TechtalkRadio

TechtalkRadio Flashback Special – 20 Years Ago This Week

This week on TechtalkRadio, we open the time capsule and revisit a show recorded this Week 20 years ago in 2005, bringing back the conversations, gadgets, and innovations that were shaping the tech world at the time.

We begin with a look at the Magnolia Home Theater grand opening at Best Buy, joined by special guests Sergio Rodriguez and Brandon Kelly. They share how Magnolia transformed the home entertainment shopping experience with premium brands, demo rooms, and expert consultations — a big step forward in the age of plasma TVs, HD, and surround sound.

Next, Andy Taylor and Randy Malick dive into listener emails from 2005, covering the buzz around Gmail’s exclusive beta invites, Google’s breakthrough spam filtering, and the growing dangers of phishing scams. The hosts also discuss Grisoft AVG antivirus, consumer satisfaction surveys where Apple, Dell, and HP stood out, and new creative tools from Sony’s Vegas Movie Studio, Acid Music Studio, and Sound Forge, which were making professional-style editing accessible to home users. They wrap the segment by exploring the trend of Flash-powered websites and tools like Mix-FX for adding animation without coding.

In the third segment, Andy sits down with Blake Krikorian, CEO and Co-Founder of Sling Media, to talk about the groundbreaking Slingbox — a $250 device that let users stream and control their home TV from anywhere in the world. Blake explains how Sling’s technology, codenamed Lebowski, optimized streaming video on the fly, making it reliable even on lower bandwidth. From watching CNN at work to controlling TiVo abroad, the Slingbox redefined how people consumed media and paved the way for the streaming age. (Blake Krikorian sadly passed away in 2016, but his impact on digital media lives on.)

Finally, Andy brings us back to today with a look at Notebook LM, a modern AI-powered study companion. Notebook LM breaks down websites and documents into conversational exchanges, making information easier to understand and retain — almost like listening to a radio show designed just for you.

This flashback episode is a reminder of how quickly technology evolves, how far we’ve come since 2005, and how innovations from the past still echo in the tools we use today.

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From ditching Zoom for a better recording platform, to debating Windows 11 upgrades, to reminiscing about the golden days of AOL dial-up, this week’s TechtalkRadio is packed with tech talk, nostalgia, and a few surprises—including a home lab build and a Nintendo Switch 2 that didn’t get the reaction anyone expected.

In this week’s episode of TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor, Matt Jones, Justin Lemme, and Shawn DeWeerd discuss with starting with their recent move from Zoom to Riverside FM. They share why Zoom was no longer meeting their needs and how Riverside FM’s superior video quality, cleaner audio, and feature-rich platform have improved their workflow—making it the right choice for the show moving forward.

The conversation then shifts to the pros and cons of upgrading to Windows 11. The hosts share personal experiences, touching on hardware compatibility challenges, software update quirks, and the OS’s enhanced security and features. They also explore options for those who can’t—or don’t want to—upgrade, including Microsoft’s recently introduced Consumer Extended Security Update Program for Windows 10. These insights offer listeners practical guidance for making the right decision for their setup.

Nostalgia kicks in as the crew reflects on AOL’s decision to retire dial-up internet. They swap stories of early online adventures, the unforgettable connection sound, and how far we’ve come—from sluggish dial-up to lightning-fast fiber. Justin adds a personal twist, recalling his time working in an AOL call center and the unique challenges of supporting users in the early internet era. They also discuss the benefits of switching providers for improved speed and reliability.

Wrapping up, Matt takes listeners inside his home lab build, showcasing the repurposed servers, networking gear, and AI-driven security components that power his privacy-focused smart home. Justin follows with the story of tracking down and buying a Nintendo Switch 2 for his son—only to be surprised when it didn’t spark the excitement he expected. Together, these segments highlight the personal side of tech, from ambitious builds to unexpected reactions.

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🎲 In this week’s episode of TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd reunite at the mic as Shawn returns from Gen Con 2025—America’s biggest tabletop gaming convention. He shares his epic haul of new games, including Everdell Silverfrost, Dice Throne Slamthrone, and the new RPG system Daggerheart from Darrington Press, the creators behind Critical Role. The two talk trends in tabletop gaming, cosplay highlights, and how accessible these games have become—even for beginners and families.

But that’s not all—Andy and Shawn also dive into the world of Linux, tackling myths about its complexity, the perception of toxic forums, and why distributions like Linux Mint can breathe new life into older PCs. They share listener reactions to last week’s Linux segment and thanked those that added input. Shawn and Andy also offer practical advice for new users, and shout out tools like AlternativeTo.net and even ChatGPT for making the transition easier.

On the tech side, the show covers a listener question from Dave in Tucson about removing Windows 11 S Mode and what it does, Andy shares frustrations with Microsoft OneDrive, and Shawn highlights some exciting new gear: the upcoming Insta360 drone titled AntiGravity  and DJI’s first 360° camera, the Osmo 360.

Plus, if you’re a gamer, you’ll want to hear about the upcoming Battlefield 6 open beta starting August 9th—and how to get in on the action.  Andy tests out Riverside FM as a new recording platform for higher-quality video segments. It’s a jam-packed episode filled with gaming, geekery, and gear!

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In this week’s episode of TechtalkRadio, Andy, Shawn, and Justin reconnect as Shawn shares details from his recent camping trip to Northern Michigan. He describes the rustic charm of a family resort with little to no internet access—no Wi-Fi for guests and only a Starlink connection that wasn’t available to visitors. Shawn explained how he kept his kids entertained by pre-downloading YouTube videos onto an iPad. The group reminisced about how camping used to mean screen-free adventures and noted how hard it can be for kids today to unplug from technology, even in the great outdoors.

While enjoying the escape, Shawn ran into tech trouble when his iPhone 13 Pro, running the iOS 26 developer beta, suddenly lost SIM card functionality. A visit to the Apple Store led to the discovery that the phone still had a physical SIM card, but the beta OS caused compatibility issues. He downgraded to iOS 18, got things working again, and then reinstalled the beta—only to find that Apple wouldn’t service his battery issue while the beta was active. This led to another frustrating downgrade and a full device restore. The team shared their thoughts on beta software headaches and Apple's rigid repair policies.

Laptop troubles also came up, with Andy detailing a persistent issue with his Lenovo 530 that initially seemed resolved after replacing the CMOS and internal battery. However, the problem ran deeper, and while he managed a workaround by unplugging both from the motherboard, the root cause remains elusive. Justin shared his own experience with a faulty Asus ROG Strix that led him to switch to an HP Omen with an AMD Ryzen 9. He praised the performance and efficiency of the new laptop, especially compared to the heat and power draw of his older Intel system. They also touched on possible microcode issues affecting some Intel chips.

The discussion shifted to Windows user account preferences. Shawn and Justin voiced their frustrations with Microsoft’s push for online accounts, preferring local user setups for better control and privacy. They discussed how difficult it has become to install Windows without a Microsoft account and debated the viability of Linux as an alternative. Andy considered Linux Mint for his editing rig, and Justin reassured him that networking with other systems using Samba is straightforward and effective.

Andy also talked about repairing a Toshiba Satellite 655 that needed a Windows 10 upgrade and a new hinge. Instead of just replacing parts, he found a fully functional donor laptop on eBay for $20 and used its hinge system to complete the repair. It worked out great and sometimes the old laptop can be great to repair with. That led to a conversation about overheating electronics left in hot cars—a serious issue, especially in summer. Andy raised awareness about the damage that heat can do to internal components, and Justin lightened the mood by joking about “computers in heat,” which inspired this week’s episode title: When Two Computers Are in Love.

The show wrapped with Justin recommending the Website of the Week, Incogni, a privacy service that helps protect users from identity theft and online threats, complete with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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This Week on TechtalkRadio: Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd hold down the fort while Justin takes his son to see the new Superman movie in IMAX. Shawn shares his own IMAX experience with the new F1 film and discusses Apple’s potential takeover of F1 media rights from ESPN.

The duo dives into the evolving world of streaming platforms, comparing Apple TV+ with Netflix and Hulu. They also explore how content consumption has changed for kids, with YouTube creators like Ms Rachel reshaping early education and digital habits.

The conversation shifts to tech and parenting, highlighting the role of AI and digital tools in learning. Shawn stresses the need for parents to understand tech to help guide their children, advocating for a balance between screen time and outdoor activities.

Shawn then shares details about his Plex server upgrade, moving from an older Intel i3 system to a powerful i7-9700 setup with an NVIDIA 3060 GPU, running Linux Mint 22. He explains what Plex is, how it works, and how it allows users to stream their personal media libraries with features like metadata tagging, remote access, and RAID storage.

Also in this episode, Andy chats with Anna Bilych, founder of Les Amis, a platform built to help women foster real friendships. Anna discusses the challenges of building the platform, its use of AI for connecting users, and how Les Amis is helping women connect through curated local events. From pottery nights to group chats, Les Amis is redefining digital community with style and purpose.

To wrap things up, Andy and Shawn reflect on the changing ergonomics of smartphone use, from the days of one-handed texting on Sidekicks to today’s two-thumb operation on large-screen devices. It's a new kind of digital workout — a true Battle of the Thumbs!

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This Week on TechtalkRadio:

Justin, Shawn, and Andy tackle the buzz around Epic Games’ $126 million Fortnite refund settlement as listed in this link for the FTC for unauthorized in-game purchases and account locks. The conversation dives into the psychology of microtransactions, with Justin sharing personal experiences from PGA Tour 2K25 and Clash of Clans, and Andy reflecting on mobile games that he plays like Toon Blast which also has come under scrutiny. Shawn breaks down jaw-dropping revenue numbers for these games, highlighting the lucrative—and addictive—nature of in-game purchases.

The discussion pivots to the shifting landscape of operating systems, as the crew critiques Microsoft’s pushy tactics with Edge, Bing, and Copilot, and sings the praises of Linux Mint as a cleaner, ad-free alternative. They explore how Linux is becoming a go-to OS for users tired of bloat and complexity, with helpful resources like Alternativeto easing the transition.

From BIOS repair using a CH341A programmer to Reddit-sourced tech fixes, the show is packed with DIY insights. Justin tells us about and swears by Driver Easy for driver updates which has Shawn signing up during the show for a special deal.  We are also reminded on one of Matts favorites, NiNite while Shawn also suggests regular reformatting every couple of years to keep machines healthy.

Listener questions lead to a conversation about USB drives—form factors, brand reliability, and best practices for storage and backups, including the 3-2-1 strategy. Plus, Shawn shares his ham radio experience connecting with the International Space Station and recommends the Next Spaceflight app, just as NASA gears up to stream live on Netflix.

For this Week's TechtalkRadio Show  - Andy, Shawn, Justin, and Matt welcome documentary filmmakers Tad Sallee and Jason Sikorsky, the creative minds behind "Going Postal: The Legacy Foretold". This five-year passion project chronicles the rise, controversy, and legal battles of Mike J. and Vince Desi, the duo behind the infamous Postal video game series.

The filmmakers—who first met handing out Clinique samples at the University of Arizona—in  Tucson initially set out to make a short YouTube series, but the story of the Journey of Running With Scissors and Postal pulled them into a 5 years-long journey involving crowdfunded production, learning of the legal drama, and the fight for free speech in gaming. The guys discuss the cameras used to put it together ranging from Canon C100s to Red and Sony A73s, which delivered a mountain of 24TB in footage, the project evolved dramatically—especially when they migrated from Adobe Creative Suite to DaVinci Resolve for post-production to have it needed to be rebuilt. 

The team dives into the technical challenges of editing a documentary full of archival footage and interviews—including chats with friends in the Radio World that provided the various voices of The Postal Dude like Rick Hunter, Corey Cruise, and Jon St. John. The film premiered to a sold-out crowd at the 2025 Phoenix Film Festival, even sharing a time slot with Platoon. Talk about epic timing!

Tad also shares insights into his production company Playtest Network, dedicated to video game specials and documentaries. With Postal done, new ideas flew fast: Justin pitched a future film on Project Zomboid, and Andy floated the idea of a History Channel-style series on video game history in America similar to The Food That Made America. 

The crew also caught up on gaming news and memories:

🎮 Justin is hunting down a Nintendo Switch 2 (but why?!)

🎮 Shawn breaks news about Mattel teaming up with OpenAI for AI-powered toys—which could be a bad idea and whether we’re raising the next-gen or dumbing them down.

🎮 Favorite Games are discussed and Matt gets nostalgic with Final Fantasy VIII and Legend of Dragoon, Justin shouts out GoldenEye and Sea of Thieves, Shawn reps Diablo II, and Andy remembers the pure joy of Intellivision Baseball with his late son .

This episode is packed with game history, tech challenges, AI toys, and some heartfelt moments that went beyond the Games.

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This Week on TechtalkRadio:

A Perfect Revisit to the Summer with the Show that features Pixels, Plex, and the Perils of Camp Wi-Fi

On this week’s episode of TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, Matt Jones, and S!ick take a tech-fueled trip into the wild—literally and digitally. From RV-ready Raspberry Pis to AI that's maybe a little too smart, it's a gadget-packed adventure you won't want to miss.

🎒 Shawn’s Camping Tech Survival Kit
Shawn, the Bear Grylls of bandwidth, breaks down his must-have gear for camping: DSLR cameras (because phone pics are so mainstream), a solar charger, a power inverter, and a custom Plex server running on a Raspberry Pi—because heaven forbid you’re without Star Trek: Voyager in the forest.

S!ick asked the obvious: why shoot on film when AI can fake it just fine? This launched a debate on AI vs. human creativity—Shawn’s worried it’ll steal art’s soul, while Andy’s ready to let the robots handle his taxes and emotional baggage.

🤖 AI Adventures & The Dead Internet Conspiracy

Matt shared how he’s using ChatGPT to write job cover letters that don’t sound like a robot—ironically. Shawn’s using it to spice up his Dungeons & Dragons campaigns (roll for initiative and grammar).

Andy introduced Google’s Notebook LM, an AI tool that summarizes notes faster than you can say “attention span.” But things got weird when the AI voice kicked in—cue Matt, warning us all about the uncanny valley, where robots sound almost human… but not quite.

That led to the Dead Internet Theory, which says most online content is now written by bots. So if this summary feels oddly robotic… blame the Matrix.

🖥️ Gadget of the Week: Mon Duo
Matt unveiled the Mon Duo—a triple-monitor extension for MacBooks. It folds out like a transformer, shines at 500 nits, and refreshes at 144Hz, perfect for folks who need three spreadsheets open just to order lunch. At $750, it’s not cheap—but neither is neck strain from leaning too far left.

📱 Pixel Panic & iMessage Mayhem

Andy finally did it. He left his beloved iPhone for the Google Pixel 9 XL Pro. The AI assistant Gemini wowed him, and the call screener was a dream—until he realized his text messages were lost in the digital void. (Pro tip: turn off iMessage before switching or risk entering SMS purgatory.)

📡 Listener Questions & Hotspot Hangups

Listener Kerry asked about unlimited hotspot connections. Spoiler: “unlimited” is a marketing word, not a magical reality. After a certain point, your speed drops to potato quality.
S!ick chimed in with his streaming wisdom, and the team chatted about ditching cable for cheaper fiber services like Ting or Wyyerd—because who doesn’t want to pay less to buffer more?

🎬 Ending with LOST & Laughs

Finally, the team got nostalgic about LOST being back on Netflix and the Documentary Getting Lost available to Rent or Purchase on Demand. If you’re wondering whether it's worth the re-watch—yes, but maybe keep a whiteboard handy to track the timelines.

Tune in for tech talk with personality, perspective, and just the right amount of pixel-powered sarcasm.

For this Week's TechtalkRadio Show, Host Shawn DeWeerd and Andy Taylor kick off the show by recapping the highlights from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. They discuss the unveiling of a new iOS with updates across iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS when available. Apple briefly touched on AI, emphasizing on-device processing for enhanced privacy. Shawn notes the integration of ChatGPT in several apps and points out Apple’s surprising openness in offering APIs for developers to tap into AI functionality. A major design update—dubbed "liquid glass"—was also revealed.

The hosts explore the new UI changes, including rounded buttons, a persistent bottom search bar, and new notification groupings. The camera app also gets a refresh with a simplified interface and more transparent menu backgrounds, focusing on usability rather than hardware upgrades.

They then shift to smart home tech, discussing Wyze’s new in-store partnership with Costco  and two new camera products. First, a floodlight camera system with three lights and a camera priced under $100. Second, the Wyze Bulb Cam—a 2K camera built into a light bulb that screws into standard fixtures and can pair with accessory bulbs for synchronized lighting. Shawn shares his experience with Wyze’s Cam Plus service, which offers unlimited cloud recording for $99/year.

Cybersecurity expert and author Tom Arnold joins the show to discuss his book The Digital Detective: First Intervention. Drawing from his background as a police officer and fraud investigator, Tom explores the evolution of cybercrime and emphasizes the importance of educating parents on digital dangers. His motivation to write stemmed from real-life incidents—including his grandson’s exposure to a dangerous situation in an online game and a parent’s admission that talking about cybersecurity is harder than talking about sex. His book series aims to teach digital safety through engaging stories featuring teen protagonists, with the next installment tackling sextortion and human trafficking.

Tom and Andy highlight the risks of unsupervised online interactions, comparing giving a child a tablet to leaving them alone at a playground. They stress the importance of knowing who your kids are talking to online—even if it’s someone they "know." The discussion underscores that parental controls aren’t foolproof and that open, ongoing communication is key. Tom and Andy also warn about fringe groups using games for recruitment and the use of AI to generate fake images for sextortion. Andy reminds listeners that Tom’s book is available on Amazon and through other booksellers including The Apple Bookstore.

Also on the show, music journalist and author Selena Fragassi joins Andy to talk about her new book, Alanis: 30 Years of Jagged Little Pill from Quarto Publishing. The book dives into Alanis Morissette’s music and career, as well as the challenges of navigating the music industry in the '80s and '90s. Andy reflects on how passionate storytelling has become more accessible with Technology for other authors through self-publishing and anybody with a passion can realistically put together a book. 

Rounding out the show, Andy and Shawn chat about upcoming media releases, including the new Postal Video Game documentary, a Happy Gilmore sequel on Netflix, and a rumored Firefly reboot on Disney+. They wrap up with Father's Day wishes, birthday shoutouts for Shawn, and his upcoming camping plans.



Tune in for all this and more on TechtalkRadio!

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This Week on TechtalkRadio: Andy, Justin, Matt, and Shawn reunite to explore the latest in tech, AI, and off-grid power. Matt shares his experience building a home lab with Terraform and Ansible, while Justin dives into his continued use of Grok AI, preferring it over ChatGPT for its real-time knowledge. The team swaps funny AI stories, including ChatGPT's reaction to profanity and a study about kids being polite to AI. Does A.I. get a request and want to respond "Not You Again!" Maybe It Should? 

Shawn updates listeners on rewiring his RV with a lithium iron phosphate battery and 400 watts of solar, now powering his camper for up to 3 days without a generator. Camping habits come into play, with talk of KOA cabins and glamping for those less eager to rough it—Andy included!

Listener Jerry from Indio asks about controlling multiple computers with one keyboard and mouse, prompting a chat about KVM switches and free software like Mouse Without Borders.

The crew gets nostalgic with a dive into generational internet memories, from AOL to flash games, and plans to define their generational labels next week. Andy tests out MOCA tech for high-speed coaxial networking and seeks input on new “one-sheet” movie posters for the redecorated studio. Favorite tech-themed flicks and series include WarGames, D.A.R.Y.L., The Net, Sneakers, Ready Player One, Mr. Robot, and The Matrix. Matt mentions Displate could be a good location for these posters.