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Monday, July 22nd
The truth about taking surveys for money. It sounds great. Watch some TV or answer some questions to earn money. But how much can you really make from these schemes?
Friday, July 19th
The App of the Day: Genius. This is an app I featured over a year ago but it’s still one of my favorites. Ever wonder what the words of a song means? Is Jimmy Henrix singing “‘scuze me while I kiss this guy”? Genius finds the YouTube video of any song and show you the lyrics. I love it because it also curates articles about lines from the songs to help explain what the artist is singing about and the inspiration behind the lyrics.
Thursday, July 18th
If you’re worried about Face App and its privacy policy, wait until you hear about Facebook and other apps. Much is being made about Face App. I decided not to do anything with it yesterday morning but the national media made such a big deal about it, I’ll do a follow-up today. The truth is, Face Apps privacy policy is no different than many of the other free apps on your phone.
Wednesday, July 17th
New emoji are coming. Apple and the official emoji people unveiled a slew of new emoji on Wednesday. These include a great number of emoji representing disabled persons. I’m going to take a look at some of the new, most interesting emoji and explain why it’s a much bigger deal than just sending your friend a text.
Tuesday, July 16th
One of the drawbacks of online shopping is not getting to see the item in person before you buy it. If you’re buying furniture, accents or televisions, you can now “see” how it looks in your home using augmented-reality. I’ll show you how this works and why you don’t want to buy something big online without using AR.
Monday, July 15th
This is a story best used today. Prime Day began early this morning and there’ve already been some problems at Amazon. Pages aren’t loading and some customers cannot make purchases. Since Prime Day continues tomorrow, the story can run today or tomorrow.
Friday, July 12th
The App of the Day: Hooked. Don’t have time to sit down and read a book? This app brings the book to you in text message form. Dozens of intriguing original stories are told in a string of text messages between characters. You watch as the characters send texts back and forth as the story unfolds. It’s a fun little app that makes it possible for even the busiest person to enjoy a fictional book.
Thursday, July 11th
What to do to prepare for the biggest online shopping day of the year. Tuesday and Wednesday is Amazon Prime Day which has become as big as Black Friday. Millions will shop but millions more will be scammed. Fake coupons, fake reviews, fake products are all in play. I’ll take a look at how to prepare for Prime Day to stay safe while you shop.
Wednesday, July 10th
The robot bowler is fake, but other game playing robots are very real. By now you’ve seen the viral video of a robot tossing a bowling ball down a lane and throwing a strike without hitting the floor. It’s still making its way around FB. The video has been proven to be a fake, but I’m going to show you a robot-playing-ping-pong player. I saw this thing at CES but never did anything with the video or interview. I talk to a spokesperson for the company about what jobs robots will replace.
Tuesday, July 9th
Did you know some of the streaming services will not carry certain channels and networks? YouTube TV: no History Channel, A&E or Nickelodeon. Sling TV doesn’t carry Fox News. Every streaming service omits a channel you want. I searched everywhere for a comprehensive list of who carries what, but there is none. So I created one to share with our viewers. It’s a shareable Google spreadsheet anyone can view or download. The story today is about notable omissions and why cord cutting may not be right for you if your family wants to continue watching what you watch now.
Monday, July 8th
Can Alexa detect whether you’re happy or sad? Yes. According to a new report and comments from Amazon developers, they’re working on technology where Alexa will use artificial intelligence and its always-on microphone to detect when a person’s voice sounds sad or depressed. Why?
Friday, July 5th
The App of the Day. MUBI. Tired of seeing the same old theater releases on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu? Film fans have discovered a new streaming app and service that offers a new movie a day and you probably never saw them playing at a theater. They’re art house movies, foreign films, documentaries and other films you probably never had the chance to see.
Thursday, July 4th
Save money or get a credit when you shop at Amazon. You’ll get a free song download or credit toward a movie if you have a little patience. “No Rush Shipping” may not be right for everything you buy, but if you can wait on delivery, Amazon will give you a treat.
Wednesday, July 3rd
IOS 13 will not be released until this fall but I downloaded it the other day to check it out and let you see what’s supposed to be so awesome. Some of the coolest features are small updates. I’ll show you some of my favorite things in iOS 13.
Tuesday, July 2nd
It’s getting more expensive to cut-the-cord. Two main players, Sling-TV and PS Vue announced today they’re both raising prices. So did DirectTV Now, so did YouTubeTV, so have Hulu and Netflix. What you should know about subscription price increases and if you’re actually going to save money.
Monday, July 1st
Welcome to July, the most dangerous month for smartphones. Asurion, the smartphone insurance company, released a new study that shows July 4th is the worst day for smartphones. Damaged and lost phones skyrocket. I’m looking at some of the interesting numbers and how to best try and recover your phone if it ever gets wet. (It isn’t rice).
Friday, June 28th
The App of the Day: Cozi. If you’re a family with kids running in all different directions or with play-dates and classes and lessons. Cozi is a must-have app. It manages a calendar that all family members can access and edit. Before you say “Google Calendar does that”, Cozi does what other calendar apps can’t like add dinner recipes, grocery lists and memories.
Thursday, June 27th
Quick note: I broke my foot last night so I’m a little late picking a story for today. I will post an update after I leave the doctor’s office. I’m more than likely going to look at Amazon Prime Day and what the competition is doing.
Wednesday, June 26th
Hands-free driving. As states pass more hands-free driving laws to cut down on distracted driving, you might not realize everything you need to makes calls and send texts is built into the phones you use. I’m looking at new skills by Siri, why OK Google is better and how to take Alexa along for the ride.
Tuesday, June 25th
Hands-free gadgets. States are instituting laws to stop people from using their phones as headsets while driving. Did you know that in some states it is illegal to wear earbuds while driving? I’m looking at new gadgets that allow you to go “hands free” in the car, safely.
Monday, June 24th
Looking for ideas for a great birthday gift or special occasion? Cameo is an online service where celebrities record a personalized video message and send it to your friend. Stormy Daniels, Flavor Flav, several members of the cast of The Office. I’m talking with the CEO about how it works and will show some of the best Cameos.
Friday, June 21st
The App of the Day: Cinder. Note: This is a story that ran last August. I have workers installing new digital fiber today that will knock out my connection for part of the day.
Cinder is a helpful app for everyone who has let their contacts list get out of hand. All those duplicates in your phone list can get cleaned up with Cinder. It’ll pull up individual contact cards and you swipe left or right to save or delete, Tinder-style.
Thursday, June 20th
Why you should spend some time de-friending some of your friends. Many of us accept Facebook friend requests from people we don’t know. Maybe we don’t want to be rude, maybe they’re friends with a lot of our friends, maybe they’re really good looking. If you’re in the habit of accepting those requests and you have a lot of them, it’s a good idea to say goodbye.
Wednesday, June 19th
I’m doing the story I originally pitched yesterday: Is Amazon Prime really worth it? AP is $119 a year and comes with free shipping, free streaming movies and TV and a book a month. But is it worth the money?
Tuesday, June 18th
Update: 10:30 am CT Google Calendar is down and the world is freaking out. Over the weekend some journalists discovered that hackers were spreading malware through Google Calendar. And now it’s down for much of the country. I’m going to find out what happened and what everyone should do about putting all of their work in one place. It’s a good story to run today, I’ll get it done and uploaded by 4 pm ET
btw, producers and editors can see updates like this immediately if you join our Slack group.
I’ll do the Amazon Prime story tomorrow. Is Amazon Prime worth it? Prime Day is coming up in a few weeks (July 15th) and you might be wondering if its worth spending an extra $119 a year for shipping and some extra goodies. I’m going to break down what’s in Amazon Prime and why it isn’t worth the money for some people.
Monday, June 17th
Don’t just do a boring vacation in a hotel. Airbnb is organizing “adventures”. Go around the world in 80 days, camp on the edge of a mountain, go on a safari and sleep in a tent.
Friday, June 14th
The App of the Day: Roadtrippers. If you’re planning a vacation, or even if you’re leaving right now, this app will help you get the most out of your trip. It shows all of the cool places on your route that you might want to see, the hotels and restaurants around you when you get sleepy or hungry, and lots of photos and information on the sites. Plan your trip online or in the app and it’ll work with Google Maps or Waze or Apple Maps to show you the best route to avoid traffic and where to stop along the way.
Thursday, June 13th
The weird (but oddly satisfying) things people watch on YouTube. Pressure washing, paint restoration, people studying. These videos get millions of views and it’s not easy to look away.
Wednesday, June 12th
The real cost of cutting the cord. Do you really save money? Maybe, but maybe not. I’m going to add up the cost of the streaming services you’ll need if you want what you get now with cable or satellite.
Tuesday, June 11th
Who needs a VPN? And what the heck is it? if you’re concerned about privacy a VPN is the answer. Even if you’re not that concerned about privacy, you may want a VPN to help you see movies that aren’t available in this country.
Monday, June 10th
Lost in the headlines last week was the FCC approving changes with AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile that will allow them to block robo-calls automatically. When are those companies going to start and how is it possible? Better yet, if the technology has existed, why haven’t they done it before now?
Friday, June 7th
The App of the Day: sending out e-invites for a party or event this summer is easy and there are many different options for this: Facebook, evites, but I’ve found another party-planner, chat group messages and invitation app that can do a little more before and after the party. I’m looking at Hobnob.
Thursday, June 6th
How to find free (safe) WiFi when you’re on vacation. We all know the importance of being on a safe wifi network but how do you find them. How do you know, when you go to a restaurant, that you’re hopping on the wifi offered by the business? You’ve got a free wifi finder tool on your phone right now. I’m showing how Facebook’s find wifi works and how to turn it on.
Wednesday, June 5th
More Father’s Day gadget ideas. These are great for dads who are ‘gear-heads’. And a streaming device for any dad who has an old TV in the house.
Tuesday, June 4th
Father’s Day gadget gifts. Today I have a wallet with a solar powered GPS tracker, a TV sound bar that turns down the music and explosions and turns up the voices so you can hear what people are saying and a pair of headphones/earbuds dad can wear all the time, even when he isn’t listening to music.
Monday, June 3rd
This story is best run today: Apple’s big announcement. We’re expecting to get our first look at the new operating system for iPhones, Watches and Macs. The big news though will be Apple killing iTunes. How will we download and sync devices once iTunes is gone?
The event begins at 1pm Eastern. I’ll be putting something together in time for your 5pm newscast. I won’t mention “Today” but it may be the best day to run it.
Friday, May 31st
The App of the Day is one I’ve kept on my phone for years. Google Photo Scan will convert paper photos into digital photos and organize them for you. Got an old box of pictures? Just open the app and let it go to work. The results are very good and you’ll be able to search for photos of people or vacations or subjects.
By the way, I’m considering re-branding App of the Day as App of the Week. I’d like to hear your thoughts on it. Jamey@whatthetech.tv
Thursday, May 30th
What parents need to know about Reddit. It’s one of the most visited websites in the country and frequently called “The front page of the internet”, yet most adults don’t know what it is. Your kids know and after this, you will too.
Wednesday, May 29th
you wouldn’t believe how many kids actually sleep with their phones. Or maybe you will. A new report from Common Sense Media reveals some interesting find when it comes to term and adult device usage after they go to bed.
Tuesday, May 28th
Father’s Day tech gift ideas. I’ve got quite a few techie ideas for dad and I’ll be spreading these stories out for the next few weeks.
Monday, May 27th Memorial Day
We’re all going to be spending more time outside over the next few months. We’ll be away from wifi more often and some of us will get very close to going over our data limits. Today I’m going to look at ways to keep your family from going over where you might have to pay more, or deal with a slower connection.
Friday, May 24th
The App of the Day: Tasty. Since summer is here (unofficially) I thought I’d find an app to make things easier in the kitchen or at the grill. Tasty is a fun recipe app that keeps things so simple. You may have seen a recipe gif on Facebook, Tasty is an entire app of them. Great recipes for what you have on hand, what you might want to take to the pool or mix at the bar.
Thursday, May 23rd
You just updated your phone and it seems to be running slower. Not only that, but the battery seems to die faster. Is it because of the update? It might be. Now Apple has promised to warn iPhone owners if an update will affect battery life and speed. This story is making news today.
Wednesday, May 22nd
You know the risks of having your passwords stolen, you know your account information can show up on the dark web, you know your identity can be stolen and sold, but you still use the same old password for everything. Has your password already been stolen? Has your email been compromised? Nearly 8 billion accounts have been affected. I’ll show you how to find out if your information has been stolen using the website haveibeenpwned.com
Tuesday, May 21st
Wrapping up the series on cord cutting by taking a look at what you can get if you don’t pay for any TV. No cable, satellite, Netflix, Hulu, Sling…nada. You might be surprised how much content you can find out there, for free.
Monday, May 20th
I’ll save the Father’s Day story for later. I didn’t realize we were so far out from it. Instead, I’m going to look at what it takes to be an influencer. I interviewed a mom who says she’s nothing like a Kardashian or anyone famous, she started just writing about her vacations and the next thing you know, hotels and resorts are inviting her to stay for free. How does that happen? Can it happen for you?
Father’s Day Tech Gift Ideas. A connected belt buckle, a rechargeable flashlight, a device that tells you what’s wrong with your car and a
Friday, May 17th
The App of the Day: one of the more useful and impressive apps I’ve seen in a long time. Ava helps people with hearing loss or impairment to communicate with other people. It literally puts speech on the screen in real time. If you’re talking to someone, whatever they say shows up in text on your phone using this app.
Thursday, May 16th
update:
I’ll have this story uploaded and finished by 4:30 ET
The FCC will allow wireless companies to block robot calls before they reach customers. The commission wants Verizon, T-mobile, ATT, Sprint to put things in place where the calls are blocked automatically. I’m going to look at the challenges it faces including how they’d be able to allow some robo calls, like school closings, to get through
Wednesday, May 15th
Everything you should know about Disney’s new streaming service. It launches later this year and it could kill Netflix. I’ll show you what Disney will pull from Netflix, what else Netflix might lose and what you’ll see and how much you’ll pay if you subscribe to Disney. (Hint, this doesn’t look good for Netflix)
Tuesday, May 14th
updated: 8 am 5/14
This is one of those stories best used today. Amazon announced this morning it is adding a home security feature to the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot. Just say “Alexa, I’m leaving” and she’ll start listening for sounds. Breaking glass, a loud door, voices, a smoke detector, if it hears anything like that you’ll get an immediate notification on your phone.
I’ll save the cord cutting piece for tomorrow.
Cord Cutting. What’s one thing that would make millions of people drop Netflix? It might happen later this year. What’s the scoop on Disney’s streaming service that’s coming out in the fall? It’s cheaper and for parents of young kids, it might be the only thing they watch.
Monday, May 13th
Gift idea segments are doing well from what I’m hearing. With most high school graduations happening in the next couple of weeks I thought I’d look at some tech gift ideas for grads who are either headed off to college or straight into a career.
Friday, May 10th
the hottest new app in iTunes. The app of the day is Depop, another app that helps you sell things from your closet and buy things from other people. But this one is a bit different. It’s hipper and millennials have made it one of the top rated and most downloaded app in the app store.
Thursday, May 9th
So, Amazon’s Alexa for kids may have been spying on children? Is anyone surprised at this point. I’ll review the privacy and terms of service you say is okay when you first put an Echo or other smart device in your home, and show you what to do to keep your private conversations private.
Wednesday, May 8th
You use your smartphone every single minute of the day but there are things you didn’t know it could do. I’m looking at some secrets of your smartphone; things iPhones and Android devices can do, if you only knew how to do them. #tipsandtricks
Tuesday, May 7th
Netflix vs Amazon vs Hulu. Which streaming service has the best movies? There’s a tease for this too. I’m looking at hit movie and family friendly films and comparing what Netflix, Amazon and Hulu offer.
Monday, May 6th
Mother’s Day gifts for new moms. It’s her first Mother’s Day and she’s thinking of her baby. There are tech devices perfect for mom’s first Mother’s Day.
Friday, May 3rd
The app of the day is for anyone who likes to create unique photos and videos. Cinemagraph takes a short video, turns part of it into a still picture then creates a gif that can be shared. It’s really cool.
Thursday, May 2nd
How many times has your teen or pre-teen suddenly put their phone down when you walk near them? They’re up to something they don’t want you to know about. But there are a few ways parents can see what their kids are up to without looking at their phone.
Wednesday, May 1st
Last week’s story on tech gift ideas for moms, dads and grads was popular online so I thought I’d do another, specifically for moms and grads. Mother’s Day is a little over a week away and graduations are going on now.
Tuesday, April 30th
I’m going to be doing another month’s worth of stories on cutting the cord. Today it’s a look at the equipment you need before pulling the plug of cable or satellite. Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Chromecast and Apple TV. Is one better than the others? What’s the difference? I’ll take a close look at what you should know before you buy.
Monday, April 29th
Have you seen “Avengers End Game” yet? It’s a 3+ hour movie which means, you may need to take a bathroom break at some point. But when? You don’t want to miss something important, so you might want this app. “RunPee” sends you a notification when you can make a run for it without missing crucial plot points.
Friday, April 26th
The App of the Day: RealReal. You’ve heard and maybe tried Poshmark, but what if you want to buy a Louis Vuitton, Prada or other high fashion items? RealReal is a consignment app specializing in the highest quality. RealReal goes to the homes of socialites and the rich and famous to pick up what they no longer use. Find the name brands you’d never be able to afford. Or, if you have something yourself, just send it to RealReal and keep up to 85% of what it sells for.
Thursday, April 25th
Mother’s Day and graduations are just a couple weeks away (or sooner). I’m going to take a look at a few more gadget gift ideas for the mom, grandma or grad on your list. The two stories on gadget gifts earlier this week got a lot of web traffic so I thought I should do another. I’ve got computer glasses, portable charger, desktop phone charger, an app subscription and fingerprint padlock.
Wednesday, April 24th
Think you know all about shopping, ordering and returning things with Amazon? You can save return shipping charges with these tricks. Amazon also just announced you can return things to any Kohls store.
Tuesday, April 23rd
Tech gadget gifts for high school graduates. If you got a high school graduation announcement, don’t think about gift cards and Dr Seuss books. Think tech gadgets, these ideas are especially for high school graduation
Monday, April 22nd
I’ve been gathering up some tech gift ideas for moms, dads and grads. First up today is a look at tech gadgets for college grads. I plan to shoot teases and will put them in the folders.
Friday, April 19th
The App of the Day: Seven. We’re weeks away from the pool, the beach, the swimsuits. Judging from the crowd on the treadmills last night, everybody’s thinking about getting in shape. But who has the time? I’ve found an app that works for both iOS and Android that’ll help trim the waist line (and other areas) in just 7 minutes a day.
Thursday, April 18th
Monday is Earth Day and I thought I’d do something on the best way to protect the environment when it comes to tech. Keep your computer working. Landfills are covered with e-waste and a majority of it is old computers. I’m talking with a computer repair technician about common things that kill computers and how to protect yours. And maybe the question: is it best to turn off the computer or leave it on?
Wednesday, April 17th
Did you know smartphone batteries die faster in the summer? It isn’t the heat, you’re going to be outside more for the next few months and away from a wall charger. But there are a couple of things on your phone you may not think about that are draining your battery. Free apps, Facebook and 1 particular setting.
Tuesday, April 16th
Amazon is being flooded with fake 5 star reviews according to a new report. I’m going to take a look at likely fakes and give some tips on how to spot them.
Monday, April 15th
Ever download an app and not realize you’ve just subscribed to something? In-app purchases, specifically app subscriptions is a multi-million dollar industry and some of them are straight-out scams. Apple just solved the problem for you in the new operating system I’m looking into the subscription business and how to keep your money in your pocket.
Friday, April 12th
The App of the Day. Ever wonder if that thing growing in your flower bed is a flower or weed? As people are back out working in the yard, this app identifies what’s growing. Aim your phone’s camera at a plant or leaf and it’ll tell you whether you should feed it or weed it.
Thursday, April 11th
That tickle in your throat. You can sense it, even see it: pollen and allergies. Can an app keep you from getting sick this spring? I’m taking a look at two apps that’ll give you the information you need before walking out the door.
Wednesday, April 10th
Isn’t it awkward when Facebook reminds you that a deceased friend is celebrating a birthday? What happens when a Facebook friend dies? The network launched some new features that will help protect a person’s Facebook profile after they pass away.
Tuesday, April 9th
New figures from the CDC show that suicide and suicidal thoughts have doubled among teenagers. It’s attributed several things to being a cause, not the least of it: social media. I’m going to look at how social media and always looking at the phone affects young people.
Monday, April 8th
Apple Maps has always had problems. Well get ready, it’s been long rumored Apple is working to improve and I have proof it’s true. I stumbled across an Apple Map car recording 360-degree video. Will this be the same or better than Google Earth?
Friday, April 5th
The app of the day. If you’re looking to change your career or just learn new things, the app of the day should be a go-to resource. Formerly Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning has hundreds of classes and courses taught by experts in their field. From Graphic design to SEO to computer science, learn new skills or make money teaching one yourself.
Thursday, April 4th
it’s been awhile since I’ve reviewed a new gadget and I tried out something at DisneyWorld last week that’s pretty cool. As more nad more people blog, vlog and YouTube, video gadgets have become popular. This smartphone stabilizer is good for those vloggers but good for parents as well who want to get great video of the kids this summer.
Wednesday, April 3rd
How many photos do you see on Facebook and Instagram post from friends who are on vacation? It’s like we all know when someone is out of town. If you want to be on the safe side, just wait until you get home, or try these things. I shot the story at Universal Studios last week.
Tuesday, April 2nd
Sextortion. It’s one of the fastest growing scams by hackers because it works. You’ll get an email from someone saying they’ve recorded video of you watching porn on the computer and they’ll send the video to everyone in your contacts list unless you pay them $1,000. I’ll show you what one of these emails looks like and what to do if you get one.
Monday, April 1st
Why am I seeing this post? Have you ever wondered why certain posts or types of posts keep showing up on your Facebook newsfeed? Yes, Facebook has control of what you see but it’s rolling out a new feature to help you understand why posts show up on your feed and gives you some control.
Friday, March 29th
The app of the day: why send a wordy comment when a gif will do. you can find the quick video clips in texting apps and Facebook. Do you need a separate app? Do you find more (better) gifs in a free app? I’ll take a look at the app GIPHY.
Thursday, March 28th
I’m still out of town. Shooting a couple stories on my vacation. Today’s story ran before, about a year ago. It’s about parents using certain hashtags on pictures of their kids posted to Instagram. Some hashtags alert pedos that search for pictures of little kids.
Wednesday, March 27th
If you’re looking for a job you can visit Monster, Career-Builder, Jobs.com, and lots more. But if you want to search them all and get far more information, head over to Google’s Job Search. Find out what employees with the same job are paid.
Tuesday, March 26
This is a story that ran December ’17. Still accurate today. Scammers have a way to add a charge to your phone bill every month, and if you’re not paying attention, you’ll never know that $8 fee is going to a bad guy. Here’s how to avoid being part of the scam.
Monday, March 25th
Tax Scams. This is a busy time for the bad guys. Don’t fall for these tax season scams.
Friday, March 22nd
Everyone’s a marketer these days and for anyone using Instagram to build their personal brand, hashtags are important. How do you find the right ones so your posts get views? The App of the day is “Hash-Me”, a cool app that scans your photo and using artificial intelligence finds just the right hashtags before you post.
Thursday, March 21st
Update 9:32 am A Kickstarter launched today for an app that will give away free movie tickets for watching a set of TV commercials. PreShow lets users pick a movie they want to see in the theater. They’re then asked to watch about 15-20 minutes of commercials that may be tied to products placed in the movie. It uses facial recognition to ensure the user is watching the screen. I’ll explain what PreShow is, how it works and when you might get the chance to use it.
I’ll do the Google Jobs story next week.
if you’re looking for a job, there are many places to go online for job postings. Monster.com, Career Builder, jobs.com. Those are all just fine but the best online job search isn’t one of those, it’s from Google and it’s free.
Wednesday, March 20th
MoviePass is bringing its unlimited plan back but there’s a catch. The popular ‘movie-every-day’ model nearly sunk MoviePass. When it changed the plans to stay in business, it angered fans and cost them millions of subscribers. MoviePass just announced it’s bringing back an “uncapped” plan. What is it? How much will it cost? What’s the catch?
Tuesday, March 19th
You can be a millionaire! There’s a very interesting community on Reddit that wants to make a millionaire. The idea: if 1 million people sent one person a dollar each… it’s been going on for quite a while.
Monday, March 18th
More people purchased DNA kits in 2018 than 2002-2017 combined! Police used one of the genealogy databases to catch a suspected killer in Alabama. Did you know even if you haven’t sent in a spit sample, you’re likely in the database too? You can still use the story from the news this morning about the Alabama case.
Friday, March 15th
The app of the day is “Just Watch”, an app that searches and lists everything playing on streaming services.
Thursday, March 14th
I feel the Facebook outage story will be old news by evening so I’m going to skip it and move on.
I’m likely going to do something on a big change in Google that affects every single person who uses the Chrome browser. Everyone knows Google tracks everything you look at and search for online. But there’s an easy way to protect your privacy now. The DuckDuckGo search can be used with Google Chrome.
Wednesday, March 13th
Why are new TV’s so inexpensive? It’s because manufacturers are selling your information to advertisers. You’re already seeing personalized ads show up in Facebook and other places online, get ready to see more TV commercials specifically targeted at you.
Tuesday, March 12th
Today, I’ll be doing the Netflix automatic downloads story today. If you download shows to binge on Netflix, it’ll now delete the episode you just watched and download the next one. It’ll be a favorite feature for anyone who watches a different episode of a show every day.
By the way I spent almost all of yesterday with Mercedes/insurance company/dealership where we bought the car, about our exploding sunroof. Turns out there’ve been a lot of reports of these things spontaneously cracking exploding. I’m just happy my daughter had the sunroof visor pulled shut or the glass would have been all over her driving down the interstate.
Monday, March 11th
By far the story that has gotten the most comments in the last 5 years. Netflix secret codes.
You now how you see the same 40-100 movies pop up on Netflix every time you sign in? Netflix actually has thousands and thousands of movies you didn’t know about. This story explains how to use secret codes to see everything you can watch.
Friday, March 8th
The App of the Day: if your fingers never seem to tap the right letters and numbers on your smartphone, this app is for you. Grammarly gives you a chance to get things right, whether it’s a text, tweet or notes.
Thursday, March 7th
Lots of folks are going to be going on spring break very soon or they’re thinking of a summer vacation. And they’ll be staying in an Airbnb. With all the smart devices on the market now you can hide a hidden camera just about anywhere and stream live video to a smartphone. I’m looking at a few ways you can discover whether you’re being watched by a hidden camera.
Wednesday, March 6th
It’s still flu season and research suggests your phone might be to blamed. Germs germs germs, if someone at work uses their phone in the bathroom then go back to their desk… gross. I mention this and talk about how to keep your phone clean.
Tuesday, March 5th
Are people really this bored? The big thing on YouTube these days is people watching people study. Similar to watching people eat, these videos are very popular. Why on earth?
Monday, March 4th
The new Pinterest. Maybe you’ve noticed things are changing on this social media. Your recipe pins and DIY pins are being crowded with companies that are allowed to upload their entire catalog. It’s going to look more like a shopping site than an idea site.
Friday, February 29th
The app of the day: Mvelope. Setting and keeping a budget is hard. Dave Ramsey (the ‘Total Money Makeover” radio guy, suggests people use cash and envelopes to see where your money is going every week and how much you have extra to spend.
I don’t know anyone who only pays cash and who uses the envelope method. But this app, “Mvelope” uses digital envelopes to do the same thing and save.
Thursday, February 28th
Update: i will do my best to get this story to you ASAP since I think it’s time sensitive. I have an interview with a counselor who’s talking to parents who’ve called. that interview is noon ET. I plan to have the story uploaded as close to 4pm ET as I can
Everything you need to know about Momo. The world went crazy yesterday about a scary YouTube meme that reportedly would tell kids to kill themselves. Parent shared it on Facebook, police and schools sent out warnings. Is it for real or another viral ghost story?
Wednesday, February 27th
Don’t you hate hate hate hate fake Amazon reviews? Millions of people choose products based on their ratings and reviews. The FTC is going after fake reviewers and just settled its first case. The FTC got a settlement from a company that employed people to sit around and write fake reviews for its clients.
Tuesday, February 26th
My money interview got cold feet and I won’t have that money segment ready today. If you’ve teased it, please let me know and I’ll have something for you. Jamey@whatthetech.tv.
The story about the woman teaching Chinese students will be ready Thursday evening.
Today I’m looking at another problem for YouTube. Some have reported an innocent video on YouTube can take viewers down a wormhole by ‘suggested videos’, until you seeing inappropriate videos of young girls. The comment sections for these videos have also reportedly included messages from pedophiles.
Monday, February 25th
Everyone has Hollywood and movies on their mind. So whatever happened with the two movie subscription programs? MoviePass and Sinemia are still around but are both very different. I’m taking a look at these plans now and if it makes sense to subscribe to them.
Friday, February 22nd
This is the cold and flu season and when it’s spreading, every little thing that hurts makes you wonder…. You could go to the doctor and sit in a waiting room with a bunch of sick people, or you can download an app. This app of the day is Ada. A bot that can give you a pretty decent idea of what ails you.
Thursday, February 21st
How much money do you spend on subscriptions? It’s probably more than you think. A study just released shows that most Americans underestimate what they sped each month and when you stop to think about what you’re paying, it’s shocking. I’ll explain that and show you an app to help get those subscriptions under control and save you money
Wednesday, February 20th
WOW, SAMSUNG’s big event is today and we’re going to see a foldable phone, a new line of Galaxy phones and some other cool things. This is a story you may want to run today. It’ll be a quick turnaround (i.e. it won’t be fancy ) but I’ll have something by 5p ET.
Tuesday, February 19th
Making money part 3. Part of making money is saving money and saving time There are countless ways to make money online and with apps, but are they a waste of time?
Monday, February 18th
“Hacker” has such a negative reputation. But some hacks are good and save time and money. Today I’m going to show a few “consumer tech hacks”, such as how to get your screen addicted kids to read (guaranteed) and how to create your first app in 2 seconds.
Friday, February 15th
The App of the Day is especially for parents of young kids. Montessori Academy is one of those names every one is familiar with and their app teaches pre-K children early math, spelling and reading skills.
Thursday, February 14th
Cord cutters are growing in number with millions of satellite/cable TV subscribers planning to switch to streaming over the next year. Before you make the decision, there are some things you need to know,
Wednesday, February 13th
Valentines Day tech. It’s more than swiping right or left. There are hundreds of apps in both app stores that do more than a partner. I’ll be looking at some of the best “Love Apps” in the stores. Including the dating app that protects you from weirdos you meet.
Tuesday, February 12th
Making $$ from home with the tech you have. This young woman started a blog a few years ago. She didn’t know anything about blogs. Today she makes over $100,00 a month while traveling the world. I interviewed her by Skype while she’s on her boat in the Bahamas. We talk about what she did to become a millionaire.
Monday, February 11th
Marie Kondo your Facebook profile. While the “Tidying Up” craze has people cleaning their closets, I’m going to talk about cleaning up your Facebook profile. Unexpected followers, annoying friends, strangers who are looking at your pictures, apps that have access to your account; I’m looking at ways to get rid of what you don’t need.
Friday, February 8th
With the Marie Kondo minimalist thing growing in popularity, I’ve found an app that helps you get rid of things you just don’t need. It’s the App of the Day: Get Rid of It
Thursday, February 7th
The one thing you’re doing to make your TV picture suck. Tom Cruise came out and criticized TV manufacturers for selling TVs with the wrong set-up that causes the”Soap Opera Effect”. What is that and how to make your picture better than ever.
Wednesday, February 6th
The new emoji are here! The universal language is getting some new words after the international Unicode folks gathered again and voted on which hieroglyphics to introduce this year. Wheelchairs, prosthetics and many other new emoji. How will people use some of these things?
Tuesday, February 5th
The first piece in our “make money with tech” series. I’m doing one of these every Tuesday. I am efforting to get them done a day ahead of time. There will be a tease available in the Dropbox on Monday.
Today I’m looking at a good way to make money when you’re doing just about anything else. Online surveys. How much can you earn? How are you paid? How long does it take?
Monday, February 4th
How much does it cost to stream a Netflix movie or browse the internet? You may have seen a commercial during the Super Bowl for a new pre-pay phone service called Mint. It’s cheaper than your current plan but you may only get 10gb per month. Is this enough, how much data do you need each month? I’ll do the math.
Friday, February 1st
Millions of people deal with the problem of falling asleep. For some of us, it’s just a matter of “turning off the brain”. How many times have is it hard to fall asleep because you can’t stop thinking about tomorrow, or today at work? The App of the Day is an app that makes you go zzzzzz. It’s Soothing Sleep.
Thursday, January 31st
How to keep your phone from dying in the cold. Today’s smartphones can deal with extreme weather better than they could 5 years ago, but there are still some things that you should know.
Wednesday, January 30th
This is the best time of year to buy a TV. If you’re going to take advantage of low prices what size do you need for the size room it’s going in. And the most popular size may surprise you. Even people with small rooms are buying a BAT. (Big A** Television)
Tuesday, January 29th
Update: I’m going to try to do a FaceTime controversy follow-up, to talk about the fear of someone listening in on us without our knowledge. This will not be a story only about FaceTime, so if you want to do something about what Apple is doing, that’ll work just fine.
Monday, January 28th
Apple will pay for your pictures. Apple recently opened entries to its annul “Shot on iPhone” competition. In the past Apple only gave out awards but claimed ownership of the photos, this year Apple has announced it’s going to pay the winners.
Friday, January 25th
Most people don’t know about the Chrome App Store. It isn’t for Android devices, it’s for anyone who uses the Chrome browser. I’m going to show what’s there, and focus on the App of the Day: Nope. A app to rescue you from annoying coworkers who won’t stop talking.
Thursday, January, 24th
Best places to book your vacation. This is the time of year people are planning spring break and summer vacations. I’m looking at which apps and websites do best at finding good deals.
Wednesday, January 23rd
Not much going on this week, so I’m using a story I shot at CES on new technology for video gamers. The future is here. If you saw the movie “Ready Player One” you’ll remember the cool haptic suit the hero wanted. It allowed him to feel what he was seeing or experiencing when he was in the game. One of this year’s big hits at CES was a similar haptic suit. I’m talking to the developer about how it works.
Tuesday, January 22nd
Everyone knows you need a keyboard of some kind of phone or device. Two companies have set out to try something different. One has developed a glove like device that you can use by drawing or typing in the air, and another has put the technology in rings you put on your fingers
Monday, January 21st
Update; I’m saving the story below for another day. Have you ever signed up for a free trial for something and forget to cancel before it starts charging you? MasterCard just announced protection for its customers when it comes to companies that practice that way. I’ll also look at an app that cancels free trials before they’re over.
Everyone knows you need a keyboard of some kind of phone or device. Two companies have set out to try something different. One has developed a glove like device that you can use by drawing or typing in the air, and another has put the technology in rings you put on your fingers
Friday, January 18th
The App of the day: Madefire Comics and Motion Books. Kids get stuck inside during cold winter weather and they either play video games or watch hours of YouTube videos. What if parents could find a way to make them read? (Gasp). Madefire Comics and Motion Books are the traditional comics of Superman, Batman, Archie, etc. and might be just what kids need to get reading again.
Thursday, January 17th
(I’m not sure why this didn’t originally post, but I’m sure it was user error, me)
The “Ten Year Challenge” currently going around on Facebook and Instagram. Can it be used to steal your identity? The answer is no, or at least 99.9% no. I’ll take a look at this meme and the questions it provokes.
Wednesday, January 16th
Netflix is raising rates, is this a sign of “cutting the cord” getting more expensive? Just because you can save money now by cutting cable, the Netflix announcement makes you think of what happens if all of the streaming services raises rates by a few bucks a month.
Tuesday, January 15th
Update: My previous story fell through and I don’t have enough video for the story I pitched this morning so I’m going to hold it and do something else. Robot suitcases.
Is walking through the airport hauling a rolling carry-on too much for you? Me neither, but there are apparently enough people who complain about this that several companies have built robotic suitcases. One just follows you through the terminal while you can ride another one. I’m going to look at both inventions and watch as one inventor rides away.
One setting may be making things on your TV look weird. Have you ever noticed that some things on your television look fine, while others (like ballgames) don’t look so good? Bad even. It’s because the TV makers and stores that sell them, change a setting to make them look good in stores. I’ll show you what that one setting is, and how to correct it.
Monday, January 14th
The best of CES. You’re not going to buy a $300,00 TV nor a $10,000 pair of headphones but you might want to run out and buy these gadgets. The three best things from the show that you’d want to have.
Friday, January 11th
CES wraps up today and this story looks at a robot. Not just another robot but one that plays ping-pong. Omron has developed advanced robotics that play games but will also do assembly line work.
Thursday, January 10th
TV’s. Just when you thought your 4k television is the best you’ve seen, now comes 8k. Who needs an 8K TV. What is it? And I’m looking at a new TV you can hide by hitting a button. It rolls up into a box on the floor. I’m talking with product specialists with Samsung and LG.
Wednesday, January 9th\
it’s the product everyone at CES is talking about. A tablet that folds into a smartphone. It’s not just a gimmick, it’s going to be released in the US later this year.
Tuesday, January 8th
Sorry for the delay in this pitch. Internet problems in the hotel so I may have to take the videos to another location and try uploading them there. I have a tease as well. Today’s story is about health care tech. And products designed to make us feel better.
Monday, January 7th
Day 1 of CES. The show doesn’t officially begin until tomorrow so I’m doing a package that describes CES then shows some of the oddest, or most ambitious products.
Friday, January 4th
The App of the Day. Fantastical. Think you need to stay more organized this year? Fantastical 2 is the best calendar app in the App Store. It is simple to use and syncs across your devices. You may not want to hold this for next week as I’ll be sending back look-lives on Monday from CES.
Thursday, January 3rd
If you want to see the latest fashions in active wear, just go to a gym. New Year resolutions mean some people who haven’t been in a gym in years are there trying to get in shape. Don’t try to exercise without an app to keep you honest and on track. I’ll look at a few to download.
Wednesday, January 2nd
Millions of people got Amazon Echo devices over the holidays and are wondering what Alexa can do. The millions of people who’ve had an Echo device are wondering that too. In this story I’ll show you some of the best Alexa skills you should install.
Tuesday, January 1st
Happy New Year! I’d like to go with this story from earlier this year, or last year. lots of people got DNA kits for Christmas. Is it a good idea to use them? Police used a consumer DNA kit to catch a serial killer who’d been on the run for about 50 years. I talk with an expert in DNA data and what it means to have your one-of-a-kind data in a database.
Monday, December 31st
It’s the new year and a popular resolution is doing better with money. Saving it, earning it, keeping track of what’s going in and going out of the bank accounts. Today I’m going to look at a couple of apps that’ll help do that. Easily.
Friday, December 28th
The App of the Day. The flu is on its way to being rampant. The CDC reports the spreading of Flu Type A and B. This app of the day is not from the CDC but it uses their information along with social media to show users where the flu is and how to avoid it.
Thursday, December 27th
So you got some electronics for Christmas. There’s one thing you have to do right away. Reset the password. I’ll show you how easy it is for hackers to take control of your gadgets and even see inside your home.
Wednesday, December 26th
Apps for the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch was a popular gift this year. I’m going to look at a few apps you should install first. I think this will be interesting to Watch owners and people thinking of getting one.
Tuesday, December 25th CHRISTMAS
I’ve got a story today about what you can do with gift cards you do not want. I ran the story last year around Christmas and thought it would work well this year on Christmas Day.
Monday, December 24th
Merry Christmas. I will have stories for you this week. Today’s story really needs to run today. It’s about an app that allows parents to take a photo of a room and put Santa there. They can show their kids a photo or video when Santa was bringing presents. Obviously, this will be an old story after Christmas morning.
Friday, December 21st
This app of the Day is for people who’ll be traveling over the holidays. It’s called “Sit or Squat” and it helps moms and dads who’ll be taking kids on a family road trip. It helps find clean bathrooms.
Thursday, December 20th
Best gadgets of 2018 part 3. It’s a grab bag of tech gadgets including a digital blood pressure cuff, wireless charger, Echo game buttons, a new digital lock, and a Google home mini.
Wednesday, December 19th
Best gadgets of 2018 part 2. I’ve narrowed down the list of great tech and today I’m looking at a few devices/gadgets to take your cellphone photography skills to the next level.
Tuesday, December 18th
There aren’t many shopping days left before Christmas and if you’re like me, you’re still looking for gif ideas. Over the next few nights, though Thursday, I’m going to take a look at the very best gadgets of the year. The best of the best in new technology.
Monday, December 17th
nearly 7 million Facebook users had their photos, even the ones marked “private” exposed without their permission. This story broke late Friday. Today I’m going to take a look at what people can or should do to find out if their photos were included in this glitch that allowed 1,500 apps to see or gain access to them.
Friday, December 14th
Sure your pet is nice, but can he do this??? The App of the Day makes your pet talk; sort of.
Thursday, December 13th
The ONE question I get every few days is about the Apple Watch. They ask if they should get a 3 or 4 and ask if the health features are worth the extra money. Today I’m going to look at what the watch can do when it comes to monitoring your health.
Wednesday, December 12th
I’m looking at more of my favorite gadgets of 2018 that will make someone a nice Christmas gifts.
Tuesday, December 11th
this is a story best run today. Over 52 million Google + users had their information stolen by hackers. This is the second hit in the past few months for Google. The company said it will shut down Google+ in April, but I’ll explain why you should do it right away.
Monday, December 10th
You don’t have to wait to let the kids know what’s up with Santa. Google and NORAD have updated their Santa trackers so kids can take a peek at Santa in the days leading up to Christmas. I’ll also show parents where their kids can see Santa feed the reindeer live at the north pole.
Friday, December 7th
it will be an App of the Day. I’m waiting to see if an app company is going to send a download code. I’ll update this page as soon as I know what the app will be.
Thursday, December 6th
How about some stocking stuffers? I’m looking at tech gift ideas small enough to fit in someone’s stocking. But any of these could be the best gift you could give.
Wednesday, December 5th
Many people may be stepping into the world of smart homes this Christmas. Today I’ll be looking at a few gadgets that are good to get started.
Tuesday, December 4th
Virtual reality glasses and gear are going to be popular this year. I know I’ve said that before, but this year there are lots to choose from. Which ones are you wasting money on? Which ones are worth the money? Which ones will make it past December 26th before they break?
Monday, December 3rd
One thing you absolutely need to do before the end of the month. Especially if you’re still using anything older than an iPhone X. Apple will replace your battery for $29. It’s usually a lot more. This stems from a problem iPhone users reported earlier this year that their phone was dying earlier and earlier in the day. I’ll show you how to check your battery’s life and what to do if it needs replacing.
Friday, November 30th
Have you made your list and checked it twice? I’ve found an app that’ll help make your Christmas list, keep you from spending too much, and make sure you don’t forget anyone. This is actually two apps, one for Android and one for iOS. They do the same thing.
Thursday, November 29th
We all look at reviews for items on Amazon and many of us, put some stock into what other customers think. But how do you tell the difference between a genuine review and one from someone who’s paid to say good things about it.
Wednesday, November 28th
Over the next several weeks I’ll be looking at some of the best tech gadgets of the year. I’ve tried dozens of things over the past year and these are the coolest ones. Today I’m looking at great gifts for people who love music.
Tuesday, November 27th
Is this the year of the smart watch? People have been putting off getting one but I’ve had more questions about which one to buy than ever. I’ve got the latest Apple Watch and the Galaxy Watch for Android. What can you do with them?
Monday, November 26th
Cyber Monday! All those packages people are ordering today (and every day) will soon be delivered. And stolen. Around 30% of consumers report having a package stolen from their doorstep. How do you protect your purchases from porch pirates? This will be able to run anytime over the next few days. You’ll just have to change the intro.
Friday, November 23rd
A shopping app for App of the Day. Some popular Black Friday and Cyber Monday apps have come and gone but this one, Flipp, is the best of the best. Like other apps it gathers all the big discounts and allows you to make a shopping list. Why is Flipp better than all the rest? Because you can use it throughout the year for grocery shopping. Flipp is the App of the Day
Thursday, November 22nd
Happy Thanksgiving. If you’re like me, you’re getting lots of Amazon boxes. They pile up. Don’t throw them away! You can use them to send donations to Goodwill, and Amazon takes care of the postage. It’s called a “Give Back Box”, put stuff in the old Amazon box, print out a free shipping label and mail it in.
Wednesday, November 21st
** sorry, I didn’t hit the update button on this pitch last night**
Cord Cutting pt 4. If you don’t have Netflix (or even if you do) there are a couple of options where you can stream movies and TV shows. I’ll be looking at 3 of them. Tubi TV, Pluto and YouTube. All offer some of the movies you’ll find on Netflix for free. What do they have? How can you get them? And how can they be free?
Tuesday, November 20th
Last year 40% of online purchases over Black Friday/Cyber Monday were made using a smartphone. That’s up from 11% in 2016. I’m going to look at a few things you should keep in mind before shopping on a phone.
Monday, November 19th
Millions of people are shopping Amazon for Black Friday, those specials started last week. Here’s something only power-Amazon shoppers know about: if you’re patient Amazon will actually give you money. Why “no-rush shipping” is a no-brainer for Christmas shopping.
Friday November 16th
The App of the Day. People are thinking of Thanksgiving and helping other people. I have an app that makes it easy to do.
Thursday November 15th
If you haven’t signed up for the U.S Postal Service’s “informed delivery” emails, you should stop what you’re doing and do that. I told you about the Postal Service sending emails with photos of what’s coming in your mail. Now Homeland Security is warning people that bad guys could be signing up for your mailbox and if you’re getting something good, like a new credit card, they’ll take it right out of your mailbox right under your nose.
Wednesday, November 14th
Cord Cutting. How much will you really pay for Sling, YouTube TV, Direct TV Now? Is it really just $25? Is there a catch? I’ve tried them all to find out.
Tuesday, November 13th
Tonight I’m looking at the best tech gadgets for mom this Christmas. By the way, as a reminder, I will be doing something different every Wednesday on “Cord Cutting”. Tomorrow I will take a look at the #1 cord cutting service, Sling. What’s good about it? What might surprise you.
Monday, November 12th
I think it’s time to start looking ahead at some of this year’s top tech gift ideas. Cyber Monday is exactly 2 weeks from today. I’m kicking things off with some tech gift ideas for dad. A remote control you can control with your voice, a TV that looks like fine art, a locker for the gym that opens with your fingerprint, and a Bluetooth speaker with a radio built in. I’ll try to fit all those in a :90 story.
Friday, November 9th
It’s App of the Day Friday. Today I’ve got an app that’s perfect for planning and cooking a Thanksgiving meal. Project Foodie.
Thursday, November 8th
Christmas spending is expected to hit a record $1 trillion. A trillion!? I’ll be looking at this year’s hot gifts and why Amazon is making its customers feeling a little nostalgic. It’s sending out a Wish toy catalog, the same type their parents grew up with from Sears and JC Penney. I have one and I’ll show you what it looks like.
Wednesday, November 7th
Should you “cut the cord?” Ditching cable or satellite TV is a popular thing these days, but does it make sense for you? I’m starting a series of stories about cord-cutters. I’m likely going to do this every Wednesday so you can air them as a Cord Cutters Wednesday or Thursday. Today I’m going to look at questions you should ask yourself before cutting the cord.