Is Your Smart Home Spying On You? Gaming Memories, Software Wars and Smart Devices That Spy | EP 492

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd are back with another episode packed with technology news, helpful advice, product discoveries, and a little nostalgia!

Gaming Nostalgia and the Return of a Classic

Shawn shares his excitement about returning to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a game that brings back memories of his younger years. He’s even avoiding trailers and spoilers so he can experience the adventure all over again! The guys also discuss whether video games offer more benefits for children than endless scrolling on smartphones and tablets. Andy highlights the NEX Playground, a motion-based gaming system that gets the whole family involved. The Official trailer from Nintendo for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is here!

Adobe Creative Cloud, AI and Software Alternatives

Is the subscription software model getting out of hand? Andy and Shawn discuss Adobe Creative Cloud, the emergence of AI-generated alternatives to popular Adobe applications such as ArtCraft, and the advantages and disadvantages of paying monthly for software. They also look at the retirement of Microsoft Publisher, how LibreOffice can help users work with older Publisher files, and why Corel remains an option for graphic designers who prefer purchasing software outright.

Cybersecurity and Smart Home Privacy

Listener questions take center stage as the guys discuss whether Windows users really need to purchase antivirus software. Microsoft Defender, Malwarebytes, and safe browsing habits are all part of the conversation. Another listener asks about privacy concerns surrounding robot vacuums, leading to a discussion about connected televisions, smart refrigerators, and just how much information our household devices may be collecting.

A Handy New Gadget and the Future of Home AI

Andy showcases an affordable Suidek external CD/DVD burner that does more than play discs. With USB connections, memory card readers, and an M.2 storage slot, it’s a versatile accessory for modern laptops and desktops that no longer include optical drives.

The guys also discuss Clean Your TV, an open-source project designed to remove unwanted advertising and bloatware from compatible smart televisions, along with NVIDIA’s efforts to make it easier to run AI using computers on your own local network using Open Source PAIR – Personal AI Router

Discovering Free and Open-Source Software

Looking for an alternative to expensive software? Shawn revisits AlternativeTo.net, a resource for discovering applications that can replace popular commercial programs. He also discusses RustDesk and Tailscale, two tools that can help with remote computer access.

Whether you’re interested in gaming, cybersecurity, creative software, artificial intelligence, or just finding useful new technology, there’s something for everyone in Episode 492!

Listen to TechtalkRadio with Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd, and visit TechtalkRadio.com for more technology news, reviews, and videos.

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Episode 453: Apple’s Big Reveal – Awe Yeah or Yeah No?”

Andy and Shawn kick off this weeks TechtalkRadio with The Big Apple September hardware drop called The Awe Dropping Event, Shawn shares his excitement over the announcements which included, new AirPods Pro 3 (better ANC, on-bud heart-rate monitoring, and live translation via “Apple Intelligence”), three Apple Watch tiers (SE as the budget health watch, Series 11 adding hypertension and deeper sleep tracking, and Ultra 3 with satellite messaging and up to 72-hour battery), plus the iPhone 17 family. Highlights include a super-thin iPhone Air (~5.3mm, ceramic-coated glass, 120Hz), across-the-line 48MP cameras, Pro/Pro Max video chops (4K/120, ProRes RAW, timecode/Genlock via accessory), bigger batteries (Apple touts ~27–32 hrs video playback), a rechargeable MagSafe pack, and indicative pricing mentioned on-air ($799 base 256GB iPhone 17; Air ~$999; Pro ~$1,099; AirPods $249; watches “about the same” as current gen). The crew debates whether any of it is a must-upgrade and notes Apple’s limited AI story beyond translation.

Justin, not a fan of the Apple Products jumps in to compare live-translate (Pixel’s had versions for years), rave about Pixel zoom demos, and spotlight Denver’s newly announced high-tech retractable-roof stadium plan. The guys also cover the viral “Baseball Karen” meme saga (“the internet never loses”) and drop a nostalgia gem as Website of the Week: BigBoxCollection.com—gorgeous 3D scans of classic big-box PC games.

Listener Q&A:
• “McAfee” pop-ups without McAfee installed = likely malware or a rogue browser extension. Solution: review/remove extensions, run Malwarebytes (ideally from a clean USB), and avoid calling scam numbers.

• Ripping CDs at home: Windows Media Player or VLC still do it; then back up to cloud + an external drive (practice the 3-2-1 rule).

Production note: Andy shares why the show moved to Riverside FM—clean local tracks, transcripts/teleprompter, smart editing—and a jaw-dropper: AI profanity replacement that sounds like the host. Justin closes by unboxing plans for a new enclosed, auto-leveling 3D printer and what he’ll make first.

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

New Episode – #337 When The Hard Drives Clicking

In this Weeks TechtalkRadio Show, Andy Taylor, Justin Lemme, and Shawn DeWeerd talk about some of the changes they have gone through in the past few weeks. Justin has a new job and Shawn is a new father. The guys talk about social media and how being new parents has not changed Shawn’s mind about getting onto Facebook to share photos. Shawn gives us a look at the Infant Optics baby monitor while Justin shares a great tip about extending the battery life. Andy jumps on to the new App BeReal and talks about what it is and how it is different from other Social Photo Sharing Apps. Justin tells us about his disappointment of a Kickstarter he got involved in 2019. The product, a Eve 4k Monitor was supposed to ship in 2020 however with the Pandemic this caused delays. Justin tells us about the bad experience and not getting product. Justin talks about how using the American Express Card could save him in this instance in getting a refund. Shawn gets his hands on a Graphics Card and shares the story of finding a RTX3070 from a buddy for only $350. Moving from a GT1080 he talks about the performance increases he was able to experience.


Andy finally sets up his new build and runs into a bit of problem. His Wireless Mouse has been freezing up. Andy determined after moving from the Cooler Master Haf932 Case to the smaller Corsair case, the interference with the Aura Components and smaller case needed the Wireless Dongle plugged to the back (On the Board) of the Case. Justin tells us about his new job and why it’s so much fun. His Office overlooks one of the nation’s largest water park, Water World. Justin tells us about how he has integrated Malwarebytes into the system and why he’s a proponent of the service, Shawn share how he has paid for the premium version and been very happy with it.


Andy talks with Vahan Hovsepian of Five Star Data Recovery about the Company which specializes in Digital Data Recovery. We found out what drove him to begin the company which has saved data from failed hard drives for years. Five Star Data Recovery has a great reputation for its services and support in this lucrative field and shares the personal rewards of recovering client data. Vahan tells us the differences in the processes to recover data from logical to mechanical failures. While SSD technology is fantastic, when it comes to your Data, in case of failure, having a traditional “Spinny” drive is much better. What should you do when your drive is clicking or beeping? Great tips shared from Vahan

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Shawn shares info out of the recent National Association of Broadcasters Convention and the NDI Technology for Broadcasting Video.
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