Rich On Tech

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.

Ads are now appearing in ChatGPT. Google updated its free results about you tool to remove search results that contain ID numbers like your passport, driver’s license, or Social Security number. Want something more heavy duty to remove your personal information from the web? Check out newsletter sponsor Incogni. Deleted doesn’t always mean it’s gone, as we found out with the Nancy Guthrie case. If you really want to protect your security camera footage, you have to go local or end-to-end encrypted. Samsung has set a date for the next Galaxy Unpacked to unveil the S26 lineup on February 25th in San Francisco. Tech and finance strategist Igor Pejic breaks down Bitcoin’s sharp selloff and what it reveals about where tech investing is headed next, separating hype from real fundamentals. Gordon in Costa Mesa wants to know if he should buy a new laptop. Rich said to clean up his old one and, at the very worst, reset his PC. John and Rosemead want a new email provider for his business. Rich said to take a look at StartMail, ProtonMail, and FastMail. Deborah in Tennessee wants to know the difference between a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro, and whether I’d recommend buying a refurbished MacBook. I said if you go refurbished, make sure it’s from a reputable source like Apple’s official refurbished store, Back Market, or Amazon Renewed. TikTok’s local feed is genius. It shows you stuff nearby, but it might want your precise GPS location for best results. T-Mobile has a new feature called Live Translation, which will translate phone calls in 50 different languages with no special phone or app necessary $5.5 billion worth of settlement checks are going out now related to a credit card lawsuit over swipe fees Tech journalist Jared Newman talks about some of the latest tech tips and tricks from his Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter. Check out the article Everyone is stealing TV, which explains the proliferation of so-called black boxes. Greg in Canada is blind and says his Pixel phone will sometimes dial numbers without him asking. Rich says to go into Gemini settings, Gemini unlock screen, and toggle off the option where it says “Make calls and send messages without unlocking” Clark says every time he opens a PDF, it opens in Word. He wants it to open in a PDF reader. Rich says to change the default program. The Verge’s Installer newsletter had a great piece this week on alternative products that can help you ditch Big Tech. Sam is worried about his Time Capsule going away and wants to know what he can use to back up his computer instead. Rich mentioned using Time Machine on a Mac, FreeFileSync, cloud services like Carbonite or iDrive, or a network-attached storage device from companies like Synology or QNAP. Ethical hacker Dave Chronister, founder of Parameter Security, breaks down what AI personal assistants like OpenClaw really do and the privacy and security risks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Midge in Atlanta, Georgia is trying to add her Gmail address to iCloud, and it’s saying it’s already in use. Rich says to try recovering the Gmail Apple account here, then migrate the old account to the new one. Al in Inglewood is getting pop-ups telling him to clear out his cloud. Rich says to make sure the alerts are legitimate, clear your browser cache, and see if the messages continue. Caleb Denison breaks down what actually matters when buying a TV for the Super Bowl and shares the TV tech from CES that genuinely impressed him this year. Top TV Picks: Under $500 is the 65-inch TCL QM5K, Under $1000 is the 85 inch TCL QM6K or the HiSense U6, and the splurge is the Sony Bravia 8 Mark II. David asks why his Gmail is still giving him cloud storage full, even though he’s cleared out so much stuff. Rich says to go to one.google.com and see what’s taking up space. It’s probably other Google services. Samsung’s Galaxy Z tri-fold is officially on sale for $2,900. Yahoo is back with a new AI search tool called Yahoo Scout. Apple has a new AirTag with longer range and a louder speaker. Beth in Cyprus is wondering how to unfreeze her credit report. Richard in Connecticut is seeing ads for a device that promises unlimited entertainment with no fees and is wondering if it’s legit. Sharon Gai, an AI expert and former Alibaba strategist, shares simple, practical ways everyday workers can use AI to stay relevant, work smarter, and worry less about the future of their jobs. There’s a new voice dictation app for Windows called Willow Voice. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is going to have a privacy display feature. Candy Crush has a new daily game called Crushable available on Yahoo Games. Rich mentioned Speedtest’s ISP site as a way to check for internet service providers in your area. Strava adds turn-by-turn route navigation to the Apple Watch. Julia Pugachevsky explains why “bricking” your phone with tools like Brick is becoming the new Dry January, and what it reveals about screen time, wellness, and Gen Z habits. Mentioned: Brick. Alan in New Jersey swears by the Insignia RF wireless headphones for listening to TV. 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. Follow Rich on Instagram. Subscribe to my free newsletter. Check out the Rich On Tech GPT! 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.

Rich discussed how Apple is integrating Google’s Gemini to make Siri smarter, while Google introduced its own enhanced Gemini AI featuring “Personal Intelligence.” Susan in San Jose is looking for a simple flip phone for a friend. Rich recommended the Nokia 2780 and suggested checking out the website Dumbwireless.com. If you were affected by the Verizon outage, you can claim a $20 credit. Watch for a text message to redeem it, as it is not applied automatically. Sylvia in Moreno Valley is deciding between an Apple Watch and a Garmin for health and emergency features. Rich recommended the Apple Watch for its superior SOS and fall detection, while noting Garmin is better for advanced fitness metrics. Tom Kemp, Executive Director of the California Privacy Protection Agency, explains DROP, the free new website that helps Californians remove their personal data from hundreds of data brokers. Walter in Temecula is looking for a printer that doesn’t use cartridges. Rich recommended ink tank models like the HP Smart Tank 5100 or the Epson EcoTank ET-2800, which use refillable bottles for lower long-term costs. Thurman in Winchester is looking for ways to remove objects from photos. Rich recommended using Google Gemini, a dedicated website called Cleanup.pictures, and Adobe Express, which offers a “Remove Object” tool powered by generative AI. Alex in Ontario reminded listeners that if you don’t need color, Brother monochrome laser printers are excellent. Dale in Oceanside is looking for a free, cross-platform way to share his location with friends and family. Rich recommended Life360, which works on both iOS and Android and offers real-time tracking. YouTuber Kitboga joins Rich to break down how modern online scams work, why they are growing so fast, and what everyday people can do to protect themselves before scammers strike. Bob in Pennsylvania asked if Rapid Radios work without cellular. Rich clarified they do need a network, then highlighted T-Mobile’s new satellite service that offers free texting to 911 on compatible phones, even without a signal. Spotify is raising prices by $1 to $2 a month to “reflect the value” of the service. Individual plans are moving to $12.99, Duo to $18.99, and Family to $21.99. The new rates take effect for existing subscribers starting in February. Kathy in Los Angeles wants to add a CD player to her Tesla. Rich recommended ripping the CDs and uploading the files to the YouTube Music app, which allows you to store up to 100,000 personal songs in the cloud for free. Security researchers found serious flaws in Google Fast Pair affecting millions of audio devices. To fix this, download your device’s companion app and install any available firmware updates immediately. Jerry wants to change notification sounds for individual apps on a Samsung Galaxy S25. Rich explained that this feature is now hidden and must be enabled manually: Go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings. Toggle on Manage notification categories for each app. Go to Settings > Apps and select the app you want to change. Tap Notifications > Notification categories. Select a specific category (like “General” or “Messages”) and tap Sound to choose a new tone. Prof. Tim Spector, co-founder of ZOE, explains how their app uses AI and science to score foods from 1 to 100 based on ingredients, processing risk, and gut health impact. An app called Are You Dead is going viral in China. Apple has a new subscription called Apple Creator Studio, which includes popular programs like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for $13 a month. 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. 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.

Rich talked about helping his dad with his tech set up while home on Christmas vacation. Mike in Minneapolis asked about performing a factory reset on his Netgear router, but he couldn’t see the serial number because he’s visually impaired. Rich suggested using the Be My Eyes app to get visual help from a volunteer. Rich also mentioned the free password manager called Bitwarden. LG is unveiling the Gallery TV at CES which shows artwork when not in use. Jamie in Tampa wanted to watch his local CBS affiliate but wasn’t sure where to aim his antenna. Rich recommended the free Antenna Point app to show exactly which direction to point it. Debra in Los Angeles wants to remove her ex from old wedding photos. Rich suggested scanning the prints with the free Google PhotoScan app, then uploading them to Google’s Gemini AI and asking it to remove the person. Jamie in San Dimas wants to cut down on butt dialing from his phone. Rich says you should lock your phone before putting it in your pocket or purse and turn off features like Raise to Wake and Return Missed Calls while Unlocked. Clicks, the company known for physical smartphone keyboards, is now making a BlackBerry-style device called the Clicks Communicator. Brian in Eau Claire, Wisconsin wants to know if there’s a way to run TurboTax desktop software on Windows 10. Rich mentioned FlyFin. Samsung is bringing Google Photos to its 2026 lineup of TVs and some previous models eventually. Mark Manson, bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck*, will explain why so many people are turning to AI for personal advice and how his new app Purpose aims to do it more safely and responsibly. Samsung is launching the Galaxy A17, a $200 smartphone that will receive six years of software updates. Vivian in Menifee wants to know how to cut down on phishing emails. Rich suggested blocking the sender with filters, reporting the messages as spam, and turning off remote image loading in her email app. Melissa in Los Angeles wants to copy old photos from floppy disks to her computer. Rich recommended buying a USB floppy drive from Amazon for around $20, then using a site like vert.sh to convert the files into modern formats and upload them to the cloud. Darren asked if MissingMoney.com is legit. Yes, it’s a free, legitimate site backed by state governments and the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators to help people find unclaimed money. Ellison asked about the website with discount codes for shopping sites. Rich said it’s SimplyCodes.com. Sue wanted to know how to get photos from her computer onto her iPhone. Rich mentioned WALTR PRO for importing directly into the Photos app, plus apps like LocalSend and Blip. Ramesh Srinivasan, UCLA professor and director of the UC Digital Cultures Lab, explores the intersection of technology and privacy. There’s a hack that lets you chat with Google Gemini using only free in-flight Wi-Fi. You can also use an Android phone to share a Wi-Fi connection with other devices. Rich on Tech Weekly airs on KTLA+. You can download the app on Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Samsung smart TVs. 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. Follow Rich on Instagram. Subscribe to my free newsletter. Links may be affiliate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.