AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

AwesomeCast 788: Pew Pew - Retro Gaming on Apple TV, Minimalist Flip Phones & the AI Backlash

July 21st, 2026  |  1 hr 6 mins

adaptive cruise control, ai ethics, ai image editing, ai video production, apple tv gaming, arduino, artificial intelligence, ask photos, browser games, consumer technology, creative ai, cruise control, data centers, data-center electricity, dave podnar, digital detox, digital ownership, digital privacy, diy electronics, dumb phones, dungeon crawler carl, flip phones, gadget podcast, gamestop, garmin connect, garmin fitness tracker, generative ai, google gemini, google photos, google photos search, gta iii, gta san andreas mod, gta vice city, katie dudas, light flip phone, machine learning, maeve chocolate, maker technology, mama’s night off, mars flyby, mike sorg, minimalist phone, minimalist technology, nasa psyche, nintendo wii remote, openmote, pastfinders, physical media, physical video games, pittsburgh bridges, pittsburgh film office, pittsburgh movie locations, pittsburgh podcast, playstation 5 emulation, ps5 emulator, ralph teetor, retro gaming, retro technology, retroarch, retroarch apple tv, sae, screenless fitness tracker, smart-home controls, society of automotive engineers, sony physical discs, sorg, sorgatron media, space exploration, tech news, technology news, technology podcast, technology regulation, video game emulation, wearable technology, wiimote

Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar explore the return of retro technology and the growing demand for digital tools that give users more control.

Katie shares the Dungeon Crawler Carl-inspired Mama’s Night Off browser game. Dave introduces Garmin’s new screenless fitness tracker, while Sorg explains how he set up RetroArch on Apple TV to play games from classic consoles and computers.

The crew also discusses PlayStation 5 emulation, GameStop’s response to the decline of physical discs, and why consumers are returning to vinyl, CDs, cassettes, flip phones, and other forms of physical technology.

An extended conversation examines how AI is being incorporated into creative tools, business software, search, image editing, and video production. The hosts consider responsible AI use, the difference between generative AI and other machine-learning features, and the environmental and infrastructure concerns surrounding rapid data-center growth.

Other stories include NASA’s Psyche spacecraft capturing a Mars flyby, Pittsburgh movie locations in the Pastfinders app, the minimalist Light Flip phone, the OpenMote Wii Remote development board, Google Photos restoring classic search, and Ralph Teetor’s invention of cruise control.

Support AwesomeCast at https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast and find more shows at https://sorgatronmedia.com.

The Wink Clause | AwesomeCast 653

August 22nd, 2023  |  54 mins

acquisition, assassin's creed: mirage, awesomecast, calm app, desktop meta threads, dslr, dvd customers., gpus, high school nasa rover programs, intel cpus, katie, mega cat, movo mic, netflix, podcast, rovio, sega, space exploration, transformers, wrestlequest

In this episode of the Awesomecast Podcast, a range of intriguing topics are discussed. The hosts dive into "Wrestlequest" by Pittsburgh's Mega Cat, exploring wrestling-related content. Katie shares her experience using the Movo Mic alongside her DSLR camera to enhance audio quality. Exciting news arrives for some users with the introduction of Desktop Meta Threads. Gamers investing in Intel CPUs and GPUs are in for a treat as they now receive a complimentary copy of Assassin's Creed: Mirage. Sega's recent acquisition of Rovio takes center stage, with a substantial deal amounting to $776 million. An unexpected collaboration is noted as Transformers content finds its way onto the Calm meditation app. Shifting focus, the podcast sheds light on High School NASA Rover Programs, highlighting the remarkable contributions of young talents in space exploration. Lastly, Netflix's creative move involves sending an additional 10 movies to DVD customers, albeit with a playful hint that these movies aren't meant to be kept permanently.