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📬 Did someone forward this to you? Sign up here. Tomorrow: Your tires may be telling your location, and it’s shocking how easy it is for someone to track a vehicle. Find out why and what you can do about it.
It’s Thursday, {{first_name | friend}}. You’re in airplane mode, floating in a metal tube over Kansas, eating 11 almonds from a $9 snack box, and somehow your map app is like, “Ah, yes, we are HERE.” Excuse me? Who gave the little blue dot clearance? Is it networking with clouds? Isn’t your phone supposed to be cut off from the world?
🗺️ So, why does your phone's GPS still work in airplane mode? A) Planes have boosters built into the cabin, B) Your phone listens to satellites but never talks back, C) Airplane mode secretly leaves your cell signal on or D) The pilot shares his Wi-Fi password? Keep reading, the truth parachutes in at the end.
🩺 Know your numbers: High blood pressure doesn’t knock before it comes in. I want you checking yours at home, not once a year in a paper gown. The iHealth Track smart blood pressure monitor sends your reading straight to your phone in seconds. Get it for 44% off today, at $28.* Super easy and smart. — Kim
TODAY’S DEEP DIVE
Prime cuts
Image: ChatGPT/Kim Komando
🤯 WOW! Amazon Prime costs $139 a year, including two perks worth about $190 on their own. Free Grubhub+ is valued at $120 a year, and a gas discount at bp and Amoco saves about $70 more. Add unlimited photo storage, free books and games and $5-a-month prescriptions, and you’ve been leaving money on the table.
The Short Version: Your Prime membership has perks you’re paying for but probably not using. Claim the two that pay for Prime, then grab forgotten freebies. Steps below.
📖 Read time: 2 minutes
Quick question. When was the last time you used your Amazon Prime membership for anything besides free shipping and a movie? Same.
Don’t feel bad. If you’re like most of us, you pay $139 a year and use three perks. Meanwhile, Amazon has quietly stacked a dozen more into the deal. We’re paying either way (Amazon’s happy to let us forget), let’s get some good out of them.
💸 Two perks that pay for Prime
These two alone are worth more than the membership.
Grubhub+ free. Amazon values it at $120 a year. You get $0 delivery fees on eligible orders and lower service fees. Link it once on Amazon’s Grubhub page, and you’re set. Love this one.
That’s around $190 in value from a $139 membership. And we’re just getting warmed up.
🎁 The freebies you forgot you have
Unlimited photo backup. Amazon Photos stores every picture you take in full resolution, free. Download the app and turn on auto-save. (Your iPhone storage sighed with relief.)
Free books every month. Prime Reading has a rotating library of eBooks and audiobooks. Amazon First Reads hands you one free Kindle book a month, often before it hits stores.
Free video games. Amazon Luna includes 50+ games you can play on your TV, phone or computer. No console needed. The grandkids will think you’re cool.
Cheaper prescriptions. Prime gets you up to 80% off medications without insurance at nearly 60,000 pharmacies. RxPass covers 60+ common generics for $5 a month.
Music and podcasts. Amazon Music includes more than 100 million songs in shuffle mode, plus ad-free podcasts. Ask Alexa, “Play the Kim Komando Show podcast.”
Share it with your household. Amazon Family (formerly Amazon Household) lets one other adult in your home share most of your Prime perks. Two adults, one fee.
Here’s my challenge: Open the Amazon app tonight, tap your profile icon and open Your Prime Membership. Claim two you’ve never used. Your membership already paid for them.
Why do Amazon Prime drivers make terrible comedians? Their delivery takes two days. Ba-dum-tss!
📩 Send this to someone who pays for Prime and only uses it for free shipping.
Share this now:
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❤️ Your doctor sees your numbers once a year. You should see them every day.
High blood pressure is called the silent killer for a reason. No symptoms. No warning. A number that quietly climbs until it isn’t quiet anymore. The scary part? Most people have no idea where they stand between checkups.
The iHealth Track smart blood pressure monitor fixes that. Strap it on, tap the button, and in seconds, you’ve got a reading sent straight to your phone. No guessing. No waiting rooms. Only your actual numbers, right there on your screen.*
It connects to the free iHealth MyVitals app, so you can track trends and share the data with your doctor. The wide-range cuff fits standard to large adult arms. More than 80,000 people bought this last month alone. It’s the No. 1 bestseller in its category for a reason.
People spend thousands on gym memberships and supplements. This costs less than dinner out, and it could save your life. I’d rather you have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
✅ Grab the iHealth blood pressure monitor for 44% off, just $28. Your health is so important. →
📺 YOUTUBE: THE KIM KOMANDO SHOW
Is it safe for AI to photoshop kids?
Bill uploaded his grandkids’ photo to ChatGPT. His daughter freaked out and warned him about AI misusing the kids’ likeness.
▶️ Watch on YouTube →
We sort out what’s true and false, and how to protect your family’s pictures.
WEB WATERCOOLER
☎️ Scammers smell enrollment: Medicare open enrollment starts today and runs through Dec. 7. The crooks got there first. The FTC warns many fakes show up as paid ads at the very top of your search results, with web addresses and logos that look like Medicare.gov. Hand over your info, and crooks can file claims or get prescriptions on your plan. Skip anything marked Sponsored.
Gadgets sharing secrets: Anthropic’s safety researchers say small AI models may be months away from copying themselves onto cheap connected gadgets, like smart ovens and no-name Android TV boxes. Picture a computer worm with a brain and no single off switch. It isn’t happening in your living room yet, so lock it down now: Update your gadgets, unplug the ones you don’t use, skip bargain-bin streaming boxes and park smart home gear on a guest network. At this point, make the microwave sign a lease.
💉 A $1,000-a-month shot to control cravings? There’s another way: I take ImproveLife GLP-1 Support every day to support my body’s natural GLP-1 response, the hormone that tells your brain you’re full. Six premium ingredients, no needles, no prescription, no stimulants. Just simple daily support, made in the USA. Save up to 50% today and get free shipping.**
The satellite leash: Get this. SpaceX put a speed limit on battlefield internet, and Ukrainian drone crews found out mid-mission (paywall link). Starlink’s military-grade service reportedly stopped working on devices traveling above 100 mph, with dropouts lasting up to 20 seconds. One of Ukraine’s units canceled missions because of it. SpaceX gave no immediate explanation. What a weird time we live in when wartime infrastructure comes with throttle speeds and customer service hours. Next up? Generals calling for a cease-fire so they can reset the router.
🎶 Mini speaker, maxi glow: Six years later, the HomePod mini finally got a sequel. The new one costs $149, $50 more than the original, and hits stores Oct. 30. A faster chip brings Siri AI. The fun part is Sound Glow, a light on top that borrows colors from your album art and pulses to the beat. Pink, green, blue, white or midnight. Original mini still sounding great? Keep it. Finally, a speaker that knows how to throw some shade.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
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The best part: You get premium sound without paying big-brand prices. It’s Raycon Month, and my favorites are 20% off! Get your Raycon Everyday Earbuds Classics today!
Thank you for supporting our sponsors, who keep this newsletter free.
DEVICE ADVICE
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Some things you say on Facebook Messenger don’t need to stick around forever. Open a chat, tap the person’s name > Disappearing Messages and choose 24 hours. New messages vanish a day after they’re read. Here’s the part I especially like: It can alert you when someone takes a screenshot. So much for being sneaky.
🚨 Record-breaking Windows update: Microsoft fixed over 1,400 flaws, with help from AI, no less. The worrying bit? Hackers are exploiting one by tricking folks into opening a dodgy file or clicking a link. You know the drill. Go to Settings > Windows Update. Mine took five minutes. Now to see whether the printer still works. 😅
🌐 While you’re updating things: Chrome needs a turn, too. Google patched 37 vulnerabilities, including a graphics issue that could crash the browser or let malicious code run. 😱 Open Settings > About Chrome, and the update will install automatically. You should be on version 155.0.8059.79/.80 afterward. Might as well get both out of the way.
👀 Show it where you’re stuck: Some Android phones let Gemini help with what you’re looking at. Say “Hey, Google,” then tap Share screen with Live. Ask, “Where are my downloads?” or “How do I make the writing bigger?” It can walk you through the steps. Close anything private first. Your bank balance doesn’t need to join the convo.
⛽ Fewer trips to the pump, please: The fastest route isn’t always the cheapest. In Google Maps, open Settings > Navigation and turn on Prefer fuel-efficient routes. Tap Your vehicles and choose gas, diesel, hybrid or electric. It weighs things like traffic and hills to suggest a more economical drive. I’m happy to arrive later if the tank lasts longer.
✍️ Save some ink: You can sign a PDF on your Mac without printing and scanning it. Open the file in Preview and click Markup > Sign. Create your signature on the trackpad using your finger, press any key, then click Done. Drag it into place on the page. Preview saves it for next time, too. One less chore when another form lands.
KIM’S DAILY DEALS
As an Amazon Associate, some links pay us a commission at no extra cost to you. Keeps this newsletter free. Thank you.
✨ Self-care without the splurge
Five little upgrades your body will thank you for.
💁♀️ Make some waves: Hair crimper (40% off, $49)
4.3 ⭐ 1,200+ reviews
Flat iron giving you grief? Clamp, hold and slide down for even, beachy waves. Ionic tech fights frizz, and built-in vents help shield strands from heat damage. Dual voltage makes it travel-friendly, too.
Image: Wavytalk
🧴 Fresh face fix: Sensitive skin loves this Korean daily moisturizer (20% off, $20). It locks in moisture without leaving a greasy film.
I’ve got your back: An electric body scrubber (17% off, $30) has a long handle to reach every spot you’ve been pretending doesn’t itch.
🔥 Hot stuff for sore spots: ThermaCare’s heat therapy wraps (15% off, $28) soothe your achy lower back and hips for up to 16 hours.
One soap, two jobs: Kitsch’s face-and-body wash bar (17% off, $10) buffs away dull skin with glycolic acid, while shea butter softens.
💖 Treat yourself some more: My Amazon storefront is packed with feel-good favorites. Take a look here.
Prices and deals were accurate at the time of publication.
WHAT THE TECH?
Image: Chip Motors
🚗 Chip off the old block
Parking is terrible. Grocery pickup is worse. Chip thinks your car should deal with both while you stay seated.
The starting-at-$15,000 electric runabout tops out at 25 mph and claims 100-plus miles per charge. Its Chip Go service promises curbside pickups, parking and a return when summoned.
But it’s not self-driving. A trained human pilots the empty vehicle remotely, like a giant RC car with someone else’s insurance paperwork.
Check it out here. Deliveries planned for 2027. For now, Chip’s only errand is collecting $250 deposits and showing off its AI-made commercial.
LOGGING OUT …
🎓 What you learned today: Amazon Prime’s perks go beyond shipping, Medicare scammers target open enrollment, AI brings new risks to smart home devices, and a $15,000 electric golf cart promises to run errands by remote control. Not bad for one email. Your tires broadcast an ID number every time you drive, and researchers used $100 radios to track 20,000 cars with it. Tomorrow, I’ll show you what it reveals and how to plug other leaks.
✅ The answer: B) Your phone listens to satellites but never talks back. The opposite of your teenager. GPS is gloriously nosy. Satellites constantly broadcast time signals, and your phone measures how long they take to arrive from at least four of them. That math pins down your spot.
Airplane mode shuts down your phone’s transmitting radios, like cellular and usually Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but GPS is a receive-only system on most phones. Your phone is basically eavesdropping on space. FYI, the blue dot works, but the map may not. Before you fly or road trip, download offline maps in Google Maps or Apple Maps.
I bought a senior-friendly GPS. It not only tells you how to get where you’re going, it tells you why you wanted to go there.
💓 Your heart can’t text you: This little cuff can. The iHealth Track smart blood pressure monitor tracks your trends, so you walk into your next checkup with real data. Grab it for 44% off, only $28.*
💛 Thanks for being here. Chip wants to run your errands so you never leave your seat. Run one in person this week. Say hi to the cashier. Somebody needed that. — Kim
Kim Komando • Komando.com • 510+ radio stations • Trusted by millions daily
🏆 THE KIM CHALLENGE: Forward this to ONE person who needs to hear it today. Pick the person who popped into your head while reading. You know who it is.
Photo credit(s): ChatGPT/Kim Komando, iHealth, Wavytalk, Chip Motors
Companies and products denoted by an asterisk (*) within this publication are paid sponsors or advertisements. As an Amazon Associate, the publisher earns from qualifying purchases. Statements regarding products denoted by a double asterisk (**) have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration; such products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This newsletter is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, or professional advice of any kind. Readers should consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on this content. The publisher disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, or injury resulting from the use of or reliance on the information contained herein.