🚔 The ‘sound police’ are here

Ah, it’s a terrific Tuesday, {{first_name | friend}}, for a free newsletter designed to make sure you’re ahead in life. Ever try to text in the shower (no judgment, we’ve all been there) and nothing works? Same thing after that extra sweaty pilates class. (PSA, clean your screens). Meanwhile, your friend’s phone somehow types perfectly with Cheeto fingers and espresso foam on their thumbs. Oh, the mystery.

🤓 Why do some phone screens still work with wet or messy fingers while others completely quit? Is it because of … A) Pressure sensitivity, B) Static electricity, C) Capacitive vs. resistive touch or D) Heat-sensing screens? Stick around for the answer at the end!

💡 Stay strong, stay active, stay you. As we get older, less collagen means stiffer joints, weaker muscles and skin that’s lost bounce. Two scoops of NativePath Collagen a day can help keep you moving, active and feeling like yourself. Right now, you can get 45% off, plus free shipping and a free frother. It’s a small habit that pays off every single day. — Kim

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Look at that picture. What we’ve got here is not just another traffic camera, but a fully deputized decibel detective. Meet the sound police.

These new noise cameras are the cousins of speed and red-light cameras, but instead of catching you with a heavy foot, they’re busting you for a heavy exhaust. 

No radar guns here, just sensitive microphones measuring every decibel you dish out. Too loud? Ticket’s on the way, courtesy of the volume vigilante.

Each setup has super-sensitive microphones paired with a camera. If your car’s exhaust note tips over the legal decibel limit (often in the low 80s), the mic triggers the camera. It snaps your license plate faster than you can say “downshift,” and a ticket is on its way. 

No police officer, no flashing lights, only stealthy surveillance keeping score 24/7. A story in The Wall Street Journal (paywall link) highlighted Newport, Rhode Island, where two of these were placed along scenic Ocean Avenue. 

Within days, a Mustang GT got nailed for hitting 85 decibels, only two over the limit, and was slapped with a $250 fine. New York City’s had them since 2021. Get caught repeatedly, and you could be out nearly $2,500. Ouch.

If you’re a neighbor who’s sick of the late-night “look at me” exhaust revs, you’re probably cheering. Imagine sitting on your porch and hearing the ocean instead of a rolling car meet.

Some of these tickets hit totally stock, street-legal cars. 

And here’s where I gulp: When I’m in my Porsche and flip into manual mode, rowing through the gears with that beautiful exhaust note singing … let’s just say I’d better be ready for my close-up (and maybe my checkbook).

The folks behind the cameras say it’s not about targeting enthusiasts, it’s about protecting everyone’s right to a little peace. I get that. But it’s also another layer of surveillance, one more tech tool that’s listening and watching all the time.

Cities from Philadelphia to Honolulu are testing them. The combination of mics, cameras and AI is only getting better at catching every bark, burble and backfire.

So whether you’re on Team Quiet Streets or Team Let-It-Rip, noise cameras are here and they’re ready to write you up for every decibel over the line.

🏁 Have a friend who needs to know this intel before they get a ticket? Use the share icons below, and you’ll be their unsung hero!

Laura from California fell for a crypto scam you won’t believe. Why Gen Z grads are saying no to Big Tech jobs, Tesla’s 24-hour charging diner, Apple’s foldable iPhone. Plus, a cool tip to get your own voice on Waze.

Listen on Komando.com →

👩‍💻 Complicated setups are out. Simple, smart solutions are in.

🤖 Skip the endless scrolling: I’ve put today’s top tech deals all in one place … aka my Amazon storefront. That click will save you a ton of money!

🧳 Travel warning: Here’s something I never even thought of. Then again, I’m not a thief. Scammers are hanging around baggage claim areas grabbing the luggage tags you throw away. Why? The tags contain your name and flight info, which can be used to file fake missing item claims and get cash from airlines. Folks, keep those tags on until you’re home.

Tesla pulls the plug: If this is true, it’s crazy. Rapper Big Huey says his Cybertruck got remotely shut off after he released his song “Cybertruck.” He even claims Tesla mailed him a cease-and-desist. That’s one way to take “don’t kill my vibe” very literally. Next up: Spotify turns off your fridge for skipping Ed Sheeran too much.

🤓 Bookworms are winning on dating apps: Looking for love? A new study says 75% of people would rather date someone well-read than someone hot. Yup, apparently emotional intelligence is beating out abs and jawlines. So go ahead, hold a big ol’ novel in your profile pic. It might be your best wingman to make sure you’re booked solid. (See what I did right there?)

Safes cracked in seconds: Researchers revealed two ways to break into Securam ProLogic electronic safes (used for guns, cash, etc.). No drills or special gear required for eight brands. If your lock says “Securam ProLogic” on the keypad, it’s at risk. Only fix? Swap the lock. Company’s not patching old ones.

📈 Stocks meet small talk: Google Finance is getting an AI brain transplant. Starting in the coming weeks, you can ask it detailed market questions, get fancy charts, track commodities and crypto and see live news in one place. “AI, why is my portfolio crying?” — now answerable. Maybe even in a Shakespearean tragedy voice. 

👁️ A vision of perfection: I told you this would be reality 11 years ago! New FDA-approved VIZZ drops promise crisp near vision for 10 hours, no glasses needed. Using aceclidine, it “pinhole” focuses your pupils without messing with distance sight. Basically, your eyeballs get an instant camera upgrade. This is great, now I can read warning labels before ignoring them. (lol)

AI’s massive energy appetite is fueling a U.S. nuclear power revival. The renaissance has begun.

Listen on Komando.com →

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Don’t waste your money on “extended warranties” for electronics. If your new tablet, speakers, TV or whatever are going to die, it’ll likely happen in the first 90 days. After that, it’ll probably keep going for years.

Change Haptic Touch speed on iPhone: Haptic Touch is that press-and-hold gesture that reveals extra options. You can change how quickly it responds. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Haptic Touch. Pick Fast, Default or Slow. 

📌 Can’t pin an app to the Windows 11 taskbar? Usually, you right-click the desktop shortcut and select Pin to taskbar. If that option’s missing, use the search bar instead. Just type the app’s name, and when it appears, click Pin to taskbar on the right side of the menu.

Customize your Gmail inbox: By default, Gmail shows 1–50 conversations per page. The alternative? Go to Settings (top right) > See all settings > General > Maximum page size. Now pick between 10 and 100, scroll down and hit Save Changes.

▶️ Control Facebook video autoplay: You can choose whether videos in your feed play automatically. On PC, go to Settings & privacy > Settings > Media and toggle off Autoplay animations. On mobile, go to Settings & privacy > Settings > Media > Autoplay and tap Never or On Wi-Fi only.

You might be paying for subscriptions you don’t even remember. Rocket Money tracks them all and helps you cancel what you don’t need. The first time I used it, I saved $435. Give it a try and see how much you save!*

4.56 billion years old
The age of a meteorite that crashed through a Georgia home back in June. Scientists say it’s roughly 20 million years older than Earth itself. Oh, and this wasn’t a one-off, it’s the 27th meteorite recovered in the state. Talk about Skyfall, no Adele needed.

$300,000 in 1883
On HBO's The Gilded Age is about $9 million to $10 million today. Shoes cost $3, a dentist visit was 50 cents and a fully furnished 2,000 sq. ft. home went for $12K to $15K. The kicker? The mega-rich didn’t pay income tax (paywall link). If you did not see that series, stream it today. It’s fantastic!

34 years
That’s how long AOL’s dial-up has been screeching. Come Sept. 30, 2025, the iconic modem handshake will join Blockbuster late fees in the nostalgia graveyard. Broadband won years ago, this is just a very late funeral. If you’ve never heard it, imagine R2-D2 having a panic attack through a kazoo. Hey, in the mood to go back in time? Check out these home pages from way back to log on to memory lane.

Making waves and taking shots

Meet the HoverAir Aqua. This little orange daredevil is about to crash your beach day in the best possible way. This thing doesn’t just fly. 

It struts across the sky, belly-flops onto the water and bobs around like it owns the place until it takes off again. Oh, and it’s packing a 4K slo-mo camera, so you can relive your epic wipeouts frame by glorious frame.

Hit one button on the arm controller, and it’s suddenly your personal paparazzi, circling, chasing and basically turning into your hype crew with propellers.

It’ll tail you at 34 mph, laugh in the face of 38-mph winds and land right on the water like it was born there. At just 8.8 ounces, it’s totally legal to fly while delivering completely illegal levels of cool. 

📺 Watch it in action here. I want one!

Answer: C) Capacitive vs. resistive touch. Capacitive screens (think your fancy iPhone) detect your fingertips’ electrical charge. But add water, even a little, and that signal gets wobbly. On the flip side, resistive screens (hello, retro ATMs and rugged restaurant touch pads) respond to good ol’ pressure. These screens just want to be pressed and appreciated. Touché!

🎯 Fun fact: The first touch screen was resistive and made for air traffic control systems. 

One for the kids: How do crabs keep in touch with each other? On shellphones! 🦀

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This is the #1 tech newsletter in the United States wishing you a splendid Tuesday. Tomorrow, airports are hacker playgrounds, and your phone’s the prize. From fake Wi-Fi to juice-jacked USBs, I’ll show you how to avoid turning your vacation into a cybercrime scene.

Until then, stay sharp, stay dry, and maybe clean your screen once in a while. — Kim

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Photo credit(s): Sorama, HoverAir

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This newsletter and its content are intended for informational purposes only. They are provided without warranty of any kind. You shouldn’t construe anything provided here as legal, health, medical, technical, tax, investment, financial or any other kind of advice.

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