š» KnowTechie's Weekly Download: Issue #16 - Let's catch up!
Get Tech'd Up - Your Weekly Dose of Digital Delights
Welcome to KnowTechieās Weekly Download. We know life gets busy, so we've compiled the most important tech stories you might have missed this week. So grab a coffee, and letās get started! If this email was forwarded to you, click here to subscribe to the newsletter. Missed an issue? Here's an archive of past newsletters.
Happy Sunday! Alright, I'm just going to come out and say it. I have a confession to make. There's a product out there that has been available for the past month or two, and for some reason, I can't seem to get it out of my head.
That device? The Meta Quest 3.
I know, I know. I almost feel ashamed for writing that, but truth be told, Iāve seen some AMAZING things from Twitter and Threads users.
Here, let me show you what I'm talking about. Imagine this scenario below. We've been there thousands of times. Wait until around the 7-8 second mark, and you'll see the magic:
Pretty cool, right? Here, let me show you more.
Meta Quest 3 with Remote Display (Beta) app mirroring your computer screen
You can change screen size and location. In my case itās a ~120 inch screen š
#MetaQuest3#MixedReality#Quest3#AR#MR
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin)
Oct 27, 2023
I mean, cmon?! Did you see that?! That alone is ātake my moneyā territory. So yeah, this is where Iām out right now.
Future is here āØš #Meta#QUEST3#Metaverse š„
— šØāšChrisMetaverse.eth āØš (@ChrisMetaverse)
Oct 27, 2023
Alright. Thatās the last one. Now, hereās the hard part. The price.
The Meta Quest 3 costs $499 for a measly 128GB storage. The 512GB option will set you back $649.99, respectfully.
Yeah, definitely not for those on a budget. And that's understandable. Is this a product that's priced too high, or is it worth the cost? The reviews provide some insight, but personal preference also plays a role.
I'm going to give it a try, but it's going to be on my terms. Do I need it? No. But do I want to own one and have the option of allowing another piece of technology to gather dust? Yep, you bet.
If there are any new developments on my side, Iāll let everyone know.
Hereās what weāll be tackling today:
ā”ļø Quick Tech Tips
š° News
š» New Product Launches
āļø Tools Worth Checking Out
š Check out MindStream š
Struggling to keep up with Artificial Intelligence? Then you need Mindstream! With daily polls, news, AI art and much more, join thousands of others reading Mindstream every day! The best part? Itās completely free.
Not only that, but you get access to our complete collection of 15+ AI resources when you join!
Mindstream was one of the first newsletters I subscribed to when AI suddenly took over everything.
This newsletter, along with a few others, is one of the reasons that drove me to start one of these again, specifically on this platform, Beehiiv.
If starting a newsletter sounds like something youāve always wanted to try, then thereās no better place to begin your journey than Beehiiv.
Try it out, itās free. You never know; you could be sitting on a multi-million dollar business and not even know it.
And full disclosure: if you end up signing up, I may get a small pie.
š±Recent product launches
SoundcoreĀ AeroFit Earbuds: $129
SoundcoreĀ AeroFit Pro: $169
SamsungĀ Odyssey Ark 2nd Generation: $2,999
Brave launched its AI assistant Leo to all desktop users and unveiled Leo Premium for $15 monthly.
Apple MacBook Pro M3: Starts at $1,999.00
š”Quick Tech Tipsš”
iPhone users: I assume most of you have switched to iOS 17, right? If you havenāt, you really should. Mainly, it would be best if you did it for the security aspect, but overall, it keeps your device running lean.

If you still need some convincing, hereās a list of some of the stuff youāre missing out on:
Automatically deleting verification codes sent via text or email: iOS 17 offers the ability to automate the deletion of verification codes for added privacy and convenience. (LEARN MORE)
Locking private tabs in Safari: With iOS 17, you can lock private tabs in Safari to protect your browsing privacy.
Using Apple Maps offline for navigation: iOS 17 introduces the capability to use Apple Maps offline, ensuring you have access to navigation even without an internet connection.
Using Visual Look Up to identify laundry codes: iOS 17 introduces Visual Look Up, a feature that enables you to remember laundry codes and gain more information about clothing care instructions.
Customizing the clock font: iOS 17 allows customization of the clock font, allowing you to personalize the appearance of the clock on your device.
Windows 11 users, donāt worry; I didnāt forget about you guys:
Windows 11 offers several hidden tweaks and user interface enhancements that can enhance your experience. Here are some of the features you can try out:
Title bar window shake: You can shake a window's title bar to minimize all other open windows. This allows for improved focus and decluttering of your workspace.
Rearrange the start button: Windows 11 allows you to customize the placement of the start button to your preferred location. This gives you more control over the layout and organization of your desktop.
Focus sessions: Windows 11 introduces focus sessions, which help you stay productive by allowing you to allocate specific time for focused work and breaks. This feature enhances your ability to manage your time effectively.
Clipboard history: Windows 11 includes a clipboard history feature that saves multiple items you've copied. This makes it easier to access and paste them later, improving your productivity.
š° News you can use
Jury finds Sam Bankman-Fried guilty of billion-dollar fraud
Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX and Alameda Research, has been found guilty on all seven counts of fraud and money laundering. He misappropriated billions of dollars from customer funds and deceived investors and lenders. The U.S. Department of Justice charged him about 11 months ago, and the jury reached a verdict in just four hours.
YouTube is cracking the whip on ad-blockers, but users are fighting back
YouTube has implemented a new strategy to address users who use ad-blockers. It now displays a non-dismissable pop-up message asking them to turn off their ad-blocker or add YouTube to their allowlist. As a result, users resist this approach, leading to a surge of new ad-block users joining the platform. So yeah, YouTubeās decision backfired.
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Headlines worth checking out
š» Apple throws shade at Android, labels it as a āmassive tracking deviceā: Apple is testifying against Google on behalf of the DOJ, and things are getting pretty dicey. (LINK)
šĀ Swedish Ports Threaten to Block Teslas From Entering the Country
Swedish ports are considering a blockade against Tesla vehicles, signaling a potential conflict in the automotive industry. (LINK)
ā”ļø Scientists make a breakthrough in research that could charge electric cars in seconds
A scientific breakthrough promises the potential for electric cars to be set in seconds. (LINK)
šĀ Apple shows its 'massive battleship' is getting even bigger
Apple demonstrates its growing dominance and expansion in the tech industry. (LINK)
š§Ā Teen boys use AI to make fake nudes of classmates, sparking police probe
The misuse of AI by teenagers to create fake nude images of classmates has led to a police investigation. (LINK)
šŗ Max users grandfathered into a $15.99 ad-free plan will see a price hike to $19.99: Long-time users on Max's legacy ad-free plan are facing a price increase. (LINK)
šĀ This tiny hacking device is attacking iPhones: A new iPhone hacking threat has emerged involving a small device causing significant issues. Experts are urgently studying its functionality. (LINK)
šµļø Apple throws shade at Android, labels it as a āmassive tracking deviceā: Apple doesn't hold back in the legal fight against Google, marking Android as a 'huge tracking device.' (LINK)
š Tesla Vision fails as owners complain of Model 3s hitting stationary objects: Tesla's advanced Vision system is under fire as reports surface of Model 3 vehicles colliding with static objects. (LINK)
š„Ā Scarlett Johansson hits AI app with legal action for using her likeness: Scarlett Johansson is taking a stand against the unauthorized use of her image by an AI app. (LINK)
š§ŖĀ 23andMe pockets $20M from GSK to share anonymized DNA data
23andMe will provide a summary analysis of anonymized data to GSK, aiming to uncover new avenues to combat diseases. (LINK)
š Check out The EV Universe Newsletter
Get electrified with The EV Universe newsletter! This weekly digest, read by over 4,000 subscribers, is your 10-minute power-up, delivering the most current news and updates in the electric vehicle industry. Subscribe and stay charged with the future of transportation!
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š ļø Tools worth checking out
šŗ AirScreen is an app that lets you see through your computerās desktop and applications, empowering you to continue working while you watch.
š¤£Ā MISGIF: AI-powered memes. Prepare to have your productivity annihilated by this mind-blowingly awesome FREE AI meme face swap tool.
š§¾Ā SparkReceipt: SparkReceipt is a tool that seamlessly integrates receipt scanning, expense tracking, and document management.
ā¹ļø Notion AI: Streamline your productivity. It integrates notes, tasks, wikis, and databases all in one user-friendly platform, fostering collaboration and organization.
ā”ļø MagicPost: MagicPost is an AI app that helps you create high-quality LinkedIn posts quickly and easily.
š¤Ā AgentGPT: AgentGPT is like ChatGPT on steroids. One of its key features is the ability to provide detailed reports, even on breaking news stories.
As always, my door is always open. Reply to this email and say hi. Always happy to talk shop.
-KevinĀ
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