We had some fun this week with the Tech Segment on News13 with Carsyn Currier even though a couple of mishaps made it even more fun. Live TV, What can you do! At least we take a step back in time as we explore the fun side of nostalgic technology!
From rotary phones and corded handsets to cassette tapes and even classic floppy disks, old-school gadgets are making a comeback in surprising ways.
I get to give a quick look at how the Cell2Jack device ($40) lets you connect your smartphone to a vintage rotary or corded phone via Bluetooth, so you can actually make and receive calls the old-fashioned way. Plus, check out the Van Sicklen handset ($20 at Target) for a cool retro vibe and that unmistakable ring.
Sometimes when I am going through the Videos I Find Screen Grabs which give me a good laugh at the Silliness that can happen, Always a lot of fun.
Whether you remember stretching cords across the living room or dramatically slamming the receiver to end a call, this segment is a reminder of why we love bringing back the past. Watch now and relive the charm of yesterday’s tech—updated for today.
This week’s Flashback episode of TechtalkRadio kicks off with a laugh, as Justin recounts how YouTube flagged his video simply for having Monday Night Football faintly visible in the background. What started as a minor annoyance turned into a deep dive into the quirks of copyright enforcement online—especially when compared with Twitch streamers who manage to broadcast live sports disguised as gameplay. The crew joked about how even a Mountain Dew can or a MacBook box might get them flagged, highlighting the ever-watchful eyes of content algorithms.
The conversation shifted into new tech purchases and experiments. Matt shared his decision to buy a brand-new 14-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s M3 Pro chip, not out of Apple loyalty but as the best platform to run Kali Linux for cybersecurity training. This led into a broader discussion on cutting-edge laptops and even the newly announced “Spacetop,” a screenless laptop that uses AR glasses as the display. The crew debated whether augmented reality machines are the future of computing or just a passing gimmick, with plenty of comparisons to Apple’s pricey Vision Pro headset.
Industry news took center stage as the hosts examined reports of Qualcomm eyeing Intel for a takeover. The panel dug into Intel’s struggles with its 13th and 14th generation processors, which have been plagued by overheating and reliability issues, along with looming lawsuits and declining stock. They contrasted Intel’s woes with AMD’s strong comeback, recalling the history of dual-core development and AMD’s Ryzen resurgence. The talk underscored how quickly fortunes can shift in the chip wars—and whether Intel is truly “too big to fail.”
In this Mini Segment Posted above from the Show, Shawn talks about finding Ninite!
On the lighter side, the team went full-nerd over Warhammer 40K—from Shawn’s first tabletop skirmishes to Henry Cavill’s obsession with the franchise and its upcoming Amazon series. The show wrapped with Shawn’s hands-on tale of reinstalling Windows 11, troubleshooting endless drivers, and finally discovering the time-saving installer tool NiNite. The guys closed with a reminder of why patience and persistence are key in tech, and a promise to tackle more listener questions next week. Subscribe to our YouTube page for New Shows and Mini Segments!
Andy, Shawn, and Justin open with Justin’s recent DDoS nightmare and use it to explore how IoT botnets form, why firmware updates and password changes are essential, and why cheap “set it and forget it” devices can be ticking time bombs. They compare off-the-shelf routers like ASUS, Netgear, and Linksys with more advanced options such as Ubiquiti and the open-sourcepfSense(“PF-chance,” as Justin puts it), which can turn an old PC into a powerful firewall/router—perfect for those willing to tinker. Tips include scanning with Fing, segmenting devices on VLANs, and avoiding ISP-provided routers.
Listener Q&A shifts the discussion to Windows 11: Home vs. Pro, and the frustration that Remote Desktop is missing in Home. Andy shares hisRufus experiment installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, while the team stresses the importance of BIOS and driver updates. The highlight is Shawn’s story aboutDriver Easy, which rescued a high-end transcoding PC that Windows updates had slowed to a crawl—finding 15+ outdated drivers and restoring its performance instantly. Justin explains how techs can use short-term Driver Easy licenses to fix customer machines without constant overhead.
But the big highlight comes from Justin’s own Reolink security camera: it captured a shocking moment when a car slammed into his neighbor’s $100K Nissan GT-R while it was being loaded for transport. The video proves why quality security cameras matter, and sparks a bigger conversation about Wyze vs. Reolink setups, VLAN security, and why having your own footage is worth every penny.
They wrap up with cool new tools — from DJI’s latest drones to lightningmaps.org, a live weather tracker that shows real-time lightning strikes. Whether you’re into gadgets, gaming, or just want smarter home security, this episode is packed with stories you don’t want to miss.
Be Sure to Check out the Video Version of this Show on the Website for Footage of that Crash!
Got a question for the show? Email techguys@techtalkradio.com, and catch more at techtalkradio.com.
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Segment Overview This morning’s segment focuses on how content creation has evolved, especially with the rise of video. While podcasting was once the entry point for many creators, today the demand is for videocasts that can be shared across platforms like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, Facebook, and TikTok. I’ll highlight why traditional tools such as Skype, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams often fall short in terms of video quality and usability for creators who want to reach a wider audience.
Featured Tool: Riverside.fm The centerpiece of the segment is Riverside.fm, a powerful platform designed specifically for recording professional-quality video and audio. Unlike Zoom or Skype, Riverside records locally on each participant’s device in up to 4K, ensuring clear, high-definition results. I’ll share how the platform allows for flexible editing—like switching camera angles or cutting unwanted moments—and integrates advanced AI tools for scripting, teleprompting, and even voice replacement. The segment also touches on its ease of use, free trial option, and why it’s become my go-to recommendation for anyone wanting to elevate their video content.
Why It Matters For viewers who have been curious about starting a videocast or simply want higher-quality video production without the complexity, Riverside.fm offers an accessible solution. This segment will give them a clear look at how the platform works, the benefits of upgrading from standard video conferencing apps, and why tools like this are making it easier than ever to share professional-grade content online.
This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd unpack iOS 26 after Apple’s recent wave of updates. Shawn—who’s been living on the beta—explains why the OS now feels “built for two-handed use,” with core actions and search shifting to the bottom of the screen. For anyone returning from Android or upgrading older iPhones, it’s less about flashy features and more about retraining muscle memory: new-message buttons, close icons, and search live where your thumbs naturally are.
From there, the conversation widens to the state of AI. Andy contrasts the speed and usefulness of Google’s Gemini for quick studio lookups with Siri’s slower responses, while both hosts wrestle with where AI is genuinely helpful versus where it still feels off. Practical wins include Lightroom’s AI noise reduction, using AI to wrangle manuals and code snippets, and Google’s NotebookLM—now with interactive “ask-as-you-listen” study sessions. On the flip side: AI-generated images still struggle with fine details and text, and accuracy gaps make “AI slop” risky for mission-critical work.
In smart home talk, Shawn revisits Wyze’s value gear—cameras, bulbs, and a new palm-vein recognition lock—plus the subscription math behind Cam Plus. He argues for a simple but powerful upgrade: first-class RTSP so users can record to their own NAS and keep footage off the cloud by default. Listener Q&A rolls through texting mysteries (blue vs. green bubbles and how RCS now bridges some features with Android), and the looming Windows 10 end-of-support date. They weigh Extended Security Updates versus buying new machines, and when Rufus can help install Windows 11 on borderline hardware—while warning that not every system will make the cut.
To cap it off, the guys look at Roku’s first projector (1080p with Roku OS, auto-focus/keystone, Bluetooth private listening), share a handy tip for listening through headphones via the Roku app, and flag a recent Plex security incident—change your password and be cautious with the latest Roku Plex app update if you’re seeing stutters or crashes.
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