I found a better way to get things done on my phone
Plus: the cheapest day to buy gas, better fireworks photos, and the journaling app that calls you every night.
Greetings and welcome to another edition of the Rich on Tech newsletter.
Happy Fourth of July weekend!
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, I got curious and looked up how many newsletters I’ve written. The answer? 123. Not quite 250, but we’re getting there. Thanks for being part of this journey.
Some of my favorite Fourth of July memories are from growing up, when my family would head to the lake for the holiday. We’d spend the day swimming, grilling, and hanging out on the dock before my dad and his brothers put on a fireworks show that was always the highlight of the night.
I hope you’re celebrating in your own meaningful way this weekend.
I think I just saw the future of computing
This week I had a bit of a breakthrough in my AI journey.
I realized I was constantly bouncing between Gemini, ChatGPT, and Siri AI. Then it hit me: what if I stopped treating ChatGPT like just another chatbot and started using it as my main starting point for getting things done?
So I took a closer look at ChatGPT’s apps. (Claude calls them connectors.) I’d mostly ignored this feature until now, but I discovered I could connect my Gmail, calendar, contacts, Apple Music, travel apps, and Todoist.
I figured, why not connect everything? If ChatGPT can understand what I want and take action, it makes sense for it to be my first stop instead of opening a dozen different apps.
Now, if I need to add something to my calendar, I just ask ChatGPT. If I want to create a playlist, I ask ChatGPT. If I’m planning a trip, I can compare hotels without jumping between websites.
The biggest game changer has been Todoist. I can paste an entire email into ChatGPT and simply say, “Add this to Todoist.” It pulls out the important tasks and adds them to my list in seconds.
That’s when the bigger picture clicked for me.
The real breakthrough isn’t that AI can answer questions. It’s that we’re getting closer to interacting with computers through natural language. Instead of learning how software works, we’ll simply tell it what we want, and it’ll figure out the rest.
The more I use these tools, the more I think AI is becoming the new interface for computing. Instead of opening an app first, we’ll start with AI.
Imagine ordering a pizza. You won’t browse a menu or open DoorDash. You’ll simply say, “Order my usual from my favorite pizza place,” and AI will take care of everything until the final confirmation screen.
I’ll admit, I was skeptical when people started talking about AI agents that could do things on our behalf. Now I’m beginning to think they were onto something.
I never thought computing might become voice-first, but I think we're getting closer to that reality. That's why so many companies are experimenting with AI wearables and other new devices. They may not replace the smartphone, but I can see a future where our phones become the place we consume and view information, while AI becomes the way we get things done.
I switched my test line to Google Fi
I always keep a secondary phone line for the smartphones I’m testing. For the past few years, that’s been Mint Mobile, and it’s still one of the best values around. Right now you can get a full year of unlimited service for $180 if you pay upfront. If you’d rather not pay for a full year, three- and six-month plans are also available.
I’ve recommended Mint to friends and family because it runs on T-Mobile’s network, includes 20GB of hotspot data, and has been consistently reliable. My only real complaint is that it doesn’t support cellular Apple Watches, which is a feature I use all the time when I go for a run.
This week I decided to try something different and signed up for Google Fi. They’re currently offering 50% off for a year when you bring a compatible Pixel phone, so it was the perfect excuse to give it a shot. If you decide to sign up, here’s my referral code: 8DU5XE.
What caught my attention are a couple of features I haven’t seen elsewhere. First, Google Fi includes cellular connectivity for your smartwatch at no extra cost. It also lets you add data-only SIM cards to up to four additional devices, like tablets or laptops, so they can share your plan without paying for separate data service. If you travel internationally, that’s another area where Google Fi really stands out since it works seamlessly in many countries.
Google Fi originally launched with an ambitious idea: your phone would automatically connect to whichever carrier had the strongest signal, so you’d never have to think about the network. While that vision has evolved, and in the U.S. it now primarily uses T-Mobile’s network, it’s still one of the more interesting and flexible wireless services available.
Check your earthquake alerts
Google shared new details this week about how its Android Earthquake Alerts System works, and it’s pretty fascinating.
Instead of relying solely on traditional seismic sensors, the system uses the accelerometers inside millions of Android phones to detect shaking. When enough phones in the same area detect movement, Google can quickly estimate an earthquake and send alerts to nearby users.
There are two types of alerts. A “Be Aware” alert notifies you of light shaking, while a “Take Action” alert is reserved for stronger shaking. Those urgent alerts override your phone, play a loud sound, and display full-screen instructions.
It’s worth taking a minute to make sure these alerts are enabled.
On Android, go to Settings > Safety & emergency > Earthquake alerts, where you can also run a demo to see what the alert looks like.
I also learned something new: earthquake alerts are no longer just for Android. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > scroll to the bottom and tap Enhanced Safety Alerts. and make sure they’re turned on there as well.
If you’d rather use a dedicated app, MyShake is the official earthquake early warning app for both iPhone and Android.
The cheapest day of the week to buy gas
Gas prices have come down a bit in recent weeks, but there are still a few easy ways to save at the pump.
If you’re an Amazon Prime member and live near a participating station, you can save 50 cents per gallon on one fill-up through July 5.
Another favorite of mine is the Upside app. It offers cash back at participating gas stations, grocery stores and more. Most gas rewards are just a few cents per gallon, but they add up over time. One of the best ways to maximize your savings is by referring friends. When someone signs up with your referral link, your cash back rewards can increase.
Finally, GasBuddy analyzed a full year of gas prices and found that Sunday is the cheapest day of the week to fill up nationwide, with Monday close behind. The worst days? Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, when demand tends to be higher and stations have often adjusted prices for the weekend.
If your tank can wait, try filling up on Sunday. It won’t always make a huge difference, but over the course of a year, those savings can add up.
WhatsApp finally lets you hide your phone number
WhatsApp made one of its most requested changes this week, and it’s a big win for privacy. You can now reserve a username, which means you’ll eventually be able to share that instead of your phone number.
This is especially useful when you’re joining a group, chatting with someone you just met, or connecting with parents from your kid’s school. Since your phone number is tied to so many of your accounts, keeping it private is always a smart move.
I also like this because WhatsApp is so widely used around the world. Instead of figuring out international phone numbers, you’ll simply be able to share a username.
You can reserve your username today under Settings > Account > Username. The ability to contact people by username will roll out later this year.
One nice bonus: if you already use the same username on Instagram or Facebook, you may be able to claim it on WhatsApp too.
Usernames are private. There’s no public directory, and people will need to know your exact username to contact you. You can even add an optional PIN for an extra layer of protection.
I’m excited about this for two reasons. First, it makes it much easier to share a way to reach you without exposing your phone number. Second, I may start sharing my WhatsApp username on the radio so listeners can message me instantly from anywhere in the world.
A scam reminder worth sharing
Once again, scammers have convinced an older adult to withdraw a large sum of money, this time $84,000, by posing as representatives from an antivirus company.
They told the victim his bank account had been compromised and instructed him to withdraw the cash. A courier then met him in person to collect the money. By the time he realized it was a scam, the money was gone. The good news is that police tracked down the suspected middleman who picked up the cash.
You can read the full story here, but here’s the part that really stood out to me.
We recently had a guest on my radio show who explained that while AI is helping scammers work faster and sound more convincing, their playbook hasn’t really changed. It almost always starts with an unexpected phone call, email, or text. Next comes a sense of urgency, pushing you to act immediately. Finally, they’ll try to isolate you by discouraging you from talking to family, friends, or your bank.
The best defense is recognizing that pattern before you get pulled in.
Watch the short video below, and if you find it helpful, please share it with someone who could benefit from seeing it.
SPONSORED: Your identity is cooked. Now what?
If someone stole your identity today, would you know what to do next?
Most people wouldn’t. That’s why I’ve been testing Coveron, an identity protection service from the makers of NordVPN.
The feature I found most interesting is the dark web monitoring. Once you've secured your account, Coveron shows you exactly what personal information has turned up in known data breaches. In my case, I found old passwords, phone numbers, addresses, and other personal details connected to past breaches. It's one thing to hear your information is "out there." It's another to actually see it.
Thankfully, I already use strong, unique passwords, but if you're still reusing old passwords, it's a good reminder that it's time to change them.
Coveron also monitors for suspicious activity and sends alerts if something looks wrong. And if identity theft does happen, you can be connected with a dedicated recovery specialist to help you through the process. Depending on your plan, it also includes up to $2 million in identity theft insurance, plus coverage for things like cyber extortion and online fraud.
Right now, my readers can save up to 70%, with plans starting at $2.99 per month.
Hopefully you’ll never need it. But if you do, you’ll be glad you planned ahead.
The journaling app that calls you every night
I’ve been testing a new iPhone app called June and I just love the idea.
It’s a journaling app, but instead of staring at a blank page, June actually calls you each evening. It asks about your day, follows up on things you’ve shared before, and remembers the people, events, and challenges you’ve talked about over time. When the conversation ends, it turns everything into a polished journal entry.
You can also call June whenever you want to talk through an idea, vent about your day, or simply capture a memory. It’s one of the neatest uses of AI I’ve come across because it removes the hardest part of journaling: getting started.
Of course, the first thing I wondered about was privacy. The developer says he intentionally designed the app so your journal lives in your own iCloud account, not on June’s servers. There’s no account to create, no ads, and no database of your life stored by the company. Your conversations are sent to Google’s Gemini AI to generate the journal entry, but the developer says they’re not stored afterward or used to train Google’s AI models.
I also asked about pricing because voice AI isn’t cheap. Right now every feature is free, though the developer says he plans to introduce an optional subscription in the future to help cover the cost of the real-time AI conversations.
I think this is one of the smartest and most approachable uses of AI I’ve seen. If you’ve ever wanted to keep a journal but couldn’t stick with the habit, this might finally make it easy.
I think Siri AI is going to be a hit
Speaking of AI, I’ve been using the new Siri AI, and I think Apple got this one right.
What impresses me most is the balance. Siri combines personal context from your phone, knowledge about the world, and a strong focus on privacy, all in a way that feels natural and incredibly easy to use. If Apple can deliver a fast, reliable experience when it launches later this year, I think it’s going to be a huge hit.
If you’re curious what the new Siri AI can do, check out my TV segment below. I’ve been testing the developer beta ahead of its expected launch with iOS 27 later this year.
Better fireworks photos with one simple trick
Every year, someone says you should put your phone away and just enjoy the fireworks. That’s great advice... but let’s be honest, most of us are still going to take a few photos or videos.
The problem is that fireworks are difficult to capture well on a smartphone. That’s why I love this tip from my friend Jefferson Graham. With one simple trick, you can record great video and capture sharp photos at the exact same time.
Check out my TV segment below to see how it works before the fireworks begin.
One more Fourth of July tip for pet owners
Fireworks may be fun for us, but they’re one of the biggest reasons pets go missing. I learned this week that the days around the Fourth of July are among the busiest of the year for animal shelters as frightened dogs and cats bolt from yards and homes.
One free resource I hadn’t heard of is Petco Love Lost. Before your pet ever goes missing, you upload a few photos while they’re safe at home. If they do get lost, the service uses AI to compare more than 500 unique physical characteristics, like facial features, markings, and ear shape, against pets reported by thousands of shelters and neighbors across the country.
It’s not a replacement for a microchip or ID tags, but it’s another layer of protection. More than 250,000 pets have already been reunited with their families through the service.
It only takes a few minutes to register your pet, and hopefully you’ll never need it. But if you do, you’ll be glad it’s there.
Tech Tidbits
Google published a list of 100 voice commands you can try with the new Gemini assistant on Google Home speakers. It’s a great way to see just how much more capable voice assistants have become.
Sony will stop producing new physical PlayStation games beginning in January 2028. It really does feel like the end of an era.
Google is also celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 with a fun maps list featuring iconic landmarks, hidden gems, and can’t-miss restaurants from Santa Monica to Chicago.
Q&A: Chrome switched my search engine
Richard in Oceanside writes:
My Chrome browser suddenly switched from Google to Yahoo as the default search engine, and Google isn’t even listed as an option anymore. I didn’t change anything. How do I get Google back?
By the way, I love listening to your podcast while I’m out walking. It definitely makes the miles go by faster!
First off, thanks for listening to the podcast on your walks…
Your issue is usually caused by a browser extension or other software that changes your search settings.
First, check your Chrome extensions and remove anything you don’t recognize or no longer use.
If that doesn’t solve it, reset Chrome by going to Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their original defaults.
This will reset your search engine, startup page, and disable extensions, but it won’t delete your bookmarks, browsing history, or saved passwords.
Once you’ve done that, Google should reappear as an available search engine.
Feedbag
Vanessa in Great Falls, Montana writes:
You talked about the Photomyne app on the show, and I just wanted to second that recommendation. It worked great for scanning my old military photo albums. You don’t have to remove the photos from the album, which can damage them if they’ve been there for years. I also used a phone arm and a Bluetooth remote shutter from Amazon to keep everything steady while scanning.
John writes:
I drive for a medical courier company, and your show keeps me company every weekend. I really appreciate all the tech advice and the humor you bring to it. I have a couple of laptop questions I’ll send in another time, but I mainly wanted to say thanks.
Thanks, John. I really appreciate the kind words. And Vanessa, thanks for the Photomyne tip. I actually used the app this weekend to scan some old family photos my in-laws brought over.
That’s it for this week. Thanks, as always, for reading.
If you have a tech question, don't forget my radio show is live every Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM Pacific on KFI AM 640. Give me a call at 1-888-RICH-101 (1-888-742-4101).
Can’t listen live? You can catch the replay Sunday evenings on 710 WOR in New York, subscribe to the podcast, or listen anytime on demand.
Have a fantastic Fourth of July weekend, stay safe, and I’ll see you back here next week.
Rich