privacy Archives

CES 2025: AI everything, waterless coffee maker, wearable for your face

Here’s your 10-second CES recap: TVs are bigger and smarter, laptops are faster and lighter, and AI is everywhere. I sifted through the fluff to bring you the best and weirdest of this year’s consumer tech showcase.

The year of the robot: $3 trillion chipmaker Nvidia’s new AI model is called Cosmos. It’s open-source code (meaning anyone can use it) that simulates all the training data it takes to make a robot useful. Imagine detailed digital replications of homes, factories, roads or any other space a bot needs to learn to do its job.

Full battery in 15 minutes: That’s what Honda’s 0 Series concept EV promises. Too bad it looks like a weird sci-fi creation. Honda says its AI chip will handle fully autonomous control. It’ll be huge if someone can nail that; Tesla hasn’t been able to. I don’t see it happening by their 2026 deadline.

Imagine this at a coffee shop: JSAUX’s FlipGo Horizon laptops have a magnetic base that lets you snap on extra monitors — one on each side. Here’s where they lost me: Each monitor weighs 2.4 to 4 pounds. No one is going to lug that around.

Trypanophobia: That’s fear of needles, and if you have it, you’ll like this. FlowBeam’s BoldJet needle-free injection is a painless way to get a shot or give blood without the poke. Also, today I learned there are 16 billion single-use syringes and 16 billion needles thrown away every year. Dang.

Talk to me: VLC has been the go-to video player for Windows for years, since the built-in player stinks. Now it’s getting real-time subtitles in 100 languages powered by AI — no internet connection required.

I never imagined a waterless coffee maker: The $300 Kara Pod turns water in the air (humidity) into drinking water, then brews you up a cup of joe. Cool tech, but is your coffee gross if the air is musty?

Top the charts: Anker’s Soundcore Rave 3S speaker uses AI to remove the vocal tracks from any song so you can karaoke all your favorites instead of settling for “Love Shack” again. It includes wireless mics, too, to enhance your voice and add reverb. For $349, I might finally sound good!

I don’t see myself in this: Omnia is a smart mirror, scale and smartwatch hybrid. Stand on the base, and it’ll take your weight and measure your heart health, then it’ll pull in data from any other tracker you use. The AI assistant gives real-time feedback out loud. Reminds me of Lululemon’s Mirror, which was a total flop.

Closed captions IRL: Xander’s GlassesConnect AR specs use AI to transcribe speech and project the text right in front of you. So cool for someone with severely impacted hearing. The price is the big downside: $4,999.

What’s on your face? The Omi is an $89 mindreading wearable you stick on your face. I’m not kidding. It listens to all your conversations to help you organize action items, like when Bob in accounting asks for that report. Omi’s snooping includes your thoughts, like, “Send Bob the report at 4 p.m.” The battery lasts three days, and, again, it’s always listening.

ICYMI: More TV, smart home and AI finds at CES. I want the AI tub you can fill using just your phone or voice assistant.

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Retailers have so many ways to track you – Here’s how to fight back

If you have a pulse and an internet connection, companies want all the details they can get about what you’re willing to buy. Now that your holiday shopping is done, it’s time to take back control.

There’s a bit of work you can do and then to reclaim your privacy, but if you’re looking for a longer-term solution, I’ll share my secret weapon in the fight against tracking.

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Stuck at a desk all day?

💻 Upgrade your workspace for a new year of getting stuff done.

A memory foam seat cushion ($45) helps with booty and back pain. You can use it in cars and airplanes, too. Click the coupon box for 30% off!
Pair the seat cushion with a foot stand ($39) for extra relief. Ahh.
If you use a laptop, this stand (15% off, $17) is your posture’s new BFF. Plus, it helps your computer’s ventilation so it lasts longer.
A room divider is nice for more privacy or hiding all your junk on video meetings.
Quick! Name something more annoying than a cord you need falling behind your desk. You can’t, huh? A magnetic cord holder (25% off) stops that from happening.

🤑 Amazon Outlet is like the sale aisle at Target. It’s where they list all the super-cheap overstock and clearance items. I like the under-$10 section.

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

Butt out, Big Tech: Sick of Gmail’s tracking? Your ISP does it, too, if you use their email. StartMail is my pick for privacy-first email. It’s super easy to switch over your contacts and mail. Save 60% with my special link.

My top New Year's resolutions

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Start the New Year right! Secure your accounts, clean up your online history, and protect your privacy with these quick tips.

Hauling away your data: A hacker group is targeting U-Haul employee accounts to steal customer emails, phone numbers and verified info, like addresses and the last four digits of credit cards. With that, they can hack into so much more, and they know exactly where to find you. Used U-Haul lately? Call 1-866-242-7780 or email privacy@uhaul.com to submit a consumer request for them to delete your personal information.

How to take the perfect profile pic for social media sites

Your profile picture is more important than you might think. It’s your chance to make a good first impression on the world. That’s why you must know how to take the perfect profile picture for all your accounts.

Say you’re applying for a new job. Potential employers will run background checks on your social media presence. You need to have good pictures that show you at your best.

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Did Santa bring you a smart gadget? Here’s how to make the most of it

Unwrapping a new gadget is a thrill, but what comes next? If you’ve received a smart speaker, fitness tracker, tablet or any other high-tech gift, I’ll show you how to go beyond the basics.

Feeling jealous? I have links for you, too, in case there’s a gift card burning a hole in your pocket.

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🛂 All you need is ~~love~~ a passport: In just a few years, say goodbye to paper passports. All your passport info, including your facial data, will go digital and link to your phone. At airports, you’ll just show your phone, and facial recognition cameras will authenticate you. I sure hope they’ve thought of privacy breaches, false rejections and lookalike frauds.

A fresh inbox for the new year: Ready to ditch your Big Tech email? My privacy-first pick is StartMail. Switch over your contacts and emails with just a couple of clicks, or treat it as a fresh inbox for only your VIPs. Save 60% now with my special link.

Tech steps to take before you die

It’s a grim topic, but we have to think about what happens to all our online accounts, data, notes, photos, videos, websites, playlists, blogs and subscriptions once we’re gone. Do your loved ones a favor and get this sorted out beforehand.

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Delete your DNA test accounts today

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A 23andMe hack exposed sensitive data, including race and religion. Take control of your privacy — act now.

Your IP address: What it is and why you need to protect yours if you care about privacy

Using the internet is a complicated affair. It may not feel like that to you as a user. You click on your browser and get on with your day — it’s as easy as pie.

Behind the scenes, though, is a whole different story. It’s full of numbers like your Internet Protocol (IP) address, basically your digital home address. This numeric label distinguishes your phone or computer from other devices worldwide.

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10 privacy-friendly Big Tech alternatives

Amazon uses your Alexa voice commands to train its AI, Dropbox had a breach in April that exposed customers’ passwords, and apps like Facebook and Google make billions of dollars gathering and sharing every little detail about you. I could go on (and on).

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Why I used Incogni to wipe my info off the internet

I got this note the other day from Mike S. (Hi, Mike! 👋): “Next time you talk about Incogni, maybe you can do a deep dive?”

Mike, you’re not the only reader who’s asked for a more in-depth look at how Incogni works and why I chose it to wipe my info from data broker sites. I picked this service before they became a sponsor. So, without further ado …

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$40 to Sharon for cocktails: Unless you change your settings, anyone with the Venmo app can see all your contacts. Go to Privacy settings > Friends list > Private. While you’re there, turn off “Appear in other users’ friends’ lists.” This is important!

Attn., Windows Insiders: Microsoft’s Recall feature is a privacy nightmare. Even after a backlash forced changes, Recall still captures info like credit cards and Social Security numbers. That’s with the “sensitive info filter” on. Microsoft says they’re fixing it. Again.

🤖 Team Android: If you have pics like your driver’s license on your phone, set up a locked folder in Google Photos. Open the Google Photos app > Utilities > Set up Locked Folder. Follow the on-screen directions to finish up.

Ship happens: Google’s shiny new AI assistant, Mariner, will take over Chrome to do stuff like book flights, fill out forms and do your shopping without you doing a thing. It can’t fill out credit card or billing info “for privacy reasons.” (Google actually had the gall to say that!) Watch the prototype in action here.

🍎 Secret spot to hide pics: On an iPhone, use the Notes app. Open the pic in your Photos app, tap the share icon and select Add to Quick Note. Then, go into the note you want to protect, tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner, and choose Lock.