Thirsty Thursday! No, not like that. It’s hot outside. Drink water. (I’m obsessed with this stuff — fiber-infused water.)

⌛ Quick tip: It’s 9 p.m. and you’re writing an email. Instead of sending it immediately, schedule it for the morning when you know your recipient will see it. In Gmail, click the arrow next to Send, then Schedule send. Most providers have something similar. — Kim

It’s nuts how cheap you can get a smart TV these days. Let me rephrase: It’s nuts how much data we’re willing to hand over for a cheap TV … or give away for a free TV. I wrote about that free 4K TV here.

If you want your TV to last, you need to do a lot more than dust the screen now and then. So, let’s get crackin'.

No soap operas here

Use a dry, soft cloth to wipe away dust and debris. I always have a stack of microfiber cloths around because they don’t scratch. Press gently if you have an LCD TV.

For oily spots and fingerprints, spray electronics cleaner on a cloth and gently rub the area until it’s clean. Or do like me and take the easy route — pick up this $5 pack of wipes.

Just say no to ammonia, acetone and alcohol.

Banish the dust

Vents keep your TV cool and prevent overheating. They’re on the back and maybe the sides. Before you clean ‘em, unplug your TV. A duster works, but a vacuum is better.

Don’t forget the ports

Ports are usually on the back, sides, or sometimes below or above your TV screen. A cotton swab might break those delicate connections and leave a trail of fuzz.

Grab a can of compressed air. Never shake the container and never stick the nozzle inside your TV ports. Hold the nozzle about an inch away and spray at an angle. If you don’t like the waste, try a rechargeable electronics duster.

Germs: Not even remotely funny

Gross. Everyone in the house touches the TV remote, and you know they’re not always washing their hands. A tiny bit of liquid is OK. Use a sanitizing wipe or a slightly damp cloth to wipe the remote.

💅 Idea: Stop watching so much TV and read more. Just turn on the closed captioning.

New Chrome upgrades: Wonder what you’ll get? On mobile, you’ll see more recommended searches and related links if you click the URL at the top. On desktop: Downloads will now appear in the top right, next to your profile pic.

🔊 AI freebie for sound creators: Meta’s new open-source AI software creates audio from a text prompt. Think typing in “applause” and getting a custom audio clip. It’s called AudioCraft and can produce pro-quality sound effects and music. Try it here. 

No more fish pics: (Yeah, that’s code.) Instagram is testing a new feature to block photo DMs from people who aren’t your friends … meaning no more unsolicited personal pictures. Only one message to a non-friend, too. Some guy DM’d me a pic. I wrote back, “Is that a baby lizard?” That got rid of him.

Loop-de-loop: Microsoft Loop, new to the Microsoft Store, gathers all your workspaces, pages, apps and projects in one spot. The screenshots look like Notion, which Content Queen Allie loves. Try this out if you’re managing a ton of things or people.

📹 I phone, you tube: YouTube wants to be the U.S. version of TikTok, so it's time to roll out the fancy features for creators. New to YouTube Shorts: Live vids, fancy effects, Collab (create side-by-side with someone else) and Q&A, where the audience can submit questions. I’m going to try it, and, if you have a YT channel, you should, too. Gotta stay with the times!

I make the complex world of tech simple and approachable. From explaining the latest gadgets in plain English to offering easy-to-follow cybersecurity advice, I’ve got you covered.

👉 Tech understanding is just a click away!

Free eBooks galore: Project Gutenberg has 70,000 eBooks free for the taking (it’s legal, yes). Don’t have a Kindle or e-reader? Put one on your phone and read instead of scrolling through the news. Here’s “Pride and Prejudice.”

📤 For that really important email: Paste the draft into ChatGPT and ask it to edit for grammar and typos. Scan through its changes, then (pro tip alert!) read the email aloud. This way, you’re much more likely to catch mistakes or anything that sounds odd.

Is it safe? Friends keep sending you TikTok videos. Watching in your browser is harmless, right? Not so fast. Wish I could fit it all here, but head to my site for the way security pros use TikTok.

🦇 Battery vampire: iPhone’s Wi-Fi assist helps smooth things out when your connection is slow, but it hogs battery power. You can turn it off: Settings > Cellular > scroll down and turn Wi-Fi Assist Off.

Security cam 101: Placement is everything. Three rules: 1. Get a view of windows and doors on the ground floor. 2. Stick cameras up high so they can capture a wider area. (The corner of a room is a prime spot!) 3. A video doorbell cam should be 48 inches off the ground.

Win an iPad: At the bottom of this newsletter is your special referral link. Copy that link and share it with your family and friends. When they sign up for my free newsletters, you’ll earn points for great prizes. Thank you for your help in growing my newsletters!

I know what you’re thinking. “Wow, Kim. I wish I had a Komando show fanny pack.” You can! You can also snag a funny T-shirt to show off your geek side or a sweet phone case.

I also have backpacks perfect for carrying your gear and a mug you can use for your morning cup o’ joe while you read this newsletter. And hey, you’re supporting this free newsletter and all our hard work.

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

GnuCash is excellent accounting software that's completely free. If you're looking to manage your personal finances or even handle the accounts for a small business, it could be perfect for you. It works on the principles of double-entry accounting, so it can track everything from your bank accounts and stocks to income and expenses.

It's available on Windows, macOS and Linux, and since it's open-source, there's a whole community of folks out there who can help if you need it.

Get GnuCash for free here.

The answer to yesterday’s Guess the Gadget: Cassette tapes! We inverted the colors to make it a little trickier. Cassette tapes have side A and side B, so it’s only logical their successor would be the CD.

For today, let’s get back up to the present. Hint: I own this! What’s pictured above?

✏️ See you back in your inbox tomorrow! If there’s something you need help with, hit reply and you might see my answer in a future issue. And be sure to rate today’s newsletter. Your input is super helpful! — Kim