😴 YouSleep: New to the YouTube app is a handy-dandy sleep timer. Tap the cog icon (top right corner) on any video. Press Sleep timer in the dropdown menu. Set it for 10 minutes or End of video. This is perfect for white noise without draining your phone’s battery all night.
Wait, are public phone chargers dangerous?
Those charging kiosks in airports, hotels and malls are so tempting when you’re out and about with a dying phone. Their owners promise they’re safe. The government disagrees, and so do I. Groan, I know.
Welcome to the newest phase of juice jacking. The phenomenon has been around for more than 10 years. Hackers use public phone-charging stations to upload malware to your devices. Then, they ransom your device or steal your passwords. Super-duper.
Have no fear. When your batteries hit the low, low point, just follow these Koman-do’s and don’ts (never gets old).
Don’t use public USBs – just outlets
Good news: Actual cases of juice jacking are rare in the U.S. They happen through USB connections, so if a kiosk has actual power outlets to charge your phone using your own adapter, you’re good to go.
Stay away from USB ports of any size, though, especially when traveling overseas. USB standards are international, and foreign hackers can target USB ports in hotels or rentals to steal your data, even if you’re not using a kiosk.
Do go cable-free
Use wireless charging pads instead of USBs when possible. More and more public kiosks have them. This method doesn’t exchange data directly with your phone, so it’s virus-free by default. Score.
Don’t use a data cable
If you’re desperate for juice, you can use a USB connection safely … with the right cable. Pack a charge-only cable for your trip. They’re cheap and compact, and they don’t allow for data transfers.
Don’t choose the ‘trust’ option
Newer phones are smart enough to be wary of an unknown USB connection. (Some humans could learn a thing or two, huh?). Plug in and you’ll get a prompt to “trust this device” or “share data.”
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Carmakers will charge for anything, including your safety
New cars are basically snazzy computers on wheels, packing 1,000 to 3,000 processors. That means we get all kinds of great features, but that’s not all — the more complex our cars get, the more at risk we are. I’m not talking about theft; I mean remote carjacking … or worse.
❗ Lock down your cybersecurity: I work with brands I trust to keep you secure. Hit this page to see the five must-have tools I recommend.
🔍 Zoomed in? In all kinds of programs, you may have zoomed in by accident and you need to get back to normal. On a Mac, press Cmd + 0 (zero). On a PC, it’s Ctrl + 0. (Bonus: Zoom in and out with Cmd/Ctrl and the plus and minus keys.)
There are two main ways to prompt AI: Mega-prompts are detailed, all-in-one requests that generate a complete response in one go. Chain prompting breaks tasks into smaller steps so you have more control. For example, a mega-prompt asks for a full business plan, while chain prompting starts with an outline, adjusts the scope, refines the plan and ends with action steps. I use chain prompting for bigger projects!
🤝 I want to be your secret helper and mentor: I’ve been around tech forever. My business has thrived for over 20 years without debt or investors. If you have an issue, problem or question about your life or business, I’d love to help you. Ask me here on my site. I read every single note.
Stay a step ahead: I’m surprised how many people don’t know you can preview directions in Google Maps. Open the navigation screen on Android Auto or Apple CarPlay (while you’re parked, please). Swipe left on the direction card in the top right corner. Google Maps skips ahead, turning the card from green to gray, to show you all the twists and turns coming.
Hey, Louis, this is for you: He wrote to ask me for help with a Pixel Watch because there’s no manual online. I found ya the link. If you need it, Samsung Watch manual here and hit this link for Apple Watch.
♻️ Restart your phone: The National Security Agency says you should restart it once a week at the minimum. It sounds like a no-brainer, but it works to combat zero-click exploits where a hacker can get in simply by sending you the right code.
Delete programs you don’t use: On a Windows PC, click the Start menu button and look for the app or program. Press and hold (or right-click) on it and select Uninstall. On a Mac, click the Finder icon in your dock, then Applications. Drag the program you’re done with to the Trash.
New LinkedIn AI: Job hunters will now see whether applying to a position is worth the time. If you’re hiring, LinkedIn acts as your free recruiter to send along candidates who’d rock it at your company. Use my link to post a job for free.
🔬 AI tool to try: Consensus is an AI-powered search engine trained on over 200 million research papers. Want to know more about a study? Search by keywords like “vitamin C and health,” or ask questions like, “How long should I walk every day?” With a free account, you’ll get unlimited searches and 10 AI reports per month. This isn’t an ad; I just think it’s neat!
Strikethrough made simple: Need to cross out something in a Google Doc? On a PC, press Alt + Shift + 5. On a Mac, it’s Cmd + Shift + X. If you don’t like saving time, it’s in the Format menu under Text.
Be the smart one at work: Download NetSuite’s free knowledge e-book, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere.
📶 No bars: When your cell service is wonky, switch your phone to Airplane mode, wait a few seconds, then change it back. This will reconnect you to the nearest cell tower. Share that with a friend and they’ll think you’re a tech genius.
When the Netflix trailer spoils the ending: They autoplay without warning as soon as you open the app, like a Pandora’s box. Turn ‘em off. Click your account name > Manage Profiles, and press the pencil icon next to the profile you want to edit. Then, scroll to Autoplay Controls and uncheck Autoplay Previews While Browsing On All Devices.
📊 AI can format data how you want: The trick is knowing what to prompt. There are so many more types of charts than I remember in school. You can also ask ChatGPT, “What type of chart or graph would work more effectively to display this info?”
Windows 10 and 11 update: Patch Tuesday is the monthly bug cleanup. This one fixes eight zero-day flaws and 159 others. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and hit Check for updates.