The best way to stop a scam is to slow down

Plus: a smarter way to find local restaurants, the Kindle trick that may stop working, and a movie app that could fix movie night.

Greetings and welcome to another edition of the Rich on Tech newsletter.

Last weekend we were in Denver for a wedding, and it was a lot of fun, except for getting caught in a major downpour. I also did the radio show from there, which is always an adventure. And while we were there, I picked up a pretty good trick for finding unique local restaurants when you travel, which I’ll share in a moment.

First, though, I want to talk about scams, because at this point it feels like no matter where I go, someone has a story. They were scammed, they almost got scammed, their parents were scammed, or someone close to them lost money.

And I’m not talking about the obvious junk email sitting in your spam folder. I’m talking about scams where there is real money at stake, sometimes a lot of it.

The people running these scams do not care who they hurt or what the consequences are. And while seniors are often targeted, this is not just a senior problem anymore. Everyone is a target.

So my advice is to talk about this stuff with the people in your life. Explain what a scam actually looks and feels like, because usually there are a few common ingredients.

There is urgency. Something has happened and you need to fix it right now.

There is often secrecy. Don’t tell your spouse. Don’t call anyone. Stay on the phone.

And eventually, there is money. Transfer funds, buy gift cards, withdraw cash, pay a bill or move money somewhere “safe.”

A good rule of thumb is that almost nothing legitimate needs to be handled while someone is waiting on the phone for you. If someone is creating panic and telling you that you need to act immediately, hang up. Call someone you trust. Then contact the bank, company or agency yourself using a phone number or website you know is legitimate.

I also think we’ve reached the point where it makes sense to put a few extra technological guardrails in place.

One of the easiest is an ad blocker. Malicious ads are a huge way scammers get in front of people. You search for a program, a bank, a utility company or some other service, click what looks like the right result and end up somewhere completely different. Or you’re on a legitimate website and an ad pops up claiming you need to download something, buy more cloud storage or install antivirus software.

On my computer, I use Ghostery and really like it. On smartphones, I also like AdGuard.

If you use Chrome, I would also turn on Enhanced Safe Browsing. You’ll find it under Settings, Privacy and security, then Security.

Enhanced Safe Browsing gives you more proactive protection against dangerous websites, downloads and extensions. There is a privacy tradeoff because Google has to analyze more information about the sites you’re visiting to provide those real-time protections. If you’re not comfortable with that, Standard protection is still better than nothing.

Personally, I think Enhanced Safe Browsing is worth the tradeoff.

None of these tools can stop every scam, but they can remove some of the opportunities scammers use to get in front of you. The biggest protection is still slowing down when someone is trying to make you panic.

My new trick for finding great local restaurants

Okay, now that we’ve gotten through the serious stuff, let me tell you a quick story about finding places to eat in Denver.

One of the hardest things in a new city is finding a fun, casual, truly local restaurant without ending up at a tourist trap. For lunch, someone suggested Cherry Cricket, an old-school, quirky burger joint that was exactly what I was looking for. So I asked AI, “How do I find a restaurant like this in every city I go to?”

It suggested two searches: “best casual local institution near me” or “old-school neighborhood restaurant near me.”

The trick is to use those inside Ask Maps, the AI feature built into Google Maps. Open Google Maps, tap Ask Maps, then type in one of those phrases. The idea is that instead of just searching for “restaurants near me,” you’re describing the kind of place you actually want to find.

The next morning, I tried it for breakfast and found Pete’s Kitchen. When I told the valet where we were going, he wasn’t impressed. He hadn’t heard of it, said it wasn’t in the best area and suggested two more famous places that had been featured on TV. They were also quite a bit more expensive, so we decided to stick with Pete’s.

Good decision. It ended up being one of the highlights of the trip. It was inexpensive, local, unpretentious and memorable. We had a great breakfast and even walked the two miles back to our hotel afterward.

My takeaway is that the places with the most publicity aren’t always the ones you’ll enjoy most. This little trick worked twice in Denver, so I’m keeping it. Next time I’m in a new city, I’m opening Ask Maps inside Google Maps and asking it to find me a “casual local institution” or an “old-school neighborhood restaurant.”

Kindle’s Libby airplane mode trick may stop working

If you use Libby to check out books from your local library and read them on a Kindle, here’s a quick heads-up about a popular little trick that may be going away.

Normally, when you borrow a Kindle book through Libby, it expires when your library loan ends. But for years, readers discovered that if they downloaded the book to their Kindle and then put it into airplane mode, they could often keep reading after the due date. This was especially handy for slower readers who just needed more time to finish.

Now, a bunch of Kindle users on Reddit are reporting that the trick no longer works for them. Even with the book downloaded and the Kindle in airplane mode, they’re being told they need to reconnect before they can continue reading.

The interesting part is that it doesn’t seem to be happening to everyone yet. Some people in the same thread tested it and said airplane mode is still working just fine for them. So this could depend on your Kindle model, software version or changes that are still rolling out.

Either way, if you’ve been relying on the airplane mode trick to finish your Libby books, just know that your extra reading time might be coming to an end.

This might be my new favorite movie tracking app

I usually don’t recommend new apps until I’ve spent a lot of time with them, but I like this one so much that I’m making an exception.

It’s called I Like Movies, and it’s basically a really clean way to keep track of all the movies you want to watch. It’s available on Android now, and the developer tells me the iPhone version is already built and should be available by September 15.

What I like most is that it seems to have all the little things I’ve wanted from a movie app in one place. You get Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb scores, a description, the trailer and where the movie is streaming. You can also create multiple lists and tap on an actor to see their other movies.

You can also rate the movies you’ve seen, and the app will use that information to make recommendations. There’s even a household feature so people can share a library and watchlist.

On privacy, the developer says your watchlists, favorites and ratings are private and only visible to you and members of your household, if you choose to share one.

I’ve already made three separate lists: movies I want to watch by myself, movies to watch with my wife and movies to watch with the kids. In theory, this means we’ll never spend half of movie night scrolling through streaming services trying to agree on something again. We’ll see how that goes.

Right now, the app is free and there are no ads. The developer says the basics, including ratings, watchlists and friends, will remain free. The upcoming premium tier will mostly add unlimited access to an AI assistant and a more advanced Discover section.

I typically recommend JustWatch and Reelgood for figuring out what to watch and where it’s streaming, but dare I say, I think I like this one better.

The Android version is available now, and I’ll keep an eye out for the iPhone version when it launches.

A quick word from this week’s sponsor

Scams are getting harder to spot, and while no app can protect you from every bad decision online, I like having technology that can help put a few extra roadblocks between me and scammers.

That’s one reason I use Surfshark. I originally signed up for the VPN, but these days I think some of its other privacy and security features are just as useful.

CleanWeb can block ads, trackers and many malicious websites before they load. That can provide an extra layer of protection if you accidentally click a sketchy link in an email or text message. It can also help block those annoying pop-ups and trackers that follow you around the web.

Another feature I really like is Alternative ID. It creates an alternate email address that forwards messages to your real inbox, so you don’t have to give every website your actual email address. It can even generate an online persona with a name and date of birth for those random websites that insist on asking for personal information they really don’t need.

I’ve used Alternative ID myself when connecting to public Wi-Fi that wanted way too much information just to get online.

And of course, there’s the VPN itself. I keep Surfshark running on my phone most of the time. It encrypts my internet traffic and gives me more privacy, especially when I’m using public Wi-Fi at airports, hotels and coffee shops.

No security tool replaces common sense, but Surfshark gives you several useful layers of protection in one app. That’s why it has become one of the tools I use every day.

Surfshark is offering Rich on Tech readers a special deal, including extra months free and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

🔗 Check out my exclusive Surfshark offer!

Uber can deliver more than just food

Random, I know, but did you know Uber can courier things around town for you?

We usually think of Uber as a way to get a ride or have food delivered, but there’s also a feature called Courier that lets you send small items across town.

I used it this week when I needed to get something to a friend. In Los Angeles, where traffic can turn a simple errand into an hour-long project, I paid about $20 for someone to come to my house, pick it up and bring it straight to theirs.

It works a lot like requesting a ride. You enter the pickup and drop-off locations, someone comes to get the item, and you can track the delivery along the way.

Uber says people use Courier for things like forgotten keys, phone chargers, documents, gifts and other everyday items. Just know there are restrictions on what you can send, along with value and weight limits, and Uber says package loss or damage isn’t covered.

It’s one of those features you may never need until suddenly you really do. So consider this one to keep in your back pocket.

What Cox customers need to know about the Spectrum merger

There’s been a mega merger in the cable business: Cox is now part of Spectrum.

If you’re a Cox customer, you’ll start seeing Spectrum products, pricing and branding roll out beginning in mid-September. The slightly confusing part is that Charter Communications, Spectrum’s parent company, eventually plans to rename itself Cox Communications, while the actual consumer service will continue to use the Spectrum name.

So what does this mean for you?

For starters, Cox internet customers who don’t already have Cox Mobile can get one free year of mobile service.

And here’s a big one for Dodgers fans: SportsNet LA is now available to eligible Cox TV customers in several former Cox markets. You can find it on channel 63 in Orange County, 54 in Palos Verdes, 36 in Santa Barbara and 50 in Las Vegas.

In mid-September, Spectrum will start offering its plans in Cox markets, including TV packages that bundle streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Paramount+ and Peacock at no extra charge.

Importantly, it doesn’t sound like existing Cox customers will automatically be forced onto a new Spectrum plan. The company has previously said customers will have the option to switch to Spectrum pricing and packages or keep their existing plan.

Over the next year, Cox customers are also supposed to get Spectrum’s customer service guarantees, including 24/7 U.S.-based support, faster repair appointments and credits for outages lasting more than two hours.

My advice: don’t change anything yet. When the new Spectrum plans show up in September, compare them with what you already have and see if there’s a better deal.

Tech accessories worth checking out

This week on TV, I shared three tech accessories that recently caught my attention.

There’s the UAG Dryout Pouch, a $35 reusable pouch designed to help pull lingering moisture out of a wet phone. The XTREM INNO case has a small E Ink display on the back that you can change with a photo or design whenever you want. And the Twelve South Valet is a leather catch-all tray with Qi2 wireless charging built in for your phone or earbuds.

You can check out all three products at the links, or watch my full segment below.

Tech Tidbits

Google AI Pro free for students: Eligible college students in the U.S. can get Google AI Pro free for one year. It includes higher Gemini limits, Gemini Spark, Gemini inside apps like Gmail and Docs, extra cloud storage and other premium Google AI features.

Peacock is raising prices again: The top Premium Plus plan, which removes most ads, is going up $3 to $19.99 a month.

Alexa+ is now free on Fire TV: Amazon is bringing Alexa+ to compatible Fire TV devices at no extra charge, even if you’re not a Prime member. I can’t imagine many people were paying $20 a month for it before, but now you don’t have to.

ChatGPT has a new teen mode: My advice if you have a 13-to-17-year-old using ChatGPT: go into Settings > Parental controls and link your accounts. You can set limits, manage certain features and get notified in rare cases involving serious safety concerns.

Sonos lock screen controls are back on iPhone: Finally. You can once again control Sonos playback from the iPhone lock screen, although you may need to enable the feature first.

My take on the Pixel 11 Pro

I’ve been using the Pixel 11 Pro for about 10 days now, and I can tell you this: it’s my favorite Pixel yet.

The camera is fast and effortless, nighttime photos and selfies look great, and the software is about as close to perfect as it gets for me. Everything seems to take fewer taps, and the phone has a knack for anticipating what you want to do next.

A few features I especially like: Rambler, which is the best voice typing I’ve used on a phone; the new camera Looks; and creator tools like a built-in teleprompter and audio levels that make shooting social videos much easier.

My biggest complaint is the same one I’ve always had with Pixels: it’s just not that fast. Everyday tasks are perfectly snappy, but start working with larger files or video and you’ll notice it taking a beat or two longer than the latest iPhone or Samsung.

My buying advice: if you want a simple smartphone with a great camera and incredibly smart software, get the Pixel. If raw speed and power are your priority, look elsewhere.

But did I mention how much I love the software?

Q&A: Easier phone calling

Barbara in Torrance writes…

I have a 92-year-old best friend with significant vision loss who was recently diagnosed with dementia. Using the phone has become difficult, especially looking up or remembering numbers. Is there a phone that would let her simply say, “Call Barbara” or “Call Lorrie”?

Yes, and I would actually start with the phone she already has. Most modern smartphones can make calls by voice, so she can simply say “Call Barbara” using Siri on an iPhone or Gemini or Bixby on a Samsung Galaxy. I’d also make sure hands-free voice activation is turned on in Settings, so she doesn’t have to touch the phone first. That way she can just say “Hey Siri,” “Hey Google,” or “Hey Bixby” and then ask it to make the call.

You can also simplify the phone itself. On an iPhone, Assistive Access creates a much simpler interface with larger buttons and fewer distractions. Samsung has Easy Mode, which makes text and icons larger, simplifies the layout and lets you put important contacts right on the Home screen. Pixel phones have a similar feature called Simple View, which enlarges text and icons and simplifies the overall interface to make the phone easier to use.

If a regular smartphone is still too complicated, there are phones specifically designed for this. The RAZ Memory Cell Phone is made for people with memory loss, while BlindShell devices are designed for people with vision loss and includes voice-control features.

The goal is to remove as many steps as possible. Ideally, she should be able to call the handful of people she talks to regularly with either one tap or a simple voice command.

Longtime KFI Listener

Steve writes…

I’ve been listening to tech shows on KFI for a long time, and I think yours is the best show for listener interaction and keeping up with what’s happening in technology.

It’s down to earth, easy to share with others, and covers what works and what doesn’t, whether you’re an Apple or Android.

Thank you for always being honest and straightforward with your information.

Hey Steve, coming from someone who has been listening to tech on KFI for that long, this really means a lot. Your words made my day. My goal is always to be as helpful as I can with the information I provide, whether it’s on TV, radio or in this newsletter. I hope you can feel my smile coming through the interwebs.

That’s going to do it for this week. 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