Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Why are my Internet download speeds so slow?

Posted on March 27, 2026

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Question from Kellie: I have Xfinity Internet and the plan I’m on is for 300 Mbps download speed.

I used SpeedTest.net to run several speed tests yesterday and again this morning. The fastest speed I got was around 165 Mbps.

I called Xfinity this afternoon and they ran some kind of test from their end and said I was getting all the speed I’m paying for.

Is there something I’m doing wrong when I run the speed test or is Xfinity just blowing me off? [Read more…]

How to take a baby passport photo at home: Step-by-step instructions

Posted on March 27, 2026

There are travel adventures ahead — really — and that’s what getting a passport for your baby signifies. But first, you’ll need one thing that seems to stress even the most relaxed parents: a compliant passport photo.

The good news? There’s no need to book a studio session or make an appointment at the drugstore, especially not with a fussy baby in tow. [Read more…]

How technology continues to evolve in a data-driven world

Posted on March 27, 2026

Long days have a way of revealing the truth. Technology is everywhere, whether anyone notices or not.

Phones light up before the alarm rings. Maps reroute the morning commute without being asked. Streaming platforms somehow know what feels right after a tiring evening. It’s helpful, but also a little strange.

Daily life runs quietly on data now. It’s in the background all the time. Grocery apps remember what was forgotten last week. Fitness trackers count steps and sleep, even on nights when sleep barely happened. Online stores suggest things that look exactly like what was just searched for five minutes ago.

Still, there’s that small pause. [Read more…]

Your Apple device might qualify for a free replacement battery

Posted on March 26, 2026

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If you happen to have an Apple device that’s covered by an AppleCare Protection Plan, it might already qualify to receive a new battery at no charge under the plan.

In years past, Apple would make you wait until a covered device’s battery degraded to the point where it would only retain 50% or less of its rated maximum charge before they would replace the battery under AppleCare. But they have since upped that threshold to 80%.

The 80% threshold applies to the batteries in all AppleCare covered Macs, regardless of how old the machine happens to be. Apple mobile devices purchased after April 10, 2015 qualify as well.

Bottom line: If you own an AppleCare covered Mac, you should check to see if its battery will retain at least 80% of its maximum charge.

If it won’t, I recommend that you request a free replacement battery under AppleCare. You should also do the same for any other covered Apple devices.

Bottom line: New batteries are wonderful things because they allow you to use your devices longer between battery charges.

If you can get a new one installed in your device for free under AppleCare, why not do it now and reap the benefits of that expensive AppleCare Protection Plan?

Bonus tip: This post explains how to quickly determine the warranty status of your Mac, iPhone, iPad or any other Apple device.

Scam alert: Beware fake ads for concert and event tickets

Posted on March 25, 2026

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As you probably know, ticket prices for concerts, professional sporting events, theme parks and a wide variety of other public events are astronomical these days.

Never ones to miss an opportunity, scammers are now running fake ads for deeply discounted tickets on social media sites and sending fraudulent emails hawking them to millions of email inboxes.

As usual, taking the bait and responding to these fake ads or fraudulent emails can have a number of detrimental effects, including all the following, and more: [Read more…]