Welcome to another edition of KnowTechie’s Weekly Download. Tech tips, news clips, rhyming quips, and more – all in 1,000 words or less. First time here? Don’t forget to subscribe – it’s free. Missed an issue? We’ve got a whole danged archive right here.

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📢 WEEKLY DOWNLOAD #57 📢

Good Evening , it’s Sunday, October 27, 2024, Kevin here. Roger is sitting this week out because we’re adults who can’t figure out schedules (it’s me, I’m the problem). But Roger sends his best and he’ll be back next week as usual.

This week, we have a very special guest, and I wanted to introduce him personally. Today, we’re bringing on Ed Zitron, author and tech critic for the insanely popular “Where’s Your Ed At” newsletter and host of the Better Offline podcast.

Who is Ed Zitron?

Ed Zitron is a journalist-turned-tech critic who's not afraid to speak truth to power. What’s unique about Ed is that he asks all the right questions. His knack for common sense is something we see lacking in traditional media.

He covers topics like the exploitation of workers in the gig economy (think Uber & Amazon), the tech industry's impact on society (social media addiction & erosion of privacy), and other things like the manipulation of users for profit (Facebook).

I’ve known Ed and worked with him for almost 15 years, and I have to say he’s one of the most “online” people I have ever met. I couldn’t think of anyone better to be our first guest here at the Weekly Download.

Before we go any further, subscribe to his newsletter and podcast. You can also find him on all the major social platforms, but Threads, Twitter, and Bluesky are his platforms of choice, so don’t be a jerk; shoot him a follow.

Alright, let’s kick this off:

Here’s what we’ve got going on this week:

🎁  GIVEAWAY Reminder! 11 days left to enter. Get your entries in!
👉🏻 The Rundown [SPONSOR] – Learn AI in 5 minutes a day.
📙 Ed Zitron’s App Pick: Ed shares an app he can’t live without
✍️ The Zitron Take: Ed shares the biggest story of the week
📰 FAST FIVE: Five Stories You Might Have Missed
🤡 MORON OF THE WEEK: Heart Shaped GPS Box
💰 DEALS: Great discounts on the tech you need
🛠️ TOOLS: Awesome apps that we love

This week’s newsletter follows a different format than what we’re normally used to, for obvious reasons. But the main reason is that I started working on this so late today that some things aren’t cutting it.

Don’t blame me, blame Roger. Anyways, back to our scheduled programming.

Don’t miss this GIVEAWAY: it’s giveaway season at KnowTechie, and we’re excited to offer you another fantastic opportunity. This time, we’re partnering with MAGEASY to bring you gifts that combine style, utility, and convenience [link]

Quick Editor’s Note: We love The Rundown. We seriously recommend that newsletter. Short, easy-to-digest bits about AI for experts, novices and everything in between. Give ‘em a click, okay?

Alright, let’s get into it!
-Kevin