Rich On Tech

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 y...

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 d...

Meta is cracking down on scams with new AI detection systems in Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Google just gave Google Maps it’s biggest overhaul in a decade - with new AI powered ways to find places using specific questions and immersive navigation. Jim in Michigan can’t get the Notes app on his iPhone to scan documents. Rich mentioned he can also use the built-in Preview app. Check out Rich’s review of the iPhone 17e. Susan in Burbank can’t connect to her WiFi network because it’s too congested....

Rich talks about going to the Apple NYC event and how the $599 MacBook Neo is a gamechanger for basic laptops. Mike in Austin can’t get his printer to connect to his WiFi network. A new online personality test uses a series of questions to generate a massive report about you - and you can export it’s findings to AI. Steve wants to add someone to a photo and is wondering how to do it. Rich says to upload both photos to Google Gemini and say, “Add this person to the other picture.”</p...

Rich gave his early impressions of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Watch Rich’s TV segment on the Samsung Galaxy S26 series. See camera samples from the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Susan in Northridge is trying to move photos, texts, and contacts from an old Samsung phone to an iPhone. Rich mentioned SMS Backup and Restore and Move to iOS. 1Password is raising prices by about $1 a month. Vincent is on a Lifeline plan. He’s wondering if he should take advantage of their offer of giving him an iPhone 11 versus the An...

Premium subscribers, listen to the ad-free version of the show here. Rich talked about Google Gemini and how it can now make music with AI. Rich also discussed the popularity of the tiny Kodak Charmera camera. Samsung phones are finally getting Google Play updates again. You should do it right now: Go to Settings > Security and Privacy > Updates > Google Play System Update Mike in Encino is looking for a way to get into a user’s computer who forgot their password. Try the steps here. James is wondering if he can st...

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 n...

• 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 f...

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 genui...

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 s...

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 fe...

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 mout...

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...

• Wizard of Oz immersive experience at the Sphere: The Las Vegas Sphere premiered a reimagined 1939 Wizard of Oz film using AI to enhance resolution, expand backgrounds, and add crowds for its massive 16K wraparound screen. Physical effects like wind, rumbling seats, falling apples, snow, and fire created intense immersion, making it a standout tech-driven entertainment event despite higher ticket prices. • Securing phones against unauthorized access: Repeated phone issues may stem from compromised accounts rather than direct hacking, as iOS and Android are highly secure against remote control. Users should change passwords on Apple ID, Google, and social medi...

Rich went through his list of favorite apps for 2025. Mark wants to know how to get audio from his TV speakers and Bluetooth headphones simultaneously. Patricia in Massachusetts is getting too many political texts. How does she stop that? Larry in San Clemente says Avantree has great TV audio solutions. Rich says the Ray Ban Metas are the gadget of the year. Joe in Los Angeles wants to separate audio on his Samsung phone. Rich says to take a look at a feature called Separate app sound under Settings > Sounds...

Rich talked about how he set up an instant surround-sound home theater system using Amazon Echo speakers and shared a tip on how to turn off autoplay ads on Fire TV devcies. Brian in Atlanta is wondering why his old iPads don’t connect to his new Wi-Fi router. Rich suggested deleting the old wifi network or doing a network settings reset. Instagram adds a new feature called “Your Algorithm” that lets you fine-tune what shows up in your reels. Peter Kafka, chief correspondent at Business Insider, will break down the latest in the mega stre...

Rich shared his holiday shopping cheat sheet, packed with money-saving tips! Bonnie in Charleston asks for a good transcription app. Rich mentioned Wispr Flow, Willow Voice, Super Whisper, Monologue, Aqua Voice, Talktastic, Whisper Memos. Jeff Jablansky, with the startup Slate, will talk about their bare-bones EV that starts in the mid-20’s and lets buyers add only the accessories they actually want. [instagram] Robert in Ridgecrest is looking for a way to fax. Rich recommended eFax, Fax.Plus, Dropbox Fax. If you want to use a real fax machine, you can get an ooma box....

We’re off for the holiday weekend, so we’ve pulled together some of our favorite segments from past shows. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving! • Microsoft unveils Majorana 1 quantum chip: Microsoft introduced a groundbreaking quantum computing chip using a new material called topoconductor, a novel state of matter theorized for 100 years. The chip promises faster problem-solving in fields like healthcare and energy, with improved error resistance and potential to accelerate quantum development from decades to years. • Arlo app update frustrates users: Callers reported the new Arlo Secure app is overly complicated, making it hard to manage multiple...

Pixel 10 phones can now share files with iPhones using AirDrop Roblox is now requiring facial ID checks so users can chat with people of similar ages. Ray in the San Fernando Valley wanted to know what makes a solid dash cam. Rich said to look for 4K video, a wide field of view, night vision, loop recording, and a G sensor. He pointed to Veo, VanTrue, Garmin, and Nextbase as trusted picks. Gadget of the week, sponsored by ShopBack. Mill is a high-tech food recycler for your kitchen that turns scraps into a dry, b...

• Tesla testing CarPlay support Bloomberg reports Tesla is experimenting with CarPlay in a windowed mode on its infotainment screen. If it ships, owners would finally get wireless CarPlay for Siri, maps, and music apps that Tesla’s system doesn’t offer today.   • Apple introduces digital ID for travel iPhone and Apple Watch users can now add a digital ID using their passport inside Apple Wallet. It works at more than 250 TSA checkpoints for domestic flights, though travelers should still bring a physical passport as backup.   • Amazon debuts Auto Buy pric...