computer Archives

Streaming costs inching up? Cheapskate secrets you need to know

The top-tier Netflix plan is now a jaw-dropping $22.99 a month. I remember being shocked when it hit $19.99, and here we are again. And Netflix isn’t alone; Disney+ and Hulu have raised their prices, and you can bet every other streaming service will soon follow suit.

It’s the perfect time to take a step back and really examine what you’re paying for. Here are tips to help you trim down those monthly charges.

Audit your subscriptions

Streaming services thrive on autopilot subscriptions — you know, those monthly charges you barely notice till they all add up. My golden rule? If I’m actively watching a show, I keep the service, and if I’m not, I’ll cancel and only resubscribe when there’s something new I want to watch.

Set a reminder a few days on your calendar before each subscription payment to review whether you still need the service. This simple habit can save you from unexpected charges.

Canceling on mobile?

Streaming companies make canceling tricky. They know most of us are too busy or frustrated to follow through. The process can be especially confusing if you’re using a smartphone, so cancel from a desktop or laptop computer, where it’s much easier to navigate.

Don’t miss out on freebies

You might already have access to free movies and TV shows and not even know it! For example:

Max (formerly HBO Max): Included with some AT&T phone and internet plans.
Apple TV+: Free for three months with the purchase of a new Apple device or for T‑Mobile customers with specific plans.
Paramount+: Some Walmart+ members get a free Paramount+ subscription included with their membership.
Peacock: Free access to limited content for Comcast Xfinity internet and TV customers.
Spotify Premium with Hulu: If you’re a Spotify Premium student subscriber, you get Hulu (ad-supported) and Showtime included.
T-Mobile: Free Netflix with certain plans.
Verizon: Offers the Disney+ bundle (Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+) free with some unlimited plans.
Amex Platinum: Includes monthly statement credits for services like Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ as part of its Entertainment Credit (check the terms!).
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Offers subscription credits for select services like DoorDash, which sometimes bundles free streaming perks.
Capital One Rewards: Occasionally offers free trials for streaming platforms via their rewards marketplace.

It’s worth checking if your cellphone provider, credit card company or internet provider includes streaming perks. I bet they do!

There are also great free streaming services, like Pluto TV, Tubi and Crackle, each offering a surprising variety of shows and movies without a subscription. Here are seven ways to stream TV and movies for free.

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Protect all your devices with the best antivirus software

When it comes to antivirus software, there’s no better choice than our sponsor, TotalAV. For one, it’s available for your phone and computer, so all your devices are protected.

This security suite protects all your devices from the scariest online threats, such as ransomware, spyware, adware and (of course) malware. Its WebShield browser extension provides advanced protection against malicious websites and even blocks bad guys from stealing your data.

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More early Prime Big Deal Days scores

You don’t want to miss these deals!

AirTags are 14% off. I have one on, well, everything. Really! I think I have 10, between me and Barry (and the dog).
Super-sweet deal on a Pixel 8a — only $399. It’s one of the best midrange Android phones around right now.
This portable charger is strong enough to power your computer on the go. Click the coupon box for an extra 20% off.
Clothes are on sale, too, if you need some new threads. Score up to 60% off.
The right gear makes cleaning up after your furry friends so much easier. Bissell’s SpotClean Pet Pro portable carpet cleaner is 29% off.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

For PC pros: Don’t like logging into Microsoft every time you use your computer? Don’t even want a Microsoft account? UnattendedWinstall is a script that sidesteps the Windows login prompt. You can download it on this GitHub page. This video gives a great walkthrough of the process. Only do this if you’re a techie, OK?

Did you vote? Your party affiliation is now public

Open/download audio

New site VoteRef exposes your voting history, party, address, and age for anyone to see. Plus, bots closing deals, a guy sues Intel over his computer crashing, and what makes you a hacker’s dream target online.

Weird science: A scientist claims our universe might be an advanced computer simulation, and the proof is in the Bible. The Gospel of John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He says “the Word” refers to the underlying computer code controlling the simulation. I know what you’re thinking: “Whoa, this is too much for my brain. I’m going to see if Prince Harry is divorcing Meghan Markle yet.”

Around this date 41 years ago, Microsoft released its very first software application. Was it … A.) Flight Simulator, B.) Excel, C.) Notepad or D.) Word?

Find the answer here! →

How to take Apple’s hearing test – and what to do if your hearing loss is more than mild

Apple really pulled off a great feat. You can now test your hearing with your AirPods Pro 2 and an iPhone running iOS 18. It’s a groundbreaking feature, FDA-approved and perfect for catching mild to moderate hearing loss early.

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How to know if you’re being stalked or are just paranoid

I’ve heard it all on my national radio show. There was the guy totally freaked out because too many strangers in public knew his name for it to be a coincidence. (His name was Buddy.)

There was a woman who swore one of Metallica’s band members hacked her iPhone to stalk her after she rejected him online. And another who bought and sold three cars because she thought they all had hidden trackers.

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Take screenshots on your Kindle: Tap the upper-right and lower-left corners at the same time. You’ll see a flash when it saves. To view it, connect your Kindle to a computer. You’ll find the image as a PNG file in the root folder.

5 genius tech tips you’ll use all the time

I read every comment you leave at the end of this newsletter, and one theme always stands out: You want to know all the hidden things your tech can do! Lucky for you, uncovering those “I had no idea!” moments is my superpower. I’m here to teach you the things you didn’t even know you were missing!

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Fed up with Quickbooks? Try this out instead

Trust me when I say I know the pains of running a small business. When you’re the owner, you might also be the marketer, accountant, IT person and every other role under the sun.

When you’re doing it all, you need the right tools. This is especially true as your business grows and you have a team to take on all those jobs.

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Unsecure page error: 5 things to try if you get this warning

There are countless threats on the internet, from scams to malware-infested websites. Then there are unsecured websites, which your browser warns you about. If you get a message that says, “Your connection is not private,” you might jolt in alarm.

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15 out-of-the-box ways to make extra cash from anywhere

By now, you probably know that you don’t have to leave home to make money. After all, many companies sent employees home to work during the pandemic. But even if you aren’t a salaried employee, you can still make a living from the comfort of your own home.

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💩 Speaking of drones: The “Poopcopter” is an AI drone system that cleans up your doggo’s mess in the backyard. Using real-time computer vision and machine learning, it scans the area to pinpoint the poop, and then it swoops down to scoop it up. It’s in the prototype phase, so you’re still on poop duty. Sorry.

What’s the term for a computer virus that replicates itself and uses up a computer’s processing space? Is it … A.) Worm, B.) Trojan, C.) Spyware or D.) Adware?

Find the answer here! →

Handwriting still matters: Studies show we remember things better by writing them down rather than typing them in on a computer or other device. Why? It activates multiple parts of the brain, like visual and motor pathways, so we process information more deeply. Bonus: Writing down things also boosts your focus and concentration (paywall link).

That’s refreshing: Refresh rates (found in your computer’s display settings) control how things look on your screen. For regular work and browsing, go with 60Hz. For gaming or video editing, try 120Hz or 144Hz. Competitive gamers use 240Hz or higher. Now you know!

It’s the classic IT line: “I gotta debug your computer” But did you know it originated with an actual bug? Engineers troubleshooting a computer malfunction found a dead bug on the circuit board. Was it a … A.) Cockroach, B.) Fly, C.) Moth or D.) Silverfish?

Find the answer here! →

What was the first feature film to use computer-generated imagery, aka CGI? Was it … A.) “Star Wars: A New Hope,“ B.) “Tron,“ C.) “Westworld“ or D.) “Alien“?

Find the answer here! →