Andy TaylorTechtalkRadio, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Episode #432 – The Blinky Lights and Flashing Buttons Are Alive!

For this Week’s Episode of TechtalkRadio,  Andy and Shawn discussed the recent announcement from DJI about the New Osmo Mobile 7, a handheld device that stabilizes video footage in three axes. Andy ask Shawn to explain to the listeners the purpose of a Gimble Arm and what it can accomplish. Shawn explained that it’s designed for mobile devices, providing smooth footage even in challenging terrains. The device is priced at $89 for the standard version and $149 for the pro version, which includes additional features such as a wireless receiver for DJI mics, an 8-inch telescoping arm, gesture control, and a built-in light. Shawn expected the announcement to be a different product and after recording we discovered it is the DJI RS 4 Mini which we will discuss next week. 

The action camera market is still providing some great solutions for videographers and storytellers and the guys  focus on major players like DJI, GoPro, and Insta360. They noted that GoPro has been in the business for a long time and has been successful in the market. Shawn shared his experience with various GoPro models, particularly the Hero 3 Plus, which he considers his favorite.  Shawn then listed five companies that attempted to enter the action camera market  including Nikon, Kodak, Contour, Garmin, and Sony. 

Shawn and Andy welcome to the show Author Chase Roberts, Founder of Baby Step Books to discuss his fun books  “Computer Engineering for Babies” and “Computer Engineering for Big Babies”.  Chase discussed the development of a book that introduces basic computer concepts to young children. Chase shared his inspiration, which came from his child’s fascination with light switches and decided to create a book that would deliver on the promise of the title, introducing concepts like gates and circuits in a way that a child could understand. Chase faced numerous challenges in the production process, including issues with circuit board design and soldering. His wife’s encouragement helped him persevere and eventually launch a successful Kickstarter campaign, which exceeded his expectations. He shared his experience of creating the first book, which was a success, and then working on a second book that added switches and LEDs. Chase mentioned that the second book took two years to complete, highlighting the challenges he faced, particularly with designing the switch placements. 

A Listener Question sent in from Martha in La Quinta inquired about using a Windows XP Computer to play old favorite games however she was told by a friend to not power up the XP System because it could get a Virus? Andy and Shawn let Martha know while connecting to the internet is not recommended playing the local games on the system should be fine.  This Gave Shawn and Andy a chance to discuss their experiences with old games and computers. Andy mentioned his fondness for playing old games like Joint Ops and Castle Wolfenstein, while Shawn reminisced about playing Diablo 2 and other classic games. A question from Chad had Andy looking for some input on Starlink and its reputation for service in the Southern Arizona Area, Shawn tells us about the different connect options. 

Tune in for all this and more on TechtalkRadio!

Connect With Us on social media
YouTube @TechtalkRadio
Facebook @techtalkers
Twitter @TechtalkRadio
Instagram techtalkradio
Web: TechtalkRadio.Com

Available on Audacy, iHeart, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google, Spotify and Spreaker!

Andy TaylorTechtalkRadio, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Episode 431 – What Tech Gift Would You Get for Yourself?

This Week on TechtalkRadiom Justin, Shawn, and Andy discuss tech gifts, personal projects, and listener questions. Justin shares his preference for buying tech gifts for himself, while Shawn talks about his ongoing family photo archiving project using the Epson FF680 Photo Scanner. The team also covers converting VHS tapes to digital, with Shawn recommending a VHS-to-hard-drive converter and a time-based corrector and Andy also recommending The Diamond Multimedia Converter 

Justin updates the crew on Project Zomboid, mentioning his recent voiceover work for a game mod. Andy expresses interest in the game, available on Steam, and Justin highlights its low system requirements and engaging gameplay.

The team breaks down Sony’s recent 24-hour outage and revisits the 2011 Sony hack, which compromised 77 million PlayStation accounts. This leads to a discussion on data security, warning against free credit monitoring services that can waive legal rights. They also share tips on using multiple email addresses to track potential data breaches.


A listener asks if a home-based business needs a website or if social media is enough. Justin shares his experience with Wix for an affordable, all-in-one solution. The team agrees that a website adds professionalism and stability, especially when paired with strong social media strategies.

Another listener wants to convert Windows Media files to other formats. Shawn recommends Handbrake, VLC Player, and FFMPEG for free, reliable conversions, explaining the benefits of each. The team also touches on Adobe Media Encoder and Roxio Creator, with MP4 suggested as the best format for compatibility.

Justin and Andy compare health tracking devices. Justin prefers the Oura Ring over the Pixel Watch, noting its FSA eligibility for savings. Andy highlights the new Apple Powerbeats Pro 2, which monitor heart rate during workouts. The team also discusses sleep apnea detection and arrhythmia monitoring in both the Oura Ring and Apple Watch.


Finally, they share their browser and extension preferences. Justin dislikes Chrome’s heavy resource usage and recommends Firefox, Edge, and Opera instead. Shawn agrees but acknowledges Chrome’s work compatibility. Andy shares his experience with Internet Connection Monitor, while Shawn mentions using AdBlock Plus.

Tune in for all this and more on TechtalkRadio!

Connect With Us on social media

YouTube @Techtalkradio
Facebook @techtalkers
Twitter @TechtalkRadio
Instagram techtalkradio
Web: TechtalkRadio.Com
Available on Audacy, iHeart, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google, Spotify and Spreaker!

Andy TaylorTechtalkRadio, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Episode #429 – Would You Like One Monitor or Two…Or Four?

In this week’s episode, Andy, Justin, and Matt eagerly tune in as Shawn finally reveals the conclusion to last week’s DJI cliffhanger! The new DJI Flip—a compact take on the DJI Spark—boasts similar flight times and camera resolutions, with pricing at $439 for the drone and controller, or $639 for the full bundle with a screen. Shawn also stresses the importance of responsible drone usage, reminding listeners to respect privacy and airspace laws.

The conversation takes off with the latest GPU story, as the newly launched RTX 5090 and 5080 have gamers camping outside stores in a frenzy to get one. The guys wonder if the buyers are snagging them for personal use, or is this just another scalping fiasco? The team draws parallels to console shortages and even Pokémon card restrictions, debating how retailers are handling high-demand products.

Shifting gears to AI, the crew discusses DeepSeek and the growing role of AI in content creation. Matt highlights a wild case of a writer using ChatGPT to generate five movie scripts with only three edits needed. But is Hollywood doomed? Justin argues that most audiences don’t care who’s behind the script—as long as the story and actors deliver. The debate even touches on actors’ likeness rights, with throwbacks to Crispin Glover’s legal battle over Back to the Future 2 which was settled out of court and Robin Williams’ famous Disney dispute after Aladdin.

A listener emails in with a classic dilemma: One big monitor or two smaller ones? Matt breaks it down—if color accuracy matters, go with a high-quality monitor. If not, a large-screen TV might do the trick. The team discusses setups, from Andy’s 39-inch curved LG to Shawn and Justin’s multi-monitor rigs, even bringing up Samsung’s Odyssey Ark 55-inch ultra-wide as a crazy alternative which can even display as 4 monitor screens!

Finally, Andy goes bargain hunting, scoring a $5 USB hub from a discount store. The catch? It’s from an unknown brand, made in Thailand, and has potential security risks. Shawn, Matt, and Justin voice concerns, recalling an FBI case where hacked cables were found stealing data. Will Andy’s find be a deal or a disaster? He promises to crack it open and report back next week!

Connect With Us on social media
Facebook @techtalkers
Twitter @TechtalkRadio
Instagram techtalkradio
Web: TechtalkRadio.Com
Subscribe and Like on Audacy, iHeart, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google, Spotify and Spreaker!

Andy TaylorTechtalkRadio, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Episode #418 – Stick this in your Tree! The Tech Ornament

In this Week’s TechtalkRadio Show, Andy and Shawn discussed their shared interest in tech-themed Christmas decorations, particularly ornaments and sweaters. Shawn does an Open Box on the Radio of his recent purchase of an original Xbox Christmas ornament that plays sounds from the game Halo: Combat Evolved. While we can’t really hear the Ornament – Video has now been posted on our blog. After seeing the Apple Pencil in the News, Andy asks Shawn what it is all about. Shawn explained that his mother uses it for drawing and work, and it offers features such as precision, pressure sensitivity, tilt sensitivity, low latency, and palm rejection and works great with various iPad models, including older ones, and the second generation can be charged by attaching it to the side of the iPad.

While on the subject of Apple, Andy discussed the immersive video experience created by Edward Berger, now available on the Apple TV app, and a short film called Submerged. Andy also introduced a website, AI.meta.com, where users can create short videos using AI-generated photos. Shawn shared his recent experience with Chat GPT, initially skeptical but now finding it useful for various tasks, including rebuilding his Plex server using Linux Mint, where Chat GPT provided detailed step-by-step instructions for mounting a drive and to learn Linux commands and emphasized the importance of effective prompting for better results.


Andy and Shawn reminisced about their experiences with technology in their teenage years, with Shawn sharing his knowledge of bypassing internet restrictions imposed by his parents. Wikipedia, AI and Google Search did not exist, instead educational resources like Encarta and the Dewey decimal system at the library were the solution.

Andy and Shawn wrapped the show with the discussion of the implications of AI-generated voices and the potential for AI to replace human hosts in podcasting. They shared their experience with the “notebooklm.google experimental page” AI, which they found unsettling and not quite human. In Audio which had a lot of people talking, The NotebookLM model was tested with the AI told they were AI. As Shawn and Andy note, A Downer.

Andy TaylorTechtalkRadio, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This Week’s Episode Now Posted! Episode #366 – Is Resistance Futile?

In this week’s show, Shawn and Andy discuss recent issues they had with Streaming while on with the Metacast Podcast earlier in the Week which works into a discussion on Tech Support and how easy it is to troubleshoot new Tech versus what we had to do 15 years ago. Andy tells the story of how phone calls came into Radio Shows and got on the air compared to tech today from VoxPro and other companies. Shawn and Andy talk about how technology in Education changed from Mac systems to PC’s. Some employers are looking for workers that understand AI and how to work with it. Andy talks about how we could see AI used in Radio Broadcasting and even Television Newscasting and points out Synthesia at https://www.synthesia.io and how training videos could all be done using that platform. How will sports be influenced by AI and the predictability of plays viewed by opposing teams.

Andy talks about some products he featured on KMSB Fox 11. Kingston sent over an Ironkey 200 Flash drive with AES 256 Encryption and Military Grade Security to protect the device from prying eyes or in the event of a loss of the drive. After 10 Attempts to enter a password incorrectly, the drive will wipe its data off the drive and make it unrecoverable. Sizes vary from 8GB to 128GB. This also serves as a good reminder to never plug in a USB Flash Drive that you “find.” as it could compromise your system or even damage circuitry. Andy also shared a USB diskette Reader from Tandek that he shared on the Segment. Shawn feels there may at some point a Digital Revolution with consumers wanted content.

Shawn looks at the new Adobe Photoshop Beta with Generative Fill which uses AI to fill a background or part of an Adobe stock image with artificial intelligence and is very impressed with the results. What’s also nice is that while some programs use AI to complete images, this will stay within the Adobe Family pulling images only from Adobe Stock Images.

Shawn and Andy share a great website for learning more about working with Photoshop and Graphics programs. https://www.phlearn.com The host also goes into a more in depth discussion on the Generative Fill Tool.

Connect and subscribe with us on social media

YouTube @techtalkradio
Facebook @techtalkers
Twitter @TechtalkRadio
Instagram techtalkradio
Web: TechtalkRadio.Com

Subscribe and Like TechtalkRadio on iTunes, Spreaker, iHeart, Audacy, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pod Bean!