All tech. No filler.
Join 900,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
You can freeze your credit. Change your password. Replace a stolen phone. But there’s one thing you can’t ever change: your DNA.
Freak out your friends and family with fun April Fools tech tricks.
Breaking news and tips
The strange and weird things captured on Google Maps
I love Google Maps. It’s one of those everyday tech tools that actually makes life easier. From finding late-night tacos to dodging traffic like a pro, it’s still the gold standard in navigation. (Sorry, Apple Maps, you’re catching up but not quite there yet.)
🗺️ Google Maps has charted nearly every inch of the planet, capturing jaw-dropping landscapes to hidden alleyways you didn’t know existed. And yes, every once in a while, it’ll still take you on the “scenic” route to work just to keep things interesting.
Along the way, its cameras have picked up some seriously strange and unexplained sights. Here are a few that’ll make you stop and think, “What on Earth is going on there?”
The desert ‘star’ of Kazakhstan
In a remote area of Kazakhstan, there’s a 1,200-foot five-pointed star carved into the land. Hello, conspiracy theories! We’re talking about secret societies and all manner of the occult.
But the real explanation? It’s an abandoned Soviet-era campground. The star is the outline of old walking paths.
The mysterious ‘doorway’ in Antarctica
A weird rectangular formation spotted in Antarctica sparked wild theories about a hidden “doorway” in the ice. Is it a secret compound or a door to an ancient civilization? Oh, the stories it could tell. I bet it’s a natural phenomenon, say an iceberg melting in place.
UFO-ish structure in New Mexico
In a remote mountainous region of New Mexico, there’s a big, white, disc-shaped object the collective internet really wants to believe is a crashed alien ship. It’s been there since at least 2003, with signs of wear and vegetation over time. A rainwater catchment basin is my best guess.
The island that ‘doesn’t exist’
There was once a mystery island in the Pacific Ocean that appeared on Google Maps but didn’t exist in real life. Sandy Island was marked on paper maps for over a century, yet when explorers tried to find it, there was nothing.
Prep and pour under $50
Must-have, helpful stuff at great prices? Yes, please.
- Keep your leftovers fresh with glass containers (15% off). I ditched plastic ones.
- A portable oven (58% off) is perfect for picnics and road trips.
- A countertop ice maker (29% off) is essential.
- An electric wine opener ($30) makes happy hour happier.
- Easter’s almost here! Replace your bottles with new gel food coloring set (5% off).
🐱 For your furry friends: Snag a water and pet feeder combo ($30) or a stainless steel fountain (13% off) for a nice spring upgrade.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Cheap ways to make your old tech better
Reading this on a 6-year-old iPhone 11? It’s well past the average smartphone lifespan of 2.5 years … and I’m impressed you’ve hung onto it this long. Btw, Apple typically provides iOS updates for five to six years after a model’s release.
📦 Prime, who? Score free shipping without signing up for Amazon Prime. Just add at least $35 worth of goodies to your cart and pick “Free Amazon Shipping” at checkout. That way, you can save $14.99 a month for something fun instead. So good to know!
📞 Scammers posing as IRS agents: Just ask Brad, who got a call saying he misfiled his taxes and owed over $800 or else he could face jail time. The scammer knew his address and wife’s name, and Brad ended up giving him access to his bank account. PSA: The IRS never calls or texts. If it’s legit, it comes by mail.
Want to sound smarter? Fix your audio
People judge how smart and likable you are based on your sound quality. Here’s how to level up your mic game for Zoom and beyond.
🎬 Better foreign films? On May 9, AMC is screening the Swedish sci-fi movie Watch the Skies that’s been visually dubbed into English using AI. Instead of just swapping voices, the AI tool TrueSync adjusts the actors’ lip movements to match the English audio perfectly. Say goodbye to cringey, mismatched voice-overs. The first sentence you should learn when learning a foreign language is, “My friend is paying.”
$7.99 a month
What it costs to sign up for YouTube’s Premium Lite plan. The catch is you’ll still see some ads on music videos, Shorts and while browsing. There’s also no background play, offline downloads or access to YouTube Music Premium. And they wonder why people use ad blockers.
Lucky’s the name: Rename your phone from “Pixel 9” or “My little phoney” to something helpful like “Reward if found – Call 555-123-4567.” For iPhones, head to Settings > General > About > Name. On Android, go to Settings > About phone > Device name. It’ll pop up on Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or when it’s plugged into a computer.
How to make AI-generated pics look good
ChatGPT-4o’s new image tools turn your photos into eye-popping digital art. Here’s how to get the best results, fast.
Strike a pose: Retailers like H&M are now creating AI versions of 30 real models. Yep, digital clones that look just like the real gals and guys. The models still own the rights to their AI twins. Surprise, the paycheck is way smaller than a real photo shoot. And it’s only a matter of time before companies skip the humans altogether and go full-on AI.
🤖 AI saved his life: I love this. Meet Joseph Coates. Just over a year ago, this 37-year-old was on death’s door from a rare blood disorder called POEMS syndrome. But an AI nonprofit called Every Cure found a new drug combo that started working within a week. Today, he’s in remission. Imagine more cures AI can find with drugs we already have.
I’ve tried so many password managers: I did a deep dive to find the best option on the market right now. My thoroughly tested recommendation and pick, NordPass, uses military-grade encryption. Hit my special link for 52% off.
Alexa+ is here … kinda: The gall! Amazon’s new $20/month (Yikes!) AI assistant is rolling out to newer Alexa devices, but a few hyped-up features are MIA. Right now, you can order an Uber, get cooking advice and upload docs for summaries. Storytelling for kids, recognizing who’s in the room and chore reminders are coming. FYI, smarter Alexa is free if you pay for Prime.
Watch out for fake IRS sites on Google
It’s tax season, and scammers are paying to show up first when you search for IRS help.
1,000+
Used laptop batteries power an entire home. In November 2016, a clever guy decided to ditch the electrical grid and power his home through solar and recycled batteries. Eight years later, it’s going strong. Talk about positive energy. Ba-dum-tss! 🥁
94%
Reduction in heart disease risk with an experimental new drug. Lepodisiran is administered in one or two doses, and lowers lipoprotein(a), which is tied to heart attack, stroke and other heart disease risks. Amazing! Talk to your doc if you’re at risk.
Is Google now irrelevant?
AI is changing how we search, and Google might be too slow to keep up.