Personal Technology Columnist

Larry Magid

Larry Magid is a tech journalist & internet safety activist. Listen for his technology chats on KCBS (AM 740 and FM 106.9) weekdays at 3:50 p.m.

I started typing when I was in elementary school and took a typing class in what we used to call “junior high.” And I’m good at it, as long as I’m using a standard physical keyboard. But, unlike many younger people, I’m not so good at typing on a phone screen. Not only do I […]

Business |
Magid: How to type faster on a smartphone

July 18, 2024 at 3:16 p.m.

I started typing when I was in elementary school and took a typing class in what we used to call “junior high.” And I’m good at it, as long as...

I’ve been living in the Bay Area since 1981, and until about four years ago, it never occurred to me to invest in air conditioning. But recent extreme heat and the risk of smoky air from fires got me to rethink that decision.

Business |
Magid: Keeping cool with AC, evaporative coolers, fans and an app

July 11, 2024 at 9:18 a.m.

I’ve been living in the Bay Area since 1981, and until about four years ago, it never occurred to me to invest in air conditioning. But recent extreme heat and...

In some ways, today's messaging environment reminds me of what it was like before the internet when you had to be on the same email system as the person you were messaging. Services like MCI Mail, AOL, CompuServe and Prodigy weren't interconnected. Internet email changed all that but now we're back to a gaggle of unconnected messaging apps.

Technology |
Magid: The Balkanization of messaging apps

June 27, 2024 at 9:39 a.m.

In some ways, today's messaging environment reminds me of what it was like before the internet when you had to be on the same email system as the person you...

Educating teens and parents, enacting reasonable regulations on social media and having an honest national conversation about teen mental health are all better alternatives than a simple warning label that some people who overreact to and others will ignore.

Business |
Magid: Surgeon General’s Social Media Warning Label is a bad idea

June 20, 2024 at 1:02 p.m.

Educating teens and parents, enacting reasonable regulations on social media and having an honest national conversation about teen mental health are all better alternatives than a simple warning label that...

I’m not claiming that these hearing aids make me any cooler or, as my generation used to say, “groovy”, but they are definitely not my grandfather’s hearing aids. If you hear what I’m saying.

Business |
Larry Magid: Hearing aids are cool now

June 14, 2024 at 4:27 a.m.

I’m not claiming that these hearing aids make me any cooler or, as my generation used to say, “groovy”, but they are definitely not my grandfather’s hearing aids. If you...

Losing a device that can cost $200 or more is no joke so, despite the portability and convenience of these small earbuds, there is a good reason to consider an alternative, including much less expensive earbuds.

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Business |
Earbuds vs headphones and other personal listening devices

June 7, 2024 at 9:23 a.m.

Losing a device that can cost $200 or more is no joke so, despite the portability and convenience of these small earbuds, there is a good reason to consider an...

Based on what I’ve seen on forums, there is a lot of confusion about EV battery maintenance along with plenty of “range anxiety.” Here are some basic facts about EV batteries that might help reassure you and extend the life of your EV battery.Battery chemistry mattersIn almost all cases, the batteries are Lithium-Ion (Li-ion), but […]

Business |
Magid: How to manage an EV battery

May 31, 2024 at 9:31 a.m.

Based on what I’ve seen on forums, there is a lot of confusion about EV battery maintenance along with plenty of “range anxiety.” Here are some basic facts about EV...