This week on AwesomeCast 788, Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar explore the growing appeal of retro technology, screen-free devices, customizable gadgets, and digital tools that give users more control.
Katie begins with Mama’s Night Off, a browser game inspired by Dungeon Crawler Carl and the Maeve Chocolate Dirty Shirley bar. Dave introduces Garmin’s new screenless fitness tracker, an alternative to smartwatches and subscription-heavy wearables. Sorg shares his experience setting up RetroArch on Apple TV, including its wide range of supported systems, open-source games, ROM management, controllers, and the tinkering required to make everything work.
The conversation expands into the tension between digital convenience and physical ownership. The hosts discuss GameStop’s response to Sony’s physical-media decisions, the rapid progress of PlayStation 5 emulation, and why consumers are returning to CDs, vinyl, cassettes, retro games, and other physical formats.
They also have an extended discussion about generative AI, creative production, AI-assisted image editing, automation tools, corporate responsibility, electrical-grid pressures, and the rapid construction of data centers. The hosts examine the difference between rejecting AI entirely and learning how to use it responsibly while still demanding accountability from businesses and government.
Later, the show looks at NASA’s Psyche spacecraft capturing a Mars flyby, Pittsburgh movie history through the Pastfinders app, a minimalist flip phone for people who want fewer distractions, a development board that turns old Nintendo Wii Remotes into customizable controllers, and Google Photos restoring a traditional search option alongside Ask Photos.
Stories and Gadgets Discussed
Awesome Things of the Week
Mama’s Night Off and the Maeve Chocolate Dirty Shirley Bar
- Katie shares a browser-based game connected to Dungeon Crawler Carl.
- Players fire magical projectiles at cherries to help create Mama’s Dirty Shirley.
- The hosts discuss the game’s intentionally retro presentation and voice work by Jeff Hays.
- Play the game and view the chocolate bar: https://maevechocolate.com/products/virgin-dirty-shirley/?game
Garmin’s Screenless Fitness Tracker
- Dave introduces Garmin’s wearable fitness tracker designed without a screen.
- The device offers health and activity tracking without requiring users to wear a full smartwatch.
- The hosts discuss its approximately ten-day battery life, Garmin Connect compatibility, optional Garmin Connect+ subscription, and Garmin’s reputation for durable hardware and direct fitness feedback.
- Engadget: https://www.engadget.com/2219713/garmin-finally-made-a-screenless-fitness-tracker/
- Garmin product information: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1989182/#specs
RetroArch on Apple TV
- Sorg explains how RetroArch can turn an Apple TV into a multi-system retro-gaming device.
- The software supports numerous systems, including Nintendo, Sega, arcade, PlayStation-era platforms, and older computer games.
- The hosts discuss Bluetooth controllers, open-source games, shareware versions of Doom and Wolfenstein, storage limitations, organizing ROM libraries, and troubleshooting incompatible files.
- Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/retroarch/id6499539433
- Supported platforms: https://www.retroarch.com/?page=platforms
Awesome Person of the Week
Ralph Teetor and the Invention of Cruise Control
- Dave highlights engineer Ralph Teetor, who became blind as a child and later earned engineering degrees.
- Frustrated by the repeated acceleration and deceleration of drivers, Teetor developed an early version of cruise control.
- The hosts discuss the evolution from basic speed control to adaptive cruise control and its relationship to modern driver-assistance systems.
- Teetor later served as president of the Society of Automotive Engineers, and an SAE award for educators bears his name.
- Automotive Hall of Fame: https://automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/ralph-r-teetor/
Chachi Says Video Game Minute
Playing GTA III and Vice City Inside GTA: San Andreas
- A PC mod allows players controlling CJ in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to walk up to an in-game television and launch GTA III or Vice City.
- The hosts compare the concept to a video-game version of Inception.
- https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/gta-3-and-vice-city-are-now-playable-inside-san-andreas-a-mod-lets-you-revisit-liberty-city-and-vice-city-without-leaving-san-andreas
GameStop’s CEO Responds to the Decline of Physical Games
- GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen argues that Sony reducing physical-disc support will not significantly hurt the company because new video-game sales represent a relatively small portion of its business.
- The discussion includes GameStop’s continued interest in eBay and the changing economics of physical game retail.
- https://www.ign.com/articles/gamestop-ceo-ryan-cohen-insists-sony-killing-physical-discs-doesnt-matter-at-all-because-video-game-sales-make-up-so-little-of-his-business
PlayStation 5 Emulation Progress
- Developers are making progress booting PlayStation 5 titles through multiple emulation projects.
- Two-dimensional games are advancing more quickly, while fully rendering complex three-dimensional games remains a significant challenge.
- The story sparks a broader conversation about game preservation, physical ownership, digital licensing, and consumer distrust.
- https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/playstation/ps5-emulation-ramps-up-in-wake-of-sonys-end-to-physical-media-ps5-titles-now-booting-across-different-emulators-with-rapid-community-development-for-both-2d-and-3d-games
AI, Creative Work and Data Centers
The hosts discuss the growing use of AI-assisted tools in image editing, video production, business documents, email, captions, background extension, and design mockups.
Sorg explains how AI can help reformat posters for different social-media dimensions without replacing the original creative work.
The discussion distinguishes generative AI from other machine-learning tools, such as automated transcription, rotoscoping, search, and image organization.
Dave raises concerns about social-media challenges potentially being used to gather free voice-training data.
The group discusses how Google, Adobe, Canva, and other platforms increasingly build AI functions directly into existing software.
The hosts argue that professionals cannot simply ignore the technology, but they should evaluate where it is appropriate and disclose its use when needed.
The discussion also addresses the electrical demands of new data centers, corporate incentives, local government decisions, environmental protections, grid capacity, and the disproportionate placement of industrial infrastructure near lower-income communities.
Their central argument is that rapid technological growth must be accompanied by accountability, regulation, public representation, and responsible development.
NASA Psyche Mars Flyby
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft used a Mars flyby as a gravitational assist while traveling deeper into the solar system.
The mission captured detailed images and a time-lapse view of Mars during the maneuver.
Dave highlights the value of scientific exploration driven by curiosity and the desire to understand more about the universe.
Pittsburgh Bridges on Film and Pastfinders
Sorg highlights a collaboration between Pastfinders and the Pittsburgh Film Office focused on Pittsburgh bridges featured in movies and television.
Examples discussed include locations connected to Mayor of Kingstown, Sweet Girl, Jack Reacher, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Dark Knight Rises, Dogma, The Silence of the Lambs, and Mindhunter.
The hosts discuss how the Pastfinders app sends location-based notifications about historical sites, movie locations, landmarks, and unusual local stories.
Pastfinders:
https://www.pastfinders.app/Pittsburgh Film Office bridge-tour post:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1458603939638716&set=pcb.1458603999638710
The Light Flip Minimalist Phone
The hosts examine a modern minimalist flip phone inspired by classic designs.
It uses physical buttons, T9-style typing, a small screen, and a dedicated operating system rather than standard Android.
The group discusses the appeal for people who want calls, messages, navigation, and limited apps without carrying a high-powered smartphone.
They also consider whether younger users might adopt simpler phones to reduce social-media use and screen time.
https://9to5google.com/2026/07/21/light-flip-minimalist-phone-announcement/
OpenMote: Repurposing the Nintendo Wii Remote
Sorg introduces OpenMote, a drop-in development board that turns a Nintendo Wii Remote into a customizable controller.
Demonstrations include pointing the remote at lamps to control them.
The hosts brainstorm uses for smart-home controls, games, production equipment, lighting effects, custom 3D-printed controllers, and event technology.
OpenMote:
https://openmote.io/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bioInstagram demonstration:
https://www.instagram.com/reels/Da8p5B7PNKP/OpenMote Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/openmote.io/
Google Photos Restores Classic Search
Google Photos is adding an option that lets users choose between the newer Gemini-powered Ask Photos experience and a more traditional search interface.
The hosts discuss why some users prefer entering straightforward terms rather than asking an AI-generated question.
The change becomes an example of why providing a choice can reduce frustration when companies add AI to familiar products.
https://9to5google.com/2026/07/20/google-photos-classic-search-toggle/
Also Discussed
The return of CDs, vinyl records, cassettes, retro games, and physical media.
The difference between owning digital media and licensing access to it.
Consumer distrust of large technology companies.
The space required to store large physical-media collections.
Using Gemini to interpret business acronyms and generate a first draft of a statement of work.
Severe-weather alerts and Katie briefly leaving the podcast during a tornado warning.
Dave’s upcoming races, including the Two-Face Race and Trick or Trot 5K.
The next AwesomeCast interview with Spotter Global and its technology for detecting drones and identifying operators.
Support the show at:
https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast
Discover more from the Sorgatron Media Podcast Network:
https://sorgatronmedia.com
Katie Dudas
Michael Sorg