If you purchased a vast anti virus, you might have some money coming your way. What to look for in your inbox. Microsoft is one step closer to killing passwords for good. I'll tell you what's taking over. Google is pulling the plug on older Nest thermostats. What you need to know before your smart home gets left behind. Plus your tech questions answered. What's going on. I'm Rich Dmiro and this is Rich on Tech. This is the show where I talk about the tech stuff I think you should know about. It's also the place where I answer your questions about technology. Thanks for tuning in on radio stations across the country the podcast and streaming Rich on Tech weekly on the KTLA plus app. You know that I believe tech should be interesting, useful and fun. Let's open up those phone lines at triple A rich one oh one. That's eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one, triple A rich one O one, give me a coffee a question about technology. Email is also open. Just go to Rich on Tech dot tv and hit contact.

If you purchased a vast anti virus, you might have some money coming your way. What to look for in your inbox. Microsoft is one step closer to killing passwords for good. I'll tell you what's taking over. Google is pulling the plug on older Nest thermostats. What you need to know before your smart home gets left behind. Plus your tech questions answered. What's going on. I'm Rich Dmiro and this is Rich on Tech. This is the show where I talk about the tech stuff I think you should know about. It's also the place where I answer your questions about technology. Thanks for tuning in on radio stations across the country the podcast and streaming Rich on Tech weekly on the KTLA plus app. You know that I believe tech should be interesting, useful and fun. Let's open up those phone lines at triple A rich one oh one. That's eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one, triple A rich one O one, give me a coffee a question about technology. Email is also open. Just go to Rich on Tech dot tv and hit contact.

Guests.

Guests.

This week Stephen Johnson. He is with Google Labs. He'll talk about the latest updates to Notebook LM. If you haven't tried this. You are gonna love it. It's super cool. Google's AI powered research and writing tool helps you organize and understand information faster.

This week Stephen Johnson. He is with Google Labs. He'll talk about the latest updates to Notebook LM. If you haven't tried this. You are gonna love it. It's super cool. Google's AI powered research and writing tool helps you organize and understand information faster.

It's got a really cool feature you're gonna love.

It's got a really cool feature you're gonna love.

Then later in the show, we've got Harry Campbell, founder of The Rideshare Guy. He's going to join us to break down the latest in the gig economy, from Uber and Lyft to delivery apps, robotaxis and beyond. Did you know if you subscribe to YouTube Premium on the website, it's fourteen dollars, but if you did that same subscription on your iPhone it would cost you nineteen dollars a month. Did you know you can't subscribe to Netflix at all on your iPhone? Why? Well, it's all because Apple has a very sophisticated system for making money off of in app purchases and subscriptions on the iPhone that developers have always had sort of a love hate relationship with. And this week was a big turning point for that system because Apple lost a big court case and it might mean you could save some money and things might become easier but also harder on the iPhone. Let me explain what happened. So Apple, a judge ruled that they violated a twenty twenty one court order that required them to allow third party payment links and apps. What does this mean, Well, it means that when you go to subscribe to something on an app, or maybe do an in app purchase, sometimes developers wanted to be able to show you your options.

Then later in the show, we've got Harry Campbell, founder of The Rideshare Guy. He's going to join us to break down the latest in the gig economy, from Uber and Lyft to delivery apps, robotaxis and beyond. Did you know if you subscribe to YouTube Premium on the website, it's fourteen dollars, but if you did that same subscription on your iPhone it would cost you nineteen dollars a month. Did you know you can't subscribe to Netflix at all on your iPhone? Why? Well, it's all because Apple has a very sophisticated system for making money off of in app purchases and subscriptions on the iPhone that developers have always had sort of a love hate relationship with. And this week was a big turning point for that system because Apple lost a big court case and it might mean you could save some money and things might become easier but also harder on the iPhone. Let me explain what happened. So Apple, a judge ruled that they violated a twenty twenty one court order that required them to allow third party payment links and apps. What does this mean, Well, it means that when you go to subscribe to something on an app, or maybe do an in app purchase, sometimes developers wanted to be able to show you your options.

Right.

Right.

Maybe you could use PayPal to pay, Maybe you can use a third party website to pay, and all of that might be cheaper than using Apple's payment method, which is just you know, double clicking that button on the side of your phone and using your linked credit card. In twenty twenty one, a judge rule that Apple had to let developers include buttons or links inside their apps that would let you know about these options, basically giving you a way to pay without going through Apple system. But Apple never really followed through or at least made it really hard and confusing for developers to implement. This was not very good for consumers. A judge this week rule that Apple willfully ignored the order and even referred the case to federal prosecutors for possible criminal contempt. Now, this judge did not hold back at all. She said Apple deliberately tried to protect its revenue stream by dragging its feet, and she even said an Apple executive lied under oath. That's really serious stuff. Now here's what Apple did. They tried to sneak in a twenty seven percent commission on purchases made outside the app store, and she said, no, you can't do that. That is now. So Apple kind of created their own workaround. So if you make a purchase inside the iPhone through one of these apps on the iPhone, Apple takes a thirty percent cut. Now, sometimes it's lower based on how much volume the app developers doing. But you know, these developers have always had sort of, like I said, a love hate relationship with this. If you're a small developer, sure, you make an app, you can make a million bucks by a bunch of people subscribing to that app, You're more than happy to pay Apple thirty percent of that. But once you're a big developer, like a Netflix or a Spotify or a YouTube, you don't really like paying that thirty percent over and over and over. So here's the deal going forward. Developers starting basically now, can include links in their iPhone apps that lead to cheaper subscription options on the web. So that means before, if you went to subscribe to something, developers really couldn't tell you that there was a cheaper way to do it. They just had to play the game. Right now they can say, hey, look, you can subscribe through iTunes it's very easy. Or you can go to our website. You can subscribe that way and save a couple bucks per month. Before they weren't even allowed to tell you that. Now, not only can they tell you that, they can also directly link to these other options.

Maybe you could use PayPal to pay, Maybe you can use a third party website to pay, and all of that might be cheaper than using Apple's payment method, which is just you know, double clicking that button on the side of your phone and using your linked credit card. In twenty twenty one, a judge rule that Apple had to let developers include buttons or links inside their apps that would let you know about these options, basically giving you a way to pay without going through Apple system. But Apple never really followed through or at least made it really hard and confusing for developers to implement. This was not very good for consumers. A judge this week rule that Apple willfully ignored the order and even referred the case to federal prosecutors for possible criminal contempt. Now, this judge did not hold back at all. She said Apple deliberately tried to protect its revenue stream by dragging its feet, and she even said an Apple executive lied under oath. That's really serious stuff. Now here's what Apple did. They tried to sneak in a twenty seven percent commission on purchases made outside the app store, and she said, no, you can't do that. That is now. So Apple kind of created their own workaround. So if you make a purchase inside the iPhone through one of these apps on the iPhone, Apple takes a thirty percent cut. Now, sometimes it's lower based on how much volume the app developers doing. But you know, these developers have always had sort of, like I said, a love hate relationship with this. If you're a small developer, sure, you make an app, you can make a million bucks by a bunch of people subscribing to that app, You're more than happy to pay Apple thirty percent of that. But once you're a big developer, like a Netflix or a Spotify or a YouTube, you don't really like paying that thirty percent over and over and over. So here's the deal going forward. Developers starting basically now, can include links in their iPhone apps that lead to cheaper subscription options on the web. So that means before, if you went to subscribe to something, developers really couldn't tell you that there was a cheaper way to do it. They just had to play the game. Right now they can say, hey, look, you can subscribe through iTunes it's very easy. Or you can go to our website. You can subscribe that way and save a couple bucks per month. Before they weren't even allowed to tell you that. Now, not only can they tell you that, they can also directly link to these other options.

So what's happening? Immediately?

So what's happening? Immediately?

Spotify and Patreon already said, you know what, we love this. We are rolling out app updates to take advantage of these new rules. Now I expect many other big apps to quickly follow, because why, it saves them thirty percent just by updating their app. Now, when it comes to smaller developers, they'll probably just stick with what they've got because it works and thirty percent of whatever they're doing on the App Store is probably not that big of a deal for them. And also Apple gives them the entree to millions of users, So they sort of like that, where did this all stem from? This all stem from Fortnite? They battled Apple in a very big way. Starting in twenty twenty, they basically had been banned from the App Store because they challenged Apple over all these payment policies. They tried to put in their app, these external payment methods and options, and Apple said, uh ah, not so fast, you can't do that, and so they were banned from the App Store, and then they sued Apple, and this has been going on and on for many years. But now the court has sided with Epic once again, and the game is going to come back to the iPhone, So sort of a full circle moment. Apple for its part, of course, as you might expect, is appealing this decision, but they are complying in the meantime. So they said they totally disagree with this, as you might expect. I mean, they've built up this big system. They're not going to agree with this in a public way, but they know that the walls of this app store couldn't last forever. But it means that Apple is going to try to continue to fight this and protect what they've built. Now, for you, the consumer, what does this mean. It means that you might see lower prices for some of the apps that you subscribe to. It might seem it might mean that you'll see different options for some of the apps that you subscribe to, but there is also a risk for you as well. Now, when you were subscribing to all of these things through Apple, you did have a few advantages, right. Number one, it was easy. All you had to do is have one card linked to your Apple account. You could subscribe to all of this stuff. You can easily unsubscribe. It was very protective of your personal privacy. Now that is all up in the air. Now you are going to have to keep track of how you subscribe to things, right, so you're gonna have to decide do I want to use this credit card? Do I want to use that credit card? Also, not every app is going to have the same payment flow. Some of them are going to use PayPal, some of them are going to have you go directly to their website to put your information in there, And not all of them have the same privacy implications that Apple had. And when it comes to keeping track of your subscriptions and unsubscribing, that's also going to be a whole new thing because now you're going to have to keep track of your subscriptions on your own. You're not gonna be able to see them all in one list inside your settings on the iPhone. So again pros and cons for all of this. This This is such an interesting change for the App Store and for Apple because you know they don't want to do this, but it is a win for competition. It could force Apple to improve some of its policies over time, so they may say, hey, look, we're going to charge some of these bigger developers less money. We're not going to charge in some of these other aspects. But right now the App Store is very it's a very inside baseball kind of place, right A lot of this is mysterious. A lot of these deals that they have with these big developers, we're not really sure how it works. And when it comes to the consumer, it has always been easy to subscribe, but you don't really know what's going on in the background. And I think that this marks a major shift for Apple when it comes to the way that we deal with the App Store, and for them, you have to understand where they're coming from. They built this entire system from the ground up. Right before the App Store, there was no way of purchasing apps in a safe, private method on a phone, and this has made many developers rich over the years. It has made very many developers, it has built their names over the years. I mean, think about it. You can come from nowhere, build an app, publish it to the App Store, get some buzz behind it, and now you are a success story. And Apple has paid out billions of dollars over the years to independent developers for what they've built on the App Store. But it has always been kind of a push and pull situation because when you're a small developer, it's great, you're using the App Store to your advantage. Right, you're one person, you get access to millions, if not, you know, hundreds of millions of iPhone users. But if you're a big developer like Netflix, you're saying, hold on, people already know about Netflix, they already know how to subscribe, they already know how to find us. The iPhone is just one way of accessing our system. So you're not making us or breaking us. And that's why a lot of these big developers have not enabled in app purchases for their subscriptions. Like Netflix, you can only sign in even with Amazon, if you look at the Kindle long time ago, they took away the ability to purchase Kindle books on the iPhone. I remember this when I was selling my book. It was so complicated to tell people how to purchase my book if you were buying it from an iPhone, the most popular device in the world. Why because Kindle Amazon did not want to give thirty percent of every ebook purchase to Apple just for the ability for people to buy their book there. So this is an ongoing thing right now. This does mark a major shift in the way business is done on the iPhone. I am sure Apple executives are not very happy about this. For consumers, Like I said, it is a mixed bag. It's somewhat good, it's somewhat bad in other so we'll continue to follow this. I think that this is not the end of this situation, but just the beginning, all right. Eight eight eight rich one O one eight eight eight seven four two four one zero one. Website for the show rich on Tech dot TV. If you got a question for me, give me a call. More rich on Tech coming your way right after this. Welcome back to rich on Tech. Rich Demiro here hanging out with you talking technology at Triple eight rich one O one eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one, the website for the show rich on tech dot TV. There you can get notes to everything I talk about, and you can read this week's newsletter. It's all posted at richon tech dot TV. Let's go to Mark in San Diego. Mark, you're on with Rich.

Spotify and Patreon already said, you know what, we love this. We are rolling out app updates to take advantage of these new rules. Now I expect many other big apps to quickly follow, because why, it saves them thirty percent just by updating their app. Now, when it comes to smaller developers, they'll probably just stick with what they've got because it works and thirty percent of whatever they're doing on the App Store is probably not that big of a deal for them. And also Apple gives them the entree to millions of users, So they sort of like that, where did this all stem from? This all stem from Fortnite? They battled Apple in a very big way. Starting in twenty twenty, they basically had been banned from the App Store because they challenged Apple over all these payment policies. They tried to put in their app, these external payment methods and options, and Apple said, uh ah, not so fast, you can't do that, and so they were banned from the App Store, and then they sued Apple, and this has been going on and on for many years. But now the court has sided with Epic once again, and the game is going to come back to the iPhone, So sort of a full circle moment. Apple for its part, of course, as you might expect, is appealing this decision, but they are complying in the meantime. So they said they totally disagree with this, as you might expect. I mean, they've built up this big system. They're not going to agree with this in a public way, but they know that the walls of this app store couldn't last forever. But it means that Apple is going to try to continue to fight this and protect what they've built. Now, for you, the consumer, what does this mean. It means that you might see lower prices for some of the apps that you subscribe to. It might seem it might mean that you'll see different options for some of the apps that you subscribe to, but there is also a risk for you as well. Now, when you were subscribing to all of these things through Apple, you did have a few advantages, right. Number one, it was easy. All you had to do is have one card linked to your Apple account. You could subscribe to all of this stuff. You can easily unsubscribe. It was very protective of your personal privacy. Now that is all up in the air. Now you are going to have to keep track of how you subscribe to things, right, so you're gonna have to decide do I want to use this credit card? Do I want to use that credit card? Also, not every app is going to have the same payment flow. Some of them are going to use PayPal, some of them are going to have you go directly to their website to put your information in there, And not all of them have the same privacy implications that Apple had. And when it comes to keeping track of your subscriptions and unsubscribing, that's also going to be a whole new thing because now you're going to have to keep track of your subscriptions on your own. You're not gonna be able to see them all in one list inside your settings on the iPhone. So again pros and cons for all of this. This This is such an interesting change for the App Store and for Apple because you know they don't want to do this, but it is a win for competition. It could force Apple to improve some of its policies over time, so they may say, hey, look, we're going to charge some of these bigger developers less money. We're not going to charge in some of these other aspects. But right now the App Store is very it's a very inside baseball kind of place, right A lot of this is mysterious. A lot of these deals that they have with these big developers, we're not really sure how it works. And when it comes to the consumer, it has always been easy to subscribe, but you don't really know what's going on in the background. And I think that this marks a major shift for Apple when it comes to the way that we deal with the App Store, and for them, you have to understand where they're coming from. They built this entire system from the ground up. Right before the App Store, there was no way of purchasing apps in a safe, private method on a phone, and this has made many developers rich over the years. It has made very many developers, it has built their names over the years. I mean, think about it. You can come from nowhere, build an app, publish it to the App Store, get some buzz behind it, and now you are a success story. And Apple has paid out billions of dollars over the years to independent developers for what they've built on the App Store. But it has always been kind of a push and pull situation because when you're a small developer, it's great, you're using the App Store to your advantage. Right, you're one person, you get access to millions, if not, you know, hundreds of millions of iPhone users. But if you're a big developer like Netflix, you're saying, hold on, people already know about Netflix, they already know how to subscribe, they already know how to find us. The iPhone is just one way of accessing our system. So you're not making us or breaking us. And that's why a lot of these big developers have not enabled in app purchases for their subscriptions. Like Netflix, you can only sign in even with Amazon, if you look at the Kindle long time ago, they took away the ability to purchase Kindle books on the iPhone. I remember this when I was selling my book. It was so complicated to tell people how to purchase my book if you were buying it from an iPhone, the most popular device in the world. Why because Kindle Amazon did not want to give thirty percent of every ebook purchase to Apple just for the ability for people to buy their book there. So this is an ongoing thing right now. This does mark a major shift in the way business is done on the iPhone. I am sure Apple executives are not very happy about this. For consumers, Like I said, it is a mixed bag. It's somewhat good, it's somewhat bad in other so we'll continue to follow this. I think that this is not the end of this situation, but just the beginning, all right. Eight eight eight rich one O one eight eight eight seven four two four one zero one. Website for the show rich on Tech dot TV. If you got a question for me, give me a call. More rich on Tech coming your way right after this. Welcome back to rich on Tech. Rich Demiro here hanging out with you talking technology at Triple eight rich one O one eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one, the website for the show rich on tech dot TV. There you can get notes to everything I talk about, and you can read this week's newsletter. It's all posted at richon tech dot TV. Let's go to Mark in San Diego. Mark, you're on with Rich.

Well, Hi, Rich, great show.

Well, Hi, Rich, great show.

I appreciate you taking a call.

I appreciate you taking a call.

I have an older pixel for a I really love the phone because it a little smaller. I had a new battery put in it, you know, like last year, and it's working great again. But now of a sudden, my GPS doesn't work. And I've done all the software fixes and all the tricks that everybody you know mentions, but it seems like it's a hardware issue, like something internally has failed. The rest of the phone works fine, but I'm just wondering cannot be fixed? Or two should I just get a new phone?

I have an older pixel for a I really love the phone because it a little smaller. I had a new battery put in it, you know, like last year, and it's working great again. But now of a sudden, my GPS doesn't work. And I've done all the software fixes and all the tricks that everybody you know mentions, but it seems like it's a hardware issue, like something internally has failed. The rest of the phone works fine, but I'm just wondering cannot be fixed? Or two should I just get a new phone?

Or three?

Or three?

Should I buy a standalone GPS? Because I really like this phone. I'd like to stay with something similar to it in size.

Should I buy a standalone GPS? Because I really like this phone. I'd like to stay with something similar to it in size.

What was the what are the option? What did you try? What did you try to do on the phone? You said you try to.

What was the what are the option? What did you try? What did you try to do on the phone? You said you try to.

I did all the things where you go into your settings and you know, update, you know, location, and exact location. And there's numerous tricks out there that say, you know, tell you what to do, and I've done them all.

I did all the things where you go into your settings and you know, update, you know, location, and exact location. And there's numerous tricks out there that say, you know, tell you what to do, and I've done them all.

If I even had a.

If I even had a.

Google Chat and I went through all the steps with them and it it still doesn't work. And I did download the GPS test. Yeah, I think I heard about it possibly on your show, and it just doesn't recognize any of the satellites. Just nothing interesting any of them.

Google Chat and I went through all the steps with them and it it still doesn't work. And I did download the GPS test. Yeah, I think I heard about it possibly on your show, and it just doesn't recognize any of the satellites. Just nothing interesting any of them.

Okay, Well, I mean it's a great phone. It's had a good run. I think that if if this GPS, if Google, you know, if you talk to them and they weren't able to figure out what's happening with it. The only other suggestion I would say, the only thing you know, it sounds like it's a hardware issue. Does sound like something has failed inside this phone. The only other thing I would say is go into your settings and then go into let's see system and then at the bottom you've got the reset options. So you've got reset mobile network settings, reset Bluetooth and Wi Fi. So I would try those two options as kind of like their last ditch effort to get this thing to work. And then if that doesn't work and you still want to keep this phone, you might just try a factory reset, just to like see if something is impeding the GPS on this device. You changed some sort of setting, but it sounds like you've kind of exhausted all of those options.

Okay, Well, I mean it's a great phone. It's had a good run. I think that if if this GPS, if Google, you know, if you talk to them and they weren't able to figure out what's happening with it. The only other suggestion I would say, the only thing you know, it sounds like it's a hardware issue. Does sound like something has failed inside this phone. The only other thing I would say is go into your settings and then go into let's see system and then at the bottom you've got the reset options. So you've got reset mobile network settings, reset Bluetooth and Wi Fi. So I would try those two options as kind of like their last ditch effort to get this thing to work. And then if that doesn't work and you still want to keep this phone, you might just try a factory reset, just to like see if something is impeding the GPS on this device. You changed some sort of setting, but it sounds like you've kind of exhausted all of those options.

So this phone's been around for a while.

So this phone's been around for a while.

It's been it was released in twenty twenty, so it's not getting any software updates. The software support from Google ended almost two years ago on this This was before Google started doing seven years of updates for their Pixel line of phones. So my advice is to do that first. Try, you know, exhaust all the software options. If it still doesn't work, you could take it to a place like you Break I Fix and see if they you know, they'll give you a free estimate on what it would take to fix it. But honestly, I think that that even if you spent one hundred dollars on this phone, I think that's too much to fix this. At that point, I would recommend they just came out with the Pixel nine A. I've got it in my hand right now, I've been testing it. It's a fantast a little phone. I'm not sure of the screen size of the Pixel nine A versus the Pixel four A. It might be a little bit bigger. Let's see, I'm gonna see if I can find this screen size online here. It's always so tough to type in when i'm let's see five point eight versus six point three. Okay, so it is considerably bigger. But I will tell you I think that the phones have gotten a lot smaller in the hand, so I think you'll you'll probably still be okay with the size of this new phone. Like, this thing fits perfectly in my hand. It is such a great size. So that phone is four hundred ninety nine dollars. I would say, if you, you know, if you want to get this thing, get it now. But I would expect the price on the Pixel nine A to drop two about three ninety nine on sale, or at least four point fifty on another you know, if it goes on maybe not the best the biggest sale, like maybe it might drop fifty to one hundred dollars. That's what I'm trying to say here. But I think that's probably your best bet at this point. Mark, you've had this phone for a long time, You've tried all the things. I don't think your solution the third solution you mentioned, which is getting a standalone GPS absolutely not. Not In this day and age, we rely on GPS way too much to have to have such a limitation on your GPS to being in just a car or a separate device. So I'd say go with the Pixel nine A. It's a great phone. It's got all the latest software on it, it's got all the latest AI stuff, it's got the latest camera. So I think you're going to be much better off putting your money towards that versus putting your money towards this old phone. And by the way, the software, the Android updates and the security updates for this phone ends in seven years, which is October first, twenty thirty two. And just based on what you're telling me, Mark, with how how much you've taken care of this four A, I think that you will probably call me in twenty thirty two if me and Bobo are still sitting here and tell me, hey, Rich, I'm still using this nine A.

It's been it was released in twenty twenty, so it's not getting any software updates. The software support from Google ended almost two years ago on this This was before Google started doing seven years of updates for their Pixel line of phones. So my advice is to do that first. Try, you know, exhaust all the software options. If it still doesn't work, you could take it to a place like you Break I Fix and see if they you know, they'll give you a free estimate on what it would take to fix it. But honestly, I think that that even if you spent one hundred dollars on this phone, I think that's too much to fix this. At that point, I would recommend they just came out with the Pixel nine A. I've got it in my hand right now, I've been testing it. It's a fantast a little phone. I'm not sure of the screen size of the Pixel nine A versus the Pixel four A. It might be a little bit bigger. Let's see, I'm gonna see if I can find this screen size online here. It's always so tough to type in when i'm let's see five point eight versus six point three. Okay, so it is considerably bigger. But I will tell you I think that the phones have gotten a lot smaller in the hand, so I think you'll you'll probably still be okay with the size of this new phone. Like, this thing fits perfectly in my hand. It is such a great size. So that phone is four hundred ninety nine dollars. I would say, if you, you know, if you want to get this thing, get it now. But I would expect the price on the Pixel nine A to drop two about three ninety nine on sale, or at least four point fifty on another you know, if it goes on maybe not the best the biggest sale, like maybe it might drop fifty to one hundred dollars. That's what I'm trying to say here. But I think that's probably your best bet at this point. Mark, you've had this phone for a long time, You've tried all the things. I don't think your solution the third solution you mentioned, which is getting a standalone GPS absolutely not. Not In this day and age, we rely on GPS way too much to have to have such a limitation on your GPS to being in just a car or a separate device. So I'd say go with the Pixel nine A. It's a great phone. It's got all the latest software on it, it's got all the latest AI stuff, it's got the latest camera. So I think you're going to be much better off putting your money towards that versus putting your money towards this old phone. And by the way, the software, the Android updates and the security updates for this phone ends in seven years, which is October first, twenty thirty two. And just based on what you're telling me, Mark, with how how much you've taken care of this four A, I think that you will probably call me in twenty thirty two if me and Bobo are still sitting here and tell me, hey, Rich, I'm still using this nine A.

I love it so great call. Thanks for the thanks for the question.

I love it so great call. Thanks for the thanks for the question.

Eight eight eight Rich one on one eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one.

Eight eight eight Rich one on one eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one.

Uh.

Uh.

Microsoft says they are pushing passwords closer to extinction. I'll tell you what they're replacing them with Coming up next, you are listening.

Microsoft says they are pushing passwords closer to extinction. I'll tell you what they're replacing them with Coming up next, you are listening.

To rich on Tech.

To rich on Tech.

Welcome back to rich on Tech. Rich DeMuro here hanging out with you, talking technology. We all hate our passwords, right, I mean, who likes remembering passwords? I mean I don't even remember my passwords since I'm using a password manager, which you should be too. But if these companies have their way, we will not need to use a password manager. We won't need passwords at all. Microsoft made a big move this week. They are pretty much eliminating traditional passwords. They are shifting away from them, and they are now letting you sign up for new accounts without a password by default. So basically, they will figure out a way that you can log in, whether that's sending you a confirmation code to your email or a pass key, your face, fingerprint, whatever, they will just let you sign up with that now by default. So this is a big, big shift. They say it is a lot safer, and they've renamed World Password Day to a World past key Day because they're done with passwords. So if you're not familiar with the idea of if you've signed up for a website lately, sometimes you'll notice this, says just pop in your email and they send you like a link to your sometimes they call it the magic link, and you'll go to your email and you'll click that link and you'll be logged in. The reason that's a lot safer is because they figure, well, if you have access to your email, it's a lot safer than having, you know, entering in some password that can be lost or stolen or figured out. And then of course they have these past keys which are being pushed more and more, and a past key lets you log in using the way using a secondary device, like whether it is your face, your fingerprint, your pin on your computer or on your phone. So let's say you set up a pass key to log into your Microsoft account. Next time you're you know, you see that sort of login screen, it'll say open up your phone. It'll send like a little message to your phone. You open that up, and that's how you log in. So they say that passkeys are eight times faster than passwords, three times higher success rate, and nearly a million pass keys are being created every single day for Microsoft services like Xbox and Copilot.

Welcome back to rich on Tech. Rich DeMuro here hanging out with you, talking technology. We all hate our passwords, right, I mean, who likes remembering passwords? I mean I don't even remember my passwords since I'm using a password manager, which you should be too. But if these companies have their way, we will not need to use a password manager. We won't need passwords at all. Microsoft made a big move this week. They are pretty much eliminating traditional passwords. They are shifting away from them, and they are now letting you sign up for new accounts without a password by default. So basically, they will figure out a way that you can log in, whether that's sending you a confirmation code to your email or a pass key, your face, fingerprint, whatever, they will just let you sign up with that now by default. So this is a big, big shift. They say it is a lot safer, and they've renamed World Password Day to a World past key Day because they're done with passwords. So if you're not familiar with the idea of if you've signed up for a website lately, sometimes you'll notice this, says just pop in your email and they send you like a link to your sometimes they call it the magic link, and you'll go to your email and you'll click that link and you'll be logged in. The reason that's a lot safer is because they figure, well, if you have access to your email, it's a lot safer than having, you know, entering in some password that can be lost or stolen or figured out. And then of course they have these past keys which are being pushed more and more, and a past key lets you log in using the way using a secondary device, like whether it is your face, your fingerprint, your pin on your computer or on your phone. So let's say you set up a pass key to log into your Microsoft account. Next time you're you know, you see that sort of login screen, it'll say open up your phone. It'll send like a little message to your phone. You open that up, and that's how you log in. So they say that passkeys are eight times faster than passwords, three times higher success rate, and nearly a million pass keys are being created every single day for Microsoft services like Xbox and Copilot.

So this is pretty wild.

So this is pretty wild.

This is a major major shift, and in fact, you can go into your Microsoft account and delete your password at this point if you don't want to use it anymore. Now, remember we talked a couple weeks ago about how many logins I had or log in attempts I had on my Microsoft account.

This is a major major shift, and in fact, you can go into your Microsoft account and delete your password at this point if you don't want to use it anymore. Now, remember we talked a couple weeks ago about how many logins I had or log in attempts I had on my Microsoft account.

So this is happening in a big way.

So this is happening in a big way.

To Microsoft, they say password attacks are happening seven thousand times per second, double what they saw in twenty twenty three. The scam artists know that passwords are coming to an end and they have to figure out new ways of tricking people. And the best part about a pass key is that you can't be tricked. So we talk about phishing scams all the time, where you go to a website to log in, it's a fake website. It's something hackers set up to capture your password. Well, with pass keys, that will not work because the fake website can't send that notification to your phone because it's fake. They don't have a way of sending that to your phone. So it's a whole system that we are coming up with, these tech companies are coming up with to kind of foil the hackers and the scam artists out there. So if you're not embracing this stuff, embrace it. And you know, use other methods. The passwords are no longer a good method. Let's go to Paul Paul in a Columbus, Ohio.

To Microsoft, they say password attacks are happening seven thousand times per second, double what they saw in twenty twenty three. The scam artists know that passwords are coming to an end and they have to figure out new ways of tricking people. And the best part about a pass key is that you can't be tricked. So we talk about phishing scams all the time, where you go to a website to log in, it's a fake website. It's something hackers set up to capture your password. Well, with pass keys, that will not work because the fake website can't send that notification to your phone because it's fake. They don't have a way of sending that to your phone. So it's a whole system that we are coming up with, these tech companies are coming up with to kind of foil the hackers and the scam artists out there. So if you're not embracing this stuff, embrace it. And you know, use other methods. The passwords are no longer a good method. Let's go to Paul Paul in a Columbus, Ohio.

You're on with Rich Py Rich like love the show Thank You Got a High sense fifty five inch TV a little not quite a year and a half old. It's like a series seven point five because about it at Costco and happen to be what they had. Uh on black screen the lower left quadrant er so is well when the screen is black, otherwise it's not black, it's gray on that section. Uh So the automatic dimming, I guess isn't working properly. Is that a fixable or is that a replaceable?

You're on with Rich Py Rich like love the show Thank You Got a High sense fifty five inch TV a little not quite a year and a half old. It's like a series seven point five because about it at Costco and happen to be what they had. Uh on black screen the lower left quadrant er so is well when the screen is black, otherwise it's not black, it's gray on that section. Uh So the automatic dimming, I guess isn't working properly. Is that a fixable or is that a replaceable?

Ooh, it probably is fixable. That's so.

Ooh, it probably is fixable. That's so.

Basically the way these TVs are lit is they have a bunch of back lights. Is this this is not a mini LED. I'm guessing it just has like a local dimming. There's like sections of the TV that are lit up by different sort of lights in the back of the TV. And so the higher the higher end the TV, the more of those sections they have. So when you hear like many LEDs, they have like a lot of these little lights in the back that light it up ol ed is actually does. It can't have this problem because OLED's are like each individual pixel is sort of lit by itself. But what you're talking about is this is a local dimming area of the TV, so it must have like, you know, probably one, two, three, four, five, six, seventy, and I'm maybe like ten or twelve of these on the back of your TV that create the picture. The fact that one of these is not firing properly is definitely a physical issue. You can try. You can try doing a factory reset on the TV. Go into settings and like completely factory reset it and see if that kind of gets things working again, gets this thing back in sync. But it sounds like something has physically gone wrong on this TV, So you can try bringing it in somewhere or call a TV repair person if they even have those these days.

Basically the way these TVs are lit is they have a bunch of back lights. Is this this is not a mini LED. I'm guessing it just has like a local dimming. There's like sections of the TV that are lit up by different sort of lights in the back of the TV. And so the higher the higher end the TV, the more of those sections they have. So when you hear like many LEDs, they have like a lot of these little lights in the back that light it up ol ed is actually does. It can't have this problem because OLED's are like each individual pixel is sort of lit by itself. But what you're talking about is this is a local dimming area of the TV, so it must have like, you know, probably one, two, three, four, five, six, seventy, and I'm maybe like ten or twelve of these on the back of your TV that create the picture. The fact that one of these is not firing properly is definitely a physical issue. You can try. You can try doing a factory reset on the TV. Go into settings and like completely factory reset it and see if that kind of gets things working again, gets this thing back in sync. But it sounds like something has physically gone wrong on this TV, So you can try bringing it in somewhere or call a TV repair person if they even have those these days.

It's funny.

It's funny.

I saw I was dry and I saw like one of these old school places. It looked like it was out of the fifties. It was like TV repair. I was like, Oh, that'd be such a cool place to do a story on, right, you know, like for my KTLA's TV stories. You know, go in there and just watch the person as they fix TVs and this and that, and so I took a picture, and I went back and I googled it and got the phone number, and it was like permanently closed. I was like, ah, I knew it.

I saw I was dry and I saw like one of these old school places. It looked like it was out of the fifties. It was like TV repair. I was like, Oh, that'd be such a cool place to do a story on, right, you know, like for my KTLA's TV stories. You know, go in there and just watch the person as they fix TVs and this and that, and so I took a picture, and I went back and I googled it and got the phone number, and it was like permanently closed. I was like, ah, I knew it.

I knew it.

I knew it.

There's just there's not many of these people out there anymore. I'm also guessing, Paul, that you did not pay a significant amount for this TV. I know what I paid for my sixty five inch High Sense. It was probably I think it was about eight hundred bucks, maybe under one thousand dollars. So I would say that you can maybe get an estimate if someone wants to give you a free estimate on fixing this thing. But I think it's probably a total loss, and sadly, it might be something you just want to properly recycle and get a new one of it happens. It's it's, you know, it's it's part of the idea of these TVs are made cheaply. I'm not saying High Sense, but in general, you know, these TVs nowadays are made so cheaply. Unless you're getting the super high end OLED TVs, you know, the rest of them are very inexpensive. And so it just sounds like you might have gotten one that's you know, has a problem. The only other thing I would look at you did say you bought at Costco. They do have a Costco Tech support hotline, so I would call that tech support hotline, and in general, I know Costco used to have sort of like unlimited returns with electronics. You can try bringing it back to Costco and seeing what they say. I think they've limited that since to like a two year warranty, but don't quote me on that, because you never know. I mean, you could probably bring this thing into Costco and just say, hey, look it doesn't work, and see what they say. But I think the party line at this point at Costco is I think it's two years. On electronics, let's say Costco TV return. Costco's return policy for TVs and other electronics is now interesting says ninety days for televisions, projectors, and major appliances. Our Costco Technical and Warranty services will assist you with technical support and warranty information for many of the products above. So I would say, since you bought this at Costco, I would call them and just see what they say. It sounds like they've tightened their return policy. It used to be unlimited anything. But all the major retailers are sort of doing this, you know, Target, Best Buy, Costco, they have, all Macy's, They have all tightened their policies. Why because things are cheaper nowadays, people are buying things, they're returning them more than ever, and they want to protect their business. And so I understand that they can't have these unlimited return policies forever, especially as these places are being used as showrooms more and more for people to look at stuff in store and then buy it online. So yeah, that's the official policy, but you never know. You never know, but call them up. See what they say. I think it's time you might want to get a new TV, and yeah, that might just be the time for that, all right, thanks for the call there in Columbus, Ohio eight eight eight rich one oh one eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one think. Speaking of things that are going out of style, Google is ending support for its Nest learning thermostats the first and second generation on October twenty fifth, twenty twenty five. These were sold from twenty eleven to twenty fourteen. After that time, these will become a manual thermostat. You will not be able to use any apps or assistants or the home away assist to control this thing. So again, this will become a manual thermostat. It'll keep working. It's not going to get software updates, not going to get security updates. So if you have one of these, which I do, you have to upgrade if you want to continue getting all those smart features. Google should have sent you an email offering you a discount off the new fourth generation Nest Learning thermostat. That'll be one hundred and fifty bucks out the door. So again, search your email for Nest Learning Thermostat. They probably sent you an email. I kind of missed it and I went back in my email and found it.

There's just there's not many of these people out there anymore. I'm also guessing, Paul, that you did not pay a significant amount for this TV. I know what I paid for my sixty five inch High Sense. It was probably I think it was about eight hundred bucks, maybe under one thousand dollars. So I would say that you can maybe get an estimate if someone wants to give you a free estimate on fixing this thing. But I think it's probably a total loss, and sadly, it might be something you just want to properly recycle and get a new one of it happens. It's it's, you know, it's it's part of the idea of these TVs are made cheaply. I'm not saying High Sense, but in general, you know, these TVs nowadays are made so cheaply. Unless you're getting the super high end OLED TVs, you know, the rest of them are very inexpensive. And so it just sounds like you might have gotten one that's you know, has a problem. The only other thing I would look at you did say you bought at Costco. They do have a Costco Tech support hotline, so I would call that tech support hotline, and in general, I know Costco used to have sort of like unlimited returns with electronics. You can try bringing it back to Costco and seeing what they say. I think they've limited that since to like a two year warranty, but don't quote me on that, because you never know. I mean, you could probably bring this thing into Costco and just say, hey, look it doesn't work, and see what they say. But I think the party line at this point at Costco is I think it's two years. On electronics, let's say Costco TV return. Costco's return policy for TVs and other electronics is now interesting says ninety days for televisions, projectors, and major appliances. Our Costco Technical and Warranty services will assist you with technical support and warranty information for many of the products above. So I would say, since you bought this at Costco, I would call them and just see what they say. It sounds like they've tightened their return policy. It used to be unlimited anything. But all the major retailers are sort of doing this, you know, Target, Best Buy, Costco, they have, all Macy's, They have all tightened their policies. Why because things are cheaper nowadays, people are buying things, they're returning them more than ever, and they want to protect their business. And so I understand that they can't have these unlimited return policies forever, especially as these places are being used as showrooms more and more for people to look at stuff in store and then buy it online. So yeah, that's the official policy, but you never know. You never know, but call them up. See what they say. I think it's time you might want to get a new TV, and yeah, that might just be the time for that, all right, thanks for the call there in Columbus, Ohio eight eight eight rich one oh one eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one think. Speaking of things that are going out of style, Google is ending support for its Nest learning thermostats the first and second generation on October twenty fifth, twenty twenty five. These were sold from twenty eleven to twenty fourteen. After that time, these will become a manual thermostat. You will not be able to use any apps or assistants or the home away assist to control this thing. So again, this will become a manual thermostat. It'll keep working. It's not going to get software updates, not going to get security updates. So if you have one of these, which I do, you have to upgrade if you want to continue getting all those smart features. Google should have sent you an email offering you a discount off the new fourth generation Nest Learning thermostat. That'll be one hundred and fifty bucks out the door. So again, search your email for Nest Learning Thermostat. They probably sent you an email. I kind of missed it and I went back in my email and found it.

But if you have one of these.

But if you have one of these.

First and second generation Nest Learning thermostats, they will stop working with all the smart features.

First and second generation Nest Learning thermostats, they will stop working with all the smart features.

On October twenty fifth, rich on Tech dot TV.

On October twenty fifth, rich on Tech dot TV.

More of your calls coming up right after this. Welcome back to rich On Tech. Let's go to Matthew and Huntington Beach. Matthew, you're on with Rich.

More of your calls coming up right after this. Welcome back to rich On Tech. Let's go to Matthew and Huntington Beach. Matthew, you're on with Rich.

Hey, rich how's it going?

Hey, rich how's it going?

It is going fantastic? Is it rainy by the beach.

It is going fantastic? Is it rainy by the beach.

As well a little bit a little drizzly in the morning.

As well a little bit a little drizzly in the morning.

But it's starting to kind of righten up right now as we speak nice, So weather's good here. So I have a quick question for you. So I'm looking to downgrade from an iPhone to a flip phone for a number of reasons. One being is just I'm on it a lot, and I'm in front of my father and my daughter sees me on it a lot. And how does that even work? Am I able to maintain an iPhone and a foot phone at the same time, like two numbers at the same time, if that kind of makes sense? And what realistic options are there? Or is it just simply for you got to go down and straight to a flip phone and tank's an iPhone anymore?

But it's starting to kind of righten up right now as we speak nice, So weather's good here. So I have a quick question for you. So I'm looking to downgrade from an iPhone to a flip phone for a number of reasons. One being is just I'm on it a lot, and I'm in front of my father and my daughter sees me on it a lot. And how does that even work? Am I able to maintain an iPhone and a foot phone at the same time, like two numbers at the same time, if that kind of makes sense? And what realistic options are there? Or is it just simply for you got to go down and straight to a flip phone and tank's an iPhone anymore?

Okay, when you say flip phone, you mean a like a dumb phone, like a pretty much okay, got it. So you want to kind of like during the work day, maybe have your regular phone, and then when you're with your daughter kind of like you know, zoning out, you want to have the flip phone.

Okay, when you say flip phone, you mean a like a dumb phone, like a pretty much okay, got it. So you want to kind of like during the work day, maybe have your regular phone, and then when you're with your daughter kind of like you know, zoning out, you want to have the flip phone.

Yeah, And I don't need my I don't need like all the gadgets and apps for my work, Like I don't I don't really need any of that. I can just use our laptop for it. Like, so for banking and all that stuff, I can just use a laptop or my life's mom.

Yeah, And I don't need my I don't need like all the gadgets and apps for my work, Like I don't I don't really need any of that. I can just use our laptop for it. Like, so for banking and all that stuff, I can just use a laptop or my life's mom.

Okay, So there are a couple of options. So what about I mean, I'm just this is just a thought. What about using an Apple Watch when you with cellular when you're not you know, and you can leave your phone behind?

Okay, So there are a couple of options. So what about I mean, I'm just this is just a thought. What about using an Apple Watch when you with cellular when you're not you know, and you can leave your phone behind?

Sure, Okay, so that's one option.

Sure, Okay, so that's one option.

Okay, So that now the downside to that is that you will not have a camera. And I know you said you have a daughter, so you might want to take pictures, you know, if he's in a play or whatever you're trying to like focus on right you're at the park. So that's the downside of that. Now, because I've looked into this myself because as you might imagine someone who covers tech for a living, I am immersed in screens and there are sometimes I literally rip my Apple Watch off my wrist and throw it across the room because I'm so sick of the notifications. So the other thing you can do is there is a camera called the camp Snap.

Okay, So that now the downside to that is that you will not have a camera. And I know you said you have a daughter, so you might want to take pictures, you know, if he's in a play or whatever you're trying to like focus on right you're at the park. So that's the downside of that. Now, because I've looked into this myself because as you might imagine someone who covers tech for a living, I am immersed in screens and there are sometimes I literally rip my Apple Watch off my wrist and throw it across the room because I'm so sick of the notifications. So the other thing you can do is there is a camera called the camp Snap.

Have you heard of this thing?

Have you heard of this thing?

I have?

I have?

So it is a it looks like one of those cameras like the the old school thirty five millimeters disposable cameras, except it is digital and reusable and there's no screen, there's nothing. You just literally take pictures on this like an old school camera, and then to quote unquote get the picture developed. You just plug it into your computer and you extract the pictures out of it, so you're not looking at them while you're you know, double checking them all that stuff. So one option is you've got your iPhone, you've got your Apple Watch. You leave the iPhone at home, You've got the cellular on the Apple Watch, so you're still in touch, you know, if you need an emergency whatever. And then you can carry this little camera with you when you are, you know, out and about with just your watch, and that will disconnect you from things. And that's probably the easiest, simplest solution that gets you where you want to get, right, Okay, that's number one. Number two is getting a separate flip phone. The thing about the flip phone is that a lot of the carriers they have this thing called number share, which means and they all call it something a little bit different. I think number shares verizons at and t. Let's see what they call it. They call it number sync, so you can look what carrier do you have? AT and Okay, so AT and T, so let's see what they Some of them used to have number sync with what's called the light phone. Have you heard of this thing? Okay, so the light phone is kind of like a you know, the idea that you're talking about is becoming more and more popular. The problem is the technology is not necessarily kept up. So I think that in the future we may see more devices that are kind of a simpler, lighter phone that you can sync with your phone number. But right now it is not the easiest thing to do because your carrier has to allow you to sink your phone number with your your standard device. So on on AT and T. The only thing I see that you can sink is your Apple watch or your looks like your iPad. I'm looking at Android smart watches, tablets. Yeah, so I'm not really seeing like the little devices that you can get like it used to be on Verizon, they would they had like one little phone that you can sink. I think it was just the light phone that you can sink. Let's see, I'm trying to say, see the eligible devices. Yeah, it's like really just saying that the smart watches now, which is interesting. So realistically, if you wanted to have the same number on both devices, you could set up the secondary device with something like Google Voice, or you can just forward your calls to that secondary device.

So it is a it looks like one of those cameras like the the old school thirty five millimeters disposable cameras, except it is digital and reusable and there's no screen, there's nothing. You just literally take pictures on this like an old school camera, and then to quote unquote get the picture developed. You just plug it into your computer and you extract the pictures out of it, so you're not looking at them while you're you know, double checking them all that stuff. So one option is you've got your iPhone, you've got your Apple Watch. You leave the iPhone at home, You've got the cellular on the Apple Watch, so you're still in touch, you know, if you need an emergency whatever. And then you can carry this little camera with you when you are, you know, out and about with just your watch, and that will disconnect you from things. And that's probably the easiest, simplest solution that gets you where you want to get, right, Okay, that's number one. Number two is getting a separate flip phone. The thing about the flip phone is that a lot of the carriers they have this thing called number share, which means and they all call it something a little bit different. I think number shares verizons at and t. Let's see what they call it. They call it number sync, so you can look what carrier do you have? AT and Okay, so AT and T, so let's see what they Some of them used to have number sync with what's called the light phone. Have you heard of this thing? Okay, so the light phone is kind of like a you know, the idea that you're talking about is becoming more and more popular. The problem is the technology is not necessarily kept up. So I think that in the future we may see more devices that are kind of a simpler, lighter phone that you can sync with your phone number. But right now it is not the easiest thing to do because your carrier has to allow you to sink your phone number with your your standard device. So on on AT and T. The only thing I see that you can sink is your Apple watch or your looks like your iPad. I'm looking at Android smart watches, tablets. Yeah, so I'm not really seeing like the little devices that you can get like it used to be on Verizon, they would they had like one little phone that you can sink. I think it was just the light phone that you can sink. Let's see, I'm trying to say, see the eligible devices. Yeah, it's like really just saying that the smart watches now, which is interesting. So realistically, if you wanted to have the same number on both devices, you could set up the secondary device with something like Google Voice, or you can just forward your calls to that secondary device.

When you're off of it, you're just not going to get your texts.

When you're off of it, you're just not going to get your texts.

So it depends how like how in this you want to be, right, you know, it depends how like how elaborate you want to be? What what are you thinking?

So it depends how like how in this you want to be, right, you know, it depends how like how elaborate you want to be? What what are you thinking?

I mean, it's it goes both ways. I mean, at this point, it's just whatever I can because I don't need all the technology for my work and my life obviously has her phone. So if okay, one of us could attach a little bit, if that makes sense, and all I need is to call and make text methods.

I mean, it's it goes both ways. I mean, at this point, it's just whatever I can because I don't need all the technology for my work and my life obviously has her phone. So if okay, one of us could attach a little bit, if that makes sense, and all I need is to call and make text methods.

Yeah, I would call, you know what, I would call up AT and T and just ask them if you can if you can set up a flip phone on number, saying and if they say like, yeah, we have we have these these devices that you're able to do that with, just you know, get one of those. But from their website, I'm not really seeing any sort of solution on their website that says you can use a flip phone with this, But that would be the ideal.

Yeah, I would call, you know what, I would call up AT and T and just ask them if you can if you can set up a flip phone on number, saying and if they say like, yeah, we have we have these these devices that you're able to do that with, just you know, get one of those. But from their website, I'm not really seeing any sort of solution on their website that says you can use a flip phone with this, But that would be the ideal.

Way to do it right, right, right, right, But the.

Way to do it right, right, right, right, But the.

Other you know, and if it doesn't work that way, the other option, like I said, you can forward your calls just when you're using the flip phone, which is not ideal. You can Google Voice it and so you can have everyone call your Google Voice number, which will ring your iPhone and your other device at the same time. Or you can see if if your carrier supports a flip phone on this you know, number sync situation. The other place to look, by the way, for a flip phone is called Dumbwireless dot com. If you go to their website, they've got all the popular flip phones. I think the number one is the Nokia twenty seven eighty. It's eighty eight bucks for the flip phone that you kind of want. It's like a classic and it works with T Mobile eighteen Team Verizon. So but again you would have to ask them if you can activate that as a number sync phone, Matthew, not easy, not easy to do. What you're talking about is not is not as straightforward as you would think. I personally think the easiest way to do it is with the Apple Watch because you I know, you have to get another device, but it sort of makes it pretty simple. And then you just have the idea of your camera. You can just get it, bring a camera with you. And I would say that I have done that in the past, but most of the time I need a camera when I'm out and about and it's you know, it's really tricky. But you can definitely go out and just have the Apple Watch. With Cellular. You'll get your calls, you'll get your text you know, you can do things like maps, you can do music. I mean, there's a lot you can do on the Apple Watch without having your your phone nearby if it's.

Other you know, and if it doesn't work that way, the other option, like I said, you can forward your calls just when you're using the flip phone, which is not ideal. You can Google Voice it and so you can have everyone call your Google Voice number, which will ring your iPhone and your other device at the same time. Or you can see if if your carrier supports a flip phone on this you know, number sync situation. The other place to look, by the way, for a flip phone is called Dumbwireless dot com. If you go to their website, they've got all the popular flip phones. I think the number one is the Nokia twenty seven eighty. It's eighty eight bucks for the flip phone that you kind of want. It's like a classic and it works with T Mobile eighteen Team Verizon. So but again you would have to ask them if you can activate that as a number sync phone, Matthew, not easy, not easy to do. What you're talking about is not is not as straightforward as you would think. I personally think the easiest way to do it is with the Apple Watch because you I know, you have to get another device, but it sort of makes it pretty simple. And then you just have the idea of your camera. You can just get it, bring a camera with you. And I would say that I have done that in the past, but most of the time I need a camera when I'm out and about and it's you know, it's really tricky. But you can definitely go out and just have the Apple Watch. With Cellular. You'll get your calls, you'll get your text you know, you can do things like maps, you can do music. I mean, there's a lot you can do on the Apple Watch without having your your phone nearby if it's.

Set up for cellular.

Set up for cellular.

Gotcha?

Gotcha?

All right, good question.

All right, good question.

Yeah, I like I like that you're thinking of this because this is me on on a daily basis, like thinking about how I can be when I want to disconnect, how I can disconnect. It's not an easy thing, all right. Eighty eight rich one O one eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one. Coming up, we're going to talk about Google's Notebook LM.

Yeah, I like I like that you're thinking of this because this is me on on a daily basis, like thinking about how I can be when I want to disconnect, how I can disconnect. It's not an easy thing, all right. Eighty eight rich one O one eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one. Coming up, we're going to talk about Google's Notebook LM.

This is a really cool.

This is a really cool.

Feature that lets you digest information in totally new ways. Plus, if you get an email about in a vast settlement payment. Don't ignore it. I'll explain why. Plus more of your calls at eight eight rich one O one. This is rich on Tech. Welcome back to rich on Tech. Rich DeMuro here hanging out with you, talking technology at triple eight rich one oh one. That's eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one. Coming up this hour, we're gonna hear from Steven Johnson, editorial director at Google Labs. He's going to talk about a cool feature from Google called note Book LM. I'll explain what that's all about in a little bit. Uh plus more of your calls coming up here and just a moment, but I want to talk about this. This Minecraft movie has done really well at the box office, over eight hundred million dollars. And if you have kids, they might be singing this song. Listen you hear that.

Feature that lets you digest information in totally new ways. Plus, if you get an email about in a vast settlement payment. Don't ignore it. I'll explain why. Plus more of your calls at eight eight rich one O one. This is rich on Tech. Welcome back to rich on Tech. Rich DeMuro here hanging out with you, talking technology at triple eight rich one oh one. That's eight eight eight seven four to two four one zero one. Coming up this hour, we're gonna hear from Steven Johnson, editorial director at Google Labs. He's going to talk about a cool feature from Google called note Book LM. I'll explain what that's all about in a little bit. Uh plus more of your calls coming up here and just a moment, but I want to talk about this. This Minecraft movie has done really well at the box office, over eight hundred million dollars. And if you have kids, they might be singing this song. Listen you hear that.

That's the stund This is a lead m steeven chickens, why.

That's the stund This is a lead m steeven chickens, why.

In the mill rises?

In the mill rises?

And now you haven't the stack?

And now you haven't the stack?

This is Jack Black. He is uh Steve in a Minecraft movie. He sings this uh goofy thirty four second song about cooking chicken with lava And if your kids are into Minecraft, uh they know all about the lava and all that stuff. It's now the shortest song to ever chart on the Billboard Hot one hundred, they doing at number seventy eight.

This is Jack Black. He is uh Steve in a Minecraft movie. He sings this uh goofy thirty four second song about cooking chicken with lava And if your kids are into Minecraft, uh they know all about the lava and all that stuff. It's now the shortest song to ever chart on the Billboard Hot one hundred, they doing at number seventy eight.

Uh.

Uh.

They also have an extended version of the song it's only a minute fifteen long, that also went viral. It's part of the Minecraft movie, which is gross, like I said, over eight hundred million dollars worldwide.

They also have an extended version of the song it's only a minute fifteen long, that also went viral. It's part of the Minecraft movie, which is gross, like I said, over eight hundred million dollars worldwide.

I mean, this is a funny song.

I mean, this is a funny song.

My kids started singing this as soon as they were out of the h as soon as they were out of the movie theater, and I didn't give it much thought. But then they kept singing it and singing it, and now it's kind of catchy.

My kids started singing this as soon as they were out of the h as soon as they were out of the movie theater, and I didn't give it much thought. But then they kept singing it and singing it, and now it's kind of catchy.

Let's hear it again.

Let's hear it again.

M h.

M h.

Steve a chicken?

Steve a chicken?

Yes, why.

Yes, why.

Rises to night? You have understand how could you not love that?

Rises to night? You have understand how could you not love that?

And if you watch the music video, they literally it's like a Minecraft chicken that they dump lava on and it becomes like a crispy delicious chicken. So if you have kids, you have grandkids, you know you've probably already heard this, or if you want to bond with them a little bit, just be like, hey, what do you think about Steve's lava chicken?

And if you watch the music video, they literally it's like a Minecraft chicken that they dump lava on and it becomes like a crispy delicious chicken. So if you have kids, you have grandkids, you know you've probably already heard this, or if you want to bond with them a little bit, just be like, hey, what do you think about Steve's lava chicken?

Huh sha cha cha.

Huh sha cha cha.

All right, let's go to let's see here, let's go to Madonna in Michigan.

All right, let's go to let's see here, let's go to Madonna in Michigan.

Madonna in Michigan.

Madonna in Michigan.

You're on with Rich Hi, So can you hear me?

You're on with Rich Hi, So can you hear me?

Yeah?

Yeah?

Okay.

Okay.

So I have a unique experience with my iPhone, and it's been my last three iPhones. It randomly calls people and it tells me that someone's calling. I go to answer the phone and nobody's there. The other person, they get a call from me saying I'm calling and nobody's there. So it's happened so many times.

So I have a unique experience with my iPhone, and it's been my last three iPhones. It randomly calls people and it tells me that someone's calling. I go to answer the phone and nobody's there. The other person, they get a call from me saying I'm calling and nobody's there. So it's happened so many times.

I went to.

I went to.

Apple said hey, this is happening with my phone. They've said they've never heard of it. This is now my third iPhone because I've changed phones, graded and it's still doing it.

Apple said hey, this is happening with my phone. They've said they've never heard of it. This is now my third iPhone because I've changed phones, graded and it's still doing it.

Mhmm uh, here's not as much, not as much.

Mhmm uh, here's not as much, not as much.

Yeah, it was calling like it was calling my daughter every night, and we just decided that unless I text her and follow up text.

Yeah, it was calling like it was calling my daughter every night, and we just decided that unless I text her and follow up text.

It's not me.

It's not me.

Yeah.

Yeah.