Rich On Tech

• TVs returned after the Super Bowl: Returns management firm B‑Stock says TV returns jump more than 100% after the big game, a practice known as “wardrobing.” Vizio is the most-returned brand, highlighting how buyers prioritize size and price over long-term satisfaction. • Wireless carriers customers like best: New rankings from J.D. Power show satisfaction is driven less by price and more by how easy it is to resolve problems. T-Mobile leads among major carriers, while Mint Mobile and Visible top prepaid and MVNO categories. • Nancy Guthrie case raises major tech questions: Investigators are relying on timestamps from a doorbell camera, home security system, pacemaker app, and smartphone data to build a timeline. The case highlights how device connectivity, Bluetooth range, and cloud storage affect what evidence is available. • Doorbell cameras and subscriptions matter: Many popular brands including Ring and Arlo lock video history behind paid plans. Local-storage options like Blink and subscription-free brands offer alternatives, but each comes with tradeoffs. • VoIP burner numbers aren’t fully anonymous: A suspect sending fake ransom messages was traced through a VoIP texting service. Even burner numbers can be linked back to email accounts and IP addresses when providers respond to warrants. • Could people be tracked like pets in the future?: A caller asked whether cases like Guthrie’s could push families toward implantable tracking tech. AirTags and wearables have limits, and implantable tracking raises serious privacy and ethical concerns. • Super Bowl streaming isn’t always free: The game is available in 4K HDR on Peacock, but requires a paid subscription. That’s a shift from last year’s free streaming on Tubi, and something hosts should warn guests about before kickoff. • Prediction markets blur the line with gambling: Platforms offering event contracts on sports, politics, and culture feel like sportsbooks but operate under different rules. Supporters say they’re federally regulated markets, while critics argue they normalize betting behavior. • Apple Cash account lockouts frustrate users: A listener whose Apple Cash account was permanently closed was told there’s no appeal process. Alternatives like Venmo and Cash App offer similar features with debit cards and Apple Wallet support. • Windows 10 holdouts face a deadline: Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates program offers one more year of patches after Windows 10 support ends. It reduces risk, but users running older systems still need to be cautious about phishing and malware. • Siri settlement checks and safer payouts: Payments around $40 are going out, but claiming them requires entering bank details. Using routing numbers from PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App can add a layer of protection. • Amazon’s delivery speed explained: Amazon says AI now predicts what people will buy and pre-positions items closer to customers, enabling same-day, next-day, and even 30-minute delivery for everyday essentials. • CES 2026 computers focus on efficiency: Guest Dan Ackerman says new chips from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm prioritize battery life and AI tasks. Rollable screens and expandable displays are moving from concept to store shelves. • AI PCs still confuse buyers: “AI PC” branding refers to local processing for tasks like video effects and transcription, not cloud tools like ChatGPT. Most users don’t need to upgrade just for AI yet. • Social media lawsuits compare to tobacco and opioids: Trial attorney James Rubinowitz says cases argue platforms were deliberately engineered to be addictive to children. Large verdicts could force design changes like limits on infinite scroll. • Robot dog ads spark complaints: The Wuffy AI robot dog is drawing Better Business Bureau complaints after buyers receive a cheap toy that doesn’t match online ads. The case underscores the need to verify sellers and return policies before buying viral products. • Tech support memberships compared: Geek Squad, Asurion, and HelloTech offer annual plans, but Rich notes local independent techs can be a better fit if you vet them carefully and avoid sponsored search results. • Common scams growing more sophisticated: Listeners reported fake carrier notifications, remote-access malware disguised as documents, and bogus healthcare alerts. The key rule: never call numbers from texts or search results — use official sites or the back of your card. • Crypto volatility wipes out paper millionaires: Bitcoin’s sharp drop pushed thousands below millionaire status, reinforcing that crypto remains highly speculative and tied more to sentiment than everyday utility. • Computer Exorcist warns about modern PCs: Guest Mark Anthony Arena says antivirus software often misses today’s threats, and integrated storage in modern laptops makes data recovery harder without backups. • Listeners push back on addictive tech culture: Callers raised concerns about kids’ games, gambling-style rewards, and constant gratification. The consensus: tech isn’t going backward, so families need better guardrails and awareness.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 talked about how it’s the end of an era for Sony TVs. They will soon be manufactured by TCL under the Bravia name. Rich talked about how TikTok has a new lease on life with a deal to stay in the U.S. Rich discussed the privacy policy and terms of conditions for the new TikTok US. Verizon shared some tips for keeping your tech working in a major winter storm. Turns out Microsoft can share your BitLocker encryption key if it gets a valid warrant from the U.S. and you store it in their cloud. Windows 11 updates are causing widespread problems. You could be overpaying for ride shares. A new study says you should open up both the Lyft and Uber app to compare prices. Cesar in San Diego asked for some TV recommendations. Rich found the 75-inch TCL QM7K on sale at Best Buy for under a $1000. If you live in an area that has Frontier internet and it’s becoming Verizon internet, you should call Verizon and see what kind of deals they can give you. They’ve got aggressive mobile and home bundles now. Scott is wondering if he should sign up for every free offer for identity theft protection he gets in the mail. Rich actually likes freezing your credit. Connie is wondering how to have her husband listen to the TV through the speaker and she listens through earbuds. Rich recommended Bluetooth headphones if your TV supports both audio outputs at the same time or check out solutions from Avantree. Mary wants to keep her Samsung Android safe from malware and viruses. Rich recommends turning on Auto Blocker in Settings under Security and Privacy, enabling Enhanced Safe Browsing in Chrome, and considering the free Sophos Intercept X app for extra protection. Jim in San Diego says the keys on his HP laptop are wearing off. What should he do? Rich tossed out that he could buy stickers from Amazon to replace them. HP Warranty Checker Amanda Spann, app educator and founder of The App Accelerator, will break down how everyday professionals can turn an app idea into a real product without being technical. Book: I Have an App Idea. Ads are coming to ChatGPT. Melody in Carlsbad is wondering why her printer isn’t working after a power outage. Rich discussed some of the most AI-resistant jobs. Rich mentioned a new AI voice-to-text keyboard for Android called Typeless. Mario wants a second phone number for entering contests. Rich mentioned Google Voice, Sly Number, and TextFree. Michael wants to know how to wipe his computer clean before he recycles it. Rich also mentioned Killdisk and Disk Wipe. David wants to know why his browser suddenly uses Yahoo instead of Google. Rich says he might have installed a bad extension. You can go into Google Chrome Settings. Under reset settings, restore them to the original. A new report says the free-TV startup Telly has shipped about 35,000 TVs, fewer than their promises. If you want to check out Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold phone, it is in select Samsung experience stores now. Spectrum has Wi-Fi 7 extenders now if you want better coverage in your house. Rich mentioned his favorite two factor app called Proton Authenticator. Patty is looking to use Apple’s hide my email feature. Rich mentioned the Zoe Health app. 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 attending CES 2026 in Las Vegas and some of the trends he saw, including robots, AI, and wacky gadgets. Rich mentioned using the WiFi sharing feature on Android phones. If you got an email about an Instagram Password Reset request, ignore it for now, but be sure you have a strong, unique password and two-factor authentication turned on. Arnold from Rancho Cucamonga is wondering why his cloud storage isn’t saving files. Rich mentioned free versions of Office apps here. Rich mentioned the Lollipop Star, which plays music in your mouth as you suck it. Rich mentioned how TCL released its 2026 flagship TV, the X11L, the same time as they announced it at CES, which is rare. Rich mentioned the ChocoStar vending machine that 3D prints a chocolate figurine on demand. Rich mentioned a startup that’s making a digital doorlock for public restrooms so you pay for access. Flush Locks USA. Mark in Seattle wants a digital door lock and a thermostat to manage his VRBO. Rich mentioned digital locks from Schlage, Yale and Lockly, along with Nest Thermostat and Ecobee. Vanessa in Pahrump Nevada wants to know how to move from Lastpass to Bitwarden. Rich mentioned iPolish, which is a startup making digital color-changing nails. He also referenced Lee Press on Nails. WATCH Gmail is giving users AI features for free, which were previously paid. A caller asks why her iPhone plays the same song each time she gets in the car. Rich says to set a silent MP3 to fix this. Matt Swider from The Shortcut joins to break down the biggest trends at CES and explain which products earned this year’s Shortcut CES Awards and why they matter to consumers. Rich mentioned laptop screen extenders from a company named XEBEC. Mary in Riverside wants to ditch the paid version of AOL. Rich mentioned a few more gadgets from CES including PlantPetz, Seattle Ultrasonics Chef’s Knife, Glyde Smart Hair Clipper, Iceplosion, Chamelo tint changing glasses. Linda in San Pedro wants to know what happens if she subscribes to a YouTube Channel. Will in Colorado Springs wants to know how to reconnect to the internet. Kate Rouch, Chief Marketing Officer at OpenAI, joins to explain the new ChatGPT Health experience. Rich mentioned wearing the Bee device, which listens to your life 24/7 to offer insights. 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.