Notnerd Podcast: Tech Better

Lots of visuals, you probably want to watch this on YouTube!

Our Fact Finding Mission is complete! Describing the scale of CES is difficult, but we tried our best. We checked it all out, from massive booths to small tables and everything in between. There was literally every type of technology you could imagine, some that solved a problem and some that did not make any sense or solve any real problems. We have plenty of content to share, so make sure you follow along.

**If this episode feels frantic, it is the only way to talk about CES. We'll be back to our "normal" less-frantic episode format next week, to be honest, our brains are a bit fried after CES.

ONLY TOPIC: CES

2.5 Million Square Feet

141K+ Attendees

4500+ Exhibitors

1442 Startups

300+ Fortune 500 companies

If you want to explore the map, visit https://exhibitors.ces.tech/8_0/floorplan/?hallID=OO

After 9 years of talking about going we finally made it to CES in Las Vegas. Tuesday was one long day of travel and exploring the show, but we got back to the room and went live to talk about it. We will be at the show until Friday, taking it all in to help you tech better.

Watch on YouTube!

PayPal's Honey browser plugin is in deep water this week after YouTuber MegaLag exposed many layers of what sure feels like a scam. We've got a few other tech news stories this week, like the fact that you can call ChatGPT on the phone now; how exciting. Plus, we've got some tips and picks to help you start the new year strong!

Watch on YouTube!

INTRO (00:00)

CES next week (03:10)

Apple TV+ announces free streaming weekend for its catalog of originals (04:25)

MAIN TOPIC: Honey, I shrunk your bank account (05:35)

MegaLag - Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam

Honey controversy, explained: Why a YouTuber claims coupon-finder is 'exploiting' influencers

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Set Apple Notes to locked (16:10)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (27:20)

New research shows AI strategically lying

Could a sponge made from squid bones help remove microplastics?

LEAP 71 hot fires advanced Aerospike rocket engine designed by computational AI

Encyclopedia Britannica is now an AI company

Scientists observe 'negative time' in quantum experiments

Massive Volkswagen data leak exposed 800,000 EV owners' movements

Drinking tea and coffee linked to lower risk of head and neck cancer in study

TAKES:

OpenAI makes ChatGPT available for phone calls and texts (31:35)

App Store has hundreds of 'risky' apps rated as appropriate for kids (36:15)

The 7 Coolest Mathematical Discoveries of 2024 (39:15)

Massive Marriott and Starwood data breaches require 13 fixes, says the FTC (43:25)

BONUS ODD TAKE: The Microscope Museum (44:40)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: Hogwarts Legacy (46:50)

Nate: Beast Games on Amazon Prime (50:35)

RAMAZON PURCHASE - Giveaway! (56:35)

Tech news has slowed down for the holidays, but 'Tis the Season for Lists. We take a look at Apple's App Store Award winners, as well as the most downloaded apps and games of 2024. TikTok is on the second list but will it survive 2025? We've also got some exciting news alongside our usual tips, picks, and headlines.

Watch on YouTube!

INTRO (00:00)

We're going to CES! (07:20)

MAIN TOPIC: (12:40)

Apple honors 2024 App Store Award winners

Most downloaded apps and games of 2024

Lawmakers remind Apple it must remove TikTok from the App Store next month

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: How to use Genmoji on iPhone (24:55)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (30:25)

Almost 800 arrested over Nigerian crypto-romance scam

Driverless bus service in Scotland to be withdrawn due to lack of interest

TP-Link faces possible US ban as hijacked routers fuel Chinese attacks

We're about to fly a spacecraft into the Sun for the first time

Scientists and engineers produce world's first carbon-14 diamond battery with potential lifespan of thousands of years

Recent panic over black plastic started with a math error

TAKES:

YouTube is letting creators opt in to allowing third-party AI training (35:10)

AirPods turn 8 (37:40)

Your AirTag's battery will last for up to 10 years with Elevation Lab's new TimeCapsule Enclosure (39:40)

Nearly 500,000 power bank chargers sold on Amazon recalled due to fire and burn hazard - Anker issues recall for three Bluetooth speakers due to fire risk - stop using them now (41:15)

BONUS ODD TAKE: NASA Rocket Engine Fireplace - 8 Hours in 4K (44:15)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: AINOPE Car USB Charger Multi Port, 108W Fast USB C Car Charge PD 36W & QC3.0 Cigarette Lighter Car Travel Essentials for Long Trips Kids with 5FT Cable for iPhone 16 15 Pro Max 14/iPad/Samsung S24 (47:15)

Nate: Sony ZV-1F Vlog Camera for Content Creators and Vloggers Black (51:45)

RAMAZON PURCHASE - Giveaway!

Find us elsewhere:

https://notpicks.com - Find links to previous picks of the week

https://www.notnerd.com - All things Notnerd

There has been a lot of VR news lately. We'll get caught up on the world of Nate's Apple Vision Pro, Dave's Meta Quest, and Samsung is getting into the game with Apple. Are you on the VR bandwagon yet? Plus, we've got all of the other segments, tech news, tips, and picks to help you tech better!

Watch on YouTube!

INTRO (00:00)

Amazingly Awkward Christmas Playlist (04:10)

MAIN TOPIC: Apple, Meta, Google VR News (10:05)

Tim Cook defends Vision Pro's sales performance with three words

Popular Science Innovation of the Year - Apple Vision Pro

Simply Piano now lets you learn to play through Apple Vision Pro — no keyboard required

ResMed debuts ergonomic head strap for Vision Pro

Blackmagic debuts $30,000 3D camera for capturing video for Vision Pro

Apple Vision Pro has completely changed how Porsche unveils sports cars in two ways

Latest Meta Quest 3 update includes a major visual overhaul, and improved PCVR

This Vision Pro clone from Samsung and Google is good news for Apple users

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Return of the volume slider on the Lock Screen (28:30)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (34:00)

Scrabble star wins Spanish world title – despite not speaking Spanish

X gains a faster Grok model and a new 'Grok button'

Startup will brick $800 emotional support robot for kids without refunds

LG stops making Blu-ray players

Australia struggling with oversupply of solar power

Grubhub just sold for $650 million. Four years ago it was worth $7.3 billion

YouTube TV Hikes Price $10 to $82.99

TAKES

Tips pour in over 5,000 drone sightings. Reason to worry? Government says no (40:20)

Artificial intelligence is helping archaeologists unlock Earth's oldest secrets (44:00)

T-Mobile opens registration for Starlink direct-to-cell satellite service beta launch (45:55)

An official statement from Peak Design regarding privacy (46:55)

BONUS ODD TAKE: Open the microwave door game (49:15)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: Bambu Lab A1 Combo (52:15)

Nate: 32 Inch Webcam Stand Camera Mount, Upgraded Thick Base Flexible Gooseneck Camera Stand Desk Webcam Mount Clamp for Logitech Webcam C930e C930 C920 C922x C922 Brio 4K C925e C615, Gopro Hero 8 7 6 5 4 (01:00:25)

RAMAZON PURCHASE - Giveaway! (01:03:05)

Find us elsewhere:

https://notpicks.com - Find links to previous picks of the week

https://www.notnerd.com - All things Notnerd

OpenAI is doing 12 Days of AI, Grok has some updates, and Google lets you create AI chess pieces. You can even get an AI podcast of your Spotify Wrapped 2024. We've got some great stories for Just the Headlines. Plus some tips and picks to help you tech better.

Watch on YouTube!

INTRO (00:00)

MAIN TOPIC: 'Tis the AI (06:10)

12 Days of OpenAI

ChatGPT Pro coming soon for $200/month, per OpenAI leak

Sora is OpenAI's new video generation tool, here's everything it can do

Marques Brownlee - OpenAI SORA Review

Grok's new 'Aurora' image generator is back, and rolling out to everyone on X

Google GenChess

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Transfer from android to iPhone (25:30)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (35:25)

Hawk Tuah memecoin dumps 90% amid backlash over controversial launch

Nike-owned NFT wearables startup RTFKT is winding down

Walmart buys Vizio for $2.3 Billion specifically for SmartCast Ads

US appeals court upholds law forcing sale or ban of TikTok

Vancouver family honors late son by sending his ashes to space on Celestis mission

Mercedes is working on "solar paint" that could drastically reduce the need for charging

TAKES

Apple's Passwords app now has a Firefox extension for Mac (40:45)

The Touch Bar's loyal fans have made a standalone successor inspired by Apple (42:50)

Spotify Wrapped 2024 launches with AI Podcast powered by Google's NotebookLM (47:45)

U.S. officials urge Americans to use encrypted apps amid unprecedented cyberattack (50:30)

BONUS ODD TAKE(S):

DeadFred Genealogy Photo Archive (52:50)

Vintage Hand-Drawn VHS Labels (58:05)

Project IMG_0001 (01:00:10)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: Anker MagSafe-Compatible iPhone 16 Wireless Charging Stand, MagGo 3 in 1 Wireless Charging Station, Qi2 Certified 15W Wireless Charger, Desk Accessory, for iPhone 16/15/14/13/12, Apple Watch, AirPods (01:02:50)

Nate: My Classic-Retro Console (01:05:50)

RAMAZON PURCHASE - Giveaway! (01:09:15)

Australia has passed a ban on social media for kids under 16? Will it happen? Should it happen? We do our best to break it down. We've also got plenty of other tech news, tips, and picks to get caught up in this episode.

Watch on YouTube!

INTRO (00:00)

MAIN TOPIC: Should we ban social media for kids? (06:50)

Australia passes social media ban for children under 16

TikTok will ban teenagers from using beauty filters

Meta's parenting tips for social media

How to be a good digital parent toolkit

Pessimists Archive

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Control Center- Stop the automatic moving of items (20:55)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (32:15)

'Brain rot' named Oxford Word of the Year 2024

For moon missions, researchers test a 3D-printable, waterless concrete

Amid Europe's energy crisis, this Dutch tulip farmer is swapping gas for heat from Bitcoin mining

ISPs offer such excellent customer service they don't need regulating, say ISPs

NYC's Museum of Ice Cream sued after man claims injury jumping into sprinkle pool

Scientists baffled as orcas seem to revive an 80s trend: dead salmon hats

TAKES

Heartwarming Apple holiday video showcases AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid feature (43:00)

300-foot high Wallace & Gromit animation created on iPhone 16 on show at Apple's UK campus (45:40)

Nintendo relaunches Animal Crossing on iPhone as paid game with no in-app purchases (48:35)

Yes, that viral LinkedIn post you read was probably AI-generated (51:40)

BONUS ODD TAKE: InfiniteStroll.com (57:25)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: Bicycle Prestige Waterproof Plastic Playing Cards, Red & Blue (01:01:05)

Nate: Cellhelmet Car Dash Mount With Fast Wireless Charging Pad & Magnetic (01:05:10)

RAMAZON PURCHASE - Giveaway! (01:09:45)

Can you believe ChatGPT is two years old? Can we expect the terrible twos? Are AI years the same as human years? Black Friday is here, even though it seems to have been going on all month. Are there any good deals? A poll shows that X is more balanced politically than ever, can that be true? Plus, we've got plenty more tech news, Just the Headlines, tips, and picks, all to help you tech better!

Watch on YouTube!

INTRO (00:00)

Black Friday is still here (03:40)

MAIN TOPIC: ChatGPT turns 2 (12:20)

Happy 2nd birthday, ChatGPT! Here are 5 ways you've already changed the world

Fixing AI's energy crisis

FutureTools Collects & Organizes All The Best AI Tools So YOU Too Can Become Superhuman! - Matt Wolfe

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Tap to translate in Messages (20:45)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (26:20)

Earth's 'mini moon' may have been a chunk of our actual moon

Billie Eilish again named Apple Music's artist of the year

Wiz acquires Dazz for $450M to expand its cybersecurity platform

Minecraft enters real world with $110m global theme park deal

Starbucks forced to pay its baristas manually because of a ransomware attack on third-party software

AI-powered robot leads uprising, talks a dozen showroom bots into 'quitting their jobs' in 'terrifying' security footage

TAKES

Shazam tops 100 billion song recognition milestone (28:10)

Pew Research says X is an extremely balanced platform (31:55)

Two hiking with 150 lbs of 'new gear' and 5 gallons of water rescued on 14,505-foot peak - Portlandia Get the Gear (38:40)

Teach mode, Rabbit's tool for automating R1 tasks, is now available to all users (43:25)

China wiretaps Americans in worst hack in our nation's history (47:20)

BONUS ODD TAKE: Retro 80's versions of company logos (48:30)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: SMALLRIG Memory Card Case Holder Anti-Shock Anti-Fall and Scratch Suitable for SD/Micro SD/SIM Cards for Photography Enthusiasts - 2832B (52:15)

Nate: King Ma 1080P iPhone Mini Monitors Sync Rear Camera Selfie Screen for iPhone Vlog Selfie Monitor Screen with Magnetic Clip & Bluetooth Remote for Vlog Live Stream TikTok (56:35)

RAMAZON PURCHASE - Giveaway! (01:02:15)

Coca-Cola is getting a lot of flack over its new AI Christmas ad. Are AI ads the future? A whole lot of people 'tuned' into Netflix to watch some boxing, how did that go? Instagram has a new reset feature that could be very helpful. Those are just a few of the tech news stories we discuss on this week's show. Enjoy!

Watch on YouTube!

Visit Notnerd.com

INTRO (00:00)

Final Cut Pro 11 Released (06:35)

MAIN TOPIC: AI Coca-Cola Christmas Ad (10:15)

Coca-Cola's New AI-Generated Holiday Ad Slammed as 'Soulless' and 'Embarrassing': 'This Is Such Slop'

Coca Cola's AI-Generated Ad Controversy, Explained

Toys 'R' Us AI-generated ad controversy explained

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Turn off auto app install on iOS devices (18:50)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (22:55)

A.I. chatbots defeated doctors at diagnosing illness

Threads grew by a Bluesky this month

Ukraine, US to partner on developing small modular nuclear reactors for reconstruction

Multiple emus on the loose in South Carolina – while 8 escaped lab monkeys also still large

New Pentagon report on UFOs includes hundreds of new incidents but no evidence of aliens

Fake bear commits insurance fraud

Researchers are trying to reinvent the wheel

TAKES

Netflix says 60M households worldwide watched Paul-Tyson (28:00)

Why Everyone Is Now Watching Podcasts on YouTube (33:50)

Are your Instagram recommendations a mess? You can now start from scratch (37:15)

Apple's new home hub could be the smart home kit you've been dreaming of (39:20)

Yes, the 10 worst passwords still include 'password' and 'secret' (42:50)

BONUS ODD TAKE: 10,946: a Year-Long Post-It Note Animation (46:15)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: Tomb Raider Remastered (50:40)

Nate: Kasa Apple HomeKit Outdoor Smart Plug, 2 Sockets, IP64 Weather Resistance for Outdoor String Lights, Compatible with Siri, Alexa & Google Home, Long Wi-Fi Range, 2.4G Wi-Fi Only, ETL Certified (54:55)

RAMAZON PURCHASE - Giveaway! (59:20)

Over the last week, Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies have gone up significantly. Please don't take our investment advice, but we will examine the increase and how the election impacted it. It was a pretty slim week in tech news, but we found some interesting stories to cover and a rousing round of Just the Headlines. Also, we have some great tips and picks to help you tech better!

Watch on YouTube!

INTRO (00:00)

MAIN TOPIC: CryptoWatch (02:45)

Bitcoin touches record-high $85K, adds almost $20K in a week

DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK: Navigating Google Workspace on the Web (10:35)

JUST THE HEADLINES: (19:55)

FDA forces Costco to recall 80,000 pounds of butter because packaging did not say it 'contains milk'

NASA investigates laser-beam welding in a vacuum for in-space manufacturing

LG's new stretchable display can grow by 50%, bendy panels can be deformed into new form factors

Apple Music is publishing a $450 hardcover book celebrating its 100 Best Albums

Intel brings back workers' free coffee, seeking to stem morale decline

Boeing reportedly considers selling off its space business

TAKES

iOS 18.1 added a new 'Inactivity Reboot' security feature for iPhone (24:05)

iOS 18.2 fixes one of the most annoying aspects of the new Photos app (28:05)

Microsoft wants $30 to let you keep using Windows 10 securely for another year (31:00)

Databreach.com emerges as an alternative to HaveIBeenPwned (36:50)

BONUS ODD TAKE: The Quilt Index (40:10)

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Dave: Stouchi 4 Packs Airtag Holder Key Ring with Soft TPU Case, Stainless Steel Invisible Slim Keychain Compatible with Airtag 2021 Finder Items, Dog, Key, Backpacks Air Tag Accessories (42:40)

Nate: ESR for iPad Air 11 Inch Case M2, iPad Air 6th/5th/4th Gen , Powerful Magnetic Attachment, Slim Trifold Stand Case, Supports Pencil Pro&Pencil USB-C, Durable Protection, Grey (47:40)

RAMAZON PURCHASE - Giveaway! (51:55)