Greetings and welcome to another edition of the Rich on Tech newsletter.
This week I celebrated a birthday, and I have to say I really felt the love. I’m not one to make a huge deal out of my birthday every year, but I figure as I get older, every year is something to celebrate. I’m so thankful for all of the well-wishes on Facebook and Instagram, and of course on my phone. I’m still going through all the messages, and it makes my day to know that, in my own little way, I’ve made an impact on so many people who took the time to reach out and say happy birthday.
Apple sets the date
Also this week, Apple confirmed the date for its next launch: Wednesday, September 9. We’re expecting to see the new iPhone 18 Pro models, along with what could be the company’s first foldable iPhone, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting my hands on those.
The wrinkle this year is that, according to all the rumors, Apple may not launch the standard iPhone 18 at the same time. If you typically buy the base model, you may have to wait until 2027. Of course, we won’t know for sure until the September 9 keynote, so stay tuned.
Meta settles
The other big story this week involves Meta and teen safety. Meta reached a multibillion-dollar settlement with a group of states that accused the company of improperly collecting and using data from children and teenagers, and of designing its apps in ways that made them addictive. Meta did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement, but it did agree to make some pretty significant changes to how Facebook and Instagram work for teens.
Those changes include a warning after 15 minutes of scrolling, a two-hour daily time limit for teens ages 13 to 17, no notifications during school hours, quiet hours overnight and likes hidden by default.
But there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Parents can override many of these restrictions, and I imagine plenty of teenagers will convince their parents to do exactly that. And these restrictions don’t necessarily solve the larger problem, because they don’t apply to every app teens use. If Instagram and Facebook become too restrictive, teens can simply spend more time on TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat or whatever the next popular app happens to be.
The settlement also doesn’t definitively answer the larger question of whether Meta intentionally made its apps addictive. But we all know what endless scrolling feels like, and adults get sucked into it too. Depending on the person, it can feel like an unlimited bowl of candy, a slot machine or anything else that keeps tempting you to go back for just one more.
These apps are really good at tapping into our basic human desire to be entertained, noticed, loved and liked. Whether or not a courtroom ever officially labels that addictive, it can still be very difficult to put the phone down.
Time to shop your internet bill
This week on TV, I shared a quick tip on how to save money on your home internet. It’s a question I get a lot on the radio show, especially with all the advertising right now around 5G home internet.
The bottom line is that there are a lot more options than there used to be. You’ve got satellite, more fiber and more wireless service, and all of that competition is forcing traditional cable companies to come up with better offers too. My advice is simple: if you haven’t shopped around for home internet in a while, it’s worth taking another look.
I shared three places to start: the Speedtest Performance Directory, the FCC’s Broadband Map and Allconnect. Put in your address or ZIP code and each one will show you the providers and options available in your area. They all present the information a little differently, but between the three, you can get a pretty good picture of what’s actually available at your home.
As for what I’d choose, fiber would be my first pick if it’s available. Fiber usually gives you very fast download and upload speeds, which is especially helpful if you regularly upload large files, back up lots of photos and videos or work from home.
Cable is a perfectly good option for most households. Download speeds are usually fast, upload speeds are typically fine for everyday use, and it’s widely available.
Wireless home internet can also be a great deal if your needs are fairly basic, like web browsing, video calls and streaming. Just make sure you test the wireless signal and speeds inside your home before committing, because performance can vary quite a bit depending on where you live and how strong the signal is.
I’d look at satellite if the other options aren’t available. It’s useful in rural or hard-to-reach areas, but it can cost more and may not be the best value if you already have a good fiber, cable or wireless option.
Once you know what’s available, compare speeds, prices and promotional offers. You may find you can get faster service, a lower bill or, ideally, both.
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.
I can’t put the Pixel down
If you looked at my iPhone Screen Time since Google sent me the Pixel 11 Pro, it would be pretty minimal. I cannot put this phone down.
In my review, I explain the Pixel 11 Pro is not the fastest phone out there, but it is an incredibly polished experience. The software is excellent, the camera consistently gets the shot right on the first try, and Magic Capture has become one of my favorite features. You just roll video, and it automatically pulls out the best clips and still photos for you.
Rambler is also excellent. It’s some of the best speech-to-text I’ve used on a phone, and it’s built in for free. If you’ve heard me talk about Wispr Flow, which costs around $15 a month, this gives you a similar experience without another subscription.
My biggest complaint is that the Pixel feels underpowered compared with the latest iPhones and Samsung phones. But the software, camera and overall experience are so good that they make up for it.
Apps and Bookmarks
🔗 Softorino Online File Converter - Need to convert a video or audio file? Stop searching for sketchy websites filled with ads and limitations. Softorino, which makes several apps I already use, has a new website that lets you convert files right in your browser. It’s free, fast and private.
🔗 Seen It - Last week, I may have spoken too soon with my streaming movie app recommendation. Ron wrote in to share his new favorite called Seen It, and I have to agree, it’s pretty awesome. It’s available on iPhone and Android, has no ads, looks great, includes ratings from major sources like Rotten Tomatoes and lets you filter movies and shows in just about every way imaginable. It even highlights awards. My only complaints are that it seems to allow just one watchlist, and while the major streaming services are covered, some of the more obscure ones are missing.
🔗 NFL Ways to Watch - The NFL has finally built the website everyone has been wanting. It’s called Ways to Watch, and it gives you a super simple way to see where every game is available, whether that’s over the air, streaming or somewhere else. Games are organized week by week and sorted by national and out-of-market availability. One more tap shows you all the ways to watch and listen. Thanks to Jared Newman of the excellent Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for finding this gem.
🔗 KCRW Explore LA - Here in Los Angeles, KCRW has a great new app feature called Explore LA that’s refreshingly not all about AI. It’s basically a map filled with recommendations from the station’s DJs and shows over the years. You can browse curated events, restaurants, bookstores, parks and more. It’s a really cool local discovery tool, and it’s free.
🔗 CAL FIRE AwareCA - And one more for my California readers: CAL FIRE has a free app called AwareCA that gives you real-time wildfire information straight from the source. You can track active fires, see 3D views of affected areas, follow firefighting aircraft, find nearby fire stations, hospitals and traffic cameras, and even listen to CAL FIRE radio traffic to hear how crews are responding in real time.
Tech Tidbits
Apple TV just got more expensive. The monthly price is now $14.99, up from $12.99, while the annual plan jumps from $99 to $119. That makes the annual plan a much better deal if you know you’re sticking around, saving about $61 versus paying monthly. Apple also raised the individual Apple One bundle from $19.95 to $21.95 a month.
Got stubborn Windows programs you can’t get rid of? TechSpot has a helpful roundup of third-party uninstallers that can remove troublesome software and clean up files it leaves behind. For everyday apps, though, the regular Windows uninstall tool is usually all you need.
Uber is testing a new safety feature that lets parents see a live video view of their teen during a ride. It’s only available in select markets for now, but Uber plans to expand it.
Q&A: Is that celebrity really messaging you?
“Karen” in Orange County writes:
I’m a big fan of yours on KTLA 5, and I have to admit, I almost got fooled online.
After my father passed away, I started messaging with someone I believed was a well-known chef. We talked about recipes, food and family, and the messages felt incredibly personal and detailed.
Then he said he was too busy to keep up with Facebook and asked me to download Telegram so we could continue talking on his “private” account. That’s when I started wondering if it was really him.
I also recently commented on a famous actor’s Facebook post and got a response, which made me wonder the same thing: how do you know if you’re actually talking to the celebrity or a scammer?
For the record, I never sent any money or gift cards.
The Telegram request is the red flag. Scammers often start with a friendly conversation on social media, then try to move you to Telegram, WhatsApp or another private app where they can build trust and eventually ask for money, gift cards or some other favor.
And no offense, but big-name celebrities are not looking to make friends with random people they meet on social media. It just isn’t happening. Most of them probably aren’t even checking their own accounts.
I get why it’s confusing these days. Influencers, creators and up-and-coming public figures can be much more engaged with followers and may actually respond. But scammers know that, too, and they often impersonate big-name celebrities because there’s an instant sense of familiarity and trust.
My rule is simple: if a celebrity suddenly wants to move the conversation somewhere private, stop, block and move on.
Feedbag
A few notes from viewers and listeners this week that made me smile.
Brian wrote after seeing my TV segment about shopping around for home internet. He checked Cox’s current offers and discovered the exact same 2 Gig service he was paying $210 a month for was being offered to new customers for $90. “Thanks for the heads-up. Your segment prompted me to check the offer, and you just saved me $110 a month.”
Susan in Colorado had a rough week after getting locked out of her Samsung phone and eventually having to factory reset it. But she ended on a happier note: “Love listening to your podcast. I will be caught up this weekend with a 5 hour road trip.”
Monte in Oregon says he listens every week, unless something more pressing comes up, like his wife telling him to clean up after their Springer Spaniel. His reasoning: “Happy wife, happy life.” Fair enough.
Tammy wrote in with a question about getting her new Pixel 11 Pro onto a carrier that supports eSIM. After I suggested a couple of options, she signed up for Mint Mobile and reported back: “It was very simple. Thank you.”
And Nancy wrote to say, “Thank you for all of your information on the Radio… I really appreciate you more than you know.”
Thanks, as always, for watching, listening, reading and taking the time to write. I may not be able to answer every message, but I truly do read and appreciate them.
To the moon and back
I was scrolling through social media the other night and saw that a lunar eclipse was happening. We were just about ready for bed, but I gathered the family and said, “Let’s go outside.”
Sure enough, there it was. We watched the eclipse for a bit, and I used AI to explain what was happening: the Earth was passing between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the moon.
Of course, I pulled out the Pixel 11 Pro and took some pictures, and they came out incredible. I know there’s some AI polishing happening, but I’ll take it. The phone can zoom up to 120x, which is actually too much for the moon. I had to pull back just to fit the whole thing in the frame.
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