Techish

Ready to travel? I flew during a pandemic–here’s what I used to stay safe!

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I fly around 10,000 miles a month for work. When COVID-19 grounded non-essential travel in mid-March, I did what I had to do: Hunkered down, followed shelter-in-place orders, and researched tools to help make it safe-ish to travel again. I also worried about work. As a freelancer, I wondered how many jobs I could turn down before feeling like I absolutely needed to get on a plane for work again. The answer to that question came earlier this month. I didn’t venture more than 20-miles away from my home in Oakland, California for more than three months. Then, on June 11th, with a big project at stake, I stepped out of my house, into a mostly empty Oakland International Airport, and onto a ... Read more

HOW TO: Get Cash For Your Trash!

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There’s nothing like being stuck at home to force you into finally doing something about the clutter you’ve been stashing in closets and under the bed for years. Deep cleaning our homes – like baking – has emerged as one of the universal human responses to this pandemic, according to recent data. The JustAnswer Art Appraisal team has been fielding something like 4,000 questions a week from people wondering if any of their clutter qualifies as vintage, collectible, or – better still – rare art. JustAnswer antique appraisers get 4,000 questions a week around hidden treasures have uncovered in their own homes. Some are worth millions. Often, the answer is a startling, “Yes!” One man in ... Read more

HOW TO: Use this tech to find a local demonstration + stay informed and safe at a protest

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I have covered more than 100 protests in my tenure as a general assignment news reporter, before turning my focus to tech. Most were peaceful, but I’ve been caught in the midst of the melee, too – pelted with rocks, tear-gassed, and attacked by extremists co-opting nonviolent marches to create chaos nonrelated to the cause. What I learned early on, long before the days of smartphones and social media, is that keeping track of what’s going on – even along the same city block – can be next to impossible. Just gathering information, law enforcement would often tell me one thing, the protest organizers another, and dozens more leaders, marchers, and watchdog groups would say something ... Read more

Unemployed because of coronavirus? How to make money from home right away

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If you know your way around a sewing machine, can quick-fix a washer/dryer, fridge, boat or car, have an eye for antiques or possess some other random – even quirky – expertise, you could make tens of thousands of dollars working from home within the next month or two. True story.  Unemployment rates are at the highest peak in decades, and 1 of 6 people in America are out of work. Families are trying to figure out how to survive the pandemic and look for a new job. Here’s something very few of the newly unemployed realize: There’s work out there. A lot of it. And it might be just a few clicks away.  In-demand experts earn as much as $70K+ a month A handful of ... Read more

Feeling lonely or isolated? This tech gives you an instant connection

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In the movies, living in the midst of a pandemic means dodging zombies or hiding out in an underground bunker. Here in the real world, it’s been a little different — for most of us at least. Sure, some of the super-rich jetted off to swanky doomsday shelters, complete with underground swimming pools, rock climbing walls, and wine tasting rooms. The rest of us? Well, we ate too many carbs, drank too many quarantini’s, and tried to remember to put on pants before video calls.  As the country eases back into life outside our own homes, daily routines remain a shadow of what they once were. Travel to exotic locales? Ha. But if we’ve learned anything these past few months, it’s that we’re ... Read more

Don’t have a Peloton budget? No sweat. You can still get a workout without hitting the gym

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You don’t have to have a Peloton lifestyle or big budget to afford virtual fitness training. Here are 10 ways to use your smartphone to get a great workout. Gyms might be starting to open back up across the country, but that doesn’t mean people are ready to dive back into them yet. Even though most facilities will have new cleaning protocols in place, gyms tend to be germy. In a study published earlier this year, researchers found drug-resistant bacteria, flu virus, and other pathogens, on a quarter of the surfaces they tested.  If exercising in an enclosed space where people sweat, breathe hard, and share equipment with strangers isn’t your cup of Kombucha right ... Read more

HOW TO: Spot Fake News

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by Christina X. Wood The term “fake news” has, lately, been tossed around like confetti by everyone from politicians to relatives to random people on Facebook to propagandists. The term is used so often and with such intent to deceive that it has, in itself, become a form of disinformation or propaganda. Spotting fake news is difficult because information is complex. But when you proclaim an idea – especially if it’s from a credible source – “fake” because you disagree with it, that’s misinformation. If you are confused and troubled by these terms – fake news, misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, deep fake, etc. – and the effort it takes to discern what’s real and what’s not, ... Read more

Free “Corona Consults” with a doctor and other tech tools you should know about right now:

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Meaningful connection is everything right now, whether for critical health information or just to ease a little stress. Here are seven new tech tools that need to be on your radar.  HealthTap  This telehealth site is offering a free virtual "COVID consult" with a U.S. based, board-certified doctor for anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms including cough, runny nose or fever. Sign up and connect with a doctor in less than a minute to get the answers and care you need immediately. GetSetup  This new site (free for now) teaches seniors fundamental tech-based life skills including filling prescriptions online, setting up online banking and bill pay, and enrolling ... Read more

HOW TO: Break up with your phone a little

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The average American spends around four hours a day on their smartphone, according to the latest string of surveys. That’s more than a month and a half of time each year —  glued to our screens.  So much for all of our “no time” to exercise, cook more meals at home, or spend more time with friends and family excuses. Seriously, Imagine what you could do with just getting half of that time back. Isn’t it ironic that we’re a nation of people who covet freedom, yet so easily and willingly give it up for our devices? To put it another way: In just six years, a single tech device has gone from obsolete to an object people would be willing to give up food, sleep, and sex for, according to a ... Read more

CES 2020: Make tech less annoying by putting it in your underwear and other wild ideas

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*This story originally aired/ran in USA Today 01/07/2020* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiPiM_sqtfY In the age of oversharing, the last thing I want is a smart, connected sensor on my skivvies. I mean, I’m already worried about my smart home speakers, connected TV and mobile devices eavesdropping on my every word. Can’t my privates be the one thing I keep ... private? Not if Myant’s new Skiin wearables take off. The high-tech textile company is showing off a new line of connected apparel – underwear, bras, shirts and sleep masks – at CES this week in Las Vegas. Company president and founder Tony Chahine gave us an exclusive look ahead of the show. “The whole point is that tech should ... Read more

CES 2020 DAY ONE: These are the gadgets you’ll want to buy this year

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If you caught me on TV this morning - here's what I was likely talking about (updated 1/07/2020) While the rest of the world is just getting over their holiday hangover, every gadget-loving tech enthusiast on the planet is glued to what’s going down in Las Vegas right now. The world’s largest consumer electronics show — CES — is underway and while flying cars,  8K rolling TV's, curvy laptops, and crazy-futuristic-everything get a ton of buzz, the tech we need and use the most — are getting significant upgrades too: SAMSUNG'S SWANKY NEW GALAXY CHROMEBOOK Samsung just unveiled its swanky new Galaxy Chromebook. The aluminum body is less than half an inch thick, and weighs just over ... Read more

What to do if your package didn’t arrive on time:

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Special from: Michael Bonebright, consumer analyst with DealNews.com What to do if part of your order was not included, but the shipment claims its complete Amazon orders are typically shipped from different fulfillment centers, which is why you'll often receive multiple packages from the same order. What's more, delivery services may mark your packages as "delivered" up to 48 hours prior to their actual arrival. If you still haven't received your entire order after that 48-hour window has passed, you should contact Amazon customer service to request a replacement item or a refund. What to do if your packages arrive late for Christmas – or year-round To qualify for guaranteed delivery ... Read more

Tech that pays you back (in saved money, time and sanity)!

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https://youtu.be/TS3xnKYziTY Sometimes you have to spend money to save money down the road, and that’s especially true with many smart tech upgrades. Here are some of my favorite tech buys that can actually pay for themselves -- by letting you keep more of your hard-earned money in the long run -- or by creating more “me” time right now. Smart thermostats There’s a “smart” version of just about every appliance these days, but some are downright genius for saving you serious cash. Smart thermostats from well-known brands like Nest, Honeywell (Lyric T5 $150) and Ecobee ($199) can save you time, money, and worry. Google’s $169 Nest Thermostat E (or $249 for the newest version of the ... Read more

SHIPPING DEADLINES! How to get gifts delivered before Christmas:

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If you want all of your holiday gifts to arrive on time this year, check out the year-end gift-shipping deadline information below for FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service.FedEx For shipping within the U.S.: Dec. 9: Last day to ship via FedEx SmartPost. Dec. 16: Last day to ship via FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery. Dec. 19: Last day to ship via FedEx Express Saver. Dec. 20: Last day to ship via FedEx 2Day and FedEx 2Day A.M. Dec. 21: Last day to ship via FedEx Standard Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, and FedEx First Overnight. Dec. 25: Last day to ship via FedEx SameDay City Direct, FedEx SameDay City Priority, and FedEx SameDay. Shipping ... Read more

These are the Black Friday, Cyber Monday shopping secrets retailers don’t want you to know

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https://youtu.be/OvztNWwBNcI I would rather lick a dirty sidewalk than camp out all night for “doorbuster deal” on Black Friday. Okay, that’s a bit dramatic and totally gross — have you heard what’s on the sidewalks in my area?! — but you get the point. Holidays are for precious family time, not for combat couponing with sales-rabid, sharp-elbowed strangers. Is there any way to get in on doorbuster deals without the chaos of the holiday crowds? This year, more than ever, the answer is an emphatic “yes,” according to several people “on the inside.” We spoke with current and former employees of Target, Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop, and even eBay, to get a handful of holiday shopping secrets ... Read more

WIRED WELL: New tech gadgets get senior moment and the results will make you cry (in a good way).

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp1yQzH6KAY ***This story and video originally ran/aired on USA Today. It's reposted here with permission.*** Brooklyn resident Marilyn Stone* isn’t your typical early tech adopter. She’s 95 years old, can’t see or hear very well anymore, and grew up in a time when the hottest new gadgets around were toaster ovens and zippers. Today? She’s not sure what she would do without her Amazon Echo smart speaker. “Alexa has been a miracle,” the spirited senior tells me over the phone, “I ask ‘what is the weather,’ and get an answer. Alexa turns on my lights, tells me what time it is, and when to take my pills.” Stone is now one of the 16.7 ... Read more