Rich On Tech

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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How to Listen:
🎙️ Live on KFI AM 640 - Los Angeles, Saturdays from 11 AM - 2 PM PT
🎙️ Rebroadcast on 710 WOR - New York City, Sundays from 8 PM - 11 PM ET
📻 Syndicated on affiliates nationwide
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Rich on Tech Weekly airs on KTLA+. You can download the app on Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Samsung smart TVs.
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meta faces landmark teen safety trial: Twenty-nine states accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to hook young users while misleading parents about safety. Former Meta executive Arturo Behar testified that growth and engagement often took priority over child safety, while Meta denies wrongdoing.

Pixel 11’s Rambler speeds up replies: Rich says the Pixel 11 Pro’s Rambler voice-to-text feature has made it much faster to respond to emails by turning spoken thoughts into clean, formatted text.

I Like Movies app tracks what to watch: Rich recommends the clean, feature-packed movie tracking app, which is available on Android now with an iPhone version expected in September.

Watching KTLA without home internet: Marshall in Reseda wants to watch KTLA+ without home internet. KTLA+ is designed for supported smart TV platforms, but KTLA.com, YouTube and an over-the-air antenna provide other ways to watch KTLA programming.

Apple Passwords vs. Bitwarden: Silvanna asks whether Apple Passwords is secure enough for an all-Apple household. Rich says it is a solid choice, while Bitwarden remains useful for people who want a free password manager that works across multiple platforms.

Password managers and 2FA are essential: Rich recommends using unique passwords through a password manager and enabling two-factor authentication. Never give an authentication code to someone who unexpectedly calls or messages asking for it.

OpenAI vs. ChatGPT explained: Neon asks whether OpenAI will eventually replace ChatGPT. Rich explains that OpenAI is the company and ChatGPT is one of its products, similar to Google making Gemini and Anthropic making Claude.

Charter and Cox complete their merger: Former Cox customers do not need to take immediate action, but Spectrum products begin rolling out in Cox markets in mid-September. Changes include a free year of Spectrum Mobile for eligible internet customers, automatic credits for outages over two hours, expanded U.S.-based support and SportsNet LA for former Cox TV customers.

Peacock raises prices again: Peacock Premium with ads is increasing to $13 a month, Premium Plus to $20 and Peacock Select to $9. Existing subscribers will begin seeing the higher prices after September 17, depending on their billing date.

Protect your hearing at concerts: Joe asks about hearing protection after being seated near extremely loud speakers. Rich recommends high-fidelity concert earplugs such as Vibes or Loop to lower the volume while preserving sound quality.

ChatGPT adds protections for teens: ChatGPT is introducing a teen experience for ages 13 to 17 with stronger safety defaults, study-focused features, parental controls and protections designed to reduce emotional dependence on AI.

How scammers defeat two-factor authentication: Matt asks how criminals can get around 2FA. A common trick is to steal a password, trigger a legitimate authentication code and then impersonate the bank or service to convince the victim to read the code aloud.

Free VPN options: Mike in Ventura wants a good free VPN. Rich recommends Proton VPN and also points to VPN options from Firefox and Opera; for a paid service, Rich likes Surfshark, a newsletter sponsor.

Sticking with Windows 10: David dislikes Windows 11 and wants to keep using Windows 10. Rich warns that unsupported operating systems eventually lose security and software compatibility, but experienced users may still find Windows 10 hardware or reinstall it while accepting those risks.

Fake IRS crypto letters: Scammers are mailing official-looking letters claiming recipients need to enroll in an IRS digital asset compliance portal. The IRS has no such portal, and QR codes in the letters can lead to sites designed to steal personal or cryptocurrency information.

AI is making scams more convincing: Steve Weisman, founder of Scamicide, says AI is helping criminals create polished phishing messages, voice clones and highly personalized scams. His core advice is to distrust unexpected communications and independently verify requests before clicking, downloading or sharing information.

Secure your home router: Weisman recommends changing default router passwords, keeping router software updated and considering newer hardware that receives automatic security updates.

Beware fake customer service numbers: Scammers can manipulate search results or buy ads that display bogus support numbers. Instead of trusting the first search result, find customer service information directly from a company’s official website, app or bill.

Incogni plans compared: Alex asks which Incogni plan to choose. Rich says the higher-tier Unlimited plan adds broader removal coverage, custom removal requests and phone support, making it more comprehensive for people who want maximum data removal.

Building a smart tiki bar: Bob in Beaumont wants thunder, rain, lightning and rumbling effects on demand in his home tiki bar. Rich suggests combining smart lighting, audio automation and Flic buttons to trigger the scene, and also mentions LiquidView digital windows.

Recovering a locked Windows laptop: Milton has been locked out of a laptop for two years and no longer has access to the email address or phone number associated with it. Because the files are important, Rich recommends trying Microsoft account recovery first, then consulting a reputable repair or data-recovery service rather than wiping the computer.

Drone delivery expands rapidly: Amazon says Prime Air will expand from 11 locations to hundreds of cities and towns, while Uber Eats and Zipline are also preparing broader drone delivery. Both are betting that everyday items and food can eventually arrive within minutes.

Police drones become first responders: Flock is expanding beyond license plate cameras with drones that can automatically respond to 911 calls, reach scenes quickly and sometimes determine that an officer does not need to be dispatched.

Medicare phone scam warning: Kathy received an unsolicited call asking whether she had received a new Medicare card. Rich says the unexpected call and abrupt hang-up are warning signs and advises never giving Medicare or personal information to unsolicited callers.

FDA clears a blood-drawing robot: Aletta is a standalone robotic system that uses infrared and ultrasound to locate a vein, insert the needle, collect blood, dispose of the needle and apply a bandage. One professional can oversee multiple machines at once.

Pixel 11 focuses on useful AI: Myriam Joire, host of the Mobile Tech Podcast, joins Rich to discuss Google’s Pixel 11 lineup. Both highlight practical features such as Rambler voice-to-text and Magic Capture, which uses AI to find the best photos and clips from a captured moment.

Who should upgrade to Pixel 11: Joire says Pixel 10 owners probably do not need to upgrade, while Pixel 8 or 9 users have a stronger case. The standard Pixel 11 offers most of the important software features, while serious mobile gamers may prefer phones with faster processors.

Electronics stores still exist: Listeners recommend independent electronics shops including Marvac in Costa Mesa, JK Electronics in Westminster, Armies Electronics in Ohio and Elliott Electronic Supply in Tucson, along with amateur radio “hamfests” for components and equipment.

Fake CAPTCHA attacks can install malware: Kathleen encountered a bogus Cloudflare-style verification page that instructed her to type commands into her computer, resulting in a Trojan infection. Never follow unusual instructions from a CAPTCHA that ask you to run commands or paste code.

Windows Snipping Tool can copy stubborn text: Phil points out that Windows 11’s Snipping Tool can extract text from screenshots and other places where normal copy-and-paste does not work.

Update a full iPhone using a computer: Robert discovered that an iPhone without enough free storage for an iOS update may still be updated through a Mac or Windows PC, avoiding the need to offload apps that might no longer be available.

Hide trackers inside valuable items: Gary recommends concealing AirTags inside luggage, briefcases or shipped packages rather than leaving them somewhere a thief can easily spot and remove.

Leaving an Apple Podcasts review: Jane asks how to review Rich on Tech. On an iPhone, find the show in Apple Podcasts, scroll to Ratings & Reviews, tap “Write a Review” and submit it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Scam protection: Slow down, stop the conversation, and independently verify requests before sending money, sharing codes, or installing software.
• Family code words: Set up a private family code word to help verify emergency calls that could use AI-cloned voices.
• Calendar spam: Fake PayPal charges can appear as calendar events, so restrict invitations from unknown senders.
• Saving old email: Use Gmail import or Thunderbird to save messages before an old email account is shut down.
• OnePay legitimacy: OnePay appears legitimate, but always research customer service, banking partners, and company details before moving money.
• Pixel 11 lineup: Google’s Pixel 11 phones bring upgraded cameras, more AI features, faster charging, and higher starting prices.
• Which Pixel to buy: Rich’s early pick is the Pixel 11 Pro XL with 512 GB of storage and 16 GB of RAM.
• Pixel Tag: Google’s $29 AirTag-style tracker arrives November 11.
• Microsoft Publisher replacement: Canva is an easy Publisher alternative, while Affinity Publisher offers a more traditional desktop experience.
• Verizon outage: If your phone suddenly says SOS, check DownDetector and your carrier’s status page before changing settings.
• Cheaper wireless plans: MVNOs like PureTalk can save money by using major carrier networks without the premium pricing.
• Instagram redesign: Instagram changed its in-app wordmark for the first time in 10 years.
• Trusting AI: AI can sound certain even when it is wrong, so verify important answers and use it to assist rather than replace your judgment.
• Flock privacy changes: Flock is reducing license plate data retention and adding tighter controls after reports of police misuse.
• Passport renewals: Start at the official State Department website to avoid unnecessary third-party passport renewal fees.
• Electronics parts stores: Micro Center remains one of the best places to buy individual computer and electronics components in person.
• Restaurant search trick: Try “best casual local institution near me” in Google Maps to find distinctive local restaurants instead of chains.
• AI watermarking: Claude plans to watermark AI-generated content, including text, but identifying partial AI use remains complicated.
• Better than fillable PDFs: Online forms like Jotform, Tally, and Typeform can be easier for users than fillable PDFs.
• AirTag alternatives: Pebblebee trackers add features like rechargeable batteries, built-in attachment loops, and two-way phone finding.
• Galaxy Buds hearing aids: Samsung is adding an FDA-cleared hearing aid feature for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.
• Transaction alerts: Bank alerts can help you spot unauthorized withdrawals quickly and limit the damage.
• Sextortion emails: Ignore threatening emails claiming hackers recorded you, and change any exposed password that is still in use.
• Listener privacy tips: DuckDuckGo Email Protection and data-removal services can help reduce tracking and unwanted calls.
Call 1-888-RICH-101 (1-888-742-4101) to join in! Email your question here.
How to Listen:
🎙️ Live on KFI AM 640 - Los Angeles, Saturdays from 11 AM - 2 PM PT
🎙️ Rebroadcast on 710 WOR - New York City, Sundays from 8 PM - 11 PM ET
📻 Syndicated on affiliates nationwide
Subscribe to the podcast. Premium subscribers can listen ad-free here.
Follow Rich on Instagram. Subscribe to my free newsletter.
Rich on Tech Weekly airs on KTLA+. You can download the app on Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Samsung smart TVs.
Disclosure: I may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this post, at no additional cost to you.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.