Welcome to your Saturday edition of tech smarts, friend. Ever invent something so revolutionary, you immediately destroy it? This camera company was nervous it could tank its empire. Can you guess who it was? A) Seattle FilmWorks, B) Canon, C) Kodak or D) Polaroid. This is a tough one. See if you’re right at the end of today’s newsletter.

🪞 Whoa, look at you (and me!): I take two scoops of collagen a day. It’s good for bone density, makes your nails and hair stronger and can help smooth wrinkles without Botox or fillers. Use this link for 45% off to try it, too. You’re gonna love it! — Kim

We’ve all got one (or five): that old smartphone buried in a drawer, sitting there like a digital paperweight. You don’t use it, but you don’t toss it either because maybe someday it’ll come in handy.

Today is the day to let your old phone defend your castle as a security camera.

No new tech, no wallet damage, just pure genius. Or as I like to call it, Homegrown MacGyver’ing. Here’s how to do it in five minutes flat:

🔋 Step 1: Plug it in and resuscitate it

Dust it off, charge it up and make sure it stays plugged in. Whisper sweet nothings to it about how “I’ve missed you.” You don’t want it dying right when your neighbor’s raccoon breaks into your trash again. 

If there are any operating system updates available, go ahead and install them. It won’t hurt anything.

📱 Step 2: Give it a brain, or a security cam app

Head to the App Store or Google Play and grab one of these gems:

• AlfredCamera (iPhone + Android) – My top pick. Super simple, live view, motion alerts and even two-way talk. (Yes, you can yell at your dog and the Amazon driver.)
  
• Manything (iOS) or IP Webcam (Android) – More options if you want something a little geekier.

Super important step: Install the app on both your old and current phones. You’ll use the camera on the old phone as the security cam. On your current phone, it will be the command center for power-mad surveillance enthusiasts (you). 

📸 Step 3: Set it up and aim

After the app is installed, open it, log in and choose “camera” on your old phone. Then launch the same app on your current phone and choose “viewer.” It’s that easy.

Now mount the camera wherever it makes sense — pointed at your front door, your garage, your pets or that cookie jar your kids think you can’t see.

Pro tip: Use a cheap tripod (33% off) or suction cup mount to prop it up.

🔐 Step 4: Lock it down

On your old phone, set a screen lock. Add a PIN. Use facial recognition if it has it. Your phone is not clueless. 

Give it a name. “Security Steve” never blinks, doesn’t snack and doesn’t gossip.

It’s still a piece of tech, and we don’t need anyone hacking their way into your living room montages. 

🎉 Why this is genius

✅ Free as in “zero coins, baby”  

✅ Easy for you to do even after having one beer  

✅ Your phone’s not useless, it’s a hero now 

Who says your old tech has to go to waste? 

Reminds me of the time a caller to my show asked, “Do you think technology will totally ever replace paper?” I answered, “I don’t think so. It’d be pretty hard to wipe with a tablet.” If you smiled, you’re my people.

Let’s face it: Tech stress is real. We are all guilty of spending hours hunched over screens and endless doom scrolling, on top of that eye-straining blue light exposure. They’re not just draining your mind, they’re aging your body, too. 

That’s why I take NativePath Collagen every day. It helps replenish what your body loses over time by repairing joint and skin damage, and restoring that youthful glow from the inside out.

Outsmart the digital fatigue, and take the supplement your tech-filled life needs… NativePath Collagen. Your body will thank you.

🚨 Gmail warning: Scammers are sending fake emails that look like legit Google security alerts. Click the link, and you’ll land on a phony sign-in page built to steal your login details. This one’s extra sneaky because it looks like it’s coming from “no-reply@accounts⁠.google⁠.com.” The red flag? Check the “mailed-by” field. If it says “privateemail⁠.com,” it’s a trap.

🤯 No cure for brain rot: If your brain feels fried from endless scrolling, folks are turning to a dumb phone (paywall link). We’re talking only the basics, i.e., phone calls and texts. The trade-off? Anxiety and fear you’re missing out. Basically, you’re screwed either way.

🤖 OpenAI is building a social network: It’ll be its own version of X. The prototype apparently has a social feed focused on image generation using ChatGPT. No word yet if it’ll be a new app or built into the current one. Why do this? Real-time user data = more fuel to train their models.

🍏 Big changes coming to iPadOS: Apple’s making the new iPadOS 19 feel more like a Mac with smoother multitasking and app window management. It won’t be macOS on an iPad, but it’s getting closer. Expect details at WWDC 2025 in June, with a release later this year. I’ll keep you posted. iPads are slowly becoming Macs the same way your house cat slowly becomes your boss.

💍 Heard of The Knot? It’s that wedding planning site where you find vendors like photographers and dressmakers for your big day. Vendors pay thousands to advertise on it, and now they’re saying The Knot is sending them fake leads, aka “brides” who don’t exist (paywall link). That’s how you end up on Santa’s knotty list.

🍿 Minecraft mayhem: Minecraft meets real-life survival mode. Teens are going wild for the new Minecraft movie, shouting, tossing snacks, spraying lotion on seats and someone even let live chickens loose. Why? Many kids got hooked on the game during the pandemic. Now they’re letting all that nostalgia loose in the form of chaos. Talk about a block party!

😑 Feeling left behind? Download NetSuite’s free knowledge drop, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.”* No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere.

⚡ Ready to brighten up your space? I’ll light the way.

• These night-lights (9% off) automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn.
• Stick some cabinet lights (15% off) anywhere you need a little glow-up.
• Twist the dial on these dimmable lights (5% off) to set the perfect mood.
• Zap any candle wick with an electric lighter (23% off) and it’s lit.
• Grab a candle warmer (20% off) for cozy vibes without the fire risk. 

🌃 Curtain call: Night owl or napper? These blackout curtains (25% off) block out the world for a pitch-black snooze.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Gmail, type “unsubscribe” in the search bar. Boom, every promo list you forgot you signed up for, ready to nuke. This tip alone is worth the price of this newsletter.

🎉 You’re invited! This weekend, my award-winning national radio show is broadcasting on 420+ stations across the U.S. and I’d love for you to join the fun. I’m 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. 

↩️ Shake it off: Made a typo on a message, note or email? Just give your iPhone a good shake. You’ll see Undo Typing pop up. Tap Undo, and poof, your mistake’s history. Shake your phone again and select Redo Typing to get them back. On Android, Gboard has an undo button for quick fixes.

🎶 Auto-tune up: Driving an older car without Android Auto or Apple CarPlay? Load your favorite songs onto a USB flash drive, plug it into your ride’s USB port and rock on. Just stick to common formats like MP3 or AAC. It’s like turning your car into a Spotify time capsule.

🤑 Oldie but goodie: Senior discounts aren’t just for folks 65 and up. SeniorLiving has a huge list of deals at grocery stores, restaurants, retail and more. Some kick in as early as age 50. Whether you’re in that age bracket or getting close, it pays to check it out.

🔎 I spy a virus: If your connection’s dragging, a virus might be the culprit. I trust and recommend TotalAV. It’s just $19 a year to protect up to five devices on Windows, Mac, Android and more. That’s total peace of mind for your phone, laptop and tablet.

🗣️ Speak not: Don’t let strangers use your phone with just their voice. On iPhone, open Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Under Allow Access When Locked, toggle off Siri. For Android, say, “Hey, Google, open Assistant settings.” Tap Lock screen and turn off Assistant responses on lock screen.

Meet the Flying Sun 1000, a drone so bright it turns midnight into a matinee. Packin’ 288 LED lamps and a 3,333-watt light beam, it brings 300,000 lumens of OH MY GOD WHY directly to your retinas. 

Unlike helicopters, this quadcopter doesn’t cost a fortune to run or trigger a low-flying panic attack. It flies tethered to a generator and cools its lights by flying aggressively — yes, actually. 

Who even needs this thing? Construction crews, rescue teams and film directors who scream, “More light!” like it’s a threat.

It’s basically a flying ceiling fan with a superiority complex and priced accordingly. At $60,000, it’s pricier than traditional lights, but eliminates crews, poles and cable spaghetti. 

🤢 Be sure not to eat the lights. You might get LED poisoning.

📸 The answer: C) Kodak. In the 1970s, a bright-eyed engineer built the world’s first digital camera. The prototype was 0.01 megapixels, saved to cassette tape, and took 23 seconds to capture a single image. 

Your iPhone just threw up reading that, but still, it made Kodak nervous that it’d tank their wildly profitable film empire, so they shelved it. Spoiler alert: Years later as the story developed, Kodak filed for bankruptcy. 

💪 Look good, feel good: You deserve to feel your best. Collagen has been a staple in my routine for years. Grab NativePath Collagen here with my link to save 45%. Three cheers for stronger bones!

From turning retired tech into home protection (what up, Security Steve? 👀), to blindingly bright drones, to movie theater mayhem, today has been a ride. 

Share this newsletter with someone who needs a reason not to toss their old phone or ignore their inbox full of promo emails. A little knowledge (and a free camera app) goes a long way.Siri wishes she had your skills. Have a great day, my little tech maven! — Kim

📣 Don’t keep me a secret: Share this email with friends (or copy URL here)