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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.

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NEW EPISODE #452 – K-Pop, YouTubeTV Battles & Windows 95 Turns 30!

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This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor, Matt Jones, and Justin Lemme take listeners on a ride through pop culture, tech nostalgia, and the latest gadgets. We kick things off with Netflix’s surprise mega-hit K-Pop Demon Hunters, which has quickly become one of the most streamed films on the platform. Matt shares what this all has to do with Hannah Montana! The guys explore how the movie’s catchy soundtrack, unique animation style which Justin is not a fan of, and unexpected success are reshaping both the music and movie industries, But is it Enough?

From there, the conversation shifts to the future of movie theaters. Justin shares a hilarious yet frustrating story about his AMC theater experience, his impression is spot on, while Matt explains why premium theaters like Alamo Drafthouse are thriving. Andy shares a similar venue in the Tucson Area called Roadhouse Cinemas. The team debates whether streaming at home with services like YouTube TV is now a better option than overpriced tickets, flat sodas, and broken popcorn machines. Listener Steve from Tucson also sparks a great discussion on whether cutting the cord for YouTube TV is worth it.

On the tech front, Matt shares a new development with his new AI-powered home lab, now complete with Reolink 4K cameras and custom video analytics that can detect pets, license plates, and even track the dogs around the house. Justin, meanwhile, shares his return to the ambitious (and still in alpha) Star Citizen, a space sim that continues to evolve.

Of course, no trip down memory lane would be complete without celebrating 30 years of Windows 95. Andy, the Old Guy in the Room, realizes the Age Gap, when he ask Matt about the excitement of installing Windows95! The guys do reminisce about floppy disks, DOS gaming, and the long list of Windows versions that shaped the modern PC era. They also explain the term doom-scrolling for listeners who might be hearing it for the first time.

Finally, Matt ditches his smartphone and previews the brand-new Google Pixel 10 XL, fresh from Google’s “Made by Google” event. He’s already pre-ordered the device and will share a hands-on review in next week’s episode.Why didn’t Matt like the one he had before?

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Episode 450 – Pixels, Packets, and Privacy: Taking Back Your Tech!

From ditching Zoom for a better recording platform, to debating Windows 11 upgrades, to reminiscing about the golden days of AOL dial-up, this week’s TechtalkRadio is packed with tech talk, nostalgia, and a few surprises—including a home lab build and a Nintendo Switch 2 that didn’t get the reaction anyone expected.

In this week’s episode of TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor, Matt Jones, Justin Lemme, and Shawn DeWeerd dive into the evolving tech landscape, starting with their recent move from Zoom to Riverside FM. They share why Zoom was no longer meeting their needs and how Riverside FM’s superior video quality, cleaner audio, and feature-rich platform have improved their workflow—making it the right choice for the show moving forward.

The conversation then shifts to the pros and cons of upgrading to Windows 11. The hosts share personal experiences, touching on hardware compatibility challenges, software update quirks, and the OS’s enhanced security and features. They also explore options for those who can’t—or don’t want to—upgrade, including Microsoft’s newly introduced Extended Security Update Program. These insights offer listeners practical guidance for making the right decision for their setup.

Nostalgia kicks in as the crew reflects on AOL’s decision to retire dial-up internet. They swap stories of early online adventures, the unforgettable connection sound, and how far we’ve come—from sluggish dial-up to lightning-fast fiber. Justin adds a personal twist, recalling his time working in an AOL call center and the unique challenges of supporting users in the early internet era. They also discuss the benefits of switching providers for improved speed and reliability.

Wrapping up, Matt takes listeners inside his home lab build, showcasing the repurposed servers, networking gear, and AI-driven security components that power his privacy-focused smart home. Justin follows with the story of tracking down and buying a Nintendo Switch 2 for his son—only to be surprised when it didn’t spark the excitement he expected. Together, these segments highlight the personal side of tech, from ambitious builds to unexpected reactions.

Audio Version

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Episode 449 – Let the Dice Decide – What Shawn Checked out!

🎲 In this week’s episode of TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd reunite at the mic as Shawn returns from Gen Con 2025—America’s biggest tabletop gaming convention. He shares his epic haul of new games, including Everdell Silverfrost, Dice Throne Slamthrone, and the new RPG system Daggerheart from Darrington Press, the creators behind Critical Role. The two talk trends in tabletop gaming, cosplay highlights, and how accessible these games have become—even for beginners and families.

But that’s not all—Andy and Shawn also dive into the world of Linux, tackling myths about its complexity, the perception of toxic forums, and why distributions like Linux Mint can breathe new life into older PCs. They share listener reactions to last week’s Linux segment and thanked those that added input. Shawn and Andy also offer practical advice for new users, and shout out tools like AlternativeTo.net and even ChatGPT for making the transition easier.

On the tech side, the show covers a listener question from Dave in Tucson about removing Windows 11 S Mode and what it does, Andy shares frustrations with Microsoft OneDrive, and Shawn highlights some exciting new gear: the upcoming Insta360 drone titled AntiGravity  and DJI’s first 360° camera, the Osmo 360.

Plus, if you’re a gamer, you’ll want to hear about the upcoming Battlefield 6 open beta starting August 9th—and how to get in on the action.  Andy tests out Riverside FM as a new recording platform for higher-quality video segments. It’s a jam-packed episode filled with gaming, geekery, and gear!

Photos from GenCon2025 taken by Shawn

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Episode 447 – The Battle of the Thumbs!

This Week on TechtalkRadio:
Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd hold down the fort while Justin takes his son to see the new Superman movie in IMAX. Shawn shares his own IMAX experience with the new F1 film and discusses Apple’s potential takeover of F1 media rights from ESPN.

The duo dives into the evolving world of streaming platforms, comparing Apple TV+ with Netflix and Hulu. They also explore how content consumption has changed for kids, with YouTube creators like Ms Rachel reshaping early education and digital habits.

The conversation shifts to tech and parenting, highlighting the role of AI and digital tools in learning. Shawn stresses the need for parents to understand tech to help guide their children, advocating for a balance between screen time and outdoor activities.

Shawn then shares details about his Plex server upgrade, moving from an older Intel i3 system to a powerful i7-9700 setup with an NVIDIA 3060 GPU, running Linux Mint 22. He explains what Plex is, how it works, and how it allows users to stream their personal media libraries with features like metadata tagging, remote access, and RAID storage.

Also in this episode, Andy chats with Anna Bilych, founder of Les Amis, a platform built to help women foster real friendships. Anna discusses the challenges of building the platform, its use of AI for connecting users, and how Les Amis is helping women connect through curated local events. From pottery nights to group chats, Les Amis is redefining digital community with style and purpose.

To wrap things up, Andy and Shawn reflect on the changing ergonomics of smartphone use, from the days of one-handed texting on Sidekicks to today’s two-thumb operation on large-screen devices. It’s a new kind of digital workout — a true Battle of the Thumbs!