Give your PC a boost: Trim down startup programs that take forever to load. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, then hit the Startup tab to view all the programs that fire up when Windows starts. Right-click and disable any you don’t need right away when your system reboots.
How tech saved lives in Georgia school shooting
A tragic shooting at Apalachee High in Winder, Georgia, left four dead and nine injured. It may have been worse without a new safety system — teachers used a digital panic button to save lives. Plus, Amazon Alexa loses billions, Taylor Swift surveillance, and FB censors opinions.
🩺 Fight against cancer: A 67-year-old received the world’s first lung cancer vaccine in a clinical trial. The vaccine, BNT116, activates the immune system to recognize and fight specific cancer cells. So different from chemotherapy, which damages both bad and healthy cells. Rooting for this. I hate cancer.
What retro video game console is selling on eBay for the most right now in the U.S.? Is it the … A.) Sega Master System, B.) Nintendo Virtual Boy, C.) Super Nintendo or D.) Atari Jaguar CD?
75% accuracy for AI
At spotting if a driver’s intoxication level is “Sober,” “Low” or “Severe.” Scientists are developing an in-car facial-recognition camera system to detect drunk drivers. Intoxicated drivers have distinct facial movements, gaze directions and head positions.
🖥️ PC slo-o-o-o-wing down? Click Start > Settings > System > Storage. You’ll see how much storage is being used. how much is still free and a breakdown of what’s taking up the space. Bet you don’t need anything under Temporary files.
A round of a-paws: The U.S. military is developing a gun-wielding robot dog to protect our forces from aerial drones. The doggo is equipped with an AR-15-type rifle, an electro-optical targeting system, infrared/thermal vision and a laser aiming device. Wow, I hope these don’t get hacked.
MILF (Man, I Love Football!) alert: The NFL is rolling out facial authentication at stadiums starting with Thursday’s season openers. The new system will verify the identity of thousands of staff, players and media. No scanning for fans (yet). Get your ticket scanned as usual on game day.
Every major Android operating system release has a number, like the current Android 14, and a dessert-themed codename, like Upside-down Cake. Which of the following has never been an Android OS codename? Is it … A.) Cupcake, B.) Jelly Bean, C.) Lollipop or D.) Pancake?
Type to Siri: Type out your requests to Siri on macOS if you can’t (or don’t want to) use your voice. Hit the Apple logo > System Settings > Accessibility > Siri to enable the option.
Dress for the slide, not the ride: Harley-Davidson’s 2024 Road Glide and Street Glide bikes are the first to get Skyline OS, a new touchscreen infotainment system. It’s replacing the traditional analog gauges with a 12.3-inch touch display that includes turn-by-turn navigation, Apple CarPlay and voice-command compatibility.
Keys-y does it: To set the brightness level on the keyboard on your MacBook, click the Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard. You can also have the backlights turn off after a certain time. Perfect if you’re watching a movie in the dark.
♻️ Manage the recycling: It’s up to you how long files stick around in your PC’s Recycle Bin before being wiped forever. Click System > Storage > Storage Sense to choose to delete them after one day, 60 days or never.
Like the plot for 1990’s Schwarzenegger’s flick, “Total Recall”: A scientist wants to implant prisoners with memories of their crimes from the victims’ perspectives. The Cognify system uses a brain implant and VR-like device to induce emotional trauma and physical pain. Ahem, what if the prisoner is a psycho and would enjoy those memories?
Researchers prove it: Our brains can distinguish deepfaked voices from real ones. The brain’s reward system, called the nucleus accumbens, is less active when you hear a fake voice. Your auditory cortex hears the difference, too. Next time you get a call and the voice feels “off,” trust your instincts.
🛩 Air taxis: As soon as 2025, we might see Joby Aviation’s ultra-quiet eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft in the skies. An eVTOL takes off and lands like a helicopter but flies like a plane. Joby just received FAA authorization for a new software system, including an app you’ll be able to use to hail a flying taxi, just like an Uber. I’m not going to be first in line.
Hot tip: Hot corners on Mac are neat. Hover your mouse over a certain spot to make something happen, like showing your desktop or opening a note. Hit the Apple logo > System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Hot Corners. Set as you please, then hit Done.
Amber Alert for your pets
You definitely don’t want your furry friends to go missing. But just in case, here’s a system you should set up to keep them safe.
Don’t park your Kia in the garage: A North Carolina driver barely escaped her Kia after she heard a loud pop, then it burst into flames. The car was among 1.7 million recalled last September. The antilock brake system can leak fluid and cause electrical shorts. Some nine months later, repair parts are still MIA.