Quick reminder. Please do not share the What the Tech? stories with MSN or other stations in your groups. They’ve been popping up recently on other websites. The stories are for your station only. Thank you
***IMPORTANT NOTE: I’m on vacation next week. I’ve worked double to make sure you have fresh stories every day. They’re in the same Dropbox folder slugged with the correct date. If you don’t see the day’s story at the top of the Dropbox folder, organize the files by name. I may not have access to phone or text but should be able to check email. Everything should be in the folder.**
each day’s pitch is below so they will appear out of order
NOTE: EXTRA STORY THIS WEEK
I know many of you will need content Thursday and Friday. I’m going to offer a second piece about popular tech gadgets that will be on sale over the weekend. This will be an extra story this week for you to plug in either Thanksgiving or Black Friday. Ideally for your morning shows. It’s in the Dropbox folder. This is in addition to your the other WTT stories this week. The piece is long (about 2:24) so you can cut it down to what you need.
Friday, December 5th
Two sisters had a problem having a family gift exchange. Some of their family members were spread out over other states. The husband of one sister came up with the idea for the app “Elfster”. It helps families and other groups organize dirty Santa/Yankee swap or other gift exchanges. It’s brilliant.
Thursday, December 4th
Millions of dollars in merchandise is on delivery trucks. Shoppers who’ve ordered them are excited to get them. Scammers know this and are sending fake text messages saying there’s a problem with the shipment. The FCC says young people are the targets. I’m looking at how these text messages appear, what happens if you click on one and why they’re so successful.
Wednesday, December 3rd
Gadget gift ideas for dad. Most dads love gadgets and tools. I’ve rounded up some gift ideas they might not only like, but will make their dad friends a little jealous.
Tuesday, December 2nd
Gadget gift ideas for mom. Most mom’s I know don’t think about they need or will even use a tech gadget. But no matter what your mom enjoys, she can use at least one of these gadgets.
Monday, December 1st
If you have someone on your list who travels, it’s lucky for you. They’re very easy to buy for. I’m rounding up some useful gadget gifts for anyone who’ll be traveling next year.
Friday, November 28th
Not sure what to give someone on your list? Rather than settling for a gift card, Giftster allows everyone to mark what they’d like to get. It’s a group-wide shopping list with a few really cool features.
Thursday, November 27th
Happy Thanksgiving. We’ve been shopping online for over a decade now and we’re still talking about porch pirates. It’s a huge problem for shoppers, and Amazon for that matter. I’m looking at the problem and a few tips on how to guard your deliveries before you order them. For any station that needs more content, see the note above about an extra story on shopping online and popular products.
Wednesday, November 26th
Everyone will shop on their phones on-the-go during the holidays. Is it safe? Not always. While phones have become much better at keeping your credit cards and information safe, criminals are still using trying to trick people into giving their information away. They set up their own WiFi network and hope someone will use it. Experts say it’s been around for over a decade but it still works, especially in airports and hotels. I’m explaining how it works and the best way to avoid it.
Tuesday, November 25th
Everyone will be shopping online over the holidays, but when is the best time to shop? Believe it or not, the best deals are at specific times of day. Research shows it’s better to shop sometime other than when you’re at work and on Fridays and Saturdays. I’m looking at this research to pinpoint the best times to find deals.
Monday, November 24th
Don’t you miss family sitting around the Thanksgiving table, eating and talking? Now, someone always takes out their phone and is immediately taken somewhere else. I have an idea to get people to leave their phones behind and it works. I’m showing how to politely get people off their phones by connecting quickly to your WiFi, putting the phones in a basket and then having everyone download any updates they need.
Friday, November 21st
The App of the Day: Tasty. There are dozens of recipe and cooking apps in the app stores. Tasty is perhaps the best for amateur chefs. If you’ve ever tried following a recipe on your phone you know it requires a lot of taps, a lot of swipes, and sitting through long videos to see watch someone else prepare it. Tasty makes it a lot easier and could be your favorite app over the holidays.
Thursday, November 20th
The question I get from viewers more than anything else is “help me get my Facebook account back”. It often happens because someone hijacks your account but it primarily happens because people forget their Facebook password. And what happens if you get locked out? You’ve lost all of those photos, contacts, memories, and everything else you’ve ever posted or shared. But you can protect your account ahead of time by downloading your Facebook uploads. I’m showing how to do this and why you should do it right away.
Wednesday, November 19th
I’m doing the Roblox story today. I hope you were able to shift gears for the story on Cloudflare yesterday.
Roblox to require photos to prove the age of users. Roblox, the insanely popular game platform for kids, will soon require kids to upload selfies to verify their ages. It’s come under fire many times for allowing adults to contact and have conversations with children. It’s being sued in three states for failing to protect children. I’m looking at the steps its taking to keep strangers away from children by estimating their ages.
Tuesday, November 18th
update, change of story
I’m shifting gears to do something on the Cloudflare outage. Explaining why these things can happen. I’ll save the Roblox story for tomorrow
I’ll explain what Cloudflare is and does, and why so many websites go down if it is affected. There are some suspicious things that are raising some concern. Could it have been an attack from a state-sponsored hacking group? I’ll have this story done by 4PM today if you want to run it in an early newscast.
Monday, November 17th
Dollar deals at Amazon. If you’re paying $140 a year for Amazon Prime just to get free shipping, you might want to do it some other way. Anyone can get free shipping if they spend at least $35 on an order. That isn’t always easy but a new website can help find cheap items to reach the minimum order to get free shipping. And for Prime members, just one of these cheap items can get your orders delivered overnight.
Friday, November 14th
The App of the Day: WhatNot. Want to make some money for the holidays? This is an app that can quickly turn into a side hustle. WhatNot (I can’t believe how many people have never heard of it) allows users to walk around their house, show things they want to sell, and sell it to people. It’s like an easy yard sale without needing to haul everything outside. It’s also a good place to buy Christmas presents.
Thursday, November 13th
Does it seem you’re getting more spam calls and texts? It isn’t your imagination. This is peak spam season and you may be getting more spam than actual texts and calls. Spammers are taking advantage of open enrollment and medicare enrollment to trick people into talking to bots and scammers. But iPhone and Android have added blockers to keep these things from interrupting your days. But you may need to turn it on. I’m looking at why spam texts are up and how to activate the new blockers. How well do they work?
Wednesday, November 12th
Wrapping up a look at the streaming wars uncovering what needs to be known about a relatively small-player “DirectTV Stream”. It’s the service most like cable and satellite. It doesn’t do as much advertising as the other services so there are a lot of questions about it. I’m trying it out to see if it’s a good option to YouTube, Hulu+, and the others.
Tuesday, November 11th
Streaming wars part two. YouTubeTV and Hulu are the two biggest players in the streaming platforms. I’ve talked to a lot of YouTubeTV people who wonder about Hulu+ Live TV. I’m comparing the two. Channels, price, bundles, and other things you need to know before choosing one or the other.
Monday, November 10th
There’s been a good bit of engagement on the stories about streaming options. This week I’m going to devote time to looking at the pros and cons of each one. I’ll be talking about some of the options each day to help people make a good decision. Today, I’ll take a closer look at Fubo and Philo. One targets sports fans and one is for viewers who aren’t interested in sports. Are they a good deal?
Friday, November 7th
The App of the Day: Tody. Are you having trouble getting the kids to help with the housework? Maybe your spouse or partner never seems to lift a finger to dust or scrub the bathrooms. There’s an app for that. Tody assigns chores and tracks when they’re being done. Not only that, it sets up a schedule for when it needs to be done again. Parents say it’s very helpful with neurodivergent children.
Thursday, November 6th
Remember when we loved hearing “You’ve Got Mail”. Email was so much more interesting then. Today, our inboxes are out of control. If you’ve been using the same email address since 2010, it might be time to make a change. I’m looking at the reasons you might want to get a brand new email address to save yourself from junk, spam, and scammers.
Wednesday, November 5th
What’s hot this Christmas? Google just released its list of 100 hot gift ideas, based on what people are searching or ‘Googling’. It’s a good indicator of gifts that could sell out early. If you have one of these gifts on your shopping list, you may not want to wait til Black Friday to get it.
Tuesday, November 4th
If you have an IPhone or iPad and you hate the look of your phone since installing the last update, you know have a chance to reverse what many call an ugly update. Liquid Glass? Many users say it makes it harder to see the screen, camera app always opening on accident? You can keep it from happening. There are many changes in the latest iOS, and you don’t want to miss them.
Monday, November 3rd
About 10 million YouTube TV subscribers are reviewing other streaming services while Disney and Google feud over money and the rights to include ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned properties. What’s the difference in YTTV, Hulu+ Live TV, Fubo, and Sling? Can you save money? Can you get the channels you want? I’m comparing the four services to help you pick the one that’s right for you and your wallet.
Friday, October 31st
The App of the Day: “Flight Tracker+”. If you spend time in airports, you might need an app to keep you notified of delays, cancellations, and changes. This app uses data straight from the control towers to show, not only when you’ll leave or arrive, but the plane’s daily history, where to pick up your bags, and other information that can save you time and headaches.
Thursday, October 30th
A good time to shop outside Amazon. Sure, Amazon has fast delivery and endless options, but with tariffs and short supply on some items, visiting the manufacturers’ websites is worth the effort. Sony, Apple, Samsung, and Dell are offering special deals if you shop directly with them. I’m comparing a few prices and looking at why they’re worth the visit.
Wednesday, October 29th
how to choose the ideal size of a TV for the size of a room. Many people will buy new TVs during the holidays and many of them will choose a TV that’s far too big for the room. Seems everyone wants an 85” TV. You can save hundreds of dollars or get a better TV, by selecting an ideal size. I’ve got a simple rule-of-thumb to help decide, plus what do all of those terms (OLED, UHD, Super UHD, etc) mean?
Tuesday, October 28th
Safe trick-or-treating. Your kids know where the good candy is, but do you know who lives there? There are 850,000 convicted sex offenders living in neighborhoods all over the country. Some state laws prohibit them handing out candy, decorating, or even keeping the lights on Halloween night. (check your state’s laws). I’m looking at a public database of sex offenders and how to check your neighborhood before the kids leave the house.
Monday, October 27th
A warning about Apple AirTags. A sheriff’s department in Florida arrested two suspects and charged them with stalking and kidnapping a couple after hiding an AirTag under their car. There’s video of the suspects approaching the couple when they arrived home and forcing them into the garage. I’m looking at the dangers of AirTags and how you’ll know if one is following you. Maybe.
Friday, October 24th
The App of the Day: JustWatch. It’s the very best way to find Halloween and holiday movies. I’m always surprised when someone says they’ve never heard of it. If you subscribe to multiple streaming channels it’s impossible to search for something to watch unless you open and close each streaming service individually. JustWatch puts all of your options in one place.
Thursday, October 23rd
Meta launches new tools to help seniors. No one is scammed more than seniors on Facebook. They lose billions every year to scammers on fake websites, links, and messages. Meta just launched some tools to help protect them. I’ll explain the scams they fall for the most and whether you need to turn them on.
Wednesday, October 22nd
Yesterday’s story mentioned how cyber criminals are hiding text to trick AI. Did you know the trick they use has been used for years among kids cheating on tests and hiding things from their parents. Cheating adult partners have used it to hide their little secrets. I’m taking a look at how they pull this off and what parents and suspicious spouses ought to know.
Tuesday, October 21st
You’ve probably used the AI tools now embedded in nearly all web browsers. Maybe you like them, maybe you don’t. They’re helpful but they are also vulnerable to attacks. Hackers are hiding code in websites to try and get your personal and private information. I’m explaining what you need to know about AI browsers and, if you’re concerned, how to turn them off.
Monday, October 20th
I’ve fought with the story I pitched this morning most of the day. Turns out it isn’t as simple as I thought it would be and not everyone will be able to set it up. It depends on which version of each AI platform you use. So, until I get that figured out I’m going to refresh a story from earlier this year on TV antennas and why everyone needs one. I’ll get back to the assistant at another time.
Turn an old phone into a personal assistant. Who wouldn’t want a personal assistant to book restaurant reservations, get feedback on an idea, or just ask for information? If you have an old phone or tablet lying around, you have a voice assistant just waiting to be put to work. I’m looking at a new use for an old phone, using an AI platform to create your own work buddy.
Friday, October 17th
The App of the Day: RoboForm. Passwords are hard if you do them right. A solution is a dedicated password manager. There are several to consider and RoboForm is the oldest, and most secure. Plus, it costs much less than the others. I’m looking at this app, how it works, and why it’s a must-have if you don’t already use a password manager.
Thursday, October 16th
Meta says Facebook takes action on billions of fake accounts every year. About a billion a quarter! Most of those are caught before they go live but it shows just how many fake bots are trying to create profiles to scam us. Fortunately, there’s a clue as to whether a profile is fake or real. It’s just two words: Digital Creator. I’m looking into how bots set up fake accounts and how to spot them.
Wednesday, October 15th
Have you ever noticed some people who have their Facebook pages “hacked”, or cloned, seem to be scammed over and over and over again? There’s a major reason why this happens and yet few people know about it. I’m looking at why Facebook profiles get cloned and how to prevent it from happening to you.
Tuesday, October 14th
Would you walk up to someone and tell them where you live? If a cyber crook targets you and gets your address they can see exactly where you live on Google Maps or Earth. They can see what cars are in the driveway, whether there’s a fence in the backyard, where the doors are, etc. I’m showing why this is a problem and how to remove your house from Streetview.
Monday, October 13th
It’s Cyber Security Awareness Month and unless something in the tech world becomes a big deal, I’m going to focus on protecting yourself online all week. Today, it’s the biggest scam of 2025: AI voice clones. You get a call from your daughter or your mom in the middle of the night and they are crying and asking for money. I’m showing how easy it is for someone to pull off the scam and how to protect yourself and your family.
Friday, October 10th
It’s party time people. With the holidays approaching, hosts will soon plan their parties. E-vites are definitely the way to go but what should you use? Facebook Messenger or Events? Text? Email? What’s the best way to get the word out and give invitees an easy way to respond? This app of the day “Partiful” makes it easy to create and send high-quality evites.
Thursday, October 9th
Okay, I admit tying a tech story to Columbus Day (Monday) seems a big stretch, but I’ve been considering this since last year. Columbus relied on the stars to find his way. We just punch an address into an app. How does your phone know where you are? It’s satellites, of course, but there are some interesting points most people don’t know or even think about. I’m looking at how it works and how new phones even use barometric pressure to find out exactly where you are.
Wednesday, October 8th
Is the gift you receive this Christmas “thoughtful” or Chat GPT? Gift suggestions is one of the most common AI prompts. If you’re sitting around the tree and everyone gets the same unique gift? That’s AI. I’m looking into how Chat GPT goes about suggesting gifts and why it often misses the mark.
Tuesday, October 7th
What are the risks of Amazon’s “Buy Now, Pay Later” option? With Prime Days here, millions of people will use BNPL to split the costs of what they order. Who is it for? Is it better than using a credit card? What every shopper needs to know before taking clicking the button.
Monday, October 6th
Cleaning out old email. Some of us have thousands of old emails clogging up our inbox. My wife? She has more than 15,000 old emails taking up over 90% of her Google storage limit. You can go through and delete the ones you don’t need one at a time, or use a little trick to delete thousands of them in one fell swoop. This is a how-to story that should live a long time on your websites.
Friday, October 3rd
The App of the Day, Focus Friend. This app was created for people who suffer from ADHD, but I think most of us can use it. Focus Friend makes it easy and fun to set timers on things you’re supposed to be doing. Very helpful for young kids and anyone with learning and comprehension issues. It’s also good for anyone who gets addicted to a particular app. Set a timer and a Bean friend makes a game out of focusing. It blocks apps after setting time limits, and rewards users who stay on task.
Thursday, October 2nd
Are social media sites REALLY listening to you? We’ve all had it happen, we’re talking to a friend about running shoes and suddenly, you’re seeing ads and clips about running shoes all over Facebook and Instagram. So, these platforms have to be listening to you through your phone’s microphone. Right? Instagram’s CEO released a video insisting it isn’t. But he also alluded to something most of us have never considered. I’m looking at the internet-age-old question and find a possible answer.
Wednesday, October 1st
How might the government shutdown affect tech? Some things you may not have thought about. Sure, the shutdown will affect national parks, the TSA, and Medicaid and Medicare payments may be delayed. But there’s one thing you can count on:scammers will take advantage of the shutdown. I’m looking at the most likely scams hitting your phone and email, and what to watch out for.
Tuesday, September 30th
How to claim your share of Amazon’s billion-dollar settlement. The FTC is ordering Amazon to pay out over $2.5 billion to customers after finding the retailer made it too difficult to cancel Prime accounts. I’m looking at who’s eligible to file a claim, how, and how much you can expect to receive.
Monday, September 29th
Passwords are the bane of our existence on the internet. So many to remember and they must be difficult and different for each account. If you have an iPhone it’s now easier, even if you do work on a PC. I’m looking at Apple’s new(ish) Passwords app and how it can protect you online while making it easy to remember the hundreds of passwords you’re supposed to know.
Friday, September 26th
The app of the day Notion. Is it possible to be so organized you’re unorganized? If you’re like a lot of people you save ideas, notes, websites, calendar updates, and contacts in a number of different places. You may also have a ton of apps that you think will keep you on track. Notion is perhaps the best app I’ve found that does all of those things, no matter if you’re on a phone or a computer. It just added an AI tool that can even replace Chat GPT.
Thursday, September 25th
Some of us have great memories of walking through K-Mart, Circuit City, Forever 21, and Radio Shack. Those retailers filed for bankruptcy and closed all of their stores in recent years. But if you’re feeling a bit nostalgic or tired of giving Amazon all of your shopping dollars, you might be interested to know. you can still shop at those closed stores. Yes, you can still shop at K-Mart online. Who’d have known?
Wednesday, September 24th
Remember when cord cutting was a cost-saving decision? Hulu and Disney+ have announced another price increase. If you subscribe to one of those or YouTube along with Netflix you may be shocked to see how much those prices have gone up since many of us canceled cable. I’m looking at what we paid a few years ago and what we’re paying now. And it’s a lot like cable prices. I’ll also look at the best way to save money when it comes to streaming.
Tuesday, September 23rd
Did you get an email or text about receiving a payout from Facebook’s Privacy Settlement? It could be a scam. Facebook settled a class action lawsuit for $725 million for using your data without permission. Those who joined the suit earlier this year are getting notifications saying their money is available. Scammers are taking advantage of it. I’m looking at what the notifications look like, how to tell if its a scam, and how much it should be.
Monday, September 22nd
What you need to know about traveling with tech. If you’re traveling overseas you’re gonna need to plan ahead to keep things charged and use a hairdryer. The plugs you see in Europe, Asia, and other parts fo the world aren’t like the ones we use here. But it’s more than just how many prongs are on your chargers. One false move can blow up a hairdryer, curling iron, or even phone chargers.
Friday, September 19th
Greystones 5: is there anything we can learn from this small Irish town? Can cities, parents, schools, classes or just a friends group do the same thing? Is there a secret to starting an “It Takes a Village” in your community? The folks in Greystones who’ve made it work have some advice.
Thursday, September 18th
Greystones 4: How do kids feel about the voluntary ban on smartphones? The secret seems to be how schools and parents framed the initiative as not taking something away, but giving the kids something. This story looks at how phones and social media can rob kids of their innocence and I talk with the kids who are okay with it.
Wednesday, September 17th
In the town where kids have no phones, parents were the key in its success. They get a chance to share their opinions today. How this pact made it easier for them to make the decision, and the differences they’ve seen in their children since they and their friends left smartphones behind.
Tuesday, September 16th
The children without smartphones. It’s been 2+ years since parents in Greystones, Ireland made the pledge to hold off on giving kids smartphones. What’s been the impact? I’m talking to teachers and a chaplain who say grades and behavior have improved among the kids without phones.
Monday, September 15th
The children without smartphones. I’m kicking off a series of stories today about Greystones, Ireland. A town where parents made a pact to delay giving their children smartphones. In America, about half of all children under the age of 12 have phones. Greystones educators discovered they’re causing a big problem with their children. Today I’m looking at how the initiative got started.
Note: I will have these stories done and uploaded by 1PM every day if you want to air them all this week. There’s also two promos in the Dropbox. One is :05, the other :15. Sorry I didn’t do more or time them better, but they’re there if you want to do something with them.
Friday, September 12th
The App of the Day “Crash Companion”. I’m refreshing this story from last year. If you’ve ever been in a minor fender-bender, you probably know it can take police a very long time to respond. Minor accidents are not a priority in most cities. Crash Companion, is a free smartphone app to help people involved in those accidents, compile all of the information they’ll need for insurance. It’s an especially helpful app for young people and seniors who may be rattled by the accident and not gather the information. I featured this app last summer and am refreshing it as a new piece.
