Lookup subsequent time you’re exterior and guess the place the airplane above you is headed. Los Angeles? New York? Paris? Ask Siri this phrase, “What flights are overhead?” You’ll see the service, flight quantity, and altitude in seconds.  

I like sharing easy digital life suggestions that make issues simpler. Bonus: Most are good for impressing your loved ones and associates. Listed here are 5 extra helpful tech methods to check. 

For you Home windows customers, do this subsequent time you’ve gotten many packages open. Click on on the highest bar of 1 window, maintain it down, and shake your mouse. This shake will decrease all different open home windows immediately. Shake it once more to revive them. Faucet or click on for hidden options to attempt now in your Home windows PC or Mac. 

On the usefulness scale, your telephone’s sensible assistant is excessive — if you recognize the proper instructions. Listed here are 5 I exploit on a regular basis. 

1. Activate the flashlight 

When it is darkish, and also you’re making an attempt to learn a menu or make your manner down a darkish hallway, you do not wish to fumble along with your telephone to seek out the flashlight. 

Merely say, “Activate the flashlight.” It really works for each Siri and Google Assistant. Simply say the wake title first to ensure they’re listening. 

Enjoyable truth: For those who’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll be able to say “Lumos.” It references the spell Harry and his associates use to mild up their wands. Say “Nox” to show the sunshine off. 

Don’t lose your treasured reminiscences. Listed here are the very best methods to save lots of your telephone’s photographs earlier than it’s too late. 

2. Add to my calendar 

It’s simple to make spur-of-the-moment plans if you’re speaking to somebody. Then, when the time for the appointment strikes, you neglect about it. 

As an alternative of losing a minute or two getting into in particulars manually, inform Siri or Google Assistant what your plan is, together with a date and time. For instance, you possibly can say, “Hey Siri, arrange a lunch assembly with Bob tomorrow at 1 p.m.” You is also extra particular, like, “Hey Google, add an occasion known as Birthday Dinner on Sunday at 4 p.m.” 

The Google web homepage is displayed on a product at a retailer.
(REUTERS/Neil Corridor)

You probably have a number of calendars, specify which one or else it’s going to fall into your default calendar.  

Siri robotically connects to Apple’s Calendar app. For those who use the Google Calendar, although, you’ll have so as to add it to Apple’s default app. Right here’s easy methods to get the 2 apps to play properly collectively. 

Need Apple suggestions and methods delivered straight to your inbox? Get my free Apple Updates electronic mail twice per week. Enroll right here. Android person? Select Android Updates as an alternative. 

3. Set a timer 

You are nearly to set a timer for tonight’s dinner. Then, you hear a loud thud from the opposite room, and one of many children begins yelling for you. With a single sentence to your sensible assistant, you’ll be able to put a pin in your present job earlier than working off to place out a fireplace elsewhere. 

To set a timer, inform Siri or Google Assistant, “Set a timer for 10 minutes” or nonetheless lengthy you want. For those who say, “Set a timer for 20 minutes known as rooster,” this begins a brand new timer with the label “rooster.” 

Amazon Alexa-enabled units also can assist out round the home with timers, fast math, and different stuff you’d usually whip out your telephone for. Faucet or click on right here to make Alexa arrange reminders, timers, and alarms. 

4. Silence my telephone 

Think about you are at church. The pastor is sharing an emotional story. It is so impactful there’s not a dry eye in the home. Conditions like this may be flat-out humiliating. Silence your telephone earlier than you go right into a church, begin a gathering, or sit down for a job interview. 

A simple option to do it’s along with your voice. Say “Siri, silence my telephone” or “Google Assistant, silence my telephone.”  

Younger teenager texting on iPhone. (Picture by: Schooling Photos/Common Photos Group by way of Getty Photos)

Talking of distractions, what number of buzzes and beeps emit out of your telephone each single day? Faucet or click on right here for a fast and straightforward option to cease telephone notifications for good. 

5. That wasn’t for you 

Massive Tech corporations will inform you their units are usually not all the time listening — they’re simply listening for the wake phrase. I don’t see the distinction. 

Typically, you will unintentionally set off your assistant with a phrase that sounds related. For those who say one thing that sounds much like “Siri” or “Hey Google,” it might perk its metaphorical ears. This may be a problem in case your assistant is about as much as file all the pieces you say to it. 

I just lately went by way of my Amazon Alexa recordings. I discovered a number of voice clips that didn’t contain Alexa in any respect — together with some non-public discussions about shopping for actual property. Faucet or click on right here to seek out out all the pieces Amazon is aware of about you. 

An Amazon warehouse and distribution heart positioned in Shelby Township, Michigan.

Fortunately, Siri and Google Assistant each make distinctive noises after they’ve been activated. If you wish to cease Google Assistant from recording the remainder of your dialog, say, “That wasn’t for you.” This additionally deletes no matter it simply recorded out of your historical past. 

You may as well inform Siri, “That wasn’t for you,” when it activates by chance. Nevertheless, Apple hasn’t formally mentioned whether or not this phrase wipes your earlier recording from its reminiscence. Faucet or click on right here to cease all of your sensible units from listening to you and recording what you say. 

Bonus Tip: An unbelievable story about hackers hitting up a hospital for ransomware 

Ransomware hackers just lately hit a hospital, and all the pieces from the cardiac machines to IV pumps stopped working. Medical doctors and nurses had to make use of pen and paper. There have been no digital affected person data. However what occurred when the hackers came upon it was a hospital will undoubtedly shock you. 

Take a look at my podcast “Kim Komando Explains” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast participant. 

Take heed to the podcast right here or wherever you get your podcasts. Simply seek for my final title, “Komando.” 

What digital way of life questions do you’ve gotten? Name Kim’s nationwide radio present and faucet or click on right here to seek out it in your native radio station. You possibly can hearken to or watch The Kim Komando Present in your telephone, pill, tv, or laptop. Or faucet or click on right here for Kim’s free podcasts. 

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Study all the most recent know-how on The Kim Komando Present, the nation’s largest weekend radio discuss present. Kim takes calls and dispenses recommendation on immediately’s digital way of life, from smartphones and tablets to on-line privateness and information hacks. For her each day suggestions, free newsletters, and extra, go to her web site at Komando.com.