A Simple Trick to Stop Scammers

Plus: Apple’s Latest Upgrades, Hidden Deals on Refurbished Tech & A New EV to Watch

Greetings!

If you follow me on social media or just read what I write here, I hope it comes across that I’m a pretty thankful guy. I’ve had a front-row seat to tech history for more than 15 years now, and the opportunities I’ve been a part of are never lost on me.

This week, I found myself in a simulated operating room at Cedars-Sinai, courtside at a Clippers game, and at the grand opening of the new Google Store in Santa Monica.

All of these moments were part of a story I was working on, and it’s incredible to take these little peeks into various parts of our world. Everything has a tech angle these days, and I’m just happy to see it firsthand and share these inside looks with you.

Let’s get into it, shall we?

Apple’s Latest Lineup: What’s New?

This week, Apple was at it again, launching several new products. Most are updates to stuff we already know and love, but there are some notable changes to highlight.

iPad Air & Standard iPad Refresh

For starters, they refreshed the iPad Air and what I call the “standard iPad.”

The iPad Air now has an M3 chip, which is great but not the company’s latest—that would be the M4. Still, M3 is plenty powerful for this device. The iPad Air supports Apple Intelligence (more on that in a bit) and starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. Apple also added a row of function keys to the Magic Keyboard and lowered the price by $30. It now starts at $269. Yeah, everyone is surprised when they see the price tag on that thing.

Source: Apple

If you’re curious about the difference between the Air and the top-of-the-line Pro, the Pro gives you a better screen, a better camera, Thunderbolt support to add an extra monitor, Face ID, more speakers, more microphones (with higher quality), and a larger starting capacity.

But unless you’re trying to replace a laptop, are a creative pro, or actually need to get work done, I think the standard iPad is best for just about anyone who wants a tablet to consume content.

That also got an upgrade. The iPad is now up to the 11th generation. It has a new A16 chip inside, which should make it fast, but it’s not Apple’s latest and does not support Apple AI. I don’t think you’ll need it anyway—you can always install ChatGPT.

The other big change besides the performance improvement is storage—it now starts at 128GB instead of 64GB for the same $349 starting price.

Amazon is ALREADY discounting this thing. It’s $329 as of this writing, and it doesn’t even launch until March 12. Yes, iPads are pricier than the cheap Android and Fire tablets you can find, but their value is in the software, accessories, and beautifully designed apps. It is still THE tablet to get.

Should You Upgrade?

If your iPad is doing what you need it to do, keep it. If not, you’ll be very happy with a new one.

MacBook Air Gets an Upgrade

Finally, one more product got an upgrade—the MacBook Air. This is the computer I bought last year in Midnight, and it’s been a great purchase. Mine has the M3 chip; the new one has the M4 chip (Apple’s latest) and now comes in a cool Sky Blue color.

Source: Apple

It also got a price cut, if you can believe it. It now starts at $999 instead of $1,199. It’s even cheaper if you can nab education pricing—$899 for one of THE best laptops around, and it will easily last you six or more years.

The other big improvement is that the M4 Air can now handle two external displays at once AND you can have the screen on as a display, too. I’ve gotten very used to plugging in my laptop to an external monitor at home, and I love it.

13-inch vs. 15-inch: Which One to Get?

Go with the 13-inch if you’re mostly doing basic tasks like checking email, browsing the web, and watching YouTube. But if you want to be productive, get the 15-inch. I made the mistake of downsizing to a 13-inch screen last time, and I couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. Two inches doesn’t seem like a lot of screen real estate, but trust me—it makes all the difference when you want to have your browser on ¾ of the screen and an AI chatbot or messaging app on the other ¼.

Macs now have a built-in way to do this, but I still prefer a Mac app called Rectangle, which gives you so many options for tiling. Windows offers great tiling options if you drag a window near the top center of your screen.

Apple Intelligence: A Key Feature Delayed

About that Apple Intelligence… well, a very useful, promised, and heavily promoted feature has been delayed.

John Gruber, one of the top Apple bloggers, is reporting that Apple told him they are delaying the feature that lets Siri actually become smart by creating an index of your emails, photos, and messages. This was the killer feature promised at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference when they unveiled their AI features.

Apparently, it’s been tougher to implement than they thought:

“It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features, and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year.”

For what it’s worth, this is the holy grail of AI—a chatbot that knows everything about you. Google sort of has this, but in my experience, it doesn’t always work and feels very disjointed. I’m still waiting for ChatGPT to connect to your email, photos, and messages for a truly killer application where you can ask AI about any of your stuff.

Google Makes It Easier to Remove Personal Info

Google is making it way easier to remove unwanted personal results from its search engine. Now, when you search for your name—especially alongside details like your phone number, address, or email—you can request to have certain results removed.

To do this, tap the three little dots next to a search result and select “Remove result.” Google will review your request, which can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Keep in mind, not all requests are approved.

If you haven’t already, consider signing up for Google’s free Results About You service. It scans the web for your personal info, alerts you if it appears on a new site, and gives you the option to request its removal.

Just remember: both of these methods only remove the result from Google Search, not the original site. To get it taken down completely, you’ll need to contact the website directly—there’s usually an opt-out request link at the bottom of the page.

Sony & Honda’s AFEELA EV

Sony and Honda are teaming up on a new EV that blends entertainment and smart tech.

The AFEELA is set to begin California deliveries in 2026. I got a first look at it at a new pop-up shop they’ve set up. It’s not quite ready to drive yet, but my initial take: it’s expensive (starting at $90,000) but comes from a trusted automaker.

This could be a well-timed launch. I predict many Tesla leaseholders won’t stick with the brand due to current politics, leaving them in search of alternatives.

Sony’s history with new tech is hit or miss (Blu-ray, Minidisc, Betamax, Memory Stick), but Honda’s reputation in the auto industry is solid. That could give AFEELA the staying power it needs to succeed.

Microsurgery Robot Could Revolutionize Delicate Procedures

Performing surgery on a body part thinner than a human hair? A new microsurgery robot is making it not only possible but potentially more precise than what doctors can currently do on their own.

This remote-controlled surgical robot magnifies everything for the surgeon—imagine working with a thick piece of thread instead of something micromillimeters in size. It also reduces natural hand tremors, making procedures even steadier.

The doctors I spoke with have high hopes for this technology, believing it could enable surgeries that were previously impossible.

Tech Tidbits

• Privacy-Friendly AI – Want to try AI without privacy concerns? DuckDuckGo, known for its privacy-first search engine, has launched Duck.AI—a free, no-sign-up AI tool that doesn’t store your data. I’ve been critical of DuckDuckGo’s search results in the past, but they say improvements have been made.

• Are eSIMs Worth It? – The Wall Street Journal recently explored the pros and cons of eSIMs for travel, finding them trickier than expected. My advice: check if your carrier offers free roaming or “travel days.” If you’re only gone for a few days, paying for convenience might be worth it. Otherwise, use WiFi calling, turn off roaming, and mix WiFi with an eSIM to stay connected.

• YouTube’s New $8 Plan – YouTube now offers Premium Lite for $8/month. It removes ads from most videos but not from Shorts or music-related content. It also doesn’t have YouTube Music, offline downloads, and background play.

• Samsung’s One UI 7 Rolls Out – The latest One UI 7 update is expanding to more devices, including the S23 series. You can sign up for the beta or wait for the official launch in April.

• Big Pixel Updates – Google just dropped new features for Pixel phones, including Scam Detection (AI listens in and alerts you if a call sounds suspicious), expanded satellite texting, and more.

• All Your Google Devices in One Place – Want to see all your Google gadgets on a single page? Check here.

• Adblocker Alternatives for Chrome – With uBlock Origin no longer compatible with Chrome, The Intelligencer recommends uBlock Origin Lite. I’ve been using Ghostery, and it’s been great.

• T-Mobile Freebies – Got T-Mobile? You can now grab a free Slurpee every month as part of T-Mobile Tuesdays.

New Way to Thwart Scammers? Try This Simple Trick

The other day, I got a call from what looked like a regular 800 number. I answered—because with two kids, I always pick up. The one time I almost let a call go to voicemail, it was my kid’s school calling about a broken arm.

Anyway, the caller claimed to be from the Bank of America credit card verification center, wanting to approve my recent application. I smelled a scam and decided to try something new—I tapped the call recording feature on my iPhone.

As soon as my phone announced, “This call will be recorded,” they hung up.

Brilliant, right? What scammer wants to be recorded? This could be a simple trick to try the next time you get a suspicious call.

iPhones now have a built-in call recording feature, as do recent Pixel and Samsung devices. Might be worth keeping in mind!

richontech

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Q&A: Amazon Renewed Program

Joseph from Ohio writes in…

Hey Rich, what are your thoughts on the Amazon Renewed Program for products? Here’s an example of a product listing that’s marked as “Refurbished - Excellent” condition.

It’s Amazon—so you’re backed by a 90-day return window if the product doesn’t meet your expectations. That’s a solid safety net. If the price is right and the listing looks trustworthy, I’d say go for it! You can read more about their return policy here.

Other sites to check for refurbished goods include Apple, Google (for Pixel devices), Backmarket, Samsung, and Best Buy. Just be sure to check the return policy and warranty before purchasing.

If you’re looking to sell your own devices for cash, check out Gizmogo.

This Email Made My Week

Derek from Wisconsin writes in…

I’ve been a faithful and appreciative listener for many years. I always enjoy your passion for technology, lighthearted sense of humor, and helpful tips and tricks. Although our paths have never crossed, I can honestly say you are the nicest person I’ve never met. Keep up the tremendous work—you’re making a very positive difference in the world!

Thanks, Derek!

That’s a Wrap!

I think that should do it—have a great weekend! If you enjoyed this newsletter, do me a favor and share it with a friend.

And don’t forget to tune into my radio show:

📻 Saturday at 11 AM on KFI

📻 Sunday at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET on WOR

New episodes of my weekly TV show premiere on KTLA+ Sundays at 11 AM.

Thanks for reading!

Rich