Google’s smartest phone still has something to prove
Plus: the family code word that can stop an AI scam, California’s free data deletion program, and a hidden way to search YouTube with AI.
Greetings and welcome to another edition of the Rich on Tech newsletter.
Hard to believe the kids are already back in school. When I was growing up, school didn’t start until after Labor Day, which always felt like the official end of summer. We’d usually squeeze in one last trip over the holiday weekend, then it was back to business.
Now, it feels like school starts earlier every year. Anyway, the kids are back at it, and so are we.
Last weekend, I got caught up in the latest Verizon outage. I first noticed when I couldn’t reach my wife and assumed something was wrong with the Google Fi line I’ve been testing. Then I checked my Verizon phone and saw zero bars. A quick look at DownDetector confirmed it: Verizon was down.
The outage lasted most of the day, apparently after vandals cut a fiber line. It’s a good reminder not to immediately start changing phone settings when service disappears. Check DownDetector, check social media, and make sure Wi-Fi Calling is set up before you need it.
Google Pixel 11: The smartest phone gets smarter
The big tech news of the week is from Google, which held its annual Made by Google event in New York City. Last year, Jimmy Fallon hosted the late-night talk show-style event. This year it was Trevor Noah, and I watched from the comfort of my home. Google sent me a Pixel 11 Pro, so I’ve been putting it through its paces.
I’ll preface all of this by saying the Pixel is pretty much my ideal smartphone. I love the software and the hardware design. It’s the specs that tend to let me down every year.
That’s mostly a power-user complaint. For the average person, I think the Pixel 10a is one of the best values out there. If you want the best combination of accessories, support and service, I’d probably steer you toward the base iPhone 17.
But I still think the Pixel is the smartest smartphone. It just works the way I want a phone to work. Things take fewer steps, notifications are proactive, and Google has built in some excellent protections against scams. My issue is that Pixels have always felt a little underpowered compared with the latest iPhones and Samsung flagships.
This year’s hardware is mostly a polish job. The Pixel 11 gets a new Tensor G6 processor, a new security chip, faster wireless charging, a new 48-megapixel main camera and 256 gigabytes of storage to start.
The Pro models get a brighter, more scratch-resistant display, improved cameras, a better 5x optical zoom lens with up to 120x AI-assisted zoom, and faster wired and wireless charging. There are new colors, too, including the all-matte Obsidian finish on my review unit.
Google also cut the RAM on the entry-level Pro models from 16 gigs to 12. RAM is basically the phone’s short-term memory, and less of it isn’t exactly what I want to see on a phone I already consider underpowered.
There’s also a new feature called HiLight, a glowing LED on the back of the phone. The idea is that you can leave the phone face down and still see when something important is happening. Right now, it can light up for certain important contacts and when you’re interacting with Gemini.
It reminds me of the lights we’ve had for years on smart speakers, which glow to let you know the assistant is listening or responding. Google is essentially bringing that idea to the phone.
There’s also an updated foldable that’s lighter, thinner and more durable. And all of the phones get seven years of software updates.
But Pixel has never really been about the hardware. It’s about the software, and increasingly, AI.
One of the most interesting new features is Magic Capture. Think of it as Google’s version of Samsung’s Single Take. You hold the phone around chest level and let it record what’s happening. The phone then analyzes hundreds of frames and pulls out interesting moments as photos and short clips. The idea is that instead of watching your kid’s first steps through a screen, you can point the phone in the general direction and let AI figure out the best shots afterward.
For creators, Google added a built-in teleprompter to the camera app, which I love, along with audio levels while you’re recording. The phones can also translate video and audio in real time. Listen to a podcast in German when you only speak English, and the Pixel can translate it for you.
Then there’s agentic AI, the industry’s latest obsession. The idea is that Gemini can actually do things for you, like order groceries, grab you a coffee or book a ride. I’m still not convinced that, at this point, asking AI to do these things is any faster than just doing them yourself.
One feature I’m much more excited about is called Rambler. If you’ve heard me rave about AI voice-to-text tools like Wispr Flow, this is basically that technology built right into the phone. Instead of traditional dictation just transcribing your words, AI understands the context and cleans everything up before putting it into the text field.
The one downside is that you don’t see the words appear in real time like you do with traditional dictation.
I’m still testing the Pixel 11 Pro to see what I like, what I don’t and whether it could actually become my daily driver. I’ll keep you posted.
The Pixel 11 starts at $899, which is $100 more than last year, although you’re now getting 256 GB of storage. The Pixel 11 Pro starts at $1,099, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold starts at $1,899. Preorders are open now, with the phones arriving August 20.
And I’ll say it again: I absolutely love the Pixel software. I think it’s the best software experience on any smartphone. My concern continues to be whether Google’s processor and battery life can keep pace with Apple and Samsung.
Does your family have a secret code word?
When I was a kid, we had one for stranger danger. If my parents couldn’t pick us up from school and sent someone else, that person had to know the family code word. If they didn’t, we knew not to go with them.
That same old-school idea is useful again because of AI voice-cloning scams. The BBC highlighted a case where a mother got a terrifying call that sounded exactly like her teenage son, supposedly saying he was in danger. It wasn’t him. Scammers had cloned his voice.
That’s where a family code word can help. If someone calls claiming a loved one has been hurt, arrested or needs money urgently, ask for the code word. A scammer may be able to fake a voice, but they probably don’t know your family secret.
The key is to choose something easy for your family to remember but hard for anyone else to guess, and actually practice using it. It’s a very simple, very old-fashioned defense against a very modern scam.
Sponsored: The app that catches AI scams before they reach you
AI-powered scams are getting really convincing. Fake texts, fake voicemails and even live calls can now sound legitimate.
I’ve been testing Savi, an app designed to help filter and flag scams across calls and messages. I like that much of it works quietly in the background, and one plan can cover your family at no extra cost.
Here’s what it does:
Text Protection: On iPhone, Savi automatically filters suspected spam and scam texts.
Voicemail Screening: When an unknown number calls, Savi can take the message, identify the caller, summarize the voicemail and filter out junk.
Savi On-Call: If a live call feels suspicious, you can add Savi to the call like a third participant. It listens silently and alerts you in real time if it detects signs of a scam.
Scamwise: Got a strange email, text, website or other suspicious message? Run it through Scamwise for a quick second opinion.
Special offer for Rich on Tech readers: Try Savi free, then save 50% on your first year of Premium, bringing the price from $62.99 to $31.50 for the year, or $2.63 a month billed annually. You can also add family members at no extra cost.
Get 50% off: savisecurity.com/richontech
California’s free data deletion program is now working
For my California readers, a reminder about DROP, the state’s free program that lets you request deletion of your personal information from hundreds of data brokers.
Deletions began August 1, and I recently sat down with Tom Kemp, who oversees the program at CalPrivacy, to get an update on how it’s working.
One of the biggest questions I’ve heard is about privacy. If you give DROP your information, are you essentially handing it over to data brokers? Kemp says no. The system uses hashed, or scrambled, versions of your information. Data brokers compare that scrambled data against their own scrambled records, and only matching records are identified for deletion. They don’t just receive a readable list of everyone who signed up.
So far, more than 500,000 Californians have enrolled, and more than 8 million records have already been deleted. The program is completely free.
I also asked how DROP compares with paid data-removal services. You can use both. A paid service can be more hands-on, show you more detail about what’s being removed, handle custom requests and continue checking for new listings over time.
But DROP has one major advantage paid services don’t: enforcement. If a registered data broker doesn’t comply with California’s deletion requirements, the state can take action and impose penalties.
The trade-off is that DROP is only available to California residents.
Tech Tips
I’m loving a new feature called Ask YouTube. Think of it as AI search for the information buried inside YouTube videos. You can ask about travel advice, product recommendations, recipes and just about anything else creators have covered. The feature is a little hidden and isn’t available to everyone yet. On a desktop, click inside the YouTube search box and look for the Ask YouTube option. If you see it, you can start asking questions instead of hunting through individual videos.
Another feature I’ve rediscovered is Chrome’s Send to Your Devices. If you’re looking at a webpage on your computer and want it on your phone, you don’t need to text or email yourself the link. Add the Send to Your Devices button to Chrome’s toolbar, choose one of your signed-in devices, and the page gets sent there as a notification. One caveat: on iPhone, the notification may not appear until you open Chrome.
And one more from fellow newsletter writer Jared Newman. I’m already a big fan of SimplyCodes.com for finding coupon and promo codes, but he pointed out another option: Reddit Answers. It uses AI to dig through Reddit conversations and surface useful answers. Since Reddit users are constantly swapping deals and promo codes, it’s worth trying if you’re hunting for a discount and coming up empty elsewhere.
Tech Tidbits
Not all USB-C cables are created equal. Here’s a useful primer on what to look for depending on whether you want faster charging, faster data transfers or both.
The Apple TV streaming service (paid) just added a bunch of movies you can stream for free, including The Martian, E.T., Zoolander, Titanic and more.
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds can now function as hearing aids, similar to the hearing assistance features available on Apple’s AirPods.
And here’s a great roundup of essential apps for PCs and Macs.
Q & A: Is there a free alternative to GoodSync for syncing files?
Ray asks: I used to use AllwaySync to sync files between my desktop and an external backup drive. I recently got a new laptop, but AllwaySync is now GoodSync, and I really don’t like the new interface.
Can you recommend something free or inexpensive that will sync files between my laptop and external drive?
Try FreeFileSync. It’s free and designed specifically for comparing and synchronizing folders and drives, so it’s a good option if you want to keep an external backup drive in sync without paying for a subscription.
Feedbag
Vicki in Rockford, Michigan writes:
I love all of the tips in your weekly newsletters that arrive in my mailbox on Saturdays.
Today on my local news channel, WOOD TV8, you were featured in our 12 o’clock news! I’m so happy your timely advice is reaching so many people. Congratulations.
Vicki, I’m so glad you caught my segment in Michigan! I’m based in Los Angeles, but Rich on Tech is syndicated to stations around the country.
I don’t mention that much because what matters to me is making tech useful, understandable and helpful.
But… while we’re on the topic of me, I’ve noticed the reviews for the Rich on Tech podcast on Apple Podcasts have gotten a little stale.
If you listen to the show and enjoy it, I’d really appreciate it if you took a minute to leave a rating and review. It helps new listeners discover the show and lets me know what you’re enjoying.
That’s going to do it for this week’s newsletter. Thanks so much for reading, watching and, of course, listening.
My radio show is live Saturdays at 11 a.m. Pacific on KFI AM 640. Listen on the radio or stream anywhere with the iHeartRadio app. You can also catch the replay Sunday nights at 8 p.m. Eastern on 710 WOR in New York, or subscribe to the podcast and listen anytime.
Rich