Monthly Archives: July 2025

Citibank just rolled out their new Citi Strata Elite credit card, joining Chase and Amex in the premium (over $500/yr) category with a range of benefits focused on frequent travelers. While each brags that its card pays for itself twice or thrice over its cost, the true value depends on which perks you’ll actually use, […]

When is the best time to book a flight? Months in advance or a few weeks before the flight? It varies by flight, capacity, carrier, and other variables that only the airlines know. But now it doesn’t matter and something you need not be concerned about. With a new service from a company called Paiback, […]

IntroductionNote: Amex is rumored to be planning to add benefits with a higher fee for its Platinum card in respose to Chase’s Sapphire revamped Reserve card. But it appears this will not be soon. (see end of column). Since reviewing the new Chase Sapphire Reserve card a few weeks ago, let’s compare it to the […]

Hertz tries tech again; what could go wrong? Artificial intelligence has become the business world’s favorite new tool, promising cost savings, faster decisions, and even new revenue streams. But the story unfolding at the car rental company Hertz offers a cautionary look at how quickly AI can veer from helpful assistant to harmful enforcer—impacting their […]

One of the challenges with premium credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum is making sure you take advantage of their perks and benefits to justify their steep annual fees. The responsibility is entirely on us as cardholders to understand and use these perks—some of which are provided annually, while others […]

Using our cell phones while traveling internationally has always been costly, at least for those without a T-Mobile account. But now there’s relief for Verizon users that can give you service for just less than a dollar a day. It’s something Verizon doesn’t advertise, but it’s perfectly legal and in full compliance with Verizon’s rules. […]

I’ve spent more than five decades designing, building, and writing about consumer technology. In that time, I’ve watched countless waves of hype promising to reshape our lives. Some actually did — the personal computer, the smartphone, the internet itself. Many promised but never came close – the flying car, a home robot, a single-prick blood-testing […]