For this weeks Segment we take a look at some products from Logitech. First up is the Logitech Crayon which works with Apple iPads, Mini, Pro, Air and iPad from about 2018 and later. If you want a break from typing, this is a good option that will allow you to connect and take notes, sign documents and even sketch and draw. Using the Apple Pencil Technology, there is no need to pair the product and in most cases, will work after charging – Which we did via the Lightning Cable. Using Apps like Scribble, your writing could be turned into editable text. ProCreate or Adobe Fresco could allow Drawing and Painting with the Logitech Crayon. It features a flat design so, it won’t roll. The SRP is under 70 bucks.
If you enjoy the typing, and you would like to type on your Tablet, Smart Phone and even computer so you can move around. Check out the Logitech Pop Icon Keys Studio Series. This Bluetooth Keyboard with a soft color palette features scooped keys and a soft touch for quiet comfortable typing. While using it, its can be switched to 3 other bluetooth devices easily and with the Logitech App on Windows PC’s, Chromebooks and Mac’s, customizable buttons are available to eaily open programs or websites.Affordably priced, this keyboard which runs on two triple A batteries included sells for under 50 bucks.
Another Nice combo from Logitech is the Casa Pop Up Desk. It is a kit for connecting a series of devices, a Stand for your iPad, Mac or PC 10-17″ A Bluetooth Keyboard and a Track Pad. It folds up neatly and can be taken on the road and retails for about 150.00
In this weeks TechtalkRadio Show, Andy, Shawn and Justin take on one of the big stories in the news with the recent drone sightings over the East Coast, with Shawn clarifying that while there are indeed drones, some of the reported sightings could be helicopters. Justin shared his concerns about the presence of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) near the US Capitol, which he believes should not be ignored. The hosts also touched on the topic of misinformation surrounding these sightings. This is course causes speculation about the possibility of extraterrestrial life, with Justin suggesting that the objects could be alien technology. Andy mentioned the possibility of drones being used for surveillance or warfare, and Shawn noted that the quality of the amateur videos was not impressive. They also discussed the military’s response to the sightings, with Justin questioning why the military was not commenting on the situation. The conversation ended with a discussion about the capabilities of larger drones, with Shawn noting that they could potentially fly for extended periods of time. Shawn also suggested that some drones could be built without GPS geofencing. Andy wondered if this could lead to changes in legislation for drone usage and the overall feeling is Yes. The group speculated about the possibility of an elaborate prank or a serious government cover-up, and decided to keep an eye on the situation.
In last week’s Show, Justin was trying to decide on his next vehicle and shares that the purchase of a 2025 Toyota Camry XLE, a hybrid vehicle, after selling his 2017 Ford Explorer was made. He mentioned that the new car has a 12.3-inch touch screen infotainment system, HD radio, Sirius XM, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, full surround cameras, and a panoramic moonroof. Andy wondered if for long trips would he prefer the Tesla or Hybrid Camry. Justin does enjoy the convenience of self-driving features with the Tesla and traveling adds a minimal time for recharging.
A Listener question opens up a fun discussion on naming your Wi-Fi SSID. In the Segment a listener was asked by a neighbor about sharing his Wi-Fi. The group advised against it, citing potential misuse of bandwidth and exposure to legal issues. They also shared their Wi-Fi network names, with Justin’s being “The Wu-tang LAN” and Shawn’s being “Land before time”. The team also encouraged listeners to share some of the fun SSID names they have seen. Another listener question wonders about the benefits of OpenOffice as an alternative to Microsoft Office. They emphasized the benefits of open source software, such as community-driven development and potential for better support and feature requests. However, they also cautioned against downloading software from unverified sources and stressed the importance of due diligence in researching and selecting software. Shawn shared again with us a great website for finding open source software https://www.alternativeto.net
With YouTubeTV raising its Monthly Plan Cost, The team discussed their streaming services and the increasing costs associated with them. Andy mentioned that he was considering switching to YouTube TV but was hesitant due to the price increase. Shawn shared that they were sharing the cost of various streaming services among family members. The team also discussed the inconvenience of ads in some streaming services and the potential of physical media sales increasing due to internet outages. Andy, Shawn, and Justin discussed the recent launch of OpenAI’s free search feature for Chat GPT, which allows users to search for images and information.
Justin shared two websites of interest for the Website of the Week: https://www.everyhex.codes, a website that provides every color imaginable with its hexadecimal code, and https://www.openmhz.com , a website that allows users to listen to unencrypted police, fire, and EMS radio channels. They also discussed the possibility of using an SDR device to capture local radio frequencies and share them on Openmhz.com. Lastly, they shared their Christmas wishes, with Shawn wanting the High Speed Photo Scanner we shared from Epson earlier this year, The FastFoto 680 and Justin hoping for the Denver Broncos to make it to the Super Bowl!
For this Weeks TechtalkRadio, Andy, Shawn, and Justin discussed their experiences with cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin. Justin shared how he was able to make his recent purchase of the New Sony Mirrorless camera for broadcasting using Bitcoin, and the group reminisced about the early days of Bitcoin’s value. They also discussed the potential for other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Cardano, and Shiba Inu to grow in value. Justin advised listeners to do their own research before deciding maybe they want to give it a try and for the ease of use, open a Coinbase account to start investing in cryptocurrency, even with small amounts. Justin tells us about his decision to sell his One-Wheel and the experience of selling online. The sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace are discussed with each presenting its own circumstances. Justin took to E-Bay for his and shares the challenges he faced with shipping and fees. He advised others to use eBay’s communication features to protect themselves from scams rather then direct communication. Shawn suggested that eBay is still a good platform for buying collectibles.
Shawn showcased the Dji Power 1000, a portable solar generator he recently purchased. He highlighted its features, including a continuous output of 2,200 watts and as Andy wondered capable of powering a freezer for several hours. Shawn also mentioned that the device could be charged using solar panels as well as plugging in to a power source. A listener question regarding the possibility of networking six computers in two offices and a lobby area. Justin suggested that a layer 2 or 3 switch would be sufficient for this setup, as the Internet provider’s modem already acts as a layer 3 gateway/router. Andy questioned whether a managed switch was necessary, and Justin explained that it would be useful for isolating devices on the network, such as security cameras and voip systems. Shawn reminds us that In terms of setting up a network for a business, DIY can be fun and a learning experience however hiring a professional to design and install the network would be advisable.
Andy discussed the recent Windows 11 update, which has removed Wordpad and caused issues with file sharing. He also mentioned that Microsoft now has an upgrade path for Windows 10 users to Windows 11 that previously did not fit in the upgrade requirements, this despite warnings of potential system crashes and security issues. Shawn shared his experience with his in-laws’ laptop, which is not compatible with Windows 11 due to its processor. He plans to help them choose a new laptop. Another great listener question is called in about recommended brands for desktop speakers. Justin recommended the Logitech 2.1 system, while Shawn suggested a JBL Clip 3 Bluetooth speaker. Andy added that one might need to invest in a Bluetooth key if their desktop doesn’t have Bluetooth support.
Justin discussed his car issues, specifically with his 2017 Ford Explorer’s head unit failing. He mentioned that the head unit controls various functions including GPS, backup camera, climate, radio, and door locks. Justin was considering selling the car before the head unit fails completely. He also mentioned that his wife, Misa, is considering buying a 2025 Toyota Corolla, a plug-in hybrid with intelligent all-wheel drive. As a close to the show Andy, Shawn, and Justin discussed the issue of unauthorized charges and loot box purchases in the game Fortnite. Andy informed the group that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is offering refunds to those who were charged for in-game currency or items they didn’t intend to buy between 2017 and 2022. A link for that FTC website was mentioned with the reminder of claims needing to be filed by January 10th 2025.
For this Segment on News13 KMSB Fox 11, Andy Taylor visited with Tyler Butler and shared a couple of new Laptops for Productivity, Creating and Learning. First off is the Asus Zenbook S 14. 16GB and 1TB SSD This could be great as you may be thinking about Gift Giving for the Holidays. The Size is amazingly thin and super lightweight. While Everything under the hood is impressive, the design itself is amazing. Asus uses a process called Ceraluminum coating that is scratch and fingerprint resistant. This is a combination of Ceramic and Aluminum. The ZenBook S 14 is powered by a 72Wh Battery which not only can last throughout the day but charge quickly.
Inside it the ultra-fast Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 Series 2 processor with a dedicated AI NPU (Nueral Processing Unit) with Microsoft Copilot+ all with the power of AI unleashed through the dedicated Copilot key on your keyboard. Also the screen is amazing and bright, The ultra-vivid 3K 120Hz ASUS Lumina OLED display – This Powerhouse retails for about $1499
Also on deck is the New Asus ProArt PZ13 – Tagged – “Where your Story Begins” This Two in One, Meaning a Tablet and Connected to a Keyboard, It weighs Less the Two Pounds is perfect for creators, Another 3k Bright Vivid Screen and and it’s powered by Snapdragon® X Plus processor – Looking for a way to easily organize your Content? 16GB of Memory and 1TB SSD It comes equipped with the ASUS exclusive AI-powered Story Cube app that helps you manage your photos and videos – To see the many different applications, check out https://www.asus.com/us/proart/ It Retails for about $1099
We had a great time looking at these devices with Power and Function!
In this Week’s TechtalkRadio Show, Andy and Shawn want to find out about Matt’s new studio setup which looks like it came out great! Matt shared his recent transition to a rack-mounted case, which he found to be more efficient and better for airflow. He also discussed his use of a Sony ZV-10 mirrorless camera as a webcam, which he found to be effective for blogging and vlogging. Last weeks show had a listener ask about Mechanical Keyboards which Matt explained and discussed his mechanical keyboard, the Keychron v1 Max, which he found at Micro Center. He highlighted its features, including a 75% keyboard layout, mechanical switches, USB-C and USB-A ports, a rechargeable internal battery, Bluetooth compatibility, and a switch for Mac or Windows. Matt also mentioned the keyboard’s customizable firmware and the ability to change keycaps for different layouts. He noted that the keyboard lights up and has a tactile feel, making it the quietest mechanical keyboard he has ever used. Take a look at the Company Website at https://www.keychron.com
Shawn found a great deal and decided to buy in for a Dji Power 1000, a solar generator that can charge devices and potentially run small appliances like an air conditioner. He bought it at a 48% discount from Amazon, using a code from Dji’s Black Friday email. Shawn plans to use it for camping and when out grabbing photos for astrophotography. The group also discussed other portable power brands like Jackery and Anker, and the possibility of using solar panels to charge the generator. Andy suggested that listeners might benefit from joining Dji’s mailing list for potential deals.
After a listener question from Allan, Matt and Shawn discussed the pros and cons of upgrading to Windows 11. Matt and Shawn expressed their dissatisfaction with the bloat and ads in Windows 11, while the listener sought advice on whether to upgrade now or wait until October when Windows 10 support ends. Matt advised Allan to pull the band-aid and upgrade, as Windows 11 will receive security patches and updates, but warned about the potential annoyance of ads and recommendations. Matt also advised Allan to back up his files before upgrading his operating system and to use a disk cleanup tool to remove previous Windows installations after a certain amount of time. Andy also shared a question from Dave about recovering data from an old IDE hard drive, and Shawn suggested using a USB to IDE adapter to connect the drive to a computer stating they aren’t to bad in price and easy to use. Shawn found one on the Micro-Center Website from Vantec. Another listener question handled the subject of Black Friday/Cyber Monday TV Deals and how to tell differences between some of the screens. All this and more featured in this week’s TechtalkRadio Show,
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