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12 easy, techy ways to make the holiday smoother

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12 easy, techy ways to make the holiday smoother

Did you know if you turn an Amazon shipping bag inside out, there’s a strip you can pull to reseal it for returns? Good to know when a holiday gift arrives and it’s nothing like the picture online.

Enter to win a $500 Amazon gift card. No purchase required.

There are all kinds of little tips and tricks that can make the busiest time of year a little easier to manage. I’ve got your back.

DON’T SCAM YOURSELF WITH THE TRICKS HACKERS DON’T WANT ME TO SHARE

Shopping

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Ho-ho-hope your packages arrive on time: Gmail’s package tracking now includes real-time updates. On your phone, tap Menu > Settings. Look for General settings (Android) or Data privacy (Apple) and toggle on Package tracking at the bottom.

Hide-and-seek: You’re shopping online for your kiddo or spouse and they walk in. Quick! Hide your open browser windows. On a PC: Windows key + M. (Use Windows key + Shift + to reopen.) On a Mac: Cmd + Option + + M. Phew, no spoilers.

A person is pictured online shopping during the holiday season. (iStock )

Amazon’s secret 20% discount: Send your old tech to Amazon through its Trade-in Program and get a gift card for the value. They’ll take just about anything — it doesn’t even need to work. But if you trade in Amazon gear like a Kindle, eero or Fire TV Stick, you’ll get 20% off a new, qualifying device.

Drop the drop shippers: On Etsy, the whole purpose is to buy something handmade. If you’re not sure what you’re getting is legit, check if it’s genuine or mass-produced junk by doing a reverse image search. Click on the item’s image, then drag and drop it into Google Images. Major red flag: You see the exact same thing on other sites.

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BIOMETRIC DATA: IS IT SAFE TO HAND IT OVER TO ANY COMPANY THAT ASKS?

At home

Focus! Blurry pics are a bummer. Sometimes your phone’s cam picks the wrong spot. For a quick reset, tap the area on your screen you want to be the clearest. Easy and effective. No ruined family photos this year.

Related: Trick to take the best family portrait without a photographer

I’m B-side myself: Make a playlist with your fam so you’re not bickering over the music on Christmas morning. For Spotify, open the app, then head to Your Library and select the playlist. Tap the three dots in the top right > Share to send it. In Apple Music, go to Library > Playlists > three dots (upper right) > Share Playlist. Jingle all the way!

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An Amazon courier delivers packages as a DHL van is seen behind on April 04, 2024 in Berlin, Germany.  (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Family visiting? Keep your steamy romance novels on lock by creating a passkey for your Kindle. Tap the three dots (upper right) and go to Settings > Device Options > Device Passcode. Your passcode can be up to 12 digits long. That’s hot!

Related: It’s smart to lock your computer down, too

On the road

Flying away? Uber’s got three new features to make your airport trips easier. The first, UberXXL, gets you a bigger car with extra trunk space for groups. The second, UberX Share, allows you to pay 25% by sharing a ride with someone heading your way. It’s available now at select airports. And finally, with Uber Reserve, you can have a car waiting for you when you land.

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3 SECURITY AND DATA CHECKS YOU SHOULD DO ONCE A YEAR

Synced your phone to a rental car? Wipe your data so the next driver doesn’t get your texts. On the car’s infotainment system, go to Settings and look for a factory reset option. Every car’s system is different, so check the manual or ask the rental company if you can’t find it.

Over the river and through the woods: See the best time to leave for Grandma’s house (or anywhere else) without arguing. In Apple Maps, press the Now button on the left to open a calendar. In Google Maps, tap the three dots at the top right. For both, select Leave/Depart at or Arrive by and hit Done.

An Uber logo is pictured. (Getty Images)

Track your luggage with your airline’s app: Open the app’s Menu > Track my bags. The naming will vary depending on the airline. Enter your reservation or tag number, and you’ll get updates along its journey. 

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Or use a tracker: For me, this is the most reliable option. Apple’s AirTags are ideal if you have an iPhone, Mac or iPad. The Tile 2-pack is Android compatible and has a tracker for your luggage and one to slide into your wallet.

Related: There’s one place during your travels an AirTag won’t work

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Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.

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Technology

The Setapp Mobile iOS store is shutting down on February 16th

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The Setapp Mobile iOS store is shutting down on February 16th

Setapp Mobile was a bold, breakthrough project that aimed to provide EU iOS users with access to alternative app marketplaces – creating a new app ecosystem where both developers and users could thrive. We are proud of what we have accomplished with it over the past two years and still believe passionately in this vision.

As a result of still-evolving commercial conditions, we have determined that it is not viable to continue development or support for Setapp Mobile within Setapp’s current business model.

While we are disappointed to discontinue Setapp Mobile, we are looking forward to pursuing the development of other innovations. We are excited to focus efforts on various projects that will launch later this year. This includes Eney, a first-of-its-kind AI assistant native to macOS, and new enhancements to Setapp Desktop.

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Breakthrough device promises to detect glucose without needles

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Breakthrough device promises to detect glucose without needles

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The idea of tracking blood sugar without needles has challenged health tech for years. For people with diabetes, constant monitoring is critical, yet the tools remain uncomfortable and invasive. Finger pricks hurt. Traditional continuous glucose monitors still sit under the skin. That daily burden adds up fast.

Recently, one small device has been drawing significant attention for tackling that problem in a very different way.

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A small breath-based device called isaac aims to alert users to glucose changes without needles or sensors under the skin. (PreEvnt)

Why noninvasive glucose tracking matters

Blood sugar levels can rise or fall quickly. When changes go unnoticed, the risks increase, from long-term organ damage to sudden hypoglycemia. Monitoring can be especially difficult for:

  • Small children
  • Older adults
  • Anyone who struggles with needles

At the same time, glucose tracking has surged among people without diabetes. As GLP-1 medications gain popularity, many people now track their blood sugar to understand how food affects their bodies. The need for simpler tools keeps growing.

Even Apple has spent years trying to bring no-prick glucose tracking to wearables. Despite heavy investment, the feature has yet to arrive.

NEEDLE-FREE GLUCOSE CHECKS MOVE CLOSER TO REALITY

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Instead of finger pricks, the device analyzes acetone and other compounds in exhaled breath linked to blood sugar levels. (PreEvnt)

How the PreEvnt isaac monitors glucose using breath

One of the most talked-about health devices at CES 2026 came from PreEvnt. Its product, called isaac, takes a nontraditional approach to glucose awareness. Instead of piercing skin or using optical sensors, isaac analyzes your breath. 

The device measures volatile organic compounds, especially acetone, which has long been associated with rising blood glucose. That sweet fruity breath is a known marker of diabetes. By detecting changes in those compounds, isaac can alert users to potential glucose events. The device is small, about the size of a quarter, with a loop so it can be worn on a lanyard or clipped to clothing or a bag.

The breath-based design is intended to reduce how often users need finger-prick blood tests, while providing early alerts for glucose-related changes.

The device is named after the inventor’s grandson, Isaac, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 2 years old. The inventor, Bud Wilcox, wanted to reduce the number of painful finger pricks his grandson faced each day. That personal motivation led to years of collaboration with scientists, designers and engineers. Research and development included work with Indiana University under the direction of Dr. M. Agarwal. The goal was simple but ambitious: Alert families to blood sugar events earlier while reducing the physical and emotional toll of constant testing.

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How the isaac device fits into daily life

Isaac is designed to fit into everyday routines. Users breathe into the device, which processes the reading and sends the data to a companion smartphone app. The app, still in its final stages of development, focuses on awareness and safety. Current features include:

  • A timeline for logging meals
  • A history of breath readings
  • Alerts that can notify emergency contacts

This matters because people with diabetes can become disoriented or incapacitated during hypoglycemic events. Early alerts give caregivers or family members a chance to step in. A single charge lasts all day and supports multiple breath tests. The device comes with a USB-C charging cradle and cable.

Who isaac is designed for

According to PreEvnt, isaac is being developed for:

  • Type 1 diabetics
  • Type 2 diabetics
  • Prediabetics

It may also appeal to people focused on metabolic health. As mentioned, the device is still undergoing development and FDA review and is not yet for sale in the U.S. The companion app will launch on iOS and Android closer to availability.

TYPE 1 DIABETES REVERSED IN LANDMARK STUDY, PAVING THE WAY FOR HUMAN STUDIES

Designed for everyday use, the isaac wearable device pairs with a smartphone app to log readings and send alerts when needed. (PreEvnt)

Clinical trials and FDA review for the isaac device

PreEvnt first introduced isaac publicly at CES 2025. Later that year, the device entered active human clinical trials. Those studies compare isaac’s breath-based alerts with traditional blood glucose monitoring methods. 

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Trials began with adolescents who have Type 1 diabetes and later expanded to adults with Type 2 diabetes. The company is now working toward regulatory review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Because this technology is new, PreEvnt is pursuing a de novo pathway, which allows devices to be evaluated while standards are still being defined. According to the company, regulators have shown strong interest as the data continues to come in.

Isaac does not claim to replace medical-grade glucose meters. The device is being developed to supplement existing monitoring methods by offering breath-based alerts tied to glucose-related changes.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Noninvasive glucose monitoring has long felt like a future promise that never quite arrives. The attention around isaac at CES 2026 suggests that promise may finally be getting closer. If clinical trials continue to deliver strong results and regulators give approval, breathing into a small device could one day replace at least some finger pricks. For families living with diabetes, that shift could make daily life easier and safer.

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Would you trust a breath-based device to warn you about rising blood sugar before symptoms appear? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Disney deleted a Thread because people kept putting anti-fascist quotes from its movies in the replies

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Disney deleted a Thread because people kept putting anti-fascist quotes from its movies in the replies

”Share a Disney quote that sums up how you’re feeling right now!”

That’s what Disney posted on Threads the other day, and people immediately replied with lines from Star Wars, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and even Mary Poppins. The throughline between all the quotes: they were pretty pointedly anti-fascist and clearly aimed at the current administration.

Apparently, Disney either couldn’t handle the anti-fascist messaging of its own movies or was too afraid of pissing off the powers that be, because it quickly deleted the post. Thankfully, one resourceful Threads user recorded it for posterity, reminding us that yes, the human world is, in fact, a mess.

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