Rich On Tech

Snapdragon focuses on AI: Qualcomm’s new chips aim to run more AI directly on phones, improving speed and reducing reliance on the cloud.

Google Book preview: Android-based laptops bring native apps and built-in AI tools, starting around $900.

New hardware demos: Rich tries a haptic mouse, robotic phone camera and augmented reality glasses, with mixed impressions of their everyday usefulness.

Meta Muse gets proactive: The assistant connects to personal services and completes browser tasks, raising questions about privacy and data access.

Meta expands wearables: New products include updated Ray-Ban glasses, a camera-free option and a lightweight VR headset with a separate computing pack.

Beats360 review: Swappable cushions make the $350 headphones versatile, but wired listening and automatic pause are missing.

Streaming prices climb: Disney and Hulu raise prices again; Rich suggests comparing bundles and canceling rarely used services.

Premiere comes to Android: Adobe’s editor offers free core tools without ads or watermarks, alongside paid AI features.

DIY karaoke: Rich suggests Ultimate Vocal Remover for separating vocals, then Audacity or GarageBand to record and mix your own.

iPhone Duo’s trade-offs: Apple’s foldable combines phone and small-tablet functions for roughly $2,000, with camera and portability compromises.

Apple’s foldable plans: Kaiann Drance discusses durability, multitasking and upcoming Apple Pencil support, with availability announced for October 23.

Avoid fake tech support: Use official support websites and be cautious of unfamiliar apps, cleaner utilities and phone numbers in search ads.

AI and personal finances: Rich discusses using connected accounts for budgeting while limiting access and reviewing privacy settings.

Fix Apple Watch weather: Restart the watch and iPhone, check location permissions and re-add the weather complication if needed.

Password manager options: Built-in tools offer convenience; independent services offer broader flexibility. Compare features and enable two-factor authentication.

Stop accidental 911 calls: Check for case or button interference and review Emergency SOS confirmation settings.

Verify Facebook security emails: Open Facebook directly and check recent security messages instead of following unexpected email links.

Upgrade an unsupported phone: Rich suggests recent refurbished models with remaining software support over unofficial Android installations.

Track luggage with AirTags: AirTags can work overseas through nearby Apple devices, with location sharing available for supported airlines.

Recover a Word document: Check the Recycle Bin, Word recovery tools and cloud copies before restoring a backup.

Find your next book: Reading trackers can organize your history, which AI can use to personalize recommendations.

Sonos expands audio controls: Sonos 27 adds new listening options and more natural voice commands through a gradual rollout.

Sonos volume shortcut: Rotate two fingers on the app’s screen to reveal a virtual volume knob.

Test a new carrier first: A second phone line lets you evaluate coverage before transferring your number.

Manage phone storage: Review storage settings and remove unused downloads after large software updates.

AI helps explain errors: Screen-aware search tools can interpret phone error messages and suggest fixes.

Listener feedback: Topics include human help with insurance claims, AI support, aging TiVo systems and finding TVs without smart features.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI gets more useful and more concerning: Rich says to use AI and understand it, but question its answers rather than blindly trusting it.
AI can provide emotional support: Caller Bonnie used ChatGPT to help process the loss of her dog, while Bridget Todd explained why emotional connections with AI are becoming more common.
Meta Muse is a personal AI assistant: Rich likes Meta’s new Muse app, which can connect to email, calendars, reminders and tasks to help get things done.
iPhone 18 Pro is great, but not a must-upgrade: Better battery life, cooler operation and a variable-aperture camera stand out, but recent iPhone owners can probably wait.
Siri finally gets much smarter: Siri can privately index messages, emails, photos and other personal information so you can ask questions about your own life.
Spectrum Mobile could save a caller $1,500: Rich says the free-year offer could be worthwhile, but check Verizon coverage where you live and work before switching.
Watch for government impersonation scams: If someone claiming to be with the government or law enforcement demands immediate payment, hang up and independently verify the claim.
Restart first when an app stops working: A caller with Gmail trouble was reminded that a simple phone restart should be the first troubleshooting step.
Stop Samsung Wi-Fi from turning itself back on: Disable "Turn Wi-Fi on automatically" under Intelligent Wi-Fi if you want full control over the connection.
Facebook lockout workaround: If normal account recovery fails, a paid Meta support plan may provide access to a real person who can help.
How the Apple Store was created: Former Apple retail chief Ron Johnson shared how he and Steve Jobs built the stores around service, hands-on experiences and the Genius Bar.
You can completely turn off Siri: iOS 27 adds an option under Settings > Siri to disable Siri entirely.
You can't remove data from the dark web: After a breach, focus on protecting yourself by limiting shared personal information and freezing your credit when appropriate.
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days are October 6 and 7: Add items you want to your cart ahead of time so it's easier to spot real price drops.
Fix missing email on an iPhone: Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts and try reconnecting, or remove and re-add the affected account.
Apple Watch finally shows steps on the watch face: Series 12 and Ultra 4 can display near-real-time step counts without a third-party app.
Portable hotspots won't work at sea: Cellular hotspots need a cellular signal, so they won't replace cruise ship Wi-Fi when you're offshore.
AirPods microphone acting up? Clean them first: Carefully clean the earbuds and microphone areas before assuming the hardware needs replacing.
Chrome pop-ups may come from rogue extensions: Remove extensions you don't recognize, check notification permissions and clear browser data.
Skip questionable streaming black boxes: Rich recommends legitimate streaming services over devices that can bring legal, privacy, security and reliability concerns.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple launches the $2,000 iPhone Duo, its first foldable with a 5.4-inch outer screen, 7.6-inch inner display, MagSafe and Apple Pencil support.
iPhone Duo software could be its biggest advantage, with apps optimized for the foldable screen instead of simply being stretched larger.
IDScan confirms a major driver’s license breach, prompting Rich to recommend free credit freezes with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Political spam texts are best filtered, not answered, since replying can confirm your number is active and lead to even more messages.
iPhone 18 Pro gets a $100 price hike, starting at $1,200 with variable aperture photography, improved cooling and longer battery life.
A cellular Apple Watch can help after a fall, with fall detection and the ability to call for help even when your iPhone isn’t nearby.
Smart TVs can become “dumb” TVs, simply by leaving them offline and using an Apple TV, Roku or Fire TV for streaming.
Infinite Fi’s $49 unlimited internet claim doesn’t add up, because any hotspot still needs cellular, satellite or another real internet connection.
Rich recommends Mayday on Apple TV for family movie night, calling the Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh movie a fun crowd-pleaser.
Flaky Windows Wi-Fi may be a driver issue, so update Windows, reconnect to your network and make sure an old router isn’t still broadcasting.
Consent phishing can bypass passwords and 2FA, by tricking you into granting a malicious app legitimate access to your account.
Changing your password may not stop consent phishing, so also check connected apps and revoke anything you don’t recognize.
Tablo and ZapperBox make antenna TV easier, with options for watching or recording free over-the-air channels.
Brian Tong calls iPhone Duo an impressive first-gen foldable, but says its price, weight and thickness remain real compromises.
AirPods 5 may be Apple’s sleeper upgrade, bringing noise cancellation to the open-fit design for $149.
An AI researcher quit Anthropic over safety concerns, warning that future self-improving systems could become difficult for humans to control.
NormalTools.com is a handy free utility site, with nearly 200 browser-based tools for PDFs, images, QR codes, calculations and more.
Apple Watch Series 12 improves health tracking, with more frequent measurements, a readiness score and new sound recognition alerts.
Apple Watch Live Rewind can show what was just said, using an opt-in feature that displays a transcript of roughly the last 15 seconds.
NordVPN says people remain the cybersecurity weak link, as AI makes phishing scams cheaper, faster and more convincing.
Privacy.com can help stop unwanted free-trial renewals, by using virtual cards that can be limited or shut off after signup.
Lance Ulanoff says Duo’s matte display helps hide the crease, making it much less noticeable during normal use.
Apple Pencil support makes Duo more tablet-like, especially for drawing, writing and creative apps such as Procreate.
Pixel’s Now Playing identifies songs automatically, displaying nearby music on the lock screen without requiring a search.
Ooma cut one listener’s landline bill from $127 to about $20 a month, while letting him keep the same longtime phone number.
Libby offers free audiobooks and ebooks with a library card, although popular titles may have waitlists and borrowing deadlines.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Driver’s license scans exposed: More than 153 million U.S. and Canadian ID records were reportedly offered on the dark web. Freeze your credit and consider an IRS Identity Protection PIN.

Make accounts harder to hack: Rich shared three simple ways to better protect your accounts, including unique passwords, two-factor authentication and Chrome Enhanced Protection.

Translation tools for travel: Timekettle, AirPods and Pixel Buds can translate conversations, but a phone translation app may be easier in important situations.

Tesla Cybercab goes driverless: David Moss rode Tesla’s steering-wheel-free Cybercab in Austin and discussed how autonomous vehicles could improve mobility for blind, disabled and elderly passengers.

International calling while traveling: Check your carrier for a roaming pass or use a travel eSIM. Simbye is one option that can include a real phone number.

Amazon scam checker: Alexa for Shopping can check whether a suspicious Amazon email, text or call is legitimate. You can also forward suspicious emails to verify@amazon.com.

Daily spelling game: Beeswax gives players five words a day to spell by listening to their pronunciation.

iPhone blocked-number limits: Apple appears to limit how many numbers can be blocked, and removing thousands of old entries can be tedious.

DVRs for antenna TV: Tablo and ZapperBox can record free over-the-air TV. Rich found the $15 Philips rabbit ears delivered consistent reception for his main channels.

Sonos 27 gets smarter: Sonos is adding more natural voice control, AI features, lock-screen controls and easier volume adjustments.

New Sonos gear: The Beam Ultra soundbar can use portable Sonos speakers as surrounds, while Ace Ultra headphones add improved noise cancellation and 35-hour battery life.

Setting boundaries for AI: Will Cady says AI should expand human abilities rather than become a crutch that weakens them.

Charging driverless cars: Autonomous EV fleets still need charging infrastructure, although modern fast charging can dramatically reduce downtime.

Cleaning up Gmail: Use All Mail for bulk deletion or filter by sender to quickly remove large batches of unwanted messages.

Free California data removal: California residents can use DROP to request deletion from registered data brokers, while paid services such as Incogni offer broader removal tools.

Top laptops for 2026: Consumer Reports highlighted models from LG, Asus, Apple and Acer for Windows, travel, creative work, budget buyers and Chromebook users.

HTC privacy-focused smart glasses: The $500 HTC Vive Eagle combines cameras, audio and AI with local encrypted storage and safeguards against covert recording.

ChatGPT Finances: ChatGPT Finances can connect financial accounts for questions about balances, transactions and spending. Rich still prefers Monarch Money for a traditional dashboard.

Mindtrip flight alerts: Mindtrip monitors airfare based on dates, destinations, budget and preferences, then alerts travelers to meaningful price drops.

Save money on flights: Start tracking early and stay flexible on dates, airports and destinations. The cheapest flight is not always the best overall value.

Google Guided Vision: Gemini Live can describe what a phone camera sees and guide blind or low-vision users to aim the camera correctly.

Job scam warning: Fake recruiters impersonate real companies, offer jobs without legitimate interviews and eventually ask victims to buy equipment with fraudulent checks.

Better antenna reception: Moving an antenna near a window can help, while larger antennas generally perform better when mounted higher and clear of obstructions.

Internet during outages: A UPS battery backup can keep your modem and router running if your provider’s network still has power.

Keep fighting fraud disputes: One listener recovered thousands in unauthorized PayPal transactions after repeatedly disputing the charges and securing his accounts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich talked about shopping around for high-speed internet and shared tools and tips to help you find a better plan, faster speeds or a lower price.
Apple has set September 9 for its next big event, where we’re expecting to see the new iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
Matthew is having issues with his Sonos speakers disappearing and not showing up in the Sonos app.
Mike in the South Bay runs a small IT company and says he’s seeing fake invitation scams that can secretly install remote-access software on computers. He found that an app called Uninstalr can successfully detect and remove it. TechSpot article
Shelly is wondering if she should sign up for Guardio. Rich says the service asks for a lot of access to your accounts, and many of its protections can be handled on your own. He recommends turning on Chrome’s Enhanced Safe Browsing, avoiding suspicious links and phone numbers in unsolicited messages, and freezing your credit.
Gary in Laguna Niguel wants to know if his prepaid T-Mobile plan supports satellite connectivity on his Samsung Galaxy A54.
Rich mentioned Cord Cutter Weekly’s big list of streaming deals to help you save on your favorite services.
Michael asked about the Glide smart cane for people who are blind or have low vision. Rich also mentioned the WeWALK smart cane and the Oko app and CSUN Assistive Tech Conference exhibitor list.
NFL has a tool that tells you where you can watch every game called NFL Ways to Watch.
Chandler Hatton of Fairphone will discuss the company’s first phone sold directly in the U.S. and why it is designed to be repairable.
Rich mentioned a Samsung Messages clone beind devleoped by an independent developer called Messages by OzarksMade.
AwareCA is California’s answer to Watch Duty, helping you track wildfires with information directly from CAL FIRE.
Andrew in Ventura wants to know how to delete location suggestions off his iPhone. Two places to go: Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations & Routes > Clear History … and Apple Maps > Places > Visited Places > Clear History
Ron checked out I Like Movies after hearing about it on the show, but found another movie-tracking app he really likes called Seen It. Rich agrees it’s an excellent option. It works on both iPhone and Android, has no ads, and is completely free. One downside Rich noticed: you can’t sort by star rating or MPAA rating, and there’s no option to create multiple watch lists.
Tyler the Antenna Man will explain how to choose the right over-the-air TV antenna. He mentioned the Philips Rabbit Ears, Channel Master Flatenna, Mornixol outdoor antenna, Antennas Direct ClearStream 2V or Max V, and the 5-Star Yagi antenna.
To check reception in your area, he recommends rabbitears.info, the FCC DTV Reception Maps, and antennaweb.org.
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