Keeping cool with AC, evaporative coolers, fans and an app
I’ve been living in the Bay Area since 1981, and until about four years ago, it never occurred to me to invest in air conditioning. But recent extreme heat and …
personal technology
The Balkanization of Messaging Apps
A few days ago someone said they had sent me a message. I checked my text messaging apps and there was nothing there. I also checked my email and, again, …
Hearing Aids Are Cool Now
When I was a child, I couldn’t help noticing my grandfather’s large, flesh-colored hearing aids, but this weekend I sat across from a friend and didn’t notice his hearing aids …
Earbuds vs headphones and other personal listening devices
I love the sound from my Google Pixel Buds Pro earbuds but it’s a miracle I still have them. Over the past several months at least one of them has …
How to manage an EV battery
Based on what I’ve seen on forums, there is a lot of confusion about EV battery maintenance along with plenty of “range anxiety.” Here are some basic facts about EV …
Tech can be boring, but it’s getting interesting
As someone who has been writing about tech for more than 40 years, I’ve seen ebbs and flows when it comes to how interesting it is. I have to admit, …
A big week for generative AI
This has been a big week for generative AI (GAI), the technology that can answer questions or create content based on a user’s prompt. Both OpenAI and Google announced major …
For kids, summertime doesn’t have to mean more screen time
Summertime is almost here, which means that kids will soon be out of school, perhaps with plenty of time on their hands. That’s great, but it also means that they’ll …
Using AI and other tech to plan your next vacation
Summer is arriving, and for many of us, our thoughts turn to travel. Whether you’re taking a road trip or hopping on a plane or cruise ship, there are plenty …
TikTok has reasonable teen safety policies
On Tuesday, President Biden signed a law that would require ByteDance, a Chinese company, to sell TikTok within the next year or face a ban in the U.S. TikTok has …