July 16, 2025 • 7 mins
KFI Tech Reporter Rich DeMuro joins Wake Up Call for ‘Wired Wednesday’! Rich talks about Samsung’s new foldable phones, Google’s Gemini video feature, and takes us behind the scenes at Disney’s imagineering.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's say good morning now to the host of Rich
on tech right here on KFI KTLA's tech reporter Rich DeMuro. Rich,
you're playing with folding phones.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Yes, Samsung's got two new foldable phones, the z Fold
seven and the z Flip seven. Notable improvements on the
fold This is the one that opens up like a book.
The outside screen is way bigger. It's actually usable this
time compared to previous models. The inside screen is even bigger.
It's now eight inches, which means it's essentially a mini
(00:30):
tablet in your pocket that you can unfold. They also
put their best camera on this device for the first time.
It's a two hundred megapixel camera, which is really great
for folks that want to use this. The trade off
is that they removed support for the spen that's their stylus,
you know, that little thing you can use to write
on the screen. And they also increase the price, so
it is now two thousand dollars. Wow, but yeah, I know,
(00:55):
but you're getting two and one. You get the phone
and the tablet. You got to look on the bright side.
So nobody pays full price for Samsung devices. There's always
some sort of discounter trade in then they've got the
Flip seven. This is the one that's probably better for
most people. It's the one that opens up like the
old school flip phones, except the entire outside screen when
it's closed is a screen. Now it's pushed all the
(01:17):
way to the edges. The inside screen is much wider,
so it feels more like a proper phone when you
open it up. The downside to this one is there's
really not one actually, so people seem to like this
thing a lot. Eleven d dollars for that.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Okay, so the flip one when it's folded is it's
a square pretty much right correct, And it's got the
same screen, just smaller as what happens when you open it.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah, it's got an outside screen that you can do
a lot of things on, not everything, but you can
do a lot on there. And yes, it's much bigger.
And the cool thing about this form factor that people
may not realize is that you're always using your best
cameras to take your pictures. So whether you're capturing a
selfie or a selfie video or an actual you know,
camera photo, you're always using those front facing cameras, which
(02:08):
are the best cameras on the device. It's kind of
hard to imagine in your head, but you're literally always
shooting with the best cameras on this phone, which is
why people like it as well.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Okay, and then my other question was you mentioned that
they put the really good camera on the Is it
on both of them or just on the Galaxy the
Z fold just on the fold?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Okay, just on the fold.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Do you have to unfold the camera to use it
or can you use it when it's closed?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
No, you can use that one when it's closed. You
can use them both when they're closed, or you can
use them when they're open. But you know, the it's
very They call it the flex screen the flex hinge
because it's flexible. You can do whatever you want with
these things. You can use them open, you can use
them closed. There are various benefits to both of those,
you know orientations. So look, these are for people that
(02:55):
want something different, that want something new, that wants something
unique and and yes, there are some productivity and creator
benefits to having this form factor, but it's not for everyone.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Okay, But you're enjoying it, you like it.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I think they're really cool. I mean no, I really
do think they're cool. I'm not sure they're for me personally,
but I'm still testing. It's only been a couple of days,
and all, let's put it this way, every single tech
person I know, they're all loving these things like they're
going and just gaga over them because it's finally gotten
to a place where these phones are usable for the
average person. And that's a really good thing on Samsung's part.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Yeah, I've not seen any in real life. I think
I saw you do a story on it earlier, but
I've not actually seen or touched one of them. So
it'll be interesting to see more people start buying them.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I look out for these things and so I see
them all the time, and every time I see when,
I'm like, Okay, that person's pretty cool, Like they're on
the cutting edge here.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Okay, here's something else that's pretty cool. AI's making some
magic with your photos.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Oh my gosh. If you have access to Google Gemini,
Like if you're paying for Gemini, which is their AI
it's twenty bucks a month, but you might be paying
for it. You have access to this cool new feature
that brings photos to life. You upload a picture, you
describe the scene, and Jem and I will take a
minute or two and literally make an eight second video
out of that scene. So it basically brings the photo
(04:16):
to life. I've tested this with a bunch of different pictures.
I took one of the studio at KTLA and I said, hey,
have a giant elephant marching through the studio, and it
did like my kid watched it last night. He goes,
I can't believe how realistic that is. So this is
using VO three, which is their text to video generation system,
(04:36):
and it should put Hollywood ONU noticed because it's pretty wild.
How good this is?
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Okay? And does it do? Is it just video? It doesn't?
It doesn't add audio? Or can you add audio to
your little video clip?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yes, it does add audio, so you can say, like
I did another one of a bee buzzing around a
flower and it added the buzzing sound. Now it didn't
sound completely real. It's like a little hyper realistic. But
believe me, this is day like seven of this technology,
and it's really good and scary good.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Yeah. I always like to include scary when I'm talking
about AI, but that's just might just be me. Okay,
this is something that is not scary. And speaking of magic,
you get you got to go behind the scenes with
Disney Imagineering and uh, I'm jealous.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, it was just as cool as I imagined. When
Disney calls you and says, hey, do you want to
see behind the scenes, you say yes, no matter what.
And I went to Glendale, this is where Imagineering is headquartered,
and I got to play with a lightsaber, interact with
a cute robot. I got to check out their new
infinite floor that they have and the thing, I think
(05:43):
it's just it's called hollow tile and it's basically they
invented this floor where you can walk on it. It's
like a treadmill that goes in like every direction all
at once, so you can walk infinitely forever in the
same spot. I mean, they're gonna use it for like attractions.
They don't know what they're gonna use it for yet,
but it's like this new thing they invented, really really cool.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Okay, and that's your story today on KTLA. So if
people want to get some some sneak peaks at what
you got to see, that would be a good time
to watch that on KTLA.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Let me just ad I know we got to go.
Let me add one more thing yep, I thought that
everyone at the Imagineers was an engineer or an artist.
It takes like one hundred different backgrounds. So if you're
looking for a job, go to the Imagineering website. I'm
not kidding. They have like seventy five jobs open right now,
all kinds of different backgrounds. Whatever you do, you can
bring that to the table. So that was my biggest
takeaway there.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Okay, that's kind of cool. I love that that they're
integrating all kinds of different people.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yes, all right.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Rich Demiro the host of rich on Tech right here
on KFI every weekend. When is it Saturday from eleven
to two, right, And of course you can watch them
on KTLA five in La. And you can follow Rich
on Instagram at rich on Tech. And I know that
you put up that lightsaber on your Instagram because I
(06:55):
saw it earlier this week. You can also get his
free newsletter rich on Tech dot cog TV. Richardimiro, thanks
so much
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Thanks Amy, You have a great day.
Let's say good morning now to the host of Rich
on tech right here on KFI KTLA's tech reporter Rich DeMuro. Rich,
you're playing with folding phones.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Yes, Samsung's got two new foldable phones, the z Fold
seven and the z Flip seven. Notable improvements on the
fold This is the one that opens up like a book.
The outside screen is way bigger. It's actually usable this
time compared to previous models. The inside screen is even bigger.
It's now eight inches, which means it's essentially a mini
(00:30):
tablet in your pocket that you can unfold. They also
put their best camera on this device for the first time.
It's a two hundred megapixel camera, which is really great
for folks that want to use this. The trade off
is that they removed support for the spen that's their stylus,
you know, that little thing you can use to write
on the screen. And they also increase the price, so
it is now two thousand dollars. Wow, but yeah, I know,
(00:55):
but you're getting two and one. You get the phone
and the tablet. You got to look on the bright side.
So nobody pays full price for Samsung devices. There's always
some sort of discounter trade in then they've got the
Flip seven. This is the one that's probably better for
most people. It's the one that opens up like the
old school flip phones, except the entire outside screen when
it's closed is a screen. Now it's pushed all the
(01:17):
way to the edges. The inside screen is much wider,
so it feels more like a proper phone when you
open it up. The downside to this one is there's
really not one actually, so people seem to like this
thing a lot. Eleven d dollars for that.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Okay, so the flip one when it's folded is it's
a square pretty much right correct, And it's got the
same screen, just smaller as what happens when you open it.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah, it's got an outside screen that you can do
a lot of things on, not everything, but you can
do a lot on there. And yes, it's much bigger.
And the cool thing about this form factor that people
may not realize is that you're always using your best
cameras to take your pictures. So whether you're capturing a
selfie or a selfie video or an actual you know,
camera photo, you're always using those front facing cameras, which
(02:08):
are the best cameras on the device. It's kind of
hard to imagine in your head, but you're literally always
shooting with the best cameras on this phone, which is
why people like it as well.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Okay, and then my other question was you mentioned that
they put the really good camera on the Is it
on both of them or just on the Galaxy the
Z fold just on the fold?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Okay, just on the fold.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Do you have to unfold the camera to use it
or can you use it when it's closed?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
No, you can use that one when it's closed. You
can use them both when they're closed, or you can
use them when they're open. But you know, the it's
very They call it the flex screen the flex hinge
because it's flexible. You can do whatever you want with
these things. You can use them open, you can use
them closed. There are various benefits to both of those,
you know orientations. So look, these are for people that
(02:55):
want something different, that want something new, that wants something
unique and and yes, there are some productivity and creator
benefits to having this form factor, but it's not for everyone.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Okay, But you're enjoying it, you like it.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I think they're really cool. I mean no, I really
do think they're cool. I'm not sure they're for me personally,
but I'm still testing. It's only been a couple of days,
and all, let's put it this way, every single tech
person I know, they're all loving these things like they're
going and just gaga over them because it's finally gotten
to a place where these phones are usable for the
average person. And that's a really good thing on Samsung's part.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Yeah, I've not seen any in real life. I think
I saw you do a story on it earlier, but
I've not actually seen or touched one of them. So
it'll be interesting to see more people start buying them.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I look out for these things and so I see
them all the time, and every time I see when,
I'm like, Okay, that person's pretty cool, Like they're on
the cutting edge here.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Okay, here's something else that's pretty cool. AI's making some
magic with your photos.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Oh my gosh. If you have access to Google Gemini,
Like if you're paying for Gemini, which is their AI
it's twenty bucks a month, but you might be paying
for it. You have access to this cool new feature
that brings photos to life. You upload a picture, you
describe the scene, and Jem and I will take a
minute or two and literally make an eight second video
out of that scene. So it basically brings the photo
(04:16):
to life. I've tested this with a bunch of different pictures.
I took one of the studio at KTLA and I said, hey,
have a giant elephant marching through the studio, and it
did like my kid watched it last night. He goes,
I can't believe how realistic that is. So this is
using VO three, which is their text to video generation system,
(04:36):
and it should put Hollywood ONU noticed because it's pretty wild.
How good this is?
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Okay? And does it do? Is it just video? It doesn't?
It doesn't add audio? Or can you add audio to
your little video clip?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yes, it does add audio, so you can say, like
I did another one of a bee buzzing around a
flower and it added the buzzing sound. Now it didn't
sound completely real. It's like a little hyper realistic. But
believe me, this is day like seven of this technology,
and it's really good and scary good.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Yeah. I always like to include scary when I'm talking
about AI, but that's just might just be me. Okay,
this is something that is not scary. And speaking of magic,
you get you got to go behind the scenes with
Disney Imagineering and uh, I'm jealous.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, it was just as cool as I imagined. When
Disney calls you and says, hey, do you want to
see behind the scenes, you say yes, no matter what.
And I went to Glendale, this is where Imagineering is headquartered,
and I got to play with a lightsaber, interact with
a cute robot. I got to check out their new
infinite floor that they have and the thing, I think
(05:43):
it's just it's called hollow tile and it's basically they
invented this floor where you can walk on it. It's
like a treadmill that goes in like every direction all
at once, so you can walk infinitely forever in the
same spot. I mean, they're gonna use it for like attractions.
They don't know what they're gonna use it for yet,
but it's like this new thing they invented, really really cool.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Okay, and that's your story today on KTLA. So if
people want to get some some sneak peaks at what
you got to see, that would be a good time
to watch that on KTLA.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Let me just ad I know we got to go.
Let me add one more thing yep, I thought that
everyone at the Imagineers was an engineer or an artist.
It takes like one hundred different backgrounds. So if you're
looking for a job, go to the Imagineering website. I'm
not kidding. They have like seventy five jobs open right now,
all kinds of different backgrounds. Whatever you do, you can
bring that to the table. So that was my biggest
takeaway there.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Okay, that's kind of cool. I love that that they're
integrating all kinds of different people.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yes, all right.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Rich Demiro the host of rich on Tech right here
on KFI every weekend. When is it Saturday from eleven
to two, right, And of course you can watch them
on KTLA five in La. And you can follow Rich
on Instagram at rich on Tech. And I know that
you put up that lightsaber on your Instagram because I
(06:55):
saw it earlier this week. You can also get his
free newsletter rich on Tech dot cog TV. Richardimiro, thanks
so much
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Thanks Amy, You have a great day.
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