In this week’s Talking Tech segment on KMSB Fox 11 News 13, Andy Taylor explores a growing trend in technology—tools and toys designed to help kids take a break from screens while still engaging with interactive and educational experiences.
After showcasing a variety of gadgets at the Sunflower Computer Club in Marana, one standout featured previously on Talking Tech was the NEX Playground, an interactive system that turns your TV into a motion-based gaming experience. Kids can physically participate in games, blending screen time with movement and social interaction.
Nintendo is also expanding beyond traditional gaming with its My Mario line, offering books, building sets, and hybrid digital experiences that encourage creativity, reading, and hands-on play.
For outdoor fun, Andy highlights a ride-on ATV themed around Bluey. The Bluey 12v ATV With Surfboard is Designed for younger riders, it offers a safe, battery-powered way for kids to explore while enjoying familiar sounds and characters. Of course it is decorated in Bluey Style! While the Weight limit is about 66lbs and can reach a top speed of 3mph, Andy decided to have Sora, before it goes aways, allow him a virtual experience of Riding!
The takeaway: technology isn’t just about more screen time—it can also be a bridge to more active, creative, and balanced play.
This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, and Justin Lemme pack the show with a mix of practical advice, industry trends, consumer tech insight, and one very relatable AI troubleshooting story.
The episode opens with a conversation inspired by World Backup Day, as the team discusses whether people still need traditional backups now that so much of daily life already lives in the cloud. From iCloud and Google Photos to NAS systems and mirrored local storage, the discussion looks at the difference between convenience, redundancy, and true disaster recovery. The hosts also explore the downsides of cloud backup, including transfer speeds, privacy concerns, and the reality that “free” services often come with tradeoffs.
That privacy angle expands into a broader discussion on surveillance and artificial intelligence. The team talks about photo apps that identify faces, security cameras that recognize visitors, geofencing technology, and the growing presence of systems like Flock cameras. It becomes one of the episode’s most thought-provoking segments, balancing the usefulness of smart systems with concerns about how much information is being collected and who ultimately has access to it.
One of the standout moments of the show comes when Justin shares his attempt to use Grok to help him set up a Project Zomboid server on a Synology NAS. What starts as a step-by-step AI-assisted setup turns into hours of troubleshooting, repeated error messages, and eventually a paid upgrade to “Super Grok” — only for the chatbot to finally admit that the server was not really designed to run on Synology in the first place. It is a funny, honest example of how AI can feel incredibly smart one moment and deeply unhelpful the next. In the end, Justin solves the problem by renting a server for a few dollars a month and getting it working in about 15 minutes.
The show also answers a listener question about moving to Dallas and choosing between fiber internet and cable service. Justin and Shawn strongly favor fiber, explaining the benefits of dedicated bandwidth, better upload speeds, and improved reliability for modern households. Andy also raises the issue of router availability and manufacturing changes, adding another layer to the conversation around networking hardware.
In the featured interview, Andy welcomes Julie Gran of GrandPad, a company focused on making technology more approachable for seniors. Julie explains how GrandPad is built around simplicity, safety, and connection, with a secure family-approved network, larger easy-to-read controls, telehealth support, companion family features, and thoughtful accessibility touches. The conversation also covers Grandie Chat, GrandPad’s carefully designed AI feature that allows older adults to interact through voice in a more comfortable and guided way. The interview closes with a moving story that highlights the emotional power of technology when it is designed to truly serve the user.
To finish the episode, the guys shifts into camera talk as Justin discusses plans to buy a Tamron 35-150 lens during an upcoming trip to Japan. Shawn breaks down why the lens is so appealing, explaining aperture, focal length, and the visual magic of shallow depth of field and bokeh. It’s a strong finish to an episode that moves from backups and broadband to AI mishaps, family connection, and creative tools.
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On this week’s TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd cover a wide range of tech topics, starting with a listener question about securely accessing files remotely. They discuss modern solutions like VPNs, Tailscale, and remote desktop tools, along with the challenges of Windows 11 networking changes. The conversation also takes an interesting turn into how Pokémon Go’s massive location data is now being used to power delivery robots, highlighting the unexpected ways everyday tech can evolve.
Andy also prepares for an upcoming presentation focused on practical technology for older users, including easy-to-use devices like GrandPad tablets and digital photo frames that automatically update with family pictures. The show features a hands-on discussion of the new MacBook Neo, covering design, usability, performance, and why it could be a strong choice for everyday users.
In the second half, local entrepreneur Misa Acosta, creator of Makeup Therapy with Marisa, joins the show to share her journey of building a business and using social media to expand her brand and create engagement. She offers insights into content creation, engagement strategies, and how platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube can help grow a brand. The episode wraps with entertainment news, including buzz around a new Firefly animated series and the evolving world of streaming content. Her Milkshake profiles links can be found here
In Wrapping Up, we wanted to share links Shawn had mentioned in the show for Digital Photo Frames and services from Pix-Star and Nixplay
If you’ve just upgraded to a new smartphone like the iPhone 17e or Samsung Galaxy S26, the next step is finding the right accessories to get the most out of your device. In this KMSB Fox 11 News 13 tech segment, Andy Taylor highlights some of the latest innovations in smartphone accessories—from stylish and functional MagSafe cases to powerful high-speed USB hubs.
Featured in this segment are products from CaseKoo, including the Linku strap case designed for comfortable, hands-free carrying, and the Matte Magic MagSafe cases that offer flexible viewing angles and easy wireless charging. These accessories not only protect your phone but also enhance usability whether you’re at an event, traveling, or just going about your day.
Also showcased is a high-performance USB4 hub from EZQuest, offering blazing-fast data transfer speeds, multiple ports for connectivity, and the ability to power external devices like monitors and accessories—all from a single compact solution. It’s a must-have tool for power users and content creators alike.
As smartphone technology continues to evolve, accessories like these are becoming essential tools that expand functionality, improve convenience, and enhance the overall user experience.
This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd kick things off with a real-time look at severe weather, storm tracking, and the growing role of independent meteorologists on YouTube. Shawn shares how live storm coverage from creator Ryan Hall has changed the way many people follow dangerous weather, offering faster, more detailed updates than traditional local broadcasts in some cases. The conversation also dives into storm preparedness, from generators and backup power to radios, fuel, and having a family plan in place when rough weather rolls in.
The show also revisits one of the week’s most talked-about tech topics: the new MacBook Neo. Andy and Shawn break down the appeal of Apple’s lower-cost laptop, discussing its price point, specs, battery life, and why it could be an attractive option for people who have always wanted to try a Mac without spending a fortune. They also talk about the learning curve for longtime Windows users, the differences in workflow, and why Apple may have found the right moment to push harder into the affordable laptop space..
Shawn, who has long been skeptical of AI, admits he was surprised by how powerful and creative the music-generation platform Suno turned out to be. The two discuss the fun and creative possibilities of AI music tools, while also emphasizing the importance of ethics, transparency, and giving proper credit whenever AI plays a role in the creative process. Later in the show, Andy spotlights the ASUS ProArt PX13 GoPro Edition, a compact but powerful creator laptop designed for video editors and GoPro users, with features like a bright OLED display, strong onboard AI processing with the Ryzen AI Max 395+, 128GB Ram, 1TB Storage along with a built-in jog wheel, and 2-in-1 flexibility for tablet type use.
Andy with Sean Dadashi, co-founder of Rosebud, an AI-powered journaling app designed to make self-reflection easier, more guided, and more meaningful. Sean explains how the idea for Rosebud grew from his own experience with therapy and journaling, where he saw firsthand how difficult it can be for people to stare at a blank page and know where to begin. With Rosebud, users can write or speak their thoughts, then receive thoughtful AI-guided prompts that help them go deeper, recognize patterns, and stay connected to personal goals over time.
Wrapping things up, the show touches on Mario Day March 10th Record Day, Nintendo announcements, and new family-friendly interactive gaming experiences from NEX Playground in the Audiocast, making for a packed episode full of gadgets, AI, entertainment, and practical tech talk.
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