TechtalkRadio

This week on TechtalkRadio Episode 494, Andy Taylor, Justin Lemme, and Shawn DeWeerd share a mix of new adventures, gaming nostalgia, and a personal connection to a legendary ocean liner.

Justin returns with the story behind his family’s RV purchase, including how he used AI to build an inspection checklist, the surprise costs of getting on the road, and why driving a motorhome means paying closer attention to low-hanging obstacles! A Costco shopping trip also delivers an unexpected surprise when Justin and his son Eric uncover a rare Pikachu card, sparking a conversation about collectible values, professional grading, and using AI to identify potential treasures.

Shawn finally opens his Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2, showing off the console, dock, Joy-Cons, and matching Pro Controller while sharing the family memories behind his lifelong love of The Legend of Zelda.

Then, KOLD News 13 and KMSB FOX 11 anchor Tyler Butler joins Andy to discuss his transportation podcast, Wheels, Wings, and Rails, and plans to transform the SS United States into an artificial reef. For Andy, the conversation carries special meaning: his family traveled to America aboard the ship in 1964. Tyler discusses preservation efforts, his upcoming coverage, 3D-printed ship models, and two decades of owning a DeLorean.

Plus, a listener’s question about preparing for Grand Theft Auto VI gets the guys talking about PlayStation and Xbox storage expansion and the challenges of massive game downloads.

Check out the Video Version on our YouTube @TechtalkRadio

It's a Halloween edition of TechtalkRadio, and Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd are talking RV adventures, podcasting, laptop disasters, smartphone filmmaking, and the growing problem of digital hoarding!

The show kicks off with news that co-host Justin Lemme has purchased an RV! Shawn shares tips for first-time RV buyers, the benefits of Starlink satellite internet, and why sometimes the best part of camping is disconnecting from technology.

Ever thought about starting your own podcast? Andy and Shawn discuss how easy it can be to get started, from basic microphones and recording software to platforms like Spreaker, OBS Studio, and RiversideFM.

A listener from Sahuarita has a laptop with disappearing keyboard letters, touchpad troubles, and a screen damaged by her cat! Is it worth fixing, or is it time for a replacement? The guys also discuss swollen laptop batteries, affectionately known as "spicy pillows," and why they're no laughing matter.

Andy shares his experience using the free Blackmagic Camera app for professional-looking iPhone video, along with a look at the ASUS ExpertBook business laptop, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, OLED display, and advanced security capabilities.

Finally, what happens when your smartphone runs out of storage? Andy demonstrates the SanDisk iXpand flash drive, leading to a hilarious discussion about backing up photos, massive hard drives, NAS storage systems, and whether we're all becoming digital hoarders.

From RVs and recording gear to cat-damaged computers and overflowing storage drives, it's another entertaining episode filled with practical technology advice, personal stories, and plenty of laughs.

Join Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd for TechtalkRadio — where technology meets everyday life!

Visit www.TechtalkRadio.com

Welcome to this weeks episode of TechtalkRadio with Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd, bringing you technology news, helpful tips, product discoveries, and a little gaming nostalgia!

Shawn shares his excitement about returning to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and why he's avoiding spoilers before experiencing the remake. The conversation turns to the value of video games for kids, the difference between interactive gaming and endless scrolling, and Andy's recommendation of the NEX Playground motion-based gaming system.

The guys also tackle the changing world of software. With AI-generated alternatives to Adobe Creative Cloud making headlines, Andy and Shawn discuss subscription pricing, software ownership, open-source alternatives, and whether AI can really replace established creative applications. They also look at Microsoft Publisher's retirement, LibreOffice, and Corel's approach to purchasing software.

Listener questions bring cybersecurity and privacy into focus. Do you really need to purchase antivirus software when Windows includes Microsoft Defender? What about Malwarebytes? And could your robot vacuum be collecting more information about your home than you realize? The discussion expands to smart televisions, connected refrigerators, and the growing privacy concerns surrounding everyday household devices.

Andy also showcases a surprisingly affordable Suidek external CD/DVD drive that combines an optical drive with USB ports, memory card readers, and an M.2 storage slot or another model with an SSD Storage Slot!

Andy shares some info he read about an open-source project called Clean Your TV, NVIDIA's approach to running AI across computers on a local network, and AlternativeTo.net, a useful resource for discovering software alternatives. Shawn also shares his experiences with RustDesk and Tailscale for remote computer access.

Thanks for checking out this weeks show!
Visit TechtalkRadio.com for more technology news, videos, and information.

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, and Justin Lemme explore the latest technology, answer listener questions, and share a few laughs along the way!

Andy gets hands-on with the new ASUS Googlebook 14, an ultra-lightweight laptop featuring Gemini AI integration, a stunning OLED display, and powerful hardware. But with a price tag approaching $1,300, is it worth the investment? Shawn and Justin share their thoughts on Google's growing ecosystem, online privacy, and why they're exploring alternatives to Big Tech services.

Listener questions bring some great discussions! Should you buy an inkjet or laser printer? Is it safe to hold down your computer's power button to shut it off? And why are some smart TVs requiring users to create accounts before they can start watching?

The team also discusses Windows 11 updates, Adobe and Canva's changing creative tools, and the growing impact of AI-generated content. Plus, Justin shares a fun Website of the Week that brings classic Windows Solitaire back with a multiplayer twist! https://www.solitarealonetogether.com 

There's even more RV talk as Justin continues exploring the world of recreational vehicles, with helpful advice from Shawn and listeners.

Technology, tips, opinions, and a little humor — it's all part of this week's TechtalkRadio!Visit TechtalkRadio.com and send your questions to [email protected].

Road trips, creator gear, and online privacy come together on this week’s TechtalkRadio with Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, and Justin Lemme.

Justin returns with stories from his family trip to Devils Tower, a speedy stop at Buc-ee’s, and a new goal: buying an RV. Shawn shares his camping experience as the conversation explores RV shopping, campground comforts, solar power, Starlink, and bringing technology along for the adventure. Andy recommends Justin watch Lost in America with Albert Brooks before jumping into the RV Purchase while He dreams of being Cousin Eddie. 

Andy demonstrates the Ulanzi TT23 tracking tripod and DJI Mic Mini 2 wireless microphone, while Shawn answers a listener’s question about saving online videos with a discussion of yt-dlp, FFmpeg, and 4K Video Downloader.

Special guest Tom Kamber, executive director of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP, joins Andy to discuss AI, personal information, online privacy, and educational resources available through Senior Planet.

Shawn shares his excitement over a Zelda-themed Nintendo purchase with The Switch 2 and the challenge of beating scalpers to a preorder.

Got a question for the show? Email [email protected], and catch more at techtalkradio.com.

Please Share, Listen, Subscribe to the Show

Connect With Us on social media
YouTube @TechtalkRadio
Facebook @techtalkers
Instagram @techtalkradio
TikTok @Techtalkradio
X @techtalkradio

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd dig into Apple’s newly announced iPhone Duo, the foldable phone that has Andy intrigued while Shawn remains firmly in the “not for me” camp. They talk about the Duo’s dual displays, multitasking, cameras and fingerprint authentication, along with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, iOS updates and the impressive performance gains Apple Silicon continues to bring to demanding tasks like video editing.

Then the confessions begin as Andy and Shawn discover they’re both digital hoarders. From hundreds of thousands of saved messages and overflowing iCloud storage to stacks of backup drives filled with years of files, photos and duplicates, they ask the question many of us avoid: how much digital stuff do we really need to keep?

The conversation also includes an important smartphone privacy warning, Shawn’s recap of BlizzCon, World of Warcraft, Diablo and StarCraft, plus AI guardrails and just how dependent everyday life has become on the Internet and cloud-based services.

Then Andy welcomes Jeff Scott Soto of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Jeff shares how he became part of TSO following his time with Journey, his early reaction to the unusual combination of classical music, Christmas and hard rock, and how founder Paul O’Neill’s vision turned that idea into a worldwide phenomenon. Jeff also talks about the technology behind TSO’s massive live productions, the multi-generational audience, the band’s charitable efforts and carrying Paul O’Neill’s vision forward.

It’s foldable phones, overflowing hard drives, gaming, AI and plenty of rock ’n’ roll on this week’s TechtalkRadio!

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd go from the great outdoors to the increasingly strange world of artificial intelligence.

Andy starts with the Monster Vision 2, a portable entertainment system with a 15-inch Full HD screen, built-in battery, Bluetooth, HDMI, USB playback, FM radio and more. Could it be useful for camping, backyard entertainment or even emergency preparedness?

The conversation then turns to Smart TV privacy as Andy and Shawn discuss concerns over the information connected televisions may collect and what that means for consumers.

Andy also rediscovers Tubi and the appeal of free, ad-supported streaming, while a much darker AI topic comes up with an upcoming true-crime production using digital technology to recreate the likeness of Aileen Wuornos. Is that an impressive use of AI, or has the entertainment industry crossed a line?

Listener Martin from Sahuarita asks whether switching from traditional cable to YouTube TV could save money while still providing DVR features, local channels and good picture quality.

Security cameras are also on the agenda as Andy considers replacing one of his Google Nest cameras, leading to a discussion about Wyze cameras and an important safety recall involving a solar-powered model.

Listener Lauren from Tucson asks whether Windows 11 is really taking snapshots of what users are doing, bringing Microsoft Recall and Copilot+ PC privacy concerns into the conversation.

Plus, Andy highlights some creative social-media creators, and Shawn shares his latest project using Suno to create World of Warcraft parody songs under his DeWirdy name.

From portable TVs and streaming to privacy, AI, Windows 11 and Warcraft songs, it’s another wide-ranging edition of TechtalkRadio with Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd.

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor, Justin Lemme and Shawn DeWeerd dive into a little bit of everything—from artificial intelligence to old-school photography and some seriously dusty technology!

The guys discuss the explosion of AI-generated commercials, music and images and how difficult it’s becoming to tell what was created by a person and what came from AI. Andy shares how he used Suno to turn original lyrics into a personalized birthday song, while Shawn explains why spending time creating AI music has made him much better at recognizing it.

Justin talks about using Grok inside his Tesla, including an amusing encounter where AI becomes a fact-checker in the car. The conversation expands to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Copilot and why choosing the right AI tool depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.

Then it’s back to photography as the crew discusses restoring old family pictures, the charm—and imperfections—of vintage Polaroids, and the new Pokémon-themed Polaroid collaboration.

A listener question launches a discussion about mesh networking, Wi-Fi 7 and multi-gig Internet, along with privacy concerns surrounding connected devices and targeted advertising. Justin also shares his experience with a hand-crank emergency weather radio, while Shawn gets into GMRS, FRS and radio repeaters.

And where do the Dust Bunnies come in? Andy cleans up a system while revealing just how much dust can accumulate inside technology!

The crew is back together for TechtalkRadio Episode 486: Poutine, Power & Portable PCs! Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd and Justin Lemme catch up on severe weather, Gen Con adventures and Shawn's travels — including a trip to Canada that somehow leads to Andy getting an education on the Canadian favorite, poutine.

Shawn shares his experience with an Anker SOLIX home battery backup and portable solar panels, while Justin talks about taking a practical approach to emergency preparedness by slowly stocking water, food, lighting and other essentials.

Andy gets hands-on with the latest ASUS Zenbook Duo, featuring two 14-inch 3K OLED displays, a removable Bluetooth keyboard, Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. The guys also discuss rising RAM and storage prices and why building your own PC may not be the bargain it once was.

A listener's inherited Windows 10 laptop sparks a conversation about wiping an old PC, moving to Windows 11 or giving Linux Mint a try. Andy also shares the story of troubleshooting a laptop with just 9MB of storage remaining!

Plus, Andy checks out the new folding Logitech MobiFold Bluetooth mouse, and Justin explains why his job in IT occasionally involves slinging hot dogs and serving Dippin' Dots.

It's tech, troubleshooting, preparedness, gadgets, poutine and plenty of laughs with Andy, Shawn and Justin on TechtalkRadio!

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd explore how technology is changing the way we preserve our memories—and the media we own. They discuss AI photo restoration, scanning decades of family photos, the surprising comeback of film photography, and the best ways to digitize some of those great images and film handed down.

The conversation then shifts to Sony's decision to eliminate physical PlayStation game discs, what it means for digital ownership, and why gamers are pushing back. Plus, a couple of questions about whether it's still worth building your own PC, how to safely clean your computer, and whether a VPN is right for your home or travel setup.

Wrapping up the show, they take a look at the rumored Insta360 X6, expected to bring 8K recording, improved HDR, and even better 360-degree video.