Hey, hi, hello on a lovely Sunday to all my Komando-ites. Today’s tech trivia is inspired by movie magic. What was the first feature film to use computer-generated imagery, aka CGI? Was it … A.) “Star Wars: A New Hope,“ B.) “Tron,“ C.) “Westworld“ or D.) “Alien“? Make your best guess, and you’ll find the answer at the end!

One click is all it takes: I’m trying to get the YouTube award for reaching 100,000 subscribers, and I am so very close! Just click this link to help me reach this milestone. You’re awesome! — Kim

This past week, a frenzy of small explosions rocked Lebanon, causing thousands of injuries and killing at least 25 people. The cause? Thousands of Apollo AR924 pagers and ICOM walkie-talkies blew up in the hands of members of Hezbollah leaders and their families.

The attacks were coordinated and calculated, and they spooked the world. They left us wondering, "Could my smartphone [or another device] blow up in my pocket, too?"

Old-school tech, weaponized

Although what happened in Lebanon is still under investigation, it appears the devices that blew up were packed with explosives before they reached their intended Hezbollah targets. That makes a lot of sense since messing with devices during the manufacturing process would be easier than trying to manipulate them after they've been handed out.

Word on the street is that Israel manufactured these devices through shell companies, but that hasn't been confirmed.

Original theories about a cyberattack causing the device batteries to overheat and explode have also been ruled out. Looking at the footage of the blasts, they're inconsistent with battery fires or battery explosions.

Why were they using pagers and walkie-talkies in the first place? Israeli hackers have stepped up their game, and Hezbollah took their digital communications old-school to avoid detection.

One smart smartphone

In a modern smartphone, there's not much space to pack in explosives. Making room would mean removing enough functionality to tip off the person using it. There's much more room inside a pager, though. The outdated ICOM walkie-talkies that blew up had plenty of space for explosives, too.

Another reason your phone is safer: Smartphone production lines at companies like Apple and Google run under super-strict security measures. They want to ensure what you get works the way it should — and, of course, protect their valuable trade secrets.

Tampering is possible, sure, but it’d have to be an elaborate scheme to pull off undetected for millions and millions of devices.

Listen: I have a few more details about this in my "Daily Tech Update" podcast.

Phone it in

It’s good to know our smartphones, which most of us carry around all day long, are unlikely targets. But there are still things you may be doing incorrectly.

• Overheating batteries: Lithium-ion batteries in smartphones, laptops and other gadgets can overheat and catch fire if damaged or exposed to extreme heat. Using high-quality chargers and avoiding direct sunlight or heat exposure can help. A good thermal protection case also will reduce this risk.
• Cheap charging cables: Knockoff or low-quality charging cables can cause electrical shorts or overloads, potentially damaging your device or, at the very least, causing it to overheat. Only use certified cables.
• Excessive charging: Constantly overcharging your device or leaving it plugged in after it's fully charged can strain the battery, leading to overheating and potential failure over time.
• Physical damage: Dropping your phone or damaging its internal components can cause issues like battery punctures, which may lead to overheating or even explosions. Again, you need a great case for your phone.

⭐ This is important intel I bet you haven’t seen anywhere else. Do me a solid and share it with someone in your life using the share icons below.

Whether your hearing is mildly impaired or more severe, untreated hearing loss can lead to isolation, depression and cognitive decline. Fortunately, Horizon IX hearing aids are a breakthrough solution.

• Advanced Technology: Two computer chips process speech and background noise separately, delivering crystal-clear sound.
• Stealthy Design: These sleek, modern aids blend in, not stand out — nothing like bulky, old-school hearing aids.
• Bluetooth Connectivity: Stream calls, music and podcasts directly through your hearing aids.
• A+-Rated: hear.com is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and 4.9 out of 5 on Consumer Affairs, with flexible financing and insurance options.
• 45-Day Risk-Free Trial: See if the Horizon IX hearing aids are the game-changer you’ve been waiting for.

Whether your hearing loss is mild (26‑40 dB) or severe (71‑90 dB), you don’t have to be frustrated any longer.

🚨 Major macOS warning: Apple’s latest macOS Sequoia update is breaking big-time cybersecurity tools from Microsoft, SentinelOne, CrowdStrike and others. Some people also claim Firefox stopped working for them after the upgrade. Pro tip: Wait a few weeks before installing a new OS, and always have a backup.

Torque of the town: In the EU, all new cars are required to alert drivers when they’re driving too fast. If a bill passes in California, every 2030 and later model would need GPS or a front-facing cam, along with a function to deliver notifications to drivers exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph. Wonder where all that data will end up …

🔥 Anker power bank recall: You risk a fire if you’re using an Anker 334 MagGo Battery (PowerCore 10K), Anker Power Bank and Anker MagGo Power Bank with a model number of A1642, A1647 or A1652. These were all sold between Jan. 3, 2024, and Sept. 17, 2024. If you own one, stop using it immediately and fill out the recall form.

🅿️ Thieves are slapping fake QR codes on parking meters: The stickers are placed over the originals to look legit but redirect you to sketchy links or phony websites. Pay directly at the meter or look for a kiosk. If scanning a code is the only way, use a credit card and scan the site for spelling errors, blurry images or strange logos.

Hope you don’t have any 23andMe stock: The DNA testing company peaked at a $6 billion valuation. It’s now down 99%, and CEO Anne Wojcicki wants to take the company private. When they heard that plan, the entire board of directors said, “See ya.” Anne has until Oct. 3 to comply with Nasdaq’s qualifications or the company will be delisted.

Am I the a-hole? A Redditor wants to know after not taking away their 3-year-old’s iPad on a flight. A nearby family with a kid the same age asked if the Redditor would put away their child’s iPad since they weren’t allowing iPads on vacation. The Redditor said no, and the other kid cried for the rest of the flight. Cue the dirty looks. I’m with the OP (original poster): Parent your own kid. Reply and let me know what you think!

In a galaxy far, far away: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicts we’ll all have our very own R2‑D2 or C‑3PO (paywall link) robots following us around. For non-“Star Wars” fans, these droids help with daily tasks like starship repairs and translating alien languages. Imagine that, a bot you can take on vacation or leave to do the laundry at home.

🏁 Look inside your car. It needs a little TLC, right? Yeah, I thought so.

• This tiny cordless car vacuum charges by USB.
• A nice dust brush (29% off) tackles the fuzz on your dashboard and vents.
• Hang your bags instead of tossing them on the floor with these $5 headrest hooks.
• These cupholder coasters (21% off) can catch Diet Coke or anything else that drips.
• Washable cloth garbage bags for $8 keep trash contained and out of sight.

Save money: Check this page to see if anything you’ve bought on Amazon is on sale right now. This way, you can stock up!

📶 Your internet plan is expensive: Call your ISP and ask to talk to a “retention specialist.” They’re the folks who can cut you the best deal. Heads-up: Most promos are only valid for a year, so you’ll have to renegotiate then.

Name game: If you have multiple Amazon Echo devices, standard names like "Kim’s 3rd Echo" are useless. Send your music to the right place by changing it to something you’ll recognize, like “Kitchen” or “Den.” Open the Alexa app > Devices > Echo & Alexa. Choose your device, tap the settings cog and then select Edit Name.

⭐ Gold star: You take a picture, thinking, “Wow, this is a winner,” and then, you never see it again. In your photo app, look for the heart or star icon. This adds an image to your favorites. PSA: This works with your music apps, too.

Alt + Tab: A keyboard shortcut pro Windows users know. Use it to cycle through your open programs quickly. On a Mac, it’s Cmd + Tab.

🤝 “How do I advertise in your newsletter, Kim?” Well, doggone it, that’s a great question. If you pass muster (that’s me!), you can reach all kinds of people. Fill out this form and fabulous Tracey will get in touch with you with all the details.

• Gary in Arizona needed a kidney and made a last-ditch Facebook post. Cecelia saw it, stepped in, and now they’re forever connected.
• Kelly in South Dakota wants to build an app to help kids with special needs get glasses. Her goal? Make eye tests fun and easy for them.
• Brett Allred lost his son, Riley, to suicide last year. While searching Riley’s phone for memories, Brett found screenshots of a website — and it’s one you won’t believe.

Plus, Jim wants to send 70,000 emails, Robert needs text-to-speech for books, Betty looks for a sheet music app, Lyla searches for a flight simulator for her son, Anne fell for a Facebook dog scam and much more.

✈️ Watch: I sat down with money guru Clark Howard to get the scoop on how to save big bucks buying airline tickets. Spoiler: He loves Southwest!

Stock: Your car. You’ll be glad you’re prepared when emergencies happen. Consider an emergency kit and a jump box (20% off). Excellent gifts for new drivers, too!

💎 Clean: Your jewelry. I use this ultrasonic cleaner to make mine sparkle. So easy!

Learn: To cook like a pro with Jacques Pépin. The famous French chef shares his at-home recipes on YouTube. While you’re there, follow me.

🚀 Listen: To the sounds of space. NASA’s sonification of space data makes for some trippy listening. Five stars!

This is me in Tennessee. I was about 10 when I did a full circle over the bar because the boys dared me. That’s how I lost my front tooth, so the one you see is fake!

The answer: C.) “Westworld.“ Released in 1973, it was the first feature film to include computer-made imagery, kicking off Hollywood’s love affair with CGI. And, yes, it’s the same plot as the HBO show of the same name.

Today, some movies, including “Guardians of the Galaxy,” use CGI in 90% of their shots. Computers making movies — what a Marvel!

🤝 Hey, do you need a hand with your online business, a digital dilemma or getting something done? Drop me your questions here. I personally read every single one. Thanks for being such a loyal reader of the best free tech newsletter in the universe! See you tomorrow! — Kim