tablet Archives

It’s a deal today

Yep, I’m still scouring the early Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sales. Hit this link if you want to see ‘em all.

Kasa smart light switches for less than $13, dang.
Gift yourself a snazzy, new iPad for under $200.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is only $60!
Ring video doorbells have HD video and are easy to install. Plus, right now, they’re as cheap as they get, at $60.
Electric lighters are the best. Only $7? Heck, yeah! I’m never going back to one that takes lighter fluid.
Pillow slippers are so comfy around the house and 43% off now.
A stone bath mat absorbs water without getting slippery. Uh, 90% off? Now’s the time.

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

Permission revoked: Can’t remember which permissions you’ve given to which apps on your Android phone or tablet? There’s an easy way to check. From Settings, tap Security and privacy > Privacy > Permission manager.

Confirmed: iPads make your kids misbehave

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Do you hand over the tablet when your kid throws a fit? A new study says you’re not just rewarding bad behavior — you’re actually making it worse.

🕺 Speaking of twisting: Lenovo’s new laptop, the Auto Twist PC, opens and closes with a voice command. Say “Open lid” and yep, it does. The screen rotates almost 180 degrees, too, and it can put itself into tablet mode. Neat? Yes. Gimmicky? Absolutely.

2400 B.C. for the first kiss

The earliest account of smooching on record is etched into the Barton Cylinder, a clay tablet from Sumeria. It shows two gods making whoopee … then kissing after.

Tech upgrades under $10

Little things can make a huge difference.

A criminal with the right gear can copy the signal from your key fob. Toss it in a Faraday bag (two for $8) to block them out.
Earbuds get crusty. Use an $8 kit to keep yours gunk-free without damaging the speakers.
Can’t remember keyboard shortcuts you want to try? Slap a cheat-sheet sticker on your computer. Here’s one for Mac; this one’s for Windows.
Are they watching? Know for sure with a $7 cam cover you can use on a phone, tablet or computer.
I keep my phone on a stand (46% off!) when I’m working at my desk. Nice in the kitchen, too.

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

💊 Everything in moderation: A new study found toddlers who got tablet time to deal with a tantrum had more anger outbursts a year later. Even more disturbing, as time went on, the parents had to keep up the screen time to keep them calm. Tech really is addictive.

Reading is FUN-damental

Here are some of my favorites you’ll use time and time again.

A clip-on portable book light is great for traveling or finishing that last chapter without disturbing your spouse! Adjust the brightness or choose a warm amber light for better sleep. It’s on sale for $14.
It’s a real page turner (literally) for your newer Kindle or iPad, and it’s 71% off now.
Get a tablet floor stand for hands-free, comfortable reading. This one is sturdy, 33% off and works with lots of tablets.
This durable canvas book sleeve protects pages from sand or rain for around $13.
Bookmarks are great until they’re sliding out of place. These magnetic bookmarks are desert sunset chic and stay put for $8.

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

Summer lovin’ (not splashin’)

Even the highest-rated “waterproof” phones were tested in fresh, calm water — not the beach or a chlorinated water slide. Protect your stuff.

Retire the Ziploc bag: Snag a two-pack of Pelican Marine pouches for your fam’s phones. There’s a lanyard so your phone won’t slip into the water, but even if it does, it floats! The olive color is 30% off.
Float on: This floating HD speaker has eight colors of LED lights … that project flamingos underwater! So fun. Right now, it’s 13% off (under $40).
Throw and go: Get a dry bag and don’t worry about your phone, tablet, book … You name it, It’s covered. The waterproof 5L Heeta Dry Bag is 20% off and just under $12.
Look, ma! No hands: Store your phone, cash and cards with a waterproof pouch — just $9.89 for a black-and-white set of two. It’s touchscreen-friendly, so you can splash and text.
Beach reads: Protect your Kindle or iPad with a waterproof pouch. This floating one fits tablets up to 11 inches and is on sale for 11% off.

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

Not banking on this: A creative 53-year-old man used an iPad to rob a bank in Las Vegas, showing a note on his tablet that read, “I am heavily armed.” No joke, his first attempt (the day before) was foiled after someone activated a silent alarm. His iPad trick worked, and he got away with nearly $1,000 in cash … before police arrested him.

‘Kim, what do you use for …?’

You asked. Here are my answers.

Holding your passport: I love this passport holder (click the 10% off coupon) because it blocks RFID and also holds an AirTag (17% off today!). It has enough room for your boarding passes, cash and credit cards, too.
Holding your iPad: I use this super-handy tablet stand ($15.97, 20% off!) in my studio to read scripts and in the kitchen to follow recipes, watch shows and video chat with Ian. It has a handy place for the plug.
Keeping safe in hotels: I don’t trust locks in hotel rooms. That’s why I pack a doorstop alarm that emits a loud sound if someone opens the door. Get this two-pack for $11.99 while it’s 33% off.
Protecting your identity: For starters, I shred everything — I mean, every single thing — with my name on it. I’ve used this Amazon Basics shredder ($33, 11% off) a lot for over four years.
Not using gross airplane blankets: That’s why I carry my own travel blanket ($29.95, 14% off) because it’s always cold on planes. This makes a great Mother’s or Father’s Day gift, btw.

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

Gifts for every mom

Mother’s Day is coming up quickly — Sunday, May 12. I’m sharing a series of slam-dunk gifts for all the moms in your life. Today: Gifts for the mom who loves to read.

If Mom uses a Kindle or other e-reader or tablet, this comfy pillow stand (12% off, $21.99) is a total game-changer.
Pair it with this remote, which lets her turn the page while cuddled under a blankie. It’s a whopping 67% off.
For physical book lovers, grab a rechargeable book light with three color temps and dimming. It’s only $9.99.
These lovely bookplate stickers (gold foil!) will help her keep track of her personal library ($6.99 for 60).
A little tabletop bookshelf to help her organize the stack of books by her bed. This one is 18% off ($26.99).

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

🥳 Treat yo’-self: Amazon will give you a $100 gift card when you buy the latest Samsung Tab S6 Lite tablet. Grab the 64GB version for $330 or the 128GB version for $400. Specs include a 10.4-inch display, Dolby Atmos surround sound, up to 14 hours of battery life and S Pen compatibility.

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

Write this down: Note-taking, sketching and annotating on a tablet are way easier with a stylus. The Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil does the job for $54 — less than half the price of the Apple Pencil. Just want the basics? Get the Adonit Mark for less than $10.

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

☕️ He likes me a latte: At Muji in Hudson Yards, NYC, there’s a new barista in town, and it’s not human. Jarvis, named after Iron Man’s sidekick, makes your coffee, shakes its metal booty, shoots compliments … and asks for tips via tablet. I’m all for tipping service workers, but this is ridiculous.

Is that a tablet in your pocket? Consumer Reports (paywall link) ranked phones that go the distance by using a robotic finger to simulate our relentless scrolling. Spoiler: Bigger phones = Better battery life. Top contenders include the Apple iPhone 15 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S24+ and Nothing Phone 2.

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

Seriously cool and functional keyboards

Is your keyboard trashed? Do you find it easier to use an actual keyboard than the keys on your tablet? Me, too. Take Ctrl! (See what I did there?)

Bring this lightweight folding keyboard anywhere and connect it to any device with Bluetooth.
This one’s ergonomic and affordable — a rarity!
This split keyboard adapts to your natural hand positions.
Prefer a tablet? This double-duty case has a built-in keyboard.
Looks like a mint-green typewriter, holds a tablet or phone, and connects via Bluetooth? Sold!

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

RIP, No. 2 pencils: You were No. 1 in my heart. It’s official. The SATs are going digital. Students will take the new version of the college admission test on a laptop or tablet. It’s also an hour shorter and packed with digital tools like highlighters and graphing calculators. It’s not an open-browser test, though; it’ll still be administered under strict watch in test centers and schools.

Don’t buy a Surface tablet: Microsoft is dropping the first “AI PCs” on March 21. The OLED Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 are decked out with next-gen processors, upgraded displays, and all the AI bells and whistles. Copilot essentially turns everything you do on the PC into something you can search for later. Feature or flaw? That’s up to you.

TikTok cheaters unveiled, Nextdoor's top complaints & cinema etiquette downfall

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Plus, we have a special guest: cybersecurity guru Ricoh Danielson, who tells us about his latest cases. Discover how a one-star Google review solved the mystery of a fatal hit-and-run. We’ll also share tricks to speed up your PC, and reasons why you should start using your tablet.