Real ID, AOL dial-up, Samsung foldables and new gadgets
Rich On Tech Weekly
This week on Rich on Tech Weekly, I shared some personal updates and covered a mix of stories about privacy, gadgets, and the latest smartphones.
I went through the process of finally getting my Real ID at the DMV — and was surprised at how smooth and modern the experience was. But it also raised bigger questions: should we be comfortable giving fingerprints and biometrics to government databases? Do we still have the right to remain anonymous in today’s digital world?
AOL dial-up finally ending
Yes, AOL is officially shutting down dial-up internet service on September 30, 2025. It’s a major milestone in tech history, though census data still shows over 160,000 U.S. households using dial-up as recently as 2023. AOL email isn’t going anywhere — but that screeching modem sound is finally fading into history.
I interviewed Patrick Chomet, Samsung’s head of customer experience, about the new foldable phones. The seventh generation is thinner, lighter, more durable, and powered by Galaxy AI. Samsung’s pitch: foldables now handle everyday basics, plus new multitasking tricks like editing spreadsheets, dragging and dropping, and AI-powered voice commands. Privacy is addressed with a “hybrid” approach — much stays on the device, with options to shut off cloud features completely.
Beats Pill portable speaker – great sound, 24-hour battery, $150.
Beats colorful cables – woven, durable, handy for CarPlay or older devices. $19 or two for $35.
ARC Pulse case – minimalist aluminum bumpers to protect your iPhone while going nearly caseless. About $70.
ASUS CX15 Chromebook – simple, affordable laptop with a big 16-inch screen and long battery life. Often on sale for under $200.
Goodbye to passwords? Enter Passkeys
Passwords are a pain — and often unsafe. Tech companies are moving toward passkeys, which replace passwords with secure cryptographic keys. You sign in using your fingerprint or face, and they can’t be stolen in phishing attacks or reused across sites. About half of the top 100 websites already support them.