Tech Talk Thursdays

By Desk Chair Analysts

A weekly podcast where we talk about the latest tech, gaming, and streaming news!

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FAQs about Tech Talk Thursdays:

How many episodes does Tech Talk Thursdays have?

The podcast currently has 158 episodes available.

Tech Talk Thursdays episodes:

May 14, 2021Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #27 (05/13/2021)
Tech
This panda hungers for your Steam and Discord logins

Microsoft yanks a dodgy AMD driver that is bricking some Windows 10 PCs

Instagram users can now add pronouns to their profiles

Wi-Fi vulnerabilities affect most devices, but the risk is small
Your WiFi Just Became More Secure Thanks To The FragAttacks Project

Gaming
Apple vs Epic trial discusses Itch.io's "unspeakable" games

Microsoft's Console Purchase Pilot looks like a new way to avoid Xbox Series scalping

Xbox Party Chat is becoming more accessible with speech transcription and synthesis

If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, reach out to [email protected] or join the Discord at https://majors.house/discord
You can follow us at:
https://twitter.com/majorlinux
https://twitter.com/synxiecbeta
https://twitter.com/kevikevshow
https://twitter.com/IdiosynAnca
Catch the video versions over at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56esONHaO_QqqW7UmZS1RNUSg9jNikIU
...more
1h 49min
May 07, 2021Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #26 (05/06/2021)
Tech
NY AG report finds 18 million FCC net neutrality comments were fake

PlayStation invests in Discord and plans integration with PSN in 2022

Researchers find new CPU vulnerabilities and say fixes would kill performance

If your CPU usage is inexplicably spiking, try installing this optional Windows 10 update

Signal Shares the Instagram Ads Facebook Doesn't Want You to See

AirTag stalking 'frighteningly easy'; multiple problems identified

A NEWLY DETECTED QUALCOMM VULNERABILITY AFFECTS ALMOST ONE IN THREE PHONES

2-Step Verification is coming to your Google account if you don't already use it

Twitter begins rolling out new ‘Tip Jar’ feature for paying other users directly
Gaming
Xbox Series X/S FPS Boost Arrives For Over 70 Backwards Compatible Titles Today

Humble Bundle says sorry, brings back charity sliders

USC Games establishes Gerald A. Lawson Fund to help Black and indigenous students

Sony Class-Action Lawsuit Revealed Over PlayStation Store Exclusivity

Sony charges for crossplay support to protect PSN revenue, documents show

Walmart's unannounced cloud gaming service surfaces in Epic vs Apple dispute

Tim Sweeney apologized to Ubisoft in 2019 for 'extraordinary' Division 2 fraud on the Epic Store

Sweeney asked Xbox to time free multiplayer launch with Epic's first Apple attack

Apple banned Shadow app after Microsoft used it as an example to get xCloud for iOS approved
Software/Hardware Updates
You’ll want to grab this Nvidia GPU driver to play Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition

May security patch rolling out to Google Pixel, factory images & OTAs live

Apple releases iOS 14.5.1 with fix for App Tracking Transparency bug
Deals
Xbox Game Pass Adds 9 New Games, Including Outlast, FIFA 21, And More

If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, reach out to [email protected] or join the Discord at https://majors.house/discord
You can follow us at:
https://twitter.com/majorlinux
https://twitter.com/synxiecbeta
https://twitter.com/kevikevshow
https://twitter.com/IdiosynAnca
Catch the video versions over at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56esONHaO_QqqW7UmZS1RNUSg9jNikIU
...more
2h 30min
April 23, 2021 Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #25 (04/22/2021)
Tech
- Intel and TSMC say chip shortage could last until 2022 or beyond
- Apple agrees to let Parler back on the App Store, citing improved moderation
- Google says the only thing keeping Parler off the Play Store is Parler
- The folks behind Brave Browser slam Google for its new tracking policy
- Discord reverses decision to block iOS users from accessing any NSFW content
- Watch out, crypto-mining SSDs are on the way now, too
- Tile Unhappy With Apple's AirTag Launch, 'Skeptical' About Fair Competition and Plans to Tattle to Congress
- Discord Reportedly Ends Acquisition Talks With Microsoft
- Cellebrite phone-cracking software hacked using iPhone SE

Gaming
- Widely-publicized Steam Invite hack has been fixed
- A recent Windows 10 update is trashing framerates and causing games to stutter
- Microsoft xCloud Beta for iPhone and iPad to Launch This Week
- Rainway partners with Microsoft to power Xbox Game Pass iOS streaming
- Xbox Live Gold is no longer required to play free-to-play titles online
- PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita Will Continue Operations
- Overwatch Director Jeff Kaplan Is Leaving Blizzard, Overwatch 2 Still In Development
- Epic Games Store Adding Itch.io, iHeartRadio, And More PC Apps

Deals
- Play at Home Update – Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition free starting today
- Xbox Game Pass Adds 6 New Games Including Fable, MLB The Show 21, And More
- Epic Games Store freebies this week are Alien: Isolation and Hand of Fate 2

If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, reach out to [email protected] or join the Discord at https://majors.house/discord
You can follow us at:
https://twitter.com/majorlinux
https://twitter.com/synxiecbeta
https://twitter.com/kevikevshow
https://twitter.com/IdiosynAnca
Catch the video versions over at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56esONHaO_QqqW7UmZS1RNUSg9jNikIU
...more
2h 18min
April 16, 2021Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #24 (04/15/2021)
Tech
Apple admits that iMessage for Android was killed to keep its walled garden

Tim Cook: Epic wants to turn the App Store into a 'flea market'

Domino's Begins Autonomous Pizza Delivery

Clubhouse user data gets exposed, CEO claims it wasn't a leak

FBI arrest Texas man for attempting to blow up 'the internet' with C-4

Discord for iOS will block users from accessing all NSFW servers

Report reveals how little-known 'Azimuth Security' cracked the iPhone in the San Bernardino FBI case

Verizon unveils Hyper Precise Location service in more than 100 markets
Gaming
Outriders player discovers 23GB of crash dumps stuffed in a Windows folder

Source Engine exploits could let hackers remotely access players' PCs

The Epic Games Store is haemorrhaging cash to deliver exclusives and free games

Epic Games nets $1 billion in funding, including $200 million investment from Sony

Capcom says last year's ransomware attack exploited an 'old VPN' that had been kept online due to Covid-19

HyperX teams with 1,000 Dreams Fund to support women in gaming

A Roblox player infiltrated the White House press corps

At Least 30,000 US Organizations Newly Hacked Via Holes in Microsoft's Email Software – Krebs on Security

Oculus Quest 2 is getting official wireless PC support

Before Your Eyes dev creates a fake game to make a point about Steam refunds
Streaming
Twitch outlines plan to take action against off-platform misconduct

Nvidia's RTX Voice noise removal is now integrated into OBS streaming software
Software/Hardware Updates
PS5 April Update brings new storage options and social features
If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, reach out to [email protected] or join the Discord at https://majors.house/discord
You can follow us at:
https://twitter.com/majorlinux
https://twitter.com/synxiecbeta
https://twitter.com/kevikevshow
https://twitter.com/IdiosynAnca
Catch the video versions over at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56esONHaO_QqqW7UmZS1RNUSg9jNikIU
...more
3h 25min
April 09, 2021Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #23 (04/08/2021)
Tech
Snap has tested workaround to App Tracking Transparency; 95% effective

Personal data from over 500M Facebook users leaked online

Mark Zuckerberg's contact details included in Facebook leak

You can now turn on Nvidia's excellent noise cancellation with any GeForce GPU

AMD admits Ryzen 5000 CPU exploit could leave your PC open to hackers

Working from home worth $30K a year to some, finds poll

Microsoft is dunking servers into boiling liquid to keep them cool

Discord deleted thousands of 'violent extremist' servers last year

Dates for Google I/O 2021 have been revealed — and it's the first free I/O in memory

Apple Announces Find My Network With Support for Third-Party Devices

Intel 'Bleep' Software Filters Out Toxic Slurs in Voice Chats as You Game
Gaming
Xbox Game Pass Adds MLB The Show 21 On Day One

MLB The Show 21 On Xbox Game Pass Was Reportedly MLB's Decision

E3 2021 will be a free online-only event, ESA confirms

Microsoft adds touch control support to Xbox Game Pass' current cloud-enabled line-up

Epic v. Apple discovery details 'Project Liberty' scheme to skirt App Store with Fortnite
Software/Hardware Updates
April security patch rolling out to Google Pixel, OTAs live
Deals
Xbox Game Pass Adds 8 New Games, Over 50 Cloud-Enabled Titles With Xbox Touch Controls

If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, reach out to [email protected] or join the Discord at https://majors.house/discord
You can follow us at:
https://twitter.com/majorlinux
https://twitter.com/synxiecbeta
https://twitter.com/kevikevshow
https://twitter.com/IdiosynAnca
Catch the video versions over at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56esONHaO_QqqW7UmZS1RNUSg9jNikIU
...more
2h 40min
April 02, 2021Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #22 (04/01/2021)
Tech
U.S. Carriers Fix SMS Routing Vulnerability That Let Hackers Hijack Texts

New spyware on Android pretends to be a system update for your phone

Apple Lobbies Against 'Right to Repair' Bill Over Privacy Concerns of Third Party Repair Shops Accessing User Data

WWDC 2021 officially announced, iOS 15 expected

Verizon 3G Network Will Shut Down End of 2022

Google Meet extending ‘unlimited’ video calls for free Gmail accounts to June

Broadband for all, promises White House; it's 'the new electicity'

Airline industry body to launch COVID passport for the iPhone

Arizona App Store antitrust dead after Apple, Google lobbying

Utah Getting Mobile Driver's Licenses Pilot

iOS 14.5 Adds New Siri Voices, No Longer Defaults to Female

iOS 14.5 Will Recalibrate iPhone 11 Batteries to Fix Battery Health Bug
Gaming
The PS3, Vita and PSP PlayStation Store on the web has gone offline

We’ve officially entered the era of gaming PCs shipping without a graphics card

PAX East 2021 cancelled, PAX Online coming instead in July

This week's Call of Duty: Warzone update weighs in at up to 57.8GB

Activision Blizzard appoints former Trump official as its chief administrative officer

New Xbox Series X Wireless Headset Revealed With Limited Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Series

Xbox 360 can now stream from the cloud w/ Game Pass
Software/Hardware Updates
Apple releases iOS 14.4.2 and iOS 12.5.2 to fix critical security vulnerability
Deals
Xbox Games with Gold April: Dark Void, Vikings: Wolves of Midgard, more

PlayStation Plus April games announced • Eurogamer.net

If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, reach out to [email protected] or join the Discord at https://majors.house/discord
You can follow us at:
https://twitter.com/majorlinux
https://twitter.com/synxiecbeta
https://twitter.com/kevikevshow
https://twitter.com/IdiosynAnca
Catch the video versions over at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56esONHaO_QqqW7UmZS1RNUSg9jNikIU
...more
3h 13min
March 19, 2021Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #21 (03/18/2021)
Topics
Tech
Cheaper, Ad-Supported HBO Max Subscription Launching in June

Hackers hack at unhackable new chip for three months. Chip remains unhacked

Nvidia's cryptocurrency mining limiter has been cracked, but it's not quite a farming frenzy yet

AMD refuses to limit cryptocurrency mining: 'we will not be blocking any workload'

White hat hacker investigation casts even more doubt on SMS-based 2FA methods

App Privacy Study Looks at Most 'Invasive' Apps Collecting User Data

Hackers used compromised websites to infect iOS and other operating systems
Gaming
Rockstar thanks GTA Online player who fixed poor load times, official update coming

GTA Online's load time patch is here, and it works

Activision Blizzard lays off 50 esports staff as it prepares for a future without in-person events

Investors Fight Back Against Latest Wave Of Activision Blizzard Layoffs, Call CEO's Salary Into Question

Xbox adds option to increase download speeds by suspending game

Next-gen VR on PS5: the new controller

EVO 2021 confirmed as an online tournament under new Sony co-ownership

Introducing Haven, a new Montreal-based independent studio

Nvidia doubles the price of GeForce Now membership
Streaming
Twitch is making it easier for streamers to deal with copyright claims

DMCA & Copyright FAQs
Software/Hardware Updates
Latest Nvidia driver fixes Fortnite, Rocket League, and Red Dead Redemption bugs
Deals
Grab a Stadia Premiere Edition for just $70 ($30 off) It could be your last chance to get a Chromecast Ultra

Octopath Traveler, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Empire of Sin, more coming to Xbox Game Pass

EA Play is coming to Xbox Game Pass PC March 18

Play at Home 2021 update: 10 free games to download this Spring

The Fall is free on the Epic Games Store, Creature in the Well is next

If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, reach out to [email protected] or join the Discord at https://majors.house/discord
You can follow us at:
https://twitter.com/majorlinux
https://twitter.com/synxiecbeta
https://twitter.com/kevikevshow
https://twitter.com/IdiosynAnca
Catch the video versions over at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56esONHaO_QqqW7UmZS1RNUSg9jNikIU
...more
2h 52min
March 12, 2021Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #20 (03/11/2021)
Topics
Tech
The SolarWinds Hack Gets Worse, But Offers A Tiny Bit Of Amusement

Twitter addresses sharing 30% cut with Apple for Super Follow

Not Very Uncarrier: T-Mobile Starts Selling Your Usage Data to Advertisers on April 26

Google Fi users won't have usage data shared by T-Mobile

Researchers demonstrate new browser-based side-channel attack that affects Intel and M1 Macs

Proposed 'Accessible, Affordable Internet for All' bill aims to invest $94B in nationwide broadband

Netflix asks password borrowers to get their own accounts in new test
Gaming
Following backlash, Six Days in Fallujah publisher now says game is "inseparable from politics"

Microsoft confirms "some" Bethesda games will be full Xbox and PC exclusive

Rust EU servers go offline following fire at French data center, devs expect large amount of data loss

Meyers Leonard dropped by basketball team and sponsors after using antisemitic slur in Call of Duty stream

Capcom reportedly forced staff to work on-site despite Japan's 'Covid Emergency'

Xbox boss says he acquired Bethesda to deliver Game Pass exclusives
Streaming
Twitch API code reveals plans for a 'Brand Safety Score' for streamers
Software/Hardware Updates
Nvidia releases a GPU hotfix to address screen flickering and Fortnite stuttering

watchOS 7.3.2 security update with WebKit fix drops for Apple Watch

Apple releases macOS Big Sur 11.2.3 with security updates for all users

Apple releases iOS 14.4.1 with security updates for iPhone users

Xbox March Update Adds New Backward Compatible Settings Plus Headset Customization
Deals
Tell Me Why's first chapter is now free

20 Bethesda games coming to Xbox Game Pass including Oblivion, Morrowind, The Evil Within, Prey, more

If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, reach out to [email protected] or join the Discord at https://majors.house/discord
You can follow us at:
https://twitter.com/majorlinux
https://twitter.com/synxiecbeta
https://twitter.com/kevikevshow
https://twitter.com/IdiosynAnca
Catch the video versions over at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56esONHaO_QqqW7UmZS1RNUSg9jNikIU
...more
2h 30min
March 05, 2021Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #19 (03/04/2021)
Topics
Tech
LastPass analytics code raises questions about potential security issues

Instagram Live Now Supports Up to 4 People Simultaneously

Apple ID held hostage when Apple Card payment failed

Apple confirms it does not hold your Apple ID hostage due to missed Apple Card payment

Google Says It Soon Won’t Track Your Browsing Anymore

LinkedIn will stop collecting IDFA data on iOS due to Apple's App Tracking Transparency feature

Some iOS apps are leaking data due to misconfigured cloud services, research shows
Gaming
Someone has figured out how to reduce GTA Online's load times by almost 70%

Hogwarts Legacy developers fought to include a 'trans-inclusive' character creator

Outriders dev explains all those pesky loading cutscenes

Fortnite developer Epic buys Fall Guys studio Mediatonic
Streaming
Twitch Transparency Report
Software/Hardware Updates
There's a new system update for... Wii U
Deals
PlayStation Plus games for March: Final Fantasy VII Remake, Maquette, Remnant: From the Ashes and Farpoint

NBA 2K21 and Star Wars: Squadrons coming to Xbox Game Pass

Wargame: Red Dragon is free on the Epic Games Store, next week it's Surviving Mars

If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, reach out to [email protected] or join the Discord at https://majors.house/discord
You can follow us at:
https://twitter.com/majorlinux
https://twitter.com/synxiecbeta
https://twitter.com/kevikevshow
https://twitter.com/IdiosynAnca
Catch the video versions over at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56esONHaO_QqqW7UmZS1RNUSg9jNikIU
...more
2h 20min
February 19, 2021Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #18 (02/18/2021)
Topics
Tech
Mark Zuckerberg Reportedly Told Staff Facebook Needs to 'Inflict Pain' on Apple Over Privacy Dispute

NZXT is recalling 32,000 H1 PC cases in the US

Apple fixes bug that let users begin macOS Big Sur installation without enough space available

First Apple Silicon optimized malware discovered in the wild

Windows Defender vulnerability finally patched after 12 years

LastPass free restricts users to one device type in March

App Store will require apps offering vaccination proof to be submitted by health authorities

Utah Launching COVID-19 Contact Tracing System With Apple and Google API This Week
Gaming
Nvidia Is Bringing Back Older GPUs To Deal With Shortages

Nvidia is halving the hash rate of RTX 3060 to make it less desirable to cryptocurrency miners

Nvidia says its cryptocurrency mining limiter 'cannot be hacked'

Why GameStop Couldn't Capitalize On Its Reddit-Fueled Stock Rally

Six Days in Fallujah ‘not trying to make a political commentary,’ creator says

Xbox Announces New Premium Wireless Headset

Microsoft is making one of the most positive moves for game accessibility in years

Microsoft Reveals Xbox Backwards Compatibility FPS Boost For Select Games

Josef Fares will give you $1,000 if you get bored of It Takes Two

EA's $1.2 billion acquisition of Codemasters is now complete

Saudi investment fund acquires shares in Activision Blizzard, Take-Two, and EA

Streaming
11 Black Twitch streamers to follow

Software/Hardware Updates
AMD’s latest GPU driver quietly delivers a massive boost in Mesh Shader performance

watchOS 7.3.1 now available for Apple Watch with Power Reserve bug fix

Deals
Microsoft announces new February games coming to Xbox Game Pass

Rage 2 and Absolute Drift are free on the Epic Games Store, Sunless Sea is free next week
If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, reach out to [email protected] or join the Discord at https://majors.house/discord
You can follow us at:
https://twitter.com/majorlinux
https://twitter.com/synxiecbeta
https://twitter.com/kevikevshow
https://twitter.com/IdiosynAnca
Catch the video versions over at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL56esONHaO_QqqW7UmZS1RNUSg9jNikIU
...more
3h 18min

FAQs about Tech Talk Thursdays:

How many episodes does Tech Talk Thursdays have?

The podcast currently has 158 episodes available.