Welcome to your Saturday, friend. It’s not every day a video game console ends up on a government watch list, but hey, welcome to the early 2000s. Some folks in Washington thought it could be weaponized. Yeah, really. 

🕹️ Can you guess which popular video game console was so powerful, the U.S. government restricted its export over military concerns: A) Sony PlayStation 2, B) Nintendo GameCube, C) Microsoft Xbox, or D) Sega Dreamcast? Find the answer at the end! Bonus points if you still have yours hooked up.

“Are password managers really safe?” It’s not just about hackers, it’s about control. If your passwords are saved in your browser or scribbled on sticky notes, you’re putting your entire digital life at risk. The password manager I use is built for serious protection and puts you in the driver’s seat. Details below. — Kim

Memorial Day is not designed to be a day for special sales and barbecues, although there will be plenty of both. And while we value and appreciate all the veterans and active-duty military, it’s not their day either. 

This is a solemn day of remembrance. A day to honor all those who have given their lives, to protect yours. In tomorrow’s newsletter, I have wonderful ways to honor fallen soldiers in your family.  

Today though, Amazon’s having a huge sale. If you don’t want any deals on some handy stuff you’ll actually use, just scroll on down to the latest tech news I also handpicked for you so you’re always tech ahead.

👛 Stop digital pickpockets: Shoppers like you deserve the best card protection. These RFID-blocking wallets for men ($28) and women ($12) are compact and stylish.

Smarten up your screen: No need for a new smart TV. Plug in an Amazon Fire TV Stick HD ($20, 43% off) or the Roku Express 4K ($30, 25% off) for an instant upgrade.

🔊 Pool party MVP: This waterproof Bluetooth speaker ($27, 33% off) pumps HD sound for up to 20 hours. Perfect for a beach day or drowning out your neighbor’s lawn mower.

Tower of power: Bending behind your desk to reach that one sad plug? Get a surge protector ($28, 22% off) with 16 outlets, four USB ports and a long 10-foot cord.

🔦 Pocket-size light: Snap an OLIGHT iMini 2 ($14, 30% off) onto your key chain to never fumble in the dark again. It’s a must-have for those “just in case” moments.

Feeling crabby? Meet Red the Crab ($14, 30% off). Yes, a crustacean-shaped spoon rest holds your silverware and releases steam while clinging to your pot. Practical and cute.

🥬 Spin to win: Freshen your produce with Farberware’s pump spinner ($23, 30% off). One press and your greens go from soggy to crisp.

The “Goldilocks” zone: Not too hot, not too cold, this insulated food jar ($28, 20% off) keeps your leftovers just right. Bonus: It’s BPA-free.

🪰 Shoo fly: No sprays or smells. Thermacell’s mosquito repeller ($32, 20% off) creates a 20-foot bug-free zone.

Wrinkles, meet your match: The CHI handheld steamer ($36, 26% off) heats up in seconds, so you look fab in that fancy outfit you packed for your business trip.

💇‍♀️ Frizzy hair? Tame it with little effort using a straightener brush ($33, 28% off) that’s a combo flat iron and comb. Basically, a portable salon.

My biggest fan: Actually, this little table fan ($40, 11% off) with an adjustable tilt can fit on your desk while circulating air across your room. 

📐 DIY like a pro: Get accurate reads with a mini laser measuring tool ($30, 25% off). It’s like a handy contractor in your pocket.

Scrub-a-dub-done: Cut your cleaning time with a spin scrubber ($35, 13% off) that makes powering through grime almost fun. Almost.

🧵 Tidy garage = peaceful mind: Strap in … literally. A pack of storage straps ($16, 6% off) keeps your extension cords, hoses and cables in line.

✅ Click and save while these Memorial Day finds last. Want more recs like these? Bookmark my Amazon page. I’m always adding fresh picks for you.

Your passwords are the keys to your digital life — protect them the smart way. I use and recommend NordPass because it keeps everything secure with rock-solid, bank-level protection and gives me instant access across all my devices. It’s peace of mind, all in one simple app.

Worried about switching? Don’t be. Moving your passwords to NordPass is simple. Just save your info from your old password manager or browser, then add it to NordPass in just a few clicks. Seriously, that’s it! Your logins, notes, and credit card info move over safely and securely.

Your passwords deserve the strongest protection out there. Don’t wait until something goes wrong. Take control now, worry less about your security, and make the switch to NordPass today!

🚨 Biggest social media data breach ever: A cybercriminal gang calling themselves ByteBreaker says they scraped 1.2 billion Facebook records. We’re talking names, emails, birthdays and more being sold on the dark web. Meta says it’s just 2021 leftovers, but do we really believe them? Either way, it’s a buffet for scammers. You know the drill. Change your passwords. Freeze your credit. Put alerts on your bank accounts. Dang, I feel like there have been so many data breaches that hackers are deleting duplicates of my data to save on space.

🤖 AI > teachers? Duolingo’s CEO says AI will out-teach humans … it knows what you know, when you know it and maybe when to yell at you with eerie accuracy. He expects computers to do most instruction “in a few decades,” but schools won’t go extinct, only because we need childcare, at least until ChatGPT can watch toddlers at home. 

Siri’s not OK: Maybe you’re like me getting so frustrated at it because it just sucks. Apple’s AI fix is … other people’s AI. Siri flopped so hard, Apple’s sending us off to ChatGPT (and maybe Gemini and Perplexity, too) to avoid embarrassment. A shiny new, non-humiliating Siri is in the works, but don’t hold your breath. It’s not even invited to Apple’s developers conference in June.

🧳 TSA bans chargers: Portable chargers and power banks now have to go in your carry-on only. Why? Most use lithium-ion batteries, which can catch fire in a plane’s cargo hold (paywall link). Easy rule to remember: If it can spark, leak, ignite or explode, it doesn’t belong in your suitcase.

Boots over bots: Two people had to be rescued from a snowy mountain near Vancouver after following advice from the bot. They showed up in sneakers (dumb), and said ChatGPT didn’t warn them about the weather. Rescuers had to bring boots and ski poles. Next time? Use your common sense and talk to an actual human.

Dumb TikTok prank: Kids are sneaking up behind people in stores, tapping their phone to your phone and playing the Apple Pay “ding” sound. No, they’re not stealing your money. They’re just faking it with a sound clip. It gets worse. Someone’s filming your reaction. Because apparently, that counts as great content now.

😃 “My knees feel amazing after just one month!” That’s what Beth told me after taking NativePath Collagen — and she’s not alone. Want to see the difference for yourself? Grab 45% off, free shipping and a bonus gift bundle exclusive for my readers and listeners. Don’t miss out!*

🎉 My show is different this weekend: I had Stacey Wales in the studio with me talking about how she used AI for her brother’s victim testimony after he died in a road rage incident. You really should not miss it. I’m also talking tech tips, digital life hacks, wild stories I can’t fit in the newsletter and taking calls from listeners just like you. Find your local station or get the podcast. It’s the best show on radio, imho, of course.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Need to sign a PDF? Open it in Mac Preview and click the pen icon. You can sign with your trackpad.

💻 Speed up an old PC: Windows 11’s animations and 3D effects can slow down your graphics card. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects and turn off Transparency effects and Animation effects. Your desktop won’t look as fancy, but your computer will run faster. Not a bad trade-off.

📨 Faster email flow: Speed through your inbox with Gmail’s keyboard shortcuts. Go to Settings > See all settings > General, check Keyboard shortcuts on, then hit Save Changes at the bottom. Need the full list of shortcuts? Press Shift + ? while you’re in Gmail.

🎮 Game lagging? Let’s fix that with a few tweaks. Head to your TV’s picture settings and turn on Game Mode. Then, turn off any “reduction” settings like noise or MPEG reduction. Finally, switch off motion enhancement or clarity settings (names vary by brand), so your button presses register right away.

🔒 You lock your door, so why not lock up your online life? ExpressVPN keeps your online activity safe and location private, even on public Wi-Fi. It’s fast, easy to use and works on all devices. Get four months free when you sign up today!*

Elon Musk says Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, will be the “biggest product of all time,” specifically “10x bigger” than the next biggest product ever. Optimus now does tasks like vacuuming, organizing and cooking — basically the teenager you wish your teenager was. 

In a slick new video, it does basic chores like picking up trash, tearing off paper towels and stirring a pot like it’s prepping for a Michelin star. 

Tesla says the robot learns by watching human YouTube videos, kind of like an AI baby raised by TikTok. Genius or the plot of every sci-fi horror movie? I’ll let you make your own opinion. 

🕹️ The answer: A) Sony PlayStation 2. Yep, our beloved PS2 made it onto U.S. export control lists because its Processing Emotion Engine™ (actual name) was so advanced, the government worried it could be used to guide missiles. Someone call the police! Wii U, Wii U, Wii U!

⌛ Less than one second: That’s all it takes for hackers to crack a six-character password, even if you’re using a mix of upper- and lowercase letters and numbers. Stop risking it, and upgrade to a password manager that creates and remembers long, strong passwords for you. You’ll be glad you did.

You just finished reading the #1 tech newsletter in the United States.* (*source: us, being very loud about it)

Join me on Instagram, X, YouTube and Facebook. Tomorrow, how AI is curing diseases, plus things to ask your doctor. Until then, keep coding your own happy ending. 🖥️❤️ — Kim

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