CEDIA 2025 smart home tech, Windows 11 upgrade check & Gemini photo tricks (138, September 6, 2025)
Rich shares highlights from CEDIA 2025 in Denver, a major home tech show featuring the latest in smart TVs, pro-grade audio, outdoor gear, and futuristic home automation. Rich also talked about his visit to Denver, mentioning how much he enjoyed the city and a memorable dinner at Guard and Grace , where he had one of the best steaks he’s ever tasted. Rich talked about how Amazon is ending the Prime Invitee program that let you share free shipping outside your household. Rich answered a listener question about subscription trackers, noting Rocket Money helps cancel subscriptions but he now prefers Monarch Money for tracking all accounts in one place, even though it’s a paid service. Tim in Huntington Beach asked if his old Windows 10 PC could handle Windows 11, and Rich said to use Microsoft’s PC Health Check app, try forcing the upgrade , or sign up for one more year of security updates . Drew in Orange County asked if a Samsung A-Line tablet or FE tablet is better, and Rich said to go with the FE. Samsung launched the Galaxy S25 FE with premium AI features starting at $650. Gary in Laguna Niguel asked about satellite connectivity on smartphones, and Rich explained there are two levels — support built into phones like iPhones and Pixels , and service provided by carriers. Google’s latest Gemini Nano update can restore old family photos and even remove fences from pictures. Otto asked about organizing MP3s in Windows, and Rich recommended using the tagging program MP3Tag . Auto asked how to manage groups of bookmarks in Chrome, and Rich suggested using folders and opening them in a new window, or trying Chrome’s Tab Group feature. Brian Pagel, Executive Vice President at Emerald, explains what CEDIA 2025 is all about and the latest smart home trends on display. Rich said to protect yourself online by using NordVPN with threat protection, or at least turning on Chrome’s safe browsing (standard or enhanced), which uses AI for real-time protection. Gboard on Android now has a writing tools button that can polish your messages by fixing spelling and grammar. Microsoft is giving U.S. college students a free one-year Microsoft 365 Personal with Copilot subscription, a $100 value, if claimed by October 31. Aldo called in asking about MP3 players, and Rich mentioned high-end Sony model, no-name brands on Amazon , and the Mighty player that works with Spotify or Amazon Music. Julian Kheel, founder and CEO of Points Path , will share tech tips for smarter travel, including how his tool helps you decide when to book flights with cash or points. Julian said that after Google Flights, his next favorite flight search tool is Kayak , while Hopper is useful for price predictions and Flighty for tracking delays. Philips Hue is launching a lower-cost line of smart bulbs called Essentials . Assurant reports mobile phone trade-ins are up 60% year over year, with people holding devices an average of 47 months; the iPhone 13 and Galaxy S22 are the top trade-ins, and AI is driving upgrades. Tesco is testing an avocado ripeness scanner in select stores so shoppers can skip the squeeze test. Melissa wrote in to say she loves the newsletter and that the Clever Cleaner app saved her 40% on her storage. Tim in Richmond recommended two Microsoft tools for extra security: Microsoft Safety Scanner and the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool . Rich DeMuro brings you the latest tech news, helpful tips, gadget reviews, and more—plus interviews with industry experts—all in this weekly show. Call 1-888-RICH-101 (1-888-742-4101) to join