Windows 11 = Ad central

Windows 11 = Ad central: First, it was a pop-up ad to install Edge, and then ads showed up in the Start Menu. Now, you’ll see Game Pass under Settings soon. They call them “recommendations” designed to “improve your system.” It’s a money grab, plain and simple.

Tags: advertisements (ads), Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Windows, money, recommendations, settings


Get free alerts before you get hit by real estate scams

You have to hear this one. A Minnesota woman recently got a shocking phone call. Her husband had dirty financial laundry: An unpaid loan from years ago. The caller told her they were putting a lien against their home.

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Watch out for scam ads on social

Scammers are upgrading their tactics. The latest scam uses enticing ads featuring AI art, making everyone think they too can be a content creator.

Trivia

You might think electric cars are new. Nope! Who gets credit for inventing the first electric vehicle? This is a tough one. Was it … A.) Thomas Edison in 1893, B.) Nikola Tesla in 1923, C.) Thomas Davenport in 1834 or D.) Karl Benz in 1941?

Find the answer here!

180 to 240 milligrams

Of caffeine in Starbucks’ new iced energy drinks. Fruity flavors like Melon Burst and Tropical Citrus are a hit with teens and have as much caffeine as six Cokes. Panera recalled its Charged Lemonade this year after drinking one allegedly sent a kid into cardiac arrest. Warn your Starbucks-loving teens.

DIY Projector

Sometimes, it’s just too hot to go outside and play. Why not try this DIY smartphone projector? You can enjoy time with the kids while staying cool.

Trivia

Google is still the most-visited website in the world. What’s No. 2? Is it … A.) Facebook, B.) YouTube, C.) Wikipedia or D.) Chinese search engine Baidu?

Find the answer here!

110 new languages

On Google Translate, thanks to AI. It took Google 16 years to master its first 133 languages. It learned these 110 in just two years. With the company’s PaLM 2 large language model, Google plans to support 1,000 of the most spoken languages in the world. Lo! (That’s “Wow!” in Swahili.)

No more password sharing on Disney+

If you mooch off someone’s streaming service, time is up. Disney+ is the next streaming service banning password sharing.

Best (and worst) dating profiles

Know someone using all the dating apps, but they never seem to go on dates? They might be committing these online dating faux pas.

$5 billion

Investment in Rivian EVs … from Volkswagen? Yep, Rivian stock shot up over 50% following news about the two automakers teaming up. Investors are hoping Rivian will benefit from Volkwagen’s manufacturing know-how and Rivian will give them a leg up on software.