Ring in the new year in tech-savvy style, friend! I can't believe it's finally New Year's Eve. It feels like it took all year for it to get here.

Let’s kick off today’s newsletter with trivia. What’s the most common New Year’s resolution for 2024? Is it to … A.) Lose weight, B.) Get more exercise, C.) Spend less time on social media or D.) Save more money? You’ll find the answer at the end! (Btw, only 9% of people who make resolutions actually keep them!)

✅ Share the know-how. When you see icons under a story in this newsletter for Facebook, X, LinkedIn and email, click one to instantly share that story with your coworkers, family and friends. I had a total blast putting this last issue of the year together. — Kim

I've been in tech forever, and can honestly say this was one of the biggest years for technological advancements. Generative AI took center stage, and ChatGPT became a household name. Heck, I use it almost every day.

But this year also had its fair share of bloopers. From a missing submarine full of millionaires to lab-grown meat, let's look back.

Deep drama

When OceanGate's Titan submarine went missing in June, everyone frantically refreshed their news feeds for updates. Titan contained four men on a mission to catch a glimpse of the Titanic, but, as with the Titanic, their story ended in tragedy.

Despite warnings about the vessel being unable to withstand the ocean's pressure, OceanGate proceeded. Four days after contact was lost with the sub, a deep-sea robot spotted its remains. Sad story all around.

Cool it

In Mexico, a geoengineering company called Make Sunsets tried curbing climate change. They launched balloons that flung reflective sulfur dioxide into the sky in an attempt to cool off the planet. It didn't work and made a mess.

Cruisin' for a bruisin'

Tesla's self-driving cars weren't the only autopilot blunder this year. GM had its own with its Cruise driverless taxi division. They piloted the program in San Francisco, but it was a real mess.

The Cruise vehicles caused many problems, like dragging a pedestrian 20 feet. GM tabled the program and laid off 25% of its staff. Back to the drawing board.

‘Meat’ me in the lab

Upside Foods, based in Berkeley, California, tried to take lab-grown meat to the next level. It wound up being a huge flop. The startup raised over half a billion dollars, but it was all smoke and mirrors.

Upside used a ton of labor, plastic and energy, but the company hardly made any product. I'm not sure I would've eaten it, anyway ...

Pin it to win it

The Humane AI Pin had high hopes of replacing our smartphones, except … it didn't. A couple of former Apple execs created the device, which critics say is magical and awkward.

The magic? You can chat with AI while a laser projects the information onto your hand. Cool, but the pin weighs as much as a golf ball, making it difficult to wear. I'll stay glued to my screen for now!

😂 So, there you have it — the biggest tech flops of 2023. I won't even go into all the drama from the social media companies. Threads? Yeah, that was a blip. Things are also still a hot mess over at X.

Meanwhile, over at the Komando Radio Ranch …

The year 2023 saw us launch this very successful newsletter — thanks for your support! Coming in 2024, a new website that I promise won't have as many ads. And don't forget, my YouTube channel is getting surprises in January. Don't miss out — click here to subscribe now and stay tuned!

🎸 Speaking of new companies … Which Beatle wanted to make it big as an entrepreneur? Ringo Starr‑tup. (Oh, that was so bad!)

• Save money: A smart thermostat will help you save on your AC and heating bills. It works with Siri, Alexa and Google.
• Get better sleep or more exercise: If you don’t need a fancy smartwatch, I like this $39.99 fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor, sleep monitor, step counter and more.
• Lose weight: This $23.99 smart scale tracks your weight, body fat percentage and other health metrics.
• Drink more water: Get a smart water bottle that will remind you to take a slug of the mug.
• Expand your brain: Start by listening to an audiobook on your next drive, walk or chore.
• Eat more chocolate: Heck, yeah! This $11.99 bag of Ghirardelli Premium Assorted Chocolate Squares is a great start. 😋

⚠️ “Synthetic identity fraud”: That’s when scammers use stolen Social Security numbers (often from kids) and add bogus names, birth dates and email addresses to create fake personas. They open credit cards, max them out and leave a trail of debt. Losses from this scam are projected to hit $5 billion next year. Have a kid 13 or younger? Fill out this form to see if they have a credit report and freeze it if they do.

Tired of cookie-cutter Airbnb or hotel stays? “Homestays” are for travelers looking for genuine local experiences — by staying with people who live there. Maybe you'll find yourself sharing family dinners in Toulouse or diving into cultural festivities in Oaxaca. Def not for introverts.

🚶‍♀️ Time to start walking: Michele Rice-Nelson was 271 pounds and wheelchair-bound but managed to turn her life around after a pre-diabetes scare. She set out on daily walks with her dog, aiming for 7,000 steps a day, and she lost nearly 100 pounds. Way to go!

I love you a latte: Ever heard of the ReelShort app? It’s a hit with moms for its super-short romance and fantasy series. Think “billionaire husband” type dramas and “werewolf love triangles” in minute-long episodes. Don't expect Hollywood glam — these are low-budget, high-drama flicks perfect for watching over a cup of coffee.

“Bootleg Viagra”: That’s what the FDA calls the male energy supplements being sold on Amazon. Many products contain the actual prescription ingredients that can be dangerous to those with heart issues but are being marketed as harmless OTC health supplements. Amazon may be facing a stiff fine.

Buried within all the legal mumbo jumbo you said “yes” to when downloading an app, you may have given the app permission to listen using your phone’s microphone and collect data.

Here’s how to find out which apps are listening in:

• Have an iPhone? Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone. Disable apps you don’t want picking up on your conversations.
• On Android, go to Settings > Apps Permission Manager. Disable the microphone for any apps you don’t want eavesdropping.

🦺 Pro safety tip: Before downloading an app, read the reviews in the Apple App or Google Play stores. If you notice reviewers talking about things like pop-ups or their phones behaving oddly after downloading, skip that one.

“Kim, you’re so dramatic.” OK, maybe I am — but this is big! We have some major changes coming down the pike in January.

I don’t want to spoil it, but I’ll tell you that Andrew Babinski, my radio buddy for years, and Content Queen Allie are on board. You’ll be seeing a lot of our faces. All you need to do is follow our YouTube channel.

Ya know, in all these years, I’ve never bugged you to follow me there, so you know this is something special. Can’t wait for you to see the fun we get up to!

Check your car: Get the free NHTS SaferCar app. Put in your car’s VIN and receive automatic alerts about any recalls. There have been a ton lately.

Cook: I’m going to make the perfect roast chicken for a cozy weekend. This recipe is a classic, and it makes the house smell so good.

Sleep: Keep your room colder than usual and take a nice hot bath or shower before bed. Try a weighted blanket, too — they work!

Download: Apps can help if you have a specific goal for the new year. I like MapMyWalk to see my steps! MyFitnessPal is great for food tracking. I use Hallow for my daily reflection and prayers. Here’s a three-month free trial to Hallow.

Shake: A special holiday cocktail. Content Queen Allie is making spiced orange gin and tonics to ring in the new year.

Ask me for help: I would love to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions. Drop me a note. I read every single one.

I saw “love,” “money,” “health” and “strength.” How about you?

The answer: D.) Save more money. And you can count on me to help you do just that on my shows, podcasts and newsletters!

Click to view the full-sized image; Source: Statista.com

🗽 Every New Year's Eve, I look forward to a good show at Times Square, but year after year, they drop the ball! (Was that a groan I heard?)

Thank you for your incredible support throughout 2023, and as we zoom into 2024, I'm deeply honored to be a regular in your inbox. Here's to a happy new year brimming with strong Wi‑Fi, cutting-edge gadgets and all the tech wonders that make life extraordinary! — Kim