At this point, I don’t even want to risk it. There are just too many scary stories — and I once stayed in a place loaded with cameras! Luckily, I was savvy enough to spot them.
Alexa as an alarm clock: Amazon’s latest Echo model, the Echo Spot, displays the time and weather above a simple speaker. It’s 44% off right now, too — a great price if you want one. Plus, with this alarm clock, you can leave your smartphone in the kitchen for even better sleep.
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🆕 No more Chromecast: It’s being replaced by the $99 Google TV Streamer, which ships in September. The new streaming device is equipped with Gemini AI and better specs, like on-screen smart home controls, detailed video summaries and finetuned recommendations.
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42% drop
In Xbox Series X and S sales since 2023. Sales of Microsoft’s four-year-old console have been on a steady decline since 2022 — a way quicker drop-off than most consoles. For context, the seven-year-old Nintendo Switch still sold 1.96 million consoles in the first quarter this year, double the estimated Xboxes sold.
Is using a VPN unethical?
One of my readers was shocked I gave this as an idea to save some money renting a car abroad. What do you think?
How do you sell a $20K TV? By including lots of freebies. TCL is giving a free Super Bowl ticket to the first 115 people to buy its massive 115-inch TV. Fine print: If they run out of tickets, you might have to settle for a Hollywood movie premiere or a trip to the next CES tech conference.
🗓️ Wait two weeks: Don’t buy any Google tech right now; they’re revealing a bunch of new tech at their Made by Google event on Aug. 13. That includes the Pixel 9 lineup, Pixel Buds Pro 2 and new Pixel Watch 3. Then comes the race to offload old inventory at cheaper prices …
💓 The key to my heart: Apple quietly filed a patent that could let your heartbeat unlock your iPhone. The patent suggests they could use this tech to figure out your mood and offer custom recommendations, too. OK, they had me with the first half …
Not a mice idea: Logitech is toying with the idea of a “forever mouse” you’ll never have to replace — just update. The rumor mill says it’ll cost around $200, plus a subscription fee. Over time, you’ll probably spend more on things like swappable switches, replaceable shells and wheels, and detachable cables as they break.
Don’t buy a new Pixel phone now: Google just teased its latest fancy phone, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. They’re going all in on AI, dubbing it “built for the Gemini era.” Here’s a vid that gives a quick glimpse at the redesigned camera and changes to the screen. Expect the Pro Fold to drop on Aug. 13.
Smart idea: Android 15 is going to include Desktop mode. In this demo video, you can see multiple apps running side by side with some clunky window snapping (hey, it’s in beta). Sounds snazzy, and Apple will probably copy it within five years.
⌚ Cha-ching: Samsung is coming out with its first-ever high-end smartwatch and smart ring with AI features. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is $650, and the Galaxy Ring is $399 — $100 more than the base model of its biggest competitor, the Oura Ring Gen 3.
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🔍 AirTag vs. Google’s Find My Device: Both devices were mailed to another state in an unofficial test. The AirTag continuously updated its location, while the Android tracker took 11 hours to ping its new whereabouts. At one point, the Find My Device tracker even lost track of its location. This is why I keep an AirTag in my cars.
🖨️ Printer alert: HP is discontinuing its LaserJet e-series printers that require a permanent internet connection and force you to use super-expensive HP-original ink and toners. It’ll continue to work if you still have one, but you’ll have to deal with HP+. Sell yours now while you can.
A waking nightmare: A 33-year-old Iowa woman is suing a medical device manufacturer after her heart monitor provided doctors with data from a different patient. This led to an unnecessary pacemaker surgery. And get this: She wasn’t sedated properly and was awake during the entire operation.
100% brightness
Cranking up randomly on Philips Hue smart bulbs. Philips recently made their bulbs compatible with Matter. A bug is making lights flicker without warning. Until they fix it, disconnect your Hue Bridge from Matter on your iPhone.
Police pull over a Waymo driving on the wrong side of the road
Waymo says the vehicle was confused by construction signs and stayed in the oncoming lane for 30 seconds because “it was blocked from navigating back into the correct lane.” Luckily, no one was hurt.
Apple’s working on a little surprise: It’s an iPad 7 mini! A coder found clues to a new release hidden in Apple’s backend software. Insiders say it’ll have an 8.3-inch display, a better chip and a front-facing camera (finally). Plus, you’ll be able to use it with the fancy, new Pencil Pro.
Track your health: More doctors are incorporating the Apple Watch into patient care, especially for managing diseases. Case in point (paywall link): A woman with atrial fibrillation sends data from her watch to her doc to make sure her medication and lifestyle are on point. Want one? Check out the Apple Watch SE, Series 9 or Ultra 2.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.