Hello on this fabulous Wednesday, tech lover! Let's start this party with trivia. What inspired the iconic ding sound that welcomes you when booting up a Mac computer? Was it a … A.) Tibetan singing bowl, B.) Beatles' song, C.) Cash register opening or D.) Classical piano key note? The answer’s at the end!

🚔 On yesterday’s Kim Komando Today podcast, I told the story of how the Phoenix SWAT team raided my house last Friday night. If you missed it, watch it now on YouTube, Rumble and Facebook. Spoiler: South American gangs were involved.

🌐 Every day, I visit at least 35 websites to bring you only the top tech news that matters to your life. I hope you take away something today that makes you glad you subscribed. I bet you do! — Kim

I’ve been writing this newsletter for almost a year, and somehow, some way, we’ve never talked about widgets. “Whoa, Kim! Too exciting for a Wednesday!” I know, I know. But trust me, you’ll be glad you spent a few minutes fiddling with your computer to set these up.

Widgets act like little windows into the apps you've got on your computer. They’re right on your desktop, so you can quickly glance at info or update something without launching the full app. Cool.

Prime example: Put a weather widget on your desktop so you always know the forecast. Or add a to-do list widget so you can check off tasks as you go. How? Glad you asked.

For all my Windows pals

First, these steps may vary if you’ve already played around with widgets. Try this: Click the icon to the far left of the taskbar (usually a blue and white box). Not seeing it? Press Windows + W. Some widgets have already been added for you. Thanks, Microsoft.

• Click the + (plus) at the top to add new widgets, then Pin any you like. To see more options, follow Find more widgets.
• Click the three dots (top left) on any widget to remove or customize it. For the stocks widget, for instance, you can pick which stocks are shown.

The ones I like most are Photos and Shopping, but see what you can find. To put widgets on your actual Windows desktop, not a pop-up panel, you’ll need a third-party app, like Widget Launcher.

If you’re using macOS

Click the date and time in the top right corner. The notification center pops up, and yep, that’s where you’ll find widgets. Just click Edit Widgets at the bottom of the panel to add new ones.

• Drag widgets down from the notification center to the desktop to move them. macOS will arrange them in a grid to keep your desktop tidy.
• Cmd + click on the desktop, then pick Edit Widgets to add them directly. You’ll get lots of choices, from news feeds to sticky notes.
• Click the + (plus) to add a widget, or just drag it to the desktop. Once it's in place, Cmd + click on it to customize or remove it.

Pro tip: If you've got a MacBook, try the battery widget. It'll regularly remind you how much juice is left in your laptop — aka how quickly you need to find a charger.

🤣 Why did the pirate update his MacBook? His matey told him he needed an iPatch. (Sorry, had to.)

• Women’s Vionic Gemma slippers for lounging around the house.
• If you want a more luxurious slipper, try these.
• Guys, I didn’t forget about slippers for you.
• Slip-on sneakers for when you're on the go.
• Recovery feels better in Oofos sandals. Lots of colors, too!

One down, millions to go: Give the FBI and its allies a high-five for taking down the world's most notorious ransomware gang — one of LockBit’s dark web sites. The big bosses in Russia, likely toasting with vodka over being untouchable, will be back. They always come back.

Look, Elon! No hands: Neuralink's first human experiment is a success. A brave soul who had the brain chip implanted can now use just thoughts to scroll and click a computer mouse. Crazy stuff — and just the beginning for this tech.

Court of the future: The NBA rolled out a flashy, new toy recently at the All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis — an LED glass basketball court that switched up its looks on the fly. Think live stats, replays and animations right under the players' feet. It didn’t steal the spotlight from the slam dunks, but I’m sure ads will follow soon.

🤦‍♂️ No one's laughing: A 23-year-old cop in Montgomery, Alabama, thought it'd be amusing to "swat" another department. Christopher Eugene Sanspree Jr. used an app to report phony shootings and break-ins on duty because he "thought it was funny." He's facing six misdemeanor charges with a $6,000 bond. They should bill this idiot for the lost time and resources.

Let's keep wildlife wild: Research shows even educational snaps of wildlife fuel illegal animal trafficking and dangerous human-wildlife encounters. So, uh, it’s best to avoid the lion selfie unless you're aiming for a Darwin Award.

Use an Apple Watch? The brand-new ones lost the oxygen-sensor tech while Apple battles a lawsuit. Yup, a small company says Apple stole its tech. Older models still have the O2 sensors, so they’re fetching more money than ever. Good time to sell yours if it’s just sitting around.

📧 Emoji etiquette: A study says an emoji or GIF can lighten the mood and boost team vibes when communicating via email. Just make sure you send a 🍦 and not a 💩. It could mean the difference between a laugh and an HR meeting. Context is everything.

🐜 Who knew ants had a thing for gaming? Reports of these tiny critters wrecking PCs are popping up everywhere. They’re after your thermal paste like it's Taco Tuesday. A tip from the wise: Check the inside of your PC often and be persist‑ant.

You don't want to miss the last available spot for dinner tonight, so you let a reservation-booking app access your Google Calendar. Harmless, right? Wrong.

The more apps you give access to your account, the more you’re exposed. And if an app suffers a data breach, that puts you at risk.

The good news is it’s easy to revoke third-party app permissions. Here’s how:

• Log in at myaccount.google.com and tap Security.
• Scroll to Your connections to third-party apps & services > See all connections.
• Select the app or service you want to review, then choose See details.
• Click Stop using Sign in with Google and confirm your selection.

NOTE: This does not delete your account with that app. It may request access to your Google account again the next time you open it, so be on the lookout.

🤣 Where’s the best place to hide a body? Page 2 of the Google search results.

A bag of rice doesn’t work: Apple now says forget the rice. If your phone gets wet, turn it off immediately to prevent a short circuit. Remove the cover, wipe down the phone, then let it air dry in a cool place. Keep it upright with the ports facing downward to let any water drain. The hardest part? Waiting at least 24 hours to turn it back on.

Taking a trip soon? Do what I do. Before you get on the plane, Team Android, stick a Tile Mate tracker (or, Team Apple, an AirTag) into your suitcase. If the airline loses your luggage, the app can help track it down.

📘 Time to upgrade: Still use a Nook e-reader from Barnes & Noble? It's retiring some of the older models. You'll still be able to use it, but you won't be able to access your Nook account or buy new books. Good time to switch to a Kindle.

Simple side hustle: Put your truck or SUV to work moving oversized items for people with cars too small for that couch or fridge they just bought. TaskRabbit or GoShare are good options. GoShare says drivers make a whopping $45 to $168 an hour.

✍️ That was easy: Adobe has two URLs for the next time you need to adjust a PDF or add your signature: edit.ing and sign.ing. Yep, those are real URLs.

Every day, we're on a mission to boost your digital life to the max. We're out there digging through the internet, chatting with tech geniuses across the globe, and discovering all those sneaky tech tips and tricks just for you.

Why not crank up the volume on your support? Dive into the Komando Community. Here's what you'll get:

• 📰 More of the good stuff like this newsletter
• 🎧 My show, but smoother, with zero commercials
• 💡 Direct answers to your tech puzzles from our IT superheroes

And here's the kicker: Try it all out absolutely free for 30 days! No strings attached. See for yourself how it can transform your digital life.

All these tech treasures can be yours for just $4.99 a month. And guess what? Check the box to get an immediate 10% discount if you’re over 50, serving in the military, are an emergency responder, veteran, teacher and more. Thank you for supporting all we do!

I like big busts and I cannot lie.

The answer: B.) Beatles’ song. Specifically, it’s the final chord of "A Day in the Life." Apple sound designer Jim Reekes wanted a sound that instilled happiness.

💚 It's a shame The Beatles didn't make their yellow submarine green. That would've been sublime.

If you love my jokes, bless you. If you can’t stand them and read anyway, bless you. I’ll see you tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the universe. Thanks for letting me in your inbox! — Kim

Hello on this fabulous Wednesday, tech lover! Let's start this party with trivia. What inspired the iconic ding sound that welcomes you when booting up a Mac computer? Was it a … A.) Tibetan singing bowl, B.) Beatles' song, C.) Cash register opening or D.) Classical piano key note? The answer’s at the end!

🚔 On yesterday’s Kim Komando Today podcast, I told the story of how the Phoenix SWAT team raided my house last Friday night. If you missed it, watch it now on YouTube, Rumble and Facebook. Spoiler: South American gangs were involved.

🌐 Every day, I visit at least 35 websites to bring you only the top tech news that matters to your life. I hope you take away something today that makes you glad you subscribed. I bet you do! — Kim

I’ve been writing this newsletter for almost a year, and somehow, some way, we’ve never talked about widgets. “Whoa, Kim! Too exciting for a Wednesday!” I know, I know. But trust me, you’ll be glad you spent a few minutes fiddling with your computer to set these up.

Widgets act like little windows into the apps you've got on your computer. They’re right on your desktop, so you can quickly glance at info or update something without launching the full app. Cool.

Prime example: Put a weather widget on your desktop so you always know the forecast. Or add a to-do list widget so you can check off tasks as you go. How? Glad you asked.

For all my Windows pals

First, these steps may vary if you’ve already played around with widgets. Try this: Click the icon to the far left of the taskbar (usually a blue and white box). Not seeing it? Press Windows + W. Some widgets have already been added for you. Thanks, Microsoft.

• Click the + (plus) at the top to add new widgets, then Pin any you like. To see more options, follow Find more widgets.
• Click the three dots (top left) on any widget to remove or customize it. For the stocks widget, for instance, you can pick which stocks are shown.

The ones I like most are Photos and Shopping, but see what you can find. To put widgets on your actual Windows desktop, not a pop-up panel, you’ll need a third-party app, like Widget Launcher.

If you’re using macOS

Click the date and time in the top right corner. The notification center pops up, and yep, that’s where you’ll find widgets. Just click Edit Widgets at the bottom of the panel to add new ones.

• Drag widgets down from the notification center to the desktop to move them. macOS will arrange them in a grid to keep your desktop tidy.
• Cmd + click on the desktop, then pick Edit Widgets to add them directly. You’ll get lots of choices, from news feeds to sticky notes.
• Click the + (plus) to add a widget, or just drag it to the desktop. Once it's in place, Cmd + click on it to customize or remove it.

Pro tip: If you've got a MacBook, try the battery widget. It'll regularly remind you how much juice is left in your laptop — aka how quickly you need to find a charger.

🤣 Why did the pirate update his MacBook? His matey told him he needed an iPatch. (Sorry, had to.)

• Women’s Vionic Gemma slippers for lounging around the house.
• If you want a more luxurious slipper, try these.
• Guys, I didn’t forget about slippers for you.
• Slip-on sneakers for when you're on the go.
• Recovery feels better in Oofos sandals. Lots of colors, too!

One down, millions to go: Give the FBI and its allies a high-five for taking down the world's most notorious ransomware gang — one of LockBit’s dark web sites. The big bosses in Russia, likely toasting with vodka over being untouchable, will be back. They always come back.

Look, Elon! No hands: Neuralink's first human experiment is a success. A brave soul who had the brain chip implanted can now use just thoughts to scroll and click a computer mouse. Crazy stuff — and just the beginning for this tech.

Court of the future: The NBA rolled out a flashy, new toy recently at the All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis — an LED glass basketball court that switched up its looks on the fly. Think live stats, replays and animations right under the players' feet. It didn’t steal the spotlight from the slam dunks, but I’m sure ads will follow soon.

🤦‍♂️ No one's laughing: A 23-year-old cop in Montgomery, Alabama, thought it'd be amusing to "swat" another department. Christopher Eugene Sanspree Jr. used an app to report phony shootings and break-ins on duty because he "thought it was funny." He's facing six misdemeanor charges with a $6,000 bond. They should bill this idiot for the lost time and resources.

Let's keep wildlife wild: Research shows even educational snaps of wildlife fuel illegal animal trafficking and dangerous human-wildlife encounters. So, uh, it’s best to avoid the lion selfie unless you're aiming for a Darwin Award.

Use an Apple Watch? The brand-new ones lost the oxygen-sensor tech while Apple battles a lawsuit. Yup, a small company says Apple stole its tech. Older models still have the O2 sensors, so they’re fetching more money than ever. Good time to sell yours if it’s just sitting around.

📧 Emoji etiquette: A study says an emoji or GIF can lighten the mood and boost team vibes when communicating via email. Just make sure you send a 🍦 and not a 💩. It could mean the difference between a laugh and an HR meeting. Context is everything.

🐜 Who knew ants had a thing for gaming? Reports of these tiny critters wrecking PCs are popping up everywhere. They’re after your thermal paste like it's Taco Tuesday. A tip from the wise: Check the inside of your PC often and be persist‑ant.

You don't want to miss the last available spot for dinner tonight, so you let a reservation-booking app access your Google Calendar. Harmless, right? Wrong.

The more apps you give access to your account, the more you’re exposed. And if an app suffers a data breach, that puts you at risk.

The good news is it’s easy to revoke third-party app permissions. Here’s how:

• Log in at myaccount.google.com and tap Security.
• Scroll to Your connections to third-party apps & services > See all connections.
• Select the app or service you want to review, then choose See details.
• Click Stop using Sign in with Google and confirm your selection.

NOTE: This does not delete your account with that app. It may request access to your Google account again the next time you open it, so be on the lookout.

🤣 Where’s the best place to hide a body? Page 2 of the Google search results.

A bag of rice doesn’t work: Apple now says forget the rice. If your phone gets wet, turn it off immediately to prevent a short circuit. Remove the cover, wipe down the phone, then let it air dry in a cool place. Keep it upright with the ports facing downward to let any water drain. The hardest part? Waiting at least 24 hours to turn it back on.

Taking a trip soon? Do what I do. Before you get on the plane, Team Android, stick a Tile Mate tracker (or, Team Apple, an AirTag) into your suitcase. If the airline loses your luggage, the app can help track it down.

📘 Time to upgrade: Still use a Nook e-reader from Barnes & Noble? It's retiring some of the older models. You'll still be able to use it, but you won't be able to access your Nook account or buy new books. Good time to switch to a Kindle.

Simple side hustle: Put your truck or SUV to work moving oversized items for people with cars too small for that couch or fridge they just bought. TaskRabbit or GoShare are good options. GoShare says drivers make a whopping $45 to $168 an hour.

✍️ That was easy: Adobe has two URLs for the next time you need to adjust a PDF or add your signature: edit.ing and sign.ing. Yep, those are real URLs.

Every day, we're on a mission to boost your digital life to the max. We're out there digging through the internet, chatting with tech geniuses across the globe, and discovering all those sneaky tech tips and tricks just for you.

Why not crank up the volume on your support? Dive into the Komando Community. Here's what you'll get:

• 📰 More of the good stuff like this newsletter
• 🎧 My show, but smoother, with zero commercials
• 💡 Direct answers to your tech puzzles from our IT superheroes

And here's the kicker: Try it all out absolutely free for 30 days! No strings attached. See for yourself how it can transform your digital life.

All these tech treasures can be yours for just $4.99 a month. And guess what? Check the box to get an immediate 10% discount if you’re over 50, serving in the military, are an emergency responder, veteran, teacher and more. Thank you for supporting all we do!

I like big busts and I cannot lie.

The answer: B.) Beatles’ song. Specifically, it’s the final chord of "A Day in the Life." Apple sound designer Jim Reekes wanted a sound that instilled happiness.

💚 It's a shame The Beatles didn't make their yellow submarine green. That would've been sublime.

If you love my jokes, bless you. If you can’t stand them and read anyway, bless you. I’ll see you tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the universe. Thanks for letting me in your inbox! — Kim