Hands-On Tech (Audio)

Four thousand people were arrested in a crackdown on online scam networks. What's the best way to get started working in IT? What are good alternatives to the Windows Mail app? And Mikah and Leo give their recommendation for a Wi-Fi system that's great for older users.

• Nearly 4,000 arrested in global police crackdown on online scam networks.
• I paid $365.63 to replace 404 Media with AI.
• Microsoft tells Texas agencies they were exposed in Russian hack.
• NASA and SpaceX misjudged the risks from reentering space junk.
• The White House will host a conference for social media creators.
• Apple explores novel method for making iPhone batteries more replaceable.
• A caller is taking an online course to get a certification towards working in the field of IT and has started to look at online jobs. They found a job they are interested in, but it's asking for five years of experience, and the caller will only have this certification when applying. How can they find the ideal job to start their career in the IT field?
• Shele wonders how they can back up their iPhone data to network-attached storage rather than through iCloud.
• Nate uses a Mac and a Windows machine with multiple hard drives connected to it. Whenever he reboots his Mac though, the Windows machine with the drives goes offline, and he has to reconnect them every time manually. Is there a way to reconnect the drives automatically?
• Nate is also wondering why when driving in his vehicle and as he gets close to his house, Siri activates from his iPhone and takes over the audio in his vehicle?
• Jeff is having issues getting back into his email account after supposedly violating the email providers' service agreement.
• Jim has a website for wedding officiation. However, when people try to visit his website, the server can't be found unless they add "https://" to the URL. What's preventing people from visiting Jim's website?
• Kevin writes in to try to find alternatives to Windows's Mail app after being mandated to switch from it to Microsoft Outlook.
• David calls in trying to understand why he can only update the operating system through the command line when running Linux Mint.
• James calls in looking for a recommendation for a Wi-Fi system he can install for his parents and have them manage it themselves rather than relying on James.
• Andrew is looking for recommendations for his next laptop and to see if there's any spamware protection he can install for his Pixel 8.

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent

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Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2031

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Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent ask Sam Abuelsamid of the Wheel Bearings podcast what is going on at Tesla following Elon's dismissal of the supercharger team. Can you completely silence a group message in iMessage for a selected period? Is there a device that can automatically reboot a router following a network failure? Leo, Mikah, and others at TWiT also start talking about mechanical keyboards and their preferences following a listener's question about them.

• Apple nears deal with OpenAI to put ChatGPT on iPhone.
• Is the VPN security flaw following the Option 121 vulnerability a big issue after Steve Gibson's report on it?
• Sam Abuelsamid and what happened with the Tesla Supercharger team.
• A caller gives their recommendation for DeleteMe (a sponsor on the TWiT network).
• What WiFi system do Leo and Mikah recommend for a 7000 sq ft house with multiple levels?
• Is there a comparable service to ComiXology that can help sort comic books into different categories easily and quickly?
• Can you silence a group message in iMessage during a selected period?
• Are there devices that can automatically reboot a router?
• Are there mechanical keyboards that closely mimic an old IBM Selectric typewriter?

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent

Guest: Sam Abuelsamid

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2024

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Sponsors:

• ZipRecruiter.com/Twit
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Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent dive into a variety of engaging tech topics, from controversial phone bans in schools to the future of AI and data privacy. The duo also tackles listener questions on VPNs, mobile hotspots, Apple App Store subscriptions, and more. Special guest Rod Pyle joins to discuss the latest updates on Voyager 1 and the Mars Sample Return mission.

• Mobile Phones in Schools: Leo and Mikah discuss the growing controversy around schools banning phones to prevent students from being distracted in class, despite parents' concerns about wanting to stay connected with their children.
• Biometric Security and Privacy: A recent court ruling determined that police officers can compel suspects to unlock their phones using biometric data like fingerprints, sparking a debate about privacy rights and the Fifth Amendment.
• TikTok Ban Passes in the House Again: The hosts examine the implications of the U.S. House of Representatives once again passing a ban on TikTok, which is now headed to the Senate as part of a foreign aid package.
• John asks how to ensure that a VPN is truly protecting his privacy, and Leo explains the importance of trust in a connected world.
• Eric inquires about using NFC chips to log onto Wi-Fi networks with an iPhone, and Mikah clarifies that this feature is not currently available on iOS devices.
• Limitless: Leo pre-ordered a new wearable device called Limitless, which uses AI to record and transcribe conversations while respecting privacy by requiring consent from participants.
• Space expert Rod Pyle joins the show to discuss the latest developments with Voyager 1's corrupted memory and NASA's decision to cut ties with JPL for the Mars sample return mission due to cost and time concerns.
• Dan experiences issues with his mobile hotspot disconnecting when using his computer, and the hosts troubleshoot potential solutions, including checking for metered connections and power-saving settings.
• Fernando inquires about running local AI models for his work at a hospital, and Leo provides insight into retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and various open-source AI options like Dot.
• Tim asks about using multiple payment methods for Apple App Store subscriptions, and Mikah explains the workaround of manually reordering payment methods.
• Steve wants to move his photos from Google Photos to a hard drive, and Leo recommends using Mylio to easily import and manage the photos from Google Takeout.
• A listener, also named Tim, asks for recommendations on moving their DNS hosting away from Google while still supporting dynamic DNS updates, and the hosts suggest using Cloudflare or a router with built-in dynamic DNS support.
• Shelly experiences issues with mismatched drive sizes when attempting to clone her hard drives, and Leo advises using a sector-by-sector copying tool or rsync for more precise duplication.

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2021

Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys

Sponsor:

• wix.com/studio

How can you manage and lower your tech anxiety and the need to examine and adjust the many settings on your tech devices? Why is my Android phone not connecting to my car? How can I access my old iPhotos library if the files are corrupted? And what iTunes alternatives are there for the Mac? Plus, Chris Marquardt goes over the month's photo assignment of Sparkling and assigns this next month's photo assignment!

• Why some of Apple's biggest fans are returning their Vision Pros.
• NBA Slam Dunk contest filmed for Apple Vision Pro.
• Apple to be fined over $500 million under EU antitrust law.
• Bored Apes' creator Yuga Labs acquires Proof, takes over Moonbirds NFT brand.
• Intel accused of inflating CPU benchmark results,
• Amazon argues National Labor Relations Board is unconstitutional.
• How can I break from the constant need to examine and adjust my settings on various tech devices?
• Why are my audio levels low going to my livestreams?
• Can I control the amount of information given to a company by having multiple computers set up for different purposes?
• Can I use Apple's Time Machine to back up an old Mac and access it similarly to an external drive?
• Why is my Android phone not connecting to Android Auto?
• Is there an easier way to control multiple Macs that isn't through Apple's Universal Control?
• How can I import my old iPhotos library to Photos if the files are corrupted?
• Is there a powerful outdoor WiFi extender I can use with Starlink?
• How can I back up information from an online family tree database to make it more easily accessible?
• What alternatives are there to Adobe's Fill & Sign after Adobe chose to discontinue the application?
• Chris Marquardt and the Sparkling photo assignment review!
• Susan from Save A Memory calls in with some suggestions to help with backing up family photos & data.
• What are some iTunes alternatives for listening to podcasts on the Mac?
  

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent

Guest: Chris Marquardt

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2012

Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys

Sponsor:

• wix.com/studio

Who ordered the Apple Vision Pro? Why are my photos changing colors completely when I export them? Why can't I use specific 3rd party texting applications anymore when I switched cellular providers? And, the end of an era for Sports Illustrated.

• Someone at TWiT ordered the Apple Vision Pro! Who got it?
• Microsoft 'senior leadership' emails accessed by Russian SolarWinds hackers.
• Sports Illustrated thrown into chaos with mass layoffs.
• What should I be on the lookout for or be concerned about after getting a Macbook Pro repaired?
• Is there a way around some issues that I'm encountering when using Google Takeout?
• Rod Pyle and the micro-meteorite!
• How can I display specific images on a television for others to view?
• What's the best way to utilize my mesh routers to their more optimal utilization?
• Why am I losing connection to my media server upon startup with my machine?
• Chris Marquardt and the CLEAN photo assignment review.
• Why is my exported photo coming out in a different color completely?
• Why can't I use my 3rd party texting applications after switching cellular providers?
• Could a Starlink-type satellite service be the future of cellular networks?

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent

Guests: Rod Pyle and Chris Marquardt

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2008

Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys

Sponsors:

• meraki.cisco.com/twit
• ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT