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Happy Saturday, friend. Let's kick things off with some throwback trivia. |
📟 Remember pagers? If you had one clipped to your belt in the '90s, you were basically a VIP. (Or a doctor. Or a drug dealer on a TV show.) I had one. Thought I was so cool. Here's the thing. Pagers aren't dead. Not even close. |
How many are still active today? A) 8,000, B) 80,000, C) 800,000 or D) 8 million. I'll give you a hint, the answer made me say "no way" out loud. Beep, beep. Find out at the end! |
🤦♀️ Your computer is replaceable. Your data isn't. People drop $1,800 on a laptop but won't spend a few bucks to protect the family photos and tax documents inside. Your hard drive will eventually fail. I use Carbonite to back up everything automatically. Get 50% off right now. More below.* |
📻 Listen up! My national radio show is airing all weekend across the USA. With over 510 stations strong, find your closest one by using our super-duper station locator map, or listen commercial-free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or in the Komando Community. — Kim |
📬 Someone forwarded this to you? Smart friend. Want it in your own inbox instead of waiting on them? Sign up here. It's free, and I promise not to spam you. |
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TODAY'S DEEP DIVE |
Save money |
 | Image: Gemini |
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⚡ TL;DR (THE SHORT VERSION) |
Curious about DeepSeek, the Chinese AI everyone's talking about? Try it this way with zero risk to your personal data. Use a free app to turn an old phone into a home security camera with motion alerts. Or instead, an old phone with a free app becomes a dashcam that saves you $150.
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📖 Read time: 2.5 minutes |
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The average American household has $300 worth of unused electronics in drawers. Not broken. Just replaced. Here are five ways to put them back to work this weekend, no tech degree required. |
First rule: Factory reset everything before repurposing. Wipe old passwords, photos and accounts clean. iPhone: Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content. Android: Settings > System > Reset > Factory Reset. |
Now let's go. |
🤖 Old laptop = safe to try DeepSeek |
Everyone's curious about DeepSeek, the free Chinese AI that rivals ChatGPT. But it sends all your data to servers in China, tracks your keystrokes and collects device info. |
The U.S. Navy, NASA and Congress have banned it on all government devices. I use DeepSeek every once in a while when I need to do massive number crunching on an old computer. |
That's the deal. Do not put it on your good computer. Wipe that old laptop, and connect it to your guest Wi-Fi network, not your main one. That way, it's completely walled off from your other devices. |
Visit chat.deepseek.com in a browser. Test it, play with it, satisfy your curiosity. When you're done, wipe that laptop again. |
📹 Old phone = home security cam |
Download AlfredCamera (free with in-app purchases, iPhone and Android). Install it on your old phone and your current one. Scan a QR code to pair them. Your old phone is now a security camera with live streaming, motion alerts and two-way audio. |
Prop it on a shelf facing your front door or the baby's crib. A basic Wyze cam costs $30 to $50. You built one for free. |
🧠 Old phone = dedicated AI assistant |
Install ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini or Claude on an old phone and prop it on your kitchen counter or desk. Hands-free AI that doesn't tie up your main phone. |
Dictate emails. Brainstorm ideas. Second brain on standby. |
🚗 Old phone = free dashcam |
Download DashCam Recorder (iPhone, free) or Droid Dashcam (Android, free). |
Add a $10 windshield mount, plug it into your car charger and go. A stand-alone dashcam runs $50 to $150. Yours costs the price of a mount. And if someone disputes a fender bender? HD video proof. |
🖼️ Old tablet = photo frame for Grandma |
Install Frameo on an old tablet and connect it to Wi-Fi at your parents' or grandparents' house. Anyone in the family can push photos straight to that screen from their phone, anywhere in the world. |
New pics simply appear. A dedicated digital frame runs $80 to $200. This one costs zero. |
Five projects. One Saturday. That dusty junk drawer became the most productive room in the house. |
🗣️ TEXT/POST THIS STAT: The average American household has $300 in unused tech sitting in drawers. Five weekend projects, $300+ in savings, and one of them lets you safely test DeepSeek without risking your real computer. Get the full list free at GetKim.com. |
📩 Send this to someone who's curious about DeepSeek but nervous about Chinese AI on their computer. Or someone about to toss a perfectly good old phone. Forward this. Five projects, 15 minutes each. You'll be their favorite person this weekend. Use the handy icons below. |
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WEB WATERCOOLER |
🦂 Single-use drone: The Pentagon has a brand-new kamikaze drone unit, Task Force Scorpion, and CENTCOM says it's ready to go if Trump decides to hit Iran. This is happening alongside the biggest U.S. regional military buildup since Iraq in 2003. And get this, the loaded tech drones are called LUCAS (short for Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System), cost about $35,000 a pop, are made in Arizona and lug around 40 pounds like it's showing up to a fight with a backpack full of consequences.
State Farm payback: I almost don't trust it when a big company gives money back, it feels like spotting a unicorn at Walmart. But State Farm announced a $5 billion refund, biggest in its 103-year history, for its car insurance customers. Average refund is about $100, depending on your state and what you paid. Why now? Fewer accidents in 2025 and repair costs cooling off. Sounds nice, but premiums did jump 50% in three years. Enjoy your apology money, you earned it. |
Monetized feelings: Ever used one of those therapy apps because calling an actual human felt like too much work? Researchers say 10 popular mental health apps on Google Play had a combined 1,575 vulnerabilities, and they've been downloaded 14.7 million times. That means transcripts, mood check-ins, self-harm flags and med schedules could be exposed. Those records can sell for $1,000+ each on the dark web, way more than stolen credit cards. |
🚨 Record-breaking data breaches: The U.S. hit a record 3,322 data breaches in 2025, with hackers heavily targeting SSNs and bank details. Your data was likely exposed multiple times last year without you even knowing it. A standard credit freeze won't stop crooks from draining your existing bank accounts. I use NordProtect to cover that gap. It scans the dark web 24/7 and alerts you the second your info leaks. Get 72% off right now. That's $3.79 a month. Such a great deal.* |
Who's watching whom? Not a fan of being recorded without your consent? Me neither. A hobbyist sociologist, Yves Jeanrenaud, built an Android app called Nearby Glasses (paywall link) that pings you if it thinks smart glasses like Meta's Ray-Bans are nearby. It's glitchy, it even mistook a Meta Quest 2 for glasses in testing, but still useful. Finally, an app that's not tracking me, it's tracking the guy tracking me. |
🎧 Siri gets a body: Apple's sprinting on an AirTag-sized pendant (paywall link) you wear on your chest with two cameras and three mics, basically Siri's new eyeballs and ears. It'd feed what you see and hear into real-time AI help, like having an intern glued to you taking notes. Apple is also speeding up camera-equipped AirPods (possibly this year) and AI smart glasses (production starting December 2026). Finally, Siri can see you ignoring her suggestions in real time. |
| | DEALS OF THE DAY | ✈️ Travel right for spring break | You've booked your trip. Now let's prep like a pro. |
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🔋 Your phone's lifeline: Portable power bank (30% off, $21) | Meet your "no panic at 2% power" plan. Thin, lightweight and has built-in cables, in case you forgot extra cords. You get five output ports, you can help out a friend and still have leftover juice. |
|  | Image: VRURC |
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📍 Don't risk it: These AirTag holder cases (21% off, $23, four-pack) lock onto keys, backpacks and luggage. Fits first- and second-gen AirTags. | Glow on the go: One side of this rechargeable pocket mirror (40% off, $9) gives you full-face checks. The other has 3X magnification for touch-ups. | 💍 Untangle your bling: This zip-up jewelry organizer (25% off, $15) keeps everything secure and sorted, even after TSA takes a peek. | Pickpockets hate it: Anti-theft zipper clips (43% off, $6, four-pack) make it harder for wandering hands to sneak into your bag. | ✈️ Before you board: Click here for more handpicked travel gems. | Prices and deals were accurate at the time of publication. |
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DEVICE ADVICE |
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Go incognito in a flash. No clicking, no menus. Chrome, Edge and Safari: Ctrl + Shift + N (or ⌘ + Shift + N on Mac). Firefox: Ctrl + Shift + P (or ⌘ + Shift + P). No history. No cookies. No trace. When you're done, Alt + F4 (or ⌘ + Shift + W) kills the window instantly. What happens in incognito stays in incognito. |
🐍 Your phone can identify anything alive: A snake got into my house this morning. I did what any rational person would do: screamed, grabbed my phone and opened ChatGPT. Tapped the camera icon, pointed it at the intruder and the AI identified it in two seconds flat. Harmless king snake. Then I called Barry to get it out because knowing it's harmless and picking it up are two very different things. This works on everything. Weird bug on your wall? Mystery plant killing your garden? Sketchy mushroom in your yard? Open ChatGPT, tap the camera and point. It'll tell you what it is, whether it's dangerous and what to do next. Instant expert. No googling, no guessing, no screaming required. |
🛡️ Your antivirus is asleep at the wheel: Modern hackers don't crash your PC anymore. They install silent software that watches you type. Passwords, bank logins, everything. Old-school antivirus misses it completely. I use Webroot because it's cloud-based, lightning-fast and blocks threats in real time without turning your computer into a space heater. Get 62% off Webroot Essentials right now.* |
Declutter your photo library in one tap: Tired of opening Photos and seeing 47 screenshots of shipping labels? On iPhone, tap the filter button at the top, hit View Options and toggle off Screenshots. They're not deleted, just hidden from your main feed. Flip it back on anytime or check the Collections tab. Android folks: Open Gallery > Menu > Clean out > Delete duplicate pictures. There's also a Get rid of old documents option that nukes QR codes, screenshots and photos of whiteboards you swore you'd need. You won't. Your storage thanks you. |
💻 Track your laptop before it disappears: Don't wait until it's gone. Windows: Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Find my device and turn it on. Log into your Microsoft account to see it on a map or lock it remotely. Mac: Open System Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Find My Mac and toggle it on. Lost Mode lets you lock it and leave a message with your number. Takes 30 seconds now. Saves a meltdown later. |
🚀 Quick confession: I've been keeping a secret. For the past three years, I've been using AI to negotiate bills, catch scams, speed through work and save money. Now I'm spilling everything in a brand-new free newsletter called Splash of AI. One email. Every Thursday. Five minutes. No jargon. Just the stuff I'd text you if we were friends. Sign up here before the first issue drops. |
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🎙️ CLICK. LISTEN. WATCH. 🎬 |
👂 Listen up! Tune into my award-winning radio show, airing this weekend on 510+ stations. Find yours via our awesome station finder. You can also listen commercial-free on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts. |
Love the show? Tell your local station! Hit their Contact Us page or send a social media shout-out. Your 30 seconds keeps the tech talk coming to your city. Thank you!
💔 So violated. Alex was filmed via smart glasses outside a club. 500K views later, her life changed. Now, she's speaking out. Listen to her convo with me here. |
👇 Use the links below to listen on your schedule. |
🎧 Or search "Komando" wherever you get your podcasts. I'm everywhere. |
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WHAT THE TECH? |
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 | Image: @E-SKIMO via YouTube |
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⛷️ Peak laziness |
You love backcountry touring. You hate the part where you're gasping for air and questioning every life choice on the way up. |
Meet E-Skimo, the first electric-assist system for ski touring. It straps a motorized drive and lightweight battery to your setup that auto-kicks in on climbs, using a six-axis motion sensor. The promise? 80% faster ascents, 4x the elevation per hour and 30% less muscle fatigue. |
Translation? 2,300 vertical feet. It's the mountain equivalent of "I'll take the elevator." |
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LOGGING OUT … |
🔜 Tomorrow: We pick up our phones 186 times a day. Creativity scores have been falling since 1990. We killed boredom. Tomorrow, I will talk more about that, then I want you to answer a poll about it. This is something no one else is talking about, but we should be. |
📟 The answer: C) Around 800,000 pagers are still active in the U.S. Hospitals, fire departments and power plants use them every single day. Why? Because pagers don't care if the cell tower goes down. They work when networks crash, the battery lasts weeks (not hours) and they're nearly impossible to hack. Try saying that about your iPhone. |
Sometimes old tech refuses to die because nothing has actually replaced it. Your smartphone can order dinner from a restaurant in another country. But it can't guarantee a message gets through during a hurricane. Respect the beep. |
🖊️ Let me tell you, modern tech has never matched the simplicity and grace of the traditional pen. In fact, you could say there is still no e‑quill. (Bet you didn't see that coming!) |
🛑 Don't wait for a disaster. Data recovery experts charge thousands of dollars to rescue files from a dead hard drive, with zero guarantees. Carbonite runs quietly in the background, keeping your digital life completely safe. It's the only backup I trust and use myself. Grab my exclusive 50% off deal right now.*
That's a wrap on February's $250-a-day Cash Grab. You can enter your email to see if you missed a winning code anytime this month. |
📣 I've been doing this for over 30 years because I believe regular people deserve the truth about tech. Not the spin. Not the jargon. The truth. — Kim |
Kim Komando • Komando.com • 510+ radio stations • Trusted by millions daily |
🏆 THE KIM CHALLENGE: Forward this to ONE person who needs to hear it today. Pick the person who popped into your head while reading. You know who it is. |
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HOW'D WE DO?What did you think of today's issue? |
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Photo credit(s): Gemini, VRURC, @E-SKIMO via YouTube |
Companies and products denoted by an asterisk (*) within this publication are paid sponsors or advertisements. As an Amazon Associate, the publisher earns from qualifying purchases. Statements regarding products denoted by a double asterisk (**) have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration; such products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This newsletter is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, or professional advice of any kind. Readers should consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on this content. The publisher disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, or injury resulting from the use of or reliance on the information contained herein. |
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