Tech Support

This week Al and Jen talk Linux, tips on how to work in peace, news including a hitman who was caught due to his smart watch, and in the discussion we ponder how tech affects our every day work life in ways we don't often think of. This week's game putty sees two artistically pretty games mashed together. 

Discussion at Facebook // Episode notes ↓WHYBTD

We talk about what we've been 'tech doing': what tech we've bought, what we've tinkered with, and stories about tech in our lives.

Al: Switches to Fedora, has a nice time.

Jen: Chillhop on YouTube, Twitter outrageNEWS

A Twitter bug exposed some Android users’ protected tweets for years

https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/17/18187143/twitter-bug-android-protected-tweets-turned-off

Tidal under criminal investigation in Norway over 'faked' streams

https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/14/tidal-criminal-investigation-faked-streams/

Microsoft Suggests Windows 10 Mobile Users Switch to iOS or Android as Support Winds Down

https://www.macrumors.com/2019/01/18/microsoft-recommends-windows-mobile-users-switch-ios-android/

Ford’s iconic F-Series trucks are going electric

https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/16/fords-iconic-f-series-trucks-are-going-electric/

Digital license plates are now allowed in Michigan

https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/17/18187338/digital-license-plates-michigan-allowed-rules-legal-price

Garmin data used to convict British runner for the murder of two gangsters

https://www.si.com/track-and-field/2019/01/17/british-hitman-runner-mark-fellows-convicted-mob-murders-gps-watch-trackingDISCUSSION

How technology changes the way we work

Collaboration v. insubordination

Connectivity v. breakdowns

Customisation

Data and social media

Reliance v. anxiety

What about the future?Game Putty

We take two games we’ve been playing and mash them together to make what is often a horrific, ridiculous abomination. Enjoy!

Al: Feudal Alloy

Jen: Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (3DS) 2011

Tim McGraw’s Alloy Mask

Theme Music: Hexadecimal Gnome by Bit Shifter via 8bitpeoples.com

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Al created a bespoke automation system for radio stations that you can download for free! Make your own digital station or if you're a community station like Edge, this can replace any existing, expensive software you might be using. And you can run it on a RaspberryPi computer. What?! Yes. We also discuss the usual news and games. In the discussion, we give you a run down on what you need to do to up your online security. It's...a lot. But it's important. 

Discussion at Facebook // Episode notes ↓WHYBTD

We talk about what we've been 'tech doing': what tech we've bought, what we've tinkered with, and stories about tech in our lives.

Al: Launches Rivendell on Raspberry Pi. Go Download that shiz!

Jen: Manual vs. automated systems at work.NEWS

Lexar’s 1TB SD card is the first you can actually buy

LG introduces OLED TV that rolls up and disappears when you’re not watching it

Chrome's ad blocker will go global on July 9

SpaceX to lay off 10% of its workforce

GoFundMe is refunding all donations made to the 'Fund the Wall' campaignDiscussion

Your 2019 personal security checklist

https://securitycheckli.stGame Putty

We take two games we’ve been playing and mash them together to make what is often a horrific, ridiculous abomination. Enjoy!

Game Hut YouTube 

Al: The Lion King (Mega Drive)

Jen: Snake (Nokia)

Tim McGraw’s Lion X Snake FATES

Theme Music: Hexadecimal Gnome by Bit Shifter via 8bitpeoples.com

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Al is mad, really mad. Companies are greedy. Not only that, but they're mishandling data in ways that put us and entire countries at risk. While some are worried about land borders, digital borders are being invaded in plague-like proportions making a joke out of national security. But why isn't anyone paying for it? Where is the justice for our data? 

We also talk what we've been tech doing, news, and Game Putty returns with a bit of Smash and bash! 

Discussion at Facebook // Episode notes ↓WHYBTD

We talk about what we've been 'tech doing': what tech we've bought, what we've tinkered with, and stories about tech in our lives.

Al: Gets angry at mega corporations because they’re bastards. Namely? Adobe.

Jen: The great photo audit of 2019 with tips on how to manage your data and photos including backing up. Jen wants this to be your New Year's Resolution. NEWS

Oregon Unconstitutionally Fined a Man $500 for Saying ‘I am an Engineer,’ Federal Judge Rules

Fifth Circuit Says Apple Can't Be Held Liable For A Car Crash Caused By Someone Reading Text Messages

Chinese censors go old school to clamp down on Twitter: A knock on the door

A women’s sex toy won an award from CES, until they stole it backDISCUSSION

In 2018 it rained data, and not in a good way. Hacking, leaking and general complacency when it came to the protection of user data seemed to be the order of the day. The big question is, why aren't the right people being punished for letting these things happen? Should corporations be held accountable? What’s an appropriate punishment? Game Putty

We take two games we’ve been playing and mash them together to make what is often a horrific, ridiculous abomination. Enjoy!

Al: Battletoads

Jen: Smash Brothers

Tim McGraw’s

Theme Music: Hexadecimal Gnome by Bit Shifter via 8bitpeoples.com

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Sure it's just another trip around the sun, but the end of the year means it's a good time to reflect. What was the best tech of the year? What games did we love? Let's find out! 

Discussion at Facebook // Episode notes ↓WHYBTD

We talk about what we've been 'tech doing': what tech we've bought, what we've tinkered with, and stories about tech in our lives.

Al: Buys all the SBCs and makes no progress (single board computers such as Raspberry Pi)

Jen: Lenovo Jedi Challenges augmented reality headset - Be a real Jedi! 

BEST TECH OF 2018

3D metal printing

Medical advancements: AI diagnoses, AI in incubators

Mars rover InSight

Classic consoles

WORST TECH OF 2018

Cryptocurrency

Google+ and Google in general

Tesla Model 3, Leadership fail

Facebook

All the hacks https://www.businessinsider.com.au/data-hacks-breaches-biggest-of-2018-2018-12?r=US&IR=TGAMES WE LOVED

Jen: BOTW (technically 2017), God of War, Spiderman, Tetris Effect

Al: Thronebreaker. Diablo 3 Switch, VR is bust

At the time of recording, the hosts were sleeping on Red Dead Redemption II. Don't worry folks, we'll get to it. OTHER

Cosmodrome documentary on Netflix

Theme Music: Hexadecimal Gnome by Bit Shifter via 8bitpeoples.com

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

We did it! We made it to 100 episodes! That means we've researched, written, performed and edited 100 podcasts/radio programs about technology. How did this even happen? One day we were in the offices at Edge Radio and Jen said "You know what Edge doesn't have? A tech show" and now look! Each week Al does the bulk of the work editing the program and getting it out to you wonderful listeners. Lately he's also stepped up and done a majority of the content planning! He's basically a legend. This week, Jen threw it out to Twitter (@jenmovies) and asked what it is THEY want to hear on episode 100. We also do the usual stuff so grab a cuppa, kick back and enjoy our 100th episode. (You can follow Al @AmericanScum on Twitter too!) 

Discussion at Facebook // Episode notes ↓WHYBTD

Al: Buys more raspberry pis. Google Home Hub. Retropie. Pihole. Pi Zero Security Camera.

Jen: Filming a music video

NEWS

***A Moment of Silence for encryption/tech in Australia***

Hasty PJCIS examination of encryption Bill produces rushed and contemptuous report

https://www.zdnet.com/article/hasty-pjcis-examination-of-encryption-bill-produces-rushed-and-contemptuous-report/

A Quarter of Tumblr's Users Are There to Consume Porn, Data Scientists Find

https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/gy7w4b/data-scientists-estimate-a-quarter-of-tumblrs-users-are-there-to-consume-porn

Fortnite dev launches Epic Games Store that takes just 12% of revenue

https://venturebeat.com/2018/12/04/fortnite-dev-launches-epic-games-store-that-takes-just-12-of-revenue/

Aston Martin will make old cars electric so they don’t get banned from cities

https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/6/18129618/aston-martin-heritage-ev-electric-cars-city-ban

Scientists develop 10-minute universal cancer test

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/dec/04/scientists-develop-10-minute-universal-cancer-test

Auto theft on the rise in Toronto area, and a security expert thinks he knows why

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/car-thefts-rising-1.4930890

DISCUSSION

Twitter decides what we talk about! 

Thanks to:

@andrew_mendlik 

@HanStar3000 (Edge Radio's Youth Training Coordinator)

@HoneyChild_OZ 

@ahugfan

@SaltedOnion

Game Putty

Al: Earthworm Jim

Jen: Spiderman PS4

= Tim McGraw’s Earth-Spider-Jim

Theme Music: Hexadecimal Gnome by Bit Shifter via 8bitpeoples.com

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week on Tech Support, Al and Jen discuss new toys including an Android WearOS watch and speedflash (speed light) for Jen's Nikon, news including the EU's horrifying plan to charge tax on hyperlinks like the ones you see below, and your hosts take a deep dive into the future of the auto industry. Tetris gets the Game Putty treatment.

Discussion at Facebook // Episode notes ↓WHYBTD

Al: Scores a bargain WearOS watch.

Jen: Godox - Speed Flash V860IIN i-TTL HSS 1/8000s Li-ion BatteryNEWS

Google News may shut over EU plans to charge tax for links

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/18/google-news-may-shut-over-eu-plans-to-charge-tax-for-links

In ‘Digital India,’ Government Hands Out Free Phones to Win Votes

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/18/technology/india-government-free-phones-election.html

Maryland Test Confirms Drones Can Safely Deliver Human Organs

https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/robotics/drones/test-run-confirms-that-drones-can-safely-deliver-organs-for-transplant

Bitcoin falls below $5,000

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-46263998

Google's Find My Device can now map out exactly where you left your phone inside some buildings

https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/11/20/googles-find-device-can-now-map-exactly-left-phone-buildings/DISCUSSION

Motor Industry Watch

GM axes Volt, Cruze, and Impala for North America in cost-cutting move

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2018/11/gm-announces-layoffs-and-plant-closures/

5 reasons why GM is cutting jobs, closing plants in a healthy economy

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/11/27/gm-cuts-restructuring-5-reasons-why/

Ford To Ditch Cars In North America, Focus On Trucks And SUVs

https://www.npr.org/2018/04/26/606153452/ford-to-ditch-cars-in-north-america-focus-on-trucks-and-suvs

Ford Eyes Use of Customers’ Personal Data to Boost Profits

https://threatpost.com/ford-eyes-use-of-customers-personal-data-to-boost-profits/139209/

Elon Musk says Tesla was 'single-digit weeks' away from death during Model 3 production

https://www.businessinsider.com.au/elon-musk-says-model-3-production-nearly-killed-tesla-2018-11#BZ3DBMmGvOQZEMSe.99Game Putty

Al: Tetris Mobile

Jen: PSVR - Tetris Effect

= Tim McGraw’s

Theme Music: Hexadecimal Gnome by Bit Shifter via 8bitpeoples.com

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week on Tech Support, Al and Jen discuss rebuilding tech after a flood, the weekly news including driverless cars going ahead despite concerns, and Al brings back Yahoo Answers tech edition. In Game Putty, Al and Jen head back to 2000. 

Discussion at Facebook // Episode notes ↓WHYBTD

Al: Starts to rebuild his tech home

Jen: Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals

NEWS

PlayStation begins collecting amusement tax from Chicago users

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-playstation-cloud-tax-chicago-20181113-story.html

Waymo to Start First Driverless Car Service Next Month

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-13/waymo-to-start-first-driverless-car-service-next-month

Amazon has so much data it could make algorithm-driven fiction

https://qz.com/1453112/amazon-has-everything-it-needs-to-make-massively-popular-algorithm-driven-fiction/

Couple Who Ran ROM Site to Pay Nintendo $12 Million

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/bjezda/couple-who-ran-rom-site-to-pay-nintendo-dollar12-million

Food taste 'not protected by copyright' rules EU court

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46193818

DISCUSSION/INTERVIEW

It’s Back! Yahoo Answers tech edition. Listen as Jenni tries to answer people's stupidest questions.Game Putty

Al: American McGee’s Alice

Jen: Diablo 2: StarCraft Remaster (bootleg)

= American Tim’s Diablo in Wonderland (remaster)

Theme Music: Hexadecimal Gnome by Bit Shifter via 8bitpeoples.com

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week on Tech Support, is Amazon Prime worth it in Australia? There's more AI medical news plus Samsung's wonderous folding phone. Based on the Netflix film The Beyond, Al and Jen discuss what humans of the future will look like. In Game Putty, Diablo III and Portal 2 get a throwback mashup. 

Discussion at Facebook // Episode notes ↓WHYBTD

Al: Smart Speakers

Jen: Amazon PrimeNEWS

Amazon must give up Echo recordings in double murder case, judge rules

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/11/amazon-must-give-up-echo-recordings-in-double-murder-case-judge-rules/

Artificial intelligence predicts Alzheimer's years before diagnosis

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181106104249.htm

Samsung shows off a foldable prototype that merges phone and tablet

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2018/11/07/samsung-shows-off-foldable-prototype-combines-phone-and-tablet-sdc-18/1920851002/

DJI Drone Vulnerability Exposed Customer Data, Flight Logs, Photos and Videos

https://www.securityweek.com/dji-drone-vulnerability-exposed-customer-data-flight-logs-photos-and-videos

Self-driving cars could function as moving brothels, academics predict

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/11/07/brothels-could-move-self-driving-cars-academics-predict/DISCUSSION

Human 2.0: Based on the Netflix film The BeyondGAME PUTTY

Al: Diablo 3 for Switch

Jen: Portal 2 Co-Op for XBox One

= Tim McGraw’s Diablo Portal Co Op for Nintendo Virtual Boy 19’ Hell Edition

Theme Music: Hexadecimal Gnome by Bit Shifter via 8bitpeoples.com

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week Al and Jen talk about recent news in Artifical Intelligence (AI) along with the usual segments. News, games, personal tech exporations! 

Discussion at Facebook // Episode notes ↓WHYBTD

Al: Apple does good. Makes Al feel weird.

Jen: Nintendo 3DS.NEWS

Motorola Becomes First Smartphone Company to Sell DIY Repair Kits to Its Customers

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/bj4ez3/motorola-becomes-first-smartphone-company-to-sell-diy-repair-kits-to-its-customers

Now Apps Can Track You Even After You Uninstall Them

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-22/now-apps-can-track-you-even-after-you-uninstall-them

SpaceX official says company about to launch a Falcon 9 for the third time

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/10/spacex-may-use-a-falcon-9-rocket-for-the-third-time-next-month/

Vatican Releases Pokemon GO Clone For Catholics

https://nintendosoup.com/vatican-releases-pokemon-go-clone-for-catholics/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Feds shut down self-driving school bus pilot in Florida

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2018/10/feds-shut-down-self-driving-school-bus-pilot-in-florida/

Oculus co-founder is leaving Facebook after cancellation of ‘Rift 2’ headset

https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/22/oculus-co-founder-is-leaving-facebook-after-cancellation-of-rift-2-headset/

 

DISCUSSION: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Madness

AIs trained to help with sepsis treatment, fracture diagnosis

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/10/ais-trained-to-help-with-sepsis-treatment-fracture-diagnosis/

DARPA wants to build ‘contextual’ AI that understands the world

https://venturebeat.com/2018/10/23/darpa-wants-to-build-contextual-ai-that-understands-the-world/

AI-Generated Portrait Sells for $432,500 in an Auction First

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-25/ai-generated-portrait-is-sold-for-432-500-in-an-auction-first?srnd=premium

20 top lawyers were beaten by legal AI. Here are their surprising responses

https://hackernoon.com/20-top-lawyers-were-beaten-by-legal-ai-here-are-their-surprising-responses-5dafdf25554d

'The Blowjob Paper:' Scientists Processed 109 Hours of Oral Sex to Develop an AI that Sucks Dick

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/pa9nvv/the-blowjob-paper-scientists-processed-109-hours-of-oral-sex-to-develop-an-ai-that-sucks-dick-autoblowGame Putty

Al: Thronebreaker: Witcher Tales

Jen: Hitman

= Tim McGraw’s Hitbreaker

This week Al and Jen ponder over the blandess of PC upgrades in the last few years, the news features lots of jerks, and a discussion is had about deep fakes. In Game Putty, more Zelda but this time it gets Dirty. 

Discussion at Facebook // Episode notes ↓WHYBTD

Al: Wonders why PC tech is going backwards.

Jen: Onboarding a new employee is impossibleNEWS

DHS Seized Aftermarket Apple Laptop Batteries From Independent Repair Expert Louis Rossman

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/a3ppvj/dhs-seized-aftermarket-apple-laptop-batteries-from-independent-repair-expert-louis-rossman

As Predicted, Australian Government Looks To Creep Site Censorship Into Search Censorship

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20181018/09123440865/as-predicted-australian-government-looks-to-creep-site-censorship-into-search-censorship.shtml

'Do Not Track,' The Privacy Tool Used By Millions Of People, Doesn't Do Anything

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2018/10/do-not-track-the-privacy-tool-used-by-millions-of-people-doesnt-do-anything/

UK Supermarkets Will Test Using Facial Recognition To Verify Alcohol Buyers' Age, Report Claims

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2018/10/uk-supermarkets-will-test-using-facial-recognition-to-verify-alcohol-buyers-age-report-claims/

Chinese city 'plans to launch artificial moon to replace streetlights'

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/oct/17/chinese-city-plans-to-launch-artificial-moon-to-replace-streetlights

Memes may contribute to teenage obesity, lawmakers told

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/18/health/internet-memes-obesity-intl/index.html?no-st=1539877202

DISCUSSION

Deepfakes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepfake

Someone Used A Deep Learning AI To Perfectly Insert Harrison Ford Into Solo: A Star Wars Story

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2018/10/someone-used-a-deep-learning-ai-to-perfectly-insert-harrison-ford-into-solo-a-star-wars-story/Game Putty

Al: Dirt 3

Jen: LOZ: Ocarina of Time

= Tim McGraw’s Time Dirt

Theme Music: Hexadecimal Gnome by Bit Shifter via 8bitpeoples.com

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License