Consumer Tech Update

A nationwide SMS flood almost struck New York. While the Secret Service shut down a massive SIM server ring that could have sent 30 million texts per minute and knocked out 911, the threat shows how vulnerable our networks remain. Here is what happened and how to stay prepared. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bluetooth is tracking you even when your GPS is off. Apps use it to map your movements and build profiles. Here’s how to stop them and protect your privacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prime is easy to join but a nightmare to cancel. Millions are suing as the FTC says quitting takes navigating multiple pages and answering endless questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stop wasting hours hunting for files. Learn how AI in Google Workspace and Microsoft Copilot can find your documents in seconds and boost your productivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple’s new iPhone Air is making headlines as the thinnest iPhone ever, lighter than Samsung’s slimmest models. But with a single camera and a $1,000 price tag, is it worth it? Here’s what you need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hit the trails smarter. From AllTrails’ 450,000 mapped routes to Cairn’s safety check-ins and PeakFinder’s mountain IDs, these hiking apps turn your phone into the ultimate trail guide. Here’s what you need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oakley and Meta just launched sunglasses that look normal but secretly record everything you see. The AI-powered Oakley Meta Vanguard could change privacy, sports, and even journalism forever. Here’s what you need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Forget the myths about cheap flights. Google Flights crunched billions of bookings and found the real hacks: book five weeks ahead, fly Wednesday, and skip the Tuesday ticket myth. Here’s what you need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Apple Watch just leveled up. Beyond EKGs and blood oxygen it can now detect hypertension, the silent killer that strikes without warning. Here’s how Apple’s newest health feature could save your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tired of wasting hours on hold? Google Pixel and iPhone can now do the waiting for you. Hold for Me and Hold Assist let your phone handle customer service calls so you never miss a beat. Here’s how to set it up and reclaim your time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tired of wasting hours on hold? Google Pixel and iPhone can now do the waiting for you. Hold for Me and Hold Assist let your phone handle customer service calls so you never miss a beat. Here’s how to set it up and reclaim your time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is scraping billions of selfies from social media to train facial recognition. Bots target unmarked photos, but a simple watermark can protect your images. Here’s what you need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Social media’s dark side is growing. Reports show Meta profited from ads selling child-like sex dolls, even as scams and exploitation spread across its platforms. With billions in resources and AI tools, why is Big Tech still failing to stop it? Here’s what you need to know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling nervous before a job interview? Stop. Studies show saying “I’m excited” boosts your chances. Here’s how AI and ChatGPT Voice Mode can help you practice answers, simulate a recruiter, and get interview-ready with no pressure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In San Antonio, vandals have set fire to 22 cell tower sites, but the bigger story is Starlink’s satellite network that could make cell towers obsolete and give your phone a signal anywhere on Earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Instacart is convenient, but it could be costing you big. Prices are often higher than in-store, fees add up fast, and substitutions can spike your total. Here’s how to shop smarter and keep your grocery bill under control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI isn’t just changing tech. It’s fueling the economy. Data centers are being built faster than office buildings, creating jobs, driving spending, and boosting growth that few are reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Train AI with your own emails, proposals, and FAQs so it responds in your voice, your style, and your standards. This scales you without replacing you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam Altman claims ChatGPT is smarter than people. Is he right, or is true intelligence still only human? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keep your old phone number while getting a new one with Google Voice. Forward calls and texts seamlessly, dodge spam, and manage both numbers from the same phone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices