Techish

Check out these cool tech tools for our post-pandemic world

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As many states reopen businesses shuttered by Covid-19, everyone’s trying to figure out ‘what now?’ How do we go back to work safely? And what’s in store for all those places depending on our post-pandemic, in-person return to survive — like restaurants, bars, movie theaters, sport, and entertainment venues? The whole “new normal” means new worries for many small-to-medium-sized businesses in America. Just under a quarter (22%) closed for good as of February this year according to a recent report from Facebook. What's more, a study by economists at the Federal Reserve shows Covid-19 led to the permanent closure of some 200,000 more establishments in the U.S. than in a normal year. So the ... Read more

Ten Apps That Put Money in Your Pocket

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How often do you pay full price when you shop because finding a deal is too time-consuming? Do you shop online and leave the "discount code" section of the checkout interview blank because you don't have a code? And how much cash do you get back when you shop? If you aren't bragging right now about the deals you get, the fun you have watching the price drop in your shopping cart, or the hundreds of dollars you net in cashback rewards, you are leaving money out there that could be yours. You don't have to devote your weekends to coupon clipping or schooling up on savvy shopping tips for this. You just need to download an app or two and let it do the work for you. People are claiming ... Read more

These are the safety gadgets women need right now!

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When Sarah Everard was abducted and killed while walking home at night, the women of social media (and London, where she lived) exploded in anger. Authorities responded by telling women not to walk alone or go out at night and every woman felt the frustration of being told that attacks by men are our fault. We have all been there, heart pounding, clutching our keys, with the knowledge that, probably, keys will do nothing to stop anyone who is determined. What happened to Sarah is what we all fear every day. Let’s face it, talking on the phone, holding your keys, wearing sensible shoes, and avoiding walking at night are not that helpful—as self-protection goes. And if bad men in the world ... Read more

This “tech support scam” is stealing millions from seniors, including my own mom:

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My 76-year old mom is an incredibly tech-savvy senior who commands her gadgets more like a Millennial than someone born the same year the ballpoint pen was invented. She also has an array of built-in tech support experts all around her — including me — her own daughter! Still, when a giant yellow “alert” covered half of her MacBook Pro screen a few weeks ago, warning her that hackers had taken control of her device and to call the “Apple Support” number on the screen immediately or else...she did just that. But the real danger wasn’t a virus on her computer. It was the man who answered on the other end of the phone. A NEW VERSION OF THE OLD TECH SUPPORT SCAM  “I’m so embarrassed,” she ... Read more

10 Online/Cyber Scams You Need to Know About Right Now!

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A plague is terrorizing the nation. No. Not that one. A cyber plague! The cyber plague is a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, but its target is your wealth and identity, not your health. For scammers, the pandemic is a perfect storm of opportunity. Entire workforces went from working on company networks – protected by security pros – to working from home. People are home, constantly online, already scared, and often slipping into debt. Then came stimulus checks. Next came vaccines. And then more stimulus checks. It has been a rough year for law-abiding citizens. But it has been a gold rush for scammers, hackers, and cybercriminals. Scammers reach you through any means available to ... Read more

HOW TO: Make Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri into Your Personal Assistant

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If you watched any science fiction when you were a kid, you probably expected that, by now, you would have a robot assistant and appliances to do all the work for you. You know what? If you have a computer, an Amazon Echo or Google Home, and a cell phone, you do have a personal assistant, and it will do a lot of the work for you. This is when you need it, too, right? After a year of working from home while trying to manage kids and be a homeschool teacher, you need some help. Here are seven tips for making the technology you already have -- do your work for you. 1.      Use Reminders How can you focus on your own work if you need to remind your kids to go to class, get someone to ... Read more

Consumer Reports: Treadmill safety warnings follow tragic death of a toddler

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***This article was shared with us by Consumer Reports. You can read the original here.*** By James McQueen, Consumer Reports Peloton's disclosure Thursday of a child's death involving the company's treadmill is a reminder of the dangers home exercise equipment can pose to children and adults alike. Company CEO John Foley told customers in a letter posted on the company’s website about the “tragic accident,” and advised Peloton owners to “take care to review and follow safety warnings and instructions” that come with the company’s exercise equipment including the treadmill called Tread+. Foley did not provide any details of the accident, but did note that the company was aware of ... Read more

How the latest fitness apps can hack human motivation (in a good way)

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This article and video originally appeared in USA Today 2021 https://youtu.be/9kyVtwP8Kwc More than 50% of Americans made the same New Year's resolution this year – to “do more exercise and improve their fitness” – according to a recent poll by international data and analytics group YouGov. By the second week of February though some 80% of us give up, and go right back to bad habits and old excuses. My longtime go-to: “Tomorrow, I’ll exercise tomorrow.” Sound familiar? Yeah, it did for me too until I spent the last few months trying out more than 20 different fitness apps and gadgets. I used each one at least three times, adoring some, abhorring others. Within the first week, some clear ... Read more

HOW TO: Use a Zoom filter (but not get stuck as a cat!)

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Sometimes the bloopers are the best part of the show. If you haven’t seen the best #zoomfail of all time yet — click here first. So what happened? An attorney accidentally showed up as a cat in a virtual hearing in Texas. The lawyer said he was using his secretary's computer, and she has a young daughter — which may have led to the mishap. Now — check out how to do it yourself — but not get stuck as a cat! (Or a potato - yep that happened too!) Pro tip: Don't get carried away with the filters - some bosses say it makes them crazy! That said - you show me your best filters and I’ll show you mine! ... Read more

Pandemic Taxes

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What a year! Everything was terrible. Things will be so much better in 2021 (we hope)! But first? Taxes! Oh, yay. (Sigh.) Taxes are never fun. But this year — in addition to the usual dread — there is a lot to think about that none of us has had to consider before. But don’t put it off. There might be money in this endeavor for you. Even if you collected unemployment, there are opportunities here.  “Over 40 million people were unemployed and received expanded unemployment benefits under the CARES Act,” explains Lisa Greene-Lewis, TurboTax CPA and tax expert. Even though you may not have had taxes withheld and are not entitled to a refund, you still have to file. “And you may be eligible ... Read more

Ten Tips to Keep You Sane and Productive While Working from Home

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I have been working from home since my daughter was born. This week, she turned 22. So I’ve had plenty of time to explore all the delights and dangers of working where I live. If you, like 42 percent of U.S. workers right now, are working from home, you have probably already experienced the productivity boost that comes with eliminating your commute, in-office interruptions and meetings. But you are about to — if you haven’t already — run into the anxiety, irritability, and complete failure to get anything done that comes next in this adventure. The reason for the upcoming mood plummet, according the WHO, is that working from home has eliminated every built-in trigger that helped you gear ... Read more

Smart Fitness at CES

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With many gyms closed or limited during the pandemic, many of us turned to at-home workouts, either on our own or with the help of online classes from Alomoves, Peloton Fitness (with or without fancy equipment), The Daily Burn or through apps like Seven. In fact, at-home fitness has become such a trend while we are all on lockdown, fitness equipment sales — everything from resistance bands to kettlebells to bikes — increased by 500 percent and led to massive shortages. It’s no wonder that CES was full of fitness innovations. And if this year’s virtual CES is any indicator, getting fitness out of gyms and into our homes and daily lives is the wave of the future. Online Health Clubs With ... Read more

Far-out, futuristic, and just plain fanstastical new tech from CES 2021:

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A robot that loads my dishwasher and brings me wine? Yes please! A $3,000 doggy door that makes Fido’s every wish its instant command? Buying it (just as soon as I win the lottery)! Flying cars? Can’t buckle in soon enough. Oh sure, there’s an amazing array of fringe, far-out, and just plain fantastical new tech we’re all talking about during this year's all-digital CES. But when it comes to the winner for most memorable — the jaw-dropping and OMG-inspiring — rise to the top every time. Here are the unforgettables from CES 2021. Mojo Vision’s Bionic Contacts While the rest of the tech world gets closer to getting smart glasses right (see Vuzix here), Mojo Vision sees a future where AR ... Read more

The CES tech you have to see to believe (trust me, it’s a must-look)!

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CES is full of serious solutions to real-world problems. Probably. I didn’t look for those. I haunted the virtual aisles of the Consumer Electronics Show looking for weird. And why not? It’s been a strange year. As a culture, our taste for strange has grown exponentially since the last CES. And you know what? I found it.  Amid the folding laptops, bending phone screens, driverless cars, flying cars, and drones that will -- sooner than anyone expected -- deliver our packages right to our doors, I found the products that made me say, “Seriously?” And then, “Okay, I want that.” From a bandaid that will make men first shave, down there, and then be better in bed to a pair of glasses that ... Read more

Early Hands-On With Top Tech @CES Gadgets 2021

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https://youtu.be/JFMuh59c9fc Every year we see our fair share of fringe, futuristic, and just plain fantastical gadgets. We'll post about the most amazing of the 2,000-some gadgets we've seen so far tomorrow. But first, here are a handful of the best gadgets we've actually gotten to go hands-on with ourselves during this big event. One of the best new gadgets we’ll actually buy this year is a just-unveiled Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2. The 2-in-1 device has the world’s first QLED display on a Chromebook. QLED is the same advanced tech Samsung uses in its best TVs. The sound is sweeter, the battery life is longer, and the price is lower. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is expected out in the ... Read more

HOW TO: Help senior friends and family set up their new tech

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All that tech you wrapped and put under the tree seemed like such a terrific idea when you were shopping. A Roku! A new phone! A sweet new laptop! You killed the gift-giving. But now that the presents are opened and everyone is playing with their toys, you are starting to feel like the new guy on the tech support helpline. Answering the first question from Papa was fun. Helping Nana get her new tablet set up was rewarding. But the millionth question? You are seriously considering charging by the minute. Maybe the gift you forgot was an unlimited subscription to online tech support for everyone born before 1993? Because you know what? That’s a thing. Teaching people to use technology when ... Read more