53: Frugal Fever

Supercharged

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about Google’s latest moves, more public shaming, and our last words on the Apple Watch for awhile. We’re also answering your questions about choosing a new old phone, packing for a long trip, and podcast apps for Android.

Links for this episode:

• YES, JEREMY RENNER AND CHRIS EVANS’ BLACK WIDOW COMMENTS ARE PROBLEMATIC
  On late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning, the Internet churned itself into a frenzy thanks to an interview with Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans wherein they called Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff a “slut” and a “whore.” It was …not great and immediately incited a litany of reactions regarding whether or not the joke was inherently sexist. All of which contributes to the continuation of an almost Sisyphean conversation about the effects of language couched in humor on society.
• 'Wellness Guru' Belle Gibson lied about having brain cancer, profited from lying about bogus cancer cures
  As disgusting as that may be, she's not the only one who should be ashamed: the enablers who promote this crap deserve condemnation, too.
• The 9 best apps for Apple Watch you can get right now
  Apple has the best smartphone ecosystem, the best tablet ecosystem, and as of today, the best smartwatch ecosystem when it comes to apps. But the app story is dramatically different on the Watch in a way that you won't quite understand until you start to use one. Where on the iPhone and iPad, apps are almost everything that you do, on the Apple Watch, apps really aren't something you want to play around with. In fact, you may often find yourself wondering why you'd use some of these apps at all.
• How does the Apple Watch stack up against Android Wear?
  Apple unveiled its big attempt at defining what a smartwatch should look like today with the introduction of the Apple Watch. There are already quite a few competitors vying to define what should go on your wrist, however: Google beat Apple to the punch just a few months ago by releasing Android Wear, and watches powered by it have been hitting stores all summer.
• Google apologizes for the Android robot peeing on an Apple logo in Google Maps
  In a statement to The Washington Post, Google has apologized for the image of its Android mascot urinating on an Apple logo that was pointed out by Cult of Android earlier today. "We’re sorry for this inappropriate user-created content; we’re working to remove it quickly," Google spokesperson Mara Harris told The Washington Post in a statement. "We also learn from these issues, and we’re constantly improving how we detect, prevent, and handle bad edits," Harris said.
• Comcast Plans to Drop Time Warner Cable Deal Don't Miss Out — Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube by Alex ShermanGerry SmithTodd Shields 12:00 PM PDT April 23, 2015 Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Flash Flash Comcast Said to Plan D
  Fourteen months after unveiling a $45.2 billion merger that would create a new Internet and cable giant, Comcast Corp. is planning to walk away from its proposed takeover of Time Warner Cable Inc., people with knowledge of the matter said.
• Google and Facebook come out against government spying
  The Department of Homeland Security is setting up shop in Silicon Valley, with the agency's head Jeh Johnson pushing for easier access to our private data. Naturally, both Google and Facebook have started to openly resist this call to create backdoors for state surveillance. At the RSA security conference, Google's Keith Enright told MIT Technology Review that any attempt to breach his company's encryption would harm civil liberties.
• A cheat sheet to Project Fi, Google's mobile phone service
  Rumors of Google breaking into the wireless carrier game have been fodder for scoops, breathless reports and thinkpieces for years now, and for the longest time it looked like the search giant just couldn't make it happen. Yesterday Google put all that to rest. Project Fi is finally here (if invite-only and fully compatible with one phone) -- here's what you absolutely need to know about it.
• Google Just Became a Cellphone Carrier with Project Fi
  Today, Google announced that it is entering the mobile MVNO carrier field with a service called Project Fi. The service will use Sprint and T-Mobile’s network in conjunction with Wi-Fi to make one, big, seamless carrier.
• Nintendo backs off of bringing Super Nintendo games to Wii U
  Bad news for Super Nintendo fans: your Wii U fix is about to dry up. Nintendo's Virtual Console, the download service offering older games on its consoles and handhelds, has never had the most robust selection. With Nintendo turning its eye towards N64 games, though, SNES releases are being left behind. According to Natsume, a publisher with a plethora of SNES games primed for re-release, Nintendo is done with 16-bit for now.
• House passes bill allowing corporations to share your data
  If you wanted to explain the dilemma of privacy versus security to a curious relative, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act would be a good place to start. The bill has just been passed by the House of representatives (voting 307-116 in favor), and is designed to prevent future cyber attacks by allowing corporations to share information with each other and the government. Civil liberties groups claim the bill tramples on the privacy of the customers, and opens the door for agencies like the NSA to access their data (not that it needs much help, it seems).
• What “Frugal” Habits Aren’t Actually Worthwhile?
  Frugality is great. It's all about making the most out of something and avoiding waste. But there are some "frugal" tactics that aren't frugal at all. We want to know—what money saving habits aren't worth it?
• When It Makes Sense to Buy Quality Instead of Saving Money
  Being frugal doesn't just mean saving money—it means spending your money wisely. That also means some things may be cheap now, but actually cost you more in the long run, while other times it makes sense to spend more now for a better, longer-lasting experience. Let's take a look at when it makes sense to splurge now to save later.
• How to Return Nearly Anything Without a Receipt
  Whether you've gotten a gift you really don't like or you're just prone to losing receipts, returning items without a receipt can sometimes be a minefield. Here are some tips and techniques to make sure you get your money back.
• How to Fit Two Weeks Worth of Luggage Under the Airplane Seat in Front of You
  Back in the day, checking your bag on a trip only cost you 20 minutes of your time after a flight. Now you're lucky if it only costs you $20. With rampant theft, high bag check costs, and overhead bins filled to the brim, learning how to pack efficiently matters more than ever. With the right strategy, you can fit everything you actually need into the seat in front of you.

This week's sponsor is the wonderful Lynda.com!