Google Lens is changing the way I look at objects. Now when I point my phone at one and talk, Lens answers me.

After pointing Lens at a blue bar stool, for example, I said to my phone: “Where can I buy a bar stool like this?” It immediately showed me the same stool at Amazon and elsewhere.

I pointed the Lens app at a plant and asked: “How often should I water this?” It not only identified the plant as a weeping fig, it told me about its watering needs — by considering the size of the plant, the pot, and how fast it dries out.

I pointed at a poster and said: “What inspired this painting by Renoir?” Google Lens said he was visiting Italy when he discovered the art of Raphael. It also told me that my Toulouse Lautrec poster was inspired by Japanese art.

This is a new feature. Previously, I had to hope that Lens knew what I wanted when I merely showed it a photo.

Lens is a free app from the app store. When you open it, you’ll see an icon for a magnifying glass. When you tap it, you’ll be prompted to “search with your camera” or use a stored photo. After you do so, you’ll see “add to your search.” Tap the microphone to speak your request.

Google Lens has a couple of other tricks up its sleeve. If you’re in Sweden trying to figure out a restaurant sign, for example, aim the app at it and tap “Translate.” If you’re learning math, point the app at an equation and tap “Homework” to get tips on how to solve it.

FLIGHTY APP

Most people I know use the free app “Flight Aware” to stay on top of flight delays and gate changes. But Flighty is even more amazing. Unfortunately, it’s for iPhones and iPads only.

According to the folks at Flighty, the number one cause of delays is a late inbound aircraft. So Flighty automatically monitors that for 25 hours prior to departure. The second most common cause is airspace mandates, so it offers direct FAA access. This means you’ll know before the pilot does.

GETTING A DRONE

Some say that buying a drone isn’t worth the money unless you’re into photography, videography or surveillance. But as TheDroneGirl points out, drones are great for anyone interested in science and engineering.

Besides general photography, drones are used for documenting climate change, responding to natural disasters, long-term planning after a di

saster has occurred, monitoring historical sites, and teaching computer science, physics and the principles of flight.

There’s even a thing called “drone soccer.” Each team has five players, and each player has two drones. One member is the designated “striker.” As the team tries to block their opponents, the striker tries to fly through the opponent’s goal. Look up “drone soccer” on YouTube to see drones that fly in protective bubble-shaped cages in international competitions. The next one, in South Korea, will feature champion athletes from 36 countries. But even four-year-olds are flying these bubble-like drones. There’s less fear of injury.

SOLAR-POWERED SUN HAT

My next sun hat is going to keep my phone charged while I wear it, if I don’t mind paying $89. The EcoFlow Power Hat could be handy when I’m away from a power outlet. It even folds up.

Say I’m in the mountains and forgot my power bank. The Power Hat, which weighs 13 ounces, could charge my phone in three to four hours. Hopefully it wouldn’t feel too heavy on my head. The charging cable, which fits both USB-A and USB-C, would have to go down my shirt to reach my phone and might look dorky, but that’s OK. On the plus side, the hat can resist dust and the occasional water spray. But I’d have to remember not to dunk my head while wearing it.

A commenter at The Verge said: “It would be super convenient to use a solar hat to shield me from the sun and charge my neck cooler.” What’s a neck cooler? It’s a battery-powered fan in the shape of a tube that wraps around your neck. The $22 version from Nhpoi gets four or five stars from 85% of reviewers on Amazon, but 4% of reviewers say it doesn’t get cool enough.

UPGRADING TO WINDOWS 11

Here’s how to get Windows 11 on your machine even if Microsoft is saying it doesn’t qualify for an upgrade.

First buy a copy of Windows 11, perhaps from StackSocial.com, where I saw it for $25. Before you install it, consider two choices. If you select “Reset PC” in Settings on your PC, it will clear the

way for Win 11, but means you’ll lose any programs you installed. (Of course, you can always add them back later.) If that sounds like a hassle, proceed to option two: Add a line of code to your computer’s registry editor to make your machine compatible. For instructions, see the Zdnet article “You can upgrade your old PC to Windows 11 — even if Microsoft says it’s incompatible.”

Keep in mind that older machines may crash more often after the upgrade. But hey, no worries. Microsoft will support Windows 10 until October 2025. Even after that, you should be OK with Windows 10, if you avoid clicking risky links.