It’s a fabulous Sunday to boost your tech know-how, friends! Let’s kick things off with a tech brain expander. Gorilla Glass is the key material in our smartphone screens. What inspired its development? Was it … A.) Space shuttles, B.) Cars, C.) Submarines or D.) Armories? You’ll find the answer at the end.

Ain’t no party like a tech news party, and everyone knows parties are better with friends. Tell one of yours about this free newsletter! Thanks a million. — Kim

Remember when you'd go to Costco and buy movies on DVD? Some habits are hard to break, and I'm embarrassed to admit I buy a ton of flicks on Apple and Amazon. That's why this news surprises even cynical me.

Buying a digital movie isn't like purchasing a physical copy. The movie maker or distributor can't come into your home's DVD player and say, "Sorry, this isn’t yours to watch anymore." When you "buy" a digital copy of something, they can do just that, and poof — you lost the movie and your money.

Drama-rama is a risky business

The Discovery-Warner Bros. merger has stirred up a bunch of licensing issues. Max lost 87 titles, including the still-popular "Westworld." And say goodbye to "Mythbusters," "Minx" and "Legendary." This means if you bought these titles on Max, you can no longer watch them.

The sci-fi drama and other axed programs are available for free (with ads) on Roku and Tubi, but the point remains: Just because you bought a show or movie doesn't mean it's yours to watch forever.

Companies are cutting shows and movies from streaming services to save money on paying residuals to actors and writers, so who knows what you'll lose next? Enter the second rise of the Blu‑ray.

Say no to digital

When I look at the rack in my home theater at my new house, there's a Blu‑ray player. When the AV nerds asked me if I wanted one, I figured, "Why not?" Turns out a lot of other people are doing the same thing now.

Folks are doubling down on collecting DVDs, Blu‑ray discs and other physical media of their favorite shows and movies. For a while, it was just niche hobbyists and film snobs. Now, ordinary people are dusting off the old DVD player.

And where do you go to learn about a new hobby? Reddit, of course. Check out this haul one guy posted to the Blu‑ray subreddit. He and his wife recently spent a weekend building a vast collection of their old faves. They're up to about 500.

It's not just old movies, either. This year’s "Barbie" movie even has a special edition Blu‑ray with a pink case. They wouldn't make it if folks weren't buying.

Want to go old-school?

Unless you live in Bend, Oregon, where the last remaining Blockbuster store is, you'll have to get creative.

• Buy super-affordable collections: You can now buy multiple movies on one DVD. For example, get the complete eight-film “Harry Potter” collection ($23.98), eight wartime comedies ($4.99), eight flicks starring The Rock ($16.96) or Universal’s 10-film action collection ($19.99). Find more collections here.
• Look around: Open that cabinet in the attic and see if you still have your DVD player. I found mine under a box labeled "2009." Bonus points if you still have a stack of old movies.
• Keep your eyes open for deals: Record stores, public libraries (if you want to rent) and, of course, the internet are all good places to start. You can find almost anything you'd like to watch for sale on Amazon, eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
• Shop secondhand: Cruise by a garage sale or check your local secondhand shops. You never know what gems you'll find.

You could also start swapping movies with family and friends.

‘I’m mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!’

We have streaming service costs increasing, commercials being added to the services we pay for, and now, movies and shows we bought disappearing. It’s all just for corporate profits with disregard for the customer. I’m getting tired of it. I bet you are, too.

🎈 Did you hear Rick Astley is stingy with his Disney DVD collection? He'll share "Toy Story," but he's never gonna give you "Up." (I heard you laugh!)

No one wants stuff they have to shove into a closet after you leave. Practical gifts are always appreciated.

• A laptop cooling pad so no more overheating (No. 1 bestseller and 28% off!)
• Every pet owner should have this reusable lint roller — it’s amazing
• Ironing stinks, so get them a steamer that’s so much easier to use

🎁 Looking for tech gifts sure to impress? I put a great list together for you. No losers here!

🤖 Rosie is ready for you: In Salem, Oregon, RoboFab is set to churn out 10,000 human-like robots a month. “Digit,” Amazon’s soon-to-be warehouse buddy, will soon move over to cleaning and janitorial services. I can’t wait to get one for my house. I don’t mind washing floors, but I hate folding laundry, especially those fitted sheets. Nightmare.

⚠️ Don’t click the ads: "Homograph attacks," where tricky URLs mimic legit sites, are all over the place. Like a KeePass ad that's a total fake-out. These fraud sites are copycats trying to get your info or money. Skip the ads, scroll for real links, hover to check URLs and use antivirus software. I recommend TotalAV* — and it’s just $19 for the first  year.

Big Brother is directing: Imagine AI that knows your life better than you do. Google's "Project Ellmann" wants to weave your story using your phone data — from that adorable puppy pic to your midnight Google searches (yikes). A biographer in your pocket would be a cool concept … if it wasn’t so invasive.

I ♥️ this: In Northern Kentucky, a pregnant woman got a nudge from her Apple Watch's heart rate alerts. It led to an urgent C‑section and revealed rare myocarditis. Thankfully, both mom and baby are doing great. Got an Apple Watch? Open the app, tap My Watch, select Heart and set your BPM limits.

🐾 A paw-some calendar: Dog lovers, check out the TSA's free 2024 calendar starring pups from their Explosives Detection Canine Program. Each month, meet a different furry hero, like January's Gini-Gina from LaGuardia.There are fun facts about each dog and handy travel tips, too, like how U.S. Service Members can use TSA PreCheck for free and what to do if you lose your ID and need to fly.

In my no-nonsense, straight-talking podcast, I serve up everything tech in digestible, fun-sized pieces. New to the tech scene? Or maybe you're a pro? Doesn't matter. I’ve got you covered.

👉 Get my podcasts today!

Speak up: There’s a hidden way to make your iPhone calls sound clearer. To turn on Voice Isolation, answer a call, then swipe from the top right corner of your screen to open the Control Center. Tap Mic Mode > Voice Isolation.

🗑️ Trash can ≠ Gone: Even if you clear your computer’s recycle bin, those files can come back with the right tools. File-shredding tools overwrite the data on your hard drive. A couple of free options: Eraser and Secure Erase.

The fastest way to defog a cold windshield: Cars are computers on wheels, so this is def a tech life tip. Crank up the heat for a minute, then turn on the AC full blast. Turn off the recirculation button so you get colder, drier air from outside. Crack your window to let out the humid air. So smart, you are!

❓ Every week on my show, I talk with interesting folks and those who could use a little help with something tech. Catch our convos on a station near you or as a podcast.

• Colin from The Markup found Meta's Pixel tracking students from kindergarten to college on sites they have to use for school. Yep, kids' private info was sent to Facebook.
• Mitch from ScanMyPhotos fought big credit card companies for 18 years — and won! Small-biz owners, apply for your settlement.
• Cheryl in New Hampshire owns an IT company and can’t find skilled employees. Even worse, one of her ex-employees started making creepy late-night calls.

Plus, DeWayne needs apps for his biz, Steven wants to back up iPhone pics, Linda looks to clean up her inbox, Jim has Amazon delivery problems and much more!

• Know someone who’s always on video calls? Give them this phone mount that follows them when they move their head.
• Give the gift of security with this biometric travel safe with built-in GPS.
• Share memories with this digital photo frame that lets everyone upload their pics.

🎁 Stumped? Go with a winner! You’re bound to find a great tech gift on this list!

Drink: Something festive! Love this list that includes cocktails, mocktails, punch, coffee and cocoa. I’ll take a holiday pear sangria!

Shop the deals: Amazon has a refurbished site where products come with a money-back guarantee. You can save a ton! Here’s the link.

Fix: The sassy email you drafted to your sister-in-law. Drop it in this analyzer to see how your tone comes across.

Play: Sqword if you’re into Wordle (or if you were at some point). It changes daily.

See me in my life’s pictures: Be part of my inner circle and follow me on Instagram.

Santa’s always smiling because he knows where all the naughty girls live.

The answer: B.) Cars. In the 1960s, Corning developed a special glass for windshields but shelved it because it was too expensive to produce. Fast-forward to 2007, when it was used as the screen for the first iPhone (cue the “Jeopardy” music). The glass itself is more resistant to scratches and breaks — “Ion exchanging!”

🥔 What do you call a potato wearing glasses? A spec-tater! (Ha, good one!)

Do me a solid and spread the love. Share this email with a friend who wants to be as tech-smart as you. Use your unique referral link below, and if they sign up, you can earn prizes. Enjoy your Sunday, and I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim