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Episode 441 – Software As A Service – Does It Make Sense?

This Week on TechtalkRadio: Memorial Day Weekend Edition:

Andy flies solo this week while Shawn enjoys a well-earned, tech-savvy escape to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Kicking things off, Andy tackles a listener question from Cecilia, whose mom got locked out of her iPhone after too many failed passcode attempts. He shares some helpful tips for recovering a locked iPhone—yes, even without the iCloud login—and explains when it makes sense to reset the device. This can be a experience that is not always solved overnight and could require a visit to an Apple Store. 

Then it’s time to talk subscriptions: Andy digs into the rise of Software as a Service (SaaS) and how companies like Intuit (Quickbooks) and Microsoft (Office) have moved from one-time software purchases to ongoing subscriptions—raising the question, what does that mean for small business users and the consumer on a tight budget however needing the software to get the job done?

Andy found after building a new machine to replace a Windows 10 Setup in the Studio and upgrading to Windows 11, he was not able to install the still powerful Adobe Creative Suite Master Collection 5.5. With the Activation Servers turned off, this can cause problems for those wanted to run this software which still works great and force an option to subscribe to The Adobe Creative Cloud. Instead, Andy explored some fantastic software alternatives. Sites like AlternativeTo.net help users find free or affordable replacements for popular programs like Photoshop, Adobe Audition, Word and more. He gives shout-outs to trusted tools like GIMP, Audacity, Reaper, and even Pro Tools Intro which shipped with his Mixer, which surprised him with its power and polish. There are solutions and while Software as a Service may have you feeling like you are caught in a Netflix/Hulu type streaming war, the Alternative to Subscribe to some of these services could reap benefits for the innovation behind the software. We have seen this with Generative Fill in Adobe Photoshop CC and other new features.

In gear talk, Andy shares his experience with the Fifine AM8 USB/XLR mic—an impressive budget find with RGB flair—and compares mixers, ultimately recommending the Mackie ProFX6v3 for its solid performance and versatility. He also teases a future review of the Shure SM7dB, the modern take on the legendary SM7B mic, now with built-in active pre-amplifier.

To wrap up the show, it’s the Website of the Week—and this one’s just for fun: TheUselessWeb.com. One click takes you to a completely random and often ridiculous website. From the “Long Doge Challenge” to judging hilariously real books by their covers (like How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety), it’s a rabbit hole of time-wasting gold. Try it out and let Andy know what you find—just email techguys@techtalkradio.com.

Finally, a heartfelt tribute to those we honor this Memorial Day. Thank you to the brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice. We remember you.

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Episode 440 – “From Flashlights to Flight: Tech That Glows and Goes”

This Week on TechtalkRadio:

Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd dive into a tech-filled episode with Shawn sharing his role as Technical Director for the Fischoff National Chamber Music Society competition, where he managed the live YouTube stream of performances. The duo also chatted about the upcoming musical follow up to Wicked and the announcement of a new trailer, which will debut during a re-release of the original film.

Shawn explored the Wyze camera’s RTSP streaming platform and its potential costs, recommending the Cam Plus Unlimited plan for multi-camera setups. He also broke down the benefits of lithium iron phosphate batteries—lighter, longer-lasting, but requiring upgraded components like solar controllers and breaker boxes. He plans to double his battery storage for better camping power, confirming his solar panels and gas generator can already handle overnight usage.

Andy asked whether Shawn has an Insta360 Camera mounted on his trailer for immersive views and potential security use. The team also discussed the DJI Mavic Pro 4, boasting a 100MP Hasselblad camera, triple-camera 360° rotation, and 6K 60fps HDR capabilities. While not officially available in the U.S. due to tariffs, a few retailers seem to have them. They discussed the lack of competitive U.S.-made drones in the consumer market.

A listener named Rick from Sahuarita wrote in about learning tech. Andy and Shawn suggested focusing on one area—like cameras, drones, or computers—and using platforms like YouTube, Udemy, and Khan Academy. Andy shared how he learned by taking apart PCs, while Shawn recommended building a system and installing Linux for hands-on experience. They also tackled the growing trend of companies revoking lifetime subscriptions, like VPN Secure. A Article from ARSTechnica highlighted one of these issues. Both agreed this will become more common with the shift to SaaS models, where ongoing development often leaves older one-time purchases behind.

Finally, Shawn wrapped things up with his latest DIY project—modifying an old Playskool flashlight with a 3.7-volt 10-watt LED, USB-C charger, and a heat sink to prevent overheating. It was a bright success (pun intended) and just the start of more hands-on builds to come.

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Episode 436 – What Do We Call This Thing?

This week’s episode of TechtalkRadio took a unique turn, as Andy Taylor, Matt Jones, and Justin Lemme decided to release an exclusive online-only show. With no FCC restrictions, the trio embraced a more unfiltered and free-flowing conversation, much to their delight. They kicked things off with some lighthearted banter, including discussions on parenting struggles and a deep dive into the differences between Pembroke and Cardigan Corgis. This set the tone for a fun and informal episode, allowing the hosts to indulge in humor and casual storytelling without the usual broadcast constraints.

The discussion soon shifted to artificial intelligence, a topic that’s dominating the tech world. Andy shared his experience with Alexa Plus and his preference for Google Gemini when using AI for assistance. Justin and Matt explored the competitive AI landscape, analyzing how Apple is struggling to keep up in the AI race. They pointed out Apple’s history of adopting existing technology rather than innovating, highlighting Siri’s shortcomings. The conversation expanded into their personal experiences with AI tools, including ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity, with Matt venting frustrations over ChatGPT’s inconsistencies in coding tasks.

As the discussion continued, the team debated the ethics of AI development, touching on OpenAI’s recent controversies and accusations of data scraping. Matt expressed his frustrations with AI companies profiting off vast amounts of web data, while Justin emphasized the growing reliance on AI tools for coding, content generation, and even bedtime stories. The conversation highlighted the tension between AI’s growing capabilities and the ethical concerns surrounding its development, reinforcing the importance of user choice and awareness when selecting AI models.

Before the AI created a Studio Ghibli Look on a Photo of Justin and his family

The episode wrapped up with a fascinating look at AI-generated art, particularly the emerging trend of using AI to recreate images in the style of Studio Ghibli. Justin shared how his wife, Misa, transformed a casual photo into an authentic-looking Ghibli masterpiece using AI. This sparked a discussion on AI’s impact on creativity, with Matt raising concerns about how far AI should go in replicating established artistic styles.

Andy Taylor shares his frustrating experience with Adobe’s licensing system after attempting to install his Creative Suite 5.5 Master Collection on a new studio computer. Despite holding a perpetual license, Adobe’s deactivation servers have been retired, making it impossible to reactivate older software—even when legally owned.

Justin and Matt chime in, highlighting the growing dissatisfaction with Adobe’s pricing, subscription model, and restrictive policies. The team explores alternative solutions, including Reaper for audio editing and Kdenlive for video work, as viable replacements for Adobe’s bloated ecosystem.

As Andy awaits a response from Adobe’s PR team, the discussion shifts to the broader impact of software as a service (SaaS), AI-driven creative tools, and whether Adobe’s heavy-handed approach might drive more users toward open-source alternatives. Could Adobe’s grip on creative professionals loosen in the coming years? Will a class action lawsuit arise from users locked out of their software? The TechtalkRadio team dives into the uncertain future of digital ownership.

Justin shares an exciting weekend adventure with his son Eric—discovering mini battle bots! After visiting a local hobby store, they witnessed intense robotic combat with pint-sized bots crafted through 3D printing and DIY engineering. Now, Justin’s diving into the world of custom bot-building, possibly dusting off his old 3D printer.

Andy also highlights “Going Postal: The Legacy Foretold,” a new documentary making waves at film festivals. The film dives into the wild history of Vince Desi and the controversial Postal video game franchise. Will we see it available online soon? The team is hoping so! With their usual blend of humor, insight, and a few unexpected tangents, the team delivered an engaging and lively episode that gave listeners a fresh, unrestricted take on the latest in tech.

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News 13 Segment – World Backup Day!

Today, March 31st is the Annual World Backup Day, as a reminder to backup your Important documents and precious memories on not only your computers but also devices such as tablets and smartphones.

This Segment will share some products to make it easier to backup from any device from Carbonite, EaseUS and Acronis and the reasons to back up your smartphone. It is estimated that worldwide, 100+ Smart phones are lost or stolen every minute.

It’s also a good idea to back up that older floppy or hard drive and a couple of products can make that easier for World BackUp Day. Take the Pledge to back up and remind your friends, make the backup!

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Episode 435 – There is a Simulation for Everything!

In this Weeks TechtalkRadio Show, Andy, Shawn, and Justin discussed their previous recording session, which was postponed due to various reasons. They also talked about their personal lives, including Shawn’s sleep schedule and falling aslep while the show was waiting for him! Justin talks about doing Voiceover work and Andy mentions a great Video on YouTube titled “5 Guys in a Limo” that showcases the best voiceover actors of their time.

Justin tells us a about his decision to buy his son Eric a gaming laptop, the Acer Predator, which has a 4,060 RTX and 16GB RAM. Justin also installed parental control software called Qustodio to monitor Eric’s online activities. However, Eric was more interested in watching YouTube videos on the new laptop than playing games. The guys share some possible games and while Doom and Wolfenstein are mentioned one that Andy wants to try is Power House Washing, a Simulation. Justin also mentioned a YouTube channel called Let’s Game It Out, which they both enjoy watching.

Andy discussed a couplle of products he recently took a look at: the Asus Rog Flow Z13, a gaming laptop/tablet with AMD 395, and the Epson RR600W, a rapid receipt scanner. Andy shared his positive experience with the Asus product, highlighting its performance and features. He also demonstrated the Epson scanner on live TV but encountered issues due to Andy forgetting to plug a cord in! The Epson scanner can scan up to 100 receipts per minute, front and back, and can also scan photos at 600 dpi.

In a segment recorded earlier, Andy welcomes Author Titania Jordan to the show to discuss the challenges of internet safety for children. Titania, the CMO and Chief Parent Officer at Bark Technologies, shared her experiences as a parent and her insights from her book “Parenting in a Tech World”. She emphasized the importance of staying updated with the latest information on internet safety, as the situation has evolved significantly since her first book was published in 2020.  Andy and Titania discussed the challenges of parenting in the digital age, particularly with regards to children’s use of smartphones and social media. Titania emphasized the importance of being proactive and not waiting until a crisis arises. They also discussed the need for parents to be aware of the constantly evolving language and emojis used by teenagers, and the potential dangers of allowing strangers to communicate with children through apps and games. Titania recommended using safer alternatives such as the Bark app or Bark phone for children’s devices, and advised parents to delay giving their children access to all devices and apps until they are ready. Her latest title is available at Amazon. 

Justin, Andy, and Shawn regroup and share the Website of the Week, Lazyfly dot me, which is a challenging game very basic in graphics but fun. 

Tune in for all this and more on TechtalkRadio!

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