Share:
🤝 I want to be your secret helper and mentor: Do you think you’re getting scammed? Wondering how to use AI in your business or life? Need some advice? I would love to help you. Ask me your questions here on my site. I read every single note.
Tags: help, Life, love, secret, site
Charles in San Antonio asked, “Kim, I have one of those smart thermostats. It must collect a lot of my data. Where does it all go?”
Buckle up, Charles, because your thermostat might know more about you than your best friend, your doctor or your cat. If you’ve got a Nest, Ecobee or any of those sleek little screens controlling your HVAC, they’re managing temperature while they basically stalk you, politely and with your permission.
🤓 Lost your glasses? Save a digital copy of your prescription, so it’s always handy while you’re away from home. On iPhone, open the Health app > Browse > Body Measurements > Vision Prescription > Add a Prescription. Tap Add once you’ve filled in your info. Android crew, scan your card and upload it to Google Drive. The future is 20/20, but only in your file storage settings.
📺 Cast away: Got an Android and a Roku? Share your phone right to your TV without extra gadgets. On your Roku, go to Settings > System > Screen Mirroring and toggle it on. Then, grab your phone, head to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Cast. This won’t work for Apple folks, so fire up AirPlay. Now your screen can be blurry in 60 glorious inches.
🎓 AI free ride: My college readers, you’re in luck. Google is giving away a year of Gemini Advanced for free. It’s part of the Google One AI Premium plan, which means you also get tools like Veo 2 for video, NotebookLM, 2TB of cloud storage and more. This runs until June 30. Just use your .edu email to sign up.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: PC lagging? Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to skip the Ctrl + Alt + Del screen and open Task Manager immediately. Or just scream internally like the rest of us.
🤳 Look your best: Ever been caught checking your hair in a video call? Kind of embarrassing. Adjust yourself and the lighting before the meeting. On a Windows PC, open your Start menu and search for the Camera app; on a Mac, open Photo Booth.
LinkedIn lesson: Want to give someone a shout-out, boost your post’s visibility, or simply say thanks in a more public (and professional) way? Use the @mention feature! And for a limited time, use my special link to post a job for free on LinkedIn.
⌚ Watch for noise: Your Apple Watch’s built-in Noise app can check if the sounds around you are too loud. Open the app on your watch and tap Enable to start tracking. To see how often you’re in noisy spots, go to the Health app > Browse (bottom right) > Hearing > Environmental Sound Levels. Now your watch can judge your eardrum choices, too.
📱 Swipe to write: Try swipe typing to write faster by sliding your fingers over your keyboard instead of tapping each letter. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > toggle on Slide to Type. For Android, head to Settings > General management > Keyboard settings > Swipe, touch, and feedback > Keyboard swipe controls > turn on Swipe to type. These names may vary by Android.
Mouse moves: Move text around with just your mouse. Just highlight the words you want, hold Ctrl (PC) or Cmd (Mac), then click and drag them to a new spot. Let go, and boom, your text will be right there. No need to copy and paste.