Welcome to your tech-wonderland Wednesday, friend! Here’s a little trivia to get us started. Google’s Street View relies on cars with multiple cameras for its pics. What was the first animal Google hired to capture a place they couldn’t access by car? Was it a … A.) Bird, B.) Camel, C.) Gorilla or D.) Penguin? The answer, along with a really great pic, is at the end.

0️⃣ Zero. Nada. Zilch. That’s how many spammy emails and phone calls I’ve gotten since our sponsor, Incogni, got me off of 88 data-broker and people-search sites. Click here to get your name out using this exclusive link that gives you 60% off right now. Btw, I get no kickbacks or residuals if you do. — Kim

Ask anyone who knows me and they’ll say I’m frugal. Heck, you can call me cheap — I won’t be offended.

I’ll let you in on a little secret: Sometimes, buying used tech is totally the way to go. There are some things I would only buy new, but tech isn’t one of them. There are some darn good deals out there if you’re willing to look — from Apple, Amazon, eBay, you name it.

Before you jump into the world of refurbished items, there are a few things to keep in mind. Yes, there’s a chance of getting a counterfeit item or ending up with a busted product on delivery. But now I’m gonna flip the script — let’s look at the signs you can trust a refurbished product and save some moolah.

1. It’s official

Always check for brand-level certification on refurbished products. Apple-certified refurbishments, for example, go through a rigorous restoration process. Third parties can sell these certified used products, but Apple ultimately ensures the quality is up to code in every component. Dyson, iRobot, KitchenAid and many other brands do the same.

Pay attention to the fact I’m specifying brand-certified. Some sites try to get around this by offering special “certifications” of their own, like “Gazelle-certified” — but that’s not the same. You want certification from the brand that manufactured the product.

2. No funny business with returns

Fun fact: By federal law, secondhand goods are required to have a return policy. Sounds great, but a lot of sites don’t follow that rule. To guarantee a good buy, look for a return policy that’s at least 14 days and totally free to use. If you can’t find a return policy, nope, get right out of there.

Look for a warranty, too. While the original one may not apply to refurbished goods, you can usually find a refurbished warranty for around three months. That’s really important, guys and gals. Refurbished products tend to be older, so open them immediately and watch for unexpected problems or malfunctions before that period ends.

Let’s look at Amazon’s refurbished products. They call it Amazon Renewed. You have 90 days from when the product ships to make sure all is well. If anything goes wrong, you can get a replacement or refund. And you can save big on popular stuff.

3. ‘I changed my mind’

An open-box return is just what it sounds like. Someone got the product, opened the box, said “Nah,” and returned it for whatever reason. These deals need basically no refurbishment and can still save you plenty of money. It’s really the top-shelf option to look for if you’re worried about quality.

Here’s a link to Amazon’s open-box deals. Most sites use grades or ratings, by the way, so you know the condition. A “Grade A” smartphone, for example, has just a bit of wear. Amazon open-box products are always fully functional and in one of four conditions: “Used/Like New,” “Very Good,” “Good” or “Acceptable.”

These condition grades are a little different on every site, so read the specifics so you can make sure your definition of “Like New” or whatever else matches what you’re going to receive.

4. Go for touchscreens

One of the biggest risks with refurbished tech products is that they, you know, break. Issues usually come from mechanical parts like keyboards, hinges, locks and dials.

Stick with touchscreens for used devices like phones, tablets and coffeemakers. If it has a touchscreen, it generally has fewer moving parts, which means a lower likelihood of hidden wear and tear.

Psst, I’m giving away an iPhone 15 (a $799 value) in 4 days

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⌛ Speaking of used, wearing a secondhand hairpiece may seem kind of gross … but it’s a small price toupee. (I know you laughed.)

I bet your inbox is loaded with deals and coupons, and your phone is buzzing with end-of-the-year promotions. So how did they get your contact info? The most likely answer is data brokers. They make big money collecting personal information like your home address, Social Security number and phone number and selling it in bulk to anyone willing to pay.

Now the good news: You can do something about it. Start the new year on the right foot with Incogni. I did, and it took me three minutes to go through the process. Now, my info is totally wiped out 88 people-search databases and counting. That would have taken me 66 hours to do on my own.

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Scam VPN extensions: Google finally banned three sneaky VPN extensions — netPlus, netSave and netWin. These imposters were baked in illegal downloads of games like Grand Theft Auto, Assassin’s Creed and Sims 4, fooling 1.5 million wannabe gamers. The extensions swiped all kinds of user data. Delete all if you downloaded it, matey!

🤖 Goodbye Bing, hello Copilot! Microsoft just rolled out their AI Copilot app for Android that has tricks for creating images and drafting emails. It uses GPT‑4 with access to real-time info for free (ChatGPT Plus users like me pay $20 a month for this). Sorry, Apple folks, but this isn't for you.

Chevy Blazer EV production stopped: Glitches in the infotainment system and numerous issues with the electric and charging systems have halted manufacturing. For a vehicle over $60,000, that’s more than frustrating for current owners. No word yet on fixes but expect a recall soon.

Elon Musk’s chip implant to lose weight: Move over, Ozempic. Musk says his Neuralink tech can help anyone shed pounds. Implanting the chip requires brain surgery, complete with risks like infection and rejection. Before drilling holes in your head, give good-ol' diet and exercise a go — or talk to your doc.

Look up: Phone-related accidents are up a whopping 20% since 2020 — and millennials are most at risk. Think tripping over cords and bumping into stuff while texting. These “oopsies” make up 23% of tech injuries. TVs still top the chart with back strains from lifting. Lift with your legs, friends!

⏰ Apple Watches banned for sale: Apple can’t sell its Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the U.S. anymore. Why? The FTC ruled it infringed on Masimo’s patented blood oxygen tech — a key feature Masimo develops for health monitoring devices. You can still snag one at Best Buy or Target — at least, for now.

Hey, parents! If your storytelling skills aren’t so good, Bluey-GPT creates personalized bedtime stories for little ones. Developer Luke Warner’s bot crafts tales with kids’ names, using characters from the popular “Bluey” cartoon. You never know what weird stuff AI will spit out, so be sure to read the story yourself before reading it to your kiddos.

😢 AI brings back late dad for a Christmas gift: A son gave his mom a Christmas gift shocker using ElevenLabs AI to recreate the voice of his dad, who died from pancreatic cancer. The digital card had his father saying, "Hi, honey, I love ya." Her reaction? She melted into tears. She kinda looked happy, but I couldn’t be sure. I’d run this idea by the recipient first.

When everything’s jumbled up, it’s impossible to tell what goes where. Try this super-smart trick.

🐇 Now you know where your cables go, even in the dark reaches behind the TV. If you misplace a cable, the sticker you use will also tell you what device it belongs to. All that’s left to do now is dust.

🎥👩‍💻 Big news! Major updates are coming to my YouTube channel — think fresh content and surprises you won't want to miss. Be the first to see what's next and click here to subscribe to my channel now.

Your Google Doc holds secrets you shouldn’t share. By default, it’ll be called “Copy of” and your original file name. Rename it, then share that. Why? Anyone with access to the original doc can review all your edits, changes and versions. Hit File > Make a copy. Pro tip: Reverse this idea to see someone else’s edits and changes.

📆 Click and drag: On a computer, you don’t have to go into the settings of your digital calendar tool (like Outlook or Google Calendar) to move an appointment or meeting. Just click it, drag it to the new date or time slot, and you’re all set.

Don’t start a new year with ratty, old cords or fighting over chargers with your loved ones. (I’ve got your back for organizing in the “Device Advice” section above, if you missed it!)

A girl after my own heart.

The answer: B.) Camel. In October 2014, Google engineers strapped the Street View cameras on a camel in the Liwa Oasis. This 62-mile scenic desert near Abu Dhabi has some of the world’s biggest dunes. Check out this cool pic I found with the Street View cams on the camel:

🤗 I wonder if they park their camels in a Camelot. Thanks for being here, and be sure you click this link to check out Incogni and get 60% off. I’m glad I used it, and you will be, too! See you right back here tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA. — Kim