Rich On Tech

Episoder

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  How I got an Uber refund, should you lease an iPhone & the robot vacuum ban (Episode 185, August 1, 2026) 01.08.2026 1t 49min

  Rich talked about the pros and cons of Apple’s new iPhone leasing program. Rich ordered an Uber, and they charged him 66% more than the quote. All he did was ask them to review the root and fare calculation for accuracy and got a credit for the difference. Mickey writes in to ask if wireless charging on airplanes and at public charging stations could be a security risk. AI continues to hack real companies during security tests. The bottom line is you need to take cybersecurity seriously, no matter what, if it’s personal or for your small business. Julie in Riverside is looking for a portable emergency radio with solar charging or a hand crank. Rich recommended this model from C. Crane or this less expensive option from Amazon. Rich also mentioned portable power stations from Jackery and EcoFlow. Karen in La Palma wants to remove her personal information from the internet. Rich recommended California’s DROP program, Google’s Results About You tool and show sponsor Incogni. Brian Collins, Executive Director of Earth Fire Alliance, will explain how its FireSat satellite network is designed to spot wildfires earlier, track them from space and give firefighters better information to protect communities. Adam in Orlando is looking for a motion sensor that can alert him when his father gets out of bed, helping him monitor for possible falls. Rich mentioned solutions from Bellman, Smart Caregiver and even a standard motion sensor or Wyze cam. Carol in Huntington Beach says her mesh Wi-Fi system is not working as expected. Rich recommended placing the main router and access points in more central locations. She can also test signal strength using Samsung’s hidden Wi-Fi connectivity tool or Ubiquiti’s WiFiman app. Andrea Smith, award-winning technology journalist, shares her top-tested Bluetooth earbuds and portable speakers, plus how to choose the right audio gear for your lifestyle. Aviate is a Flighty-style app for Android that helps you track flights and receive real-time travel updates. Spotify now has a smart running coach feature called Running Mode. A developer is creating a messaging app that more closely resembles the classic Samsung Messages experience. It’s called Messages by OzarksMade. 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.
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  Samsung foldables, the AI that broke free & the payments scammers love (184, July 25, 2026) 25.07.2026 1t 49min

  Rich talked about Samsung’s new foldables finally being a place where they are really good and polished, of course, right before Apple introduces something very similar. Carmen in Hollywood wants a cheaper alternative to her AT&T home phone line. Rich recommends Ooma, AT&T Home Phone Advanced, or checking with her cable provider for a lower-cost option. LG is cracking down on shady smart TV apps that secretly use your internet connection for other purposes. Andy Vaca, founder of GRYHAT Cybersecurity, explains OpenAI’s reported AI “hack” of Hugging Face may be better understood as an access-control failure, and what consumers can learn from the security basics companies still overlook. Charlie wants to know why Amazon no longer includes purchase details in its emails. Rich explains it is meant to prevent third-party services from harvesting that information. Sponsor: Incogni helps remove your personal information from data brokers. Get 60% off at incogni.com/rich. A Verizon roaming outage briefly left international travelers without data, including Rich. Bob in Dana Point wants to know why ShopBack no longer works with Firefox. Rich says Firefox’s built-in tracking protections probably don’t play nice with it. Rich visited Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in London, a centuries-old pub where he enjoyed fish and chips. A caller wants to upgrade her computer’s RAM. Rich recommends Kingston’s PC scanner to check compatibility, plus enabling sleeping tabs in her browser to free up memory. Rachel Roberts, Samsung’s Director of Smartphone Product Management, joins to discuss Samsung’s latest foldable phones. Google is adding selfie video verification as an account recovery backup if you lose your password, phone or access to two-factor authentication. Sheri in Irvine recommends the OneTab browser extension, which saves and organizes open tabs so they are easy to revisit without using as much memory. John in Whittier keeps seeing price increases on his T-Mobile military plan. Rich recommends calling T-Mobile to ask about a better deal and comparing alternatives at BestPhonePlans.net. Seats.aero and Points Path are Chrome extensions that display airline award pricing directly inside Google Flights alongside regular cash fares. Jessica Ray from MotorWeek shares the latest car buying trends, standout vehicles across every category, and what consumers should know before their next purchase. Jessica recommends the Rivian R2 for an EV. For hybrids, she likes the Toyota Grand Highlander and Hyundai Palisade. Steven in Beaumont wants to delete old online accounts. Rich recommends JustDeleteMe.xyz, which links directly to the account-deletion pages for many popular services. 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.
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  OnePlus exits the U.S., teen AI alerts & streaming settlement cash (183, July 18, 2026) 19.07.2026 1t 49min

  OnePlus is exiting the U.S. market. Richard from New Jersey is having issues getting audio from his Roku to his soundbar. Rich says it is most certainly the audio output settings. The iOS 27 public beta is here. Just be careful. I would not install on your primary phone. The final version will be out in September. Rick emails and asks for a way to watch over-the-air Dodgers games on his Android phone. Rich recommends the Tablo, a device that lets you stream local broadcast TV to your phone and other devices. Judy has a Samsung Galaxy S25 and says Chrome’s “Listen to this page” feature has disappeared. Rich says it’s likely a temporary software issue and recommends waiting for a future update. In the meantime, try Google’s free Reading Mode app or ElevenReader for text-to-speech. Switching from Samsung Messages to Google Messages? Here’s the info. Rich mentioned the app SMS Backup and Restore on Google Play. Travel expert Johnny Jet shares the must-have apps that can make a European vacation easier, from navigating cities and booking trains to translating menus and handling flight delays. Gene in Alabama has a Mac Laptop that just shows the Apple icon on startup. Rich says to boot into recovery mode using these commands. A Philadelphia news anchor says he lost $7,000 after scammers, in person at his bank, convinced him to read back a one-time code. Chuck in Lakewood is having issues resetting his Echo Dot. The Signal Ring promises blood pressure readings without a cuff. Samsung says it’s new foldables will have a less noticable crease thanks to a new display tech called Flex Titanium. Skyscanner says the cheapest week to fly this summer is August 17-23, and check out their everywhere search for cheap destinations. Dwayne is getting a popup for a search helper in Safari. Rich says to check for rogue extensions, then clear the full history from the browser to clean that up. Tobin Richardson, CEO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, explains how AI is transforming the smart home, why connected devices are finally getting easier to use, and what consumers need to know about privacy and security. If you don’t want your online meetings recorded or transcribed, some people are adding this to their display name: “Your Name - I do not consent to recording or transcription.” It’s not legally binding, but it does make your preference clear to everyone in the meeting. 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.
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  Meta’s AI image blunder, DuckDuckGo battles YouTube ads & simplifying an old iPhone (182, July 11, 2026) 12.07.2026 1t 51min

  Meta pulls controversial AI likeness feature: Meta briefly allowed its Muse Image generator to create images based on any public Instagram user’s photos without requiring permission. After criticism over consent, deepfakes, scams and unauthorized use, Meta removed the Instagram reference feature. Samsung Messages users move to Google Messages: Samsung’s discontinued messaging app may remain on phones because it was installed as a system app. Before clearing its data and cache, users should back up their texts with a tool such as SMS Backup & Restore and confirm everything appears in Google Messages. DuckDuckGo blocks most YouTube ads: DuckDuckGo’s browser now filters most ads on the YouTube website without requiring an additional extension. It does not block ads inside the YouTube app, and users may occasionally encounter buffering, playback problems or ads that slip through. Consider testing AT&T Internet Air before switching: Susan in San Clemente is considering a $99 bundle replacing her cable internet, cellular service and landline. Because 5G home internet speeds vary by location and congestion, Rich recommends testing cellular speeds and taking advantage of any trial period before canceling existing service. Speechify launches free AI voice typing: Speechify Voice Typing is available for iPhone, Mac and Windows and automatically cleans up punctuation, grammar and filler words. It offers an alternative to paid AI dictation services, although its iPhone workflow requires a few extra steps. Use the correct film for printing transparencies: James in San Diego found that ink smeared when printing signs on transparent sheets. Inkjet and laser printers require transparency film specifically designed for that printer type, with inkjet film usually having a coated printable side. Apple’s customer service and education discount stand out: Rich’s wife saved about $70 on an Apple Watch after an employee helped her verify eligibility through UNiDAYS. The experience was also a reminder that an older Apple device may be worth more when passed along to a family member than traded in. Shopping around can lower telecom costs: A caller paying $142 monthly for internet, television and a landline may already have a competitive bundle, but should compare promotional expiration dates and alternatives. Low-cost carriers such as Mint Mobile can substantially reduce cellular bills for people who do not need premium data or hotspot features. Keep the same Wi-Fi credentials when replacing a router: Meredith in Thousand Oaks lost connections to her printer and other devices after changing routers. Reusing the old network name and password can reconnect devices automatically; otherwise, the Epson printer can be reset and configured for the new network. Samsung and Google schedule new device events: Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked is set for July 22, with new foldables expected, while Google’s Made by Google event is scheduled for August 12. Shoppers who can wait may want to compare those announcements with Apple’s expected September lineup before buying a new phone. Travel apps can find deals, but verify AI recommendations: Travel blogger Marissa Strang recommends starting flight searches with Google Flights or Skyscanner and double-checking AI-generated travel advice. TripIt and Hopper can help organize itineraries and track fares, while XE provides current currency conversions. AirTags and eSIMs make travel easier: AirTags can help locate checked luggage, while eSIM services can provide international data without changing physical SIM cards. Travelers should compare eSIM pricing with their carrier’s roaming plan because the best option varies by destination and trip length. Flighty evaluates difficult connections: Flighty’s new Connection Assistant analyzes layovers and identifies terminal changes, security checks, passport control, baggage rechecks and other steps. It then rates the connection as relaxed, normal, tight or at risk, although Flighty remains limited to Apple devices. Review statements to find recurring subscriptions: Gary in Indio is helping a recently widowed friend identify services her husband subscribed to. Rich recommends examining several months of bank and credit-card statements, then checking the subscription sections of the Apple App Store and Google Play. Common household objects can weaken Wi-Fi: Microwaves can interfere with 2.4 GHz networks, while aquariums, mirrors, televisions, brick and concrete can obstruct or reflect signals. Place the router high, uncovered and near the center of the home, and consider a mesh system if one access point is not enough. Some routers restrict network names: Cam in Buena Park wants a replacement router that can reuse an existing Wi-Fi name containing a period. That character is generally valid, but some router software blocks it, so a different router may be needed to preserve the exact network name and reconnect existing devices automatically. Smart pepper spray can alert emergency contacts: Sabre’s connected pepper spray uses Bluetooth to send a text and live location when deployed. The phone must be nearby, powered on and connected to the app, and automatic 911 assistance requires a subscription. The new ChatGPT desktop app is aimed at power users: The newer app adds computer control, browser automation, coding and agent-style capabilities, but may consume usage limits quickly. Most people who only need standard chats can continue using the classic app. Assistive Access can simplify an old iPhone: Apple’s Assistive Access lets caregivers limit an iPhone to selected apps, contacts and features, making it useful for children, seniors and people with cognitive disabilities. A separate passcode prevents users from exiting the simplified interface, and web browsing can be removed entirely. Handle unwanted email carefully: Irma in Northern California should unsubscribe only from legitimate companies she recognizes. Suspicious messages should be marked as spam without opening them, and disabling automatic image loading can prevent senders from confirming that an address is active. Digital accessibility benefits everyone: Accessibility expert Christopher Kelly recommends making websites operable by keyboard, adding descriptive alternative text, labeling forms correctly and maintaining strong color contrast. Built-in tools include VoiceOver on Apple devices, TalkBack on Android and Narrator on Windows, while JAWS and NVDA offer additional Windows options. Listener tips and follow-ups: US Mobile offers access to all three major carrier networks; a fake Facebook event invitation can disguise a PayPal invoice scam; and Amazon issued a refund after a buyer documented a disputed phone return with shipping weight, wipe confirmation and seller messages. Other listeners reported that a Mac factory reset solved persistent freezing and reminded users to know their Apple ID credentials before installing updates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Location privacy wins, PlayStation ditches discs & AI gets personal (181, July 4, 2026) 04.07.2026 1t 49min

  The Supreme Court just handed down a major privacy ruling that affects the location data tech companies collect and store from your smartphone. Sony says they will stop making physical discs for games starting in January 2028. Rich mentioned the AP Stylebook. Rich mentioned downloading the official National Park app if you are traveling to a national park. Vince wants every website to appear in dark mode. Rich recommends the Dark Reader browser extension. Gregory Wieber, creator of the Apple Vision Pro app Vibescape, will discuss how immersive technology can help people connect with nature and the conservation projects underway at his Oregon farm. James wants to create an AI video avatar. Rich recommends using Google Gemini’s avatar feature. Apple’s hide my email may not be as private as you think. Petco has a lost and found pet service called Petco Love Lost. Tandia’s Samsung Galaxy S23 won’t turn on, but it contains important recordings. Rich says a professional data recovery service may be able to retrieve the files. He says to check The Clone Store and DriveSavers. Bob in San Diego wants a backup eSIM on a second carrier. Rich says you can add a low-cost plan and switch to it for calls and texts when needed. If you want automatic multi-network support, US Mobile offers a Multi-Network Add-on for $7.50 per month. Rich explains that iPhone now includes built-in earthquake alerts. Check your settings to make sure they’re enabled, or turn them off if you don’t want them. Dan Barbera of MacRumors shares his real-world experience with iOS 27, the WWDC announcements that matter most, and the Apple features consumers should be paying attention to next. Scott in El Cajon asks when to buy a new Mac. Rich recommends the MacRumors Buyer’s Guide, which shows when each model was last updated and when the next version is expected. WhatsApp is rolling out usernames, so you’ll no longer have to share your phone number to start a chat. Choose your username now in your account settings. Elsa caller asks how to stop calendar spam on an iPhone. Rich explains how to remove the unwanted calendar and highlights a Google Calendar setting that helps prevent future spam. Amazon Prime members can save 50 cents per gallon on gas over the holiday weekend. Rich also recommends Upside for cash back on fuel and notes that, according to GasBuddy, Sunday is the cheapest day to fill up in most states. Another fake McAfee scam cost a California senior $84,000. Rich shares a video that breaks down the scammer’s playbook so you can spot the warning signs and avoid becoming a victim. Jason Hiner, Editor-in-Chief of The Deep View, explains the biggest AI trends shaping business and consumer tech, from Apple’s AI strategy and AI agents to rising concerns over costs, privacy, and trust. 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. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Google’s privacy changes, the $25,000 Slate EV truck & scanning your old photos (180, June 27, 2026) 27.06.2026 1t 49min

  Rich says prices on tech products are going up. Apple raised prices this week on pretty much every product except the iPhone, and so did Microsoft on the Xbox. Rich talked about the new Slate electric pickup truck starting at $24,950. You customize it to make it your own. Prime Day shattered prices. Shoppers spent a record $26.4 billion online during those four days, according to Adobe Analytics. Rich has his list of recommended gadgets and the stuff you were actually buying from my links. Gary wants to bring his iPad in for a repair since he cracked the screen and wants to know how to erase it. Rich says: Go to General. Go to Settings, General. Scroll down to Transfer or Reset iPad and tap Erase All Content and Settings. Kim wants to know why the photos in his Google Photos library are being saved at a lower resolution. Rich says he likely has Storage Saver enabled instead of Original quality. To check: Open Google Photos Tap your profile picture in the upper right Tap Google Photos settings Tap Backup Under Backup quality, make sure Original quality is selected if you don’t want your photos compressed. Microsoft is giving Windows 10 users another year of security updates. Alan in Cyprus is wondering why his ASUS computer has no audio after a Windows update. Rich says to review Google’s new AI privacy setting. By default, Google may save images, videos, audio, and other media you upload while using Search to help improve its AI models. To check it: myactivity.google.com → Data & privacy → My Activity → Search services history → Save media. From there, you can decide whether you want Google to save that content. William in Kansas asks about Delivery Optimization, a Windows feature that can use your PC to help deliver Windows updates to other computers. To adjust it: Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Delivery Optimization → Advanced options. There, you can limit upload bandwidth to 5% or turn the feature off. Patrick Coughlin, author and co-founder of Scamwise, breaks down the rise of AI-powered scams and share practical ways consumers can protect themselves. Barbara wants to scan her old printed photos. Rich says you have a few options: use a service like ScanMyPhotos if you want to send them out, or use apps like PhotoScan by Google or Photomyne if you want to scan them with your phone. For larger projects, try an Epson FastFoto scanner to scan stacks quickly, or a Canon flatbed scanner if you prefer scanning photos one by one. Dr. Ami Bhatt, a leading cardiologist and digital health expert, explains how AI and wearable devices are turning consumer gadgets into real medical tools, what health advice you can trust, and where the risks still are. 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. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  My favorite apps, Toy Story 5’s tech warning & Prime Day deals (179, June 20, 2026) 20.06.2026 1t 49min

  Rich talked about his favorite apps he’s using right now. Chris in Orange County is looking for the most reliable live broadcast connection for sports coverage. Should he use cellular bonding or Starlink? Check out Rich’s Guide to Prime Day 2026! Bryan Bishop, creator of the Hooray for Baldywood newsletter, reviews Toy Story 5 and tells us whether Pixar still has the magic. Elaine wants to remove Google’s AI search summaries. Rich suggests adding -AI to searches or using the Bye Bye Google AI extension. Listener Jim recommends tapping the Web tab for traditional search results. Valerie in North Carolina wants to save photos and videos from Google Photos to a flash drive for her granddaughter. Rich recommends creating an album first, downloading it to a computer, then copying the files to a flash drive for easy sharing. Sherri in Lancaster wants to track her subscriptions. Rich recommends Rocket Money (free) or Monarch Money (paid), and checking for recurring charges through Amazon, Apple, and Google Play. Bobby is also popular, but the tracking process is more manual. Henderson in Richmond, Virginia is wondering if he should use a hardwire for his doorbell with Wi-Fi or go PoE. Rick Broida, senior tech writer at Yahoo⁠ and author of the Deal Secrets newsletter, shares smart ways to save on tech without sacrificing much. His picks include a 55-inch Vizio TV for $300, a 70-inch Insignia TV for $300, and Anker headphones for around $100. Meta is giving free Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses to legally blind U.S. veterans. The AI-powered glasses can read text, describe surroundings, and assist with everyday tasks. Andy in Baltimore is looking for a CCTV solution for his iPad. Rich recommends checking the American Foundation for the Blind’s guide to video magnifiers, along with iPad-compatible document cameras and magnifiers on Amazon. Also explore the iPad’s built-in accessibility features like Magnifier, Zoom, and Speak Screen. 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. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Has Apple finally fixed Siri, Meta gets more personal & the fight over AI data centers (178, June 13, 2026) 14.06.2026 1t 44min

  Be sure to subscribe to the Rich On Tech Newsletter! Rich talked about the biggest changes coming to iOS 27 and beyond, including Apple’s long-awaited Siri overhaul and other new features announced at WWDC 2026. Kim in Big Pine was having issues with a Samsung Galaxy A36 smartphone. Rich recommended making sure the phone is completely up to date, including Android system updates, Galaxy Store updates, app updates through the Google Play Store, and Google Play system updates. He also suggested resetting the phone’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings and using the Files by Google app to clean up unnecessary files and free up storage. Paul in Columbus, Ohio, was having trouble signing up for a YouTube Family Plan. Rich suggested contacting YouTube support directly through the app. Open the YouTube app, tap your profile icon, then tap the Settings icon. Scroll to the bottom and select Help, then tap Contact Us to start a chat with a live support representative. Meta will begin using your web browsing activity to influence the content you see on Facebook and Instagram, not just the ads you’re shown. [Instagram Post] Kathy in Hemet wanted to give her old Samsung phone to her niece and asked how to reset it. Rich explained that on most Samsung phones, you can go to Settings, tap About Phone, scroll down to Reset, and then choose Factory Data Reset. If the phone uses an eSIM and you plan to keep your phone number, be sure to select the option that preserves the eSIM when prompted during the reset process. John in Inglewood wants to erase an iPad that he forgot the password to. Rich says you can connect it to a computer or use iCloud. Jim in Portland wants to know if he can move his ChatGPT memory to another AI. Rich says yes. Both Claude and Gemini offer prompts you can paste into ChatGPT to summarize what it knows about you, then import that information into their services. Here’s the link for Claude and Gemini. Andrew O’Hara, editor at AppleInsider, will break down the biggest WWDC announcements. A caller wanted to know the website for getting vanity phone number and parking numbers. It’s numberbarn.com Watch Duty now covers flood alerts in addition to wildfires. $68 million Google Assistant privacy settlement details. Carol is trying to get a Facebook page removed, but she can’t log in. Rich says to go to Meta’s account recovery hub to try to regain access. Here’s a directory of direct links to delete online accounts, including Facebook. David in Florida has some bogus Google reviews. Rich says to use Google’s review reporting tool to flag them for removal if they violate Google’s policies. Mint Mobile increased data for customers without raising prices, and Instagram now lets you rearrange your profile grid. AI professor at the University of Montreal David Krueger explains why communities across the country are pushing back against massive AI data centers and what the AI boom could mean for energy, water, and everyday consumers. 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. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Are we moving too fast with AI, Google’s anti-scam calls & iPhone accessibility tools (177, June 6, 2026) 06.06.2026 1t 50min

  Be sure to subscribe to the Rich On Tech Newsletter! Alex in Northridge wants to know: Can you mirror your phone to a TV while sending the audio to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones? Dawn received a text about an Amazon product recall, but the link looked suspicious. Rich says Amazon has an official recalls page where you can check whether any items you’ve purchased have been recalled. Melody wonders if she can still create and open Word documents without paying for Microsoft 365. Rich says yes, recommending free alternatives like Google Docs and LibreOffice, or the free web version of Microsoft Word available through a web browser. Apple’s WWDC 2026 kicks off Monday in Cupertino, where the company is expected to unveil a new version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence and enhanced AI capabilities. Richard writes in about a privacy warning that appeared after installing the Bitmoji keyboard and wants to know whether it’s safe to use. Bobo celebrated his birthday at a place called Barcade, and it turns out there are several locations where you can enjoy classic arcade games along with food and drinks. Shelly Brisbin, author of “iOS Access for All,” joins to share practical accessibility features and helpful tech tips for seniors and people with disabilities. Al in Jacksonville is looking for a good PDF form-filling app for his Android phone. Rich recommends Tungsten Power PDF Mobile and Adobe Acrobat Reader, both of which make it easy to complete and sign PDF forms on the go. Listener Marco recommends PDFgear. Stephanie in Pasadena keeps seeing a message that says, “A JavaScript error occurred in the main process,” and wants to know what’s causing it and how to make it go away. Ben Komenkul of Ben’s Big Deal shares the best travel apps, airfare tools, and insider strategies to save money, handle delays, and book smarter trips. Mentioned: Autopilot, a service that can automatically help you claim eligible flight and hotel refunds, and Gondola.ai, a hotel search engine that lets you find properties based on specific features and amenities. Terrence in West Covina shares a tip for setting custom notification sounds in Google Messages. Open a conversation, tap the three-dot menu, select Details, then Notifications, and choose Sound to pick a custom alert tone. He says the process was much simpler in Samsung Messages. 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. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Roku’s new home screen, Meta subscriptions & AI phishing scams (176, May 30, 2026) 30.05.2026 1t 50min

  Be sure to subscribe to the Rich On Tech Newsletter! Rich talked about the big changes to the Roku home screen. Rich mentioned to turn off Automatic Content Recognition: Settings > Privacy - Smart TV Experience > ACR Off Chelsea in Beaumont wants to know why Samsung Messages is moving to Google Messages and how to individualize text sounds for contacts. Rich says to enable Custom Notification Categories on Android for more control over alerts. Open Settings, tap Notifications, select Advanced settings, then turn on Manage notification categories for each app. You can also customize alerts for individual contacts. Open the Contacts app, select a person, tap Edit, and change their ringtone so you know who’s calling without looking at your phone. DIRECTV is raising prices on satellite and streaming starting June 25, most packages are going up from $5-8 a month. Rich mentioned iVerify to scan your phone for signs of spyware. iOS and Android. Verizon’s Total Wireless has a new $25 unlimited plan if you can bring your own unlocked phone. Gini in Menifee wants a simple Android phone. Rich recommends the Pixel 10a for its clean software, great camera, and ease of use. Meta has new Plus subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp starting at $3 a month. Gary says his phone is asking him to install AI by Glance for his lock screen. Rich says to skip it. Josie wants to know the difference between Guardio, LifeLock and Incogni. Rich also mentioned Chrome Enhanced Safe Browsing and AnnualCreditReport.com Guests:Amanda Caswell, AI Editor at Tom’s Guide, shares practical AI tips, tricks and tools that everyday consumers can actually use to save time and get more done. Nick in Ohio wants to know if Starlink is good for work from home. Rich says to check all options at FCC Broadband Map and Ookla’s ISP Finder. Google says it has heard consumer complaints about the Google Health app and is working to address some of the issues in future updates. Apple has updated its trade-in values for select iPhones and other devices, potentially changing how much credit customers can receive toward a new purchase. Samsung is changing how it syncs photos with OneDrive. Users who want to keep their synced photos should download the OneDrive app and sign in by July 31. Meta is adding new AI-powered accessibility features to its smart glasses, helping people with disabilities better understand and interact with the world around them. Brian Vecci of Varonis explains how plug-and-play scam kits are making phishing attacks harder to spot than ever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Google’s massive AI search overhaul, $845K spoofing scam & duplicate photo tools (175, May 23, 2026) 24.05.2026 1t 47min

  • Google’s biggest Search overhaul in 25 years: Google unveiled a major AI-powered redesign of Search and Gemini at Google I/O, turning the search box into a multimodal assistant that can understand text, photos, video, and voice. Rich explained how AI is becoming more proactive, helping users summarize emails, organize tasks, and even recommend products from a simple photo. • AI avatars and deepfakes get eerily realistic: Rich tested Google’s new AI avatar tools that can generate lifelike videos and voice clones from a face scan and a few voice samples. While the technology is impressive for creative projects, it also raises serious concerns about scams, impersonation, and how easy it’s becoming to fake someone’s identity. • AI agents could replace routine digital tasks: Google previewed “agentic AI” tools that can research products, monitor prices, and complete tasks in the background 24/7. Rich discussed how these systems may become cheaper alternatives to human assistants, but many advanced features currently require expensive subscription plans. • Gmail becomes conversational with AI: New AI-powered Gmail features can summarize inboxes, organize travel plans, and answer questions about upcoming trips using information already stored in Google accounts. Rich noted the convenience, but also reminded listeners that AI summaries can still make mistakes. • Scammers are using AI to become more convincing: A new Visa fraud report found scammers increasingly rely on AI-generated voices, fake customer service calls, deepfake videos, and highly personalized phishing attacks. Rich stressed the importance of slowing down, verifying requests independently, and never trusting caller ID alone. • Covina couple loses $845,000 in FBI impersonation scam: Scammers posing as federal agents convinced a retired California couple to liquidate savings, take out loans, and send cryptocurrency over several months. The case highlights how emotional manipulation, spoofed phone numbers, and fake video calls are making scams harder to detect. • Remote access scams continue targeting consumers: A caller shared how scammers pretending to be Apple Pay support tried to convince him to install remote access software. Rich warned listeners that once scammers gain remote access to a device, victims can quickly lose control of accounts and finances. • Google’s AI Search answers may still hallucinate: Guest Connor Jewiss explained why Google’s new AI-generated search results could create problems when incorrect information is presented confidently. He warned that many users trust AI answers without clicking through to verify sources. • Will consumers actually pay for AI subscriptions?: Google’s premium AI plans now bundle features like advanced Gemini tools, YouTube Premium, cloud storage, and AI-powered research assistants. Rich and Connor discussed whether consumers will pay monthly fees for AI tools that automate shopping, apartment hunting, and other tasks. • Cruise internet and international travel connectivity tips: Rich explained how cruise ship Wi-Fi pricing works and why travelers often need to rely on ship internet packages at sea. He also recommended eSIM services like Airalo, Saily, and GigSky for international travel, along with checking whether carriers already include roaming benefits. • T-Mobile launches live AI phone call translation: T-Mobile introduced a beta feature that translates phone calls in real time across more than 50 languages without requiring a separate app. Only one person on the call needs to be a T-Mobile customer for the translation to work. • Samsung phone troubleshooting and phantom touch issues: Rich helped a listener troubleshoot a jumpy Samsung Galaxy A26 screen and failed software updates. He recommended running Samsung diagnostics, reviewing touch sensitivity settings, removing unnecessary apps, and performing a factory reset before pursuing a warranty claim. • Smartwatch glucose monitoring claims remain misleading: Rich clarified that no mainstream smartwatch can currently monitor blood glucose levels non-invasively without a separate sensor like a Dexcom device. He warned listeners to be skeptical of ads claiming otherwise. • Wildfire technology and preparedness: Reporter Dave Malkoff discussed how hotter temperatures are making wildfires burn more intensely and how firefighting technology has evolved. He highlighted tools like aircraft retardant drops, drone detection systems, and rapid-response logistics networks used during disasters. • Digitizing family photos and protecting memories: Rich and Dave emphasized the importance of scanning and backing up family photos before disasters strike. They recommended multiple backups, including cloud storage, and discussed compatibility issues between Windows and Mac external hard drives. • Managing duplicate photos and cloud storage overload: Rich shared apps that help identify duplicate photos on Android and explained how cloud storage management is becoming a growing frustration for many users. He joked that cleaning up cloud storage may become his “retirement project.” • Landlines may disappear in California: AT&T is suing California regulators in an effort to phase out traditional copper landline service. Rich explained the debate between maintaining legacy phone infrastructure for emergencies versus transitioning customers to wireless and fiber-based services. • Apple sets date for WWDC 2026: Apple announced WWDC will begin June 8, where the company is expected to unveil smarter AI-powered Siri features and updates across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch lineup. • Online safety and AI literacy with Larry Magid: Tech journalist Larry Magid discussed the importance of verifying AI-generated information before sharing or acting on it. He also described how younger users are beginning to push back against social media overuse and corporate control of online experiences. • T-Mobile Scam Shield and anti-spam tools: Rich highlighted built-in scam blocking tools available to T-Mobile customers, including dial codes that activate spam call filtering directly through the carrier. • AI voice cloning scams are getting more personal: One listener described how scammers used AI-generated voice cloning to impersonate a family member in distress. Rich recommended establishing family safe words and verification questions to prevent future impersonation scams. • Cruise internet hacks and Android hotspot sharing: Listeners shared tips for reducing cruise Wi-Fi costs, including using Android phones to rebroadcast purchased Wi-Fi connections as personal hotspots for multiple devices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Android 17's coolest new tricks, your texts just got way more private & is AI really your friend? (174, May 16, 2026) 16.05.2026 1t 49min

  Be sure to subscribe to the Rich On Tech Newsletter! Rich talked about some of the best new features coming to Android 17. Barbara asks about the app Rich mentioned for keeping track of TV shows. Rich recommends JustWatch, his personal go-to, with Reel Good as another solid option. Kara in Fallbrook called in to report that she loves the Epson WorkForce WF-110 mobile printer. Rich mentioned he likes his HP Smart Tank 5101. Michael in Los Angeles called in trying to decide between a used M1 MacBook and a new MacBook Neo. iPhone to Android texts are finally getting end-to-end encryption. Randy called in wondering whether to take Spectrum’s free router or buy his own. Amazon has launched 30-minute delivery for groceries and essentials in a growing number of cities nationwide. OpenAI has launched a tool that lets you connect your financial accounts directly to ChatGPT. Tim Schofield of the QBKing77 YouTube channel joins to talk about the new Motorola razr fold, what stands out after hands-on testing, and whether foldables are finally ready for mainstream users. Paul in Grand Rapids called in wondering why Gemini is generating low-resolution images. Rich says to tap the three dots underneath the photo and look for “Redo with Pro” to get a higher-quality result. Anne in Simi Valley called in looking for an app that can record a doctor’s visit, transcribe it, and produce an English summary -- even if the doctor is speaking a different language. Rich recommends Whisper Memos for this. Rich shares his workaround for Whisper Memos not being available on Android -- he’s using VoiceNotes.com, with Zapier set up to email him whenever he creates a note, and a similar workflow with Google Tasks through Gemini. Laura writes in ahead of a trip to the Dominican Republic asking which apps to download before she goes. Rich recommends enabling Wi-Fi calling and texting, downloading Google Maps with offline maps, grabbing Google Translate with the offline Spanish language pack, and using WhatsApp or Telegram for staying in touch over Wi-Fi. The FCC says foreign routers will be allowed to receive security updates until 2029. Instagram has launched a new feature called Instants -- disappearing photos that are completely unfiltered. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have announced a joint venture to use satellite technology to eliminate wireless dead zones. Linda in Burbank called in after accidentally deleting an icon from her home screen. Rich says to swipe up to the app drawer, find the app, and drag it back to the home screen. Once it’s back in place, long-press on the home screen, look for Home Screen Settings, and toggle on the option to lock the home screen layout so nothing gets accidentally moved or removed again in the future. Amazon is merging its Rufus shopping chatbot with Alexa+ to create Alexa for Shopping -- a smarter assistant that’s better at finding what you want and now includes memory. San Francisco State University philosophy chair and AI ethics expert Carlos Montemayor explains how to use AI safely. His book is The Prospect of a Humanitarian Artificial Intelligence and you can download it free. Darren created an app called Talk for Me -- a text-to-speech app -- and if you email him mentioning Rich on Tech, he’ll send you a free promo code. Reach him at darren@talkforme.com. Mentioned in the Feedbag: ElevenReader, Speechify, Madman Phone Volume Amplifier Sound Booster, and Mindtrip Flights. 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. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The AI travel site I can’t stop using, scammers spoof police numbers & ChatGPT emergency contacts (173, May 9, 2026) 09.05.2026 1t 49min

  Rich On Tech Episode 173 - May 9, 2026 Be sure to subscribe to the Rich On Tech Newsletter! Google unveils the Fitbit Air screenless fitness tracker. Rich helps Drew in Laguna Beach fix Chrome pop-ups by identifying them as notification spam and recommending you go to Chrome > Settings > Site settings > Notifications to remove any unrecognized sites Mindtrip Flights offers a new way to search for travel using natural language. Rich mentioned how an elderly man was scammed out of $25,000 through a phone spoofed phone call. Rich mentioned a good website called scamspotter.org to understand how these scams work. Rich recommended a good movie called Thelma from 2024, where an elderly woman gets scammed and takes revenge. Mauricio in Fountain Valley is wondering how to reset an Xbox console to factory defaults. Some iPhone 15 and 16 users may be eligible for $25 to $95 thanks to a new Apple Siri settlement. ChatGPT is adding a new feature, a new optional safety feature called Trusted Contact. Mary in Orange County is looking for computer repair services and Rich recommends contacting top-rated companies on Yelp or using established providers like HelloTech and Micro Center. Samsung says the Galaxy Watch may be able to predict fainting. Paul Struhsaker, CEO of the Wireless Power Consortium, explains why Qi2 could be the USB-C moment that finally makes wireless charging simple, universal, and more reliable. Chad in Los Angeles has an old MacBook that won’t boot up. Rich says to try the recovery tool or making a flash drive and re-installing the operating system with a tool like Disk Drill. Several listeners recommended ZVOX soundbars for easier to hear dialogue. Dennis in Lake Forest says he’s getting hundreds of spam texts, political spam texts. What can he do? Rich says to download Google Messages and turn on spam filtering and don’t engage with the messages. Energizer has launched safer coin batteries with child safety features. T-Mobile now lets you satellite text in Canada and New Zealand, and you can sign up online instantly, even if your carrier is not T-Mobile Avneesh Kohli, founder of Savewise, explains how to stack coupons, cash back, and credit card offers to save real money on everyday purchases. 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. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Razr is back, promo code hacks that work & Windows security gets a boost (172, May 2, 2026) 02.05.2026 1t 50min

  Rich DeMuro brings you the latest tech news, helpful tips, gadget reviews, and more - plus interviews with industry experts - all in this weekly show. Rich talked about motorola’s launch event in Hollywood for new razr flip and foldable phones. Here’s the latest edition of the Rich On Tech Newsletter! Bill in Los Angeles is worried about a virus on his iPhone. Rich explains it’s most likely notification spam, not an actual virus. To clean things up: clear your browser history, delete any apps you don’t recognize or no longer use, and head into Settings > Privacy & Security to review which apps have access to your location, camera, microphone, and more. Rich mentioned the app iVerify Basic, which can scan your iPhone or Android for any signs of spyware. Cathy in Chicago wants to know Rich’s favorite to-do app on Android. Rich’s pick is Microsoft To Do, because it gives you a fresh start each day. Dennis in Marina Del Rey wants a backup battery for power outages, specifically one that runs on regular AA batteries. Rich found an option on Amazon that fits the bill, and also recommends stepping up to a portable power station from brands like EcoFlow, Jackery, or Goal Zero, which can also be paired with solar panels for off-grid charging. Uber now lets you book hotels directly in the app, and Uber One members can score some solid discounts and credits when they do. Chime in Sherman Oaks is blind and voices his concern that not every streaming app has strong accessibility features built in. Bill in Little Rock wants to know if it’s safe to click links in text messages. Fubo has added Spectrum SportsNet LA for the 2026 season, meaning subscribers can now watch Dodgers games through the service. Airlines are cracking down on portable chargers. Here’s what you need to know. Barbara in Topanga is looking for music software that lets her write with an Apple Pencil. Rich recommends checking out StaffPad, Fender Notion, and forScore. Jimmy Dohenny from SimplyCodes reveals how to find the best online deals, avoid bad coupon codes, and shop smarter year-round. Rich mentioned the Hooray for Baldywood newsletter as a great resource for movie suggestions. Microsoft says you may not need third-party antivirus anymore. What’s already built into Windows is probably enough to keep you protected. Debbie in Wisconsin wants to know if she can retrieve deleted or expired voicemails. Rich recommends opening the Visual Voicemail app to see if they’re still there, and using the share icon to save them to yourself before they disappear. If you want longer retention going forward, consider signing up for a third-party service like YouMail or Google Voice. Rich mentioned some helpful new apps and websites: Dual Shot Recorder, Gradient Weather, Memo AI, Alpenglow, US National Parkfinder, Clove, NASA Your Name in Landsat, and Blank Page. JubileeTV CEO Ashish Aggarwal explains how your TV can become a simple, powerful tool to monitor, connect with, and care for aging loved ones at home. 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. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Best apps to organize bookmarks, iPhone accessibility tools & risks of grey market streaming boxes (Episode 171, April 25, 2026 - Best of) 26.04.2026 1t 43min

  • Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra first impressions: The new Ultra keeps a familiar look but improves comfort with a lighter aluminum build, faster charging, and better low-light camera performance. AI features are everywhere, but the standout is a built-in privacy display that limits side-angle viewing. • AI-powered phone features expand: Samsung leans heavily on AI for photo editing, call screening, and “agentic” tasks like booking rides or ordering food. Some features feel early, but the direction is toward phones doing more actions on your behalf. • T-Mobile’s live call translation: A new network-level feature will translate phone calls in real time across 50+ languages with no app required. Only one person on the call needs to be a T-Mobile customer, making it broadly useful. • Credit card fee settlement payouts: Small businesses that accepted Visa or Mastercard between 2004 and 2019 may receive payments from a $5.5 billion settlement over swipe fees. Checks are starting to go out now. • Debit vs credit card debate: Using tap-to-pay or chip is safest since it generates one-time numbers. Credit cards offer better fraud protection, while debit cards can help with budgeting but expose your actual funds. • Streaming TV gets more fragmented: Services like YouTube TV are testing cheaper genre-based bundles (sports, news, entertainment), but the ecosystem remains confusing. Consumers must mix and match carefully to avoid overspending. • Local sports streaming options grow: MLB and regional networks now offer team-specific streaming packages, letting fans watch local teams without a full cable bundle, though pricing can still add up. • Risks of grey market streaming boxes: “Fully loaded” boxes offering free TV are often illegal, unreliable, and may expose users to malware. Stick to legitimate platforms like Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV. • Accessibility challenges and solutions: Callers highlighted issues with voice assistants misfiring and navigating smartphones without vision. Built-in tools like VoiceOver on iPhone and accessibility settings on Android can help, but setup often requires guidance. • Default app confusion on Windows: If PDFs open in Microsoft Word instead of a reader, it’s due to default app settings. Changing the default to a proper PDF viewer like Adobe Acrobat fixes the issue. • Waymo robotaxis and loss of human interaction: Autonomous rides are efficient but remove the human element, like asking drivers for local tips. Technology is increasingly transactional, reducing shared experiences. • New apps worth trying:– Acme Weather offers hyper-local forecasts, rainbow alerts, and multiple prediction models.– Dispo creates retro-style photos with delayed “film development” for a nostalgic effect. • Electric vehicle recall warning: Volvo is recalling thousands of EX30 EVs over potential battery fire risks, advising owners to limit charging and avoid parking near structures until fixed. • Bookmarking and link-saving tools: Apps like Raindrop.io and Plinky help organize saved websites with tags and cross-device syncing, offering better alternatives to traditional browser bookmarks. • Smart printer recommendations: Brother printers, especially ink tank models, are praised for reliability and low ink costs. Ink tanks are becoming more popular as a cost-effective alternative to cartridges. • Android luggage tracking update: Google’s Find Hub lets users share a tracker’s live location with airlines, similar to Apple AirTag sharing, helping recover lost bags more efficiently. • AI photo editing gets powerful: Tools like Google Gemini can now realistically add or remove people from photos with simple prompts, making advanced edits accessible to anyone. • AI personal productivity tools: Gemini can generate custom tools like link organizers or image resizers on demand, showing how AI is moving toward personalized software creation. • Deep personality AI test trend: A new app generates detailed psychological profiles and even lets users create a chatbot based on their personality. It’s insightful but raises privacy considerations. • Free iPhone cleanup app tip: Clever Cleaner is recommended for removing duplicate photos and freeing storage without ads or subscriptions, unlike many competing apps.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Seniors outsmarting smartphones, a new way to organize your links & the truth about AI audio recorders (Episode 170, April 18, 2026) 19.04.2026 1t 50min

  Rich DeMuro brings you the latest tech news, helpful tips, gadget reviews, and more - plus interviews with industry experts - all in this weekly show. Booking.com breach exposes traveler data. Watch out for phishing emails related to travel. The FBI figured out a way to access signal messages on an iPhone. If you want to keep your messages super secure, turn off message preview notifications. Google now has new apps for both Windows and Mac computers. Keith in Kansas is wondering if he should invest in a dedicated AI audio recorder like Plaud or Pocket. Rich mentioned he’s a fan of Whisper Memos, which works seamlessly with both the Apple Watch and iPhone. Peter in Massachusetts just got a new Samsung A16, but if his Mint Mobile service isn’t working, he likely needs to manually update his Access Point Name (APN) settings to get his data and messaging up and running. A website called send/links helps you save, organize, and find your links in one place, with the added convenience of being able to send them via Telegram. Steve in Murietta wants to reduce his digital footprint and stop spam calls, so Rich recommends using Google’s "Results about you" tool to remove personal info from search results and check out this Consumer Reports article. Don in New Hampshire wants sleep apnea detection. There is a sleep apnea feature on both the Apple Watches and the Galaxy Watches. You can finally turn off YouTube Shorts, sort of. A 73-year-old Anne Goldberg, author of Take This Phone and Shove It!, shares simple, real-world tips to help seniors outsmart scams, avoid AI-driven tricks, and feel confident using their smartphones. Ed in Pennsylvania is wondering if he should try to connect his 25-year-old computer to the internet Paul in Orange, California, who is visually impaired, is looking for mobile options beyond the iPhone. Rich suggested exploring Agentic AI features on Android, Gemini Live as well as dedicated hardware like the BlindShell Classic and Kapsys SmartVision phones, which offer tactile keypads and specialized interfaces. Rich mentioned in his newsletter how much he loves the Orb app, which provides a live internet quality score on your computer’s desktop at all times. Kim in Santa Cruz is looking to switch from Verizon to Pure Talk, and Rich notes that he will need his account number, phone number, and a port-out PIN to complete the transfer. Eric in Mexico is looking for a way to connect a portable SiriusXM radio to a car with only Bluetooth and USB, and Rich suggests using an AirFly transmitter to bridge the gap. Mint Mobile has a new home internet and wireless bundle for $45 a month. You do have to prepay for the whole year, $540. Netgear is the first router company to get FCC conditional approval under their new rules. Residential technology designer Carley Knobloch will share practical tips for choosing and using smart home tech that actually makes everyday life easier. 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. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Samsung Messages getting retired, new tool reveals what’s slowing your internet & Sonos makes a comeback (Episode 169, April 11, 2026) 11.04.2026 1t 38min

  Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cybercrime last year, a 26% increase from the year before. Investment scams, crypto scams, and phishing remain the most common ways criminals target victims. Samsung Messages is going away this summer. You’ll need to switch to Google Messages, which should make texting more secure and improve messaging between iPhone and Android. Susan in Orange County is heading to China. Rich recommends bringing a VPN, a portable power bank, messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, and translation tools such as Google Translate, Apple Translate, or Gemini. For connectivity, he suggests using an eSIM from Airalo. Older Kindle models are losing support in May. Here’s the list of affected devices and how to check yours. Vic in Sherman Oaks asks whether a smartphone can be remotely wiped even if it’s offline. Bob emails asking if you can see speed limits and hazards in Apple Maps or Google Maps on CarPlay without entering a destination. Rich says Google Maps used to offer a Drive Mode, but it appears to be gone. For now, your best option is Waze, which shows that info even without a destination set. YouTube Premium is raising prices by $1 to $4 a month. Marianne in Los Angeles says her copper landline is being phased out. Rich suggests alternatives like Ooma, Ooma LTE, or Starlink. Inc. has a great article on what businesses can do right now to avoid the same fate as the massive LAPD data breach. Yolanda says when she clicks links in spam text messages, she gets an “Error 400.” Rich says don’t click those links. Instead, reply with “STOP,” “unsubscribe,” or just delete the message. Better yet, enable spam text filtering on your iPhone or Android. Connie writes in that she’s buying an iPhone from Apple as a gift for her daughter and asks whether to choose Verizon or “connect to any carrier later.” Rich recommends choosing “connect to any carrier later,” which gives you an unlocked phone. Her daughter can then activate it on Verizon once she receives it. Fabrice says changes in his Outlook email aren’t showing up in Gmail. What’s going on? Rich says it’s likely set up using POP3 instead of IMAP. Alex is looking for a truly free VPN with no upfront cost. Rich recommends Proton VPN and Windscribe as solid options. Just know they come with limitations. You won’t get all the premium features, but they’ll get the job done. Doug Suttles, co-creator of Speedtest, explains why your internet speed isn’t the full story and how his new tool called Orb reveals what’s actually slowing your connection. Martino called in to say he loves MagicJack and recommends it as a solid alternative to a traditional landline. Spectrum is finally launching a Fire TV app, arriving April 15. Mark in Torrance is looking for a way to organize and preserve 40 years of photography. Rich recommends options like Google Photos albums, Dropbox, or a dedicated service such as SmugMug. Waymo cars are now scanning roads for potholes and reporting that to both cities and ways. Rich mentioned how to turn on voice isolation on the iPhone. Robert says when he texts himself on his Android phone, it doesn’t come through. Clearing the cache for the Messaging app might help - just be careful not to clear the data, that will delete your messages. Rich mentioned Email me apps for iPhone and Android. Ross Barbour of Sonos explains how the latest Sonos speakers make whole-home audio more flexible, portable, and easier to expand. Mentioned: Sonos Play and Sonos Era 100 SL. Rich DeMuro brings you the latest tech news, helpful tips, gadget reviews, and more - plus interviews with industry experts - all in this weekly show. 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. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Best ways to back up your digital life, ChatGPT comes to your car & Samsung adds blood pressure tracking (Episode 168, April 4, 2026) 04.04.2026 1t 49min

  Rich talked about the importance of backing up your phone, computer, photos and texts. Check out his guide here. Sophia in Westlake asks if an out-of-cloud storage email she received is legit. Helix CEO Alex Oberg on building a privacy-first digital ID layer to prove what’s real online in an era of AI fakes. Anthony in Palmdale asks how to call his wife by voice on Samsung, and Rich recommends using Bixby, Google Assistant, or Gemini. Rich in San Diego asks if Carbonite is a good backup service, and Rich says to compare it with Backblaze and iDrive. Karen in Los Angeles asks why deleting photos on her iPhone also deletes them from iCloud; Rich says iCloud sync mirrors changes, suggests turning on Optimize iPhone Storage, and notes Amazon Photos offers unlimited photo backup for Prime members (with video storage turned off). You can finally change your Gmail address, and your old one will still work. ChatGPT is now available in CarPlay—just update to iOS 16.4 and the latest ChatGPT app. Barbara in San Bernardino is wondering how to cut down on her AOL email spam. One helpful way is to turn off remote image loading. Johnny Jet shares the latest tips on flight disruptions, booking strategies, and what travelers need to know right now. Samsung Watches can now monitor Blood Pressure - but you’ll still need to calibrate with a cuff once a month. Scott in Ventura asks how to move music from his iPhone to a Mac, and Rich recommends iMazing, EaseUS MobiMover or AnyTrans. FYI, YouTube Music can host a free cloud library. AT&T’s new OneConnect bundle combines wireless and home internet into a single plan that could save you money. Dee in the City of Industry thinks she’s under a cyberattack, and Rich suggests enabling Lockdown Mode on the iPhone. Jefferson Graham, host and producer of the travel TV show Photowalks, will share smart travel photography tips, scenic destination ideas, and how to take better photos on the road. Rich DeMuro brings you the latest tech news, helpful tips, gadget reviews, and more - plus interviews with industry experts - all in this weekly show. 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. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Stop AI training on your data, Samsung gets AirDrop & live captions for your phone (Episode 167, March 28, 2026) 28.03.2026 1t 48min

  The FCC is moving to ban Wi-Fi routers made by foreign companies - here’s what it means for the gear in your home. Netflix is raising prices again - here’s what you’ll be paying and when the changes kick in. Samsung Galaxy phones can now AirDrop files directly to iPhones, marking a major milestone in Android and Apple interoperability. Jason from Michigan lost access to his Meta account, and Rich walks him through two recovery options including the Meta recovery page and paying for Meta Verified. Most AI apps train on your data by default unless you opt out, and Rich walks you through exactly how to turn that off on ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Nancy wants to back up her MacBook Air, and Rich recommends a Western Digital hard drive paired with Apple’s built-in Time Machine software to get it done. Ron from Oregon has trouble with touchscreens not recognizing his fingertips, and Rich recommends Samsung’s touch sensitivity setting plus several accessible phone options including dumbwireless.com, Kapsys, and the BlindShell phone. Marty from Michigan wants to know the best way to move everything to a new PC, and Rich says skip PCMover and instead transfer your important files with a hard drive and reinstall your apps fresh. iOS 26.4 is out with a solid batch of updates including a keyboard bug fix, upcoming concert info in Apple Music, expanded translation, and Stolen Device Protection now turned on by default. Catherine is looking for ways to caption audio on a smartphone for her friend, and Rich walks her through the built-in live captioning options available on iPhone and Android. Catherine is looking for a disposable camera app for a wedding or event, and Rich recommends Lense.app, while also mentioning Dispo as an option though it may not be the best fit for this use case. Olivia Yokubonis, digital wellness creator and anti-doomscrolling advocate, will discuss how social media apps are designed to keep you hooked and simple ways people can take back control of their screen time using tools like the Opal. Patricia from Huntington Beach is developing an app and wants to add new features, and Rich recommends AI coding tools ranging from Gemini Canvas and Claude Code to the more advanced Cursor. Virginia from New York has a new computer and monitor with no audio, and Rich says the simple fix is picking up a pair of inexpensive computer speakers. Rob in Yorba Linda wants to wipe a Samsung phone his mom forgot the passcode on. Rich suggests trying recovery mode - hold down the right button combination at startup to boot into recovery, then select the option to wipe the device. On iPhone, there’s a similar feature called Restore - plug the phone into a computer with iTunes or Finder, put it in recovery mode, and you can wipe and restore it from there without needing the passcode. Pablo in Gardena says his phone has been stuck on SOS mode. Rich suggests starting simple - reseat the SIM card. If that doesn’t work, sign up for a cheap plan through Tello and try downloading an eSIM to help narrow down whether it’s a phone problem or a carrier issue. Worst case, a factory reset may be the fix. Fire TV is getting its first major interface overhaul since 2020. Amazon is rolling out a big upgrade to the home screen and overall experience — keep an eye out if you have a supported device, as it should arrive automatically. Dark Sword is now available for free online. Make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest version to protect yourself from the latest security vulnerabilities. Bob in Charlotte wants links to open directly in Gmail instead of the browser. Here’s how to make it happen: go to Gmail.com in Chrome, then click the settings icon next to the URL bar and look for the option that says “Open supported links” — select Gmail from there and email links will open in the app going forward. Steve in Placentia wants to know how to automatically start up programs on his Windows computer. Rich mentioned two helpful travel websites: Flighty’s Airport Disruptions page and Terminal Watch. Nintendo Switch games are going to cost more if you want the physical cartridge. SEV recommends HWiNFO as a great free program for checking the temperature of your CPU, motherboard, and drives. Maggie wrote in and said she loves the Amazon UnSponsor Chrome Extension I mentioned. Rich DeMuro brings you the latest tech news, helpful tips, gadget reviews, and more - plus interviews with industry experts - all in this weekly show. 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. Links may be affiliate. Rich on Tech Weekly airs on KTLA+. You can download the app on Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Samsung smart TVs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  iPhone’s hidden security update, CSUN assistive tech & scan your phone for spyware (166, March 21, 2026) 21.03.2026 1t 50min

  Rich DeMuro brings you the latest tech news, helpful tips, gadget reviews, and more - plus interviews with industry experts - all in this weekly show. Call 1-888-RICH-101 (1-888-742-4101) to join in! Email your question here. Rich said it’s important to keep your iPhone and Android updated with the latest security updates, especially in light of exploits like DarkSword. Download iVerify Basic to check iPhone (and Android) for signs of spyware. Enable Lockdown Mode on iPhone if you’re really worried about your security. Aura confirmed a data breach affecting 900,000 records, but not financial. Gary in Indio is trying to connect a printer to an Eero network using WPS, which is no longer supported. In the Eero app, go to Settings > Troubleshooting > “My device won’t connect” to temporarily enable 2.4 GHz for about 10 minutes. WordPress CEO Matt Mullenweg almost fell for an Apple scam. Rich shares highlights from the 41st Annual CSUN Assistive Tech Conference. Featured technology and companies: • Be My Eyes – A free app connecting blind and low-vision users with volunteers through live video. The service now supports over 1 million users, 10 million volunteers, and 185+ languages. The company also introduced Be My Eyes Workplace, which helps employees navigate inaccessible documents and tasks on the job. • Luna – Smart glasses designed for people with night blindness, using a light-sensitive camera to brighten surroundings and restore independence in low-light environments. • Mesmo Technologies – Their Bridge Captioning solution provides real-time captions for phone calls on desk phones and computers, helping people with hearing loss stay connected at work. A free companion app is also available on iOS and Android. • LG Electronics – Showcasing accessibility-focused innovations including their LG ThinQ smart home platform, appliance “Comfort Kit” accessories for easier use, and TVs with built-in accessibility features like real-time AI captions, adjustable audio descriptions, and customizable viewing options. Jack in Riverside is wondering how to consolidate all of his tech into one easy to use system. Here are instructions on how to hide your home from Google Maps, Apple Maps, Redfin, Zillow, and more. Rich mentioned the Files by Google app for cleaning up your Android phone. Rich mentioned that he’s watching The Madison on Paramount Plus and to check the big list of streaming deals before you sign up for any streaming service. Leta Shy, supervising editor at Wirecutter, will reveal the standout tech from Wirecutter’s new “Best New Picks” list and explain how their team tests products to find the smartest buys for consumers. Laura in Youngstown is trying to get her old computer to work past 5 minutes. Rich mentioned Microsoft PC Manager and should I remove it as well as MSConfig. Rich mentioned Amazon’s new Ultra Fast one-hour or three-hour delivery. You can find a link at amazon.com/getitfast. Rich told his story about the car rental scam that actually wasn’t. Mary in Huntington Beach wants a good subscription tracking app. Rich mentioned Bobby and Rocket Money and Monarch Money. Wilmer is having trouble getting access to his old Apple ID. Tony in New Jersey says his Samsung fingerprint unlock won’t work with a screen protector. Rich can relate. Try pressing firmly when registering, but he ultimately had to remove the protector. GUESTS: Patricia Egger, Head of Security at Proton, explains the new “Born Private” initiative and what parents need to know about protecting their child’s digital identity from day one.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.