About this episode
Premium subscribers, listen to the ad-free version of the show here. Rich talked about Google Gemini and how it can now make music with AI. Rich also discussed the popularity of the tiny Kodak Charmera camera. Samsung phones are finally getting Google Play updates again. You should do it right now: Go to Settings > Security and Privacy > Updates > Google Play System Update Mike in Encino is looking for a way to get into a user’s computer who forgot their password. Try the steps here. James is wondering if he can store his passwords using AI. Rich recommends against that. Also, do not use AI to generate passwords, as research shows they typically follow patterns. Alex Haro, CEO of Hubble Network and co-founder of Life360, explains how satellite-powered Bluetooth could transform search and rescue by detecting everyday devices from space. Carter in Monterey wants to know how to find his Samsung phone when it’s lost somewhere in his house and no one is around to call it. Rich recommends using Samsung SmartThings Find, Android’s Find Hub (you can ask Google to locate it), or, for iPhone users, going to iCloud.com/find. Laura asks, “Can you recommend an antivirus for iPhone?” Rich says it’s not necessary. The bigger risk today is phishing. To stay protected, keep your phone updated, use a browser like Chrome with Enhanced Safe Browsing turned on, and consider a VPN that blocks malicious sites. Fern bought a $300 Windows 11 laptop she doesn’t like. Rich suggested two options: stick with it and mainly use the web browser to simplify things, or ask the seller to install ChromeOS Flex to turn it into a quasi-Chromebook. Karl in Summerlin is looking for an alternative to Pocket and Instapaper that can read articles aloud. Rich recommends Readwise Reader, Google’s Reading Mode for Android,
