Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, worth $170 billion and change, owns 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai. On the island, was he upset because … A.) He couldn’t get dinner reservations, B.) Ticketed for running a stop sign or C.) Stranded because there wasn’t enough gas for his jet?
Get a free 4K TV … with 1 key trade-off
A startup from the co-founder of Pluto TV is giving out at least 500,000 free TVs. Yep, you heard me right. The company started shipping them in July last year and planned to send half a million sets by the end of 2023. But it’s still accepting reservations, so it’s not too late to put your name on the list. More on that later.
The 55-inch 4K models from Telly have all the bells and whistles. The only catch? You pay with your data.
One long commercial break
The TVs have 4K HDR displays (not the very best you can buy, but totally solid), a built-in five-driver soundbar and a free 4K Android streaming stick. They have a dual-screen design combining a 55-inch 4K HDR Theater Display with a second Smart Screen.
You can control it with your voice — “Hey Telly” — or through built-in motion sensors. There’s also a camera for video calls.
The kicker: About a quarter of the smaller screen under the main one shows ads. And you can’t opt out of your TV’s tracking.
How smart is too smart?
In reality, all smart TVs are tracking what we do and watch — then packaging that up to sell to advertisers.
Take Vizio. The company made $1.6 million in gross profit selling TVs in the first quarter of 2023. But they earned $73.8 million in profits on the Platform Plus business — which includes selling advertising and viewer data. Yup, Vizio TVs are just there to sell ads and data.
So, how much money is Telly bringing in with these ads? The numbers are difficult to track down, but Connected TV (CTV) advertising generated nearly $26 billion in 2023 and is expected to keep growing. Yikes! FYI, CTV ads are the ones you see on streaming platforms.
When the product is free …
You’re the product. I say this all the time. To see what Telly gets, look no further than the terms of service. I read it, so you don’t have to.
Don’t fall for this Uber airport trick - It cost me $20
My ears are always perked for life hacks or time-saving tricks. I like to try them out so you can know whether or not they work. I’m sad to report that a new way to reserve an Uber comes with a $20 fee you may not know about.
Have an iPhone? New way to save your digital driver's license coming to 8 states
Apple’s Wallet app is handy to store and quickly retrieve many things, like airline tickets, reservations or digital passes. It also makes Apple Pay possible, as your bank card can be stored there.
But while you can’t store your COVID-19 vaccination card on it (yet), there has been another striking omission — your driver’s license. But Apple is about to change that. This new feature could be a game-changer for travelers.
Fully-electric Ford F-150 Lightning: Check out all the specs
Electric vehicles have become hugely popular over the last few years. Thanks to companies like Tesla and Ford, it has been proven that EVs can be stylish, useful and fast. The majority of the vehicles available are sedans and city cars. But Ford just unveiled a fully electric version of a classic truck.