Notnerd Podcast: Tech Better

As "the most non-partisan tech podcast on the internet," it is our duty to give you a distraction from endless election-day coverage. Apple and Amazon both had more products to announce. The biggest crypto hack ever. Plus, so much more from the world of tech.

Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com

INTRO (00:00)

MAIN TOPIC: More Apple and Amazon Products (03:45)

Apple unveils groundbreaking MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display and Touch for the first time on Mac

Mac Studio with M5 Ultra now available with 512GB RAM for $22,299

Apple Creator Studio is getting even better, with new AI tools and a big Final Cut Pro upgrade

Amazon's 5 new smart home devices: Everything you need to know

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Tap and hold the spacebar to move the cursor, THEN tap the keyboard to highlight text. (23:20)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (28:00)

Marvell to buy Lumentum in $115 billion bet on AI connectivity

French lawmakers back per-gigabyte internet traffic tax

Claude designed protein binders against scorpion neurotoxins

Alphabet tanks nearly 13% for worst day ever, losing $500 billion in value

Astronomers may have just discovered our solar system's sixth dwarf planet

Bank of America kindly asks that you don't share your banking password with your AI assistant

Patrick Stewart, 'Star Trek' Captain and 'X-Men' Superhero, Dies at 86

WITHIN REACH! (30:40)

Dave is leading 15-13,

Round 32,

Dave goes first

TAKES:

Affinity for iPad all-in-one design app now available, free for individuals (38:25)

Cryptowatch: Binance withdrawals resume following $6 billion hack (41:30)

BONUS ODD TAKE: Spelunker TV Guide (44:10)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: 22.5W Fast Charging Portable Charger, 10000mAh Power Bank for Apple Watch (48:50)

Nate: Minimalist Adjustable Bracelet-Style Magnetic Smartwatch Replacement Strap (42mm-49mm) - 1x Watch Strap, Wearable Tech Accessory, 1-Hand Fasten, Bracelet-Style Look, for iWatch Series & Ultra 2/3 (53:40)

Apple is on a roll. The new iPhone Duo is out, and one of us has one. This week, Apple announced a new iPad Mini, M6 MacBook Pro, and iMac, and they aren't done yet. Plus plenty of other fun to be had in the tech world.

Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com

INTRO (00:00)

Trains Guy Birthday!!!!! Railpass - https://www.youtube.com/@Thetrainguy2015 (02:05)

MAIN TOPIC: Apple keeps going (07:55)

Apple gives iPad mini its biggest update ever

Apple unveils new iMac with M6, delivering a major boost in performance and AI capabilities

Apple introduces the new 14‑inch MacBook Pro with M6

iPhone Duo personal experiences

Apple responds to reports of iPhone Duo's inner display cracking

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: new timer interface in control center (37:50)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (41:40)

Airbnb bans making guests do dishes and take out the trash

Knicks duped employees with championship ring email that was actually a phishing test

Ukraine claims world's first drone evacuation of wounded soldier

Comcast loses more customers, claims other ISPs' cheap prices are "irrational"

Singapore boffins weave a GUI into fabric, and it's machine washable too

Beats and Pokémon team up for special-edition Beats Pill speaker

Physicists trap a single antimatter particle for a month

WITHIN REACH! (44:35)

Dave is leading 15-13,

Round 31,

Nate goes first

TAKES:

Getty Images files for bankruptcy amid AI competition and mounting debt (51:25)

What's going on with the web? The PHP issue and sites going offline (52:10)

Microsoft Patch Tuesday October 2026, A new record! - Apple addressed at least 329 unique security vulnerabilities across today's system updates (54:30)

BONUS ODD TAKE: Hidden iPod on Apple Music website - 25 years of iPod (58:25)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: Linkind Smart Light Stick, Color Smart Light Bulb (01:01:00)

Nate: Tiny Computer for iPhone Duo (01:05:10)

Elon Musk showed off SpaceX's flying car that went about as viral as it gets. He was also all over the rest of the news this week, with a few interesting stories. Apple is still at it and the new iPhone Duo releases Friday. Join us for a fun look at the world of tech and how to use it better.

Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com

INTRO (00:00)

iPhone Duo Preorders (02:25)

Apple announces special event for October 28: 'Pro and tell' (08:15)

MAIN TOPIC: Elon had a busy week (11:50)

Tesla's new Roadster makes a flying debut, hitting 60 MPH in under a second

X once again marks the spot - Daring Fireball

Elon Musk says he will give a SpaceX share to 'every kid in America'

Musk approached Trump to slow down Starlink in Ukraine

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Set price alerts on Amazon (25:40)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (31:00)

Human vs Robot cage match was illegal, says California

Anthropic bans cruelty toward Claude

World's timekeepers vote to eliminate the leap second

Sony created a gold-plated walkman that costs nearly $6,000

Saudi national arrested for installing audio recording device at OpenAI

Kroger to lay off 3K corporate employees over 3 years as it leans into AI

A new Super Ice is 10 times stronger, close to strength of concrete

LISTENER MAIL: Hey Grandma - Foreign router reboot stuff (35:00)

WITHIN REACH! (40:50)

Dave is leading 15-12,

Round 30,

Dave goes first

TAKES:

Netflix eliminates about 1,000 jobs in biggest cuts Since 2022 (48:10)

Uber to cut 10% of jobs, or 3,300 roles (48:55)

Amazon introduces 2 new AI products from Bee: Bee Frontier and Bee Eclipse (50:15)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: Walking Treadmill Pad with Adjustable 8% Incline for Home Office (54:00)

Nate: NEEWER Basics Magic Arm with Desk Clamp for Phone Webcam Camera Mic, UA062 (57:15)

Apple released new home products today, including the Apple HomeView, new Apple TV 4K, new HomePod mini, and Apple Home collection of smart home accessories. Plus, we have plenty of other tech to talk about.

Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com

INTRO (00:00)

Portland Retro Gaming Expo (02:55)

Duo-Man turns your 2026 iPhone Duo into a 1980s Sony Walkman (11:40)

MAIN TOPIC: Apple Home Release

New Apple TV 4K (14:50)

Next Generation HomePod mini (20:45)

Apple Home Collection smart home (24:50)

Apple HomeView (27:45)

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: iOS 27, Extend photos (35:50)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (43:30)

Hackers heat French supermarket fridges, sparking fires and spoiling food

First Thorium Nuclear clocks begin to tick

Xbox has secured GTA 6 streaming rights

Anthropic AI Model Went Rogue, Submitted Fake Unsolved Murder Tip

Francis Halzen wins Nobel Physics prize for Antarctic 'Ghost Particle' Hunt

California is banning public officials from making memecoins

Grindr agrees to buy HIV-prevention telehealth provider Freddie

WITHIN REACH! (46:00)

Dave is leading 14-12,

Round 29,

Nate goes first

TAKES:

Amazon's Alexa Tablets are coming for the iPad (52:00)

From GTA V on iPhone to free Photoshop: This AI tool Is upending software (54:30)

BONUS ODD TAKE: Destroy Any Website (59:50)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: SMALLRIG Camera Clip with Plate, Quick Release System, Max Load 40kg/88lb (01:03:00)

Nate: Tapo MagCam 2K+ Security Camera Wireless Outdoor, Battery, C425(2-Pack) (01:07:30)

Amazon jumped on the new hardware bandwagon this week with new Echo devices, TV sticks, and more. We discuss this and our finds in the Prime Big Deal Days event going on now. Plus plenty of other tech and fun to be had.

Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com

INTRO (00:00)

UNOFFICIAL BANTER:

Dave back on T-Mobile from Mint Mobile (02:10)

Apple Event Next week? (08:10)

Steve Jobs 15 years (08:40)

iPhone Duo Preorders next week (09:50)

MAIN TOPIC: Amazon's Big Week (12:30)

Amazon has new products too

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Let the smarter Siri find what's happening in your life. (24:35)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (30:30)

Tech workers made ChatGPT drive a Toyota Corolla

Singapore pilots a government-built dating service

Cloudflare tries to outplay Jev with open-weight Clef models

Radio broadcasters support America's 'AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act'

Google tests AI data center in space

Dyson's $500 AI toothbrush Is failing, and the company won't say why

Dozens quarantined after researcher at Russian plague laboratory dies of 'unknown' infection

LISTENER MAIL:

Todd - Are the new Apple Watches always listening? (33:25)

WITHIN REACH! (42:45)

Dave is leading 14-12,

Round 27,

Dave goes first

TAKES:

CRYPTOWATCH: Crypto winter is over,' analyst says as bitcoin tops $86,000 (48:30)

iPhone Siri Settlement Site (50:00)

BONUS ODD TAKE: The 2026 Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists (51:50)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: Canabalt Runner Game Online (53:35)

Nate: SMALLRIG Wireless Mic S70 Cover Kit (2 TX + 2 RX + 9 Mic Covers) (57:05)

Meta Connect 2026 happened this week, and Mark Zuckerberg showed off some new hardware that looks pretty good, including new VR glasses and a Tamagotchi-style device, Muse Charm. They emphasized how great Muse is and how it will make you money. Plus plenty of other tech to discuss.

Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com

INTRO (00:00)

MAIN TOPIC: Meta's all in on hardware now (02:25)

Everything announced at Meta Connect 2026

Microsoft unveils new Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch with Snapdragon X2 Plus, brighter screens, and 5G options (18:35)

Snap tries to sell consumers on the idea of $2195 smart glasses (20:05)

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Apple Music in iOS 27 Now Playing screen can now rotate to landscape mode and Friends Playlist (25:25)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (33:40)

People training OpenAI's AI fired for using AI to train the AI

Samsung's AI fridges shut down after update, causes outrage

Lego's biggest set ever is coming out soon: the 12,060-piece Sagrada Família. $800

New tin-based solar cells trap heat 1000 times longer, could beat 33% limit

Data center developer offers $10,000 checks to nearby households

Gene-edited bananas that don't go brown could hit UK supermarkets

Astronomers just named an asteroid after 'Weird Al' Yankovic

WITHIN REACH! Dave is leading 14-11, Round 27, Nate goes first (38:10)

TAKES:

Prepare your iPhone 18 Pro Max to ship (44:25)

BONUS ODD TAKE: Apple in Colour (47:00)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: SMALLRIG Auto-Deploy Mini Tripod for DJI Pocket 4P/4/3, for Insta360 Luna (52:50)

Nate: Amazon Basics 5-Blade MotionSphere Men's Razor with Dual Lubrication, Vitamin E, Precision Trimmer, 1 Handle & 16 Cartridges, Black (56:40)

Nate picked up his new iPhone 18 Pro on Friday and has been putting it to the test. He also signed up for AppleCare One Family, we discuss whether it is worth it. As always, there's plenty of other tech to catch up on.

Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com

INTRO (00:00)

New Beats 360 Headphones (02:25)

MAIN TOPIC: Nate's new iPhone and AppleCare+ Family (08:30)

Nate's iPhone 18 Pro

David Pogue tests Siri AI

AppleCareOne Family

AppleCare Fees and Deductibles

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Liquid Glass Slider + easter egg (26:40)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (30:50)

Male fruit fly brain trained to play Doom

John Deere launched an AI chatbot for farmers

Lawyer cites fake witnesses in murder case and blames ChatGPT

Fake AI intelligence almost made the US military start a war with China

OpenAI admits 6 more instances of AI models acting deceptively

Iran strikes on Amazon data centers caused permanent loss of customer data

U.S. acknowledges for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space

WITHIN REACH! Dave is leading 13-11, Round 25, Dave goes first (34:10)

TAKES:

Meta's Muse AI agent downloads are surging. Here's how it compares to ChatGPT, Grok and Claude (39:25)

Microsoft issues emergency Windows 11 update to fix its record-breaking patch (43:00)

BONUS ODD TAKE: Star Trek Google Search (44:20)

List of Google Easter eggs

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: [3 in 1] USB C Charger Block for Apple Watch Charger Magnetic Fast Charging (48:05)

Nate: 31-Piece Hex Key Wrench Set, Metric and SAE Allen Wrenches (0.028-3/8 inch, 0.7-10 mm) L Shape Allen Keys, Chrome Vanadium Steel (52:05)

We've got plenty to discuss after last week's Apple Event and all the new OS 27s coming out. Plus, the rest of the tech world didn't slow down, so we do our best to catch up. All so you can get out there and tech better!

Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com

INTRO (00:00)

MAIN TOPIC: Updating and Upgrading with Apple (06:20)

Nate's App Journey

How to migrate phones

AppleCare One Family Plan

Major updates for Apple's software platforms are now available

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Add custom cards in Apple Wallet (37:50)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (47:45)

Dyson debuts $499 AI-powered toothbrush with a built-in camera

AI-Equipped garbage trucks could soon start spying on people in the US

ID verification giant IDScan confirms data breach with more than 150 million driver's licenses stolen

FCC plans robocall scorecard to grade phone companies on spam call blocking

Zilog Z80 turns 50 as an open-source replacement heads to drop-in DIP40 silicon

Roku's 24/7 AI slop channel is even worse than expected

Genetically modified pig kidney keeps man alive for record nine months

WITHIN REACH! Dave is leading 13-10, Round 24, Nate goes first (52:00)

TAKES:

September 2nd: MapQuest is now the No. 1 US app after bucking Trump's 'Lake America' renaming (58:00)

Microsoft Patch Tuesday September 2026 Edition (01:01:50)

BONUS ODD TAKE: Windows 98 Disk Defrag Simulator (01:05:00)

Apple held its annual iPhone event today at 10 am PT. We watched the event together and hopped on live right after to discuss the announcements. The iPhone 18 Pro, the AirPods 5, the Apple Watch 12 and Ultra 4, and, of course, the folding iPhone Duo. We even had a special guest crash the show. What are your thoughts on all the new Apple goodies?

Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com

• iPhone 18 Pro (03:00)
• AirPods 5 (11:05)
• Apple Watch Series 12, Ultra 4 (14:00)
• iPhone Duo (20:50)

Watch the Apple Event

Meta settled the massive lawsuit from most of the states about kids and their platforms. We discuss what that means for them, and for you. New iPhones are coming next week and plenty of other tech to get caught up on!

Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com

INTRO (00:00)

Apple Event September 9th - Surprise and Shine (03:25)

MAIN TOPIC: Meta settles with states (08:30)

Meta agrees to settle social media addiction claims with states for up to $18 billion

Meta wants YouTube and TikTok to join in

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: iOS 27: AI Images in Apple Notes (16:10)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (25:35)

Tim Cook and John Ternus host Pikachu at Apple Park

Kalshi dishes out its first-ever lifetime ban to George Santos

New York City 911 system missed 1,700 calls due to software update

Roblox is cracking down on games that reward kids for doomscrolling

Songs created by AI banned from Australia's music charts

Scientists turn plastic waste into edible cookies

Chatbot conversations can become evidence in court

LISTENER MAIL: Nate - I saw an Insta360 X6 on TikTok Shop for $160, is that for real? (27:50)

WITHIN REACH! Dave is leading 12-9, Round 23, Dave goes first (32:05)

TAKES:

China is secretly fueling America's data center rage (39:45)

BONUS ODD TAKE: Rename Lake Ontario with MapQuest (45:30)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: Charging Station for Apple Multiple Devices - 3 in 1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger Dock - Travel Charging Pad for iPhone 17 16 15 14 13 12 Pro Max Plus Watch & Airpods (49:05)

Nate: Propane Tank Gauge Level Indicator, Gas Grill Gauge for 5-40lbs Propane Tank, Upgraded 3 Temperatures Scale, Color-Coded Propane Gauge for Grill, Heater, Fryer, Camper (53:40)