A nostalgic newsletter filled with vinyl, cassettes & classic Weather Channel
Plus: money-saving websites, tips for a cleaner PC, and my Galaxy S25 Edge review
Hi there – and thanks for checking out the newsletter!
This week, I did something I’ve never done in my life: I bought two vinyl records.
Sure, I remember occasionally flipping through my parents’ record collection in the basement. We had a record player growing up, but I only recall playing one album on it—a thin paper record from the newspaper with a McDonald’s jingle about the Big Mac.
My sister and I played that thing endlessly, memorizing every word.
My real music journey started with tapes, then CDs, then MP3s… and now, of course, streaming.
But right now, I’m testing a retro-style record player from Radio Shack (yes, really), and I needed something to play on it. So I found a used record shop and went with my kid to pick a couple albums. We left with Miles Davis and Taylor Swift.
There’s something about vinyl that connects you to the music in a different way. You drive to the store. You browse. You choose. You pay. You set it up on the turntable and carefully drop the needle. The sound is warm and textured. People debate whether it’s “better” than a CD, but honestly, that’s beside the point—it’s about the experience.
That said, I get why the world embraced streaming. As cool as vinyl is, $10 a month for nearly every song ever recorded beats the $60 I just spent on two albums.
Slim but not seamless: Galaxy S25 Edge review
Reviews are in for Samsung’s ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge, and they line up with what I’ve found—it’s a great phone, but you’re giving up a few things for that slim design.
Namely: reduced battery life, no dedicated zoom lens, and I’ve noticed it runs hotter than the S25 Ultra.
Still, if you’re OK with those trade-offs, it’s a slick little device that practically disappears in your pocket.
Websites that actually save you money
Last week, I told you about a new cash-back shopping site called ShopBack. This week, I decided to round up a few more helpful money-saving websites—covering everything from promo codes to tools that help you unlock discounts already built into your credit card, plus deals and free trials on streaming services.
Hands-on with AI glasses and Samsung’s new headset
At Google’s I/O event, I went hands on (eyes on?) with two new devices: a prototype pair of augmented reality glasses and Samsung’s upcoming XR headset. Both highlight the promise of having an always-on AI assistant.
Personally, I think the glasses could be the next big thing. Maybe not the first version, but having a tiny display in your field of view opens up a world of possibilities.
That said, the catch is obvious: they make the most sense for people who already wear glasses or sunglasses regularly. Will the average person want to wear glasses all day just to get the benefits? I’m not so sure.
But the most important takeaway? Smart glasses like these could be life-changing for people with accessibility challenges.
Tech tidbits
Disney+ adds subscriber perks Disney+ launched a new perks page offering discounts, sweepstakes entries, and special offers—another move to keep subscribers paying month to month.
Google Photos turns 10 To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Google Photos is getting a refreshed app with more AI editing tools and a smart way to share photos via QR code.
Samsung Galaxy S25 beta software If you have a Galaxy S25, you can sign up for the One UI 8 beta. Just remember—it’s beta software, so avoid installing it on your daily driver.
Keep your Windows PC clean with these tools Chris Hoffman from the Windows Intelligence newsletter recommends two built-in tools: Disk Cleanup and Storage Sense. For deeper cleaning, try BleachBit - but be careful when downloading it because ads may be mimicking download links.
iPhone dominates global smartphone sales once again
Counterpoint Research has released the list of the top-selling smartphones worldwide for Q1 2025—and the iPhone 16 lineup is leading the charge. Apple took five of the top ten spots.
Samsung claimed four of the top ten, but only one was a flagship model. The rest were budget-friendly phones, reflecting a big trend: low-end smartphones under $100 are the fastest-growing category globally.
Still, the Galaxy S25 series is off to a solid start. One standout feature? People seem to really like the Gemini AI integration. I know I do!
Helping everyone navigate digital life
This week, I hosted a panel for Verizon focused on digital wellness. They’re kicking off a new series of in-store and online classes designed to help everyone to be smart, safe and mindful with their phones.
We had some great panel guests, and here were a few key takeaways:
We’re all figuring this out together. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
Control your phone—don’t let it control you. Start by managing notifications: silence the ones you don’t need and keep only the essentials.
Empower your kids, don’t just restrict them. For example, instead of saying “You have 30 minutes left on your iPad,” try asking “How much more time do you think you need?”
Verizon’s free classes start rolling out in June.
Spot the scam before it gets you
I recently spoke with Katie Couric Media about how to avoid online scams. As you know, I love sharing the latest ones—many of which come straight from you.
Scammers are relentless. And while a lot of these messages might seem obvious, someone always falls for them. That’s why staying vigilant is key.
The biggest tip? Slow down. Take a moment and really think: What is this message trying to get me to do?
That pause can be the difference between staying safe and getting scammed.
Walkman nostalgia
Sandy writes in after seeing my Instagram Story about visiting the record store:
My 12-year-old is asking for a Walkman. 🤔 We don’t have any tapes. Are Walkmans coming back? 🙄
I doubt it. I don’t see a wave of people praising the sound quality of cassette tapes these days. But if you’re looking for a working player in 2025, check out a site called Retrospekt. They refurbish vintage cassette players—and other retro gear—so it works like new. Lots of fun stuff that’ll take you right back to whatever you were into growing up.
Bookmark This: Old-school weather vibes
Speaking of nostalgia—my Dad is a roofer, and I remember waking up every morning before school to the sound of The Weather Channel. Back then, it wasn’t packed with shows like it is now. It was just one screen with the basics: your local forecast, current conditions, and that classic smooth jazz soundtrack.
If you want to relive that era, there’s a website that brings it all back: weatherstar.netbymatt.com. It emulates the old-school Weather Channel experience almost perfectly.
Feedbag
Julie writes in…
I listen to your podcasts each morning as I get ready for work and sometimes in the car if I am driving very far. I have learned a lot and take notes on things you talk about.
Thanks, Julie! Love hearing that. Appreciate you subscribing—and I’m glad you’re learning. Just don’t take notes while you’re driving… that’s what the show notes are for ;)
If you’re not subscribed to my podcast, you can find it on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
That’s all for now! Be sure to catch my radio show Saturdays from 11 AM to 2 PM PT on KFI AM 640—and call in with your tech questions at 1-888-RICH-101.
You can also catch the rebroadcast in New York City on 710 WOR, Sunday nights from 8 to 11 PM ET.
My TV show, Rich On Tech Weekly, features all of my reports - plus deeper dives into the stories you see on the news. It streams exclusively on KTLA+ every Sunday at 11 AM.
Rich