My take on the Wizard of Oz at the Sphere
Plus: The best free app to clean up iPhone storage, Chuck E. Cheese’s new arcade & an excellent Apple Watch podcast app
Hello there and thanks for opening my newsletter! Lots to share this week: my trip to Las Vegas for the premiere of The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere, a free app that can help you reclaim space on your iPhone, and the official date for Apple’s iPhone 17 event—September 9.
On a personal note, I celebrated my birthday this week - and you really made me feel special. I’m grateful for all the kind comments and well-wishes on social media. Thank you.
Wizard of Oz reimagined at the Sphere
I went to Las Vegas for opening night of The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere. You might be wondering, how is this tech? After talking with the team behind it, it’s clear: this is a showcase of what AI and new filmmaking tools can do.
The original Wizard of Oz premiered in 1939 on a 24-foot screen at what’s now the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Fast-forward 86 years and the movie has been re-engineered for a 16K, 160,000-square-foot dome with rumbling haptic seats, wind, spatial audio and many more surprises. The challenge wasn’t just showing an old film on a giant screen—it was reimagining it as an immersive experience.
The highlight? The tornado scene. For the first time, you feel like you’re inside the storm. Wind whips, leaves swirl, seats shake, and people were not only covering their faces but hooting and hollaring as they enjoyed every second of the chaos. It’s over the top in the best way possible and sets the tone for the rest of the 80-minute show.
To pull this off, the film had to be rebuilt frame by frame. AI upscaling wasn’t enough—teams recreated backgrounds that never existed, extended character entrances and exits, and generated entire crowds. If you look closely, you’ll spot AI artifacts, looping AI facial expressions and backgrounds that feel a little too clean. But this isn’t a time for nitpicking. The classic story becomes a vessel for an entirely new kind of storytelling.
And it’s not just digital tricks. There are physical effects - apples falling from the sky, snow, flames, and even flying monkeys. The audience is part of the show, almost like a Rocky Horror Picture Show energy.
The project cost nearly $100 million—double its budget—and involved thousands of creatives across Hollywood and beyond. Producers worked closely with Google DeepMind to develop new AI tools specifically for the film, some of which are now trickling down into consumer products like Veo, Imagen and inside Google Gemini.
Tickets start at about $104. Pricey, yes, but consider this: I spent $100+ gambling in Vegas and didn’t get nearly the same level of entertainment, stories or memories for it. This left me with an unforgettable experience. If you’re a purist, you may not love the changes. But if you’re open to being entertained in a completely new way, this is worth your night out.
I’ve also been asked a lot about where to sit. At the premiere, VIPs were placed in Section 200 in the center—that seemed to be the sweet spot. Still, I doubt there’s a truly bad seat in a $2 billion venue.
As for kids, use your judgment. The tornado scene, a few jump-scare moments, the witch, and the booming sound can all feel pretty intense. The Wizard scenes in particular crank up the volume. But if your kids can handle that level of intensity, they’ll probably love it. (Mine like these earmuffs for loud events)
Bottom line: The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere isn’t just about Dorothy and Toto—it’s about how technology can breathe new life into old stories.
Sponsored: Is your personal data fully protected?
If that question gave you pause for even a second, the answer is probably no.
So much of our personal information lives online. While some data brokers use it for legitimate reasons, plenty of bad actors are after it for malicious purposes—things like your Social Security number, date of birth, or phone number.
That’s where Incogni comes in. Incogni scrubs your personal data from the web, removing it from “people search” sites and thousands of other databases that expose your private details. It’s a one-stop solution for protecting your personal info.
Be sure to use my code RICHONTECH (all caps) when you sign up at Incogni.
Free up iPhone storage with this clever app
I really have a treat for you. One of the most common questions I get is how to free up storage on an iPhone. Now I’ve got an excellent answer.
It’s an app called Clever Cleaner—completely free, no ads, no in-app purchases. I had to double check because it seemed too good to be true. But it’s legit.
It also comes from a trusted source: a company called Clever Files, the same folks behind Disk Drill, a recovery tool I’ve used before.
Once installed, Clever Cleaner scans your photo library (processing happens locally on your device) and sorts things into categories like Similars, Heavies (your biggest files), Screenshots, and Live Photos. This makes it simple to delete duplicates, large files, or batches of screenshots in just a few taps.
Each tool shows how much space you can reclaim, and you can let the app handle cleanup automatically or go through manually. There’s even a fun Tinder-style Swipe feature that shows you photos one by one—swipe left to delete, right to keep.
If you want to clear space fast, head straight into Heavies. Sort by size, then delete a few of the biggest files hogging your storage. Keep in mind: any deletions also free up iCloud space, which can save you money if you’re paying for storage.
(Quick note: if you back up with Google Photos or another third-party service, changes you make in the Photos app don’t usually sync back, so you’ll need to clean those up separately.)
This one’s a game changer. It’s rare to find something this useful, thoughtfully designed—and completely free. [download]
Where to learn AI skills
AI is the buzzword of the moment—and it’s not going away anytime soon. It’s transforming just about every industry, product, and job (yours included).
If you want to get up to speed, I rounded up some of the best online places to learn AI skills. Options range from free introductions all the way to certificate programs that could help you land a raise or even a new job. [link]
Chuck E. Cheese spins off Chuck’s Arcade
I can still remember visiting Chuck E. Cheese for the first time as a kid. It felt like a vast, magical place filled with games, fun, and of course, the animatronic shows. Personally, I loved the performances—and the cake. I also loved going to my local arcade and burning through a roll of quarters (not that I ever had that many).
Now the company has a new concept that blends those two worlds: Chuck’s Arcade. These are standalone arcades—no pizza—focused entirely on games, candy, and prizes. You’ll find everything from retro classics to modern VR experiences, plus the “Clawcade,” a wall of claw machines that’s hugely popular right now.
There are 13 locations so far, including some outside the U.S., and they’re open to everyone—not just kids. It’s a fresh take on the arcade experience, mixing nostalgia with today’s gaming trends. [link]
More on the Pixel 10 Pro
I’ve been using the Pixel 10 Pro XL for a week now, and it really is an excellent device. Not perfect—but excellent. The photos are outstanding, both in quality and ease of capture. Videos are still better on the iPhone, in my opinion, but when it comes to finding information—whether by web search, voice, or AI—the Pixel is far more efficient. The iPhone still requires more steps, more typing, and its voice recognition isn’t as strong.
The Pixel does still suffer from heat. Mine was burning up in the sun the other day. That’s not unusual for phones, but it feels hotter than what I’ve seen from iPhone or Samsung.
Battery life has been excellent, and the software feels polished, especially with Google’s AI features. Two I’ve really enjoyed: Super Res Zoom and Magic Cue.
Super Res Zoom uses AI to enhance zoom shots from 30x all the way to 100x. It’s not perfect—text is messy—but for most shots, the results are impressive.
Magic Cue is a subtle but brilliant feature that surfaces useful details from Gmail, notes, and other info on your phone. For example, while checking the weather it pulled up my hotel reservation and asked if I wanted the forecast for that location. Very smart.
Where the Pixel falls short for me is social media. Editing clips, posting photos, and sharing videos just isn’t as polished as it is on the iPhone. For creators—or anyone who posts a lot—that’s still a big advantage for Apple.
Bottom line: I’m not saying to ditch your iPhone, but I do like the direction Google is going with the Pixel. The AI-powered features make daily use feel smoother and more intuitive, and the photos really shine.
Q&A - Apple Watch podcasts
Ryan from Las Vegas writes in…
I’m struggling to find a podcast app I really like for running with just my Apple Watch on cellular. I’ve tried Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Pocket Casts, but syncing is clunky and I get playback glitches when notifications come in. Do you have a reliable solution?
My suggestion: Overcast. It’s free and designed specifically for the iPhone and Apple Watch. In my experience, it’s simple, well-designed, and has all the features a serious podcast listener would want.
It includes useful tools like Smart Speed, which shortens silences without distortion, and Voice Boost, which evens out volume so everything is clear. It’s also privacy-friendly, built and maintained by one independent developer—not a big company.
There are some small ads, but they’re not intrusive. And if you upgrade to Premium, you unlock one big bonus feature: the ability to upload your own audio files to listen to within the app. Enjoy those runs!
Feedbag
Keith writes in…
I wanted to mention how much I appreciate your work in presenting technology. My wife and I thoroughly enjoy your podcasts, and I also watch your KTLA clips. You have a gift for explaining things well, and you make everything very entertaining and enjoyable. I appreciate your humility and how you mention your family.
Listeners have really come to value your program, and I wanted you to know how much it’s appreciated.
Thanks Keith, this means so much to me. I’m glad you find my work helpful and easy to understand, which is my main goal.
That’s going to do it for this edition. If I could ask one favor, it’s this: forward this email to a friend and encourage them to sign up—but only if you find it useful. It’s one of the best ways to say thanks for the time I put into putting this together each week.
Have a great Labor Day weekend!
Rich
I would love to go to the sphere. How long is it there ?