Brothers in Tech

Although we have discussed automation and digital assistants in the past (see previous episodes), we haven’t discussed the actual process of setting up those automations to increase your home/life efficiency. In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the brothers walk through several examples of how to pair up some triggers and actions in both Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s HomeKit apps. Tune in to learn a...

Summer is here, and the time is right….to talk about A/C! You may be thinking that there have not been a lot of advancements in home climate control options, but the Brothers are here to make sure you are up to date on alternatives to the standard HVAC (which we now know what the letters stand for…). So, listen/watch to learn about some potentially more efficient options for not only cooling down...

As per Alan’s suggestion, we are going to give this a try… Well, if you were looking for an episode that will inspire you…this isn’t it. I mean, we really weren’t very good in this one. You could use the term “train wreck”, but that might just be an understatement. That being said, we did bring our monthly suggestions for you…ho hum. So go ahead and listen to it…if you are really bored. Alan’s Pic...

Interested in making your own website? The Brothers In Tech will discuss tools and tips for building your own website whether it be for personal or professional reasons. Learn about domain names, website building software, and other things to help you get your website up and running! Brian Jackson (the younger Brother) is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at Pacific University and Product Dire...

Although we think the days of creating and remembering hundreds of passwords are numbered, this is still very much a part of our day to day lives. So, how do you keep track of all of these passwords? In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers discuss the pros and cons of a variety of password management options. From sticky notes to biometrics…we have you covered! And, although you may stil...

Apple has made great strides over the past few years/software updates with their health and fitness monitoring. However, given that Apple doesn’t do a very good job of informing/educating their users of their features, it is likely that you are unaware of some of the great features that you have baked right into your phone. So…we figured we would do it for them! In this episode of Brothers in Tech...

It’s that time again…time for the Brothers to show off their tech suggestions! In this BiTs episode, we have a little bit of everything…hardware, accessory, & software…free, pricey, and even a techie way of giving to charity. And, as you watch/listen to the first part of the episode…don’t panic, Alan didn’t have to do the whole episode on his own. I mean, Brother in Tech doesn’t really have th...

Although we love to talk about new technologies that we think you should consider, sometimes you need to give some love to the apps, devices, and services that have been around a while…especially when they have recently gained some new features. In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers each bring a couple of software/service updates that they are excited about. Whether to help you keep yo...

Apple announced some new computers and features for their upcoming iPhone, iPad, and Mac software at their annual developer's conference ... so the Brothers in Tech are here to talk about those announcements and what could make a difference in your computing life in the near future! Alan Jackson (the older Brother) is a producer of online content with Jackson Creative and a survey researcher with...

Do you ever have a need to use a computer platform other than the one that you own? Maybe you have a PC but like to occasionally dabble in Linux…or own a Mac but have a need to run a PC-only program? Well, you could go and buy a whole new second machine…or you could try and emulate that platform on your current machine. Computer emulators are programs that will use your current computer’s resource...

If you have listened to the show before, you know that we make no secret that at our core, we are Mac guys. Although we appreciate and have had plenty of experience with other platforms, when it comes to buying a computer for ourselves…we are buying a Mac. So, as Brian is currently in the market for a new computer, we thought it would be helpful to go through the Apple computer line-up to determin...

Although we love diving into a tech topic each week…let’s be honest, we really love our BiTs episode! In the first live airing of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers try and impress each other by bringing a couple of tech suggestions, and see how much money they can make each other spend. Not to give it away…but Brian’s pics really heat things up, while Alan makes sure we stay organized. Brian’s Pics ·...

What do we do when we don’t have a pressing topic to talk about? We improvise, and talk about what is right in front of us! In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers compare their “essential computer apps”…aka, the apps we use on a daily basis and can’t (or prefer not to) live without. FYI, the Brothers’ apps are so similar, you would think they were related… We also play the “desert islan...

We know what you are thinking…why would you need a podcast to tell you about podcasts? Well, although you might be a regular consumer of podcast media, if you are like most, you are just scratching the surface of how to enhance your listening experience, and the Brothers are here to help. From the basics of what is a podcast, to the features that you might want to look for in a podcast player, we...

Oh yeah…it’s that time again. The BiTS episode! Time for the Brothers to try and impress each other with a recommended technology (e.g., app, device, service), and see who might have to break out their wallet. However, unlike most other BiTS episodes, Alan is the one who actually brings the expensive item to the table…and even Brian admits that it is pretty cool. Brian’s Pics · Duplicate File Find...

Advances in home automation have opened up a lot of opportunities to integrate your devices and voice throughout your home…but the three main automation platforms (Amazon, Google, Apple) have not always played nicely together. Those who have chosen to use HomeKit (Apple) as their platform have been more limited in their options for peripherals/devices, and not easily able to integrate with the oth...

The television has long been one of the cornerstones of our home technology lives…but if you haven’t shopped for a TV recently, you might be a little overwhelmed by the features to choose from. Do I need 4K? 8K? LCD? LED? HDR? Well, the Brothers are here to help. In this episode of Brothers in Tech, we discuss the features that you should be considering when searching for that new TV. You can hear...

Over the past several years, the Apple Watch has challenged the way we think about wearables…but does it have the same use and allure as it did when it was first introduced? With both Brothers owning the device (Brian’s is newer, by the way), we wanted to discuss what we view as the most valuable features of the watch, what features would lead us to upgrade, and some hidden tricks that you may not...

It is the episode that needs no introduction…but we are going to require Alan to do it anyway, just so he can remind us who came up with the name. It’s the BiTS episode! Time for the Brothers to see if they can one-up each other by introducing a new tech that will not only gain brotherly approval…but potential lead them to spend some (or a lot of) cash! Brian’s Pics · Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbell s...

That sofa you have in your living room…it’s not just for sitting anymore! Well, actually it is…but it may have some cool new features to enhance your sitting pleasure. In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers discuss some of the ways that technology has been making its way into your furniture. From shopping to design, from power to lighting…we are here to provide you with some pros and co...

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a yearly event in which we get a glimpse of the future of consumer technology…sparking tech enthusiasts like us to dream (and drool) about what is to come. In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers discuss the products that they are most excited about, and what those products could mean for our daily lives if they come to fruition. From new concepts t...

Smart lighting is made to sound simple…”just swap out your bulb!”…and there are certainly situations where that is true. But, to assure you get the most out of your smart lighting solution (and least frustration), there are some factors you need to consider. In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers discuss the different approaches to “educating” your lighting, as well as the questions you...

It’s that time again! Time for the Brothers’ “show and tell” in which they to try and outdo each other by bringing the more useful/impressive tech suggestion. Apps, devices, websites, or services…we try and impress each other with new and unique tech that we feel our listeners will enjoy. Not to give anything away…but all of the picks in this week’s episode seem pretty useful (although the jury is...

Don’t you think it is time that we have an episode about the truly important “people” in our lives? We agree…and in this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers discuss some ways that technology can either enhance your pet’s life, while possibly providing you with some peace of mind at the same time. Whether it be for safety, feeding, training, play…or doin’ da business, we introduce and provide...

Well, if 2020 & 2021 have taught us anything…it is that we had better know how to participate in virtual meetings. Although you may have begrudgingly done so over the past couple years, it might be time to step up your virtual game by improving your video and audio presence. Watch or listen to this week’s episode as the Brothers discuss (and demonstrate) some tips for looking and sounding your...