It’s Friday! Let's start with a fun fact for those with electric bikes. If you won't be using your e-bike for a while, how much charge should you leave on the battery? Is it 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%? The answer's at the end, friends.

🚀 Get ready to blast off to keep you tech-savvy and a step ahead of those sneaky hackers. Ready to embark on this adventure? Let's get the party started! — Kim

Itching to try out iOS 17 before it officially debuts this fall? You're in luck! Apple just released the first public beta version. 

Is it worth the update? Once an operating system (OS) goes to public beta, it's pretty stable, but there might still be some bumps along the way. I found the most hyped features so you can decide if it's worth it.

Bells and whistles

• Messages: You’ll get a more streamlined search experience, improved audio messaging features and a new arrow that lets you jump to the oldest unread message in a thread. Group chats, rejoice!
• StandBy: While your phone is charging and turned on its side, it will display full-screen widgets. Use your phone as an alarm clock, display the weather forecast or scroll through your photos. 
• Apple Maps: When you don't have a cell signal, you can now download offline maps and still get to your destination. 
• FaceTime: You can now leave voicemails in FaceTime. They'll show up directly in your call history list.
• AirDrop: Goodbye, business cards. Initiate an AirDrop by selecting content or your contact info, then put the top of your phone on top of someone else’s phone for an instant transfer. 
• Passwords: Easily (and securely) share passwords or passkeys with other people.
• Check In: Automatically notify friends and family when you arrive safely at a destination. (For the person that always forgets to text.)

Some of the new features are cute but a little gimmicky. Stickers allow you to create live images and emojis. Apple also claims autocorrect is now more accurate. I'll believe it when I see it. 

Testing 1, 2, 3

Want to give it a shot? Here are the steps to install: 

• Sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program on Apple’s website. 
• Back up your device on iCloud or your computer.
• Go to Settings, then click General, followed by Software Update.
• Look for a menu called Beta Updates and enable it if it’s not already.
• Select iOS 17 Public Beta and install.

🔑 Key reminder: Don't forget to back up your device before you install the beta version. If things get extra buggy on your beta testing journey, you can switch to your last backup and get things working again.

Windows and Android users we love you, too

I know not all of you have an iPhone! I’ve got your back.

The July Windows 10 update includes a whole lot of bug fixes and a few improvements. The Windows 11 update includes live captions in additional languages, new text selection and editing voice access commands and a VPN status icon.

The latest beta version of Android 14 is loaded with a new “auto-confirm unlock” feature, support for the beta version on tablets and foldable devices, new default profile pictures and an upgraded widget picker for tablets. 

Speaking of … My jokes are still in alpha. Hopefully, they'll be beta soon.

Suicide mission: Some Tesla drivers are using cheap steering wheel weights to go hands-free in Full Self-Driving mode. Why? The weights fool the car’s computers so they don’t have to touch the steering wheel every minute or so. This is just moronic with the rise in Tesla Autopilot crashes and deaths. Don’t be this person.

🍼 Goo-goo gaa-AI: No, your niece didn’t have a baby. A hot new app called Remini will generate pics of you in a wedding dress, pregnant or with an AI-created kiddo. A three-day trial is free; then it’s $10 a week. (Yes, per week!) Remini says they store photos on their own servers and delete them after 30 days.

How’s Thursday at 2 p.m. Pacific? There’s nothing quite as aggravating as going back in forth via email to find a meeting time that works for everyone. If you use Gmail, look for the new calendar icon at the bottom of a new email. Select “Offer times you’re free” and just drag on your call to include them. Sorry, Calendly.

Sleep tight: A sneaky iPhone setting lets people open your phone and snoop around while you’re snoozing. My article on this is blowing up, so better check your phone before counting sheep.

🧵 Thread’s free for a reason: Meta's new Twitter-like app tracks your camera usage, unencrypted messages, battery, signal strength, education, race and health data. It also tracks "sensitive data" — religious beliefs. Even when location services are turned off, they approximate your location. Yup, then they sell it all to the highest bidder.

Keep the rom-coms coming: If you’ve been using your ex’s Netflix account, you can now pack up your binge-watching history and move it over to your new sweetheart’s account. You can transfer your profile to an existing account by entering the email and associated password. 

The cross we bear: Remember when video games like Doom or Battlefield 1942 had those Red Cross health packs that made us superhuman? They’re gone. The Red Cross claimed copyright on its symbol, much like music by Prince or Queen will never be royalty-free.

📺 Who doesn't love a great steak? Perfectly cooked meat that melts in your mouth is incredible. But you won't believe how one popular steakhouse is changing the game by using a 3D printer to create plant-based meats. You have to see it to believe it.

Sound like a tech pro, even if you're not one. Try my award-winning, daily podcast. Search for my last name with "K" wherever you get your podcasts and "Go Komando!"

Listen to my podcast, Kim Komando Today, here.

The average value of a stolen package? About $50. Who are the ones doing that stealing? Data shows:

• 94% of porch pirates are 45 and younger 
• 67% report being middle class

The dirty details

Research from Forbes shows New Hampshire ranks No. 1 and has the most Google Searches for "stolen package," plus a high reported larceny rate. Packages are also at risk in Oklahoma, Delaware, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, Washington, Oregon, Minnesota and Missouri.

At the very bottom of the list: Florida. Maybe it’s the gators. 

What’s stolen most often? Amazon packages! Makes sense since they ship out so many daily — about 1.6 million. About 52% are Amazon Prime packages. Then comes USPS (43%), UPS (38%), FedEx (25%) and DLH (10%). The rest fall into that murky "Other" category.

How can you stop them?

A doorbell camera goes a long way — both as a deterrent and a way to catch these jerks in the act. The trick is making sure you set yours up just right. Too high and you get just the top of a thief’s head. Too low, and it’s their feet. 

• The sweet spot to mount a doorbell cam is 48 inches from the ground. That’s 4 feet, math nerds.

Seems low, I know. But most doorbells, including the super-popular Ring, have a very wide scope. Video doorbells detect motion up to 180 degrees, up and down. 

☀️ Motion sensors detect body heat, too. (That’s why your dog might set off the cam.) Mount it any higher, and it might just capture the heat of the sun.

Need a video doorbell? Ring and Blink are solid brands. 

But if you want a total security package, SimpliSafe* Home Security’s latest innovation is called 24/7 Live Guard Protection. If an intruder breaks in, SimpliSafe monitoring agents can actually see, speak to and deter them through the camera letting them know they’re being recorded and that police are on their way. It’s a game changer in home security.

When watching streaming shows, it’s easy to lose track of two things: 

1. Where your favorite show is streaming
2. After you’ve watched all the seasons, when new episodes drop

There are so many streaming services, and most have at least a handful. Two sites will make you say, “Amen!”

Reelgood and JustWatch are great. Go to either site or download the app. Once you sign up, check all the channels and streaming services you have. 

➕ Add the shows or movies you watch or want to check out. You’ll be notified when new episodes are coming. Both work on any show and upcoming movies you want to see.

✅ You’re going to love this: The Current Life Hacks, our tip-focused newsletter, is coming very soon. Don’t miss out. Sign up now!

OK, that’s AFTER you’ve read this newsletter. But you’re here, so you’re doing that!

🦷🥚🚽 While brushing your teeth, cooking eggs or, uh, using the bathroom, update yourself with my Daily Tech Update podcast. In just 60 seconds, I’ll catch you up on the big tech news story of the day. 

Use the link below to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode.

They’re going to be so ducking mad.

🚲 The answer: 50%. It's best to keep your e-bike's battery in a cool, dry place, not fully charged and not totally empty. So anywhere between 40% and 60% is best.

Let's play "Pass the Tech!" Forward this newsletter to your pals. They get free, fun tech insights and you get more buddies to talk about tech stuff with. Win-win, right? Thanks a ton. You're the best! 👏 See you on Sunday! — Kim