Vivek Pandya

Susan Spence, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management, highlights alarming trends in US manufacturing, with nine months of contraction driven by tariffs. Peter Jankovskis warns that while consumer spending surged on Cyber Monday, it might hurt future spending. Vivek Pandya dives into online shopping trends, revealing popular purchases ranging from tech to home goods. Guy Delaunay reports on Serbia's looming fuel crisis due to US sanctions affecting their key refinery. Together, they paint a vivid picture of an economy in tension.

Rich talks about the steps you can take to reclaim your privacy, including creating unique passwords for each account, turning off third party cookies on your web browser, using an ad blocker, setting up a guest network on your Wi-Fi and creating a QR code to help your guests login, reviewing privacy settings on iOS, Samsung and Android, revoking app permissions on iOS and Android, checking connected apps and websites on Google, Facebook and Instagram and backing up your files and turning on two factor authentication.Mike called and asked why his old iPad can’t access the internet anymore. Rich says it’s time for a new one and you can recycle the old one using Gizmogo.Acropylpse explained; why you should update the software on Pixel phones and be aware of sharing screenshots with personal information on Windows.Lance Ulanoff joined the show to talk about the TikTok hearings.Jamie called and asked about how to learn more about changes in Windows 11. Rich recommended Microsoft tutorials. She also wanted to know how to set up a Windows computer without logging into a Microsoft account, Rich suggested she look for an “offline” login option during setup.If you have a Netgear Orbi it’s time to check for a software update because of a security flaw that’s been fixed.Rich’s first impressions of Google Bard, their answer to ChatGPT.Turtis called in and asked if their new LED lights could be interfering with their TV reception.A visit to Outer Edge LA, a show that focuses on Web3 tech including Blockchain and NFT’s.Chris asked about router recommendations, specifically Google’s mesh system. Rich recommended looking at Eero and Vilo.Rich talked about people getting hacked on Twitter right now and how the company is changing it so if you don’t pay you need to use an app for Two Factor Authentication. Rich recommended Authy, See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vivek Pandya, Lead insights analyst at Adobe, offers valuable perspectives on holiday spending trends. He discusses how inflation is shaping consumer behavior and the rise of mobile shopping. Furthermore, he provides insights on the popularity of 'buy now, pay later' options and how retailers are adapting to meet changing demands. The conversation highlights the significant shifts in shopping habits as the holiday season approaches, giving listeners a preview of what to expect in 2023.