Sorg also begins downloading the iOS 27 public beta during the show, despite Katie’s warnings and a few concerns being saved for the Patreon aftertalk.

Stories and Gadgets Discussed

• A wireless microphone saves the podcast: When Dave’s regular microphone setup breaks, he switches to a compact dual wireless microphone system that connects through USB-C. The plug-and-play backup works with phones and laptops without a complicated setup.
• Omron 7 Series Bluetooth blood pressure monitor: Dave reviews a new connected blood pressure monitor after getting inconsistent readings from an older device. He highlights its larger arm cuff, support for two users, storage for multiple readings, three-reading averages, Apple Health integration and the ability to export results for a doctor. https://amzn.to/4yncwxY
• Pinwheel phones, watches and home phones for kids: Katie introduces Pinwheel’s managed technology ecosystem for children and teenagers. Parents and caregivers can control approved contacts, monitor texts, restrict social media, set bedtime schedules, review locations and gradually unlock features as a child gets older. The company also offers a standalone smartwatch and a Wi-Fi-powered corded home phone that brings back the satisfaction of dramatically hanging up. https://www.pinwheel.com
• Kennywood’s reopening and the mystery bag gamble: Sorg recounts a delayed visit to Kennywood after a water-main break interrupted opening day. His $5 mystery merchandise bag produced a Kennywood gaiter, a vintage postcard and a Jack Rabbit 100th-anniversary pin.
• Awesome Person of the Week — Rory Cooper: For Disability Pride Month, Dave profiles inventor, engineer and Paralympic medalist Rory Cooper. After becoming paralyzed while serving in the military, Cooper designed a lighter wheelchair and built a career improving mobility technology. His Pittsburgh work includes the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, a collaboration involving the University of Pittsburgh and the Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.invent.org/inductees/rory-cooper
• WhatCable diagnoses confusing USB-C connections: Sorg tests a free Mac utility that reveals what connected USB-C cables, chargers, docks and ports can actually do. The app displays negotiated speeds, charging details, supported USB standards and potential bottlenecks—useful for anyone wondering why a drive, monitor or video device is underperforming. https://www.whatcable.uk/
• LEGO’s Fast & Furious Toyota Supra MK4: Katie finds a new LEGO Speed Champions version of Brian O’Conner’s Toyota Supra from The Fast and the Furious. The set includes the bright orange movie car and a Brian O’Conner minifigure in his signature T-shirt and jeans. https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/the-fast-and-the-furious-toyota-supra-mk4-77260
• Speed and racing technology at the Carnegie Science Center: The hosts preview an upcoming speed-focused exhibit featuring an interactive track and specialized vehicles connected to the Petersen Automotive Museum. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1PZqTmHP4J/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Using AI to teach respectful sports camera work: The team examines guidelines designed to prevent women athletes from being sexualized through revealing angles and unnecessary slow-motion replays. Sorg discusses turning the concept into an AI-generated pro wrestling camera guide that can help videographers recognize respectful framing, understand consent and avoid exploitative shots. https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/1uwaxzx/some_of_the_new_guidelines_that_have_been/
• Instagram reverses its public-profile AI remix feature: Dave explains the backlash surrounding a Meta AI feature that could use images from public Instagram profiles in AI creations without first requiring users to opt in. The hosts discuss predictable abuse, privacy risks and why technology companies need more diverse voices involved before launching features like this. Meta subsequently disabled the feature. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2026/07/13/meta-disables-ai-feature-instagram-backlash/90899917007/
• Jizai Arms bring Doctor Octopus technology closer to reality: A Japanese research project demonstrates wearable robotic arms that can be attached, removed and exchanged between users. The hosts debate whether the project represents meaningful cyborg research, performance art or technology created without enough consideration for how the public will interpret it. https://jizai-arms.com/ Additional commentary: https://www.instagram.com/refashionedhippie/
• Fortnite launches “Hot Bat Summer”: Batman, Harley Quinn, Catwoman and Poison Ivy receive beach-ready DC skins in Fortnite. The discussion naturally turns toward the absurdity of a game where swimsuit Batman can share a battlefield with Bugs Bunny, Homer Simpson and an armed dog in a bee costume. https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-hot-bat-summer-skins-dc-batman-harley-quinn-catwoman-poison-ivy/
• A shirtless protester attacks a Waymo vehicle: Video of a man climbing onto and damaging a Waymo in East Hollywood launches a wider conversation about autonomous vehicles, public surveillance, camera networks and the lack of privacy in modern public spaces. The hosts also discuss how easily hacked or deleted accounts can remove years of digital purchases. https://kotaku.com/shirtless-man-starts-butlerian-jihad-against-waymo-in-east-hollywood-2000715911

Support AwesomeCast and receive the Patreon aftertalk at:
https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast

AwesomeCast is part of the Sorgatron Media Podcast Network:
https://www.sorgatronmedia.com

Production services provided by Sidekick Media Services:
https://www.sidekickmediaservices.com

Supporting Pittsburgh podcasting with the perfect pepperoni pizza:
https://www.sliceonbroadway.com

Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

Chatting the tech news of the week including roadside assistance in a real break down, getting political in Animal Crossing and going to the red planet with Katie Dudas, John Chichilla and Mike Sorg!

• Chilla talks about the Huandai Blue Link that helped him on the road side coming back from Erie
• Dudders saw that Joe Biden's team is breaking campaign signs to Animal Crossing
• But don't forget Bernie Sanders has a full video game, Super Bernie World
• Sorg is enjoying the National Geographic Mars show on Netflix that mixes a dramatization in the future with a current documentary on space travel and Space X's attempts to get there.
• Twitter is updating to make Quote Tweets easier to get to
• Batman and the Riddler come to Waze!
• Elon Musk unveils V2 of the Neuralink brain-machine interface surgery bot
• Flight Simulator flying into Hurricane Laura
• Fortnite locks out Apple players across platforms for Season Four and Marvel content like the Black Panther statue.
• This one changed Chilla's life on iOS/Carplay and he highly welcome it on Google Maps
• Uber using selfie technology to determine if both driver and passengers are wearing a mask

After the show remember to:

Eat at Slice on Broadway (@Pgh_Slice) if you are in the Pittsburgh area! It is Awesome! (sliceonbroadway.com)

Want to be part of our studio audience? Hit us up at awesomecast@sorgatronmedia.com and we’ll save you a seat!

Join our AwesomeCast Facebook Group to see what we’re sharing and to join the discussion!

You can support the show at Patreon.com/awesomecast!

Remember to check out our friends at the The 405 Media (@The405Radio), and Postindustrial Audio (@post_industry) who replay the show on their stream throughout the week!

Also, check out sorgatronmedia.com and awesomecast.com for more entertainment; and view us livestreaming Tuesdays around 7:00 PM EST

Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

We have a special treat as Katie, Chilla and Sorg are joined by Pittsburgh comedian, Aaron Kleiber.   This week's show topics include:

• Katie's Awesome Thing of the Week is Kitten Kam!
• Chilla's Awesome Thing of the Week is Amazon's voice interoperability initiative.
• Sorg's Awesome Thing of the Week is Apple Arcade.
• Aaron Kleiber is sharing Batman Day as his Awesome Thing of the Week.
• The new Sega Mini is out, and so are the reviews!
• iOS 13 includes force touch on SE.
• Apple redesigned the NYC "cube" store.
• iFixIt did a live teardown of the iPhone 11 Pro.
• Chilla had a chance to check out Ace Axe Throwing's scavenger hunt.
• Borderlands is in high demand on Pornhub.
• Chilla followed the rabbit hole and wound up finding some Overwatch porn.
• Fortnite's new Party Hub feature is putting its Houseparty acquisition to good use.

After the show remember to:

Eat at Slice on Broadway (@Pgh_Slice) if you are in the Pittsburgh area! It is Awesome! (sliceonbroadway.com)

Want to be part of our studio audience?  Hit us up at awesomecast@sorgatronmedia.com and we’ll save you a seat!

Join our AwesomeCast Facebook Group to see what we’re sharing and to join the discussion!

Follow these awesome people on Twitter: Aaron Kleiber (@AaronKleiber), Katie Dudas (@Kdudders), John Chichilla (@chilla), and Sorg (@Sorgatron)

You can support the show at Patreon.com/awesomecast!

Remember to check out our friends at the River’s Edge (@RiversEdgePGH), The 405 Media (@The405Radio), and Postindustrial Audio  (@post_industry) who replay the show on their stream throughout the week!

Also, check out sorgatronmedia.com and awesomecast.com for more entertainment; and view us livestreaming Tuesdays around 7:00 PM EST

Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

• Alexa got an update with the new Echo Show 5 from Amazon. Chilla is sharing it as his Awesome Thing of the Week!
• Wyze is adding people detection for security camera and motion detection.
• Sorg's Awesome Thing of the Week is Dr. Mario World - - A DAY EARLY!
• We have a local plug for the 1001 Game Journey project as Chachi is playing through 1001 Video Games To Play Before You Die!
• A paralyzed man regains use of his hands thanks to an innovative surgery.
• Batman is coming to SDCC through an immersive experience!
• Apple updated the MacBookAir and MacBookPro - and killed a couple other models.
• Sorg got to hang out for the Furry Parade at Anthrocon!
• LA has an earthquake warning system, and is getting some use recently!
• We talked about the Windows 1.0 announcement earlier. Turns out it's a Stranger Things thing!
• Amazon and Google have stopped feuding.
• Sorg (finally) got his hands on a Playstation Classic.

After the show remember to:

Want to support our friends at Postindustrial? Check out their Kickstarter.

Eat at Slice on Broadway (@Pgh_Slice) if you are in the Pittsburgh area! It is Awesome! (sliceonbroadway.com)

Want to be part of our studio audience?  Hit us up at awesomecast@sorgatronmedia.com and we’ll save you a seat!

Join our AwesomeCast Facebook Group to see what we’re sharing and to join the discussion!

Follow these awesome people on Twitter:  John Chichilla (@chilla), and Michael Sorg (@Sorgatron)

Have you seen our AwesomeTips videos?

You can support the show at Patreon.com/awesomecast!

Remember to check out our friends at the River’s Edge (@RiversEdgePGH) and The 405 Media (@The405Radio) who replay the show on their stream throughout the week!

Also, check out sorgatronmedia.com and awesomecast.com for more entertainment; and view us livestreaming Tuesdays around 7:00 PM EST

Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk