Consumer Tech Update

After years of hearing about Amazon's impending drone delivery service, many Americans braced themselves for a dystopian future where Amazon drones filled the sky. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to dystopia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aspiring writers can turn to Amazon.com to get their books published. Or some enterprising folks can take a government report and publish it through Amazon.com. One such report making headlines already is a bestseller on the online giant's site. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're cutting the cord to save money, don't cut corners on the streaming devices you use. Using a bootleg device to stream movies or sports could get you in trouble with the FCC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the world's most magnificent edifices, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, came close to being destroyed by a massive fire. That was news enough. But YouTube fumbled again. I'll tell you all about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Zuckerberg isn't America's sweetheart. In fact, to many people, he and Facebook personify everything that is wrong with social media. Now Facebook reveals how much money it spends annually to keep Zuckerberg and his family safe. I'll tell you all about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, Alexa and Amazon are quite the busybodies. It turns out Alexa and Amazon employees don't listen only when you give a command. I'll tell you what to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Homeowners across the country love video doorbells. You get to see and speak with people at your door even if you're not at home. But thieves love them too. Don't worry, we have tips on how to keep your video doorbells safe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The days of Nigerian princes trying to con people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars seem like a fond memory now. Scammers aren't asking for a lot of money, but they are getting more dangerous. There's a scary new phishing scam that's out to steal your paycheck.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With more than 5 billion robocalls recorded in March, not only are such calls increasing, they also are becoming so sophisticated, thanks to A.I. and voice manipulation. You won't believe what they're doing now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile are the nation's big four mobile carriers. And if you watch their commercials, they all claim to have the fastest network speed. But according to the website Speedtest, one carrier does indeed rule them all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The future promised in so many sci-fi movies has arrived — at least in one high-tech hotel in China. Built by Alibaba, the hotel uses facial recognition to access elevators, open doors and so much more. If that kind of technology has you worried, be warned: Facial recognition tech is taking off in a big way here in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take note — no one is immune to hacking. As you know, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' phone was hacked and his private photos were leaked. You may not be a billionaire like Bezos, but you can take steps to make your phone hack-proof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Google Plus, meet MySpace. Almost eight years ago, Google launched its own social media site: Google Plus. Now Google is quietly shutting down the site. Google Plus had been struggling with low ad revenue. How will the closure affect businesses that used it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stories about guests discovering they are being watched by cameras in Airbnbs and hotel rooms are rising around the country. Blame the increasingly tiny sizes of cameras.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you were a billionaire, what kind of phone would you have? Well, billionaire Warren Buffet may own 5.5 percent of Apple, but he doesn't own a smartphone. What are the advantages of keeping it simple? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You get what you pay for. The moment you turn on that new cheap phone you bought, malware and spyware in pre-installed apps start grabbing your personal data.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facebook wants to harvest your personal data, even if you're not a user. Belgium decided to be the first country to take Facebook to court over its new data-gathering plan. And it's only the beginning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Consumers are answering about five billion robocalls a month. Under pressure from the FCC, mobile carriers are now doing something about it. Why are the FCC and carriers taking so long to tackle robocalls? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple has unveiled its improved Apple TV app that creates a one-stop viewing experience. And in the fall, the company debuts its Apple TV Plus filled with original programming. Listen to Kim give you the scoop on Apple's new streaming service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long gone are the days of bogus Nigerian princes offering you countless millions in return for mere processing fees. Today, phishing scam emails have become more sophisticated. They address you by name, know where you work and even know your correct password. Listen to Kim to learn more about these scams and how to guard against them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices