Another Wednesday is upon us, friend! How does the computing power of your smartphone compare to the guidance computer aboard the 1969 Apollo 11 lunar module? Is it … A.) About as powerful, B.) 120 times more powerful, C) 12,000 times more powerful or D.) 120,000 times more powerful? Answer's at the end!

🩻 I’ve been taking collagen for years. Let’s face it, no one’s getting younger and strong bones are essential, as are healthy hair and nails. Use this link to get 45% off collagen peptides from NativePath, today’s newsletter sponsor. — Kim

🆕 Today's podcast: Meta's brain decoder reads minds

⏱️ Daily Tech Update: Flying cars are a long way off

💡 Digital Life Hack: Get this word in a text? It could be a scam

I read every comment you leave at the end of this newsletter, and one theme always stands out: You want to know all the hidden things your tech can do! Lucky for you, uncovering those "I had no idea!" moments is my superpower. I’m here to teach you the things you didn’t even know you were missing!

🪟 Secret Windows restart trick

Frequent shutdowns can fix most computer issues, but you can try a Shift shutdown to close all processes and apps and clear the RAM completely.

• Hold down Shift before you restart.
• Keep holding it until your PC powers down, then choose Continue when it turns back on.

♻️ Did you know … Windows is more environmentally friendly than macOS? Windows puts your deleted files in the Recycle Bin; macOS just throws them in the Trash. (Bet you never thought of that before!)

🧭 Wipe your location from photos

Your phone stores metadata every time you take a picture, including the date you snapped the photo, your camera settings and even where you were located when the picture was taken. Yikes. Before you share a photo, send that data to the intergalactic bit bucket.

• On iPhone, open the image you want to share and tap the share button (square with an arrow pointing up). Next, select Options and toggle off All Photos Data.
• On Android, open your gallery, select the photo, then go to Details and click Remove location data.

☎️ Fix your phone’s call audio

Let’s say you’re on the phone with a pal, and your background is so noisy that your friend can’t hear you. Good news if you have an iPhone: There’s Voice Isolation mode.

• Place your call, and when your recipient picks up, swipe down from the top right of your screen to access the Control Center.
• At the top of your screen, you should see an orange microphone icon next to the word Phone. Tap that, and you’ll see a separate screen with an Audio & Video option. Scroll to and tap Voice Isolation.

On a Samsung phone, open Settings > Sounds and vibration > Sound quality and effects. Here, you’ll see Adapt sound. You can customize this or choose a preset option. Super easy.

Have a newer Google Pixel? Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Clear calling.

🧑‍💻 Remote in like an IT pro

I know how frustrating it can be to walk someone remotely through tech steps. Try Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop. Install the free browser extension on both your computer and the computer of someone you’re helping. When it’s time to remote in, go to the Remote Desktop site. Easy!

🚫 Opt out of ad tracking

Just say no to personalized advertising on your phone. This is the best tip on this list, don’t you think?

• On iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll down and tap Apple Advertising, then toggle off Personalized Ads.
• On Android, tap Settings > Google > Ads, and toggle off Opt out of Ads Personalization.

🧻 Go ahead and share these tips to make yourself look like a genius — and a true genius, unlike the guy who invented one-ply toilet paper. I’d never shake his hand.

Oh, there are five more tech tricks below in the “Tech Life Upgrades” section. Prepare to be amazed!

🥦 I watch what I eat, but that doesn’t mean boring and bland.

• Lemon Perfect is a nice change from plain water, and it’s low‑sugar.
• Shelled hemp seeds are full of protein and good fats. I like ‘em on smoothies, oatmeal and salads.
• Have you tried the yummy Japanese barbecue sauce from Costco? That brand has a ton of other flavors!
• This granola is delish and not full of junk.
• Tahini (ground sesame seeds) is what makes hummus so yum-mus. Love it drizzled on vegetables.

🚨 It’s not him: Elon Musk isn’t pitching crypto investments with obscene returns all over social and YouTube — they’re deepfake videos. A Michigan resident who lost $700,000 to scammers grew suspicious when, after he sent his money, he couldn't find any info about the crypto company. Another victim in Nevada lost $220,000. Come on … you have to be smarter than to fall for this.

If you can’t dazzle ‘em with brilliance, baffle ‘em with BS: Whisper, an AI transcription tool used in hospitals, has trouble with “hallucinations,” aka making things up. A study found eight in 10 transcripts had fakery, including meds like “hyperactivated antibiotics.” PSA: If you saw a doctor or were in the hospital lately, sign into your portal and check the notes for any nonsense.

🎓 Chasing clout: Teenagers are choosing colleges based on how good they’ll look on social media. Morgan, for example, wants a pretty campus and plenty of football games to turn into posts, reels and shorts. Successful influencers pull in an average of $130,000 a year, but just remember: Actually making money is more than a longshot.

💸 Remember the Chase Bank infinite money glitch? It allowed people to cash out thousands from ATMs before their checks could bounce. Now, the fraudsters are getting sued. JPMorgan filed lawsuits in at least three federal courts, going after the biggest offenders. One guy in Houston owes $290,939.47. Criminal charges are on the way.

Robert Downey Jr. says no: There will never be an AI version of him, period. The “Iron Man” star says he’d “sue all future executives” who greenlight a digital replica, even after he’s dead. (Wonder how he’s gonna pull that one off …) FYI, he’s coming back to Marvel as Doctor Doom in 2026 — unless, you know, something bad happens.

Jedi mind tricks: Neurable is creating mind-reading headphones that pick up tiny electrical impulses from your skull. Telepathy might be next. In one of their gamified exercises, the more you focus, the faster you make a rocket accelerate. Watch the video here — and while you’re watching, think where this tech will be in five years!

🐶 The 2024 Dog Photography Awards are here: Cuteness overload! A white shepherd named Kooki is first place in the “Portrait” category, but the pups in “Action” stole my heart. There were thousands of entries from over 60 countries. Don’t forget to check out the honorable mentions tab. If you need another reason to smile, check out my Abby ready for Halloween.

Be a pal: Click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel. This just means when you’re surfing on YT, you’ll see more of my videos. I’m so close to hitting 100,000 subscribers. Thank you!

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🎃 Treats, no trick: Check out Nextdoor’s treat map to see which of your neighbors are giving away full-sized bars or options for kiddos with allergies. Bummer … you’ll need to register to see the map.

Iconic: It's easy to adjust the icon size on your computer. On Windows, right-click on the desktop, choose View, and select from Large icons, Medium icons or Small icons. On a Mac, click on your desktop to ensure you're in the Finder. From the menu bar, go to View and choose Show View Options. A window will pop up where you can adjust the icon size using the slider provided. Sweet!

Keep your distance: Save your eyes from strain and have your iPhone warn you if your face is too close to the screen. From Settings, choose Screen Time > Screen Distance. Android friends, your phone doesn’t have this feature, so keep your phone at least 12 inches away from your eyes when possible.

🖼️ Glow up your playlist: Spotify lets you add your own images or custom art to your playlists. Nice finishing touch if you’re making a digital “mixtape” for your pal or a sweetie. Open a playlist, tap the three dots, then choose Edit playlist > Change image or Create cover art.

Quote me on this: It used to be that putting a term in quotes told Google, “I want this exact thing.” Not anymore. The new way: Open Google in your browser, do a search, then click the Tools menu. Click All results > Verbatim. You’ll have to do this each time you want an exact search.

✅ 50% off alert: My home security pick, SimpliSafe, is having a massive sale. I love their new Active Guard technology that alerts you before a break-in happens. You don’t need to live in fear or worry about burglars when you’re not home. Get all the gear to lock down your home for half off.*

My friend, Jason, told me he went on a second date the other day. The woman asked him, “So, what do you look for in a relationship?” Jason told her, “A way out.” She didn’t laugh.

🚀 The answer: D.) Modern smartphones have about 120,000 times the processing power of the computer that landed on the moon in 1969. Incredible, right? Oh, that reminds me … Why’s the internet so bad in outer space? It’s zero‑G! (Oh, that was so bad, it was good!)

➗ Shoutout to all you math geniuses who solved yesterday’s problem correctly: 3 x 3 - 3 ÷ 3 + 3 = 11.

Do me a favor and click the link to check out today’s sponsor, which helps me bring this free newsletter to you. Get 45% off NativePath’s Collagen Peptides. I hope you have a wonderful day, and I’ll be back tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim