Rich shares tips for avoiding pricey roaming charges when traveling abroad.

The AirFly Pro 2 lets you use your Bluetooth headphones with in-flight screens. A simple adapter that makes travel more comfortable.

Lynn in Murrieta is asking why AT&T is ending email-to-text. The service shuts down in June because presumably not many people are using the feature anymore.

Rich also mentioned three easy ways for exchanging files cross platform including LocalSend, FilePizza and PairDrop.

Matt Swider from TheShortcut.com joins to talk about his hands-on time with the Nintendo Switch 2 — what’s new, what’s improved, and whether it’s worth the wait.

Katie in Garden Grove asks about translation earbuds. Rich suggests TimeKettle M3 and Google Pixel Buds for real-time translation.

TikTok gets another 75-day extension as U.S. pushes deadline on a potential ban.

Rich shares free ways to remove your personal info from the internet.

Ludi in Long Beach reports mysterious files clogging his iCloud storage. Rich suggests checking for hidden files and old backups to free up space.

Kyle in Riverside asks if there’s a way to have the iPhone automatically respond to all incoming text messages.

Zelle is discontinuing its standalone app due to low usage, with less than 2% of transactions occurring through it. Users can continue using Zelle through their bank’s app without any action required.

Rob in Los Angeles is locked out of his Microsoft account from repeated sign-in attempts. Rich says reset your password, turn on 2FA, and sign out everywhere.

Cloaked Co-founder and CEO Arjun Bhatnagar will join Rich to share tips and insights on protecting your personal information and online privacy.

Want an eye-opening experience? Dial 1-855-75-CLOAK (1-855-752-5625) and you’ll hear how much of your personal data is out there.

ChatGPT is free for college students through the end of May.

Rich likes the Amazfit Bip 6 smartwatch—plenty of features for just $80.

Rich’s son Parker calls in with his take o

Rich shared how a cybersecurity expert got tricked by a phishing scam. A reminder that we’re often the last line of defense.

Susan in Santa Monica is helping a friend buy a laptop and wants to know what matters most.

Facebook is bringing back a feed that only shows posts from your friends. The new tab puts the focus back on real connections.

Emma in San Bernardino needs last-minute airfare. Rich recommends checking points sites like PointsYeah and point.me, then using Google Flights with flexible airports and one-way searches.

ChatGPT just upgraded its AI image tool and people are having fun with it. It now edits images in any style and finally gets text right.

Deb in Agoura Hills is looking for the best phone options for her 12-year-old granddaughter and the optimal way to purchase it.

Richard in Bell asks if charging to 100% is bad for your phone. Rich says to check battery protection settings on iPhone and Android—they help manage charging automatically.

Spectrum TV Select customers now receive Peacock Premium at no extra cost, adding to their entertainment options.

Ace in Pearblossom wants faster access to Gmail now that Basic HTML is gone.

Leslie in Coto de Caza is prepping her phone for a Europe trip. Rich recommends checking roaming options, trying eSIMs, and turning on Wi-Fi calling before departure.

Dave from Joshua Tree asks if Google Drive is safe for personal info. Rich says it is—just review permissions for third-party apps linked to your account.

Collin Walke, a cybersecurity and data privacy expert, joins us to explain what 23andMe’s bankruptcy means for your genetic data—and what you can do to protect your privacy. Instructions to delete your genetic data.

Nintendo is introducing Virtual Game Cards, allowing digital games to be shared among family members, enhancing the flexibility of digital game ownership.

Edwardo in Tampa didn’t get a two-factor code from his bank. Rich says to check settings for blocked numbers or short codes and confirm your number is correct.

Stanley wants to know why websites keep asking if he’s a bot. Rich says it’s likely due to a VPN or shared network triggering security checks.

Mark in San Diego wants to watch MeTV, but his local channel dropped it. Rich says Frndly TV is an affordable streaming service that carries MeTV.

Rich On Tech Episode 114 - March 22, 2025

Rich takes a trip down memory lane to talk about some of his personal gadget milestones over the years.

David in San Francisco asks how to get good audio on a plane. Rich recommends AirFly and noise cancelling headphones.

Bob in Garden City Michigan wants to know how to tape a phone call on his iPhone. Rich says iOS 18 has call recording feature built in (so does Pixel and Samsung), Google Voice can record calls, so can apps including Rev and TapeACall and you can use the Plaud Note. Just be sure to check your local laws.

Conor calls in to explain how he got scammed out of thousands of dollars through a text message.

Stacey asks how to encrypt a flash drive—BitLocker To Go is the answer.

Google unveils $500 Pixel 9a, its iPhone 16e competitor.

The ClickFix scam tricks you into installing malware—watch out for captchas asking for keyboard shortcuts.

Dana asks why radio stations stopped playing on HomePod.

Zachary wonders if he should ditch Cash App after fraudulent charges.

Dino says his old copy-paste method for group emails isn’t working in the new Yahoo app—create a contact list instead.

Claude AI adds real-time web search for paid users, coming soon for free users.

Marc-Anthony Arena, the Computer Exorcist, breaks down modern tech threats in plain English – he’ll explain why old-school virus scans don’t cut it anymore and reveal the real dangers you should watch out for! Mentioned: Mint OS

HP Instant Ink is raising prices in April.

Bob in LA wants to know the best way to wipe a Mac laptop before getting rid of it.

Rod in Montana needs a good Skype alternative.

T-Mobile customers: You might have a targeted offer for a free line. Check your T-Life app to see if you’re eligible.

Brent Franson, founder of Death Clock, joins the show to discuss how AI predicts your life expectancy, biological age, and health scores—plus, what changes could help extend your life and improve longevity.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich discusses how transcription tools powered by AI are making it simple to turn speech into text, whether in real-time or from recorded audio.

Products & Services Mentioned: Pixel Recorder, Samsung Voice Recorder, iPhone Voice Memos, MacWhisper, Vibe Transcribe, Whisper Web, Voice Notes, Whisper Memos, PLAUD Note, PLAUD Pin, Wispr Flow

Dave in Long Beach says his iTunes music library has disappeared and wants to know how to get it back.

Ray in Chicago says his Google Chromecast has been buggy this week and wants to know if there are any updates on the issue.

Dave in Long Beach says YouTube on Roku is buffering. Rich mentioned a cache-clearing hack he can try.

Larry in San Pedro wonders if it’s safe to enter his credit card number into his smartphone when calling his bank.

Victor in Santa Barbara says his Epson printer prints out pages of gibberish at random times, and Rich suggests restarting the spooler.

The smartwatch market declined for the first time in 2024.

Graham says his iPhone 7 Plus is no longer supported and wants advice on upgrading to a new iPhone 16e and switching to Mint Mobile.

Niantic, the creators of Pokémon Go, have sold the game to Scopely for $3.5 billion.

AT&T has a new “landline” service called AT&T Phone Advanced, which uses cellular or broadband and includes a backup battery.

Kimber Streams has been covering laptops and tech at Wirecutter for over a decade and will share expert tips on how to spring clean your PC and keep it running smoothly.

Kimber recommended a great laptop—the ASUS VivoBook 14 Q423SA, on sale for $500 at Best Buy.

Dee Dee in West Covina wants a TV with good contrast, and Rich recommends Samsung models with Relumino Mode.

Rich mentioned a handy file transfer website called FilePizza.

Bob in Lake Forest says his Mint Mobile service sometimes drops, and Rich suggests checking APN settings and doing a network settings reset if that doesn’t work.

Rick in Orange County uses Defender for PC antivirus and wonders if there’

Apple’s latest product upgrades include the iPad Air M3, the 12th-gen iPad, and the MacBook Air M4 in a sleek new Sky Blue finish.

Tony asked about a good app for playing local files on his computer, with recommendations for reliable and feature-rich media players. Rich says YouTube Music cloud, Samsung Music, listeners recommend doubleTwist, Pulsar.

If you want to thwart phone call scams, try using the call recording feature on your device to deter scammers.

Matt Swider of The Shortcut joins to share the standout gadgets and biggest tech trends from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Fernando asked for a good way to transfer music files to his iPhone. Rich recommends using WALTR Pro for a seamless experience.

Google Gemini has added a variety of iPhone lock screen widgets for instant access to AI features.

Ron in Norco asked how to transcribe recorded meetings on his phone. Rich recommended services like Whisper Memos, Descript, Otter.ai, MacWhisper, and Whisper Web, or using the built-in AI audio tools on iPhone, Pixel, and Samsung.

Reggie in South Carolina asked about a tax service. Rich recommends FlyFin. (referral link)

Shirley’s laptop won’t turn on due to a ruined battery. Rich discussed whether it’s worth repairing or if replacing the device is a better option.

Rich suggested visiting a uBreakiFix store to get a free repair estimate before deciding on a fix or replacement.

Tom in Woodland Hills said his Sonos will no longer play KFI, and Rich discussed possible fixes and alternatives.

🎙️ Dr. Geeta “Dr. G” Nayyar breaks down the growing crisis of healthcare misinformation and how it’s impacting public health.

Jim in Malibu has a large property and wants a recommendation on a mesh system to extend Wi-Fi to his front gate and back workshop.

Rich recommended checking out the Eero Outdoor 7 and the TP-Link Deco Outdoor for extending Wi-Fi coverage across large properties.

DuckDuckGo has introduced new AI

Rich gives a recap of the Amazon Alexa+ event in NYC, covering the major AI-powered upgrades, new features, and whether the $20/month subscription is worth it.

Microsoft is shutting down Skype on May 5, 2025, urging users to switch to Microsoft Teams for continued service.

Jeff in Tulsa asks how to get started with his password manager.

Jose wants to know if the Ryoko portable WiFi hotspot is any good. Rich suggested the Simo devices as an alternative.

Google has a new, easier way to remove personal information from search results.

Rich also recommends signing up for Results About You to monitor and remove personal information from Google searches.

Patrick in Colorado Springs wants to disable the auto-update pop-up in Microsoft Office.

Alison in Corona asks about a security camera for a remote location with no power but cell service—Rich recommends checking out Reolink and Eufy 4G cameras.

John in Granada Hills asks why some email unsubscribe links take you to a page that asks for your email address.

Pixel Watch 3 is adding loss of pulse detection in the U.S. after receiving FDA clearance.

Mike in Austin asks why he can no longer mirror his screen to his TV from the GameChanger app.

Mike Prospero of Tom’s Guide joins to discuss Alexa+ and its new features, smart home improvements, and how it compares to other voice assistants.

Nile needs a Skype alternative with video and text chat—Rich suggests comparing the free features of Microsoft Teams and Zoom to see which offers more.

Neil in Virginia asks about PC compatibility with Qualcomm Snapdragon chips and whether his apps will work.

Killy in LA has a PhotoStick but can’t see the photos on his computer.

Bill in Hartford printed a QR code, but scanning it leads to the wrong URL.

Photoshop comes to the iPhone now, Android soon.

DIRECTV launches new genre-based TV packages starting at $35 a month.

📸 Chris Guld of Geeks on Tour will share expert tip

Rich discussed the new iPhone 16e and its features, offering impressive value at a starting price of $599.

Wayne in Irvine had his Instagram and Facebook accounts hacked. Rich recommends visiting facebook.com/hacked to recover the account or signing up for Meta Verified for direct support. Also, secure your accounts with strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication.

🎙️ Titania Jordan joins me to talk about keeping kids safe online, her work with Bark Technologies, and how parents can take back control with her new book, Parental Control.

Maureen in Burbank is receiving messages about an iCloud subscription expiration and now suspects it’s a scam.

Facebook will start deleting live videos 30 days after they’re streamed. Download any old videos now if you want to save them before they’re removed.

Microsoft announced a major breakthrough in quantum computing with a new chip called Majorana 1.

Mark is experiencing issues with the latest Arlo app update.

Google has launched a new AI tool called Career Dreamer that helps match you with jobs based on your skills and experience.

Google is bringing a feature similar to Circle to Search to the iPhone, called Search Screen with Google Lens, but with limitations.

🎙️ Brandon Butch, tech YouTuber and writer at The Apple Den, joins the show to talk all things iPhone 16e—what’s new, what’s changing, and whether it’s worth the upgrade!

Rich shared Jefferson Graham’s simple tricks for better smartphone photos and recommended the excellent Radiant Photo app. He also mentioned Zerocam, an app that takes photos without using AI.

Randy is looking for a way to recover a video deleted from his phone a year ago.

Rich mentioned Google TV as an excellent app for keeping track of the movies and shows you want to watch. Download for 

Rich explains the current state of satellite connectivity on mobile phones.

Sign up for the T-Mobile Beta Test [here].

Watch Verizon’s commercial [here].

You can now download the Apple TV app for Android phones and tablets for access to Apple TV+ streaming and MLS.

Allison in Newport Beach says her business Instagram account was taken down due to violations she knows aren’t true. Rich says she can try appealing through the Meta Verified program.

✈️ Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, shares expert travel tips, money-saving tricks & the best websites from his new book How to Win at Travel!

Gary in Laguna Niguel wants fitness tracking but not necessarily a smartwatch.

Daisy in Homeland, CA asks how to learn about AI. Rich says to use AI chatbots, watch YouTube videos, subscribe to the WonderTools newsletter, and check out free classes on sites like Khan Academy and community colleges.

TikTok is officially back in the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Apple is teasing a new product reveal on Feb 19, and everyone expects it to be a new iPhone SE.

Taren in Tennessee loves to read and wants to know if she should get a Kindle or an iPad.

An app called Death Clock aims to predict the day you’ll die (and how) using AI and a questionnaire about your health and lifestyle.

🖥️ J.D. Biersdorfer from The New York Times explains how to manage your digital estate—what happens to your social media and online accounts when you're gone.

Laura in Rancho Mission Viejo is wondering how to turn off notifications for a shared Google Calendar. Rich says to go to Google Calenda

Rich says Amazon will unveil a new AI-powered Alexa at an event in New York City on February 26.

Apple has launched Apple Invites, a new invite app. You’ll need an iCloud+ subscription and an iPhone to send invites, but anyone can RSVP—even non-Apple users.

Diana asks for an app to repurpose an old phone. Rich recommends Alfred Camera for easy live monitoring and motion detection.

Did you know Microsoft has a free app called PC Manager? It helps clean and optimize your system. Just be sure to download the official version to avoid imitators.

Rich’s mom stopped by to talk NYC, New Jersey, and share some advice for his show.

Mark asks if he needs a subscription to run his Orbi mesh network. Rich says no—it works without one, but some features (like security and parental controls) require a paid plan.

According to Chris Hoffmann of the Windows Intelligence newsletter, Windscribe and Proton VPN are two great free VPN options.

Katie wants a simple, free website to merge two wedding songs into one clip. Rich recommends Audiomass—a free, easy-to-use online audio editor.

Skip from Aurora asks which headphones are best for flying and if he needs an adapter. Rich recommends Sony, Bose, and Sonos Ace for noise cancellation and comfort. For in-flight entertainment, the AirFly adapter lets you use Bluetooth headphones with the plane’s audio system.

Researchers have discovered security vulnerabilities in the DeepSeek iOS app—raising concerns about user data and privacy.

Adam asks if he should replace a flash drive that gave him an error message. Rich says yes—once a drive shows errors, it’s unreliable and could fail completely. Backup important files and get a new one.

Google Maps celebrates 20 years of navigation, real-time traffic, and Street View.

📱 Joanna Stern, Personal Tech Columnist at The Wall Street Journal, discusses the latest in technology!

Ron in Palm Springs says Word is proofreading everything in Spanish. Rich suggests checking the language settings under Review > Language > Set Proofing Language to switch back to English.

iPhone 7