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I’m a tech pro and these are my secrets to better flights and luxury travel

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I’m a tech pro and these are my secrets to better flights and luxury travel

My dad worked for United Airlines, so I grew up on airplanes. I’ve explored 38 countries and counting, with plenty more on my bucket list. Lucky for us both, I’m cheap, so I know all the tricks to save money.

Spring break is around the corner, and Sundays are the best day to book trips, so let’s talk travel hacks and score you some great deals.

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Scoring a great flight deal isn’t just about luck

Airlines constantly adjust prices based on demand, timing, and even the day of the week. A little flexibility and some smart planning can mean big savings. Before you book, try these proven strategies.

Set up price alerts: Google Flights and Kayak will email you when prices drop. The best time to book? One to three months ahead for domestic flights and four to six months out for international. 

A woman is seen using a laptop to book travel. (iStock)

Fly on the cheap days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are usually the cheapest. Red-eyes and early morning flights also cost less and are less likely to be delayed or canceled.

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Be flexible: Try Google’s Explore feature to spot budget-friendly dates. Skyscanner’s Cheapest Month tool is neat. Instead of choosing a date, click Flexible Dates and watch the prices fluctuate.

Hidden-city ticketing (use with caution): Skiplagged finds flights where your destination is a layover, which can save you cash. Just don’t check a bag. It won’t follow you.

Check for 24-hour price drops: Booked a flight? Some airlines let you cancel within 24 hours for free. If you find a lower price, cancel and rebook. Easy savings.

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Or use Google’s guarantee. Certain flights are eligible. After you book a trip, Google monitors the price until the first flight in your itinerary departs. If the price drops, the company will make up the difference. Select a badged flight from Departing flights (the badge is a colorful shield surrounding a dollar sign). Make sure you pick a badged itinerary through checkout.

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Let’s upgrade your trip

OK, the flight is booked and your bags are packed. Let’s make your travel even better, easier and less stressful.

I download the official app for every airline I fly: Here’s a pro tip. Look for the live activities feature in your app of choice. This generally gives you a countdown until boarding time and a real-time view of your gate and seat info in case anything changes at the last minute. 

flight to exotic travel destination

A plane is pictured departing from a travel destination. (iStock)

Airport charging is dicey. Newer phones are smart enough to be wary of an unknown USB connection. They’ll ask if you want to “trust this device” or “share data.” Always say “No” to these options when traveling! Both allow data communication between your phone and the charging hardware, which may have implanted malware. Choose the “charge-only option.” If that’s not available, keep walkin’.

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Traveling solo? Share your location with your family and friends. On iPhone, open the Find My app and tap People (bottom of the screen) > + (plus icon) > Share My Location. Then, select a contact, hit Send and choose the duration. In Google Maps, tap your profile icon (top right) > Location sharing > New Share and send the link through your messaging app.

Skip the lines at U.S. Customs: The Mobile Passport app is your secret weapon. It’s free, secure, and lets you submit your passport and customs info right from your phone — no forms needed! Plus, you get access to fast-track lanes at participating airports and cruise ports.

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VIP experience secrets

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Now, if “budget” is not in your lexicon, you can bypass a lot of airport hassles. 

PS (Private Suite) at LAX and ATL

  • Get private TSA screening and a terminal with no lines. Think velvet couches and chilled champagne. Board via a private car on the tarmac and have a similar arrival service.
  • PS costs about $4,000 for the first passenger. It’s an Amex Centurion cardholder perk, and that’s how I get to use it.

Airport Butler/Royal Airport Concierge fast-track service

  • Royal Airport Concierge meets you at the curb, handles your luggage, escorts you through security and takes you to a VIP lounge.
person dragging luggage in airport

A woman is pictured walking through an airport with her suitcase. (iStock )

Delta VIP Select

  • Enjoy a private check-in lounge with champagne, canapés, private TSA screening and a ride to the plane on the tarmac.
  • Costs $500 for the first passenger and $100 for each additional one. Here’s a video about it.

United Global Services

  • It’s invitation-only offering private check-in for United Airlines Global Services members.

Hawaiian Airlines Premium Airport Service

  • Check-in is completed before you arrive, with priority baggage handling, expedited TSA lines and an escort to your gate. You get access to a private lounge featuring a liquor menu, meals and showers.
  • Prices start at $500 for two with the option to use HawaiianMiles.

Get tech-smarter on your schedule

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

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Dude Perfect and Mark Rober may be the next YouTubers to get big streaming deals

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Dude Perfect and Mark Rober may be the next YouTubers to get big streaming deals

Netflix and other streaming platforms are stepping up efforts to sign YouTubers, which could mean big streaming deals for sports channel Dude Perfect or former NASA engineer Mark Rober, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The Journal writes that streaming platforms’ creator-signing ambitions have “shifted into overdrive” in response to the success of MrBeast’s Beast Games. Amazon has made “at least $100 million” in profit from the show and is apparently already working out deals for two more seasons. Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, is apparently asking over $150 million per season to renew.

Rober and Dude Perfect have each been approached by Netflix, writes the Journal. But Netflix “doesn’t usually allow for sales promotions in shows that it pays to make” — something that has apparently “been a sticking point” in its talks with Rober, who sells robotics kit subscriptions through his channel. That sort of thing is more in line with Amazon’s business, making it a “particularly attractive” option for creators like Rober, the article says.

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Home robot automates household chores like Rosie from 'The Jetsons'

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Home robot automates household chores like Rosie from 'The Jetsons'

Remember Rosie from “The Jetsons?”

For those too young, Rosie was a futuristic robot helper in a classic cartoon. Now, the idea of having such a robot in our homes feels like it’s inching closer to reality with the unveiling of NEO Gamma. 

Developed by the artificial intelligence company 1X, this isn’t your clunky, metallic automaton. NEO Gamma is designed to be a helpful, almost human-like assistant.

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NEO Gamma humanoid robot  (1X)

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Not just a robot, but a companion

Standing at 65 inches tall, NEO Gamma features AI-driven conversation, human-like movements and the ability to manipulate objects with impressive dexterity. Imagine waking up to freshly brewed coffee prepared by your own robot. Or picture NEO Gamma helping you hang pictures, doing laundry while you meditate or even expertly serving wine during dinner. This robot aims to blend seamlessly into your life, offering assistance without being intrusive.

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home robot 2

NEO Gamma humanoid robot serving coffee  (1X)

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What makes this humanoid robot so special?

Human-like design: 1X has gone the extra mile to make NEO Gamma feel less like a machine. It walks with a natural gait, swings its arms and can even squat to pick things up. To soften its appearance, it sports a “Knit Suit,” a 3D-printed nylon covering that hides the metallic frame and prevents bumps.

AI-powered interaction: NEO Gamma isn’t just programmed to perform tasks. It’s designed to understand and respond to you. It features emotive “earrings” that light up when it’s listening and an in-house language model that enables natural conversations.

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Observational learning: This robot learns by watching. It can observe how you perform tasks and then mimic those actions.

Quiet and considerate: With a reduced noise level, NEO Gamma operates as quietly as a humming refrigerator. It also knows when to give you space, relaxing in another room after a job well done.

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home robot 2

NEO Gamma humanoid robot  (1X)

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The tech behind the help

NEO Gamma’s movements are controlled at a frequency of 100 Hz, learned through reinforcement learning from human motion capture data. This allows it to move with a range of motion similar to a human. The robot can also recognize and handle objects, even in new environments. It has four microphones with echo cancellation for clear audio and three speakers for voice interaction and sound effects.

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home robot 4

NEO Gamma humanoid robot cleaning windows  (1X)

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The competition and the challenges

The company 1X isn’t alone in vying for a spot in the future of home robotics. Tesla’s Optimus and Figure’s AI-powered humanoid are also in the race. However, the path to a truly useful and affordable home robot is filled with engineering challenges.

home robot 5

NEO Gamma humanoid robot helping with picture hanging   (1X)

Is NEO Gamma ready for your home?

While 1X aims to get NEO into customers’ homes as quickly as possible, there’s no firm release date.

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NEO Gamma humanoid robot accepting groceries   (1X)

Kurt’s key takeaways

The idea of a robot helper like NEO Gamma is exciting, and it’s hard not to think about how such a device could change our lives. Whether NEO Gamma or another robot achieves this first, it feels like we’re on the cusp of a new era. Will we look back on videos of these early models with nostalgia, or will the robots of the future have something else in store for us? Only time will tell.

When NEO Gamma (or a robot like it) becomes available, would you want one in your home? Let us know by writing us aCyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

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The head of a Biden program that could help rural broadband has left

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The head of a Biden program that could help rural broadband has left

1. Delays in getting broadband to the people. Some states are on the 1 yard line. A bunch are on the 5 yard line. More will be getting there every week. These more-sweeping changes will only cause delays. The administration could fix the problems with the program via waiver and avoid slowdowns. Shovels could already be in the ground in three states, and they could be in the ground in half the country by the summer without the proposed changes to project selection.

2. More people will get Starlink/Kuiper, and fewer people will get fiber connection. This could be dramatic, or it could be measured, depending on where the admin sets the threshold limit, and whether states are permitted to award projects above the new threshold on the basis of value per dollar, or if they’re forced to take the cheapest proposal, even if it provides poorer service.

3. The 3 states with approved Final Proposals remain in limbo. They are currently held in NIST review regarding their proposed FPFRs (the budgets accompanying their approved final proposals).

This makes no sense – these states are ready to go, and they got the job done on time, on budget, and have plans that achieve universal coverage. If the administration cares about getting shovels in the ground, states with approved Final Proposals should move forward, ASAP.

4. West Virginia (and soon additional states) who have completed their work, but don’t have approved Final Proposals also remain in limbo. They have a final proposal ready to go that gets exceptional service to all West Virginia homes and businesses. Like the three states with approved Final Proposals, only the current administration stands between them and getting shovels in the ground. If the administration cares about getting things done, they should allow any state that comes forward with a Final Proposal under the old rules in the next couple of months move forward with that plan.

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5. No decision has been made about how much of the existing progress the 30 states who are already performing subgrantee selection should be allowed to keep. The administration simply cannot say whether the time, taxpayer funds, and private capital that were spent on those processes will be wasted and how much states will have to re-do.

6. The wireless industry will be, effectively, shut out of the BEAD program. There will be few, if any, locations that are above any new cost limit that will be able to be more cheaply served by fixed wireless than low earth satellites.

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