Family Archives - Komando.com https://www.komando.com/category/reviews/family/ The Kim Komando Show: America's top weekend talk radio program about all things digital! Free tips, downloads, software, newsletters, advice and more about the home electronics, digital cameras, photography, TVs, online security, gadgets and more. Mon, 05 Feb 2024 22:18:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.komando.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/cropped-favicon512x512-32x32.png Family Archives - Komando.com https://www.komando.com/category/reviews/family/ 32 32 166923932 Scammers are coming after your kids and teens https://www.komando.com/kims-column/scammers-target-your-kids/900658/ Tue, 06 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=900658

What comes to mind when you think of someone getting scammed? A grandma on the phone with some jerk? If so, this will probably surprise you.

The total money lost by teens in online scams grew by nearly 2,500% between 2017 and 2022. Victims under the age of 20 lost a staggering $210 million in 2022 alone.

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How to get your memories off VHS tapes and on your computer or DVDs https://www.komando.com/lifestyle/how-to-digitize-vhs-tapes/900583/ Sat, 03 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=900583

I cleaned out a cabinet a few years ago and found a stack of old Super 8 videos. I’ll never forget the way my Mom’s face lit up after I digitized videos of her late brother Harold Jr.’s wedding. Tragically, he died in a car accident not long after his wedding day.

Memories like that are so precious, but when was the last time you watched family videos? If they’re on VHS, it can be a pain. Even worse, every year that goes by, those tapes degrade a little more.

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Organize all your health records with this built-in smartphone feature https://www.komando.com/lifestyle-reviews/apple-health-app-tips/869512/ Sat, 23 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Health apps track your steps, heart rate, sleep patterns and more. But they’re capable of so much more. You can add your health information to certain apps to keep all your records in one place and share them with your doctors. You can even track your medication.

These health apps are quite helpful if you have someone in your life with medical problems or an elderly family member who needs assistance keeping up with their medications and doctor appointments. Here’s how it works.

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3 ways to preserve your family memories this holiday season https://www.komando.com/kims-column/ways-to-preserve-family-memories/898421/ Sat, 09 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=898421

Do you remember all the stories older relatives told over the years? You probably recollect bits and pieces. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to relive them whenever you wanted?

Then there are photos of your loved ones from over the years — some sadly fading or stashed away in an attic. Let’s get those precious memories out so that everyone can enjoy them.

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Ask a tech expert: How can I make it easier for my mom with dementia to find her shows? https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/simplifying-tv/894657/ Wed, 04 Oct 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Our mother has dementia, and the TV patients use at their home is connected to a cable system. Is there a simpler solution than having them select an input and then finding a station they want to watch? I know we are not the only ones going through this. So frustrating.

Todd in Minnesota

What a pain, Todd. You’re a good son to try to make this easier for her. I found an excellent solution for you: the SofaBaton X1 universal remote control

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Steps to convert your old VHS tapes to digital https://www.komando.com/kims-column/convert-vhs-tapes/865917/ Sat, 30 Sep 2023 11:30:00 +0000

Think you can only score free shipping on Amazon? Tap or click for five tricks to get free shipping on most major sites.

You can also go the more personal route. Digitized home movies are an excellent gift — or a fabulous way to relive old memories at your next get-together. Put away the projector and check out the best ways to preserve and share your home movies.

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Top 10 most dangerous cities in America, ranked https://www.komando.com/lifestyle/most-dangerous-cities-in-america/893619/ Tue, 12 Sep 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Hold on to your hat because this list might be more alarming than your worst tech glitches. Security Gauge pulled crime data from 18,000 agencies — including the FBI and local police — to find the most dangerous U.S. cities in 2023. Did yours make the list?

Most dangerous US cities

1. Bessemer, Alabama

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Broken appliances? Use this site to learn how to fix them yourself https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/repair-clinic-appliances/869031/ Tue, 18 Jul 2023 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=869031

When a home appliance fails, it’s not always easy to diagnose the issue. What’s causing the problem and why? Tap or click here for 10 bad habits destroying your home appliances.

We’ve found a helpful tool with a find-a-part database to refer to when fixing an appliance. You can plug in your model number or brand and quickly get the answers you need.

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3 apps to digitize physical photos and negatives https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/digitize-photos-and-negatives/828190/ Sun, 16 Jul 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Your smartphone makes it easy to share photos with anyone at any time. But unless your phone is your first camera, you may have some old negatives. You can get them developed or scan them into your phone to view and share easily. Tap or click here for tips on converting negatives into digital photos.

A physical scanner is one route you can take to digitize your photo collection, but (surprise, surprise) you can also use an app. Here are three great options.

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5 apps every pet owner should download https://www.komando.com/family/apps-for-pet-owners/835957/ Tue, 04 Jul 2023 21:00:00 +0000

There is no instruction manual on how to be the perfect pet owner. Luckily, there are many resources you can rely on. Tap or click for nine things Kim buys for her dog Abby that your dog deserves, too.

There are apps for veterinary care, nutrition, grooming and even plain old getting social with other local dog moms and cat dads.

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Use this home security camera buying guide to be safer at home https://www.komando.com/safety-security-reviews/home-security-camera-buying-guide/877878/ Sat, 01 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=877878

Here’s a conundrum: Your security camera could expose you to data breaches. Last year, a security researcher found that Eufy cameras uploaded private images to the cloud.

Anker recently admitted to storing images and video feeds in the cloud without users’ knowledge. This popular security cam manufacturer recently didn’t even encrypt the private content. That means anyone could have seen your personal images through your Anker devices.

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5 Google Earth tricks: See your neighborhood over time and more https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/hidden-google-earth-tricks/846924/ Thu, 29 Jun 2023 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=846924

You might not be taking advantage of Google’s unique tools and features. For example, if you’re a history buff, you can use Google Maps to see images of things like Pearl Harbor and the Titanic. Tap or click here to pinpoint fabulous finds with Google Maps.

Then there’s Google Earth, a treasure trove of valuable and unexpected information. You can do more than use it as a map from points A to B.

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Looking for a long-lost relative? Try these steps to find them https://www.komando.com/family/find-lost-relatives/874493/ Thu, 22 Jun 2023 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=874493

As many as 23% of American children live without at least one parent. The good news: in our internet world, finding them is easier than it would have been in the past.

Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to set out on an investigative journey yourself. Where should you begin when searching for estranged or missing family members? Here are the steps to finding long-lost relatives.

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Home intercom systems that don’t use Alexa or Google Assistant https://www.komando.com/amazon/home-intercom-systems/859863/ Mon, 29 May 2023 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=859863

Are you tired of shouting across the house? It’s time to communicate more clearly without straining your voice to get someone’s attention. Improve communication and clarity with your family from room to room, grab your husband’s attention from the garage, or call your kids down for dinner. These intercoms are our top picks to help you communicate better with your family.

Hosmart wireless home intercom system

Hosmart is the leading manufacturer of intercom systems for good reasons. They offer quality and variety without a high price. You can access six separate channels with up to three individual digital codes.

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Mapping your family tree? Try one of these free templates https://www.komando.com/family/free-family-tree-templates/836889/ Sun, 28 May 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Free family tree templates can help teach your children where they come from. It’s also a fun way to learn more about your history. Not all family tree sites are safe, though. Some put your personal information on the web for anyone to see. Tap or click here to delete yourself from this scary site.

These websites have tons of free templates for family trees you can try. Big families, small families and everything in between will find something perfect for the job.

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This site tells you exactly what happened the day you were born https://www.komando.com/family/wolframalpha-computational-intelligence/852790/ Sat, 27 May 2023 16:00:00 +0000

If you love birthday trivia, you will adore this incredible website. It can tell you everything you want to know about the day you were born, including how many days ago it was.

Let’s dive into random factoid trivia, one of our favorite things of all time. It’s all relevant to the day of the year you were born.

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Bored? Download one of these 8 great iPad games https://www.komando.com/downloads/8-great-ipad-games/825119/ Thu, 18 May 2023 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=825119

Your iPad can be the ultimate entertainment machine. Not only can you use it to stream your favorite movies and TV shows, but you can also play some of today’s hottest games.

Don’t know where to begin? We have you covered. Here are eight of today’s best games that you can download and play on your iPad.

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7 clever uses for your smart doorbell camera https://www.komando.com/privacy/7-uses-for-your-smart-doorbell-camera/779436/ Wed, 17 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=779436&preview=true&preview_id=779436

Smart doorbell cameras add a ton of value to your life. Not only do they make you feel more secure in your home, but they can deter criminals, too. If you let a burglar know you’re watching them, they may be too spooked to try anything.

Plus, you can watch over your loved ones and make sure there’s nothing dangerous at home. Whether you’re looking after an elderly family member, a child or even a pet, a doorbell camera takes the guesswork out of caregiving.

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Fun site turns your kid’s or grandkid’s drawings into animated characters https://www.komando.com/family/fun-site-animated-drawings/833394/ Wed, 10 May 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Is there anything more charming than a child’s drawing? You’d be hard-pressed to find it. What if we told you there’s an incredibly easy way to bring your child or grandchild’s latest masterpiece to life?

Animated Drawings by Meta AI Research utilizes the power of automation to do just that. All you have to do is upload any drawing, creating short animations featuring your child’s favorite artistic designs.

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Find and delete duplicate photos with these free apps https://www.komando.com/downloads/find-and-delete-duplicate-photos/605645/ Wed, 03 May 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Are you someone who likes to keep a super clean home? It can be therapeutic, to say the least. But now that your house is spick-and-span, you might want to start cleaning other things. Tap or click here for instructions on how to disinfect your smartphone.

Once you are done cleaning your home and phone, try digging a little deeper. Having tons of photos can take up precious space on your device. Imagine how much space they occupy if you have multiple copies — what a waste. Take advantage of the following free apps that will help you track down and delete all those duplicates.

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