Yes, indeed, it is a fabulous Thursday! Let’s kick things off with a fun fact you’ll want to share with your fam and friends. If you sit on your computer or laptop working a typical eight-hour day, how many miles will your fingers have gone? Is it … A.) 1/4 mile, B.) 1/2 mile, C.) 1 mile or D.) 1.52 miles? The answer is at the end!

🫡 Now, on to another issue loaded with fresh tech news, useful tips and mediocre-to-great jokes. — Kim

Color me shocked. I knew you’d like the CES updates about new tech coming down the pipeline, but wow, I got so many notes about how much you enjoyed it.

I aim to please, so here we go with the rest of the gadgets, gizmos and updates you’ll want to know.

Just mirror-velous

I thought TVs built into mirrors were cool. NuraLogix’s MagicMirror scans your face to reveal your BMI, blood pressure and heart rate, and it even tells your chances of getting diabetes. Whoa. Cost for this magic? $7,000.

Hey, baby, go to sleep

The $2,400 electric AI-powered stroller from Gluxkind with built-in baby tunes propels itself up hills and automatically brakes for humans, pets, scooters, bikes and cars. Would you trust tech to protect your baby? I sure wouldn’t.

Vroom-vroom

Car tech is hot-hot-hot at CES this year and every year. Honda’s futuristic EV line will hit the market in 2026 (maybe?), complete with batteries that can charge from 15% to 80% in under 15 minutes. The “Saloon” concept car looks like a DMC DeLorean.

Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!

Hyundai is set to release an all-electric self-flying taxi that will seat five, fly 120 mph at 1,500 feet, and offer a range of 20 to 40 miles. Lift and forward movement will come from eight “all-tilting rotors.” Hyundai promises it won’t be louder than a dishwasher. It’s supposedly coming in 2025, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

Shop at OpenAI’s GPT store

Think of it like Apple’s App Store but for chatbots. Folks can build and sell chatbots for others to download — custom bots to help you with work, writing, complicated math, party planning and even raising your kid. For now, it’s only open to Premium ($20 per month) users. Once they iron out the kinks, I’ll bet everyone gets access.

Easier casting coming to a TV near you

Amazon is taking a shot at Apple’s AirPlay and Google Chromecast, the tech that lets you play whatever’s on your phone or computer on your TV. It’s launching an open-source tech called Matter Casting, built into the Echo Show 15 to start.

If it works, hallelujah. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to cast to any device, regardless of its manufacturer?

A life-changer

If you or someone you love has Parkinson’s, this is amazing. GyroGear’s hand-stabilizing gloves are outfitted with a gyroscopic motor that cleverly counteracts tremors. Folks say they can write, hold a cup of coffee, play an instrument, dress themselves and do so much more simply wearing the glove — tasks many of us take for granted.

And finally, a heart-pounding good time

Lamborghini’s new Telemetry X tech shows real-time performance — of both the car and its driver. No kidding, drivers can monitor their blood pressure, heart rate and stress levels while behind the wheel. Going that fast does get a little nerve-wracking … not that I would know (yeah, right!).

🎙️ Just can’t get enough CES? I’ve got even more weird, cool and dumb new tech to reveal on “The Kim Komando Show” this weekend. Find your station here. You can also get the Show as a podcast on Apple or as part of your Komando Community membership (that link gives you a 30-day free trial!).

An organized home is a happy home … or so I tell myself when I tackle clutter. The right tools make a big difference.

• Upgrade your pantry with a wall organizer. It’s lightweight, durable, and holds mops, brooms, dusters and whatever else you’ve got.
• Tangled cords are ugly and dangerous. Grab a two-pack of cable organizers that can even be used in your car.
• Running out of space for all your clothes? These space-saving pant hangers give you back up to 80% of your closet.
• Take the organization battle to your shower with this two-pack of hanging shelves.
• This sweet magnetic shelf sits on your stove to store salt, pepper, olive oil and anything else your palate desires.

☄️ Speaking of bargains, why is gravity so cheap? It’s mass-produced. (I know, I’m sorry.)

Fidelity hacked: Fidelity National Financial recently got hit with ransomware. Data for over a million customers, right into hackers’ hands. Fidelity is offering credit monitoring. Make sure you change your account password and set up 2FA. Here’s the kicker: BlackCat (the bad guys) bragged about the hack online, and then their post suddenly disappeared. Wonder how much they got …

📉 Big drama in crypto-land: Hackers took over the SEC’s X account, spreading fake bitcoin news with a post that looked legit. Prices soared, then plummeted, causing an insane $90 million loss. How did this happen? X Safety account says the SEC didn’t have two-factor authentication enabled — the most basic security feature. Seriously?!

Gift card scam hero: Bernella Brown, a Utah senior, got a phony PayPal notification about a $597 bitcoin purchase. “Dixie” from PayPal tricked her into getting $2,000 in gift cards. Lucky for Bernella, a sharp cashier at her local Smith’s grocery store saw through the scam and wouldn’t sell her the gift cards.

🚨 Data bombshell: Hackers linked to Anonymous just spilled massive police and FBI data — 200 departments’ worth. This “BlueLeaks” dump reveals inside talk on COVID‑19, George Floyd protests and police critics. It’s light on misconduct but heavy on protestor intel. Wow, you can even search it by badge number.

HP’s latest stunt: A recent printer firmware update blocks non-HP ink. Folks are pretty mad, given their printers now reject third-party cartridges. Yeah, HP’s staring down the barrel of a class-action lawsuit.

A wrench in the works: Security researchers found 23 bugs in Bosch’s networked wrenches. Yes, smart wrenches — they wirelessly ensure bolts are tightened just right. Bosch promises a fix by the end of January 2024, but till then, leave them in the garage — or a curious hacker could have some fun.

🍳 Beware, Swifties: AI tricksters faked Taylor Swift’s voice to promote “free” Le Creuset cookware online. Fans were lured into paying $9.96 for shipping. Surprise, all they got were more charges. It’s not just Tay — Joanna Gaines and Tom Hanks are also being faked.

In case of emergency: Remember over the summer when YouTube was playing non-skippable ads before first-aid vids? Enter the PR team. Now, YouTube is teaming up with the American Heart Association for step-by-step guides on heart attacks, CPR and more — right at the top of search results. But remember, in an emergency, call 911 before searching YT.

The couch is clawed open, the trash bin is knocked over and pawprints are all over the countertops. It’s clear who the culprit is: Your fluffy friend. But it isn’t just a sign of mischief — it’s a cry for mental stimulation.

Some people swear by YouTube for their pets. I found a couple of options to keep your animals engaged while you’re at the office:

• Dog lovers, try the Relax My Dog channel. There are 10 one-hour clips to stimulate your pup’s brain with engaging visuals and sounds, like a walk in the park or on the beach. Ahem, I find those clips relaxing, too.
• Cat owners, check out the Birder King channel. It’s chock full of bird, bunny and squirrel videos. Your cat will be too busy watching to ruin your couch.

🧘 Whenever I lose track of my golden retriever, Abby, I have to check the pool. I kid you not, I’ve found her hanging out in the spa a few times alone, just loving life. Check her out — so cute!

📺 Placement matters: You’re sick of streaming bills, so you’re switching to an antenna. For Pete’s sake, don’t hide it behind a bookcase (or anything else). Place it near a window or even outside, if you have a weather-safe option.

Up, up, down, down: You can use the Windows key + arrows to move a window. Windows key + → moves a window to the right, ← moves it to the left, ↑ moves it up or expands the window, and ↓ minimizes or moves down your window.

👕 Let AI do it for you: Mock up branded T‑shirts, hats, tote bags, phone cases and more with Mockey. It’s useful for everything from your small-biz swag to matching sweaters for a family reunion — and no Photoshop skills required. Love that. I could never master that program.

Random package show up? If you receive something addressed to you from Amazon you didn’t order, report it using the Report Unwanted Package form. You’ll still get to keep it — and fight scammers, too.

Walk away: Using your phone while charging can rapidly increase its temperature, putting strain on your battery, screen and processor. If your phone is older and gets extra warm while charging, do it a solid and remove the case while it’s plugged in.

Tell your ISP to butt out. The only way to do that is with a VPN. A virtual private network encrypts your data and hides your IP address, giving you an extra layer of protection from snoops, advertisers and Big Tech companies looking to profit off you.

Some VPNs slow your connection or, worse, track your internet activity and compromise your security. Not ExpressVPN. Plus, you can connect in just one click from a Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, iPad, you name it.

🚨 Deal alert: Get an extra THREE months free since you subscribe to my newsletter.

The answer: D.) 1.52 miles. If you’re clocking 40 words per minute with an average of five characters per word, your fingers are taking quite the journey. In a full eight-hour workday, they’re cruising for about 1.52 miles — yes, miles!

😎 OK, I’m tired from all those miles typed. Let’s call it here. Be sure to reply to this email so your email provider’s algorithms know you want to get my newsletter. I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow with more tech goodies. Until then, stay your awesome self! — Kim