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Episode 487 – Fake Ads, Instant Photos and Dust Bunnies

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd and Justin Lemme get together for a wide-ranging conversation that begins with Shawn’s continuing cleanup after a basement flood—and quickly turns into a discussion after Andy notes that some Home Repair Companies are using A.I. to create recreations of home disasters focusing on how artificial intelligence is changing the media we see and hear every day.

Andy brings up the growing number of AI-generated television commercials, including ads where the visuals—and possibly even the music—have that unmistakable AI feel. Shawn talks about his experience creating parody music with Suno and how, after spending hours working with the platform, he has begun recognizing certain rhythms, vocal inflections and other characteristics of AI-generated music. The discussion raises a bigger question: as AI-generated images, music and video become more convincing, will we constantly wonder whether what we’re seeing and hearing was actually created by a person?

Andy also shares a positive use for generative AI: using Suno to turn lyrics written for a man’s 70th birthday into a personalized song for a video presentation. It’s an example of where AI can become a genuinely useful creative tool rather than simply replacing traditional content creation.

Justin demonstrates just how quickly generative AI works by creating a ridiculous AI advertisement during the show. The conversation then moves into Grok inside Tesla, with Justin explaining how he can talk to the AI from his car, ask questions and even use it to help with navigation. That leads the guys into comparing the strengths of Grok, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Microsoft Copilot—and how different AI platforms may be better suited for different jobs.

Photography gets plenty of attention, too. Andy talks about using Photoshop, Lightroom and AI tools such as Gemini to restore old family photographs, and the guys discuss why vintage Polaroids can be especially difficult to clean up without changing the character of the original image. Shawn makes the case for leaving many Polaroids alone—the imperfections, light leaks and unusual colors are part of what makes instant photography special.

That conversation leads naturally into the new Pokémon and Polaroid collaboration, including special-edition Polaroid Go cameras, Pokémon-themed designs and collectible film frames. The crew also talks about how something that was once considered inexpensive instant photography has become a much more costly hobby.

Later, the discussion turns practical when a listener asks about improving a home network. Justin explains the advantages of mesh Wi-Fi, discusses options including Orbi and TP-Link, and raises concerns about how some big-tech-connected networking products may handle user data. The conversation expands into online privacy, targeted advertising and the desire some users have to reduce their dependence on companies such as Google, Amazon and Meta.

The guys also dig into Wi-Fi 7, explaining an important point that’s easy to overlook: buying a Wi-Fi 7 router doesn’t automatically make everything faster. To take advantage of multi-gigabit Internet service, switches, network adapters, computers and other hardware throughout the network also need to support those faster speeds.

Justin brings some humor to emergency preparedness with the story of testing a small hand-crank/solar NOAA weather radio with his son just as a real flash-flood warning sounded. The frightening alert tones weren’t a malfunction—they’re deliberately designed to grab attention and activate Emergency Alert System equipment.

The show also ventures into radio communications as Shawn discusses GMRS and FRS radios, repeaters and the FCC’s concerns about large networks of linked GMRS repeaters. Shawn explains how linking repeaters across large areas can tie up frequencies shared with ordinary FRS walkie-talkies, creating interference and regulatory concerns.

The guys also share some tips about the importance of keeping your computers free of dirt and dust and share a couple or ways to do that.

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Episode 486 – Poutine, Power and Two Screens – One Laptop!

The crew is back together for Episode 486 of TechtalkRadio, with Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd and Justin Lemme catching up on a whirlwind few weeks of technology, travel, severe weather and some very interesting new gear.

Segment One – Severe Weather, Gen Con & Backup Power

Shawn has been on the move, including a vendor trip to Canada that had him flying private while severe storms were moving through Indiana. The guys talk about the powerful storms and tornado warnings back home and share some of the weather resources they use, including Weather.gov, Zoom.Earth and RadarOmega.

Shawn also recaps his trip to Gen Con in Indianapolis, where — fittingly — another tornado warning became part of the adventure. He shares some of what he experienced at the massive gaming convention, including playing Daggerheart, before talking about his trip to an ESPN conference and the technology work underway at Notre Dame.

The conversation then turns to emergency power. Shawn has added an Anker SOLIX home battery backup system along with portable solar panels. Unlike his existing inverter generator, the battery system can provide 240-volt power, allowing him to run essentials including his well pump. He shares his real-world experience using the system at home and while camping, including how much power he was able to generate from the portable solar panels.

Segment Two – ASUS Zenbook Duo, PC Prices & Getting Prepared

Andy shows Shawn and Justin the latest ASUS Zenbook Duo, a unique productivity laptop featuring two 14-inch 3K OLED displays. Remove the Bluetooth keyboard and a second full display is revealed underneath, creating a portable dual-monitor workstation. With an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, stylus support and ASUS’ Ceraluminum finish, Andy explains why he sees the Duo as a powerful “grown-up back-to-school laptop.”

That leads to a discussion about the rising cost and availability of RAM, storage and other PC components. The crew talks about why building your own PC may not offer the savings it once did and why buying a prebuilt system can sometimes make more financial sense.

Justin then introduces another topic he’s been researching: basic emergency preparedness. Rather than taking an extreme approach to “prepping,” he’s slowly putting together practical supplies such as bottled water, shelf-stable food, solar lanterns, flashlights and first-aid supplies.

Segment Three – Bugging In, Listener Questions & Giving an Old PC New Life

Shawn continues the preparedness discussion with an important point: emergencies don’t always mean leaving home. In many situations, “bugging in” may be more practical than bugging out. The guys discuss maintaining emergency supplies, rotating food and water and keeping a go bag available for situations where evacuation really is necessary.

Then it’s time for listener questions. Diana in Sahuarita inherited an older Windows 10 laptop covered with desktop icons and programs. Should she simply clean it up? Shawn and Justin have another idea: wipe the machine and start fresh. And if the computer isn’t a good candidate for Windows 11, the guys suggest Linux Mint as a free and increasingly user-friendly alternative.

Andy also shares a recent troubleshooting job involving a laptop that couldn’t reliably open browsers or save files. The culprit? The 250GB SSD had only nine megabytes of free space remaining. After freeing roughly 100GB, the discussion turns to whether upgrading an older laptop’s SSD makes sense — or whether the money would be better spent toward a new computer.

Segment Four – A Mouse That Folds…and Dippin’ Dots?

Andy wraps up the tech with a look at the Logitech MobiFold, a portable Bluetooth mouse that actually folds flat for travel. It can switch between three Bluetooth devices, replaces the traditional scroll wheel with a touch-sensitive scrolling surface and offers impressive battery life — including up to 22 hours of use from a one-minute quick charge.

And because it’s TechtalkRadio, things don’t stay completely technical for long. Justin reveals what happens when the kids return to school at the water park where he works and the full-time staff have to step in. For the IT manager, that recently meant trading technology for hot dogs and Dippin’ Dots — leaving him very ready to get back behind a computer.

It’s another episode filled with technology, practical advice, new gadgets and plenty of laughs with Andy, Shawn and Justin on TechtalkRadio Episode 486.

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NEW – From Polaroid’s to Playstation – Episode 485

For this Week’s TechtalkRadio Show, it opens with a look back at the Fourth of July before diving into the growing role of AI in photography and digital preservation. Andy and Shawn discuss the pros and cons of using AI tools like Gemini to restore old family photos versus manually enhancing them in Photoshop. They also share practical advice on scanning decades of photographs, preserving handwritten notes on the backs of prints, cleaning aging photos safely, and choosing the right equipment—including Epson’s FastFoto scanner and Super 8 film digitizers. Shawn also shares his surprise at the comeback of analog photography, disposable cameras, and traditional film.

Sony’s decision to end physical PlayStation game discs has Andy and Shawn examine the growing trend toward digital-only ownership and the concerns surrounding games, movies, and other media that can disappear without warning. They explore the backlash from gamers, the future of downloadable content, and what this shift could mean for consumers who value true ownership. Andy shares a story he found on the web, the story behind Builder.ai—a billion-dollar startup that claimed to use artificial intelligence but was ultimately revealed to rely on hundreds of human programmers instead.

The TechtalkRadio mailbag returns with a couple of listener questions and one Andy saw on Threads. According to Rebecca’s IT Guy, We may have shared the wrong advice about building your own! Should you still build your own computer, or are pre-built systems now the better value? Andy and Shawn explain how rising memory and storage prices have shifted that recommendation. On Threads, somebody had asked about cleaning the inside of the computer out and while Justin might say “Hit it with the Hose..” (Don’t Do That) Shawn and Andy share maintenance tips for safely cleaning dust from inside a computer, discuss compressed air versus electric air blowers, and explain why regular maintenance can extend hardware life. Larry in Tucson wants to know about VPN’s. Shawn provides an easy-to-understand look at VPNs, including when software-based VPNs make sense, how they improve privacy, and whether hardware VPN routers are worth the investment.

The show closes with an early look at the rumored Insta360 X6 camera. Based on industry leaks and FCC filings, the next-generation 360° camera is expected to feature 8K recording, improved HDR, faster frame rates, larger image sensors, and enhanced low-light performance. Shawn explains why higher resolution is especially important for immersive 360-degree video and how creators use these cameras to produce dynamic action footage.

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Episode 464 – Cartridges, Clouds, and Cardboard Full of Lies

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd kick things off with retro gaming nostalgia, sparked by Shawn’s new Analogue 3D Nintendo 64 console. They reminisce about classic titles like GoldenEye, Mario 64, Zelda, and Perfect Dark, discuss the rising value of physical game cartridges, and debate whether rare sealed games should be played or preserved. The conversation highlights why many gamers are rediscovering the joy of owning physical media in an era dominated by digital licenses and always-online requirements.

Andy used the New Tools to Correct this Photo from 1998 using Adobe
The Before Correction original Photo from 1998 before usings tools from Adobe

Andy announces he will be able to preview the upcoming Anti-Gravity A1 drone which has some amazing features, comparing it to DJI’s lineup while breaking down FAA weight rules, 360° video capabilities, proprietary file formats, and real-world use cases for content creators. From there, listener Alan gives us a question which leads into practical advice on buying used computers, including what specs matter most, how to spot poorly maintained systems, and why gaming PCs often make excellent everyday machines.

Shawn shares the Analogue 3D Console
Shawn DeWeerd and Andy Taylor of TechtalkRadio

Cybersecurity takes center stage next as Andy and Shawn react to a viral story that was posted on Reddit of a customer receiving a box of rocks instead of a high end graphics card from a major retailer, prompting a discussion on recording unboxings to protect against fraud. They also share timely guidance on VPNs, echoing federal warnings from CISA to avoid free VPN services, a basic explaination of how VPNs encrypt data, protect users on public Wi-Fi, and allow access to region-locked content while traveling.

Gloria before Touch Up
After Corrections in Adobe Photoshop

To wrap up this weeks show, Andy talks about his recent to Adobe with the purchase of Creative Cloud Pro and how he has found the modern AI-powered tools in Photoshop, Lightroom, and Firefly have transformed photo restoration, from repairing washed-out celebrity photos, see the pic of Andy and Stallone above, to restoring older damaged family images. There are so many new features, some AI, others just enhanced more functional tools in the suite which has Andy very excited about using them. While on the subject of photos, Andy shares a story that was covered by CBS News that serves as a heartfelt reminder to digitize and back up family photos after Actress/TV Host Ricki Lake’s lost memories thought destroyed in the Malibu Fires were unexpectedly recovered at a Flea Market. Shawn shares the clear breakdown of the essential “3-2-1 backup rule.”

Got a question for the show? Email techguys@techtalkradio.com, and catch more at techtalkradio.com.

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Episode #430 – Do You Remember Your First Computer?

In this week’s TechtalkRadio show, Andy and Shawn revisit the USB hub Andy purchased from a discount store—and this time, they crack it open! They discuss their experiences with USB hubs and the potential dangers of using unverified or suspicious USB devices. They emphasize the importance of purchasing from reputable vendors and being cautious when using public USB ports.

Thinking about getting a new laptop? Shawn shares his recent purchase of a Lenovo ThinkPad T17 for his in-laws, explaining how it met their budget and needs. He walks through some of the challenges they faced while setting up the new computer, particularly issues with transferring settings and favorites—most of which revolved around Microsoft’s OneDrive. After some configuring, the laptop was set up to their liking, and Shawn details a few of the key steps he took.

Andy is joined by Micki and Steve, showrunners and producers of the upcoming Vintage Computer Festival SoCal, taking place in Orange, California, on February 15th and 16th, 2025. The event, expected to draw over a thousand attendees, stems from the organizers’ passion for vintage computing and their goal of fostering a community for enthusiasts. Inspired by similar events nationwide, they have been working on this festival for about four years. Attendees can expect to see a variety of vintage computers and related memorabilia while sharing their experiences and memories of their first computers. The organizers also run a YouTube channel, VintNerd, where they share their interests and conduct fascinating interviews. Check them out at www.youtube.com/@TheVintNerd and on their website at https://thevintnerd.com/index.html.

Andy and Shawn return to discuss their love for electronics and tinkering. Andy shares his experience with Elenco Snap Circuits, including the Top Secret Spy Kit and the Snap Circuits Jr. Explorer Kit. These STEM-focused kits allow users ages 7 to 107 to experiment with circuits—no soldering required! Andy demonstrates one of the projects he built with the Spy Kit: a motion detector, which turned out to be a fun and rewarding project.

Shawn also shares some exciting news—he will be attending the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas for the first time! He looks forward to networking and learning about the latest in broadcasting technology.

Finally, Andy and Shawn discuss a book called Computer Engineering for Babies and its educational value in teaching young children the basics of computer functions in an engaging and accessible way.

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