Big online dating mistake: Stop giving away too much info to anyone who sees your profile. Skip the links to your social media profiles, especially. You don’t want a date gone wrong to stalk your pictures after you’ve blocked them.
5 cool ways to use your home network (beyond getting online)
When you connect your gadgets to the same Wi-Fi network, you’re not just getting them online; you’re building a system so they can communicate with each other. You don’t need to be a tech wizard — just follow the steps below:
1. Share printers. Tired of running back and forth or emailing between devices just to print? Save yourself the hassle.
- In Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer, then click Printer properties. On the Sharing tab, check Change Sharing Options.
- On a Mac, open System Settings > General > Sharing, then click the info button next to Printer Sharing. Turn on printer sharing, select the printer to share, and click Done.
Your selected printer should show up when you try to print from other computers on your network. Just make sure you leave the printer and the computer it’s connected to both switched on.
2. Create a DIY streaming service. Tools like Plex and Jellyfin make movies, TV shows, songs and anything else you’ve downloaded streamable from any device on your network. The best part? They’re free to use. It’s like having your own private Netflix or Spotify, just for your family. Neat!
3. Share screens. This one’s for you if you’ve ever thought the person sharing photos from a laptop or phone to the TV was a genius.
- Use AirPlay if you’re on a MacBook, plus a TV or streaming gadget that supports AirPlay (check the specs if you’re not sure). On macOS, click the Control Center button in the toolbar (the two toggle switches), then Screen Mirroring.
- For TVs or streaming dongles that support Google Chromecast, connect from Windows or macOS using the Chrome browser. Click the three dots (top left) in any browser tab, then Cast, save and share > Cast. Once you’re connected to the TV or dongle, click Sources > Cast screen.
4. Swap files between devices. My nerds know about network-attached storage (NAS). It’s a storage drive that connects directly to your router so any device on your network can access it. Something like the $250 Synology DS223 is perfect.
NAS units come with setup instructions, and you can access any computer, tablet or phone on your network. It’s a great place to store documents, photos and music.
5. Game together or from different rooms. If you have a Steam gaming library on one PC, you can access those games from other computers on your network.
- In the Steam desktop app, choose Settings from the Steam menu, then Family > Authorize Library Sharing on this device. You need to install Steam (but not the games) on any computer you want to connect from.
Even better, all these tricks work even if your main internet goes down, so you can keep gaming, watching movies and … printing, I guess!
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Wait, are public phone chargers dangerous?
Those charging kiosks in airports, hotels and malls are so tempting when you’re out and about with a dying phone. Their owners promise they’re safe. The government disagrees, and so do I. Groan, I know.
Welcome to the newest phase of juice jacking. The phenomenon has been around for more than 10 years. Hackers use public phone-charging stations to upload malware to your devices. Then, they ransom your device or steal your passwords. Super-duper.
Carmakers will charge for anything, including your safety
New cars are basically snazzy computers on wheels, packing 1,000 to 3,000 processors. That means we get all kinds of great features, but that’s not all — the more complex our cars get, the more at risk we are. I’m not talking about theft; I mean remote carjacking … or worse.
😴 YouSleep: New to the YouTube app is a handy-dandy sleep timer. Tap the cog icon (top right corner) on any video. Press Sleep timer in the dropdown menu. Set it for 10 minutes or End of video. This is perfect for white noise without draining your phone’s battery all night.
❗ Lock down your cybersecurity: I work with brands I trust to keep you secure. Hit this page to see the five must-have tools I recommend.
🔍 Zoomed in? In all kinds of programs, you may have zoomed in by accident and you need to get back to normal. On a Mac, press Cmd + 0 (zero). On a PC, it’s Ctrl + 0. (Bonus: Zoom in and out with Cmd/Ctrl and the plus and minus keys.)
There are two main ways to prompt AI: Mega-prompts are detailed, all-in-one requests that generate a complete response in one go. Chain prompting breaks tasks into smaller steps so you have more control. For example, a mega-prompt asks for a full business plan, while chain prompting starts with an outline, adjusts the scope, refines the plan and ends with action steps. I use chain prompting for bigger projects!
🤝 I want to be your secret helper and mentor: I’ve been around tech forever. My business has thrived for over 20 years without debt or investors. If you have an issue, problem or question about your life or business, I’d love to help you. Ask me here on my site. I read every single note.
Stay a step ahead: I’m surprised how many people don’t know you can preview directions in Google Maps. Open the navigation screen on Android Auto or Apple CarPlay (while you’re parked, please). Swipe left on the direction card in the top right corner. Google Maps skips ahead, turning the card from green to gray, to show you all the twists and turns coming.
Hey, Louis, this is for you: He wrote to ask me for help with a Pixel Watch because there’s no manual online. I found ya the link. If you need it, Samsung Watch manual here and hit this link for Apple Watch.
♻️ Restart your phone: The National Security Agency says you should restart it once a week at the minimum. It sounds like a no-brainer, but it works to combat zero-click exploits where a hacker can get in simply by sending you the right code.
Delete programs you don’t use: On a Windows PC, click the Start menu button and look for the app or program. Press and hold (or right-click) on it and select Uninstall. On a Mac, click the Finder icon in your dock, then Applications. Drag the program you’re done with to the Trash.
New LinkedIn AI: Job hunters will now see whether applying to a position is worth the time. If you’re hiring, LinkedIn acts as your free recruiter to send along candidates who’d rock it at your company. Use my link to post a job for free.
🔬 AI tool to try: Consensus is an AI-powered search engine trained on over 200 million research papers. Want to know more about a study? Search by keywords like “vitamin C and health,” or ask questions like, “How long should I walk every day?” With a free account, you’ll get unlimited searches and 10 AI reports per month. This isn’t an ad; I just think it’s neat!
Strikethrough made simple: Need to cross out something in a Google Doc? On a PC, press Alt + Shift + 5. On a Mac, it’s Cmd + Shift + X. If you don’t like saving time, it’s in the Format menu under Text.
Be the smart one at work: Download NetSuite’s free knowledge e-book, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere.
📶 No bars: When your cell service is wonky, switch your phone to Airplane mode, wait a few seconds, then change it back. This will reconnect you to the nearest cell tower. Share that with a friend and they’ll think you’re a tech genius.
When the Netflix trailer spoils the ending: They autoplay without warning as soon as you open the app, like a Pandora’s box. Turn ‘em off. Click your account name > Manage Profiles, and press the pencil icon next to the profile you want to edit. Then, scroll to Autoplay Controls and uncheck Autoplay Previews While Browsing On All Devices.