The Tech Informist - For Fans Of Apple, Google, Microsoft & Other Technology

It is hard to believe, but if you stay at something long enough you will reach certain milestones. In this instance, we here at the Tech Informist have finally reached our 200th episode! This week Kevin and Brad celebrate our 200th episode by walking down memory lane a bit to go over some of our favorite memories from the previous 199 episodes starting with Episode 1 with guest Mary Jo Foley. If you are still relatively new to the Tech Informist Podcast, we invite you to go back and listen to those early episodes that we recorded with a variety of great guests which were co-hosted by the original duo of JJ Hammond and Kevin. Also, we recently submitted the Tech Informist Podcast to Spotify and before we started recording found that you can now listen to the most recent 100 episodes of the podcast on Spotify! We are going to take a short little break for the holidays to take care of some other things and spend time with family and friends so we invite you to join us in the meantime over on the Tech Informist C

Qualcomm has shown off their Snapdragon 845 mobile CPU which you will see in pretty much every good Android smartphone that will be coming out in 2018 and Toshiba unveils their 14TB helium filled hard drive designed primarily for data centers. Sony has sold over 70 million PS4 consoles when you combine the original PS4, Slim and Pro units. Sony has also sold just over 2 million of their PSVR headset units which is pretty impressive as well. We also discuss a possible smart urinal and the recent agreement that Anheuser Busch has made to buy 40 of the upcoming Tesla Semi trucks. As always there is plenty more to talk about, so enjoy the episode and then join us over in the Tech Informist Community on Facebook to keep the discussion going. We would also appreciate it you could take a moment to leave a rating and review of the Tech Informist Podcast on iTunes.   Hosts Kevin Harvell - @KevinHarvell Brad Whiteside - @Holy_Shadows   Full shownotes available at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-199-sna

Net Neutrality is under attack again with a vote to potentially repeal the 2015 decision the FCC put in place scheduled for December 14. We talk about this along with the Bitcoin value explosion and General Motors putting more focus on electric and autonomous cars. We also share our thoughts on movies such as Coco, Wonder and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri so make sure to stay tuned for that in the Apps, Entertainment and Hardware segment. As always there is plenty more to talk about, so enjoy the episode and then join us over in the Tech Informist Community on Facebook to keep the discussion going. We would also appreciate it you could take a moment to leave a rating and review of the Tech Informist Podcast on iTunes.   Full shownotes available at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-198-net-neutrality-and-bitcoin-talk

Tesla is at it again with their recent event in which they showed off their upcoming Tesla Semi as well as the surprising unveiling of their upcoming updated Tesla Roadster sports car. As Tesla continues to change the automotive industry from nearly every aspect, you have to appreciate what they are doing to try to help wean people off gasoline in a variety of segments. We also talk about the sudden decision to close down all ten TechShop locations in the United States and file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy as well as the recent AT&T mobile network outage. As always there is plenty more to talk about, so enjoy the episode and then join us over in the Tech Informist Community on Facebook to keep the discussion going. Full shownotes available at http://thetechinformist.com/episode-197-tesla-semi-event

As pretty much every gamer on the planet knows, Microsoft launched the most powerful gaming console in the world this past week with the Xbox One X. Brad shares his experience with the launch of the Xbox One X at the Microsoft Store in St. Louis along with his marathon gaming experience with Extra Life which raises money for Children's Miracle Network. Also Kevin shares his experience trying to get a Google Home Mini at the Google pop-up doughnut shop event in St. Louis on November 9th. So have a listen and find out how these experiences went along with everything else we have on tap to talk about then join us over in the Tech Informist Community on Facebook to keep the discussion going. Full shownotes can be found at http://thetechinformist.com/episode-196-xbox-one-x-launch

It is impossible to know many things unless you personally experience something. On this episode Brad and Kevin discuss what can happen when you try to sell a phone that has been reported lost or stolen with AT&T. We also discuss the latest speed bump for  Google regarding their Pixel 2 XL smartphone and the impressive debut of a new Android powered smartphone from PC gaming hardware company Razer and plenty more! So have a listen and join us over in the Tech Informist Community on Facebook to keep the discussion going. Full shownotes available at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-195-blacklisted-phones

Would you want Amazon to be able to unlock your front door so their own delivery team can place your packages right inside your front door? Well Amazon is launching a new service they call Amazon Key that will do that and more which we talk about on this episode. Of course there is plenty more including how Brad's recent trip to the San Francisco and San Jose area went which included a tour of the IGN facility. Remember when Brad sent Brendan Graeber of IGN a couple bottles of Nuka Cola Quantum? Watch the IGN video here and listen to us talk about the experience here on Episode 112 from January 22, 2016. So have a listen and join us over in the Tech Informist Community on Facebook to keep the discussion going. Full shownotes available at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-194-amazon-holds-key

Another day, another security vulnerability in the tech industry. This time the problem lies inside of the security that was designed to protect your wireless network yet affects much more than just being able to get on your Wi-Fi connection and download illegal files. Sam Ventimiglia joins Kevin on this episode to talk about this Krack vulnerability and how it affects your WPA2 security along with a variety of other topics including one app that will help protect those nude photos you might have on your mobile devices. So have a listen and join us over in the Tech Informist Community on Facebook to keep the discussion going. Full show notes can be found at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-193-patch-the-krack

With more and more virtual personal assistants entering our homes via smartphones and other "smart" devices, obvious privacy concerns are sure to rise. This week a prime example of why the concern is still real after Google picked up a Google Home Mini unit in person from a tech reviewer. Also, Hyperloop One picks up another serious investor in Richard Branson of Virgin Group as they become Virgin Hyperloop One moving forward. As always, there was plenty more to talk about, so have a listen and join us in the Tech Informist Community on Facebook to keep the discussion going. Full show notes available at http://thetechinformist.com/episode-192-is-this-thing-on  

This week Brad and Kevin discuss what Google showed off at their 2017 Pixel event including their new Pixel smartphones, Google Home speaker lineup additions and even their new Pixel Book Chromebook along with a few extra surprises. Also AOL Instant Messenger is finally being put to rest as is the Groove Music service from Microsoft. As always, there is plenty more to talk about, so have a listen and join us in the Tech Informist Facebook Community to keep the discussion going at http://facebook.com/groups/techinformist Full shownotes available at http://thetechinformist.com/episode-191-google-pixel-event-2017

How would you like to travel from Los Angeles to Toronto in less than 30 minutes? Or how would you like to travel to nearly anywhere in the world in under an hour? Elon Musk is at it again looking to launch a SpaceX service that would help us do just that at a cost that would be similar to a regular flight today. We also talk about the new Amazon devices, Twitter doubling the character limit or tweets, the never released Xbox Watch and when you can get your preorder in for the LG V30 in the United States. Let us know what you think in our new Facebook Group here in the Tech Informist Community or via Twitter @TechInformist or via email at contact@thetechinformist.com. Full shownotes can be found at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-190-elon-musk-space-x/

Back with another episode discussing whether or not the iPhone X is right for you or is the iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus the better choice for your needs/wants. We also discuss Google's recent decision to bring on a team of smartphone experts from HTC for a nice sum of money as well as how the company best know for its smart thermostat, Nest, looks to help protect your home in a variety of ways. Let us know what you think either via Twitter @TechInformist or via email at contact@thetechinformist.com.    Full shownotes can be found at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-189-apple-iphone-x-comparisons

In the ultra competitive world of technology and business, who saw Amazon and Microsoft coming together to allow each of their respective virtual assistants, Cortana and Alexa working together? Well that is exactly what is getting ready to happen. On this long overdue return episode, Kevin and Brad talk about this and much more including T-Mobile's new network upgrade, Verizon pushing out Android Oreo to Pixel and Pixel XL devices, the LG V30 unveiling, a 400GB microSD card, the upcoming iPhone 8 event from Apple and much more. Our schedules are still a bit out of whack but we keep checking your favorite podcast app for our next episode and we hope it will be sooner than later. Full shownotes can be found at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-188-amazon-microsoft-assistants-living-harmony

It was a week filled with the pending end of many products and services we have all used at some point in our lives, whether we realized it at the time or not. But Adobe has announced they have given Adobe Flash two years to live along with Apple trimming the fat in their iPod lineup. Microsoft even caused a stir by hinting that MS Paint would be going away only to then confirm it would just simply be available to users in the App Store. Do you think Pokemon Go Fest attendees have a legitimate case in trying to get Niantic to reimburse people for their travel expenses to the dumpster fire that they attended? Let us know via email at contact@thetechinformist.com   Full show notes can be found at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-187-adobe-flash-given-2-years-live

After the success of last years NES Classic from Nintendo, it is no surprise that more companies are either jumping on the nostalgia bandwagon or just simply stepping up their game compared to past retro offerings of theirs. This week we talk about the SNES Classic pre-order status in the US along with talking about the upcoming Ataribox and Sega Genesis Flashback units. Also, Elon Musk says they have the green light for a Hyperloop One run that would connect New York to Washington DC allowing passengers to get from one city to the other in about 29 minutes.   Full show notes can be found at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-186-retro-consoles-rage/

Sometimes things in the world work out in ways that leaves you scratching your head. What we mean by this is that Verizon requested a lower price during their negotiations with Yahoo after confirming Yahoo's own security issues, and now we find that someone within the Verizon organization caused a data breach of their own simply because of human error. The main difference here is that no one outside of Verizon was able to access any sensitive information about their customers. Regardless, it proves that the old carpenters motto of "measure twice, cut once" and double check your work before clicking OK is always a solid idea.   Hosts Kevin Harvell - @KevinHarvell Brad Whiteside - @Holy_Shadows   Full show notes can be found at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-185-verizon-wireless-self-inflicted-data-breach  

With the past week being a holiday shortened week for the United States where we are based, it was a bit of a light news cycle this time around. Tesla kicked off production of its "affordable" Model 3 cars, Splatoon 2 details are out including when the mobile app you'll need to have in order to voice chat with other players will be available and more. Wth Kevin being a longtime fan of Spider-Man, you know he is excited about the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming in theaters and will see it asap. Let us know your thoughts on Spider-Man: Homecoming and anything else Brad and Kevin discuss on this and any past episodes!   Full show notes can be found at http://thetechinformist.com/episode-184-tesla-model-3-production-ramping/

This week we discuss some of the frustrating things that come with testing beta software. From iPhone to Xbox, things can get harry in a hurry. What do you think of testing beta software? Do you love it or just stay away from it entirely? Also this week, the predicted SNES Classic becomes official, Space X plans for another consecutive launch, iPhone officially turns 10, and more LG news. Full show notes can be found at - http://thetechinformist.com/episode-183-beta-software

It seems that what is old is new again what with Google updating their Google Glass devices for the first time in roughly three years and Sega unveiling their Sega Forever program which looks to make every (their wording is a bit unclear here) Sega game on every Sega System available for free on your Android or iOS devices. Kevin also talks about seeing Cars 3 and more Netflix and Star Wars talk!   Full show notes available at http://thetechinformist.com/episode-182-whats-old-new-google-glass-sega-forever/

It's Christmas in June for those of us who are gamers. With all of the new games and some new hardware, there is a lot to discuss in the gaming world. What are some of your favorite moments from E3 2017? Any games that you will be picking up this year? Let us know. We also briefly talk about Netflix overtaking cable companies and a new Microsoft keyboard.   Full shownotes, including links to stories for your reference, can be found at: http://thetechinformist.com/episode-181-e3-2017/