How to build an AI notebook that remembers everything

Plus: Were Ring cameras hacked, $180 Mint deal, and a Prime Video pick

Greetings!

Hope you’re having a great summer. I’ve been busy testing Samsung’s new foldable phones—and I’ve got a few thoughts.

Tried my first Wienerschnitzel this week — shot on the Samsung Fold 7.

First off, Gemini is pretty awesome as an AI assistant. I tried switching to it full-time, but it just doesn’t learn as quickly or as naturally as ChatGPT. At this point, ChatGPT almost feels superhuman—it starts anticipating what I want before I even finish typing.

That said, Gemini’s deep connection to your Google data is impressive. More on that in a bit.

Now, about the foldables themselves. They’re engineering marvels, no doubt. But I’m still not totally convinced I need one. The Fold 7 finally has a usable front screen, which makes it more practical. Still, I’m not sure I want a tablet in my pocket at all times just for those few moments I want a larger screen.

The Flip 7, on the other hand, is growing on me—mainly because of the camera setup. You can shoot selfies or videos using the rear-facing cameras, and the large front screen acts as a live viewfinder. It’s actually pretty handy for making quick social media videos. But how many people—outside of content creators and selfie pros—really need that? And are they ready to give up their iPhone for it?

Also this week, I finished watching a movie on Prime Video that was surprisingly good. It’s called Heads of State, and it’s a funny, action-packed ride from start to finish. Funny thing is, when I was in London, I saw a replica of Marine One near Tower Bridge—turns out it was for the movie’s promotion. I guess marketing really does work.

Creating an AI-powered notebook

This week, I became a little obsessed with the idea of building an AI-powered notebook—something that could help me remember all the little things in life: people’s names, fun facts about them, inspirational quotes, the hilarious stuff my kids say, gift ideas, and all the random things you come across each day that you want to remember later.

I’ve used an app called Voicenotes, which is great, but everything stays locked inside that one app.

What got me thinking deeper about this was wearing the new Samsung Watch 8 Classic, which puts Gemini on your wrist, along with the Fold, which gives you quick access to Gemini at the press of a button.

I wondered—can Gemini actually take notes and give them back to me when I need them? Turns out, yes… and much more.

The secret is Google Keep—an app I’ve used off and on over the years, but never really leaned into. Now I’m using it in a whole new way. You can say something like, “Take a note that my gym locker code is 12-25-32,” and it creates the note instantly. Then later, just ask, “Check my notes for my locker code” and Gemini will find and read it back to you.

Even better? It’s all hands-free.

This feels like the virtual assistant we’ve been promised for years. And it’s finally here.

Gemini can also tap into your calendar, tasks, Gmail, Drive, Docs, and even your photos. These are all Google services—so if you’re already using them, the integrations are surprisingly useful. I keep finding new voice commands that just work.

The trick is that you have to actively mention the app or service that you want Gemini to check for your data. Otherwise, it will just default to a standard AI search or command.

Here are a few example commands I’ve used this week:

• “Take a note that Jennifer’s kid’s name is Sam.”

• “Add to my note about Jennifer’s kid that his birthday is January 9.”

• “Remind me to take out the trash at 5 AM tomorrow.”

• “Search my photos for my best picture of a mountain in Hawaii.”

• “Check my calendar and give me a summary of next week’s big events.”

If you do nothing else, I recommend setting up Google Keep and tossing a few notes in there—like your favorite restaurants, gift ideas, or little life details you’d normally forget. Then try saying, “Search my notes…” and let AI do the rest. You don’t have to be exact—Gemini can search across multiple notes, parse what you meant, and summarize the results.

It’s actually kind of amazing.

Was Ring really hacked on May 28th?

One of my best assets is you—you’re my eyes and ears on the ground for what’s happening to everyday folks. Whether it’s scammy emails, weird texts, or viral social media claims, you’re not afraid to reach out when something doesn’t feel right.

That’s exactly what happened this week. I woke up to a flood of messages about Ring cameras supposedly getting hacked on May 28th. It must be true—there’s a TikTok video about it!

So I did what any good journalist would do: I looked into the facts, tracked down the source, and reached out to the company for an explanation.

Here’s what I found—no, Ring wasn’t hacked. Instead, the confusion stemmed from a backend update that caused some account login histories to display old device logins with a new date. It looked suspicious, but it was just a glitch—not a breach.

I break down the whole story in the video below—or you can click here for the written version.

richontech

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Behind the scenes at Walt Disney Imagineering

Recently, I got to do something I dreamed about as a kid—go behind the scenes with the brilliant minds at Walt Disney Imagineering. These are the folks who create everything from the rides and attractions to the immersive lands across Disney parks.

I’ve always admired Disney’s attention to detail—and now that I’ve seen the process up close, I get it. Nothing is left to chance. Everything is meticulously planned and built with purpose.

During my visit, I got to explore Disney history and see how the technology behind the magic has evolved—from mechanical systems to cutting-edge electronics. I even got to play with a lightsaber, meet some adorable robots, and experience a bit of Imagineering magic for myself.

Tech Tidbits

• Google’s next Pixel event is August 20 in NYC — expect new phones, foldables, and wearables. [LINK]

• Nest Aware prices are going up: now $10/month or $100/year. [LINK]

• Peacock is raising streaming prices again, starting August. [LINK]

• Mint Mobile deal: $180 gets you unlimited service for a full year. [LINK]

• Apple News+ adds a daily emoji puzzle game for subscribers. [LINK]

• Chrome on Android now lets you move the address bar to the bottom. [LINK]

Too Good to Be True?

Ron from Los Angeles writes in…

Hi Rich,

I love your show and listen both live on KFI and later on your podcast during my daily walks — just to make sure I don’t miss anything!

I saw an ad for a smartwatch called the ZE Fit 2 that looks full-featured and only costs about $100. It claims to include an always-on display and even blood pressure monitoring. What do you think of it?

Thanks for the kind words about the show! I don’t see any credible mention of actual blood pressure monitoring on that watch, and to be honest, I’m not aware of any smartwatch currently on the market that does that reliably. There’s a device called the Hilo coming next year that is the first cuffless blood pressure monitor cleared by the FDA… but until then, I’d be cautious.

As for the ZE Fit 2 — this looks like a no-name brand I haven’t heard of and I can’t find any major reviews on it, either. If you’re looking for a solid budget smartwatch, I’d steer you toward Amazfit. They make reliable wearables with good features for the price, and their software is well-designed, something that is usually lacking with most inexpensive watches.

Feedbag: Heavenly Pixel Pick

Robert from California writes in…

Thank you so much. I’m 72, I had no idea what phone to purchase. I heard angels singing and then on TV you were reviewing the Pixel 9a.

I now own the 9a and love it!

I believe this was divine intervention. Hahaha.

Thank you.

Love to hear this, Robert. I’m no angel — but the Pixel 9a is a heck of a good phone for the price. Great camera, smart AI features, and Google promises 7 years of updates. That’s practically eternal in tech! Enjoy!

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– Rich