tech questions Archives

This tech mistake is costing you money every single month

It’s easy to overspend on consumer tech or make a purchase that won’t last long. For example, you don’t need to pay for Microsoft Office and shouldn’t waste money on cheap chargers. Tap or click for five ways you’re wasting cash on tech.

Then there are all the subscriptions you pay for and don’t use. Streaming services are a major culprit; there’s only so much time in a day, and you can’t watch everything. Tap or click for my guide to watching your shows for free instead.

You probably don’t know that you can share various accounts with family and friends or, at the very least, get a nice discount. It’s not your fault. Tech companies don’t promote this money-saving secret you can thank me for later.

Let’s start with Amazon

If you don’t have an Amazon Prime membership, you might not realize it’s much more than free shipping. Tap or click here for my favorite perks. I suggest getting a 30-day free trial to ensure it’s worth it because it’s not cheap.

An Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 monthly or $139 a year. You can split this cost with a friend or family member and still reap all the benefits.

Amazon Household allows two adults to share Prime benefits and digital content like e-books. Each person gets their own account, so you do maintain some privacy. Keep in mind you will have access to each other’s payment methods. Only share your account with someone you trust.

You can also add up to four teens (ages 13 to 17) to the plan for free. Each teen will get their own Amazon login, and an adult must approve all purchases on the plan.

Visit amazon.com/myh/manage to create or manage your household.

While talking about Amazon, the tech giant knows a lot about you. Prepare to be shocked. Here’s how to see it all.

Apple makes it cheaper to bundle

Apple One bundles Apple services for a lower monthly price than you’d pay for each service on its own. These savings may be worth it if several family members use iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TV, Apple Music and iCloud.

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3 steps to make your (or a family member's) phone safer

When it comes to tech questions, I’ve gotten them all. More than ever, I’m hearing from people inundated with requests from older family members to fix their devices.

Maybe they clicked a bad link, and their computer is acting up. Tap or click for eight signs it’s infected with malware or other malicious software.

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What are you tackling in 2025? Even if all you have is a vague idea, AI can help you with an action plan. Here are a few prompts to try with ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude.

“I have a goal for 2025 to [fill in the blank]. Can you help me make it SMART?” (SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and Time-related.)
“You’re a life coach who wants to help me have my best year yet. Help me figure out some goals for 2025. Ask me questions one at a time to help me decide what to focus on.”
“My goal is [fill in the blank]. What are some obstacles that might come up and ways I can overcome them? Give me specific examples for each obstacle.”
“I want to [fill in the blank], but it feels overwhelming, and I don’t know where to start. Can you help me by breaking it down into more manageable tasks?”

⭐ AI isn’t going anywhere: Instead of sticking your head in the sand, make this the year you embrace AI. You’ll get daily tips here in this newsletter and, coming soon, my AI 101 guide for total newbies.

In the meantime, give this list of AI trends for 2025 a read and grab NetSuite’s free knowledge drop, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.”* You’ll sound smart (and know what you’re talking about!) when it comes up in conversation.

Is your tech reporting back to China?

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You have a lot of smart devices. I have an easy way to check which countries they’re connected to. Plus, I answer one of your burning tech questions!

I’m a tech expert: 5 answers to solve your tech dilemmas

As a national radio host, I’ve heard all the tech questions over the years. “Is Facebook always listening to me?” They don’t need to — since they collect so much info about you.

“How do I know if someone is snooping on my computer?” Not all snoops realize they leave tech breadcrumbs. You can outsmart them.

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The smart trick to know when your phone’s camera or mic is being used

At dinner, I mentioned that I would like to go hiking in Patagonia. I never searched for these trips or anything like that. Yet, an hour later, I started getting ads about hiking adventures in Patagonia on my phone.

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Odd job interview tests to look out for

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Think you’ve seen it all in job interviews? Wait until you hear these quirky tests employers are using. Plus, stick around — I answer your tech questions!

Tinder lets your friends and fam play matchmaker

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Having a hard time dating online? Tinder’s newest feature gives your loved ones the reins. That’s not all — I answer your burning tech questions in a new Q&A segment!

The big online banking mistake you didn't know you were making

When was the last time you stepped foot in a bank? Yeah, I can’t remember either. It’s so easy to do everything online that I can’t see going back to physical banking much, even after the pandemic.

If you’re banking via your computer or phone, do it the smart way. It only takes a few minutes. Assume you will be hacked and take these six steps to make sure your money is safe.

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21 problem-solving gadgets that’ll help make your tech troubles disappear

When was the last time your phone died while you were away from home? Have you ever shattered your screen? What about when all the charging cords in the house mysteriously disappear?

The good news is there’s a smart solution for most tech problems. Tap or click for my answers to five common tech frustrations, like spotty Wi-Fi and scanning documents from home.

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5 common tech problems gone with these easy solutions

As someone who has answered numerous questions about all things tech and digital for years, I can tell you the problems never end. Some problems are more mundane but no less frustrating. Maybe it’s a computer that won’t stop crashing, lost logins or Bluetooth devices that won’t stay connected.

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Note from Kim: I'm here to help you

Hello from my home,

I can’t stop thinking that I am in the middle of a movie about a sinister virus that causes a global pandemic. But this is no made-for-Hollywood screenplay. It’s real and it’s our lives.

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