New Show – The Pixel 9 Can Do All That?

In this week’s TechtalkRadio Show, Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, and Justin Lemme caught up after a busy couple of weeks. Justin shared his recent experience of tearing his calf muscle while walking at Waterworld, while Shawn talked about hosting Notre Dame’s first home football game of the season, which unfortunately ended in a loss. Sitting out the show, Justin received his Pixel 9 Fold smartphone and provided an overall review, highlighting its AI capabilities through the Gemini platform. One feature lets users reimagine photos and map search results, and Justin also showcased the phone’s ability to recognize and respond to hand gestures. The team discussed the phone’s price, with Justin mentioning a significant discount he received through his Google Fi and Google One memberships. He also shared his excitement about the new Pixel Watch 3, which he had recently acquired.

During the discussion of AI in the Pixel 9, the guys noted Apple’s recent announcement at the “It’s Glowtime” event, which introduced Apple Intelligence for the upcoming iPhone 16. They compared the performance of different AI assistants, with Andy expressing disappointment in Siri’s results. Shawn suggested that Apple’s AI focuses narrowly on tasks within the Apple ecosystem, while Justin and Andy recounted their experiences with Google’s AI. Andy shared a frustrating story involving Waze’s directions, and the group agreed that Apple’s AI is still playing catch-up with other manufacturers.

Justin highlighted the Pixel 9’s unique ability to automatically stitch photos together for seamless family shots. The conversation also touched on how easy it is to transfer data between Android devices, with Justin praising the smooth process.

Shawn brought up the recent announcement from DJI about their new lightweight drone, the DJI Neo, priced at $199. Designed for beginners, vloggers, and casual users, it features a 12-megapixel half-inch sensor, 18 minutes of flight time, and a control range of up to 50 meters via Wi-Fi. Justin raised concerns about its limited control range, noting it might not be ideal for high-altitude or long-distance flights. Shawn also mentioned the recent passage of the Countering USA Threats Act by the House, aimed at restricting drones from foreign countries, particularly China, which could impact companies like DJI. The bill now heads to the Senate.

In response to a listener question from Gary, the team discussed antivirus options for personal use. Justin recommended Windows Defender, while Andy shared his experience with Symantec. They also considered alternatives like Malwarebytes and ESET, with Shawn mentioning a family protection plan he has with Malwarebytes. The team agreed that choosing the right antivirus depends on individual needs and preferences. See Below the Photo’s “Imagined” with the Gemini AI on the Pixel 9 of Justin’s CoWorker

Also featured was a discussion of former guest and writer Ed Bott’s article at ZNet about upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and ways to “Get Er Done!” Finally, the Website of the Week was the app “Spot the Station,” which alerts users when the International Space Station is flying over their community.

Credit ; NASA - The Spot the Station App

TechtalkRadio Returns to the Air

On Saturday 08/29/2015 at 4pm TechtalkRadio returned to the Broadcast Airwaves of Green Valley/Sahuarita KGVY AM/FM. The Show featuring Andy Taylor, Slick and Justin shares the latest in Computers, Technology and the Internet. The Return also coincides with the upcoming 20 year Anniversary of the Show which over the years has broadcast in Palm Springs, Tucson, Virginia and has guested on various Morning Radio Shows to discuss Cool gadgets and trends.

Andy Taylor of TechtalkRadio currently also serves as Resident Tech Expert for KMSB Fox 11 Daybreak with a Bi-Weekly segment on the Latest in Tech and Consumer Electronics. The Show Streams Live at TechtalkRadio.Com and the latest program is available On Demand on the Site.

Click here to listen this weeks show which features an Interview with Monica Brown VP of Product at LeapFrog about the upcoming ChicldrenLeapFrog Epic. The guys also discuss some ins and out of Windows 10 along with the featured Website of the Week http://www.voat.co