iPhone Duo wins me over, hackers bypass 2FA & how to make your smart TV dumb (191, September 12, 2026)

• Apple launches the $2,000 iPhone Duo, its first foldable with a 5.4-inch outer screen, 7.6-inch inner display, MagSafe and Apple Pencil support.
• iPhone Duo software could be its biggest advantage, with apps optimized for the foldable screen instead of simply being stretched larger.
• IDScan confirms a major driver’s license breach, prompting Rich to recommend free credit freezes with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
• Political spam texts are best filtered, not answered, since replying can confirm your number is active and lead to even more messages.
• iPhone 18 Pro gets a $100 price hike, starting at $1,200 with variable aperture photography, improved cooling and longer battery life.
• A cellular Apple Watch can help after a fall, with fall detection and the ability to call for help even when your iPhone isn’t nearby.
• Smart TVs can become “dumb” TVs, simply by leaving them offline and using an Apple TV, Roku or Fire TV for streaming.
• Infinite Fi’s $49 unlimited internet claim doesn’t add up, because any hotspot still needs cellular, satellite or another real internet connection.
• Rich recommends Mayday on Apple TV for family movie night, calling the Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh movie a fun crowd-pleaser.
• Flaky Windows Wi-Fi may be a driver issue, so update Windows, reconnect to your network and make sure an old router isn’t still broadcasting.
• Consent phishing can bypass passwords and 2FA, by tricking you into granting a malicious app legitimate access to your account.
• Changing your password may not stop consent phishing, so also check connected apps and revoke anything you don’t recognize.
• Tablo and ZapperBox make antenna TV easier, with options for watching or recording free over-the-air channels.
• Brian Tong calls iPhone Duo an impressive first-gen foldable, but says its price, weight and thickness remain real compromises.
• AirPods 5 may be Apple’s sleeper upgrade, bringing noise cancellation to the open-fit design for $149.
• An AI researcher quit Anthropic over safety concerns, warning that future self-improving systems could become difficult for humans to control.
• NormalTools.com is a handy free utility site, with nearly 200 browser-based tools for PDFs, images, QR codes, calculations and more.
• Apple Watch Series 12 improves health tracking, with more frequent measurements, a readiness score and new sound recognition alerts.
• Apple Watch Live Rewind can show what was just said, using an opt-in feature that displays a transcript of roughly the last 15 seconds.
• NordVPN says people remain the cybersecurity weak link, as AI makes phishing scams cheaper, faster and more convincing.
• Privacy.com can help stop unwanted free-trial renewals, by using virtual cards that can be limited or shut off after signup.
• Lance Ulanoff says Duo’s matte display helps hide the crease, making it much less noticeable during normal use.
• Apple Pencil support makes Duo more tablet-like, especially for drawing, writing and creative apps such as Procreate.
• Pixel’s Now Playing identifies songs automatically, displaying nearby music on the lock screen without requiring a search.
• Ooma cut one listener’s landline bill from $127 to about $20 a month, while letting him keep the same longtime phone number.
• Libby offers free audiobooks and ebooks with a library card, although popular titles may have waitlists and borrowing deadlines.

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