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Episode #433 – S.O.S. Send Some Slacks and Goosed by Larry!

For this Week’s TechtalkRadio Show, Shawn, Matt, Andy and Justin are on board as they discuss recent experiences with stand-up comedy shows. Justin shares his encounter with comedian Rodney Norman, where he unexpectedly introduced the act and received encouragement to try stand-up himself. The conversation then moves to other comedians they’ve seen live or admire, including Brad Williams, The Late Mitch Hedberg, and Jeff Arcuri. They reflect on how social media has given more comedians exposure. The group also fondly remembers the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and imagines a hypothetical Hallmark movie featuring those comedians. We lose Justin in the discussion after telling about a great memory of his dad getting a goose from Larry the Cable Guy!

After getting to put it to the test, Shawn discusses his experience with the Epson FastPhoto FF-680W scanner, which he purchased after Andy demonstrated it on News13. The scanner has significantly sped up Shawn’s photo digitization project, allowing him to scan 3,800 photos in a -a rate of one photo per second at 600 DPI. The device offers features like automatic editing, front and back scanning, and batch processing. While Shawn found the auto-edit feature inconsistent, he appreciates the scanner’s ability to capture handwritten notes on the backs of photos, which Matt and Andy agree is valuable for preserving family history. He did note it is important to clean the scanning surface frequently to avoid jams and residue from plastic sleeves and film emulsion.

Andy discussed the forthcoming end of life for Windows 10 in October, with Windows 11 being the next iteration. He noted that end of life does not mean a computer will stop working, but that users will no longer receive security updates. Andy shared his recent experience with Windows 11’s networking issues and how he resolved them. If you upgrade or get a new system what could be done with the old computer? Matt suggesting that old computers could be repurposed or donated. Andy decides to upgrade the Studio Computer and buys an Intel Processor which shipped with the CPU Fan however the Pre-Applied Thermal paste has Andy wondering of its usefullness. All recommend to clean that off the CPU and apply new Paste. Justin advised on the best way to apply thermal paste to a new CPU, and Shawn shared his preferred method, The Dot Method. Finally, the team discussed the ease of using Linux as an alternative to Windows, with Matt recommending Mint, Arch, and Ubuntu as accessible options.

Listener Ricky decides to Build his own but wonders if a Graphics and Sound Card is needed. Matt and Justin clarified that a sound card is not required for general use, but a graphics card is recommended for gaming. They also advised against using a “Old School” spinning hard drive for storage, as M.2 or SSD drives are significantly faster and less prone to failure. Matt also emphasized the importance of proper installation and handling of computer components to avoid damage. Andy shared info about the new Samsung’s M.2 drive which operates about 14.8Gbps, which Justin confirmed was a significant upgrade. The team agreed that using a faster storage option would provide better performance and a longer lifespan.

A Humerous wrap on the show as Matt shares that Google’s Pixel devices have updated their emergency SOS feature to require five button presses and confirmation before activation. This change was implemented after an incident where a user’s sensitive photos were accidentally shared through the SOS system sending to family and co-workers. The group discusses the implications of this update and jokes about the potential embarrassment of such a situation thus the name for this weeks show, SOS – Send Me Slacks!

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Episode 423 – We Think He Really Likes this Keyboard?

In this Week’s TechtalkRadio Show, Andy and Shawn want to find out about Matt’s new studio setup which looks like it came out great! Matt shared his recent transition to a rack-mounted case, which he found to be more efficient and better for airflow. He also discussed his use of a Sony ZV-10 mirrorless camera as a webcam, which he found to be effective for blogging and vlogging. Last weeks show had a listener ask about Mechanical Keyboards which Matt explained and discussed his mechanical keyboard, the Keychron v1 Max, which he found at Micro Center. He highlighted its features, including a 75% keyboard layout, mechanical switches, USB-C and USB-A ports, a rechargeable internal battery, Bluetooth compatibility, and a switch for Mac or Windows. Matt also mentioned the keyboard’s customizable firmware and the ability to change keycaps for different layouts. He noted that the keyboard lights up and has a tactile feel, making it the quietest mechanical keyboard he has ever used. Take a look at the Company Website at https://www.keychron.com

Shawn found a great deal and decided to buy in for a Dji Power 1000, a solar generator that can charge devices and potentially run small appliances like an air conditioner. He bought it at a 48% discount from Amazon, using a code from Dji’s Black Friday email. Shawn plans to use it for camping and when out grabbing photos for astrophotography. The group also discussed other portable power brands like Jackery and Anker, and the possibility of using solar panels to charge the generator. Andy suggested that listeners might benefit from joining Dji’s mailing list for potential deals.

After a listener question from Allan, Matt and Shawn discussed the pros and cons of upgrading to Windows 11. Matt and Shawn expressed their dissatisfaction with the bloat and ads in Windows 11, while the listener sought advice on whether to upgrade now or wait until October when Windows 10 support ends. Matt advised Allan to pull the band-aid and upgrade, as Windows 11 will receive security patches and updates, but warned about the potential annoyance of ads and recommendations. Matt also advised Allan to back up his files before upgrading his operating system and to use a disk cleanup tool to remove previous Windows installations after a certain amount of time. Andy also shared a question from Dave about recovering data from an old IDE hard drive, and Shawn suggested using a USB to IDE adapter to connect the drive to a computer stating they aren’t to bad in price and easy to use. Shawn found one on the Micro-Center Website from Vantec. Another listener question handled the subject of Black Friday/Cyber Monday TV Deals and how to tell differences between some of the screens. All this and more featured in this week’s TechtalkRadio Show,

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New Show – The Pixel 9 Can Do All That?

In this week’s TechtalkRadio Show, Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, and Justin Lemme caught up after a busy couple of weeks. Justin shared his recent experience of tearing his calf muscle while walking at Waterworld, while Shawn talked about hosting Notre Dame’s first home football game of the season, which unfortunately ended in a loss. Sitting out the show, Justin received his Pixel 9 Fold smartphone and provided an overall review, highlighting its AI capabilities through the Gemini platform. One feature lets users reimagine photos and map search results, and Justin also showcased the phone’s ability to recognize and respond to hand gestures. The team discussed the phone’s price, with Justin mentioning a significant discount he received through his Google Fi and Google One memberships. He also shared his excitement about the new Pixel Watch 3, which he had recently acquired.

During the discussion of AI in the Pixel 9, the guys noted Apple’s recent announcement at the “It’s Glowtime” event, which introduced Apple Intelligence for the upcoming iPhone 16. They compared the performance of different AI assistants, with Andy expressing disappointment in Siri’s results. Shawn suggested that Apple’s AI focuses narrowly on tasks within the Apple ecosystem, while Justin and Andy recounted their experiences with Google’s AI. Andy shared a frustrating story involving Waze’s directions, and the group agreed that Apple’s AI is still playing catch-up with other manufacturers.

Justin highlighted the Pixel 9’s unique ability to automatically stitch photos together for seamless family shots. The conversation also touched on how easy it is to transfer data between Android devices, with Justin praising the smooth process.

Shawn brought up the recent announcement from DJI about their new lightweight drone, the DJI Neo, priced at $199. Designed for beginners, vloggers, and casual users, it features a 12-megapixel half-inch sensor, 18 minutes of flight time, and a control range of up to 50 meters via Wi-Fi. Justin raised concerns about its limited control range, noting it might not be ideal for high-altitude or long-distance flights. Shawn also mentioned the recent passage of the Countering USA Threats Act by the House, aimed at restricting drones from foreign countries, particularly China, which could impact companies like DJI. The bill now heads to the Senate.

In response to a listener question from Gary, the team discussed antivirus options for personal use. Justin recommended Windows Defender, while Andy shared his experience with Symantec. They also considered alternatives like Malwarebytes and ESET, with Shawn mentioning a family protection plan he has with Malwarebytes. The team agreed that choosing the right antivirus depends on individual needs and preferences. See Below the Photo’s “Imagined” with the Gemini AI on the Pixel 9 of Justin’s CoWorker

Also featured was a discussion of former guest and writer Ed Bott’s article at ZNet about upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and ways to “Get Er Done!” Finally, the Website of the Week was the app “Spot the Station,” which alerts users when the International Space Station is flying over their community.

Credit ; NASA - The Spot the Station App