Google can now restore your old photos for free
Plus highlights from CEDIA in Denver, a new app to save on fashion, and how long we’re keeping our phones
Greetings from Denver — which might just have the most pleasant large airport I’ve ever traveled through.
Little known fact about me: I love public transit and always try it when I’m in another city. Denver has a train from the airport to downtown, and while I didn’t end up taking the bus for the final mile to my hotel when I got confused, I did walk the mile back to Union Station. It’s a grand old place which was renovated in 2014.
The airport itself is airy, high-tech, and even has TSA bins that stack themselves when people are done.
I was in town for CEDIA 2025, a big home tech trade show for pros — the folks who sell and install gear in high-end homes. Think outdoor TVs, luxury speakers, advanced lighting, and more.
It’s all impressive (and expensive), but for most of us it’s nice that thousands of off-the-shelf products now work with Google, Alexa, and Apple. My own house is a mix of random gadgets that get the job done — not the perfect “tech harmony” installers dream of — but good enough.
Cool stuff I spotted at CEDIA
TCL is showing off its brightest TV yet — and it’s the first with Google Gemini built in. That means you can ask it to find content in plain language, like: “I want to watch the movie where that guy travels back to the future.”
They also demoed new wireless Z100 speakers you can drop anywhere in the room. The TV automatically calibrates them for perfect Dolby Atmos sound in about 10 seconds. I tested it out — the setup was effortless, and the audio filled the room.
I had a long conversation with Neptune TV about what to look for in a good outdoor set — and it comes down to the history of the brand, sustained brightness, commercial-grade panels, at least IP54 protection against dust, bugs, moisture and weather, and making sure the protective glass is bonded to the display so you don’t risk condensation.
Of course, now I want one — and just in time for football season.
Believe it or not, some people are building full-on nightclubs in their basements. I wouldn’t have believed it myself, but several people at the show told me they’re installing them all the time.
I thought my collection of Sonos speakers was pretty cool… until I saw this: a $170,000, 60-inch subwoofer from Deus. Something tells me your neighbors wouldn’t approve.
If you live in a place that gets a lot of sun, there’s a neat gadget from Sol-Lux called EOS. It’s basically an automated window awning that extends when the sun is intense and retracts when it’s no longer needed.
It’s completely self-contained and controlled through an app, where you can set thresholds for sun, temperature, and even wind. The idea is to keep your view clear while cutting down on energy costs.
Expect to pay around $1,000 to $2,000, though I’m not sure that includes installation.
Sony had an awesome setup with receivers on display from the 1960s through the 2010s — and they all looked like working models.
Not much to analyze here, but it was a neat trip down memory lane. I still remember my dad coming home in the ’80s with a giant system that filled an entire rack: receiver, record player, tape deck, radio tuner — so many components. At the time, it all felt so futuristic.
Eero has a new component called Signal, which connects to your network and kicks in with cellular backup if your main connection (cable, fiber, etc.) goes down. It switches over automatically, so you’re never left without internet at home.
The device itself runs about $100 to $200, and service comes in two tiers: 10 GB of backup data for $100 per year, or 100 GB per month for $200 per year. Signal has antennas for all three major carriers built in and automatically picks the strongest connection.
I’m a sucker for all things old school, and I probably spent too much time at the Vestaboard booth. These are mechanical message boards with little tiles that flip to reveal letters and symbols — just like the old airport departure boards.
The company has sold a large version for years (priced in the thousands), but its newest model is a smaller, more compact version called the Note coming in December for $1500. Right now, though, you can pre-order it for $1000 — and I’m tempted.
You can send messages from your phone to family at home, and it can also display weather, music that’s playing, sports scores, and more.
One more thing that’s kind of silly, but I got a kick out of it. Growing up, we had a central vacuum system in our house, which I thought was the coolest thing ever — though it was always breaking, so we constantly had someone over to fix it.
A company called LaundryJet is bringing that same idea to laundry. They install vents in your rooms and in the laundry room. When you’re ready to wash something, you open a vent and it sucks the clothes straight into the laundry room basket. There’s even a return track to send clean clothes back.
Price range is about $3,500 to $12,000 for the equipment, and I don’t believe that includes installation.
Check out my Instagram video on it below.
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Google Gemini can restore old photos
Google’s AI has been getting buzz for its Nano Banana upgrade — tools that edit existing photos instead of generating brand-new ones.
Now it can also restore your old photos — for free.
To try it:
Go to gemini.google.com
Tap Tools → Create images
Hit the + sign, upload your photo, and type: “restore this photo.”
(the process is similar on the Gemini mobile app but may vary slightly)
You can also get specific: “restore this photo to make it look like a modern color photo while keeping all original details.”
Results aren’t always perfect, but Gemini’s edits are surprisingly good — and they do what many paid apps charge for. Try it on black and white photos and damaged photos to see what it returns!
Fashion app compares prices and finds secondhand deals
When I got the pitch for an app called Phia, it came with a familiar name — Phoebe Gates. Yes, her dad is Bill Gates of Microsoft fame.
Naturally, I was curious. When I met Phoebe and her co-founder Sophia, they were energetic, inspiring, and full of optimism.
The app was born while they were roommates at Stanford. Phia doesn’t just find better prices on fashion items you’re shopping for — it also searches for secondhand versions of the same products. That means you can save money and do right by the planet.
Of course, I had to ask Phoebe about her dad. She told me her parents are very supportive, and she often talks to him about the challenges of building a business — and the growing impact of AI on everything.
Phia is available on iOS and as a desktop browser extension.
Wizard of Oz at the Sphere
Last week I shared my full written review — now you can watch the video.
There’s been plenty of debate about this show, especially over ticket prices. No doubt, it’s expensive. But then again, what event isn’t these days? For me, it comes down to whether you think the shared experience is worth it.
Tech Tidbits
Instagram finally lands on iPad — 15 years later, there’s now a proper iPad app. The big difference? Instead of opening to your feed, it launches straight into Reels.
Phone upgrade cycles hit a record — Consumers are now holding on to their phones for an average of 47 months, up from 44. The most common trade-ins right now: the iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G.
Smart scanner for avocados — Tesco stores in England are testing a device that tells you if an avocado is ripe… which beats the usual method of squeezing every one in the bin until you find a good one.
Amazon cuts back Prime sharing — The option to share Prime benefits with friends or distant family is ending. You’ll still be able to share with one adult in your household plus kids, but teens now need their own accounts.
No, Gmail wasn’t hacked — Headlines claiming all 2.5 billion Gmail users need to change their passwords are bogus. Google confirmed there’s no breach.
Feedbag: Storage cleanup win!
Melissa writes in…
“I look forward to your newsletter every Saturday morning. I read it first thing today and immediately downloaded the Clever Cleaner app. It’s amazing — I boosted my storage by almost 40%. It was so easy to use and felt like a trip down memory lane.”
Thanks, Melissa. I appreciate the kind words. Clever Cleaner is a rare find because it’s fast, easy, and completely free. It’s one of the simplest ways to clear space without the usual hoops.
That’s it for this one. Have a great weekend. I’m live on the radio Saturdays 11 AM - 2 PM PT. Call with your tech questions at 1-888-RICH-101 and listen on KFI AM 640 or catch the podcast after.
Rich