Hey friends, Wednesday is here! If you’re new, welcome. If you’re not, you know what’s first: Trivia! Steve Jobs used the “i” prefix for Apple products starting with the iMac in 1998. The "i" initially stood for "internet." What does it mean now? Make your best guess, and you’ll find the answer at the end.

💲 Do your part to keep this free newsletter free! Check out our sponsor, Pendulum. Your clicks, opens, views, follows, shares and all the rest support our work. And nope, I don’t get a cut if you buy anything from them! — Kim

Thousands of rentals just got wiped off the map in NYC. A new law there bans Airbnb rentals, and you’d better believe people are scrambling for alternatives to expensive hotels.

That's where home swapping comes in. And yes, it's exactly like the movie "The Holiday" (Jude Law not included, bummer).

Seasoned home swappers say it's the best thing since sliced bread, but how safe is it? Where should you look? I've got the lowdown.

Having suite dreams

Home exchange networks aren't a new concept. Teachers looking for a more affordable way to see the world over their summer breaks pioneered the idea, and then there are the hikers and couch surfers.

Now, high-end property owners pay a pretty penny to become members of exclusive networks. If you want to swap homes with like-minded others, there's a group for that.

There are dozens of options on Facebook — everything from solo women over 50 to alums from specific universities to vegans. (No leather couches!) You can also find groups dedicated to travel within particular cities and countries.

Swap safely

Some folks make arrangements on social media to avoid waitlists and fees. There's a risk there, of course. You'll need to do your own due diligence versus letting a third party handle it.

My advice: Eat the fee the first time to see if home swapping is for you. If you really want to skirt the waitlist and meet someone on social, you need to know their home and identity. Secrecy is the first red flag. If the other party refuses FaceTime or video chat, say no thanks.

What about your home? If you're a renter, check your rental agreement for restrictions and rules around subletting. If you own your home and still owe on your mortgage, see if your contract allows you to rent your place. Going against restrictions could cost you penalties and fines.

Insurance is part of this convo, too. Ask your provider if your renter's or homeowner's policy extends to anyone you swap homes with. You may need to take out additional liability coverage.

🦺 Guardhog and Pikl specialize in insurance just for home sharing. Who knew?

Arrivederci, beaches

Although people trade homes on Facebook and Instagram, going through a vetted third-party website is your safest bet. Here are a few to check out:

• HomeExchange rewards members with loyalty points for each year they renew. A subscription costs $220 annually.
• HomeLink has been around for over 70 years. Memberships start at $115 monthly and you can get a 30-day free trial.
• Complete an application on Thirdhome to become a vetted member. They have access to luxury residences in over 100 countries, meant for folks who already have a primary and secondary home. Fancy!

Whether swapping or renting, remember to protect your stuff. Store all of your valuables in a $21 portable locked safe. Lock any closets and rooms off-limits to guests.

🧳 Know someone who loves to travel? Share this post using the icons below so they’re in the know, too.

Experts in the medical community are paying attention to Akkermansia muciniphila. It can improve gut health by strengthening the gut lining and reducing gut permeability, based on in vitro studies. With over 3,000 scientific publications under its belt, this is one probiotic to pay attention to.

As award-winning actor Halle Berry says, “Akkermansia will change your life because it will change your gut.” This is just one of the reasons she decided to join the company as Chief Communications Officer.

Akkermansia isn’t found in food, so you can’t just eat more (fill-in-the-blank). But Pendulum has patented the strain as a daily probiotic. And since you’re reading this newsletter, you get a special deal to try it out.

🦠 Like 2020 all over again: Clorox bleach and those handy disinfectant wipes will be hard to get your hands on for a while — thanks to hackers. Someone broke into the company’s IT system, which led to a shutdown and drop in production. Expect shortages through March.

Like 2021 all over again: Elon Musk crypto giveaway scams are everywhere. This time, they’ve invaded TikTok. No, Elon is not passing out free crypto. No, he doesn’t want to give some to you because he’s so generous. Warn the young people in your life.

Lowlife: Remember when I told you about the 14-year-old who found a camera in an airplane bathroom? The AP reports, nope, it was an iPhone taped to the back of a toilet. Her family thinks a crew member put it there to record her. Smart kid — she spotted it, took a pic, then left the bathroom.

Just Walk Out: That’s Amazon’s new retail tech that means you can skip the line (legally). RFID tags keep track of the stuff you leave the store with, and then your card on file is charged. Right now, it’s in pilot testing around Seattle. Sign me up for this!

🔊 Fun fact: AirPods can stand up to stomach acid for at least nine hours. That’s how long it took to remove an AirPod from a gal named Moe Kennedy, who swallowed one in her sleep. Get this: The earbud worked just fine in her stomach and after the emergency endoscopy to remove it.

Volunteers wanted: In other Elon Musk news, his Neuralink brain-implant company is recruiting human test subjects to trial its brain-computer interface. To qualify, subjects must have a cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. More info here. I am hoping this might help someone in your life.

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.

👉 Tech understanding is just a click away!

Humble brag: I do a lot. Between the national radio show, this newsletter, my website, podcasts, SiriusXM show, and columns for sites like the Daily Mail, Fox and USA Today, I'm willing to bet you missed something.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s trending right now:

• Stalked: Twin sisters Madison and Christine were tormented by a cyberstalker for a decade. Listen to their story on my show podcast.
• Tricks: There are a ton of Easter eggs and secret tricks baked into Google Search. I wrote about 20 of my favorites.
• Speak up: Yep, I talk to my phone all the time. Siri is handy if you know how to use it! My best voice tricks, plus options for Android.
• Snoops: Something like 70% of people fess up to snooping on texts. Yeesh. Protect yours!
• Smarts: Tech life hacks make things faster and easier — and make you look smarter. These are genius.
• Safety: Every family should have a secret emoji for emergencies. I wrote about this smart security trick for the Daily Mail.
• Listen: Did you catch the Friday edition of my podcast? An old pal is back on the air with me and Content Queen Allie. Can you guess who it is? Listen here!

Pro tip: Don’t have time to listen to podcasts right now? Subscribe in your favorite podcast player and catch up with me on your next walk, drive or chore-fest.

When it comes to online dating, you only have a few seconds to stand out before someone swipes left. Based on millions of online dating profiles, these are the top photos that get folks swiping right.

• The headshot: A smile feels intimate. Think eye contact and warmth. No sulking.
• Full-body pics: Show potential dates the big picture of what you look like … and it helps to make you look less creepy.
• Candid photos: Nobody likes a stiff, posed photo. Relax and think of something that makes you genuinely laugh or smile.
• Glasses: Show them off. Daters like them, but keep it to one or two pictures.
• Your furry friends: Studies have consistently shown that pet owners appear more responsible and ready for a deep relationship.

🤳 What about the no-gos? Skip group photos, gym selfies and old pics. People want to see the real you, not a filtered or outdated version.

😂 I’ve decided to launch a new dating app exclusively for paleontologists. I’m going to call it Carbon Dating.

Traveling now is a real plane in the butt.

The answer: Apple nerds say Steve Jobs also said that the "i" stands for "individual," "instruct," "inform" and "inspire." At today's prices of anything Apple, it's short for "indenture."

☑️ Two more things: Forward this newsletter to some folks you know. And check out Pendulum if you haven’t! Appreciate your support. See you back here tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the universe! And in case no one told you lately how wonderful you are, I am! — Kim