Activision games like Call of Duty, Tony Hawk, Diablo, and Overwatch will be part of Microsoft/Xbox after the merger closes, but big titles may not hit Game Pass until 2024.https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/17/23921422/xbox-game-pass-activision-blizzard-games-2024-phil-spencer 

An AI voice was used to bring back a deceased actor's voice for the Cyberpunk 2077 expansion, with permission from his family. Raises interesting possibilities and concerns about future use of AI voices.https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/13/23915535/cyberpunk-2077-phantom-liberty-polish-voice-actor-ai-ripperdock-viktor-vektor

People wearing the new Meta Quest 3 VR headsets in public are being called "Meta Glassholes." The full immersion while in public is jarring to see.https://www.theverge.com/23920102/meta-quest-3-in-public-privacy-recording-glassholes

Social media news roundup: Threads getting an edit button, new Threads features like voice threads and follow all mentioned users, and where to find news now that Twitter is messy.https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/12/23914585/instagram-threads-edit-button-voice-postshttps://www.theverge.com/2023/10/17/23921527/another-good-new-threads-feature

AllTrails launching detailed guides to US National Parks with info on fees, reservations, and tips from AllTrails users. Makes trip planning easier.https://www.alltrails.com/guides/country/us

Quick hits: Chilla's new low latency Anker Soundcore Wireless Earbuds for VR gaming, Katie's radio interview about her cancer journey, local news on TikTok and other sources and Ivory for Mastodon comes to MacOS! https://amzn.to/3RX4hpE https://www.audacy.com/stations/kdkaradio/shows/natalie-bencivenga-72fde/episodes/5b16c0a839bb https://tapbots.com/ivory/mac/

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Chatting the tech news of the week with Amanda Narcisi of Bold Pittsburgh with a first look at Apple Fitness, Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas and John Chichilla!

• Amanda kicks off with her first Apple Fitness experience.
• Katie gives us some Animal Crossing Snow Boy making tips!
• Chilla is holding onto that old hardware.  Neverware's CloudReady ChromeOS business is being purchased by Google!
• Sorg is full on Tik Tok.  And so is this Podcast!
• Google Experiment Blob Opera eats our time
• intel Hackboard attempts to fill the Raspberry Pi gap
• So long Periscope.  How do I go on Twitter Live?

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!

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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

This week’s episode brought to you by Slice on Broadway, and Sidekick Media Services.

Chatting the tech news of the week including a solar Game Boy, Apple's latest event announcement, and Fall DIY in Animal Crossing with Katie Dudas, John Chichilla and Mike Sorg!

• Dudders is digging the New Fall DIY on Animal Crossing
• Chilla is looking forward to the Apple Event September 15
• Sorg is digging the experimental Solar Powered Game Boy
• Rizz shared the just leaked/announced Microsoft Next-Gen Xbox Series S Is Only $299
• Twitter adding headlines and descriptions to some its trends
• Facebook paying users to log off before election
• As if Google doesn’t have enough of your data, Google verifies company and tells you why they’re calling you
• Nintendo announce Super Marie games for the 35th anniversary and the Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit RC cars that interact with your Nintendo Switch.
• Amazon Phone Trees: a story of hacking and victory for Amazon.
• Apple's 'floating' store in Singapore will open on September 10th
• Grabango launches cashierless checkout in a Giant Eagle supermarket in Pittsburgh

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

Chilla and Sorg in studio to talk this week’s tech headlines, including:

• Sorg had a chance to see a SpaceX launch in Florida!
• ChromeCast could become a mini AndroidTV
• Cuss Collar turns barks into swear words
• Coronavirus Porn is big on PornHub
• Twitter testing "Fleet" temporary tweets
• Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aimé joines GameStop 
• Nintendo Sony Playstation prototype goes for $360,000 (We touched it once!)
• Call of Duty Warzone hits with free to play battle royal
• iOS 14 leaks are coming surprisingly early

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: John Chichilla (@chilla) and Mike Sorg (@Sorgatron)

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

Chilla, Sorg, and Krause are bringing you this week's tech news as we ramp up for the upcoming Apple announcement. We're sharing:

• It's a big Google news day, so we'll be talking about that tech news shortly!
• Google is making a foray into video games with Stadia. Krause is sharing the service as part of his Awesome Thing of the Week!
• We're talking about the implications of a video game system via Google Stadia and Chromecast.
• Before we get too excited about Stadia, will it go the way of Inbox or Google+ or Google Reader?
• Chilla is sharing a Microsoft update for Microsoft Teams - with 8 new features.
• We're a little excited about the updates for Microsoft Teams.
• Are you a Google One subscriber? Did YOU get a free Google Home Mini?
• Sorg is featuring his new Google Home Mini as his Awesome Thing of the Week.
• There are some phishy emails and phone calls going around lately.
• There's a new iPad Air. Chilla is giving us some updates to look forward to.
• Google Maps adds new styles and gameplay options for mobile games.
• Playing games can build 21st century skills.
• Retailers, like Disney, are engaging customers with gamified storytelling.
• Netflix is working on a follow-up to Bandersnatch with a Bear Grylls survival show!
• EA paid Ninja to stream Apex Legends. We're sharing some thoughts.
• We're deep diving some of the doors Stadia can open with online gaming and cooperative gaming.
• Remember Dreamcast? Do you remember what's on your old memory card?
• Krause is leaving DirecTV NOW - but he's looking at some great streaming video options!
• Speaking of streaming video, Sorg is catching up with some Halt and Catch Fire.
• Angry Birds AR is coming to iPhone.
• Halo is getting a Master Chief collection!
• What happens when you combine Carmen Sandiego and Google Earth? We can't wait to find out!
• Twitter is going back to 2009 with twttr.
• Krause is helping his wife transition to life without a button with a new iPhone.

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: Chilla (@chilla), Sorg (@Sorgatron), and Krause (@KrazyKrause)

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

Don't call it an Apple Week.  We talk about all the tech news fit the Podcast with Krystle Grady joining Chill and Sorg!

• We’re getting into our Awesome Things of the Week with Chilla talking about the Nintendo Switch Classic Controllers and Sega Genesis games
• Sorg is decided that Space X is sending a billionaire to the Moon.
• Krystle talks about her upcoming chance to be on a Lifetime Channel show
• Pittsburgh has some narrow mountain side streets.  Did you know we have custom fire trucks to traverse them?
• Roblox is getting kids ready to become the next video game entrepreneurs.  And Chilla stole it from his kid.
• Fortnite's license continues with Monopoly.
• We want this sweet jet board to surf the Pittsburgh rivers.
• We look at new features of iOS 12 and WatchOS 5 including how to really get work out of Siri Shortcuts.
• Twitter is going to revive the chronological timeline.

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: Krystle Grandy (@KGrandyMedia), Chilla (@chilla) and 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

It may be a slow tech news week as we head into the big Apple announcement next week, but we can still talk some interesting things! Sorg, Krause, and Chilla are talking about:

We’re getting into our Awesome Things of the Week with Chilla talking about lojacking your devices with Samsung Smartthings. But does this open up privacy concerns?
Sorg continues the tracking discussion with a sweet wallet with slim Tile tracker from Nomad.
Krause talks about a drone built batteries first for longer flight time from Impossible Aerospace.
Listener Brandon shared with us a grandfather with 11-phone Pokemon Go bike setup!
Brandon also shares the Netflix and Snack Melon Bowl.
Listener Dave looks at the Google Maps elevation feature.
Rizz lets us know Valve has approved it's first porn game on Steam.
It is estimated that half of US homes will have smart speakers by the end of the year.
There have been 1.5 million installs of Fortnite on Android, but Krause still has issues with it on his Pixel.
Nerf to add Fortnite and Overwatch guns.  And we go down the "Nerf Arsenal" Youtube rabbit hole.
Apple to stream iPhone event on Twitter.

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: Ron Krause (@KrazyKrause), Chilla (@chilla) and 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

• We're LIVE with our year-end Christmas show with Doug Derda and Cynthia Closkey, talking about our awesome things of the year on this week's episode.
• Sling and cordcutting were our awesome things of the year for 2015 as we reflected back last year.
• Meerkat? Wow!
• Cynthia is sharing her awesome thing of the year for 2016 - her smart watch (Apple Watch) and wearables in general.
• Sorg is sharing his woes over the Pebble buyout in comparison to the Apple Watch.
• Doug is pitching a Kickstarter campaign for a Kickstarter movie talking about Kickstarter campaigns.
• Google Glass is still a discussion at the end of 2016.
• Wheelz is sharing his awesome thing of the year - his Samsung phone.
• Doug is sharing Facebook LIVE as his awesome thing of the year and how interesting instacontent is.
• Speaking of bleeding edge tech - we can't help but talk about iJustine and how she was livestreaming a decade ago.
• How do you stand out in a tidal wave of content now that instacontent is so available?
• Are people looking at instacontent for content or for interaction with other people?
• Doug is teaching us about the Musically app through his son's usage.
• Sorg's awesome thing of the year is self-driving cars - especially since he's been in one!

• Speaking of self-driving cars, studies show traffic would be better with less traffic lights.

• It's 2016 prediction recap time!
  -- Doug was WRONG with his prediction about online superstardom.
  -- Cynthia is recapping her accurate mom factor prediction about streaming programming.
  -- AI advancement prediction by Chilla is ACCURATE! (You can thank Alexa, Sir.)
  -- DJ Lunchbox's iPhone7 prediction - ACCURATE! (WTH headphone jacks?)
  -- Technology to communicate with pets. Sorry Katie, we're not sure whether Catterbox counts this year.

• Apple's biggest innovation - a phone that doesn't explode!

• Predictions for 2017!
  -- Doug predicts Google+ will finally die.
  -- Sorg thinks Twitter will not be an independent company by the end of 2017. Will it go to Verizon?
  -- Cynthia thinks VR video will not be a thing next year, as in it's not going anywhere, and we won't know why. She doesn't believe it will get past Cardboard and it'll be at least another 3 years before we see any solid movement with VR.
  -- Rizz predicts the Nintendo Switch will revolutionize gaming

• Thanks for a great (at least by way of tech) 2016! Make sure to hit us up with what tech Santa brought you!

After the show remember to:

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

Follow these awesome people on Twitter: Doug Derda (@douglasderda), Cynthia Closkey (@cynthiacloskey) and Mike Sorg (@Sorgatron, SorgatronMedia.com).

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

Also, check out sorgatronmedia.com and awesomecast.net for more entertainment; and view us livestreaming Tuesdays around 6:30 PM EST!

Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk