Greetings and welcome to another edition of the Rich on Tech newsletter.
My wife and I celebrated my birthday with a weekend in wine country, and it was incredible. Solvang gets most of the attention, but I might like nearby Los Olivos and Santa Ynez even more. They’re smaller, less touristy and packed with great wine tasting rooms.
One highlight was Dovecote Estate, where we did a pond-side tasting in the middle of nowhere. There was even a tech connection: the person behind the winery also started the Pasadena company that created System Mechanic, the PC cleanup software.
Then it was off to New York City for the Sonos Open House.
In the name of efficiency, I took the red-eye, landed around 7 a.m. and made it to the 10 a.m. event. Afterward, I had dinner with an old high school friend, did my radio hits from New York the next morning, then flew back to Los Angeles so I could be on KTLA the following day.
So yes, just over 24 hours in New York.
And somehow, it worked. When flights are on time, you can do incredible things. It also helps that I can sleep pretty much anywhere.
Now I’m saving my energy because this coming week is a big one. Apple is holding its event in Cupertino, and we’re expecting plenty of announcements, including Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
Sonos wants to make your speakers smarter
Sonos invited me to New York City for its Open House, which felt a little full-circle because that’s also where I was first introduced to the company nearly 20 years ago.
Back around 2007, Sonos had set up its speakers in a hotel suite to demonstrate the idea of wireless music throughout your home. This was before the iPad, and you needed expensive speakers plus a dedicated controller. I remember thinking: Who is this for?
Eventually, I came around. Prices improved, there were more speakers to choose from, and phones and tablets became the controller. Today, I have Sonos speakers throughout my house and absolutely love them.
What I like most is that Sonos is largely platform agnostic. It works with tons of streaming services, TVs, Android and iPhone. You can play different things in different rooms or sync the whole house together. And the speakers last a long time.
Of course, Sonos had a rough stretch after a major app overhaul made basic things like adjusting volume and grouping speakers frustrating for longtime users, myself included. The app is in a much better place now, and Sonos is ready for its next chapter.
The centerpiece is Sonos 27, what the company calls the audio operating system for your home.
The most interesting part to me is the new voice control. Instead of memorizing specific commands, you can talk naturally. Ask for a type of music, change your mind mid-sentence or describe a song you can’t quite remember. In the demos I saw, it felt much more conversational than it’s current voice assistant.
Sonos is also opening its system to AI services through Model Context Protocol, or MCP. That means ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and other compatible AI services can control your Sonos system.
In one demo, ChatGPT searched for music fitting a specific description and then played it on a group of Sonos speakers. If you’ve been reading this newsletter, you know I’ve been connecting more of my digital life to ChatGPT, so this caught my attention.
There are two new products too.
The Beam Ultra is a new midsize soundbar with Dolby Atmos. Its coolest trick is portable surround sound. Bring compatible Sonos speakers into the room and the system can automatically turn them into rear surrounds. When movie night is over, move them back to the bedroom or kitchen and they go back to their regular jobs.
That’s neat because you’re not dedicating two speakers to surround sound all the time.
Then there’s Ace Ultra, the second generation of Sonos headphones, with improved noise cancellation, 10 microphones and up to 35 hours of battery life. I already liked the original Ace, and these felt even more comfortable.
Press a button on the headphones and you can pull whatever is playing on a nearby Sonos speaker onto your headphones, then hand it back to another compatible Sonos speaker or soundbar.
The Sonos app is also getting another refresh with simpler navigation, a new iPad layout, iPhone lock screen and Dynamic Island controls, Siri Shortcuts integration and a clever virtual volume knob you activate by twisting two fingers anywhere on the screen.
Beam Ultra and Ace Ultra go on sale September 29. Portable surround support and Sonos’ AI integrations through MCP begin rolling out in early access September 8, while the new Sonos voice experience arrives this fall if you’re signed up for early access (which I now am!)
I left New York even more excited about a system I already use every day. If the new voice and AI controls work at home as well as they did in the demos, they could make Sonos a lot easier and more useful.
…And the Sonos executive I interviewed promised they won’t make the same mistakes as last time and disrupt everyone’s systems in the process.
Three simple ways to make life harder for hackers
On TV this week, I shared three of my tried-and-true ways to better protect your accounts. They’re simple, but they’re also the things people tend to avoid doing.
First, use a password manager and make every password strong, unique and at least 15 characters long.
Second, turn on two-factor authentication for your important accounts. Better yet, use an authenticator app instead of text messages so you’re not relying on your phone number for security.
And if you use Chrome, turn on Enhanced Protection. It checks sites in real time and can warn you before you land on something malicious or hand over sensitive information.
🔗 See all the tips here, plus my preferred apps
A more privacy-focused take on smart glasses
Also this week, I tried the new HTC VIVE Eagle smart glasses.
At their core, they’re similar to Meta’s smart glasses, with cameras, microphones and speakers built in. But HTC (yes, the old smartphone company) is leaning heavily into privacy as the differentiator.
VIVE Eagle starts at $499 and is now available in North America after launching first in Taiwan. Two years of VIVE AI Plus are included with the glasses. After that, HTC says its basic AI plan will cost $3 a month.
One of the more interesting safeguards is that if you cover the recording light, the glasses stop recording. There’s also an optional feature that lets someone nearby say “Stop filming” to end a recording.
I tested them at a house in the Hollywood Hills and came away impressed. The software felt polished, the photos and video looked good, and I really appreciated that there are two physical buttons instead of one, and customizable. The AI features are flexible too. VIVE AI can tap into services including Gemini and OpenAI, while the glasses can also work with Siri on iPhone.
They can translate conversations, take photos and video by voice, and even livestream to YouTube.
Privacy is still the bigger story. Photos and videos are stored locally by default, HTC says personal data isn’t used to train VIVE AI, and requests sent to supported third-party AI services are de-identified first.
They also have a clever magnetic charger that lets you keep wearing them while they charge.
We’re going to see a lot more smart glasses like these. If you’re on the fence, waiting six months might make sense as the category gets more competitive. But HTC has already built in some thoughtful privacy protections and useful AI features.
Sponsored: An app that helps protect you from scams
Scams are getting harder to spot. We’re way beyond the days of poorly written emails from a stranger promising you millions of dollars. Today’s scams can arrive as convincing text messages, realistic voicemails and even phone calls from people pretending to be your bank, a government agency or someone you trust.
That’s why I’ve been testing Savi, an app designed to add extra layers of scam protection to your phone. Think of it almost like antivirus for your life.
Savi works in several different ways. Its voicemail screening handles messages from unknown callers, identifies who’s calling and filters out junk. On iPhone, Text Protection automatically filters suspected spam and scam texts. And if you’re already on a phone call and something doesn’t feel right, Savi On-Call can join the call and listen silently for scam warning signs, alerting you in real time if it detects something suspicious.
There’s also Scamwise, a free scam checker. If you get a suspicious email, text, website or even a piece of mail, you can submit it and get a quick assessment of whether it looks like a scam.
I also like that one Savi Premium plan can cover your family at no additional cost. You can add a parent, partner, teen or other family member, which could provide some extra peace of mind if you’re the person everyone calls to ask, “Does this look like a scam?”
Rich on Tech readers can try Savi free and get 50% off the first year of Savi Premium, bringing the price to $31.49 for the year. The discount is applied automatically.
A spelling bee you can play every day
I came across a fun little online game this week courtesy of Rick Broida of the Deal Secrets newsletter.
Everyone seems to be looking for the next Wordle, and Beeswax is a simple daily game that turns an old-school spelling bee into something you can play in your browser.
You get five words a day, and they get progressively harder. Listen to the word, type in your spelling and hope you got it right. One mistake and your game is over.
If you get stuck, you can ask for traditional spelling bee hints, including the definition, a sentence, part of speech or language of origin, but each hint costs you points.
It’s challenging without requiring a huge time commitment, which is exactly what I want from a daily game. If you like spelling bees, give Beeswax a try.
A phone you can repair yourself
This week on TV, I tested the $650 Fairphone Gen 6+, an Android phone with 12 user-replaceable parts, including the battery and screen.
It even comes with a screwdriver, and swapping parts was surprisingly easy. You also get clean Android, a microSD card slot and a camera that was better than I expected.
It’s not as powerful as the latest flagship phones, but if you like the idea of a phone you can actually repair and keep for years, this one is worth a look.
Audiobooks bundled with your music
I’m not sure how I missed this, especially since I love audiobooks.
Audible is still my go-to. I recently signed up for an annual plan that gave me 12 credits upfront, and I like that the books I redeem with those credits are mine to keep.
One tip with Audible: always check what offers are available to you. I’ve subscribed, canceled and come back over the years, and there always seem to be different deals floating around.
But it took a sign in the airport for me to find out that Amazon Music Unlimited includes audiobook access from Audible.
You get one audiobook selection each month as part of the subscription, regardless of how long the book is. Spotify takes a different approach, giving eligible Premium subscribers 15 hours of audiobook listening each month, with the option to buy more listening time if you run out.
So if you already pay for Amazon Music Unlimited or Spotify, it’s worth checking whether the included audiobook benefit is enough for you.
Personally, I already pay for YouTube Music, so I’d rather keep my music and audiobooks separate and stick with Audible.
But if you want one subscription that handles both music and audiobooks, take a look at what Amazon Music Unlimited and Spotify include before paying for a separate audiobook service.
One other distinction: Audible’s lower-cost Standard plan works more like a subscription library. With Audible Premium plans that give you credits, the books you redeem are yours to keep even if you cancel.
Free TV is still alive and well
I love when listeners suggest guests for the radio show. Recently, someone told me I should have YouTuber Tyler the Antenna Man on, and with football season starting, the timing was perfect.
With all the streaming services out there, it’s easy to forget you can still get a surprising amount of television for free over the air with a basic antenna.
Tyler’s biggest advice is to buy the right antenna for where you live. He says a lot of the cheap generic antennas online are junk, and adding an amplifier when you don’t need one can actually make reception worse.
Before buying anything, he recommends checking RabbitEars.info to see which stations are available at your address, how strong the signals are and which direction they’re coming from. He also likes AntennaWeb.org as an easier second opinion.
I specifically asked for some antenna recommendations. For under $50, Tyler likes the Philips rabbit ears and Channel Master FLATenna for indoor use. For stronger outdoor options, he mentioned models from ClearStream and a Five Star Yagi.
I ended up buying both the Philips rabbit ears and the Channel Master FLATenna at home. The FLATenna pulled in more channels overall, but the Philips gave me a more consistent picture on the main channels I cared about. My advice: start with the Philips, and if it doesn’t do what you need, then go with the Channel Master.
You can listen to my entire interview with Tyler starting at 1:41 below, including his tips on antenna placement, amplifiers and getting the strongest signal.
Tech Tidbits
Before canceling an old phone number, make sure it’s no longer tied to important accounts, two-factor authentication or recovery options. Computer Tech Mark Cobb has a good checklist of what to check first.
Android is adding Guided Vision, an accessibility feature that helps blind and low-vision users aim their phone camera so Gemini Live can better read menus, fine print and describe objects around them.
Amazon can now help verify scams. Alexa for Shopping can check whether an email, text or call actually came from Amazon. You can also forward suspicious messages to verify@amazon.com for a verdict.
Protect That Pixel
Mary, Topanga, California writes…
I got a great deal on a Pixel 11 Pro XL, just $640 after trading in my Pixel 7 Pro and stacking a couple of Google discounts.
Now I’m wondering about protection. Do you still recommend a screen protector on newer phones? I’ve thought about a wallet-style case because it covers the screen, but I’m worried it would make using the camera awkward.
Yes, I still recommend a screen protector. Google says the Pixel 11 Pro has improved scratch resistance, but I managed to put a big scratch right in the middle of my test unit before I got a screen protector on it. (I usually keep my phones in my back pocket and regularly sit on them)
My go-to combination is from Spigen: the GLAS.tR EZ Fit Pro screen protector and the Ultra Hybrid MagFit case with the magnetic ring built in.
The screen protector comes as a two-pack with an easy installation tray, and the case is slim, grippy and doesn’t add much bulk.
I’m not a fan of wallet-style cases. They make using the camera awkward, and I don’t love keeping my phone and credit cards together. Lose one and you’ve lost everything.
Right now on Amazon, I found the screen protector and case for about $35 total, which is a great value for basic everyday protection.
Feedbag
A few notes from viewers and listeners this week that made me smile.
Michael in Northridge kept pushing after PayPal rejected his fraud claims and eventually got everything refunded. His update: “PayPal refunded everything and (gasp) apologized.” Persistence pays.
Mike volunteers at an assisted living facility and used one of my recent scam segments during a cybersecurity talk for residents. “Thanks for giving me the tools to help them.”
Harold in Massachusetts says his massive over-the-air antenna setup pulls in stations from all six New England states plus New York City. His advice: “The bigger and higher the antenna, the better it works.”
Drew in Mission Viejo checked back in after a month with the Bee wearable I reviewed. His verdict: “It does 95% of what it claims,” though apparently it sometimes includes talk radio in the daily recap.
Stace and Phil wrote, “Thank you for fostering kittens,” and sent a photo of their current foster, Marshall, who was found under some stairs at Marshall Middle School in Long Beach. He’s headed to his forever home soon.
One more thing before I go. My old roommate, fellow radio nerd and longtime friend Bryan Bishop is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor in San Diego.
Since Bryan is living in a hotel while he gets treatment, his friends and family came up with an idea I love. They put an Aura digital photo frame in his room and shared access with his friends so we can all send photos to it and brighten his day.
I’ve always said Aura is one of my favorite gadgets, but this might be one of the best uses of it I’ve ever seen. It’s a Wi-Fi digital frame with excellent software that makes it easy for friends and family to add photos right from their phones.
Sometimes the best technology is the stuff that simply helps us feel a little more connected. My sincerest thoughts are with Bryan, Christie and their family as they go through this incredibly difficult time.
If you enjoy this newsletter, the one thing I ask is that you forward it to a friend who might enjoy it too. Word of mouth is still the best way to help more people discover it, and I really appreciate you spreading the word.
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