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.Please Share, Listen, Subscribe to the Show on Spotify, Spreaker, iHeartRadio, YouTubeConnect With Us on social media – See the Video of this Show on our YouTube Page and Now on Spotify as well.Also Available on KGVY AM/FM, Amazon Music, PodBean and other Delivery Networks!

Welcome back to TechtalkRadio—and yes… “This Show is a Joke!” absolutely earns its title. Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, and Justin Lemme kick things off with the kind of chaotic chemistry in a weather check that makes no sense: Colorado was bizarrely warm, Indiana is buried under snow and “freezing fog,” and everyone agrees the forecast has officially gone off the rails. It has been a couple of weeks now since CES and the guys agree most “everything was AI”… except the stuff that still manages to surprise us.This years buzz outside of AI was focused on micro RGB screens, including a jaw-dropping 130-inch Samsung TV that’s so massive (and likely so expensive) you really have to see it in person to understand the scale. The guys also break down why TV shopping online can be misleading, how professional calibrators fine-tune picture settings for your exact room, and why premium installs and showroom-quality setups can turn your living room into a “demo house” for bragging rights.Audio gets its moment too, with a debate on whether soundbars can truly replace real surround sound (spoiler: not really), plus Shawn’s current 5.1-ish setup and Justin’s insistence that there’s no excuse not to add rear speakers. Then Justin steals the segment with a mini-masterclass on upgrading your podcast audio chain: a new budget mixer, the surprise reality of 48v phantom power, adding a preamp, and why his Shure mic is still the hero of the whole rig—followed by way too much fun with voice effects that quickly turns into “mommy, turn off the radio” territory.With the former Television Experience of Justin and Shawn, they discuss how modern journalism and production standards have shifted over the years, why audiences tolerate lower quality now, and how digital ad systems track everything—time on page, scroll depth, where you came from, and even what you searched for before your next “perfectly targeted” commercial. Segment two ties it all together with a smart look at why local stations run more local news than syndicated shows—because local content means local ad dollars—plus a sharp debate on big-market versus small-market on-air talent and why experience is obvious the second someone opens their mouth on camera.Listener questions are included, along with a great one about the Flipper Zero—what it is, whether it’s illegal, and whether it’s a smart gift for a kid (the group strongly leans “no,” unless maturity, supervision, and intent are crystal clear). From there it’s classic TechTalkRadio: a CES parade of ridiculous inventions (music-playing lollipops through bone conduction, voice-controlled fridges, voice coffee makers, AI barbers, and a toilet computer that analyzes your… business), plus a quick detour into Meta Ray-Bans and why they’re surprisingly impressive for audio. The show lands with gaming talk (Stardew Valley gets the “dangerously addictive” stamp of approval), a quick PSA about spam texts and why you should never reply—even to say “stop”—and a fun throwback to Flash game nostalgia at FlashMuseum.org, before the crew signs off with jokes, groans, and the promise of more chaos next week.

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd kick things off in full holiday mode with a look at Microsoft’s latest seasonal merch drop—highlighting the surprisingly steep price tag on the new “ugly sweater,” the retro logos packed into the design (and a few questionable modern additions), plus the equally head-scratching 50th anniversary Crocs and other oddball collectibles on Microsoft’s revamped merchandise site. The conversation rolls naturally into Shawn’s Christmas wish list—everything from retro gaming gear and board-game storage to soldering tools, ham radio accessories, and FPV drones—along with the realities of finding certain tech items in stock (or even available) right now.Andy shares warnings tied to “Dangerous December,” reinforcing how critical it is to keep browsers and mobile devices updated during peak online shopping season, when older devices and outdated software can become easy targets. The duo also addresses a growing concern around romance scams, outlining common red flags—like refusing video calls or pushing for money—and reminding listeners how easily scammers can use public online details to build trust and manipulate victims.Listener Email from Cecilia in Tucson about a dropped laptop with a shattered screen—explaining how adding an external monitor can often bring the machine back to life, and walking through common steps to enable an external display if it doesn’t switch automatically. That discussion expands into practical habits for everyday computing, including whether to shut down systems overnight, what “update and shut down” really means in the real world, and how different devices (home rigs, servers, and work machines) have very different expectations for uptime and maintenance.Andy welcomes Linda Chorney—Grammy-nominated artist, filmmaker, and self-described DIY “rebel”—to talk about her new audiobook, It Ain’t Over Till the Indie Sings available on Apple Books and Spotify. Linda shares the remarkable story behind her career, how a comment about technology and persistence helped her navigate the industry, and how she taught herself production workflows—from editing and syncing audio to recording in Pro Tools and meeting modern audiobook standards.The episode closes with gaming news for Tomb Raider fans and a nostalgic holiday wrap-up, as Shawn recounts a weekend of in-person gaming, board games, and Lord of the Rings marathons—celebrating the kind of face-to-face tech friendship and shared experiences that many of us miss in today’s always-online world.

This week’s TechtalkRadio Show kicks off with Andy, Shawn, and Justin joking about cold basements, impulse buying, and Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals before diving into a discussion with former FBI spy hunter and cybersecurity expert Eric O’Neill, author of Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime. Eric explains why he hates the Hollywood “hoodie hacker” stereotype and argues that today’s cybercriminals operate more like spies—well-funded, organized, and focused on long-term reconnaissance and deception. He walks through how overseas criminal syndicates abuse the dark web, cryptocurrency, and lax enforcement in countries like Russia and China to attack victims in the U.S. with little fear of being caught.From there, the conversation gets very real about modern scams: AI voice and video deepfakes used for “family emergency” scams, social media “fun quizzes” that are actually fishing for password reset information, and toll-road and smishing (SMS phishing) texts that weaponize urgency and fear. Eric stresses that everyone is a target, not just big companies—criminals simply look for whoever is most vulnerable, especially seniors and teens. His core advice: assume every unsolicited email or text is a potential viper, don’t click deal links in emails (go directly to the retailer’s site instead), enable two-factor authentication everywhere, and never pay scammers via wire transfer, crypto, or gift cards. He also recommends using credit cards over debit for fraud protection. Check out Eric's Website at https://www.ericoneill.netShawn confesses to an expensive impulse buy: the Analog 3D, a high-end, hardware-accurate recreation of the Nintendo 64 that outputs in 4K and supports original cartridges and controllers—but he can’t find any of his N64 games. Cue memories of GoldenEye, Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Star Fox 64 and the possibility that “Steve” might still be “borrowing” his carts. Justin follows with a deep dive into his heavily modded Steam Deck OLED, wrapped in real leather from dbrand, customized with copper-infused buttons designed to develop patina, and upgraded Hall-effect joysticks. He talks about tearing the handheld apart, troubleshooting joystick issues with AI tools, and that classic “one screw left over” moment, all while Andy points out how AI is speeding up creative work—from fixing graphics to solving hardware problems.Listener questions round out the show. Martin in Vail asks about smartwatches for an iPhone, and Justin and Shawn recommend sticking with Apple Watch unless you need serious fitness and outdoor tracking, in which case Garmin shines with better GPS, battery life, and health metrics. Shawn also vents about Apple’s sometimes maddening notification behavior and how he fixed messages going only to his Mac instead of his watch/phone. Adrian in Irvine asks about secure email in light of concerns over big tech scanning messages for AI training; ProtonMail gets a thumbs-up overall, with a side note about recent worries over dormant address recycling. Justin’s Website of the Week is point.me, a service that helps combine travel points across multiple programs to unlock flights and hotel stays—complete with a real-world success story from their friend Matt flying upgraded to Spain on points. The crew wraps with holiday well-wishes, a shout-out to a YouTube viewer, and a joking plea for any listeners with spare Nintendo 64 cartridges to send them Shawn’s way.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.Also Available on KGVY AM/FM, Amazon Music, PodBean and other Delivery Networks!

This week's TechtalkRadio Show kicked off with a hilarious tale of two climates, pitting Andy Taylor's sunny Arizona desert against Shawn DeWeerd's brutal, snowy reality near South Bend, Indiana. Shawn described his location as a literal "frozen tundra," buried under nearly a foot of snow, which he generously offered viewers a real-time peek at via an EarthCam feed.The most epic cold-weather story involved a collegiate rugby championship at Notre Dame, where players bravely battled a massive blizzard for hours in shorts, proving that some athletes are simply built differently (and that their tech gear is, thankfully, heated!). This extreme weather made Shawn the resident expert on staying prepared—and served as a stern reminder for everyone in snowy climates: always brush the snow off your car!Shawn and Andy then navigated the chaotic landscape of modern media and tech. They dove into the bizarre viral frenzy surrounding the latest Coca-Cola commercial, debating whether the oddly animated people and the controversial ending were a genuine AI mistake or a brilliant-if-cynical guerrilla marketing play to get everyone talking. On a much lighter note, they celebrated the joy of the Comedy Wildlife Photo Contest, which captures animals in hilariously awkward poses and is a must-see. The show then gave listeners the inside track on creative tools, with Andy praising the powerful new features of Adobe Premiere and introducing OpenShot as a great, free option for video editing beginners, while Shawn gave a shout-out to the enduring favorite, DaVinci Resolve.Finally, the discussion turned to the ever-evolving world of digital consumption and convenience. They raised eyebrows at the newest, and arguably most irritating, advertising trend: "pause ads," which ambush viewers with a static commercial the moment they hit the pause button on their streaming service. Despite this, Shawn expressed his enthusiasm for the community of hobbyists who are dedicated to tracking down and restoring abandoned Redbox kiosks—a fun bit of tech nostalgia. To cap off the show, they covered Microsoft’s launch of the App Pack, a new tool that seems to be directly competing with the beloved, time-saving app installer, Ninite, offering Windows users an easy way to set up a new computer.Please Check out the Website TechtalkRadio.Com for Links talked about on the Show and see the Video Version on our Blog.techtalkradio.com and YouTube where you can Subscribe! Thanks for Checking it out

This Week's TechtalkRadio Show kicks off with Shawn and Andy looking back on last weeks show and discussing a couple of Web Distractions such as TV.Garden only to find out from some viewers to the Social Media Video Post also had a site to share, Radio.Garden. This Site features Radio stations from around the globe, now including KGVY. Shawn adds WebSDR.org for listening to live amateur radio signals worldwide. That rolls into a hands-on ham segment: GMRS nostalgia, the FCC’s clamp-down on internet-linked repeaters. Shawn points to ARRL for licensing paths and local clubs, plus practical directories like RepeaterBook, RadioReference, and HamStudy to get started.Andy dusts off the DJI Mini 3 to shoot footage of classic control-line airplanes for a friends project and decides it is time to take a look at the Part 107 study options, and but realizes licensing delays amid the federal shutdown discussion. Then it’s OS philosophies—Windows 11’s Copilot and bloat vs. the “clean” feel of Linux—before a deep dive on data recovery: Shawn resurrects photos from a 2007 Toshiba drive using free TestDisk/PhotoRec, while Andy revisits using OnTrack in past recoveries and budget-friendlier EaseUS. A wild case study: investigators recovered images from the OceanGate submersible camera’s SanDisk memory.Shawn tells us about a site he found which first we remind of caution - OldVersion.com for legacy software. This tied in nicely with Andy's daughter asking for a Windows XP rig with the old games installed. A possible alternative could be the website Good Old Games for classic game purchases. For video editing without subscriptions, DaVinci Resolve shines for Andy’s 4K drone footage, and OpenShot gets a nod as a friendly, open-source starter. Quick creative helpers include Remove.bg for instant background cuts and a reminder to support open-source tools that earn a spot in the toolbox.A Listener wants to know about silencing Spam Calls. Andy shares the recommendation to use Do Not Disturb with “contacts only,” Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone, and accept that voicemail may still catch strays. Security talk covers the rumored Gmail credential chatter and a practical audit with HaveIBeenPwned, followed by password hygiene best practices: unique, long passwords and strong picks like Apple Passwords or 1Password—optionally paired with hardware keys for the ultra-cautious. The show wraps with a family-friendly pick—Scholastic’s new free streaming app (Clifford, Goosebumps, Magic School Bus)—and a quick note that Fedora is formally embracing AI-assisted contributions on the development side, signaling how open-source projects are adapting behind the scenes.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. Also Available on KGVY AM/FM, Amazon Music, PodBean and other Delivery Networks!