Browse
Log in / Register
Share
I spend most of my working life talking about cars. But when the conversation shifts to phones, privacy, streaming, and smart gadgets, there’s one person I trust to cut through the noise: Kim Komando. She publishes a newsletter every single day — seven days a week — and somehow manages to keep it sharp, practical, and free of hype. With her permission, I scan each edition and pull out the items that actually matter to you.
Here is this week’s roundup, updated June 8, 2026.
Amazon’s $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over Prime enrollment tricks and the buried cancel button is still paying out. And now the checks are larger. The individual cap has jumped from $51 to $200. If you used between 11 and 20 Prime benefits during the qualifying period, you now qualify.
So far, $845 million has already been sent. The next distribution is scheduled for October 1 through Venmo, PayPal, or a paper check. No forms are required. That point matters: if you get an email saying you need to “claim your refund” by clicking a link, it’s a scam. Amazon and the FTC are not asking you to verify your identity by giving up a password or a credit card number. Legitimate payments are automatic.
This update is worth paying attention to, because millions of people have already been paid and many more are eligible now. If you were previously told you didn’t qualify, a second look could put money back in your pocket.
Most people think they only open YouTube for a few minutes. The app knows the truth. Open the YouTube app, tap your profile picture, then go to Settings and Time Management. There you’ll find your daily average, whether that number is up or down from last week, and your total watch time for the past seven days.
The seven-day total can be uncomfortable to look at. It’s also useful. The app lets you set a reminder to take a break. You choose the interval — 20 minutes, 45 minutes, an hour, whatever works. When the time is up, YouTube nudges you to stop.
This is one of those rare settings that isn’t buried for no reason. It’s a genuine tool for anyone trying to reduce mindless scrolling. And it’s especially helpful for parents who suspect their kids are spending more time on YouTube than they admit. No third-party app needed. The dashboard is already inside the app.
A federal lawsuit involving more than 70 people claims that Meta’s smart glasses captured highly sensitive video, including intimate moments and people in bathrooms, and that overseas contractors viewed that footage while helping train Meta’s AI models. The complaint reportedly runs 230 pages and also alleges that passwords were exposed.
Meta disputes the claims. The company points to the recording light on the glasses, arguing that users can see when the camera is active. That little light has an enormous public relations job on its hands. But as Komando says, you shouldn’t rely on a light to protect your privacy.
The practical advice here is simple: leave smart glasses outside the bathroom and the bedroom. It doesn’t matter how small they are or how convenient they seem. If there is a camera involved, there is a risk involved. For now, the safest approach is to treat the glasses as a camera at all times. The light is a warning, not a guarantee.
Costco and Uber Eats are now teaming up for same-day warehouse delivery in 47 states. The best part: you don’t have to be a Costco member to order. Bulk groceries, giant packs of toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and pantry staples can all arrive at your door after work, without paying a club fee.
You will still pay Uber’s delivery and service fees, so it’s not free. But for people who don’t drive, can’t lift heavy boxes, or simply hate playing trunk Tetris in a crowded parking lot, this is a welcome option. You keep the bargain prices and skip the part involving your back.
That’s particularly useful for families stocking up before a party or a trip. Just remember to compare the total cost after fees before assuming you’re saving money. The per-item price may be lower than the grocery store, but the final checkout number is what matters.
New York City has rolled out “Throne” robotoilets — free, self-cleaning public bathrooms you unlock with a text message or a special card. The twist is a 10-minute limit. A speaker gives you a warning before the time is up, and when the countdown ends, the door opens automatically.
Yes, that could be embarrassing if you’re mid-business. But it also means one person cannot camp out in the only public bathroom for an entire block. Throne uses sensors to monitor usage and cleanliness remotely, and the manufacturer says there are no cameras in the stalls. That is the right design decision.
Public bathrooms in New York have been a running problem for decades. A countdown isn’t perfect, but it is at least a functional solution that keeps stalls turning over and reduces the need for cleanup staff to barge in. For a city that loves efficiency, it makes sense. Just don’t take your time.
Netflix’s household restrictions don’t mean your shows have to stay home. When you’re staying at a hotel, an Airbnb, or a friend’s place, sign into Netflix on the TV there and look for the option that says “I’m traveling” or “Watch Temporarily.” Netflix will generate a one-time code. Enter it on the TV, and you get temporary access.
The access isn’t permanent. After a few days, you may need to verify again. The process takes less than a minute, so it’s not a big deal. Just remember to sign out before you leave the property, especially if it’s a rental. The last thing you want is the next guest bingeing on your account and getting you flagged.
This week’s batch shows what makes Komando’s newsletter different from a generic list of app updates. The Amazon item is about getting money back. The YouTube tip is about protecting your attention. The Meta glasses lawsuit is about personal privacy. The Costco and Uber Eats news is about convenience versus fees. The Throne robotoilet story is about how technology is reshaping public infrastructure. And the Netflix feature is about making household rules work on the road.
None of these stories require you to be a tech expert. They require you to be informed. That’s the point of the roundup. Technology is not a separate category of life anymore. It has wormed its way into how we shop, how we watch television, how we use public bathrooms, and how we protect our private moments.
The best advice right now: check your email for Amazon settlement payments, turn on YouTube break reminders, keep cameras away from private rooms, order bulk goods if the math makes sense, know where the nearest robotoilet is, and always use the temporary Netflix code when traveling. Small actions can make a big difference.
Visit Kim Komando’s website and subscribe to her newsletter for the full daily updates.
