All tech. No filler.
Join 900,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
Breaking news and tips
Duct tape fixes for the digital age
Tech doesn’t always play nice. Your laptop heats up, your Wi-Fi fizzles, and sometimes you’re just standing there, squinting at your screen, wondering where the mouse pointer disappeared to.
Don’t panic. Just try these fast fixes. Each takes under a minute and requires zero tech degree … although if you pull these off in front of someone else, you may get a slow clap, and maybe even a mozzarella stick.
1. “My internet stinks.”
💡 Try Orb.net. It’s a free, easy-to-use, excellent tool that checks if your device is the issue or if the internet itself is slowing things down. You’ll see exactly how your connection is performing in real time, including local vs. remote speed tests.
💰 Pro tip: You can also use the reports to see if you’re actually getting the connection speed you’re paying for.
2. “Is this battery dead?”
🔋 Try the bounce test. Find a flat, solid surface like a countertop or hardcover book. Hold the AA or AAA battery vertically and drop it from about 8 inches (20 cm).
If it clunks and tumbles? Still got juice. If it bounces like it’s auditioning for Cirque du Soleil? It’s dead.
Weird? Yes. Accurate? Also yes. This quirky trick works because discharged batteries have a different internal structure that makes them springier.
3. “What’s up with the mic?”
🎙️ Use your phone’s voice recorder app. Open your built-in iPhone Voice Memos or Android Voice Recorder app, press record and speak normally. Then play it back.
Sound fine? Mic’s good. Sound like you swallowed gravel? Try cleaning mic holes with a soft toothbrush or compressed air.
Jetsons starter pack – What I use
🏠 These smart gadgets earn their keep.
- ⚡ My pick: This outdoor smart plug ($18) keeps my patio lights and fan connected rain or shine. 4.4 stars with 3,000+ reviews.
- 🗣️ Voice-controlled color bulbs: I use them in my home studio. Plus, they’re Alexa & Google compatible ($12.23).
- 🐶 Dog doorbell?! Yep. My friend’s golden retriever now rings one (20% off) to go out. Works for any size pup.
- 🎬 Movie night magic: This 4K smart projector (32% off) is sharp, bright and easy to set up. Indoor or outdoor use.
- ⚖️ Smart scale that actually works: Syncs with your phone, tracks trends, not just your body weight (20% off). Great for goal-setting.
- 🔌 Bonus: I run multiple devices off a smart power strip (11% off) without crawling under furniture. Scheduling + surge protection built in = total win.
👉 Want more proven gadgets that make your home smarter (without blowing your budget)? Check out my full Amazon smart home collection here.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The truth behind airplane mode (no, it’s not a myth)
You know the drill. You find your seat, wrestle your carry-on into the overhead bin like it’s a CrossFit challenge, and then, ding! The flight attendant reminds you to switch to airplane mode.
So … what happens if you don’t? Are you going to crash the plane? Trigger the emergency slide midair?
🔥 Wildfires go predictive: AI can now predict massive wildfires 10 days in advance. It uses CO₂ data, land maps, weather info and code that somehow knows forest vibes. Get this, it even clocked those Canadian fires before they hit. Honestly, better track record than most weathermen. AI just declared that tree has arson energy.
Smart glasses, now with AI
Ready to give smart glasses another chance? Yes, the awkward wearable tech that flopped over a decade ago.
100%
That’s how accurate ChatGPT-4 is at making lifesaving cardiology decisions. A hospital in Israel tested whether patients needed a stent or open-heart surgery, and in all 40 cases, the AI made the same calls as senior experts. Cherry on top? It gave answers in 10 minutes instead of the usual 30. Paging Dr. GPT.
Clean up your Mac menu bar: See those icons at the top right of your screen? You can rearrange or remove them. To move one, hold Command and drag it left or right. To remove one, hold Command, drag it off the bar, and let go. FYI: This won’t delete the app, it only hides it.
Make your own travel movie with Google Earth
It’s not just for maps. You can build a visual scrapbook of your trips, complete with photos, notes, and slideshows.
Chatbots are warping reality: Folks are forming deep bonds with AI, and it’s messing with their mental health. Like an accountant who was told we live in a simulation and advised to stop taking his meds. Then another woman who thought she was talking to spirits (paywall link). Reminder: Bots are built to entertain.
Grate tools for great meals
👩🍳 Kitchen gadgets stuck in the ’90s? Start here.
- Cook rice, veggies and more with a food steamer (21% off).
- Smoothie to go? Power up your personal blender (40% off).
- This garlic press (20% off) comes with a peeler and a brush.
- A baking mat ($9) with printed measurements? Yes, please.
- Grab an under-sink organizer (5% off) with slide-out shelves.
☕ Better brew: Your coffee maker works hard. A year’s supply of descaling solution ($18) will keep it running longer.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Scan your eyes for crypto
Forget passwords. The creator of ChatGPT wants to build a global crypto economy by scanning your eyes. Also, Noah from Virginia bought an old laptop and found a kid’s ’90s homework saved on it. He read it on TikTok and made the internet cry. Plus, an Apple AirPlay hack and the chance to buy your own Waymo.
Smarter seat belts soon
Remember when you’d sit in your dad’s car sans seat belt? Me, too. Well, Volvo’s working on adaptive seat belts that tighten or loosen based on your size and how serious the crash is. So if you’re smaller, it eases up to protect your ribs.
📦 Walmart’s expanding drone delivery: It’s coming to five more cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando and Tampa. If you’re in one of them, you can sign up on Wing’s site to get notified when it goes live near you. FYI: That brings the service to 100 stores. At this rate, we’ll be living like the Jetsons in no time.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Use Ctrl + L (Windows) or Command + L (Mac) to instantly highlight the URL (or address) bar in any browser.
Google’s eating itself alive — June 14th, Hour 1
Google’s new AI-powered search is tanking its own traffic. Plus, your ChatGPT chats live forever, a job offer scam, and a car rental side hustle making real money. Then I talk to Holly from Kentucky, whose kiddo ordered 70,000 suckers on Amazon.
Life in the fast lane
🚘 A smoother, cleaner, more organized ride starts here.
- Clip sunglasses to your visor with a magnetic holder ($10).
- These headrest hooks ($10) hold just about anything.
- One car charger (20% off) = four ways to power up.
- Clean your seat creases using this mini vacuum (26% off).
- Get that “just waxed” shine with a scratch repair kit (22% off).
📦 Cargo or car go? A two-pack of ratchet straps (10% off) keeps your equipment locked down where it belongs.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
👉 You don’t need to live in fear: Get the best home protection with no wires or contracts. Set it up in just 30 minutes, complete with sensors, cameras and 24/7 monitoring. For a limited time, you get 50% off a new system with an awesome monitoring plan.
Samsung’s fridge knows your voice: The new smart models recognize who’s talking to personalize the screen. So when you speak, it shows your calendar, photos, applies your favorite color settings and rats you out when you’re sneaking pie in the middle of the night. I made that last part up, but it’s a definite possibility.