TheVerge reported this week that, “Amazon launched a major update of its line of Alexa-enabled Echo smart speakers and displays.,” but has simultaneously introduced and then ruined a new product. Why? Because they’re filled with intrusive video ads that impacts the products’ usability. As one involved… Read More »The Erosion of Trust: When Big Tech Turns Your Hardware Into Its Marketplace
There’s a moment most of us experience several times a day: we sit down to do something simple online — pay a bill, check a warranty, read an article, or maybe just order takeout — and are met by that dreaded prompt: Enter your password. Then comes… Read More »Passwords: The digital version of the TSA
Luggage pack-off: My wife has long sworn by her trusty Briggs & Riley expandable soft-sided carry-on rollerboard. It’s been her travel companion for years — durable, familiar, and once considered the gold standard. I used to have the same bag until I replaced mine with… Read More »A Smooth-Rolling Bag, a Smart App, and a Dumb Plug
If you’ve called a hotel or airline lately, chances are your first “conversation” wasn’t with a person. It was with a chatbot or voice bot programmed to answer questions, process simple requests, and—if you’re lucky—eventually hand you off to a human being. Hotels, airlines, banks,… Read More »The Bots Are Winning—And We’re Losing
Hands-On Review: iPhone 17 Series – Hype, Reality, and a Few Concerns I spent some time with the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max this week at an Apple Store and have been following the global wave of teardowns and torture… Read More »Hands on with the iPhone 17 Series
Credit cards continue to promise luxury perks, travel credits, and dazzling rewards, but for many of us the real question is simpler: Which of these benefits will I actually use and how much will I really save? Marketing always highlights the maximum possible value, assuming a perfect… Read More »Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which Delivers the Best Value for my use?
Amazon seems to be a well-oiled machine that magically delivers any of its millions of products to us in a day and sometimes in just a few hours. But there are a few questions that have recently surfaced that makes me question the company’s operations.… Read More »What’s going on with Amazon?
Here are a few thoughts on the new iPhones and considerations for those thinking of upgrading, based on yesterdays Apple’s presentation. As I describe below, this was a presentation filled with oldies but goodies. Things that worked in the past, such as another AIr product,… Read More »First thoughts on buying a new iPhone
Two things I saw today perfectly captured the widening gap between American and Chinese innovation. One was Apple’s rollout of new iPhone 17 models and watches. The other was a short video on Instagram of a massive Chinese ship that was built by BYD just… Read More »We’ve lost the product development lead
If you believe the ads, you’d think U.S. airlines were in the hospitality business. Watch a TV spot or browse their websites and you’ll see smiling flight attendants, promises of more legroom, and perks designed to make us feel like honored guests. They shower us… Read More »Airlines’ Two Faces: Courting Us With Smiles, Lobbying Against Our Rights