DJI Drone Ban, Hidden Accessibility Features, and a Free Screen Recording Trick You Need to Know

Technology moves fast — sometimes faster than any of us can keep up with. This week, we’re breaking down the big DJI drone ban and what it means for hobbyists and professionals alike, sharing hidden accessibility features on your phone and computer that make everyday tasks easier, and revealing a free Windows trick for recording your screen as a video. Whether you fly drones, struggle with small text on your phone, or just want to get more out of your computer, there’s something here for you.

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The DJI Drone Ban: What Happened and Why It Matters

If you’ve heard anything about drones over the past few years, you’ve probably heard the name DJI. They’re the world’s largest consumer drone manufacturer — and now they’ve been banned from selling products in the United States. The federal government has placed DJI on the FCC’s “covered list,” effectively pulling their products from store shelves across the country.

Why Was DJI Banned?

DJI is a Chinese company, and the core concern comes down to national security. Drones collect a surprising amount of data — GPS locations, speeds, video footage, and more. Regulators are worried about how that data could potentially be accessed or used. This is similar to what happened earlier with TP-Link networking products, which were placed on the same type of covered list over data security concerns.

Whether you fly drones or not, this ban could affect you. Drones are used for wedding videography, roof inspections, construction site surveys, law enforcement, concert light shows, and much more.

What If You Already Own a DJI Drone?

Here’s the good news: if you already own a DJI drone, it’s not going to be remotely disabled. Earlier discussions about this ban raised fears that DJI’s frequencies could be shut down entirely, which would have bricked existing drones. That didn’t happen. Your current drone will still work. However, if you were planning to buy a new DJI product, you’ll need to act fast — they’re disappearing from shelves quickly, and prices are likely climbing.

DJI was reportedly planning to launch about 25 new products in the U.S. this year, and the company stands to lose an estimated $1.5 billion. That’s a massive hole in the drone market that other manufacturers will need to fill — though whether any competitor can match DJI’s quality and feature set remains to be seen.

FAA Rules You Should Know About

If you do fly a drone — any brand — here are a few important regulations to keep in mind:

• If your drone weighs more than about half a pound, you must register it with the FAA.
• You’ll also need an FAA drone pilot’s license, which you can obtain online.
• Newer drones broadcast a “Remote ID,” meaning the government can track where drones are at all times.
• Be careful with extended batteries — on some models like the DJI Mini, upgraded batteries can push the drone right to or over the weight threshold that triggers licensing requirements.

Drone Delivery Is Expanding

While the DJI ban shakes up one part of the drone world, another part is growing fast. Amazon’s Prime Air and Walmart’s partnership with a company called Wing are expanding drone delivery to more cities, including Memphis, New Orleans, Phoenix, and San Diego. The idea is simple: small, lightweight items delivered to your yard in under 30 minutes. It’s not available everywhere yet, but it’s rolling out city by city.

Hidden Accessibility Features That Make Your Devices Easier to Use

Now let’s shift gears to something that can help everyone right now. Your phone and computer have powerful built-in features that most people never discover. They’re tucked away in the “Accessibility” settings, and while many people associate that section with specific disabilities, these tools are genuinely useful for anyone.

You’re not bad with computers. This stuff is genuinely confusing — even for the tech professionals. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

On Your Smartphone (iPhone and Android)

• Magnifier tool: Use your phone’s camera to zoom in on menus, labels, or anything with small print — no magnifying glass needed.
• Zoom and display settings: Enlarge text, icons, and interface elements across your entire phone.
• Shortcut buttons: Set your power button (double-click or triple-click) to instantly turn on the flashlight, open an app, or launch your text messages.
• Live captions: Your phone can listen to phone calls, videos, or any audio and display real-time captions on screen — great for noisy environments or hearing difficulties.
• Hearing aid integration: Many phones now connect directly to hearing aids, so calls and audio stream right through them without extra fiddling.
• Sound recognition: Your phone can listen for specific sounds — doorbells, smoke alarms, knocks on the door — and alert you with a flash or vibration.
• Voice control: Open apps, scroll pages, send messages, and make calls entirely with your voice — perfect if you struggle with small touchscreens or have dexterity challenges like arthritis or tremors.
• Motion sickness settings (iPhone): A special feature uses your phone’s gyroscope to display small dots that move with your motion, helping reduce the queasy feeling some people get when using a phone in a moving car.

On Your Windows Computer

• Magnifier: A built-in zoom tool that lets you enlarge any portion of your screen.
• Voice Over Assistant: Control your entire computer with your voice. Windows trains to recognize how you speak, so it gets more accurate over time.
• Live captions: Just like on your phone, Windows can generate real-time captions for any audio playing on your computer.

Don’t pay for apps that do what your phone already does for free. Before downloading a magnifier app or a caption tool, check your Accessibility settings first.

Free Windows Tip: Record Your Screen as a Video with the Snipping Tool

Here’s a tip that even our own technician Adam didn’t know about until recently: the Windows Snipping Tool can record video — not just take screenshots.

Most people know the Snipping Tool for capturing still images of their screen. But right next to the camera icon, there’s a small video icon that most people completely miss. Here’s how to use it:

• Step 1: Open the Snipping Tool. If you can’t find it, just type “snip” in the search bar at the bottom of your screen.
• Step 2: Click the small video camera icon next to the default screenshot (camera) icon.
• Step 3: Click “New” and then drag a rectangle over the portion of your screen you want to record.
• Step 4: Do whatever you need to do on screen — it will record everything within that selected area, including switching between browser tabs.
• Step 5: Click “Stop” when you’re finished. The video saves in a standard format that you can share with anyone.

The tool even tracks your mouse cursor and shows a yellow circle whenever you click, making it perfect for creating simple walkthroughs or tutorials. And it’s completely free — no third-party software needed.

This is a great way to show a tech support person exactly what’s going wrong on your computer. Record the problem, save the video, and send it over — no more trying to describe the issue over the phone.

Let Refresh Computers Make Technology Easier for You

If any of these tips sound helpful but you’re not sure where to find the right settings, you’re not alone — and that’s exactly why Refresh Computers exists. We help everyday people make sense of their technology, whether it’s setting up accessibility features on your phone, configuring a new laptop, troubleshooting Wi-Fi, or just answering a quick question. Call our free tech support hotline at 407-478-8200 to talk directly with a real technician — no automated menus, no runarounds. You can also stop by our store at 820 E. State Road 434 in Longwood, FL (open Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 7 PM), or visit us online at refreshcomputers.net. Technology doesn’t have to be frustrating — let us help you get comfortable with it.