Happy Thursday, friend! I need a favor. We’re working hard on improving our deliverability so email providers don’t mark us as spam. You can help: Just reply to this email. That’s it. It makes a bigger difference than you know. Thank you!

⌛ Quick emoji tip: On Windows, press the Windows key + . (period) to open the emoji picker to easily insert emojis. On Mac, press Ctrl + Cmd + Space to select emojis. Or you can do what I do, and copy the emoji from your texting app on your phone! — Kim

If you're not getting texts on your computer, I'm about to change your life. It makes replying to your aunt's 500-word text essay or your kid's money bag emoji much easier. Besides, most of us type faster on a real keyboard.

You can do it on Windows and Mac. Let me walk you through it.

From your Mac

iMessage is Apple's messaging service tied to your Apple ID — the same login info you use in the App Store, iTunes Store and iCloud. It's simple to send texts, SMS messages and even FaceTime requests from your Mac or iPad.

If you haven't set up iMessage, enter your Apple ID info and hit “Sign in.” To start a new text conversation:

On a Windows PC

If you use an Android, there's a good chance you use the Messages by Google app to send and receive texts. Update to the latest version of Messages on your phone, then set this up right in your browser.

📧 You can also send a text via email if none of those options cut it. Get the steps here, along with the special codes for each provider.

And, finally, a couple of eye-rollers to text your pals:

📺 Yes, you should update your smart TV: Firmware updates patch security issues, but the latest from Sony also adds a sweet new Eco Dashboard feature (all the energy-saving features in one spot) and a Game Menu. Go into settings to find it if you have a 2020 through 2022 model. (Full list here.)

But first, update Chrome: The latest fix patches eight critical vulnerabilities, including one so bad, a security researcher took home $30K for spotting it. On Mac, the latest version is 116.0.5845.96; on Windows, update to version 116.0.5845.96/97.

Freebies from Roku: Look for 40+ new channels on your Roku — including local news from New York, Los Angeles, Miami and other major cities. Free to watch, but there are ads. Fair enough.

💲 Amazon price bump: Amazon Music Unlimited is going up a buck monthly to $9.99 for Prime members and $10.99 for non-Prime folks. And nope, you can’t save by paying for a year upfront. That’s going from $89 to $99. Expect the increase around Sept. 19 or your next renewal.

NPC here: Netflix is getting ready to jump into gaming in a big way, and you’re out of luck if you use an Apple TV device. Same goes for iPhones, iPads and Macs. Why? Apple Arcade. Let me put it another way. If you’ve been married for 40 years, would you let some hot 20-year-old jump into bed with you? You’d be dead.

I make the complex world of tech simple and approachable. From explaining the latest gadgets in plain English to offering easy-to-follow cybersecurity advice, I’ve got you covered.

👉 Tech understanding is just a click away!

Customize Google Docs: There’s a hidden way to automatically switch out what you type for a special character. Think “1/2" to “½” or (r) to ®. (Lawyers, you’re welcome.) In a Google Doc, go to Tools > Preferences > Substitutions.

Trust me, it’s dusty: Your laptop and desktop gather dust just like everything else in life. Do yourself (and your wallet) a favor and blow out all the junk. Compressed air gets the job done, but I prefer a reusable air duster. (Bonus: It’s 54% off right now!)

⏰️ Clock out: Separate work and life profiles on your computer just make sense. A smart way to do it on a Mac: Hit the Apple menu > System Settings > Touch ID & Password and save your profiles to different fingerprints. I won’t tell your boss if you use the middle finger for work.

Troubleshooting 101: Your keyboard stopped working. Argh. First step: Restart your system. If that doesn’t work, check the USB connection at both ends. If it’s wireless, remove the dongle and plug it back in. Still no love? That’s what the pros at GetKimsHelp* are there for.

Strip down: Take off your smartphone case. I can only imagine your face when you see all the grime trapped underneath. Grab a microfiber cloth and wipe it all away. Bonus points if you use a disinfecting wipe first. Just squeeze out as much of the cleaner as possible and avoid ports and speakers.

A virtual private network, or VPN, is a great place to start. A VPN encrypts your data and hides your IP address, giving you an extra layer of protection from snoops, advertisers and Big Tech companies looking to profit off you.

Some VPNs slow your connection or, worse, track your internet activity and compromise your security. Not ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN’s servers run on RAM, or volatile memory, that’s cleared each time the server is reset — meaning they don’t save your data. You can connect in just one click from a Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, iPad, you name it.

🚨 Deal alert: Get an extra THREE months free since you subscribe to my newsletter.

❓ Have a question for me? Drop it right here, or leave me a voicemail at 602‑381‑8200 ext. 290.

You don’t want to pay for Microsoft Word (understandable) but aren’t loving Google’s version. Try the old-school, free word processor: LibreOffice.

This open-source office suite allows you to edit documents created in the old Microsoft Office and save new files in the latest Microsoft 365 formats, too. Someone on the receiving end of your .docx file won’t know you used a program other than Word to save it.

Download links here →

😂 A genie appeared in front of a woman. "Whatever you want, as many things as you want, just ask," the genie said. "My husband’s eyes should be only on me during all waking hours." The genie said, "And then ..?"

"He should not be concerned with anything else in life except me." The genie said, "And then?" "He should never sleep without me by his side." The genie said, "And then? "When he wakes up in the morning, he should only see my face first." The genie said, "And then?"

"He should not go anywhere without me." The genie said, "And then?" "If there is even a single scratch on me, he should go crazy with grief." The genie said, "And then?” "That's all!” said the woman. And in a flash, the genie turned the woman into a smartphone!

👋 I know, long one, but it was worth it, right? If you took away even one good tip from this newsletter, do me a solid and share it with a friend. They get more tech smarts and will thank you for it. Oh, and be sure to use your referral code below to earn sweet prizes. — Kim