time Archives - Komando.com

👍 Finds you’ll use time and time again

12-pack of streak-free cleaning cloths ($7): No home ever has too many microfiber cloths, just sayin’.
Cable organizer bag (over 50% off): Tangled charging cables are the worst! A compact organizer keeps everything tidy.
LED desk lamp with USB port ($16): Brighten up your workspace with a stylish lamp. This one has adjustable brightness levels and a USB port for charging. Sweet.
Herb scissors with 5 blades ($10): Perfect for snipping parsley, basil, cilantro, mint — you name it.
Self-adhesive cable clips ($8): Another easy way to keep your cord mess in check.

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⏳ When your kid (or someone else) is using your iPad: Lock an app to keep them off limits. Open Settings > Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode. Follow the instructions to set it up. Now, go to App Limits > Add Limit, choose the app, then tap Next > 1 min > Add. Use the app for one minute, then hit Ask for More Time > One More Minute. After the time runs out, the app is locked.

💩 Speaking of drones: The “Poopcopter” is an AI drone system that cleans up your doggo’s mess in the backyard. Using real-time computer vision and machine learning, it scans the area to pinpoint the poop, and then it swoops down to scoop it up. It’s in the prototype phase, so you’re still on poop duty. Sorry.

Around this date 41 years ago, Microsoft released its very first software application. Was it … A.) Flight Simulator, B.) Excel, C.) Notepad or D.) Word?

Find the answer here! →

740 million children

Will be nearsighted by 2050. Blame less time spent outside and more screen time for youngsters. An estimated four in 10 kids will need prescription glasses. Girls are more likely than boys to develop myopia (the fancy name for objects far away looking blurry).

Sweet deals under $10

Sorry-not-sorry, but you’re probably going to want all these …

These soft and cozy Hanes sweaters are so cheap (46% off!) and come in great colors, so it’s time to stock up for winter.
Upgrade your around-the-house scissors with a pair that’s actually sharp (only $9.99 for a 3-pack).
Add one or two drops of rosemary oil to your shampoo each wash to make your hair thicker and fuller.
This is the best no-scent, no-shine lip treatment for when your kisser’s dry.
This fan-favorite windshield defogger and cleaner is under $6.

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

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s an insurance drone! Just ask Mike Arman, who was spied on twice by two different insurers. The first refused to renew his policy after satellite images showed his roof “looked deteriorated.” The second hit him with a 25% increase when it was time to renew. Your insurance company could start doing the same.

📧 “Email apnea”: That’s a new term for the moment when you open your inbox, get overwhelmed by all the messages and unknowingly hold your breath to focus. A study found 80% of us do this. The fix is simple: Breathe naturally and take screen time breaks.

GPS dog collars are smart: Use Battery Optimization mode so you don’t have to charge the collar so frequently. As long as your furbaby stays in a safe zone, it’ll check less often, saving your battery. If they leave the safe zone, real-time tracking will kick in. My golden retriever, Abby, wears a Fi collar, and this is her favorite ball (10% off today!).

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

🧽 Scrub-a-dub-dub

By popular demand, the cleaning products that shortcut tasks you forget to do. Grab ‘em all, blast the music and have a cleaning party with yourself.

Espresso machines need to be descaled. Don’t ignore this one or you’re in for a bad morning.
Use a Keurig, Ninja or other coffee pod machine? These tabs clean out the gunk so your java is perfect every morning.
When was the last time you cleaned your dishwasher? Pop in one of these tabs and run a cycle. Easy-peasy.
Next up, the garbage disposal. I know you’ve been ignoring that one, and it stinks.
While you’re at it, give the spa or hot tub a good cleaning, too.
I’m over laundry pods. I switched to laundry sheets. So easy!

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

❤️ For the first time ever: An artificial heart was successfully implanted in a patient with end-stage heart failure. Total Artificial Heart supports patients while they wait for a real heart transplant. With heart failure affecting at least 26 million people globally and fewer than 6,000 transplants performed each year, this could be a medical breakthrough. Four more patients will go through trials soon.

Be careful where you vent: Friendly reminder that Google Chat, Microsoft Teams, Slack and other work chats aren’t private. IT or your manager can pop in at any time. Edited messages and deleted convos are stored on servers, too, not truly deleted (paywall link).

Give yourself extra time before your next flight: After attacks on Hezbollah, aviation authorities in Lebanon banned travelers from boarding planes or checking luggage with pagers and walkie-talkies. Expect the TSA to increase their screening for explosives (paywall link).

🎉 Many retail websites don’t have static pricing: Depending on the time or day of the week, you might beat the algorithm and score a better deal. Your best bet for a bargain is early in the week or at off-peak hours (think late at night or early in the morning). Whoa, this tip alone is worth the price of this newsletter. Oh, wait — it’s free!

Alexa, enough already: Set up commands that do more on your Amazon Echo. In the Alexa app, tap More (bottom right corner) > Routines. Tap the + (plus sign), then choose your trigger (time of day or command) and what happens. For “go to bed,” you could include shutting off the lights, starting your white noise and locking your smart doorknob. Sweet!

📊 Secret you need to know: If you use Google Docs or Microsoft OneDrive, you can go back in time to see earlier versions of your work (or someone else’s). In Google Docs, head to File > Version History > See Version History. In OneDrive, it’s under File > Info > Version History. Bonus tip: If you want to know who does what in real time in a Google Doc, turn on the Track Changes option.

18 years

Paying the neighbor’s electricity bill. A guy in Vacaville, California, has lived alone in the same apartment complex since 2006. The entire time, he wondered why the heck his power bill was so high. Turns out he was paying for the apartment next door, too. What a dope.

🎞️ Don’t face the camera straight on: Instead, position your body at a far more flattering 45-degree angle. Put your weight on your back foot and lean your torso slightly forward. This tip was brought to you by 20 years of broadcasting and looking fabulous each time … well, most of the time!

100% of the time

AI can beat online captcha tests designed to stump bots. A researcher trained a bot he called You Only Look Once (yeah, YOLO) on images of roads (paywall link). Now, the bot can ace the “Are you a human?” quizzes.

26 years later

A guy dislodged a Lego brick stuck up his nose. When he was 6, he wedged a plastic brick and a Lego man up his nostrils. Mom removed the Lego man but didn’t know about the individual brick. All that time, the 32-year-old dealt with congestion, asthma and sleep apnea. Watch the news about this crazy story!