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TechtalkRadio Episode 484 | Do You Really Own It? Japan, AI & The Digital Dilemma

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, and Justin Lemme reunite after Justin’s unforgettable trip to Japan, where technology bargains, innovative gadgets, and breathtaking photography took center stage. From exploring Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima to shopping eight-story electronics stores and testing cutting-edge portable cooling devices, Justin shares how favorable exchange rates and Japan’s technology culture made for one incredible adventure.

The conversation then shifts to a topic that affects every digital consumer: Do you really own the content you purchase? The team discusses Sony’s decision to remove hundreds of previously purchased movies from customer libraries due to licensing changes, raising important questions about digital ownership versus physical media. They also examine the gaming industry’s move toward digital-only releases, subscriptions, and downloadable licenses, asking whether consumers are slowly losing control over the products they buy.

Artificial intelligence remains a major focus as the hosts react to Adobe’s acquisition of Topaz Labs and what it could mean for photographers, videographers, and creative professionals. Will AI-powered editing become more powerful—or simply more expensive?

In a special interview, music publisher Rex Strother joins the show to discuss the growing legal battle surrounding AI-generated music. The conversation explores how platforms like Suno have sparked controversy over copyrighted songs being used to train AI models without permission, and what that could mean for musicians, publishers, and the future of original creativity.

The episode also answers listener questions, including whether eBay or Facebook Marketplace is the better option for selling unwanted items safely, along with practical advice for avoiding common online selling scams.

From travel technology and photography to AI ethics, digital ownership, gaming, and online marketplaces, Episode 484 delivers another engaging mix of real-world technology news, expert opinions, and practical advice for everyday users.

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Episode 469 – We Powered the House, Sank Some Ships, and Argued About AI on TechtalkRadio

This Week’s TechtalkRadio Show kicks off with the crew welcoming Justin Lemme back—and immediately diving into his newly installed Tesla Powerwall. Justin explains how pairing rooftop solar with a home battery solves the “we generate power when nobody’s home” problem, letting him store daytime energy and run off the battery during peak-rate hours (and stay powered through outages). He also highlights the app-driven control, clean/conditioned power benefits (surge absorption), and the long-term value proposition—especially for sunny climates like Arizona—while Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd ask the practical questions listeners would ask (cost, reliability, real-world outage behavior, and whether it’s worth it).

In the Area of Gaming, Justin raves about World of Sea Battle on Steam (a free-to-play, grindy pirate-era MMO with gorgeous visuals and a big EU player base), while Andy reps the “I’m a Wordle guy” camp with Wordle talk and how The New York Times is cycling older words back in. They also share a listener tech joke, then answer a podcasting webcam question with a refreshingly honest breakdown: don’t buy bargain-bin cams, lighting matters, and brands like Logitech and Elgato come up—along with the handy idea of a Stream Deck for switching scenes during recordings.

Andy talks with Eric Kim from BIGO Live about how AI is reshaping social platforms—especially the line between helpful AI tools and “AI slop” (low-effort, high-volume content chasing clicks). Eric frames AI as a creative and productivity toolkit: great for clipping highlights, understanding audiences, and even bridging cultures through translation—while emphasizing that creators shouldn’t replace their voice or misrepresent themselves. He also describes BIGO Live’s “real-time togetherness” angle (meeting real people live versus only pushing edited posts), and how platform safety uses AI too—aimed at quickly detecting harmful content. They wrap with how to find the app, what monetization can look like for creators, and the big theme: use AI to remove tedious chores so you can spend more time being genuinely present and original.

Shawn DeWeerd flags reports of malicious updates tied to Notepad++ and recommends updating to a safe version (the crew compares it to other “trusted tool got hit” stories like CCleaner and LastPass). Then Andy shares a time-sensitive promo: a discount window on the Anti-Gravity A1 featuring Insta360 Camera tech, plus a newly added “flight simulator” mode meant to build FPV muscle memory before real flights—while noting the market shakeup around DJI. They close things out with quick weekend chatter—Justin planning indoor skydiving at iFLY Indoor Skydiving (Valentine’s weekend), Shawn gearing up for indoor lacrosse, and Andy perfecting the fine art of “indoor napping.”  

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

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Episode 466 – “Retro Reboots, Stranger Things Secrets, and TechtalkRadio Turns 30!”

TechtalkRadio kicks off 2026 with Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd diving into what everyone’s talking about — including the Stranger Things finale buzz and the rumor of a “secret” alternate episode (conspiracy theories included). Since recording, we find out that it is exactly that, a Rumor! From there, the guys slide into full nostalgia mode: retro gaming, childhood memories, and why classic consoles still hit differently — from Mario Kart 64 and Ocarina of Time, to the reality check of firing up an old Wii and realizing… the graphics don’t look like you remembered.

Photo of Andy Taylor

The show also hits practical tech with listener questions, including how to digitize VHS tapes the right way (without creating giant files or losing quality), what capture gear actually matters, and why transferring analog media is still a time-consuming “real-time” process. Plus, they revisit the debate: should you shut your computer down at night — and what exceptions make sense (like Plex servers)?

On the home media side, Shawn breaks down Plex in plain English — what it is, how it works, what’s free, and why opening your server for remote streaming can be risky if you aren’t staying on top of updates. You’ll also hear tips for responsibly getting rid of old towers and CRT gear (and why you should always pull hard drives first).

Finally, Andy shows off a couple of fun gadgets — including a compact media player as a “phone-free” music option and a slick new Ethernet-equipped hub — before wrapping with a rapid-fire trip down 1990s memory lane (dial-up sounds, TV Guide, Blockbuster nights, and the Dewey Decimal System).

Tech, nostalgia, CES talk, and real listener help — all in the first TechtalkRadio of 2026.

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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.

Please Share, Listen, Subscribe to the Show on Spotify, Spreaker, iHeartRadio, YouTube and Our YouTube Page. Connect With Us on social media – See the Video of this Show on our YouTube Page and Now on Spotify as well.

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Episode 454 – “Apple’s New iOS, AI Shenanigans, and Roku Lights Up the Room!”

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd unpack iOS 26 after Apple’s recent wave of updates. Shawn—who’s been living on the beta—explains why the OS now feels “built for two-handed use,” with core actions and search shifting to the bottom of the screen. For anyone returning from Android or upgrading older iPhones, it’s less about flashy features and more about retraining muscle memory: new-message buttons, close icons, and search live where your thumbs naturally are.

From there, the conversation widens to the state of AI. Andy contrasts the speed and usefulness of Google’s Gemini for quick studio lookups with Siri’s slower responses, while both hosts wrestle with where AI is genuinely helpful versus where it still feels off. Practical wins include Lightroom’s AI noise reduction, using AI to wrangle manuals and code snippets, and Google’s NotebookLM—now with interactive “ask-as-you-listen” study sessions. On the flip side: AI-generated images still struggle with fine details and text, and accuracy gaps make “AI slop” risky for mission-critical work.

In smart home talk, Shawn revisits Wyze’s value gear—cameras, bulbs, and a new palm-vein recognition lock—plus the subscription math behind Cam Plus. He argues for a simple but powerful upgrade: first-class RTSP so users can record to their own NAS and keep footage off the cloud by default. Listener Q&A rolls through texting mysteries (blue vs. green bubbles and how RCS now bridges some features with Android), and the looming Windows 10 end-of-support date. They weigh Extended Security Updates versus buying new machines, and when Rufus can help install Windows 11 on borderline hardware—while warning that not every system will make the cut.

To cap it off, the guys look at Roku’s first projector (1080p with Roku OS, auto-focus/keystone, Bluetooth private listening), share a handy tip for listening through headphones via the Roku app, and flag a recent Plex security incident—change your password and be cautious with the latest Roku Plex app update if you’re seeing stutters or crashes.

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

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