Sorgatron Media Master Feed

Apple finally gave the tech world its foldable iPhone, and the biggest question on AwesomeCast 796 isn’t whether it looks impressive. It’s whether anyone needs a $1,999 phone.

Sorg, Katie Dudas and Dave Podnar spend this week’s episode looking at where Apple is going next, while also catching up on Nintendo, MapQuest, Pittsburgh technology and some unusually revealing internet analytics.

Dave upgraded to iOS 27 and came away impressed with its speed and stability, but the headline Siri AI features come with a catch: there’s a waitlist.

Apple’s rollout includes a more capable Siri experience, improved Visual Intelligence and upgrades to Image Playground. Sorg, who had access earlier through the beta process, says Siri already appears better at understanding spoken requests and answering questions without immediately handing everything off elsewhere.

More on the Siri AI rollout:

Then there’s the iPhone Duo.

The foldable became one of the episode’s biggest discussions after an unlikely piece of analytics showed just how much attention Apple’s announcement received: Pornhub reported a significant traffic drop when Apple revealed the device.

https://mashable.com/life/pornhub-apple-event-viewers-dropped-iphone-duo

Beyond the jokes, there are intriguing ideas here. Apple is using matching aspect ratios between the outside and inside displays, potentially making life easier for developers. The larger format opens up interesting multitasking possibilities, and the crew sees potential for business users, presenters and some creators.

The problem is impossible to ignore: $1,999 is a lot of money for a phone.

Katie compares the experience to having a dual-monitor setup in your pocket but struggles to get past the cost. Sorg sees the Duo more as Apple’s latest first-generation experiment — something that may eventually trickle down into less expensive devices after early adopters figure out what the form factor is actually good for.

A smaller Apple announcement may prove more immediately useful.

The crew discusses an Apple Watch listening feature that can help recover something you recently heard. The example involved replaying information like restaurant specials, but Sorg immediately saw a production use for it: remembering instructions received in a noisy event environment.

Sometimes the best technology feature isn’t spectacular. It simply fixes a small problem that happens constantly.

Chachi’s Video Game Minute brings an update on the White House Tetris-style game, which has now been removed.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2026/09/08/white-house-removes-controversial-tetris-style-game-from-arcade-website/

Nintendo also showed gameplay for the Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, scheduled for November 5.

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nintendo-shares-the-first-gameplay-and-release-date-for-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake/

Sorg continues the Nintendo discussion with Mario Kart World’s newly accessible recreations of classic Super Nintendo tracks and a new Metroid announcement.

Mario Kart update:

Nintendo Direct roundup:

The larger question is whether Nintendo is leaning too heavily on remakes — even as genuinely new games continue arriving beside them.

MapQuest’s unexpected comeback continues, powered partly by something its bigger competitors often lack: personality.

Katie introduces two more Questies — Corgi and Black Cat — along with Rufus, the dog who inspired the Corgi design, and the upcoming Jimothy character. Future MapQuest updates are also expected to include CarPlay, Android Auto and transit improvements.

Corgi and Black Cat:

Rufus:

Jimothy:

It’s a reminder that a challenger brand doesn’t always have to beat Google on pure scale. Sometimes giving people a reason to care about the product is enough to get another look.

For Hispanic Heritage Month, Dave’s Awesome History segment highlights Luis von Ahn.

Von Ahn came from Guatemala to Carnegie Mellon, became one of the researchers behind CAPTCHA and later co-founded Duolingo. The discussion expands into the importance of university research and how work that begins without an obvious commercial product can eventually become foundational technology.

https://www.invent.org/inductees/luis-von-ahn

Sorg’s Awesome Thing of the Week comes from a very different kind of technology production.

The Sidekick Media crew helped capture Prospect Pro Wrestling’s “Banger in the Hangar” at the 911th Air Wing. Wrestlers entered through a huge cargo aircraft, Stormtroopers showed up, the Pirate Parrot got involved, and the production took place inside an enormous working hangar.

Watch the event:

It is another episode that jumps from smartphones and video games to Pittsburgh production stories — exactly the kind of wonderfully strange technology mix AwesomeCast was built for.

Support AwesomeCast at Patreon.com/AwesomeCast and find more shows at www.SorgatronMedia.com.

Wrestling Mayhem Show 1020 dives headfirst into a massive weekend of lucha libre, WWE in Mexico, surprising championship changes, and unforgettable independent wrestling. Sorg and Mad Mike welcome special guest co-host TruePrinceOfPro for a spirited review of TripleMania, from Omos launching Rey Mysterio through a table to El Grande Americano’s championship celebration.

The crew examines whether WWE’s production style has polished away some of Triple A’s distinct personality while also giving its wrestlers a larger international platform. They discuss the Copa Bardahl, the return of familiar Triple A personalities, Nathan Frazer and Axiom finding a natural home in lucha libre, Rey Fenix’s four-way title defense, La Catalina’s championship journey, and the Wagner Brothers capturing tag team gold.

The conversation then turns to WWE’s Mexico run, including Sami Zayn becoming WWE Champion, Damian Priest turning on R-Truth, Chad Gable’s outstanding battle with Dragon Lee, and Penta receiving a WrestleMania-level presentation against Roman Reigns. Did Penta need to win, or did his performance establish him as a true main-event player?

Sorg also shares stories from Prospect Pro Wrestling’s Banger at the Hangar, a unique event staged inside an aircraft hangar at the 911th Airlift Wing near Pittsburgh International Airport. The show featured wrestlers emerging from a military aircraft, an encounter between Paul Atlas and the Pirate Parrot, a huge crowd, and a memorable sendoff for longtime Pittsburgh wrestling fixture Dennis Gregory.

Topics include:

Hosted by Sorg and Mad Mike with special guest co-host TruePrinceOfPro.

Find more from the Wrestling Mayhem Show at:

Today on Just Pro Wrestling News:

• Roman Reigns defeats Penta to retain the World Heavyweight Championship in Mexico City.

More daily wrestling news:

www.JustProWrestlingNews.com

Sometimes the hardest accomplishment to recognize is your own.

In Part 2 of Jim Ellermeyer's conversation with sportscaster Austin Cairns, Austin opens up about learning to slow down and appreciate the people, experiences, and accomplishments already in his life.

Austin talks about the trusted circle of family and longtime friends who have been there for him and how, especially during college, constantly trying to “go, go, go” could quickly lead to burnout. More recently, he has learned to put down the phone, step away from the computer, spend time with his family, and remember that time may be more valuable than money.

The conversation also follows Austin's educational and professional journey from CCAC to Point Park University and into the world of sports broadcasting. He recalls helping create a live charity event at Point Park that combined sports, entertainment, media, and professional wrestling and ultimately raised more than $365,000.

But even after accomplishing something that significant, Austin admits that being proud of himself didn't come naturally.

Jim and Austin discuss the difference between arrogance and confidence and why recognizing your own progress doesn't mean putting yourself above anyone else. For Austin, that lesson also meant realizing that the kid who grew up watching professional wrestling was now calling matches, working in sports, creating content, and meeting people he once watched on television.

Austin also shares how an internship with an independent wrestling promotion gave him a foot in the door, what he learned from experienced broadcasters, and why storytelling is such an important part of professional wrestling commentary.

It's a conversation about gratitude, purpose, family, ambition, burnout, confidence, and giving yourself permission to acknowledge how far you've already come.

Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen without the ads and support the show through Patreon:

Continue your mindfulness practice with “Learn to Fish Without Bait: A 365-Day Mindfulness Journal and Adult Coloring Book”:

Today on Just Pro Wrestling News:

• El Grande Americano defeats Dominik Mysterio to become Triple A Mega Champion.

More daily wrestling news:

www.JustProWrestlingNews.com

This episode, Eamon & Merlin talk a start of a new year and new season on Real Housewives of New York City; and the youth of New York giving us the reality tv we need right now on Next Gen NYC.

7:16 - Real Housewives of New York: Season 16: Episode 01

We are Eamon and Merlin, a queer married couple from Texas living in Pittsburgh, PA. We love reality television, wrestling, drag queens, and pretty much anything that can be called even kinda gay. A Gay & His Enby is a podcast where we talk about everything we love in terms of media and pop culture; everything thats gay and gay adjacent; basically all the conversations we have in our living room we are now putting in front of a microphone and on the internet for you.

We have launched our MERCH STORE! We are so excited to bring you these designs, all made by Merlin, commemorating some of our favorite iconic moments! Shop now at https://AGayAndHisEnby.Threadless.com

Every week, we have the pleasure and privilege of recording from Sorgatron Media Studios in Pittsburgh. The theme song for our main show is Pulsar by Shane Ivers, and the theme song for Binge Watch is Higher Up by Shane Ivers, both of which you can find at https://www.silvermansound.com

All of our social media can be found at our linktree: https://linktr.ee/agayandhisenby

We want to take a moment to uplift a powerful resource:

Let us be crystal clear: A Gay & His Enby stands for immigrant rights. Period.

This isn’t just politics—it’s about people. Families being torn apart. Communities being surveilled and silenced. And the same systems that criminalize immigrants also criminalize Black people, trans people, queer people, disabled people—anyone who doesn’t fit white supremacist standards of “belonging.”

We believe:

If you’ve ever wondered how to help, this guide is a great place to start. Share it. Donate if you can. Speak out even when it’s uncomfortable.

None of us are free until all of us are free.

In recent years, states have pushed forward a record number of bills that attack LGBTQ rights, especially transgender youth. The current obession with Drag Queens is no exception. This is a thinly veiled attempt to outlaw gender expressions that do not fall within the cisheteronormative guidelines. Please consider donating to one of the following charities to help make the US a safer place for Queer folks to live in peace.

American Civil Liberties Union

Today on Just Pro Wrestling News:

• Nic Nemeth retains the TNA World Championship against Matt Hardy in a wild No Disqualification match.

More wrestling news:

www.JustProWrestlingNews.com

Today on Just Pro Wrestling News:

• AEW’s Rebel Heart Dynamite honors Tanea Brooks and her fight with ALS.

More wrestling news:

www.JustProWrestlingNews.com

A huge AEW All Out match is official on today’s Just Pro Wrestling News as World Champion Will Ospreay prepares to defend against Jon Moxley.

Also today:

• Adam Copeland and Christian Cage challenge FTR and the Young Bucks to a three way championship battle involving tables, ladders and chairs.

Get more at www.JustProWrestlingNews.com.

Xbox cloud gaming limits are changing Sorg’s living-room setup, MapQuest is turning navigation into a pixel-art adventure, and a rooster alarm app wants you to work for your snooze button.

On AwesomeCast 795, Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar explore gaming news, gadgets, apps, and geek culture from Pittsburgh.

• Xbox Cloud Gaming limits: Sorg explains why he moved his Xbox Series S back downstairs. The hosts discuss the impact of monthly streaming allowances on long games and cloud-focused devices, plus a follow-up on Xbox’s disc-to-digital licensing preview.

• Next-generation Xbox affordability: An interview about Project Helix sparks a conversation about efficiency, console prices, PC game compatibility, and unanswered disc-drive questions.

• Retro cartridges on modern computers: Sorg discovers Epilogue’s GB Operator and SN Operator. The discussion covers playing existing Game Boy and Super Nintendo collections, preserving cartridge saves, and a Game Boy Camera connection.

• MapQuest’s 8-bit personality: Katie shares her experience with pixel-style maps, Questies character avatars, playful navigation voices, CarPlay, and live radio.

• Star Trek at 60: Dave reflects on the franchise’s cultural impact, diverse vision of the future, and connections to real-world technology, from communicators to tablet-like PADDs.

• John Snow and disease mapping: Dave’s Awesome History explores the Broad Street cholera outbreak and connects historical mapping with modern wastewater surveillance and community preparedness.

• Panic’s tariff refunds: ChachiSays covers the Playdate company’s decision to return tariff charges to customers.

• The Tetris Company responds: Chachi discusses the company’s statement about a Tetris-like game on the White House website.

• Zelda anniversary reactions: Sorg discusses the presentation’s movie reveal, music-tour news, and Ocarina of Time remake footage. The hosts weigh remake pricing, revisit Nintendo memories, and talk Twilight Princess, Star Fox, and Super Mario Sunshine.

• Street Fighter 6 meets the movies: Movie-actor challenger screens, including Roman Reigns as Akuma, spark excitement and memories of Street Fighter’s earlier film and game crossover.

• Snoopy at Starbucks: Katie highlights Great Pumpkin-inspired Peanuts merchandise, including mugs, travel cups, bags, and pins.

• Dungeon Crawler Carl LEGO Ideas: Two fan proposals bring Carl, Princess Donut, and friends into brick form. The hosts explore a dungeon scene and larger character builds seeking community support.

• Clucky’s demanding wake-up call: Sorg sets up a rooster alarm app with snooze challenges, samples its loud sounds, and chooses a tilt-game mission. Katie explains how the app turns getting out of bed into an interactive routine.

Plus, Dave shares his Steelers 5K experience, and the hosts bring their usual mix of hands-on discoveries, gaming opinions, and Pittsburgh personality.