Then the crew gets into everything from simulated RC racing and Apple’s latest Macs to a life-size Grogu, Linux history, Pokémon fossils, GTA VI leaks, and gaming at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Topics discussed include:

• Remembering Dolly Parton – The crew reflects on Parton’s passing, her charitable legacy, her support of literacy programs, and the positive impact she made far beyond entertainment.
• RC racing meets full-size driving simulators – Sorg discovers first-person RC car racing setups that combine tiny vehicles, onboard cameras, and full simulator rigs. The conversation explores CloudRC, RC aircraft, and whether experiences like this could become the next arcade, mall, or Dave & Buster’s attraction.
• Apple updates the Mac mini and Mac Studio – Dave breaks down Apple’s new Mac hardware, including the M6 chip, pricing, local AI performance, and the ability to combine machines over Thunderbolt 5. The crew discusses why local AI processing could become increasingly important for businesses dealing with cloud costs, privacy, and sensitive data.
• Pokémon Fossils invade Chicago – Chachi reports from the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibit at Chicago’s Field Museum, where fossils inspired by the games are compared with real paleontology. The exhibit even includes Pokémon GO bonuses and limited merchandise.
• Dungeon Crawler Carl and 3D printing – Katie opens her mysterious box of 3D-printed creations from Chachi’s Plastic Fun Time shop, including Dungeon Crawler Carl characters, ornaments, magnets, Pokémon-inspired pieces, the infamous Rock Lobster, and more.
• Linux turns 35 – Dave traces the unlikely chain of events connecting AT&T antitrust action, UNIX, GNU, Linus Torvalds, and the operating system that became one of the foundations of modern computing. There’s even a bonus discussion about Linux running on a Sega 32X.
• Kingdom Hearts expands – Chachi’s Video Game Minute covers a 2027 release window for Kingdom Hearts 4 and a planned animated Kingdom Hearts series for Disney+.
• Mattel builds its own game studio – Mattel is expanding its internal video game operation with hundreds of developers and new games based on properties including UNO and Hot Wheels.
• GTA VI leaks and the digital ownership fight – The show looks at reported leaks of Grand Theft Auto VI material tied to protests over digital-only game distribution and the broader debate over whether players actually own their digital purchases.
• Transformers comes to Minecraft – Sorg and Katie explore the Transformers content available through the Minecraft Marketplace, including G1-inspired characters, story-based gameplay, combat modes, and plenty of temptation for Transformers fans.
• A nearly life-size Ultimate Grogu – Hasbro Pulse has a roughly 14.6-inch animatronic Grogu featuring movement, sounds, multiple interaction modes, cosplay-friendly settings, and a $599.99 price tag.
• Nature Calls restroom finder launches – The crowdsourced restroom-finding app discussed on an earlier AwesomeCast is now available, helping users locate bathrooms, water fountains, porta-potties, and other facilities.
• Gaming at Pittsburgh International Airport – Sorg checks out Gameway, a gaming lounge at Pittsburgh International Airport offering video games, snacks, drinks, and another option for travelers with time before a flight.
• Disney characters meet NFL teams – Disney and the NFL have teamed up for team-specific character merchandise. The Pittsburgh Steelers get Pete, while other combinations include Captain America with the Patriots, Thor with the Vikings, Darth Vader with the Raiders, and more.

The crew also checks in on their recent Pittsburgh Shootout adventures and previews more of what’s happening around the Sorgatron Media universe.

RC Racing / CloudRC
https://www.instagram.com/reels/Db2l4aVjpRO/
https://store.cloudrc.com/

Plastic Fun Time 3D Prints
https://plasticfuntime.etsy.com/

Apple Mac mini / Mac Studio Updates
https://www.wired.com/story/apple-announces-m6-and-m5-ultra-mac-mini-mac-studio/

35 Years of Linux
https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/linux-was-announced-by-linus-torvalds-35-years-ago-today-humble-os-started-with-10-000-lines-of-code-but-has-now-grown-to-40-million-dominates-global-infrastructure

Kingdom Hearts Announcements
https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/games-d23-digital-entertainment/

Mattel Game Studios
https://kotaku.com/the-toy-maker-behind-barbie-and-hot-wheels-wants-to-make-its-own-video-games-2000724968

GTA VI Leak Story
https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/hacker-leaks-gta-vi-gameplay-and-map-to-protest-digital-only-release-claims-pre-orders-are-a-legacy-of-physical-game-releases

Transformers Minecraft
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1056475313409694

Nature Calls Restroom Finder – iOS
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/find-toilets-nature-calls-run/id6790583853

Ultimate Grogu
https://www.hasbropulse.com/product/star-wars-ultimate-grogu/G44835S00

Pittsburgh Airport Gameway
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcbcVbCBU34/?igsi=MTJweXZ1N2N4cTZ1dg==
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1089385550715987

Disney x Pittsburgh Steelers
https://www.nflshop.com/pittsburgh-steelers/disney/t-36604861+c-1202616796+z-8-2894738209?ab=%7Bwt-static\_graphic%7D%7Bpt-TLP%7D%7Bal-HMB%7D%7Bct-Pittsburgh\_Steelers\_disney%7D

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The crew also gets into Pittsburgh technology history with plans to preserve Westinghouse’s Atom Smasher, the impressive Commercial Street Bridge replacement, and the accessibility origins of the modern audiobook.

Then the geekery kicks into high gear: Xbox expands its classic-game preservation efforts to PC, Hasbro combines Transformers with Jem and the Holograms, LEGO brings Smart Play to Star Trek, Robosen releases an Optimus Prime robot designed to reopen childhood wounds, and Universal plans movies based on ten Atari properties.

Plus, Chachi has gaming headlines involving Hasbro, Steam Deck and Atari, and the crew discusses the backlash surrounding a $58,000 humanoid robot proposed for use in a New York school district.

It’s Pittsburgh technology, AI creativity, retro gaming, accessibility, robots and pop-culture nostalgia on AwesomeCast 789.

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Wrestlequest from Pittsburgh’s Mega Cat ! https://www.wrestlequest.com/en

Katie is using the Movo Mic for her DSLR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0723D3FVL?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Desktop Meta Threads coming for some of us… https://mashable.com/article/meta-threads-desktop-version-launches

Intel CPUs and GPUs come with a free copy of Assassin’s Creed: Mirage https://www.pcworld.com/article/2035620/intel-cpus-and-gpus-come-with-a-free-copy-of-assassins-creed-mirage.html

Sega completes purchase of Rovio for $776 million https://www.engadget.com/sega-completes-purchase-of-rovio-for-776-million-191525883.html?guccounter=1

Transformers on Calm https://www.facebook.com/calm/videos/4291035690997912

High School NASA Rover Programs https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/stem/nasa-invites-students-to-rise-to-2024-human-exploration-rover-challenge-2023-08/

Netflix will send 10 extra movies to DVD customers, but you can’t keep them (*wink) https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/08/21/netflix-dvds-free-giveaway/

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Transformers G1 on Youtube is great when you’re sick!https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD3dCMp2WHixUHTv2TETDETzoB148KoPy

Dudders has a new camera! The Nikon z 6 II https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/mirrorless-cameras/z-6ii.html

Looking at yet another gaming handheld: the Asus ROG Allyhttps://gizmodo.com/asus-rog-ally-cheap-price-leak-release-date-steam-deck-1850390692?utm_source=pocket_saves

Peacock releases the first teaser trailer for new series Twisted Metal based on the popular 90s PlayStation series of the same name, Starring Anthony Mackey as John Doe (driver of Road Kill) and featuring Samoa Joe as Needles the Clown (driver of Sweet Tooth) (voiced by Will Arnett) https://gizmodo.com/twisted-metal-playstation-peacock-tv-show-1850389354

Peacock officially launches “Must ShopTV” to let users shop products that appear in content https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/02/peacock-newfront-2023-must-shoptv-shoppable-ads/

Life-Size Gundam Challenges Visitors To A Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament https://kotaku.com/gundam-factory-yokohama-rock-paper-scissors-witch-from-1850378470

GamingEdge Stryker Dock gives you more ports for your Nintendo Switch! https://gamingedge.gg/

Have you seen this retro gaming goodness? https://www.arcadepunks.com/

Hot tip! How to remove the background from an image on macOS in seconds https://www.imore.com/mac/macos/how-to-remove-the-background-from-an-image-on-macos-in-seconds

Subscribe to the Podcast: awesomecast.com

Sorgatron Media Podcast Network Feed: sorgatronmedia.fireside.fm

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!

SPECIAL THANKS to our Executive Producer Brian Crawford!

Join our live show Tuesdays around 7:00 PM EST on AwesomeCast Facebook, Youtube and Sorgatron Media Twitch!

Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

Sorg, Katie, and Chilla brave the bitter cold this week to bring you this week's tech news, including:

• Chilla is sharing a Nintendo Switch TV as his Awesome Thing of the Week this week.
• Katie is sharing the Brazilian 501st Legion carnival float as her Awesome Thing of the Week.
• Sorg is sharing the Steel Cage Challenge video game as his Awesome Thing of the Week.
• Chilla is sharing Excel's ability to take a printout from another screen into OCR to create an editable table using AI.
• Pittsburgh's mayor signs an executive order creating new rules for self-driving cars.
• AlphaLab Gear's Hardware Cup winner has been announced!
• Speaking of cool things coming out of Pittsburgh, we're talking about Creation Labs and their 3D Printing space at South Hills Village.
• Weezer created a Fortnite island to promote its new album.
• There is an awesome Transformers cosplay cover of Immigrant Song.
• We're talking about Spectre, a great app with a slow shutter and neural engine that helps with long exposure photography.
• Replay FX is coming back! 2019 dates announced.
• ScareHouse is venturing into the laser tag realm with Rogue Laser Grounds.
• Jibo the social robot died?!?!
• Apex Legends already has 50 million players after one month.
• Thunderbolt devices are getting cheaper.

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: Katie (@Kdudders), Sorg (@Sorgatron) and Chilla (@chilla)

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