Welcome to KnowTechie’s 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 let’s 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.

Here’s what you can expect from today’s newsletter

Hi,

Happy Sunday! Let's cut to the chase: KnowTechie.com's new design is ready to roll out and looking sharp.

Rewind to two years ago: we had a designer who, frankly, didn't deliver. I had no choice but to cut ties.

So, I took the bull by the horns and crafted the design myself—with a little help, of course. I'm not a designer by trade, but I've got the vision.

Now, it's crunch time for me to code this beauty into existence. It's a tough gig, but I'm on it.

Here's a teaser for you. Expect the full reveal soon. Keep those fingers crossed.

New Giveaway! We’re publishing a new giveaway. It’s two prizes and it’s live now!

We're giving away two HP Sprocket Photo Printers. I'll let you know as soon as the post is up, either later today or tomorrow morning.

Learn how to make AI work for you.

AI won’t take your job, but a person using AI might. That’s why 500,000+ professionals read The Rundown – the free newsletter that keeps you updated on the latest AI news and teaches you how to apply it in just 5 minutes a day.

Subscribe with one click.

Back in 2000, March 10 was a bad day to make money in tech—it was the day many saw their fortunes disappear.

We’re talking about the “dot-com bubble,” which had inflated tech stock prices to dizzying heights, reached its peak, and then burst.

This left investors and the tech world reeling from the sudden and severe losses.

A lot of money was lost. Like, a whole lot. It's a humbling reminder that what goes up in a frenzy can come down just as fast.

🛠️ Quick Fix, Quick Assist: Ever find yourself as the go-to tech wizard for friends and family?

There's magic in simplicity, and that's exactly what Microsoft's Quick Assist offers. Gone are the days of blindly guiding tech fixes over the phone.

Quick Assist lets you share screens or take control of another PC, all from the comfort of your keyboard.

Step 1: Hop onto the Windows Store. Whether you’re on Windows 10 or the newer Windows 11, Quick Assist is your first download.

Step 2: Coordinate with your personal “tech support request” (a.k.a. friend/family) to install it too.

Step 3: Launch Quick Assist. If you're the guide, select “Help someone” and share the generated code. If you're on the receiving end, get ready to punch in that code.

Step 4: Connection magic happens, screen sharing begins, and you're ready to point, draw, chat, and troubleshoot directly.

Remember, it's a one-and-done deal. Each session is a fresh start, so nothing long-term to worry about. And hey, it's a free tool!

Keep this arrow in your quiver for the next tech SOS call. Until our next tip, keep those tech troubles at bay with Quick Assist.

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⏰ Trivia Time

⏪ Last Month’s Trivia’s Question:

Alright, last week’s also brought more people out. Shoutout to all the lurkers out there. Keep this up, and we may have to start dishing out prizes.

Anyway, we threw a hard one at you last week because a lot of you got it wrong. Let’s look at the numbers:

Question: What is the name of the app developed by Google that can measure the distance between objects using your smartphone's camera?

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Google Distance Measure (26)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Google Lens (49)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Google Maps (12)

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Google Measure (15)

Correct Answer: Google Measure

Google Measure uses a special system by Google called ARCore. This lets you use your phone's camera to put computer-made images and measurements on top of what you're really seeing around you.

Headlines worth checking out 

OpenAI denies Musk's lawsuit claim of betraying humanity-first values

OpenAI is defending itself against Elon Musk's lawsuit, emphasizing its dedication to AGI for humanity's benefit while arguing the necessity of transitioning towards a for-profit model to fulfill its mission. But mainly, it was to call him out on his bullshit.

🌐 AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) is highlighted by OpenAI as their ultimate goal, aiming to create systems that can outperform humans in various tasks.

💼 Musk's lawsuit centers on a breach of contract, alleging OpenAI veered from a nonprofit mission towards profit-making, specifically citing concerns regarding financial benefits to entities like Microsoft.

📧 In defense, OpenAI points to discussions with Musk about transitioning to a for-profit model, sharing email screenshots that suggest Musk was on board with exploring this change.

💬 Musk humorously suggests on X (formerly Twitter) that OpenAI should "Change your name," alongside responding to suggestions for renaming OpenAI with a laughing emoji.

Massive Google Search algo update finally addresses real spammers

Google is shaking things up with changes in the search ranking system. They're cracking down on spammy and low-quality content, aiming to surface more helpful and reliable results.

📈 Google is implementing changes to its search ranking system to prioritize high-quality content and reduce spam, including AI-generated content.

🔍 The update aims to combat unhelpful content, which Google claims to have reduced by up to 40% with these changes.

🤖 Specific targets for downranking include mass-generated low-quality articles, site reputation abuse, and expired domain abuse.

⏳ Websites engaged in site reputation abuse have 60 days to adjust before Google enforces ranking changes; other updates are effective immediately.

🚫 The company emphasizes its commitment to a "healthy, high-quality ecosystem" free from the influence of spammers.

Sergey Brin says Google ‘definitely messed up’ Gemini image launch

Google co-founder Sergey Brin made a rare public appearance over the weekend. He discussed the exciting trajectory of artificial intelligence and Google's efforts to maintain its leadership position in the hypercompetitive AI market.

🤖 At an event in California, Brin highlights the excitement and challenges of AI, specifically artificial general intelligence (AGI), and Google's role in pioneering this field.

🚫 Google aims to address and correct the "left-leaning" bias and historical inaccuracies observed in Gemini's image results, with promises of significant accuracy improvements.

🛠️ Brin mentions ongoing efforts to reduce AI hallucinations and strives for incremental advancements to minimize errors in AI-generated content.

🌍 Brin is open to the idea of integrating 3D data and advanced AI capabilities into tools like Google Maps and Street View, showing curiosity about the possibilities.

📰 Headlines that are probably still open in some tab somewhere 📰 

We get it; we’ve all been there. Here are some of the stories you missed out on because Tim from accounting just had to share every detail of a random Tuesday antiquing escapade

Elon Musk switched on X calling by default: Here’s how to switch it off

Amazon's shopping chatbot falls short on helpful suggestions promise

Apple’s foldable MacBook rumored, set for release in 2027

TikTok faces ban in the US (again), urges users to call congress

Logitech introduces MX Brio 705, a high-end webcam with 4K video

Max to implement password-sharing crackdown later this year

Instagram finally lets you edit those embarrassing late night DMs

Apple unveils M3 MacBook Air, M2 MacBook Air gets $100 cheaper

EU slaps Apple with €1.95B fine for App Store monopoly

🤖 Tools

📕 BookPecker - Imagine if books were summarized like newsletters like The Weekly Download. Well, that’s BookPeckr. Over 14K+ books summarized in 5 bullet points.

⭕️ Circleback: Super-smart meeting note that automates with Notion, Hubspot, and a whole lot more.

👨‍💻 FigJamAi acts like a digital whiteboard that lets you and your team brainstorm and sketch out ideas together in realtime.

🌻 Pi - A tool to assist with tasks, answer questions, and retrieve information.

📧 Boxletters - A tool that organizes your inbox and offers daily summaries, unsubscribe options, and more. More features are in the pipeline. They’re essentially doing what InboxZero offers.

🫧 CleanMy®Phone: MacPaw brings its Gemini 2 photo app back to life but under a new name. This app cleans your iPhone of duplicates, blurry, less desirable photos you’re too afraid to delete.

🤖 Geekbot: Geekbot automates daily tasks like standups and surveys and can post custom responses on Slack or MS Teams without the need for developer skills.

😎 Morningscore: Morningscore is an all-in-one SEO tool that is super easy to use yet rich in features and skills. I had the opportunity to try it out when it was first released, and it is by far the most interesting SEO tool available.

⌨️ ChatWith: Train a custom chatbot to be your expert AI agent. No code, ready in minutes. Thanks to a lifetime deal on Appsumo, I’ve been using this for a few months now, and it just keeps getting better and better.

💻 TypingMind: Imagine ChatGPT, but it's 30X better. Starting at as low as a $50 one-time fee, TypingMind is an absolute powerhouse. There’s too much to explain here, so we suggest checking it out here.

💸 Deals

Microsoft Surface Pro 9: Smart Buy
Priced at $999, dropping $540 off its usual.
Takeaway: A premium device becomes surprisingly affordable. See Deal

Acer 27″ Gaming Monitor: Budget-Friendly Gaming
Snag it for 40% off - a steal at $199.
Takeaway: Upgrade your gaming experience without breaking the bank. Acer Monitor Deal

Garmin Venus 2 Plus: Discounted Wellness
Style meets health at a much friendlier price
Takeaway: You’re saving $120 off the usual asking price: See Deal

Samsung Q960C Soundbar: Audiophile's Delight
Elevate your sound experience for less. $500 off is $500 off:
Takeaway: Save $500 on this premium soundbar.See Deal

Samsung M80C Smart Monitor: Clever Savings
You deserve a new monitor; why not scoop one up on the cheap? Takeaway: $300 reduction on this smart monitor. See Deal

Amazon Smart Thermostat: Economical Comfort
Save on your bills while keeping comfy.
Takeaway: A remarkable price of just $59.99, lowest price of the year so far. See Deal.

Blink Outdoor Cameras: Prime Savings
Security at half the price.
Takeaway: 50% off for Prime members. See Deal

Gift Card Bonus: Stretch Those Dollars
$86 turns into $100 for PlayStation & Xbox. We’re literally making you money now.
Takeaway: More gaming joy, less wallet annoyance: See Deal