daily story pitches
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NOTE:
I’m focusing more on Twitter to tease stories and share other tech news. I know some of you super your reporters with their twitter handle. If you’d like to make my super consistent with the rest I wanted to let you know it is simply @jameytucker.
Friday, September,25th
You may not have been able to visit the local library for the past 6 months, so bring the library to your phone or iPad? Today’s App of the Day is Libby, an app that allows people to borrow books, magazines and audiobooks without visiting the library in person.
Thursday, September 24th
Football season is here and every game is a home game. Fans are going to have to watch games on TV and if your television isn’t set up correctly, it won’t be as enjoyable. 4K TV’s are great but if they’re set up incorrectly the games won’t look quite right. I’ll explain what you can do to make your TV great for sports I’d wager most people’s TVs are not setup for games.
Wednesday, September 23rd
Why does a 10 year old app suddenly hit the top of the charts in the App Store? It’s an interesting story. Pinterest set its all time record for downloads on Sunday. Why? iOS 14. Seems people are going to Pinterest, Twitter and Reddit to see what people are doing to their iPhones now that you can modify the Home Screen. Widgets, widgets, widgets. I’m going to take a look at how to use them to make your iPhone Home Screen look really really cool. (I’m also going to put a longer version on my website with more tips. Let me know if you want it for your website.
Tuesday, September 22nd
Zoom meetings can be a pain in the neck. Literally. All those hours staring down at a computer screen and web camera are taking a toll. I’m talking with a spine expert about what they’re seeing and I’ll show you a couple of things that may keep you from getting a stiff neck.
Monday, September 21st
Is Facebook and Instagram watching you through your camera? A lawsuit claims Instagram, owned by Facebook, has been spying on users when they didn’t have the camera opened. I’ll take a look at what this lawsuit alleges and a new iOS feature that will let you know if any app is using your camera.
Friday, September 18th
The app of the day, Triller. TikTok may be dead by Sunday after the White House said it’ll be removed in all app stores. (Update: TikTok will stay in app stores through November 12th, though users will not have access to updates starting Sunday at midnight). Today I’m looking at the best TikTok alternative that’s already taking off. Is it even better than TikTok?
Thursday, September 17th
Most of us believe older people, seniors are most frequently the victims of internet fraud. The truth is, millennials lose money to internet scams. I’m taking a look into an FTC report on the types of scams millennials fall for.
Wednesday, September 16th
iOS 14 is released today to the public and it is filled with new features that will literally change the way you use you iPhone. I’ve been using a beta version of it for over a month. I’ll show you some of the coolest things you’ll be able to do on your phone.
Tuesday, September 15th
Amazon pandemic price gouging. A new report suggests Amazon and its many third–party sellers unfairly gouged shoppers by raising prices of toilet paper, hand sanitizer and other essentials in the early days of the pandemic. I’ll compare prices before and during the spring.
Monday, September 14th
How to make money with your smartphone camera. As millions of people are unemployed due to layoffs and cutbacks from Covid-19 you might be interested to know there are a few places online and with apps where you can sell your photos to companies and blogs needing artwork. I’ll show you two apps that’ll help you get started making money and getting your photos seen by people around the world.
Friday, September 11th
The app of the day. Robocalls may be down for the year but they’re about to pick up again. October and November are notorious for spam and robocalls. Today’s app of the day is YouMail, one of the best robo blocking apps in the app store
Thursday, September 10th
Are you getting more robo calls recently? Normally, this time of year sees a peak in the number of calls being made and received. This year has seen the biggest drop in robocalls in the past 4 years. What is the reason and is it going to last? The coronavirus shut down many of the calling centers. I’m hoping to talk with an expert about the lower number of calls and whether we can expect them to pick up again.
Wednesday, September 9th
TikTok is back in the news. I’ve been torn on how to handle the recent suicide video. I’ll put a reference to that in the intro but I will not show an image from the video or address it in the package. I do have a statement from a TikTok spokesperson that I will include separately if you want to use it and tie in the sharing of the video. Here’s what I will do in the package: Are you or your children spending too much time on TikTok? If it’s on their phone it is likely they’re spending more time than they want you to believe scrolling through an endless stream of videos. Most parents don’t know about a setting deep inside the app that will limit the time the app will work each day. I’ll show you how to find it.
Tuesday, September 8th
wondering where you can go, where are restrictions in place that keep restaurants closed? Where are the areas reporting a surge of infection rates that you want to avoid? Many people will try to travel over the next couple of months but it isn’t easy to uncover COVID restrictions. I’m pulling together some websites that reveal all of that information so you’ll know before you go.
Monday, September 7th
It’s Labor Day and I need to take a day off. I have a story for you though today. It ran in February but is still relevant today. Most of us have run out of space our phones for new pictures and video. One thing taking up a lot of room on your phone is the mysterious “other” category. What is it and how can delete it?
Friday, September 4th
The App of the Day: Wake Out. If stress from all the bad news is keeping you up at night, you could be having some trouble staying awake in the middle of the afternoon. Especially when you’re working from home and the couch is Just. Right. There. Today’s app is WakeOut, that helps you beat the after lunch drowsies and gets you up and moving.
Thursday, September 3rd
Russian interference and the presidential election. Facebook and Twitter both warned users this week that the Russians are already at it using both social media sites to spread disinformation intended to influence the vote. How do they do it? How to avoid it, or can you avoid it? And why can’t facebook and twitter do anything to stop it?
Wednesday, September 2nd
Amazon’s new competition: Walmart +. What is Walmart + and is it possibly better than Amazon? I’m going to look at the pros and cons of the new subscription service and why it may (and may not) give Amazon some trouble.
Tuesday, September 1st
Continuing a look at the meanings of emoji, today I’m looking at the secret meanings of emoji. How teenagers in particular use emoji as a secret code to do things such as share or ask for nude pictures, announce a party, have sex, and pick up drugs. Secrets parents should know.
Monday, August 31st
Which emoji should you use? The smiling emoji or smiling emoji with raised eyebrows? If you’re texting someone you’re interested in which kissing emoji should you use to say goodnight? There are different meanings behind emoji and using the wrong one will send the wrong message. I’m looking at the meanings of emoji and why you should pay close attention to the one you choose.
Friday, August 28th
I’m putting off an App of the Day story and doing one on Amazon’s entry into the health tracking business. Amazon just announced new devices and program to track your health. The Halo will use advanced technology to determine your state of mind, body fat percentage and, working with third party companies, help you become healthier. But it’s kinda creepy the way the whole thing works. I’ll break it down.
Thursday, August 27th
Homeschooling parents are having a really difficult time now equipping their kids with what they need for Zoom meetings. There’s a laptop shortage, hardly any good webcams available. I’m going to show you how kids can use their smartphone for everything they need to do.
Wednesday, August 26th
The New Facebook on your phone. After switching to a new look on the Facebook app a few weeks ago, Facebook reversed the change over the weekend. Overnight, if you have auto-updates turned on, Facebook updated it again and added the new Facebook to the smartphone app. And, like on the desktop, everything has changed. I’m taking a look at the new mobile Facebook and where everything is now. (I’ve seen a lot of talk on Facebook newsfeeds about this).
Tuesday August 25th
The challenges of working from home are even more challenging now with trying to keep up with Scholl schedules. Today I’m rounded up a few more new gadgets that will make life easier, allowing you to be more productive.
Monday, August 24th
The ‘new’ Facebook. Lots of people have been forced to switch to a new look and everybody else will no longer have the option to use the old format or ‘look’ over the next few weeks. What’s different? Where are things located? I’m also going to look at how Facebook has changed over the last 9 years
Friday, August 21st
The App of the Day, Do Not Pay. This is an app I mentioned back in February that helps you sue robo callers. It does a lot more than that. It’ll add you to the Do Not Call list, write cease and desist letters, fight parking tickets, dispute landlords keeping security deposits…lots of other things. And it’s free.
Thursday, August 20th
Looking for things to do while home? How about getting rid of some of those free apps you’ve downloaded. Free apps run ads or take your information and use it to make money. Those camera filter apps, free games, and meme makers? Most are getting your texts, emails addresses, contacts and phone numbers. It is’t stealing because you’ve given them permission.
Wednesday, August 19th
I was talking to a dad yesterday who has a couple of kids in elementary and middle school. He said he and his wife are doing a lot more home schooling than he expected, even with the kids going to school 2 days a week. Their biggest challenge? Helping the kids move from one thing to another. In school it’s easier for teachers to go from science to math to social studies than it is for parents at home. But your Alexa or Google device can help. Today I’m going to look at how to set up your home assistant to ring a bell or chime at a certain time without you needing to keep track.
Tuesday, August 18th
post office pictures. Do you know what is supposed to be in your mailbox everyday? How could you ever know if something you were supposed to receive never made it to your house? The USPS offers a free tool that sends you an email every morning that includes photos of mail pieces you should get that day. If you haven’t signed up for it, I’ll explain why you should, even if you don’t want to.
Monday, August 17th
Students going back to school and college will be doing a good bit of writing this fall. For written assignments you’ll have points taken away for using bad grammar. Whether you’re a student, a businessman, parent, content creator or a reporter there’s no reason to EVER make a grammatical error again. Today I’m looking at the technology behind a popular web app you’ve never heard of. Grammarly.
Friday, August 14th
The app of the day: Facetune Video. Yep, the app that let you change your appearance in photos has a video version. Lift your eyes, whiten your teeth, widen your smile and smooth your complexion. It’s brand new in the App Store and I’ll see how it works and whether it will improve your look-at-me videos.
Thursday, August 13th
Yesterday I talked about getting Facebook fried requests from people you don’t know. Did you know if you simply ignore those requests they can still see more of your personal information? Today I’m going to explain how fake accounts use friend requests to find out more about you whenever you post something.
Wednesday, August 12th
Who are those strangers on your Facebook Friends List? We’ve all accepted friend requests from people we don’t know. What’s the harm? Today I’m going to explain why you may want to hop on your Facebook account right away and unfriend a bunch of strangers.
Tuesday, August 11th
Cheap cheap cheap tablets and phones. You don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on your child’s first smartphone or a tablet they can actually use for school. You don’t have to. I’m looking at a $40 Android tablet and a $50 smartphone that are tough enough for withstand drops and will allow students to connect with their teachers using Zoom and Google Classroom.
Monday, August 10th
Sitting in front of a computer all day? Home office starting to get you? No window in your workspace. A nice little website is opening up the windows of the world to give folks a view from the offices and homes of people across the globe. Window-swap invites anyone to upload a long video of the view from their window to give others a refreshing break from their own view.
Friday, August 7th
The App of the Day: Depop. I’ve mentioned this app before, it’s like mercari and other rummage sale type apps where people list things for sale that they no longer want. Depop is the app of choice for teenagers. I’m going to take a look at how this app is different and how to use it.
Thursday, August 6th
“I just fixed my Facebook blocked posts”. Have you seen the latest thing going around Facebook. The idea that by copying and pasting something will magically reveal posts from friends you never see. False. I’ll take a look at how it’s “supposed to work”, why it doesn’t, and a legit way to see posts from people that typically never show up on your newsfeed.
Wednesday, August 5th
Which computer is best for your student? It’s the question I’ve been asked more than any other lately. I’m taking a look at the different options, how much you’ll pay and the best laptops for kids of all ages.
Tuesday, August 4th
Tips and tricks to improve your current WiFi. With more people working and going to school from home, speedy internet is a must. Today I’m going to look at some things you can do to speed up your home internet and WiFi without spending any extra money.
Monday, August 3rd
School’s starting, mom and dad are working from home. Everyone is on a computer doing video streaming with the office or the classroom. A speedy WiFi/internet is essential. The answer may be a new router. WiFi 6 routers are available now and they’re theoretically 3 times faster than WiFi 5. I’m taking a look at the new routers and why you may need to update the one you have now.
Friday, July 31st
The App of the Day, Quizlet. As moms and dads prepare for a school year like no other, they’re looking for ways to keep their kids engaged in school from the kitchen table. Quizlet is a popular education app that uses digital flash cards to study and learn any subject. There are ready-made flash cards but parents and teachers can create their own set. Best of all, since it’s digital, mom and dad won’t have to stop their work to teach.
Thursday, July 30th
A report out Wednesday suggests almost half of the jobs lost so far in the pandemic will be gone forever. That’s millions of people and many of our viewers. If you’re having trouble finding a job similar to the one you had this time last year it may be time for a new career. How can you use technology to create your own job?
Wednesday, July 29th
FYI: I know some stations run stories one day behind. This story is somewhat time-sensitive because the subject has gone viral. I will have this ready for air by 3 PM ET
So what is a “brushing scam”? By now you’ve heard about the mystery seeds arriving at addresses across the country. If not, people are reporting receiving small packets of seeds they did not order. Most of the coverage has been about what the seeds are and why you should not plant them. Those reports mention a brushing scam. What is this online scam and how does it work? I’ll explain.
Tuesday, July 28th
With the safer-at-home orders, parents still working from home and now school kids preparing for school at home this fall, how can you talk to everyone in the house without walking from room to room? There are hundreds of millions of Amazon Alexa devices in use right now. I’m going to take a look at how to use them as a whole-house or room-to-room intercom system. Believe me, if you have kids in the house this will change your life.
Monday, July 27th
Get started in the stock market. The number of people playing the stock market for the first time set records the last 4 months. People are looking for ways to stay busy, for new hobbies, to make money. Combine that with the recent volatility in the stock market, investment apps are being downloaded in record numbers. I’m taking a look at a few ways for people who are new or want to get started day-trading.
Friday, July 24th
The App of the Day: April Coloring. Looking for a way to take your mind off of the world today? Don’t log onto Facebook, open an app that takes you back to your childhood. April Coloring is a paint-by-numbers app. There are lots of coloring book apps out there but if you don’t even want to have to think about which color to use, this paint-by-numbers app may be what you’re looking for.
Thursday, July 23rd
Web cameras. For the past few months it’s been nearly impossible to find a high quality web-camera. They’ve been out-of-stock at Amazon and other retailers. I snagged a web camera off Amazon the other day and thought it’d be a good time to compare good web cameras with the web camera that’s included on your computer laptop. As it becomes clearer that people will be doing more work and students will do some online learning this fall, a good web camera is a necessity.
Wednesday, July 22nd
We have more information on the Twitter hack last week and experts say, it could happen to you and it’s more likely now that people are working from home. As companies require or encourage employees to stay out of the office they are on their work computers at home. Away from IT, away from other employees. The danger is an increase in phishing emails that appear to come from someone in the office. Click on it, and your work computer and accounts can be compromised. I’m talking to a cyber security expert who’ll explain how this happens and why companies and employees should be aware.
Tuesday, July 21st
Getting the house ready for school at home! Schools across the country are deciding what back-to-school is going to look like this fall. Most are planning for at least some online instruction which means parents, who may still be working from home, are going to have to figure out how to do school and work online. I’m taking a look at a few gadgets that will make going back to school and online homework a little easier and more manageable.
Monday, July 20th
How to get money from Apple. If you have an older phone, 6-7s, you’re entitled to money from Apple. As a response to the complaints that older phones slow down after a few years, Apple is offering owners of those phones $25. What’s this about, who’s eligible and how do you submit your complaint?
Friday, July 17th
The App of the Day. Mathway. I’ve talked to many parents in the past few days who are dreading having the kids at home when school starts. They experienced a brief moment of this in the spring but are not prepared to help teach their kids or even help them with their homework. Mathway can teach basic math, algebra and calculus by taking a picture of the problem with a smartphone.
Thursday, July 16th
Twitter hacked. As you know the Twitter accounts for high-profile people were hacked last night. Hackers reportedly made a cool $100,000 by hacking these accounts, asking followers to send bitcoin. I’m talking with a cyber security Twitter expert about how this reflects on Twitter and whether someone can lock down their Twitter accounts to prevent this type of thing from happening to any of us. I’m efforting this story for 4 PM ET for airing in the early evening newscasts.
Wednesday, July 15th
Who’s ready for some good news?? You can plant a tree simply by using a different internet browser. Ecosia is the web browser you probably didn’t know you can use. The company plants a tree when you use it to search the web. At the time I’m typing this, the browser folks have planted over 100 million trees on behalf of people using it for search. For anyone who’s become suspicious of Google Chrome’s tracking your searches, this is a good alternative, for good. I’ll show you how it works.kubjw
Tuesday, July 14th
How not to make your Facebook friends angry. We’ve all noticed and experienced more anger these days on Facebook. You make one post about the virus or protests and some of your friends take offense and the first thing you know, you’re de-friending friends you’ve known most of your life. Can you post something to Facebook and keep it just among friends who won’t hate you for it? Yes you can.
Monday, July 13th
More than 15 BILLION usernames and passwords have been posted on hacker message boards. A new report shows bad guys are paying as much as $70 for some login credentials of credit card and bank accounts while other credentials are less and some are just being posted for anyone to get. I’ll explain where those credentials came from, whether you should worry, and what to do right now to protect your accounts.
Friday, July 10th
The app of the day: Byte. TikTok users are flooding to this app out of concern that the U.S will ban TikTok. Byte shot up the charts and is now the #1 entertainment app in the Apple App Store. So I’m going to take a close look at it and whether TikTok users might find this as a good alternative.
Thursday, July 9th
With the surge in cases again (I’ve been exposed multiple times this week) I feel it’s a good idea to look again and spreading the virus through dirty smartphones. We know that our phones are filthy, we know they can carry bacteria for hours. We also know that we’re constantly touching them with our fingers and faces. So what’s the best way to disinfect our phones without damaging them.
Wednesday, July 8th
People are still losing jobs and some believe it’s only going to get worse with a surge in the coronavirus. If you’re looking for a new job you may be using LinkedIn. You should. Now LinkedIn has introduced a new feature to help people looking for jobs get in front of recruiters. You can now add a “looking for opportunities” in your profile picture. How does this work and how can you look for a job without your current boss finding out?
Tuesday, July 7th
Could the most popular app in the world be banned in the United States? There’s a push to block TikTok because of its ties to the Chinese government. As I reported last week, there are suspicions and concerns over what this app is gathering from users. The Trump administration is reportedly looking to ban the app and remove it from the app stores. I’ll also look at some alternatives that appear to be safer.
Monday, July 6th
Cord cutters are learning that streaming services can increase prices just like their old cable and satellite companies. YouTube TV raised monthly subscriptions by $15. Hulu raised prices too. How much does it cost now for these streaming services? I’m doing a price comparison and which ones have the best deals.
Friday, July 3rd
The App of the Day, PhotoRoom. Of all the photo apps I’ve seen most recently this is the best for businesses, influencers and and anyone who wants to add some creativity to their pictures. PhotoRoom gives you the ability to remove any background from photos. It’s good for profile pictures, products you’re selling online and professional looking photos for any reason.
Thursday, July 2nd
A pandemic project: saving photos. I can’t count the number of questions I’ve received about keeping photos they have on their phone even when they’re deleted from the device. Google just updated its Photos app with a bunch of new features. I’m going to take a look at why this app is a must-have for anyone who wants to save and share photos, even old ones on paper.
Wednesday, July 1st
It’s the world’s most popular entertainment app. TikTok has well over a billion users who watch mini-clips of videos. You know about it whether you have the app on your phone or not. There are some serious concerns about what the app shares, how hackers can access information and governments are banning employees from using it. TikTok has reportedly fixed some of the biggest vulnerabilities but it’s still suspicious. Why? I’m talking to a cyber security expert who explains why you may not want to have the app on your phone.
Tuesday, June 30th
The 4th of July will break a lot of people’s hearts this weekend. Independence Day is the most dangerous day of the year for smartphones. A study shows more phones are damaged and lost on the 4th of July. Smashed screens, water damage, and lost or stolen phones are quite common on the 4th. I’m taking a look at the numbers and how to protect your device this weekend from the biggest risks.
Monday, June 29th
Your home internet may slow down considerably this week, or your bill may go up. Internet providers reacted to the pandemic back in March to lift data caps on home and business internet. That plan ends Tuesday, June 30th. Comcast, Charter, Verizon, AT&T and most other providers will either cap data plans and slow things down when you reach a limit, or you’ll pay more in your next bill.
Friday, June 26th
The App of the Day, Whisk. If you clip recipes from apps, Pinterest, Facebook or anywhere online, you know how frustrating it can be to switch back and forth to find what you’re looking for and what you’ve saved. Whisk is an app for iPhones and Android devices that holds all of those recipes and turns them into shopping lists you can take to the store or send to other people who are at the grocery store. Maybe the most useful recipe app of them all.
Thursday, June 25th
Amazon is hiring investigators to help spot counterfeit products. It’s one of the biggest complaints about online shopping, even on Amazon. You order a “certified Apple” charger only to find out it’s a cheap ripoff. Amazon shoppers have reported receiving purses, perfume and apparel that were not the authentic brands. I’m looking at how pervasive the problem is and what Amazon is doing.
Wednesday, June 24th
No professional sports to watch? It’s been good for e-sports. Video game championships and tournaments have seen a dramatic rise in viewership and some e-sports players are making as much as athletes in professional, more traditional sports. Yep, a growing number of people are getting into watching people play video games. Where to watch, what to watch and how much could your kids make as a pro video game player.
Tuesday, June 23rd
Did someone really install something on your phone to track you? The conspiracy theory has been all over Facebook in recent days after some people noticed a “COVID TRACKING” item installed on their iPhone or Android devices. Some suggested a recent outage for T-Mobile customers was related to the app suddenly appearing on their phone. So what’s the deal? Why is there a new COVID tracker on your phone and what does it do? Should you be worried? Can you delete it? These and other questions will be answered.
Monday, June 22nd
Hey guys, today Apple holds its WWDC keynote. This is the event the company unveils new operating systems and any updates to their computers. For most viewers, interest will be in the new operating systems for the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. The event is different this year because it is all online. It starts at noon PT. I’ll cover the event and put together the most interesting announcements. It’ll be a quick turnaround but I will have it ready by 4PM ET. And it should run today. I’ll write it so it can also run tomorrow but it’s more topical on Monday.
Friday, June 19th
The App of the Day. Ten Percent. How happy are you? If you’re like most people you’re not. As I reported earlier this week a survey found Americans are more unhappy now than at anytime in the last 50 years. I’ve found an app that promises to increase your happiness by 10%.
Thursday, June 18th
Do you want to be a COVID-19 contact tracer? Hundreds of thousands of new jobs are becoming available as cities, states etc are trying to ‘flatten the curve’ of infections. The U.S hopes to hire 300,000 tracers and the jobs are available to anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent who’ve completed training on how to conduct the tracing. Where do you get the training? It’s free through the rest of the year and can be done online through a program with Johns Hopkins University. I’ll show you what you need to do to become a contact tracer and what it means.
Wednesday, June 17th
Americans are the unhappiest they have been in 50 years. Blame it on COVID-19, the protests, and isolation. But is there a tech reason as well? Is social media playing a role in what’s making us unhappy? I’m speaking with a mental health expert about how it’s affecting us, the warning signs we may have a problem and what we can do to improve our mental health.
Tuesday, June 16th
More than 44 million people have filed for unemployment in the past 3 months. While many businesses and companies have laid off workers there are some jobs available online. I’m taking a look at FlexJobs where companies post work from home job openings that come with benefits.
Monday, June 15th
the anatomy of a Facebook-Instagram hacked account. I got an Instagram follow and message over the weekend from a Facebook friend. It was their Facebook profile picture and name. It looked like my friend had joined Instagram. I accepted and she sent a message. Nothing much unusual. In actuality, a hacker had stolen her Facebook profile picture, set up an account, and began sending insta follows to all of her friends. How does this happen? And why Facebook makes it super easy for anyone to do. I’m hoping she’ll agree to an interview but even if she doesn’t it makes for an interesting story. What can you do to stop it from happening to you? Short answer: nothing.
Friday, June 12th
the app of the day. Do I Need It. This app encourages minimalism and saving money. If you’re about to pull the trigger on a purchase, this app asks “Do I Need it”? by asking a few questions and putting the decision off for a bit. If you have a problem with impulse buying when you see something on Facebook, Amazon or Instagram, this app will help you make sure you need it and whether you should spend the money.
Thursday, June 11th
A consumer warning tonight from the FBI. There is an increase in the number of fake banking apps and emails now that more people started using mobile banking since the pandemic began. I’m looking at what to watch for, how to avoid fake banking apps and third-party apps that will steal your username and passwords to access your bank account.
Wednesday, June 10th
I’m taking a day to do a Father’s Day Gift Idea story for all budgets. Tech gadgets that are inexpensive all the way up to a few hundred bucks.
Tuesday, June 9th
Many people don’t know that Apple has its own COVID-19 app that’s made to help people understand any symptoms they may have and what they should do next. It’s a very good app. Answer a few questions and the app takes into consideration the state you’re in to make a recommendation on whether you should self isolate and/or get tested. An update to the app yesterday confirms that Apple might share your information with the CDC to track symptoms. I’ll explain how this works and what you should do if you do not want your information to go to the CDC.
Monday, June 8th
Apple’s security update, should you do it? Lots of folks noticed a new update for their iPhone, iPad, Mac and Watch over the weekend. What is it and do you need to update right away? Well, maybe. Apple says it’s important but there’s little information about why and what it includes. Plus, some iPhone users who updated are reporting an annoying glitch. Should you update now or wait?
Friday, June 5th
The App of the Day: MasterClass. There are a million ways to learn something online. YouTube videos, Google searches, even Instagram. But if you’re serious about learning how to do something, you can learn from the greatest minds in the world. MasterClass is an app where you can take photography lessons from Annie Leibovitz, creativity from Steve Martin, film directing from Ron Howard. This is a very cool app and you might even believe it’s worth $179 subscription.
Thursday, June 4th
taking a break today from the virus and protests to do a story on Father’s Day gift ideas. It’s only about 2 weeks away so get those orders in early. Today I’m looking at gift ideas for the dads who like to spend time around the grill. I’ve found a brand new, totally wireless Bluetooth meat thermometer and two others that help make sure he never overcooks or undercooks what’s for dinner.
Wednesday, June 3rd
If you think it’s hard to spot a fake Facebook post or tweet, it’s going to get more difficult. New technology called “deep fake” videos can fool even the experts. These videos are created to make it appear anyone is saying anything you want them to. I’m looking at how deep fakes work, how one company turned me into Donald Trump and what an expert says it means as we head into the next phase of social media.
Tuesday, June 2nd
The role of social media during the protests. So many fake and false posts being shared on Facebook, how can you tell the difference? Are protesters and anti-protesters using social media to spread viral fake posts to incite people? And how some are using fake images to support these posts. I’m talking to an expert on social media about how Facebook is being used and how we all need to be aware that people are seeing and sharing these posts thinking they’re real.
Monday, June 1st
Really torn about what to do today. I had planned on some Father’s Day gift ideas or a series of stories about Facebook features you don’t know about, but after the violence over the weekend I’m looking for something to tie into that. I’m going to do something on apps to help you relax. I’ve done a few things with these apps recently but I’ve found another app that is different than the others and checks in on you several times a day to make sure you’re doing okay. I’m also hoping to find a counselor or therapist to talk about it.
Friday, May 29th
The app of the day. Did you know that, on average, we spend almost a half-hour searching for something to watch whenever we go to Netflix? I imagine that time has increased since the pandemic and safe-at-home orders began. I see on Facebook all the time, friends asking for recommendations on what to watch now that they’ve finished “Tiger King”, “Dead to Me” and “Ozark”. Today’s app of the day “Minnow” can help you find something to watch on Netflix, Prime, Disney, Apple, Hulu and most other streaming services.
Thursday, May 28th
Jobless numbers are due out today and it’s expected to show some tragic figures with another 40 million people applying for unemployment. I’ve done stories on how to make money online but those have been for small amounts of money. Today I thought I’d do something about using the internet to start a permanent job and career.
Wednesday, May 27th
thredUp is one of the most popular apps for people to sell and shop second-hand clothing. Now it’s headed to Walmart. Women (the customer base is almost exclusively women) can go through their closet and put up for sale any gently-used clothes. Through the app, other users can purchase those items. Today Walmart announced a partnership where it will offer those thredUP items on its website and digital platform. This is very interesting to a huge part of our key demo.
Tuesday, May 26th
You’re probably anxious to receive your stimulus check. Someone else can’t wait for you to get it either: scammers. According to a study by the app Hiya, spam and robocalls are up over 800% and many of them are from shady companies (and people) offering to take some of that stimulus money off your hands. I’m taking a look at where a majority of these calls are coming from and what you should do to keep from being scammed.
Monday, May 25th
Antenna scams. The number of people cutting the cable cord has gone up since the stay-at-home orders began. More people are streaming through Hulu, YouTube TV, Netflix etc. They’re also shopping for antennas to watch programming for free. You have to be careful though buying an antenna on Amazon. There are many scams advertising antennas that are too-good-to-be-true. Here’s what to look out for and what an antenna can do.
Friday, May 22nd
The App of the Day. I can’t believe I haven’t included a fitness/workout app for people trying to get fit at home and away from the gym. Today’s app of the day is the #1 rated fitness app Zova.
Thursday, May 21st
Facebook took a step (this morning) to help users avoid spam and scams sent through Facebook Messenger. We’ve all gotten odd message invites from people we don’t know, or we don’t know if it’s who they say it is. Now when you receive a suspicious message Facebook will flag it and ask if you know and trust that person. Facebook says spammy messages are on the increase and they’ve been working on this tool for some time.
Wednesday, May 20th
On the lighter side today. Trying not to bombard people with scams, hacks etc. what do you do when you feel you’ve binged everything on Netflix, seen it all on TikTok, read every update on Facebook and every Insta? Why not take a peak at normal everyday life, before the ‘rona? I’m going to show one of my favorite websites that shows “never-before-seen” YouTube videos. Astronaut.io
Tuesday, May 19th
People are getting scammed when they get a new Roku and getting e-mails from fake Roku support telling them they have to pay $70-$200 to activate their Roku account or pay a subscription. As you know, millions of people are buying Roku’s and FireSticks to stream for the first time. Many don’t know how they work so they’re falling victim to these scams. The Better Business Bureau has issued an alert about this and I’ll explain plus show people what they need to know about these streaming devices and how to activate them.
Monday, May 18th
People are spending more time online and on social media, especially Facebook. And they’re taking polls, playing the “what was your first car. Who are your favorite teachers? What was your first concert?” We’ve been told it’s not a good idea, why? Over the weekend setting up a new account for a security camera I was asked many of those questions for password recovery security. I thought I’d revisit the reasons not to play along with certain games and how to trick potential hackers from ruining your day.
Friday, May 15th
The app of the day #selfcare this is a unique meditation app. It’s designed especially for people who are stressed due to COVID-19, job loss, isolation etc. it uses artificial intelligence to help anyone who’s having a tough time and study after study shows millions of people are seeking counselors and therapists for the first time.
Thursday, May 14th
If people are going to be working from home longer, hackers will be stepping up efforts to crack into their computers and networks. Employees who are using company computers and connecting to their company networks, hackers will have a better opportunity to gain access to them. Think of what can happen if someone logged into their company’s server and network click on something they shouldn’t. A hacker might be able to access that network. How to protect yourself, and your company as you WFH
Wednesday, May 13th
What if this is forever? On Tuesday,Twitter emailed its employees and told them that they could work from home “forever”, even after the pandemic and stay-at-home orders end. Technology makes this possible for millions of people who may never need to go into an office again. So maybe it’s time to re-think the space we use for our Zoom meetings. I’m going to look at some things to consider if this is a more permanent situation. Where to set up a home office in relation to the internet connection. How to improve the sound quality so your co-workers can hear you and not the screaming kids or barking dogs in the other room. Then tomorrow I’m going to look at some of the security and privacy concerns and how to make sure your protected from hackers if you’re always working from home.
By the way, I would appreciate any story ideas as it pertains to tech and gadgets etc.
Tuesday, May 12th
Graduation gift ideas. Seniors in high school and college are getting a raw deal. No graduation ceremonies, no prom, no parties, so maybe they deserve something special. I’ve rounded up some pretty cool gifts that make good gifts for young people who may be looking for jobs, need to do online interviews, do their videos etc. They include selfie lights, a smart alarm clock, phone light and a pair of noise canceling headphones.
Monday, May 11th
A smartphone or tablet may be an easy way to keep kids occupied during isolation, but do you know what they’re doing or who they’re talking to? I’m taking a look at the dangers that parents need to be aware of and which apps to look for on their phones.
Friday, May 8th
The app of the day, Restly. Lots of folks are having a tough time sleeping during isolation and the pandemic scare. I’ve tried over a dozen sleep apps and just discovered this one used by members of the military to fall asleep quickly. The app claims it helps soldiers fall asleep in as little as 7 minutes. Does it work?
Thursday, May 7th
If you’re still stuck at home after a month-plus, it may be taking a toll on your mental health. And if you were already seeing a mental health counselor you may be wondering what you can do. Today I’m going to take a look at a few apps to help you deal with the pandemic, psychologically.
Wednesday, May 6th
An app to get your kids to do their chores, and learn how the world works. Busykids is a fairly new app that teaches kids as old as 16 the value of money and how to earn it. It allows parents to set chores for their children in order to earn an allowance. Other apps do that of course, but this one also encourages kids to save some of what they earn, give some of it to charity, invest in the future and how much is left over to spend on what they want. I’m talking to the man who developed the app and a mom who’s been using it to get her young daughter to work for her allowance.
Tuesday, May 5th
More Mother’s Day gift ideas. The first piece last week got such a good response I want to do another gadget gift ideas story for today. I’ll include a mini-portable espresso maker to take on the road, the best digital picture frame on the market, best choices for earbuds that are not from Apple, and a home workout mirror (if you really want to spend a lot of money). These are gifts that you’ll need to order now to get there on time.
Monday, May 4th
Over the weekend I got several emails from viewers asking about how to improve their slow wifi. They said it’s so slow they can barely Zoom with their co-workers or watch something on YouTube or Netflix. Today, I’m going to diagnose some of the most common problems with wifi and how to improve it right now.
Friday, May 1st
The App of the Day. It’s probably the most overlooked app that comes installed on every iPhone and iPad but iTunes U should be visited while people are sheltered in place and maybe out of work. iTunes U allows anyone to take high school and college level courses for free. A computer science class from a Stanford professor, sit in on a statistics class at Harvard. Or get the basics of photography in a college or high school class. For free!
Thursday, April 30th
Jobless numbers are due out today and millions of people are trying to find a way to pay rent, food and utilities. Today I’m going to look at a few options where you can make money, maybe even earning a living beyond the pandemic. All of these options are possible now online. I will have this story done by 3 PM ET in the event you want to run it along with the jobless numbers.
Wednesday, April 29th
A non-rona story today. Mother’s Day is May 12th and if you want to make sure you get an online order on time for you to mail it out again, you can’t wait much longer. Today I’m looking at tech gifts for mom. She probably isn’t the ‘techiest’ person in the family, but I’m rounding up some tech gadgets she’ll use and love.
Tuesday, April 28th
Social Distancing Network. A couple decides families stuck at home with their kids might need some help keeping them busy and entertained while teaching them something. The couple built a TV studio in their home and started producing videos for kids of all ages. Their web-TV channel is called “social Distancing Network”. Dad shoots the videos, mom is in front of the camera.
Monday, April 27th
Everybody’s coming after Zoom. Facebook has just released Messenger Rooms, a Zoom and Skype competitor where users can meet over video. I tried it over the weekend with a high school class reunion to see how it works. I’ll explain how to use it and whether you should switch from Zoom.
Friday, April 24th
The app of the day: this app helps you find stores with toilet paper and other essential items in stock. Originally, the app Our Streets, was to protect streets and neighborhoods from things like parked cars blocking lanes and distracted drivers. When the pandemic hit and people rushed stores to buy toilet paper, developers of the app pivoted to provide information on stores that have TP, bread, milk, eggs etc. With this app you can see the current status of what’s in stock.
Thursday, April 23rd
Price gouging on Amazon. A new report shows the price of some items during this pandemic were 700% higher than normal. A law firm filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of Amazon shoppers who paid too much for hand sanitizer, wipes and other essentials. I’ll tell you what you need to know and how to add your name to the suit.
Wednesday, April 22nd
Today is Earth Day. One of the biggest challenges for people to help the planet is what to do with those electronics you no longer want or that no longer works. What should you do with them? Put them in the trash or at the end of the driveway? Where can you safely throw them away? Also, the best way to save the earth in regards to your computer and phone. NOTE: I will not mention in the package that this is Earth Day. I know some of you run the stories a day behind. I am going to move up my deadline today in case you want to run it early. I will have it uploaded by 3 PM EST.
Tuesday, April 21st
If you’re doing Zoom or Skype or Facebook Live, you may have noticed some people’s live stream looks and sounds great but yours needs some help. I’m looking today at 3 products to improve your lighting and sound that can make a huge difference, and make your Zoom virtual background pop.