Three cheers to a tech-rific Tuesday, friends! Let’s start with our trivia. Which unusual location is on Google Maps? Is it a … A.) Hidden city in the Atlantic Ocean, B.) Village with life-size dolls in Japan or C.) QR code-shaped forest in Oregon? You’ll find the answer, along with a video of the place, at the end of this newsletter.

😎 Do your part to help keep this newsletter free and click the links to check out our sponsor. Use QuickBooks? You def need to check out NetSuite. It’s more than accounting software. You see all aspects of your business, from costs to ways to make more money.

I had so much fun putting together today’s newsletter. The top story is a total gem that will save you cash. Let’s do this! — Kim

You leave your phone charging, then wake up late because — whoops — it’s dead and the alarm didn’t go off. That cord gave out on you. That’s the best-case scenario. Worst case: Your phone charger starts a fire while you’re sleeping.

Don’t you dare roll your eyes at me and think, “Kim, you’re so dramatic.” It happens — like the girl who went to bed with her iPhone next to her and woke up to flames. She was badly burned after the charger caught fire and ignited her blanket. The culprit? Cheap knock-off phone accessories.

We all want a deal, but never at the expense of safety. When it comes to cables, where do you draw the line?

Bad chargers make me testy

The fine folks at Consumer Reports dug deep to find the answers. They bought seven charging cables with prices ranging from $4.88 to $29 and conducted some pretty dang rigorous testing.

The Rapid Response team (bet the members brag about that at parties) used a specially adapted motorized rig to simulate real-world conditions. They tested each cord by bending one end at a 90-degree angle repeatedly until it failed to power a device and by continuously twisting a cable while it powered a device.

I bet you’re like me and wondered, “Are those Amazon chargers and cables any good? They’re so cheap!” Well, keep reading, friend.

The revealing results

The good news: Every cable they tried withstood the twisting test. The bending test is where things got interesting.

• The Apple Lightning cable ($29) survived over 11,500 bends. (That’s when they stopped testing.)
• The Amazon Basics USB‑C cable ($8.54) held up just as long.
• The Bytech USB‑C cable and Walmart’s Onn Lightning cable didn’t fare as well. The Bytech cable (under $5) failed before reaching 710 bends. The Walmart cable (around $5) stopped working before 796 bends.

The burning question

What’s the takeaway? Amazon Basics cables are a great product at a great price. If you have a knock-off charger or cable, here’s a link to buy a new Amazon Basics one. This is money well-spent, friends.

🔥 I passed along this report because I care about you. Use the share icons below so this way you can protect your family and friends, too.

This scares me for real: Dr. Ben Goertzel, an AI researcher, says “the singularity” — where AI surpasses human control — could hit by 2031. It all hinges on AGI, or artificial general intelligence. I’ll tell you this: "Terminator" is bound to become a reality.

🤖 OpenAI vs. Google: OpenAI needs the brightest minds, and with a $86 billion valuation, they can afford to pay 'em. They’ve poached nearly 100 ex-Googlers and are offering salaries up to $450,000. Remember when Big Tech was the hottest place to work? Now it’s AI.

Refund wave: Payment apps are a prime target for crooks. In 2021 alone, Zelle users lost $440 million to fraud. Now, over 2,000 banks are ponying up refunds. No, a judge didn’t force them to, but I’m willing to bet they see it as a move to hold off tighter regulations.

Walmart now has sensory-friendly shopping hours: This includes static TVs, no music and dimmed lights. Hit up your local Walmart between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. to shop in peace. My sister runs a school for kids with autism and raved about this move.

Cancer breakthrough: University of California, Davis, scientists discovered a potential cancer cell "kill switch" on CD95 receptors. Translation: The drug could improve cancer treatments, especially in tumors. They’re currently awaiting trials, but it’s incredible to see all the innovation coming in the fight against cancer.

Disconnect to reconnect: FTLO Travel is selling $2,000 phone-free adventures for millennials. They make you leave your phone in your hotel room. Ahem, you can get a much cheaper trip elsewhere. Just keep your phone in your pocket.

Dead “Bing”-er: AI wasn’t enough to save Bing. The latest StatCounter data shows 88.1% of Americans use Google, up from 86.75% last year. Bing slipped from 7.4% a year ago to 6.89% today.

🏛️ We built this city on rock and Rome: Step into the past with an online aerial tour of 320 A.D. This flyover explores 61 iconic spots, from the Colosseum to the Baths of Caracalla. Encompassing 7,000 buildings over 5.2 square miles, it’s a mesmerizing journey — no toga necessary.

You forget to lock your computer when you get up. Welcome to the club. Be smart and tell your Windows or Mac to do it for you! You can set your computer to auto-lock if you’ve been inactive for a certain amount of time.

On Windows:

• Open Settings and go to Personalization, then Lock Screen.
• Click Screen saver settings and select any option (except "None") from the Screen saver dropdown menu.
• Set a time for Windows to wait before locking. Check the box for On resume, display logon screen. Hit OK.

On a Mac:

• Click the Apple menu > System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Save > Screen Saver. Use the slider to choose a time.
• Click Show All to go back to the main System Preferences window.
• Click Security, then Require password to wake this computer from sleep or screen saver.

🤯 You can also set up your PC to lock based on where your phone is. Think about it: If your phone's nearby, so are you — and so your computer stays open. You walk away, it locks.

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.

Choose your platform below to listen:

🎤 My show on your time, straight to your iPhone: If you can’t catch me on your local radio station, download The Kim Komando Show via Apple Podcasts. It’s only a few bucks a month — and no commercials. Sweet!

Streaky pages? You’re getting that “Low ink” warning. Before you swap the cartridge, shake it up. Really! Remove the cartridge and shake it. This trick helps you use those last drops of ink.

🆓 Post a job for free: We’re hiring and I’m telling you, LinkedIn* is the best at delivering quality hires. Here’s a special link where you can post your job opening for free. You’re welcome.

Only you can prevent garbage fires: Batteries, especially lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium types, should be taken to a hazardous waste collection center — not tossed in the trash. Search online for your city or town’s name plus the term “electronics disposal.” Or use this handy site.

Google, remind me: Coming soon to Google Photos, you can create a calendar reminder right from a pic. Say you snap a photo of something at home that needs to be replaced. Make a cal invite for the weekend so you remember to hit the hardware store.

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They mustn’t like organ music.

The answer: B.) Village with life-size dolls in Japan. Located in Nagoro, these more than 350 dolls represent villagers who once lived there but have either moved or passed away. Here’s a video about it.

🪆 It’s kinda weird to me, but not like Russian dolls. They’re so full of themselves! (Ba‑dum‑tss!)

✅ That’s all folks! Don’t forget to help support this free newsletter and check out NetSuite for your business, large or small. See you tomorrow with the best free newsletter in the USA! — Kim