Plus: Did your iPhone die overnight? Here’s why
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October 10, 2023

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In partnership with Komando Community

Happy Tuesday, friend! Amazon’s Big Deal Days (aka Prime Day sale) is here, and I spent the morning shopping for you — lots of links to incredible deals below. I love shopping the October sale for Christmas gifts. It feels so nice to get people checked off my list this early!

Quick streaming music tip: Make your music flow smoothly with crossfade. This makes your songs transition from one into the next instead of ending abruptly, pausing and starting the next track. On Spotify, go to Settings > Playback > Crossfade. In Apple Music, head to Settings > Apple Music > Crossfade. — Kim

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IN THIS ISSUE

  • 😴 Shop till you drop
  • 🔋 iPhone update issues continue
  • 📞 Ask Kim: "Is it Google or a scam?"

TODAY'S TECH HACK

I did all the shopping for you

I did all the shopping for you

Attention, Amazon shoppers: Deal in Aisle 3. OK, but really, Amazon's fall sale is here, and I found the best bargains for you. Happy saving!

▶️ Don’t have a Prime membership? Use this link to try it free for 30 days.

For the kitchen

  • Vitamix 5200 blender: Professional-grade blender with a 64-ounce container and 10 speeds. Its hardened stainless-steel blades can handle anything and last forever. Content Queen Allie has had hers for over 12 years!
  • SodaStream sparkling water machine: Make your own bubbly water at home. The kit includes the Aqua Fizz sparkling water maker, a 60-liter carbon dioxide cylinder, and two dishwasher-safe glass carafes.
  • JoyJolt glass airtight containers: Toss out your stained old plastic Tupperware. This set includes 12 leakproof containers and lids.

For entertaining

  • Samsung 55-inch QLED 4K Frame TV: This smart TV looks like a piece of wall art when it's not in use. It's got a matte, anti-reflective display and is super slim.
  • Bose SoundLink Revolve+ ii Bluetooth speaker: Portable speaker with excellent sound in a small package. It's dust- and water-resistant (IP55 rating) and has a flexible handle to carry or hang it anywhere.
  • Bev by BLACK+DECKER cordless cocktail maker: Talk about a good gift. Create cocktails and mixed drinks with the touch of a button. Simply fill the reservoirs with your favorite spirits and mixers, insert a Bartesian capsule, and select your preferred strength. It mixes and pours drinks in seconds. Cheers!

For kids and pets

  • National Geographic battery-making kit: Super fun gift idea for kids in your family. Experiment with metals, liquids and wires to create different types of batteries and power a digital clock. The kit includes everything they’ll need.
  • Dog water bottle: Hydrate your doggy on long walks and hikes — just press the button to release water into the bowl-shaped top.
  • BISSELL Little Green portable carpet and upholstery cleaner: Use it on carpets, upholstery, car interiors, mattresses or whatever you want. It has a 48-ounce tank and comes with a 3-inch tough-stain tool and a HydroRinse self-cleaning hose tool.

For traveling

  • Samsonite Freeform hard-side expandable luggage: Using busted-up bags? Upgrade to a two-piece luggage set with a durable hardshell design, telescopic handles and 360-degree spinner wheels. They're lightweight, have a ton of room, and are easy to get in and out of your Uber.
  • Case-Mate rugged AirTag holders (4-pack): Durable way to protect your AirTag from scratches and drops. The carabiner clip attaches easily to your keys, backpack or purse. The silicone cases are water-resistant and shock-absorbent.

For everywhere else

  • SoundBot SB510 HD Bluetooth shower speaker: Jam out in the shower. No kidding, it has noise-reduction tech, a built-in microphone, and control buttons if you're tempted to take a call from the shower or bath.
  • Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Smart wireless doorbell camera with Ring’s Head-to-Toe HD+ video, motion detection and alerts, and two-way talk. It's easy to install and powered by a quick-release battery pack.
  • Miseyo identity theft stamp: This is genius. Instead of shredding or writing over printed text (like a credit card offer or bank details), roll this stamp over it to obscure any personal details.
  • Pure Enrichment heating pad: This extra-large heating pad has a soft micro-plush cover, digital LCD controller and two-hour auto-shutoff. It’s perfect for cold winter feet or year-round aches and pains.
  • Peloton bike: I still love mine, and now you can get one for around $1,000. Choose from thousands of workouts, track your progress, and access yoga, strength training, meditation exercises and lots more.
  • Belkin wireless charger: Sleek wireless charging pad that delivers up to 15W of power to your Qi-enabled devices. It works through most cases up to 3mm thick and has a non-slip surface to keep your phone in place. The LED indicator also shows the charging status.
  • TP-Link AX3000 Wi‑Fi 6 extender: Works with any router to boost your Wi‑Fi coverage and supports speeds up to 3 Gbps. It features a Gigabit Ethernet port, a smart signal indicator and a one-touch setup.
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YOU SHOULD KNOW

iCan't charge: Some iPhone users are complaining their phones are shutting off while charging overnight — after downloading the iOS 17.03 update. The most likely explanation: iPhones are turning off due to overheating, a problem this update was supposed to solve. Whoops.

Creators' delight: TikTok now allows videos to be posted directly from approved third-party video apps like Adobe Premier Pro, Twitch and DaVinci Resolve. Anyone who has ever tried editing videos in TikTok is celebrating right now.

🎶 Audiophiles, assemble: Spotify is launching a new “Supremium” subscription tier. For $20 per month, you get 30 hours of audiobooks, advanced playlist-mixing tools and access to higher-quality 24-bit lossless audio. Seems to be a rebrand of the Spotify HiFi service that was announced in 2021 but never launched.

Bigger isn’t always better: Will the real slim console please stand up? Sony's PlayStation 5, debuting in November, is thinner, shorter and lighter than its previous consoles. The $449 model is digital only (no discs) and the $499 version has a detachable disc drive. Sony says the new PS5 will become "the only model available" once the existing stock sells out.

☝️ Passkeys > Passwords: You've probably noticed nudges from Google to try fingerprint- or face-based passkeys instead of traditional passwords. Turn on the "Skip password when possible" opt-in when it pops up to try it. It's much easier to steal or guess a password than to imitate a fingerprint, so Google may have a (finger)point.

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TECH LIFE UPGRADES

So that’s what that does: On Windows, press F11 in most web browsers to quickly toggle full-screen and regular browsing mode.

😘 When the email needs a kissy face: In macOS, press Ctrl + Cmd + spacebar to quickly open the emoji picker.

Tap it: Back Tap on iPhone lets you set an action when you double- or triple-tap the back of your device. I recommend picking triple since it’s too easy to double-tap accidentally. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap to choose what happens. Screenshots are handy!

🗣️ Speaking of double-tap: On your computer, double-click to highlight a word or triple-click to highlight an entire paragraph. Simple little life-changer!

For the site you always check: Right-click on a tab in your browser and select Pin tab. This will shrink it down to a small icon that’s always there. Great for keeping frequently used tabs handy — like Komando.com!

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ASK ME YOUR QUESTIONS

Is this really Google on the phone?

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I have a small business. I am hounded daily with calls to "verify my business" on Google. Is this a scam? Why does Google even care? — Kay in Iowa

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I vote scam, Kay. Google My Business allows companies to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. It does want correct information for users but doesn't hound businesses. Accurate listings mean a better user experience, but verification is done through postcards, phone calls or SMS — and only when a biz owner starts the process.

If it’s the same number each time, block it. If it’s lots of different numbers, block them all. Sorry, I know it’s annoying!

For what it’s worth, I think you should list your business with Google. It’s free advertising!

❓ Have a question for me? Drop it right here, or leave me a voicemail at 602‑381‑8200 ext. 290.

FREEBIE OF THE DAY

Marketing courses to up your skills

You have a small business, side hustle or just want to market yourself better. Don’t jump in alone — the marketing experts at HubSpot have lots of free courses to get you on the right path. There’s everything from Excel for Marketers to a 10-lesson digital marketing certificate. These classes look great on a resume or LinkedIn, by the way.

Put on your thinking cap →

BYTES OF HUMOR: LOADING LAUGHS

BYTES OF HUMOR: LOADING LAUGHS

I can’t get my network printer to work. Oh, Brother, where art thou?

My goal with every newsletter is that you take away something you can start using. If there’s anything you want to know, reply to this email or drop me a note here. Yes, I read them all. (Sorry, I just can’t reply to everyone.) Thank you for being here with me and the best darn tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim

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