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Scented Dice, AI Lies & Bubble Pop Addictions – EP480

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd explore the tech, gaming, and gadget stories making headlines — along with one of the most creative gaming accessories we’ve ever featured. From addictive mobile games and ultra-thin laptops to AI assistants that still get things wrong, this episode blends humor, nostalgia, and real-world techtalk.

Andy and Shawn discuss the surprisingly addictive Bubble Pop Origin mobile game, the new ASUS Zenbook A16 with its stunning 3K OLED display and Snapdragon AI-powered processor, plus what Apple may reveal during WWDC. The conversation also dives into Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT, and why AI tools still require a healthy dose of skepticism. Along the way, the hosts reminisce about retro computers, Windows XP builds, DOS gaming, wired keyboards, old MP3 players, and classic gaming memories.

Special guest Brent Critchfield from Studio Woe joins the show to talk about his unique “Baron Smelly Bones” scented gaming dice currently launching on Kickstarter. The discussion covers how the dice were created, why smell can enhance tabletop gaming experiences, and the incredible reactions gamers have had to scents inspired by coffee, fire, storms, forests, and magical spells.

The episode also features a bizarre Microsoft Teams story involving fired IT workers accidentally recording their own cybercrime confession, a look at the upcoming game Mouse PI for Hire, thoughts on Plex media servers, and anticipation for The Mandalorian and Grogu arriving in theaters.

If you love gaming culture, gadgets, retro tech, AI discussions, tabletop gaming, and fun conversations about the ever-changing world of technology, this week’s TechtalkRadio has something for you.

TechtalkRadio #Technology #Gaming #AI #ASUS #WWDC #DungeonsAndDragons #Kickstarter #Plex #Steam #RetroGaming #ChatGPT #TabletopGaming #TechPodcast

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Episode 458 – “The Cloud Crashed: When the Net Goes Dark.”

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For this week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd tackle the story that shook the web — the massive AWS outage that left millions wondering if their internet had vanished. The pair break down what really happened when Amazon’s U.S. East-1 region went down and how a simple DNS failure can ripple through nearly every service we use. From Coinbase and Reddit to Roku, Robinhood, and even smart-home devices, the hosts explain how so much of our digital life runs through the same narrow pipes — and why that can be a dangerous single point of failure.

With streaming services sputtering and smart devices silent, Andy and Shawn turn their attention to the unexpected hero of the week: physical media. They discuss why DVDs and Blu-rays are making a quiet comeback and share the tools that make it easy to preserve your collection — from MakeMKV for ripping discs to HandBrake for compressing files and Plex for organizing your own personal streaming library. It’s a reminder that having your favorite shows and movies on hand (and not in the cloud) can be both nostalgic and smart in 2025.

The episode also dives into practical Windows tips, including Microsoft’s WinGet — a built-in command-line updater that keeps your apps current with a single command. Shawn tests it live on air and finds nearly half of his software out of date. Andy also fields listener questions about Windows 11 S Mode, breaking down who it’s for, why most users eventually turn it off, and how Microsoft’s locked-down environment compares to the open flexibility we’re used to.

Screenshot of TV.Garden
Screenshot of Windows Package Manager WINGET
Screenshot of Explore.Org

Finally, the hosts spotlight two incredible websites that make technology feel fun again. TV.garden lets you spin a virtual globe and watch free, live television from countries all around the world — a discovery that had Shawn geeking out over obscure motorsport streams. And Explore.org offers a front-row seat to nature through hundreds of live animal cams, from Alaska’s famous Fat Bears to serene ocean sanctuaries. Whether the cloud is crashing or calm, Andy and Shawn remind us that tech should connect, entertain, and inspire — even when the net goes dark.

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News13 Software As A Service Segment – Adobe and Innovation

In this week’s Talking Tech segment on KMSB Fox 11 News13, we dive into the evolving world of Software as a Service, commonly known as SaaS. Gone are the days when you bought software once and used it forever which always seemed so convienient however, we were often missing out on critical updates and innovation without upgrading.

Today, the SaaS model allows developers to deliver continual improvements, cloud integration, and AI-driven tools directly to users, typically through a subscription. One of the pioneers in this shift was Adobe, transitioning from boxed software to their Creative Cloud platform.

We showcase the innovation that followed—like Adobe Firefly, their powerful AI art generator. With Firefly, users can now generate creative assets with the help of artificial intelligence and purchase additional credits for advanced use. Learn more at adobe.com.

But SaaS is no longer limited to software. We explore how this model is beginning to enter new industries—especially automotive. Car manufacturers are already discussing subscription-based access to features like heated seats, advanced navigation, and enhanced driving modes. What used to be part of your car purchase may soon be a monthly service.

Will this become the norm? Is this convenience or a cash grab?

👉 Watch now and join the conversation. #TalkingTech #SaaS #AdobeFirefly #CreativeCloud #TechTrends #AIinDesign #AutomotiveTech #SoftwareAsAService #AdobeMasterSuite

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New Show Posted! #405 – Getting Rid of the Bloat!

In this Weeks TechtalkRadio Show, We learn a little about Shawn’s Bucc-ees Outfit his mom got him and how Shawn has been traveling for work. Taking a flight on Delta, Shawn was happy to find out that Delta Airlines will hand out trading cards. The guys talk about tracking aircraft if you are traveling or a friend or family member is, you can easily follow the flight using websites and apps such as FlightAware or ADSBExhange. Andy talks about how the web can also help locate aircraft you have possibly flown in and tells the story of how while in Civil Air Patrol he co-piloted a Cessna 172 and was able to locate that aircraft today with the tail number. Microsoft faced an outage earlier in the week on its X-Box Live Service and it serves as a reminder for having physical media instead of relying on the cloud. This applies to Movies and Series we have come to rely on from streaming services.  The guys share a couple of ways to make sure you can view your content that you have purchased using MakeMKV and Handbrake as possible resources.  Shawn built a Raspberry Pi Media Player for handling digital playback. For Games, so many have only been released Digitally and the guys talk about the last versions they bought for consoles and PC. Shawn tells us about a great Website for Older games, GOG Games has older titles for purchase – Andy wants to get a copy of one he played a lot, RedneckRampage. 

Andy started a new project this past week to downsize from the massive Cooler Master HAF932 to a smaller case. This was all in part to begin to move to Windows 11. Using the Asus Z-170A after purchasing the TPM 2.0 Header the goal would be to Upgrade to Windows 11. Andy gets the Fractal G Mid Tower Case and gets everything moved and cleaner. After deciding to do this, he realized with the 480GB with only 60GB left, he would have to update the Drive as well for more space. Andy updates to a 1TB but has an issue in cloning the drive and find Partition Wizard Mini Tool was the solution he needed. This does pose the question of instead of cloning an older drive, reinstalling Windows from scratch gets rid of the bloat. Some points to consider regarding the software are discussed. 

The Cooler Master HAF932

RealVNC has eliminated the home plans for the service which enabled connecting to other computers. As Shawn pointed out, this was a great way to take care of family members’ computers remotely. The Cost for the new plan is discussed and the problem with TeamViewer and a Security Breach is discussed. DJI is still under the scrutiny of the US Government and the latest is discussed here and how that would affect this that want to use a drone, The Countering CCP Drone Act could ban the sales of DJI products in the US.  Andy gives us a look at the Camp Snap Camera and why many are excited about this very different digital camera. The Screen Free Digital Camera allows the user to experience the taking of the photo and enjoy the moment without looking at what was captured. Gizmodo put together a list of Cool Gadgets for the past month of June, this includes the Insta360 Go 3S which is a small action camera. 

Photo of the Insta360 Go 3S

Shawn shares a Website of the Week with us, A fun site to prank a friend or co-worker with, https://whitescreen.online The Site gives you various options to feature update screens, blue screen, broken screen and many others. 

https://whitescreen.online
Shawn in his Bucc-ees Outfit

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Episode 403 – Can You Smell What the Mall is Cooking!?

In this Weeks TechtalkRadio Show, Justin, Shawn and Andy begin the discussions with a focus on the busy news cycle towards technology after a chat about the Summer Heat and cooling. Justin tells us about the split systems which can do a good job keeping areas cool but also a portable AC Unit. If trying to cool with a Swamp Cooler there are some considerations as they aren’t the best working along Electronics. Another consideration is where a PC or Mac is placed can also affect the performance, years ago companies sold cabinets to hide towers, and these were just not proper airflow. Justin determines he needs to delve into doing more home repair and has been watching videos on YouTube which have been very helpful. Andy used YouTube to help replace a Garbage Disposal Unit. Justin shares the best way to search for the project you want to do. The Crew pivots to the news of Adobe and how the FTC has directed a lawsuit at the company for its difficult process to cancel subscriptions with fees to the consumer when cancelling. Andy shares how he remembers from Aldus Photostyler to Creative Suite you could buy the package and use it till you wanted the new features. The Terms of Service have also been, as covered in last week’s show, Andy has a connection to Photographer Ron Hazelwood on Facebook and reads a post Ron shared regarding the TOS. Other points to consider include PDF’s which could contain sensitive documents. Ron mentions a possible alternative for working with photos, Affinity Photo 2. The Company can be found on the web at https://affinity.serif.com

      Justin opens this segment with a discussion on social media and how the Surgeon General of the United States may consider a Warning Label like what we have seen on tobacco. Shawn had pulled away from Socials a couple of years ago and tells us how during the show he reactivated the account to use an Extension to save photos he was tagged in. The extension called Tagged Photo Exporter available in the Google Chrome Store and Shawn tells us how this works. Shawn and Justin both agree on the addictive nature on social platforms and share why many others feel the same way. How will parents need to respond to this and how will this help alter the time spent while the child is online. Shawn and Justin share how they have applied these guidelines.      

Shawn tells us how he believes in the distant future, a Youth Digital Rebellion and tells us what that means. His wife shared a story how a friend’s child had loved the idea of online shopping, in person. While it doesn’t play as good on the radio, Andy shares a Meme about how times have shared. Andy shares the reminder of your digital products in the car or trunk of the vehicle. A good reminder to take the gear to a cooler area and the pull the Dash Cams instead of leaving them in the hot sun. Wells Fargo has caught employees using Mouse Jigglers and the guys talk about this story circulating the web, PC World has put together a great article on how to turn off Recall on Co-Pilot + PC.s. Shawn reminds us about how this is supposed to work and how it is being used.  

Shawn shares a Website of the Week with us, A great site for those that enjoy board games. https://www.boardgamearena.com The Site allows you to play board games with your friends. 

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