Out-of-this-world power

May 7, 2024

How does your smartphone’s computing power compare to the guidance computer aboard the 1969 Apollo 11 lunar module? Is a smartphone … A.) About as powerful, B.) 120 times more powerful, C) 12,000 times more powerful or D.) 120,000 times more powerful?

🚀 The answer: D.) Modern smartphones have about 120,000 times the processing power of the computer that landed on the moon in 1969. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon, while Michael Collins orbited overhead in the command module.

Tags: Apollo 11, computer, power, powerful, processing power, smartphone, smartphones

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Ask Kim: 'Is my new online friend tricking me?'

I got a call from Jim in Sacramento about a new friend he met on Facebook. She messaged him out of the blue and they hit it off (just friends, he’s married). Now, she’s introduced him to her aunt, who happens to be great with crypto.

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When smart turns dumb: After 16 years, Ecobee is phasing out its oldest thermostat models, the EB-STAT-02 and EB-EMS-02. After July 31, 2024, they’ll still work as basic thermostats but will lose all server-linked features. Have one? Check the support page to see if you’re eligible for 30% off a newer model.

750,000 Amazon robots

It’s using them to move packages around warehouses. Amazon’s robot count doubled between 2021 and 2023, and its human workforce shrunk by 6% over the same period. The company says its robots are job helpers. Yeah, sure, OK.

TY-3R is a Chinese drone that turns into a lifebuoy to rescue drowning swimmers. It spots trouble with a 720p camera, lands on water, transforms into a flotation device and then signals rescuers. It’s also pretty strong — it can take off in heavy winds and support up to two adults at once.

A grainy and corny story: Two brothers used their YouTube earnings from playing Farming Simulator to buy land in Barnes City, Iowa. Turns out, real farming is tougher than the game. But hey, good neighbors came to the rescue to teach them everything about soil, seeds and sowing.

4.2M Instagram posts tagged #NiagaraFalls

It’s the most ‘grammed waterfall in the world. Does this make you more or less likely to visit? For me, def less — way less. Which waterfall has the fewest tags? I’ll go there instead.

Stranger danger: Thousands of new moms in Facebook support groups got duped by “Cathy Marie Chan,” a so-called lactation consultant. They sent her nude breastfeeding photos and videos for “assessments,” and then “Chan” deleted her accounts and disappeared. Those pics and vids are probably for sale online somewhere.

Roughly 20% of people reuse passwords across multiple sites, and many don’t know the difference between a good password and bad password. You’re smarter than that — you read this newsletter! Remember, using three random words in a password is more secure than selecting random letters and numbers.

☝️ What the frunk? A YouTuber tested the safety sensor on the Cybertruck’s front trunk (aka “frunk”) by closing it on his finger. Surprise: It “frunk”-ed up his hand. Apparently, when you try to close the frunk multiple times, it thinks you’re trying to shut it and slams even harder. Don’t rely on this “safety” feature, folks.

A new phishing email making the rounds says you’ve violated FB’s terms of service or “Community Standards.” It’ll ask you to click a link to “appeal” within 24 hours or have your account deleted. Don’t fall for it; they’re after your login details. Two tips to spot the fakes: Look for typos and emails where the sender’s email address doesn’t end in facebookmail.com.