family heirlooms or off-season clothes.
Bluetooth is limited to the distance it can pair with your device. Today's trackers tap into a network created by nearby phones and devices, so you can track something whether it's in the next room or around the globe. 🍎 Team Apple Apple AirTags are coin-sized tracking devices designed to help you locate lost items through Apple's Find My network. It taps into hundreds of millions of Apple devices around the world to anonymously detect and report the location of a tagged item. Each AirTag has a replaceable CR2032 battery that lasts over a year. AirTags only work with iOS devices. The cost? $24.99 for one (14% off) or $79.98 for a four-pack (19% off). 🤖 Team Android You have way more options. My picks below work with most Android-based devices, including the Samsung Galaxy line and Google Pixels. (Yes, they work with iPhones, too, but I really think Apple owners should just stick with AirTags.) Chipolo ONE: The coolest thing about these powerful little dots is their separation alerts — a phone notification that tells you when you've traveled at least 350 feet away from your tagged valuables (think leaving your bag behind at a coffee shop). - Price: Snag a three-pack on sale for $64 or grab one for $25.
- Use it for: Essentials you want to keep nearby. The separation alert alone is a game‑changer.
Tile Mate: You've lost your phone and it's on silent? No problem. Double-pressing the Tile will do what your partner calling your phone for the third time won't — make your phone ring audibly. If it's really lost, the good Samaritan who scans the QR code on your Tile can contact you. - Price: Get a three-pack for $55.99 (20% off) or one for $18.99 (28% off!).
- Use it for: Saying, "Hey, Alexa, find my keys." Besides your smartphone, it can connect with your smart home and virtual assistants, including Siri, Alexa and, of course, Google Assistant.
Pebblebee Clip: If you're trying to find a lost item you know is outside your house, this is your best AirTag alternative. It has an impressive 500-foot range for Bluetooth tracking, and after that, it relies on crowd GPS (Android) or the Apple Find My app. Translation? Other people's phones will help track down where your lost item is — you know, versus when your device last "saw" it. 🌊 These trackers are all water-resistant, but I wouldn't test that. Underwater is the wrong kind of syncing. (I know, I know … sorry.) | WEB WATERCOOLER Hackers are smarter than ever: And they know exactly what to do to get even the savviest among us to click their malicious links. Don't leave it up to chance; protect all your devices with one subscription to my recommended award-winning antivirus software.* ⚠️ He was scammed, then taxed for it: A California man lost his life savings to scammers posing as the FTC. The fraudsters convinced him to move his money to a "secure account." Huge mistake: He sent thousands in cash and gold through couriers and dipped into his retirement accounts, racking up over $30,000 in taxes. It's one thing getting scammed, but it's a double whammy to pay taxes on it. 🚨 Mac warning: Microsoft researchers found a serious macOS security bug that lets hackers access your private data. It bypasses Safari's protections, meaning your search history, camera, microphone and location are all at risk. The good news? There's already a patch. Don't wait — go to System Settings > General > Software Update > Update Now. Tech troops incoming: The Defense Department wants to bring top tech experts into the military as part-time officers. These high-ranking reservists will help with short-term projects in cybersecurity, data analytics and more (paywall link). The plan is to start with dozens and eventually expand to thousands over the next few years. This is a great idea! Listen up: Next week, Apple's dropping a free software update that adds a hearing test and hearing aid features to the AirPods Pro 2. You'll need iOS 18.1 on your iPhone or iPad for it to work. Keep in mind only those with mild hearing loss can benefit from AirPods as hearing aids; if you have more than mild hearing loss, get a 45-day risk-free trial of the Horizon IX hearing aids.* 🎸 Go ahead and jump: The late Eddie Van Halen's brother wants AI to help finish the band's unreleased music. He says there's a vault of incomplete tracks, many of which are just missing vocals or final touches. He's already reached out to OpenAI to analyze Eddie's playing style and generate new guitar solos in his brother's signature sound. Hey, Android owners: Google Messages is rolling out a new feature within "Profile sharing" that lets you customize how you're seen by others you're messaging. The next time you open the app, follow the prompt or navigate to your avatar menu to adjust your name and photo and how they're shared. You'll have three options to choose from: People you message, Only your contacts or No one. 🚜 Agricultural revamp: Seattle-based startup Carbon Robotics is rolling out AI-powered robots to help farmers blast weeds with lasers. The LaserWeeder attaches to a tractor and uses AI to detect and zap weeds without disturbing the soil microbiology. Bonus? This could reduce the need for harmful herbicides. No word on the cost yet, but the video sure looks cool. | DEALS OF THE DAY Clean up your cables 👊 Fixing the cord mess is easy with the right gear. - Wiring across the floor can be a tripping hazard. This floor cord-management kit is 24% off and hides everything nicely.
- An under-the-desk cable tray is perfect for tables, desks without storage compartments and even bookcases.
- These cable ties (14% off) aren't just ugly pieces of plastic! Use 'em over and over again.
- A cable concealer hides cords along the wall, across the floor or attached to furniture.
- Some outdoor equipment comes with excessively long power cords. Roll them up in an easy-to-use storage wheel (29% off).
| TECH LIFE UPGRADES My shredder is so lonely: Stop preapproved credit cards and insurance offers coming to your physical mailbox with OptOutPrescreen. You can stop offers for five years or forever. I picked forever. 👉 Uh-oh, your PC's monitor went blank: Before you hold down the power button, hit the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B. This tells your computer, "Hey, the display is messed up. Can you fix it?" In nerd speak, it refreshes or resets your graphics driver. Free video editing software: We're talking 4K editing, color correction and visual effects. And the basic version is free! Whether you're a YouTuber or indie filmmaker, cut, tweak and polish footage like a pro — no degree required. Get more info about DaVinci Resolve on my site. 🔇 Too many tabs and too much noise? Right-click on a tab in your browser and select Mute Tab or Mute Site. In some browsers, you can also click the microphone on a tab playing noise to stop it. Free AI test drive: Nothing has changed our lives quite like AI has — and will. That's why you need to start using AI in your business before it's too late. Take a free test drive of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure now at Oracle.com/kim. No one does data better than Oracle.* | BY THE NUMBERS 5 hours a week Minimum time spent gaming to make your brain perform like it's 13.7 years younger. A study found people who played video games regularly had better cognitive abilities, like memory and problem-solving. Here's your great excuse to pick up an Xbox or PS5 console. 3,000-plus parts Make up the new walking, talking Buzz Lightyear robot. For a whopping $599, you can recreate the "Toy Story" franchise's scenes and missions. That's a lot of money for a toy the kiddos will use for a week and never look at again. I know what you're thinking: "My bathroom scale is nicknamed Buzz Lightyear. When I step on, it goes to infinity and beyond." 14% reduction In heart attack and stroke risk. That's what Type 2 diabetes pill Rybelsus delivered in trials. This is great news, since one in three adults with Type 2 diabetes also deals with cardiovascular disease. Talk about a win-win for your heart and your blood sugar. | WHAT THE TECH?  German Wi-Fi is the wurst. | UNTIL NEXT TIME ... The answer: B.) Apple. Guy Kawasaki became Apple's first Chief Evangelist in 1983, and his job was to make the world love a Mac. Yeah, I'd say he did a pretty great job. Guy is, well, really a great guy. His book, "Think Remarkable," is a bestseller, and here's a link to my conversation with him not too long ago. 🍎 Speaking of privacy and people, Adam and Eve were the first not to understand Apple's terms and conditions. (Ah, I heard you chuckle at that one!) Thanks for being here! Don't forget to check out today's sponsor, RYSE. Your support keeps this tech train coming free to you. I'll see you right back here tomorrow with another issue of the best tech newsletter in the USA. Until then, stay amazing! — Kim | Komando Referral Program Refer one person That's all you need to get my latest eBook, "50 Smart Ways to Use AI," a $9.95 value — yours for FREE! 1️⃣ Copy your link: https://referrer.komando.com/69cb7d0c/3 2️⃣ Share your link on social media, through email, in a text — your call! 3️⃣ Kick back and relax! When someone uses your link to sign up for my newsletter, I'll send my new eBook to your email address. CLICK TO SHARE → Or copy and paste this link to others:
https://referrer.komando.com/69cb7d0c/3 | In "50 Smart Ways to Use AI," Kim shares helpful prompts for today's most common AI chatbots. Whether you're tackling spreadsheets, planning rainy-day activities or developing a wellness plan, let AI handle the heavy lifting for you! |  | | How'd we do? What did you think of today's issue? | | |
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