Faith, Tech, and Space

This is just our second episode of the year - yes you read that right - just our second show this year. I will explain that and then catch everyone up on my journey of formation and discernment for the Permanent Diaconate in the Catholic Church. Following that we will talk extensively about Windows 11 and the first Windows Insider Preview release and then cover some highlights on the new space race that has recently pulled in the headlines.

Happy New Year! It has been too long but after a three-month hiatus we are back with a slightly tweaked format to make the show a little more succinct. Thanks for your patience. We catch-up on the last three months of formation for myself and our cohort, look a little towards what is coming up in the next few months, and share some background on those classes. For the tech segment I cover updates on #WindowsInsiders and #EdgeInsiders builds and speculate where things will move in the next couple of weeks as we begin this new year. I also hit on some key tech headlines before moving on to the space section of the podcast. In space, we talk about some year in review content from NASA, SpaceX, and other agencies which included some real record setting stuff.

Back after a couple of busy weeks but ready to share the latest across the entire spectrum of the show leading off with a couple of articles about pandemic swindles for those looking for work and why we can't just stick to what we know in this day and age. I then catch everyone up our Rite of Candidacy last week and our class schedules for online and local classes. Tech begins as it always does with the latest builds for #WindowsInsiders and #EdgeInsiders plus I share my thoughts about the approaching Windows 10 (Version 20H2) release and how that will impact all the Insider developer channels. Tech headlines from Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, and others. In gaming Microsoft grabs a new game studio, GamePass grows by 50% during the pandemic, Cloud Gaming is now in full beta with GamePass, and Microsoft wants to be more transparent about data on your consoles. I also discuss the very poor pre-orders for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and RTX 3080. In space the Moon, Orion, a new space toilet, HoloLens and NASA, and how NASA benefits the economy. Wrapping up space I try to explain the flow of the next four launces that are coming up.

In this show we open with a discussion about the return of the Gateway computer brand selling Windows and Android devices in Walmart. In the faith section, classes have begun for year two and I share some details about what the Rite of Candidacy Mass signifies in our formation process towards the Permanent Diaconate. In tech we begin with a full review of the last week for updates and new builds for Windows and Edge Insiders as we get closer to the release of Windows 10 Version 20H2 in the next month or so. The big news in tech is all about the release and reviews of Surface Duo which are high on the hardware but frustrated with the software. No surprises around a first-generation device. Then I talk about the unexpected announcements around Xbox Series S and some other related news after a video of the device including its pricing and release date was leaked. The response by the Xbox team was stellar though and grabbed a lot of solid attention. Under the space banner we have NASA moon dirt news, a ULA Delta IV Heavy launch date, and a failed launch for a small upcoming launch provider.

We open this show covering Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020's huge release and my own hands on with Surface Duo including the two aspects of the device that really surprised me. In faith, an update on our online class now that we have a syllabus to see how the 12 weeks of Fundamental Theology will move along. I also share about the recently released Fatima movie and an excellent editorial about being less disagreeable when we disagree. Under tech we catch up on the latest builds for Windows and Edge Insiders, some Windows 10 annoyances and how to fix them, deprecated features in Windows 10, hands on with Project Moca and Transcribe for Word. Edge is also testing a new Web Capture feature in the Canary Channel, plus there is news about the end of Adobe Flash in Edge. In other tech news, Microsoft retains the huge JEDI contract with the Pentagon after a review but Amazon is not happy about it, Zoom has a huge quarter and we discuss whether than momentum sticks after the pandemic, and Walmart launches their Amazon Prime competitor. Space news includes NASA SRB tests in the desert for Artemis, searching for new Flight Directors, and a twin Mars rover right here on earth. ULA is still looking into their aborted Delta IV Heavy launch, SpaceX makes a couple more launches themselves including a history making one, and Rocket Lab successfully returns to flight.

Here at the very end of August in a quite different year than we all expected when it started, there is still plenty to discuss about faith, tech, and space. We kick this episode off with a discussion around returning to movie theaters to watch movies during this active pandemic plus an update an update about my recent PC Build and SSD drives. Next is the final couple of weeks in the summer break for my cohort's continuing formation and classes beginning in just a couple of weeks. In tech, we layout new builds for Windows and Edge Insiders including a significant upcoming milestone. Surface Duo review are in the hands of reviewers and influencers but it is everyday folks without embargos that are going into Best Buy and AT&T stores to give full operational demos of the dual-screened devices ahead of schedule. IN other tech headlines there is more on the Epic vs Apple app store fight, talk about the Amazon Halo, TikTok, tech scam insider information to help awareness, and big changes in real estate in the pandemic. In space we have launches and scrubs and we wrap up reminiscing about the 25 year anniversary of Windows 95, Office, 95, and of course this website!

There is plenty of news across our three-fold spectrum for this episode. I wrap up details about the PC build I recently completed and provide some schedule updates for my continued diaconate formation as we prepare for year two. In tech, new builds across the board for Windows and Edge Insiders, headlines from Microsoft, Apple (and Epic Games & WordPress), and Google among many others. In gaming news, there has been a run on joysticks and yokes thanks to the successful release of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, and confirmation of the Xbox Series S console thanks to a controller leak. In space there is news from NASA, ULA, and SpaceX as they continue to launch rockets despite the pandemic impacting operations. I close with an upcoming drama from Netflix on the human toll during a manned mission to Mars and Amazon's potential plan to take over empty stores at malls to help with product distribution.

Rolling with a weekly schedule we kick off about my incoming PC build and the parts I am using for this new setup, closing out my first year of formation with some new information on upcoming classes and purchasing my first vestments. For Windows and Edge Insiders we catch up on the latest builds, updates, and enhancements coming to the web and OS platforms for testing. I touch on the tit-for-tat between Microsoft and Apple about iOS App Store policies that are preventing Project xCloud from being carried for iOS devices, the latest on TikTok acquisition discussions, a Windows division reorg under Panos Panay, and the latest in open source and security. Finally, we talk space including the return of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Busy show today with a lot of news to catch up on from the last five weeks across all three focus areas of the show! I open with my take on Windows 10 running great and the bargain that is Game Pass which everyone should check out. Then there is faith related updates with completion of classes both lcoally and online plus a few other items that are coming up. Under tech we catc up on the sequence of Windows Insider and Microsoft Edge builds, anti-trust, and a weird possible Microsoft acquistition of TikTok here in the United States. We close with a very busy period in space flight for both veteran and new companies.

It has been just two weeks since our last show, but still a long list of news across the spectrum to discuss including changes to the Windows Insider Program and the latest with the testing and roll out of the new Microsoft Edge. We start off with one of two big stories, the end of physical Microsoft Stores. From the faith side we catch up on local, online class activity plus share about the Ten Commandments of Catholic Twitter and a young man named Carlos Acutis who is about the be beatified in Church. On the tech front, we cover updates around Windows and Edge Insider programs, a new Windows File Recovery app, and the latest from Apple, Google, Pi-Hole, and AdGuard Home. Then we talk about the other big story – the impending shutdown of Microsoft Mixer. In space related news a new company plans orbital rocket launches, a SpaceX Starlink beta, SpaceX launch delays, and Boeing's shuffle in its various space divisions. Finally, I close out with a note about something called Doomscrolling and why you should avoid it.