It’s time to riff on more exciting stories, trends, lists, and technology.

Topics Covered:

• The Most Sinful Cities in America

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - TEC BEEF: Indoor security drone and the Corruption Perceptions Index

John - Businesses wasting money on software licenses

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Sponsored by:

Elo Healthcare Touch Solutions

Zebra RFID Portfolio

Government consultant and expert Jeff Smith is back to catch us up on what's been happening with public sector technology. How is the spending of approved U.S. funds going? What's Jeff's take on public safety as a branch eager for new tech? Are there opportunities in education? Finally, we asked him to look into his crystal ball and give us predictions and trends to watch out for in 2023.

#VARValue - What should VARs be doing now with their government accounts, and whom should they talk with to get the year off to a strong start? 

Referenced Articles:

Deloitte Gov't Tech Trends '23

State of the States Forecast

4 Federal Government IT Trends to Watch in 2023

TEConnecting with us:

Jeff - NASA's X57 all-electric plane

Dean - Getty Image AI lawsuit and what's the #1 dream job worldwide?

John - Audi's EV SUV concept vehicle

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Sponsored by:

Zebra Public Safety Tech

Elo Large Format Displays

After he threw out an idea to discuss Web3, we turned the tables on James Korte and invited him to join us! First, a quick review of Web1 & 2—essentially what the internet has been to date—before explaining what Web3 could be and why. How would Web3 be built? What advantages and disadvantages would it create? Does Web3’s connection to blockchain & cryptocurrency concern us? Is this internet iteration feasible, or is the idea the path to something else?

#VARValue - Does this mean anything to our channel yet? If it came to pass, what would it mean? 

Referenced articles:

What is Web3? - Harvard Business Review

What Is Web3 All About? An Easy Explanation With Examples - Forbes

TEConnecting with us:

James - ChatGPT & Notion

Dean - Brainwave rhythms

John - Real-life T-1000?

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Sponsored by:

Elo Wallaby Pro

Zebra WS50

Automation is increasingly a part of our daily lives, and we’ve preached it as a way for VARs to make their own business more efficient. In this episode, MicroTouch’s Tyler Wells helps us identify how they can take that automation to their customers, combating labor shortages, addressing new expectations for speed, and staying ahead of the competition. How do touchscreens fit into the conversation? What industries benefit the most? When should VARs get in on robotics?

Tyler's XaaS Journal article:

https://www.xaasjournal.com/vars-get-ready-to-ride-the-automation-and-robotic-systems-adoption-wave/

#VARValue - For VARs exploring automation with their customers, how can partners like MicroTouch help them win business?

TEConnecting with us:

Tyler - Electric car adoption, fission/fusion advancements, automation in manufacturing

Dean - "Silent" cargo delivery drone

John - No more airplane mode?

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Sponsored by:

MicroTouch Mach Series

Zebra RFID Opportunity eBook

No one likes crowds, long lines, or waiting. We didn’t before COVID changed how we felt about being around strangers, and we certainly don’t today--but how do retailers, hospitality, and event companies find the right solutions to a problem that’s been around as long as people have congregated? Zack Klima, Founder & CEO of WaitTime, has his own story about the frustration of waiting which led to his solution, crowd management technology that benefits fans, attendees, and customers but also provides valuable intelligence to venues and businesses. How does it work? What hardware is involved, and how should VARs approach their customers to find opportunities? It’s the episode that offers “no-brainer tech” to add to your solution stack.

#VARValue - What should VARs be asking their customers to determine if a crowd management solution is viable, and when should they get WaitTime involved?

WaitTime webinar: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/8354486700101210112

WaitTime Blog - 10 Questions to Determine Crowd Management Needs:

https://www.thewaittimes.com/post/10-questions-to-align-crowd-technology-solutions-to-your-needs

TEConnecting with us:

Zack - AI advancements

Dean - ChatGPT

John - Sink Twice

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Sponsored by:

Zebra Temp Sensing Tech

Elo Restaurant/QSR Solutions

We’re kicking off the fourth year of the pod by looking back and ahead. First, we reflect on 2022 and the stories, trends, surprises, disappointments, and personal moments that stood out to us in the channel, our lives, and the world at large. After that, it’s fun with “Best of” lists, predictions and resolutions, our top episodes of the year, and more!

ALERT!! We need YOUR help! Please send us your ideas for the podcast. What topics, industries, technologies, and partners interest you? https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

#VARValue - What’s your advice for VARs looking ahead?

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - VALL-E AI voice simulator

John - CES 2023

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Sponsored by:

Elo 70 Series Touchmonitors

Zebra Public Safety Tech eBook

*Star Wars SPOILERS in this episode* We wrap up another year on the pod with our third annual Star Wars discussion, and we have a lot to cover! Would any of us pay $5000 for a Star Wars-themed drink? Is the amount of SW content too little or too much? We discuss "The Book of Boba Fett," "Obi-Wan Kenobi," "Tales of the Jedi," and "Andor." Are the prequels cool again? What's coming next year? What are some VFX sequences that stand out to us in the franchise?

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Sponsored by:

Elo Large Format Displays

Zebra TC series mobile computers

Working in this channel, you have to be pretty fond of technology, and it's probably been a big part of your life. In this episode, we're reflecting on the gadgets and gizmos we grew up (or old) with, but to make sure we had some perspective beyond John & Dean's pre-internet days, we brought in a couple of Millennials in Sam & Sarah. Are we early tech adopters? What was our first computer? First portable music player? Gaming system? Mobile phone? Finally, we discuss "old" tech that seems absurd now.

#VARValue - Let’s discuss the importance of understanding generational gaps like we’ve heard today.

What's John's "webplayer" looked like: https://me.pcmag.com/en/consumer/2644/how-many-of-these-weird-internet-appliances-do-you-remember?p=1 

TEConnecting with us:

Sarah - Fun fact: In 1992, the first text message was sent...it said "Merry Christmas"

Sam - Has Cleopatra been found?

Dean - The "A Christmas Story" house is up for sale & assembler robots

John - Sewer spiders

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Sponsored by:

Elo Edge Connect

Zebra RFID Portfolio

Much of the "next-gen" tech and innovation we expect to inform our future relies on computer/machine vision, but what can it do, and how do VARs benefit? We posed those questions to Intel's Rob Risany, returning to the pod to emphasize the partnerships they bring to the table and the channel. Why is data quality so important to utilizing computer vision? What are the use cases in retail and other industries?

#VARValue - The computer vision market value is projected to hit $48 billion this year. How can VARs work with BlueStar and Intel partners to get a piece of that?

Referenced articles:

• Forbes - 5 Computer Vision Trends in 2022

TEConnecting with us:

Rob - Making math more efficient

Dean - Scientists create a "baby" wormhole

John - World Cup privacy concerns

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Sponsored by:

Elo I-Series 4

Zebra ET Tablets

“Modernizing [government]…I know that seems like an oxymoron,” says DACRA Tech’s COO Tami Wanless. She joins the pod this week to talk about how technology can make a difference in local governments. What are local officials dealing with daily, and what’s slowing down modernization efforts? What’s her advice for VARs that don’t want to tackle government opportunities? What’s DACRA’s approach to modernization? It’s the episode that’s letting you off with a warning but don’t ignore this sector again!

#VARValue - Is there any low-hanging fruit to help communities modernize that our VARs should be focusing on as an easy way to introduce solutions? 

TEConnecting with us:

Tami - Optimizing squad car "real estate" and barcode scanners

Dean - New data transmission record set

John - Is Facebook done with news?

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Sponsored by:

Elo Wallaby Pro

Zebra ZD Desktop Printers