Technology
12 must-have apps to crush your New Year’s resolutions
Happy New Year! As 2025 begins, it’s the perfect time to set intentions and start fresh. Whether you’re aiming to adopt healthier habits, master new skills or take control of your finances, there’s an app to help you make it happen. Technology can be a game-changer in turning resolutions into realities, and we’ve come up with a list of tools designed to support your goals and keep you motivated all year long.
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Happy New Year sign (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
1) Habitica to build better habits
- iPhone: 4.0 stars (at time of publishing)
- Android: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
If your goal is to create and stick to healthy habits, Habitica offers a fun, gamified approach to habit tracking. By turning your tasks into a role-playing game, Habitica motivates you to complete daily tasks, habits and to-dos to level up your character, earn rewards and avoid penalties. You can join parties with friends, participate in quests and tackle challenges together. The app is perfect for anyone who loves games and wants to make self-improvement enjoyable. Habitica is free with optional in-app purchases for customization and premium content.
Habitica app (Habitica) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
SKYROCKET TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE WITH THIS GEAR IN 2025
2) MyFitnessPal to master nutrition and fitness goals
- iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
- Android: 4.3 stars (at time of publishing)
MyFitnessPal is a powerful tool for tracking your nutrition, exercise and progress toward health goals. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, gain muscle or maintain a healthier lifestyle, the app offers a massive food database, a barcode scanner and customizable goals to suit your needs. It also integrates with fitness trackers and apps to provide a comprehensive overview of your wellness journey. MyFitnessPal offers free features, with a premium subscription unlocking more advanced insights and features, such as macronutrient goals and meal planning.
MyFitnessPal app (MyFitnessPal) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.4 stars (at time of publishing)
Headspace app (Headspace) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The Headspace app can help you achieve your New Year’s resolutions of practicing mindfulness and meditation. You can access hundreds of tailored sessions, courses and exercises for various topics, such as stress, sleep, focus and happiness. Headspace can help you improve your mental health and well-being in 2025. You can try Headspace for free for 10 days and cancel anytime. Headspace offers discounts for students, educators and health care professionals.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
Duolingo app (Duoloingo) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
If your New Year’s resolution is to learn a new language or improve your existing skills, the Duolingo app can help you accomplish your goals. With this app, you can set your own goals and track your progress as you learn from over 40 languages, including Spanish, French, Japanese and more. Duolingo makes learning enjoyable and effortless with bite-sized lessons, games and stories that fit your schedule and level. You can also use Duolingo for free with some limitations, such as ads, fewer lessons and no offline access.
BEST WIRELESS EARBUDS EXPERT REVIEWED
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 5.0 stars (at time of publishing)
Serial Reader app (Serial Reader) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
If one of your New Year’s resolution goals is to read more books, you might want to check out Serial Reader, a mobile app that delivers bite-sized portions of books to your phone every day. The app lets you choose from over 700 classic books, from “Pride and Prejudice” to “War and Peace,” and sends you a 10-minute portion of the book every day. You can read at your own pace, adjust the font size and theme and sync your progress across devices. You can also earn achievements and badges as you complete books and challenge yourself to read more.
Serial Reader is a great way to discover new books, revisit old favorites or catch up on the classics you’ve always wanted to read. It’s also a fun and easy way to make reading a habit and a part of your daily routine. You can start reading for free or upgrade to Serial Reader Premium to unlock more features, such as offline reading, highlighting, notes and more.
SMART RINGS THAT CAN TRACK YOUR SLEEP, FITNESS, COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE
iPhone: 4.6 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.6 stars (at time of publishing)
Yousician app (Yousician) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
If your New Year’s resolution is to learn and master musical instruments or vocals, the Yousician app can help you do just that. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you can find the right lessons and songs for you. You can also practice with real-time feedback, track your progress and challenge yourself with new goals. The app supports guitar, piano, ukulele, bass and singing. You can choose from various genres, styles and levels of difficulty.
The app is free to download and use, but it has some limitations. You can only access a limited number of lessons and songs per day, and you can only use one instrument at a time. If you want to unlock unlimited access to all the features and content, you need to subscribe to the premium plan.
7) Nike Training Club to help get in shape
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.4 stars (at time of publishing)
Nike Training Club app (Nike) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Nike Training Club is a versatile mobile app designed to help you achieve your fitness goals in 2025. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, build muscle or improve overall health, Nike Training Club offers a wide array of resources to keep you motivated. With access to hundreds of free workouts for all fitness levels, including body-weight exercises, yoga and cardio, this app is perfect for getting started without any cost. The app also features personalized training plans, expert tips and instructional videos from professional trainers.
For those who want more, Nike Training Club provides a premium upgrade that includes HD workout videos, advanced workout tracking and comprehensive training plans tailored to your fitness journey. Get ready to crush your fitness goals with one of the highest-rated fitness apps on the market.
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iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.5 stars (at time of publishing)
QUITNOW app (QUITNOW) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
If one of your New Year’s resolution goals is to quit smoking, you might want to try QUITNOW, a mobile app that helps you break free from nicotine addiction. QUITNOW is an app that tracks your progress, shows you how much money you save and rewards you with achievements and health benefits as you quit smoking. You can also join a community of over 10 million quitters, chat with other users and get support and advice from experts and coaches. QUITNOW is a free app, but you can upgrade to QUITNOW PRO to access more features, such as personalized plans, motivational quotes and advanced stats.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.5 stars (at time of publishing)
Todoist app (Todoist) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Todoist is a mobile app designed to help you organize your life and achieve your New Year’s resolutions in 2025. With Todoist, you can create tasks, projects and subtasks, assigning due dates, priorities and labels to each. The app allows for seamless syncing across devices, enabling collaboration with others and integration with various apps and services. Todoist provides feedback, reminders and productivity statistics to keep you motivated. It is free to download, but you can upgrade to Todoist Premium or Todoist Business for enhanced features. The Premium plan offers additional functionalities such as comments, attachments, filters and templates. As of now, Todoist boasts more than 30 million users, reflecting its popularity as a task management tool.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
YNAB app (YNAB) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The YNAB app is a great mobile app for helping you create a budget, plan your spending and save more money in 2025. YNAB lets you connect your bank accounts, credit cards, loans and track your transactions and balances. You can also set goals, assign categories and prioritize your expenses. YNAB also provides you with reports, feedback and coaching to help you improve your financial skills and habits. YNAB is not free, but you can get a 34-day free trial to use the app.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.2 stars (at time of publishing)
Skillshare app (Skillshare) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Skillshare is a great app for helping you keep your New Year’s resolution of learning something new. You can discover new passions, hobbies and interests with the app. You can access thousands of online classes on various topics, such as photography, design, business and more. You can also watch videos, do projects and get feedback from experts and peers. The app also offers live sessions, workshops and challenges to keep you motivated and engaged. The app is perfect for anyone who wants to learn something new, explore their creativity or advance their career.
The app is free to download and use, but it has some limitations. You can only watch a limited number of classes and videos per month, and you can’t access the premium features and content. If you want to unlock unlimited access to all the classes, videos and features, you need to subscribe to the premium plan.
iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.5 stars (at time of publishing)
Lumosity app (Lumosity) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to improve your cognitive skills and mental fitness? Well, then the Lumosity app might be worth downloading. Lumosity is a brain-training app that offers personalized and adaptive exercises that challenge your memory, attention, speed, flexibility and problem-solving abilities. You can track your progress and compare your results with others. Lumosity also provides insights and tips on how to optimize your brain health and performance. Whether you want to sharpen your mind, boost your productivity or have fun, Lumosity could be the app for you. Lumosity has different subscription plans to suit your needs and budget. You can try Lumosity for free for 7 days and cancel anytime.
Connected Care app (Connected Care) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Experience the peace of mind that comes with being closely involved in your family’s caregiving with Connected Care. This lovingly designed, intuitive mobile app transforms the complexities of managing health care into a seamless and heartwarming part of your daily routine.
Imagine easily organizing your loved one’s doctor visits, medication schedules and medical history all within the palm of your hand. With Connected Care, not only do you get a comprehensive medical summary at a glance, but you also become part of a nurturing network that ensures your family member’s needs are attended to with the utmost care and attention.
Enjoy how easy it is to share important updates about your loved one’s care with other family members and caregivers. With Connected Care, you can create a team of people who are all on the same page and ready to give the best support. Connected Care is more than just an app; it’s a caring friend who helps you manage long-term care.
While the majority of features are free, the option for a subscription to Connected Care Premium allows you to enhance this experience, ensuring that you have all the tools you need at your fingertips. Should you opt for premium, the process is made simple through your Apple account, with the flexibility to manage your subscription directly from the App Store settings.
Discover how Connected Care can help you keep the heart of your family beating strong, every single day.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
A new year is a blank slate filled with endless possibilities, and these apps are here to help you make the most of it. Whether your goal is personal growth, better health or learning something new, these tools can make your journey more manageable and enjoyable. Start 2025 with purpose and let these apps be your partners in creating lasting change. Here’s to a year of progress, achievement and success.
What’s your biggest goal for 2025, and which app do you think will help you achieve it and why? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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OpenAI announced yet another reorganization Friday, consolidating certain areas and making company president Greg Brockman the official lead of all things product.
In a memo viewed by The Verge, Brockman wrote that since OpenAI’s product strategy for this year is to go all-in on AI agents, the company is combining its products to “invest in a single agentic platform and to merge ChatGPT and Codex into one unified agentic experience for all.”
To do this, the company is making a suite of org chart changes, although it’s still operating under some of the same ones from last month. That’s when AGI boss Fidji Simo went on medical leave and OpenAI announced that Brockman would be in charge of product strategy and CSO Jason Kwon, CFO Sarah Friar, and CRO Denise Dresser would take control of business operations.
It’s all part of OpenAI’s recent strategic shift to focus on key revenue drivers like coding and enterprise and stop pouring resources into “side quests” ahead of its potential IPO later this year and amid investor pressure to turn a profit.
In Simo’s continued absence, Brockman’s role leading product strategy is now official, as well as the company’s “scaling” arm. Under Brockman will be four different pillars. The first is core product and platform, led by Thibault Sottiaux, who has been OpenAI’s engineering lead for Codex, and the second is critical enterprise industries, led by ChatGPT head Nick Turley. Third is the consumer pillar, such as health, commerce, and personal finance, which will be led by Ashley Alexander, who has been its healthcare products VP. The fourth pillar — core infrastructure, ads, data science, and growth — will be led by Vijaye Raji, who has been OpenAI’s CTO of applications.
Brockman wrote in the memo that OpenAI’s goal is now to “bring agents to ChatGPT scale, in order to give individuals and organizations significantly more value and utility from our products.”
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You’re going about your day when your phone buzzes. A text hits your phone. It looks official. It sounds urgent. And suddenly, you are being told you owe money for a traffic violation. That is exactly what Todd from Texas experienced. He emailed us and said:
“I received this text message today. It was so baffling because I haven’t lived in California for nearly a decade. I didn’t click on anything or respond. How can I tell if this is for real or if this is a scam?”
If you’ve gotten a message like this, you are not alone. This type of scam is spreading fast, and it is designed to pressure you into acting before you think. Let’s break down what is really going on.
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FAKE AGENT PHONE SCAMS ARE SPREADING FAST ACROSS THE US
This message may look official, but several red flags show it is likely a scam designed to pressure you into paying quickly. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What the traffic ticket scam text looks like
At first, the message seems convincing. It claims to be a “final reminder” from the California DMV, and it warns of penalties like license suspension and added fees. It even includes a link that appears somewhat official. However, once you slow down and take a closer look, the red flags quickly start to pile up.
The biggest red flags in this message
Here are the key warning signs to watch for in messages like this.
9 WAYS SCAMMERS CAN USE YOUR PHONE NUMBER TO TRY TO TRICK YOU
1) The phone number makes no sense
The message comes from a number with a +63 country code. That is the Philippines, not California. Government agencies in the U.S. do not send official legal notices from international numbers. That alone is a major warning sign.
2) No name, just “Dear Driver”
Legitimate notices from a DMV or court almost always include your full name or at least some identifying information. “Dear Driver” is vague on purpose. It allows scammers to send the same message to thousands of people.
3) The link isn’t a real DMV website
The message includes this link:
ca.mnvtl.life/dmv
That isn’t a government domain. Official DMV websites in California use “.ca.gov” or similar trusted domains. Scammers often create lookalike links to trick you into clicking.
4) Urgency and threats
The message pushes you to act quickly with a deadline. It lists consequences like license suspension and extra charges. Scammers rely on fear. When you feel rushed, you are more likely to click without thinking.
FBI WARNS OF DANGEROUS NEW ‘SMISHING’ SCAM TARGETING YOUR PHONE
5) Asking you to reply to proceed
The text says to reply with “Y” to get instructions. That is another trap. Responding confirms your number is active, which can lead to more scam messages.
6) Generic language and odd phrasing
Parts of the message feel slightly off. The tone is formal but not quite right. That subtle awkwardness is common in scam messages sent to large groups of people.
7) Overloaded threats designed to scare you
The message piles on consequences like license suspension, added fees, court action and even credit damage. In this case, it even mentions a license suspension and a $160 late payment charge. That combination is meant to overwhelm you and push you to act fast. Real agencies usually provide clear, specific notices, not a long list of escalating threats in a single text.
INSIDE A SCAMMER’S DAY AND HOW THEY TARGET YOU
Scam texts like this often arrive out of nowhere and try to create urgency before you have time to question them. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What this means for you
Even if you have never driven in California, you could still receive this message. Scammers cast a wide net and hope someone takes the bait. If you click the link, you could be taken to a fake payment page. That page may ask for your credit card details, personal information or login credentials. In some cases, it can also install malware on your device or redirect you to credential-stealing pages. This isn’t about a ticket. It is about getting your data. State DMVs typically do not send final legal notices or payment demands by text message.
Why these scams keep working
These messages work because they tap into something most people fear. Legal trouble, fines and losing driving privileges. They also look just real enough to pass a quick glance. That is all scammers need. As more services move online, these scams will continue to evolve.
Unlike typical DMV scams, this message impersonates a court and escalates the threats to make the situation feel more serious (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Ways to stay safe from traffic ticket text scams
Start with a simple rule. Never trust a payment request that shows up out of nowhere. Here are practical steps you can take:
1) Do not click the link
If you are unsure, do not tap anything in the message. That includes links and reply options.
2) Use strong antivirus software
If you accidentally click a link, strong antivirus software can help detect malware and protect your data. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
3) Verify directly with the DMV
Go to your state’s official DMV website by typing it yourself into your browser. Do not use the link in the text.
4) Check the sender carefully
Look at the phone number. International numbers or random strings are a clear warning sign.
5) Ignore generic greetings
Real notices will usually include your name or case details. Vague language is a red flag.
6) Consider a data removal service
Scammers often get your number from data broker sites. Removing your personal info from those databases with a data removal service can reduce these messages. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
7) Block and report the number
On your phone, block the sender and report it as spam. This helps reduce future attempts.
8) Turn on spam filtering
Enable spam filtering on your phone or through your carrier to catch more of these messages before they reach you.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Todd did the right thing. He paused, questioned the message and did not click. That one decision likely saved him from handing over personal information. When it comes to messages like this, skepticism is your best defense. If something feels off, trust that instinct.
Should phone carriers and tech companies be doing more to block scams like this before you ever see them? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Honda revealed prototypes of two new hybrid models, an Accord sedan and the Acura RDX SUV, during its annual business briefing this week, built on a platform that it says will begin launching next year. The RDX was announced earlier this year as Honda’s first SUV to feature the next-gen version of its two-motor hybrid system.
In March, Honda announced it would take a writedown of up to 2.5 trillion yen ($15.7 billion) on its EV investments. Now Honda says its EV-related losses will be “resolved” by 2029, and that it will reevaluate its EV plans in 2030.
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