Consumer Tech Update

Here comes the dirty talk. This December, expect to have sexier convos with your favorite chatbot. Cool or not? Here's my take in this short podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stop wrestling with your thumbs to move that tiny cursor. There's a hidden trick on your phone that lets you glide right to the mistake and fix it in seconds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The $7,500 federal credit is gone, but automakers are slashing prices to move cars. I explain why this could be your moment to score a deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don't waste time hunting for coupon codes. Let your browser (or AI) do it for you and score deals you didn't even know existed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI's a fun travel buddy until it books you into a hotel that doesn't exist. Here's why you should double-check before you trust it with your getaway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tell it your destination and plans, and it'll make a smart list for you. Stress level: zero. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal investigators are looking into crashes, fires, and injuries linked to Tesla's self-driving feature. Experts say it's another reminder not to trust it with your safety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tired of nonstop buzzes and pings? Use your phone's built-in Focus tools to silence the noise, block distractions, and finally get a little peace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dig through your drawers. Old BlackBerrys, Nokias, and even cassette answering machines are now collectibles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sick of playing tech support for Mom and Dad? There's a simple way to help them with their computer without explaining every click. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Open enrollment kicks off next week, and so do the fake calls. If someone asks for your Social Security or bank info, hang up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hidden treasures are all around you. You just haven't noticed them yet. This global game makes finding them addicting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remember this date. It's the day AI finally made fake videos indistinguishable from real life. OpenAI's Sora 2 changes everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hackers love an unlocked computer. Here's the Bluetooth-powered way to make your PC or Mac protect itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Police say an Uber driver and ChatGPT left the key evidence. How tech exposed a modern-day firestarter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OpenAI's Sora 2 lets you build a digital version of yourself for videos, ads, and social posts. Cool idea ... until your AI twin ends up in the wrong hands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About 9 in 10 recruiters use AI to scan resumes. If you used AI to write yours, you could be flagged as dishonest or unqualified. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your next European trip won't come with a passport stamp. Soon, travelers will face high-tech border kiosks that scan your face, fingerprints, and passport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gen Z is ditching do-it-all smartphones for flip phones, CD players, and even cassette tapes. Find out why old-school tech is back in style and how stars like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter are cashing in. Don't toss that dusty Walkman yet, it might be worth more than you think! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think you know tech? Three myths everyone believes about cameras, batteries, and the dark web could be costing you more than you realize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The next big thing is not a gadget or an app. It's The Singularity. A moment when AI networks wake up, connect, and change life on Earth forever. Here's what you need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pixie Dust is a decade old Wi‑Fi exploit that can crack your router in seconds and most devices are still vulnerable. Researchers found only 4 of 24 devices patched and seven never updated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Driverless cars are hitting the roads in major cities, but when they break traffic laws, police are left scratching their heads. Who gets the ticket when there's no driver behind the wheel? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Got an old laptop or PC? Don't toss it. Install Chrome OS Flex and bring it back to life for free with minimal hassle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft is ending Windows 10 support on October 14, leaving over 400 million PCs vulnerable. Without costly extended updates, students and small businesses face tough choices on security and upgrades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Always the peacemaker? You've been running an unpaid role as everyone's feelings manager. Here's how ChatGPT can help you stay calm, clear, and in control without burning out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Streaming dominates while traditional TV fades fast. Nielsen says cable viewers are mostly down to five channels: ESPN, a cable news pick, and a lifestyle network, proving we have left linear TV behind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think your neighbor's package mix-up is innocent? It could be a scam to get free stuff from Amazon. Here's how the trick works and what you should do instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A shutdown won't cut your internet or cell service, but it could mean flight delays, stalled tax refunds, and federal services grinding to a halt. Here's what it means for you and your family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The average American spends nearly $200 a month on streaming and internet. Chances are, you're paying for shows you don't even watch. Here's how to audit your subscriptions, cut the fat, and still catch every show you love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years of forcing us to fumble with glossy touch screens, carmakers are finally listening. Mercedes, Volkswagen, Tesla, and more are bringing back buttons and knobs in 2026 models so drivers can keep their eyes on the road instead of the dashboard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scammers know exactly how to trap you. When a friendly message on social media suddenly moves to WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram, it's a red flag.  Here's how to spot the warning signs and stay safe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cracker Barrel changed its logo after an online backlash, but nearly half the outrage came from bots. Real customers followed the fake mob, and the chain's growth stalled almost overnight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Georgia couple found hidden cameras in their Puerto Rico Airbnb, capturing private moments with their kids.Here are four smart steps to spot hidden cameras, protect your privacy, and stay safe while traveling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government has spent $42 billion to connect rural homes to broadband and not a single one is online. Meanwhile, Starlink is already delivering internet nationwide without taxpayer money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drowning in junk mail? Credit bureaus sell your info to banks and insurers, fueling all those “pre-approved” offers. Here's how to stop them for good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Forget phones. Students are turning Google Docs into secret chat rooms. With invisible text and shared files, it looks like homework but it is really the new way to pass notes in class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One Ohio mom turned $45 into $93,000 on Etsy by selling simple printables. Here's how you can start your own side hustle with templates people actually buy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fake AI apps are flooding app stores, stealing logins, and tricking users with bogus reviews. Here's how to spot them and keep your phone safe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Small businesses are under attack with fake Google Reviews demanding cash. Here's how scammers target contractors, movers, and repair shops and what you can do to protect your reputation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon admits misleading 40 million customers into Prime. The FTC trial ends with a $2.5 billion payout. Here's how much you could get back and what to do next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ChatGPT can help you turn your knowledge into real income by publishing and selling books on Amazon. With the right topic, a little guidance, and free tools, you could earn thousands a year from what you already know. Here's how to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

YouTube admitted it suppressed COVID dissent after daily pressure from the White House. Google says it will reinstate suspended accounts but offers no apology. Here is the proof and what it means for free speech online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A “wrong number” cash drop on Zelle or Venmo is not a mistake. Criminals use stolen cards to make you the fall guy, tricking you into sending your own money. Here is how to spot it and stay safe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A nationwide SMS flood almost struck New York. While the Secret Service shut down a massive SIM server ring that could have sent 30 million texts per minute and knocked out 911, the threat shows how vulnerable our networks remain. Here is what happened and how to stay prepared. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bluetooth is tracking you even when your GPS is off. Apps use it to map your movements and build profiles. Here's how to stop them and protect your privacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prime is easy to join but a nightmare to cancel. Millions are suing as the FTC says quitting takes navigating multiple pages and answering endless questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stop wasting hours hunting for files. Learn how AI in Google Workspace and Microsoft Copilot can find your documents in seconds and boost your productivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple's new iPhone Air is making headlines as the thinnest iPhone ever, lighter than Samsung's slimmest models. But with a single camera and a $1,000 price tag, is it worth it? Here's what you need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hit the trails smarter. From AllTrails' 450,000 mapped routes to Cairn's safety check-ins and PeakFinder's mountain IDs, these hiking apps turn your phone into the ultimate trail guide. Here's what you need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakley and Meta just launched sunglasses that look normal but secretly record everything you see. The AI-powered Oakley Meta Vanguard could change privacy, sports, and even journalism forever. Here's what you need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices