Rain, hikes and tech insights
Spectrum's free speed boost, Amazon’s new Auto Buy feature, Apple’s Digital ID, and a few helpful apps worth trying.
Hello there, and thanks for opening up my newsletter. It has been a rainy few days in Los Angeles. It doesn’t rain often here, but when it does, it pours. There must be a dozen songs about that.
This week was a bit shorter because I took Tuesday off, so I used the time to go on a nice hike with the family. We treated it like a mini vacation day and even ate breakfast and dinner out, which is very rare for us. We were trying to break the routine a bit and stay off our screens.
It was also an excuse to try out T-Mobile’s Satellite connectivity once again. Have I mentioned how cool I think that is? ;)
Speaking of screens, Tesla might finally be caving to CarPlay. I really hope the rumors are true because it’s the one thing I genuinely miss in the Tesla. Their system is fine, but CarPlay just makes everything so much easier.
The OnePlus 15 also kinda sorta went on sale this week. It’s a $900 phone, and in my testing it’s a powerhouse with amazing performance and battery life. It’s a terrific Android phone overall, but there are a couple of downsides. The camera is good, not great, and a bit hit or miss. And you don’t get features like car crash detection or satellite connectivity, which are now pretty standard on Samsung, Pixel, and iPhone. On top of that, OnePlus still can’t sell the device in the US because the government shutdown delayed the approvals they need to put it on store shelves.
I am excited for this…
Holiday movies are also starting to roll out! Hallmark isn’t the only game in town anymore. Just about every streaming service is pushing out its own originals, and my wife and I here for it, sappy plots and all.
I went to two events in one day this week. The first was a Snapdragon event, which skewed more lifestyle blogger than tech reporter, but it was fun. I met some of the Snapdragon team, and they’re crushing it right now. Their processors power a ton of thin and light laptops with great battery life and many of the smart devices we use daily, including Samsung phones, Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, Oculus headsets, and more. Remember when everything had that little Intel Inside sticker? These days, it’s basically Snapdragon inside.
The second event was with GM at a beautiful house in Calabasas with incredible views. The home had GM Energy installed, which is essentially GM’s version of the Tesla Powerwall. They had batteries in the garage and showed how an EV can power the house during an outage. You can run the home off the EV alone or pair it with the home batteries. GM simulated a power outage, and the system kicked in within seconds. Very cool, especially for places where the power goes out a lot.
I also sent out another edition of my Dear Abby style Q&A bonus newsletter, and it was a hit, so I’ll keep doing them. Since I’m already replying to so many of your emails, it makes sense to format some of those answers and share them more widely. I got a hundred new questions in response, so I’ll be working through as many as I can. Just know I can’t personally respond to every single one. But thanks for your trust in me.
Spectrum’s free holiday speed boost
If you have Spectrum Internet, they’re running a promotion called “ThanksGIG-ing.” Now through November 24, you can activate a faster home internet speed if you’re already a subscriber. They’re basically giving customers a free boost up to 1 Gbps, which means faster downloads, smoother streaming, and better video calls. It’s a fun perk to have during the holidays when you might have extra people at home using Wi-Fi.
There’s nothing special you have to do except activate it on the MySpectrum App or website. Nothing to sign up for, nothing to cancel. Your service will automatically return to its normal speed on December 2.
Apple launches a new Digital ID
Apple has introduced a new form of identification called Digital ID. You set it up in Apple Wallet using your passport, and it gives you a secure digital way to verify your identity.
For now, Digital ID works at TSA checkpoints for domestic travel and is accepted at more than 250 airports across the US. Over time, the plan is for it to serve as a broader form of ID, whether you’re verifying your age at a retailer or confirming your identity at places like clubs or venues. Instead of handing someone your license, you would simply tap your Digital ID. One of the big advantages is privacy. Only the pertinent information is shared, and only after you approve it.
Keep in mind, this is different from adding a state ID or driver’s license to Apple Wallet, and you never need to hand over your phone.
If you want to set it up, open Apple Wallet, tap the plus sign, and follow the steps. You’ll scan your passport, tap the RFID chip, and take a quick video selfie to verify your identity. Once approved, your Digital ID appears in Apple Wallet.
Sponsored: Privacy is a right. Take control of yours.
Your name, home address, and phone number are floating around the internet, easy for strangers, scammers, and random companies to access. Data brokers and public databases collect and sell your personal details to anyone willing to pay, which opens the door to spam, scams, and even identity theft.
You can’t stop them from collecting data, but you can decide who gets to keep it.
Incogni automatically removes your private information from more than 420 of these sites. With their Unlimited Plan, you get full coverage. If you spot your details anywhere else online, send them the link and their privacy team will work to get it taken down. It’s the simplest, most complete way to clean up your digital footprint.
Take control of your privacy today.
Get 55 percent off with code RICHONTECH.
Amazon adds Auto Buy for price drops
Amazon announced that its Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale will run November 20 through December 1. Buried in the press release was a small but interesting new feature called Auto Buy. It lets Amazon automatically buy items for you when they hit the price or discount you choose.
To set it up, open the Amazon mobile app, find a product, and tap the little Rufus icon — that’s their AI. Tell it to “set a price alert,” and you’ll see options based on recent prices and discounts. You can choose a specific price or a percentage off. If the item drops to your target, the AI will automatically purchase it using your saved payment method and shipping address. Amazon says you’ll still have 24 hours to cancel. You can have up to 200 of these triggers active at once.
This is a great feature if you keep a long wish list or have items sitting in your saved cart waiting for a deal. Say a router normally costs 299 dollars and you want to pay 239 dollars. Set the alert for 239 dollars and that’s it. Rufus checks the price every 30 minutes and places the order if it hits your number. And you can cancel any Auto Buy at any time.
A simple tool to find your next book
If you’re always hunting for your next great read, there’s a fun website to try called book.sv. You enter at least three books you’ve enjoyed, and it pulls recommendations from Goodreads to build a personalized list of titles you might like.
There is some debate about the developer scraping Goodreads data and whether that’s allowed, but the site itself is a clever way to surface new books based on your tastes. Worth a look if you want fresh reading ideas.
Making smartphones easier for seniors
If you’ve got a senior in your life who struggles with a modern smartphone, I came across a new app called Senior Home that was written up in Android Police. It’s a very simple launcher for Android. The home screen shows large, clear text for the time and battery, and you can pin a few favorite apps and contacts right up front. There are also quick actions for things like the flashlight and screen lock.
The nice part is how customizable it is. You can protect the layout with a PIN so nothing gets changed by accident. You can hide apps in the drawer, adjust text size, and tweak the setup however you want. Unlocking all the features costs 99 cents, which is pretty minimal.
If you’re on a Samsung phone, there’s a built in option called Easy Mode. Go to Settings > Display > Easy Mode and you’ll get larger text, bigger icons, a simplified layout, and longer tap requirements to cut down on accidental presses. There’s also a high contrast keyboard for easier reading. It’s free and built right in.
Apple has something similar called Assistive Access. It cleans up the interface, enlarges key items, and lets you choose only the essentials like calls, camera, browser, or magnifier. You can even set a passcode so the person using it can’t change anything. To try it, go to Settings > Accessibility, scroll to Assistive Access, and tap “Setup Assistive Access.”
A look at the new Apple Watch lineup
This week on TV, I compared all of the new Apple Watch models for 2025. It’s the first time Apple has refreshed all three at the same time. You’ve got the budget friendly Apple Watch SE, the standard Series 11, and the top tier Ultra 3. Each one has its own set of differences. Watch my video to see how they stack up.
Three gadgets to help protect what matters
Also this week on TV, I showcased three gadgets designed to help you keep tabs on the things you care about.
One was a futuristic fingerprint padlock, which definitely stirred up debate on my social channels. You unlock it with your finger instead of a key or code, which makes it handy for sheds, lockers, or gates.
I also featured a new pet tracker from Life360, the makers of Tile. It has built-in cellular, so it’s much more precise than an AirTag and can show your pet’s exact location in real time.
And the third was a simple security camera with no monthly fees. It includes seven days of rolling cloud storage for free, plus 8 GB of built-in memory. Since it runs on four AA batteries, you can put it just about anywhere.
Tech tidbits
Waymo is expanding its coverage to include freeway routes in Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco, giving more riders access to faster point to point trips.
Amazon is renaming its satellite internet project from Project Kuiper to Amazon Leo, a nod to low Earth orbit. The service is expected to eventually compete with Starlink.
Volkswagen EV owners can now charge at Tesla Superchargers. You can also use watchOS on an Apple Watch to lock, unlock or control your car.
A little night sky magic
The Leonid meteor shower is about to put on a show, and The Weather Company says this could be the best display in years! The Leonids happen every November when Earth passes through the dusty trail of Comet Tempel Tuttle, sending fast, bright meteors streaking across the sky.
Under clear conditions, you could see up to 15 meteors per hour. A slim crescent moon won’t rise until late, so the sky should stay nice and dark.
If you want to catch the peak, look late Sunday, November 16, into the early morning of Monday, November 17. Find a dark spot away from city lights, bundle up, and give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust. Look toward the northeast, near the constellation Leo, and enjoy the show.
Feedbag
Vickie in Charleston, SC…
Hi Rich! I listen to you on iHeartRadio and love your show. It’s so informative.
Shirley in Sandy, Oregon…
I first heard you on the car radio, now I read your newsletters. Thank you.
Thank you, Vickie and Shirley! I always appreciate the kind words. My radio show is best live, but subscribing to the podcast is a great way to catch the show on demand.
That’s going to do it for now. Be sure to tune in to my radio show Saturday on KFI AM 640 from 11 am to 2 pm PT. I’ve got a great guest: Jamie Siminoff, founder of video doorbell company Ring. He’ll be talking about his new book “Ding Dong,” which I’ve started reading — and it’s already excellent.
Rich