In the Weeds with Dexter Johnson

What's important?: Manufacturers are sad that you aren't connecting your appliances to wifi. Cry me a river.... Why should we? To make a botnet? To deal with obsolescence 2-3 years later? To invade our privacy? Links: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/01/half-of-smart-appliances-remain-disconnected-from-internet-makers-lament/ - - ********** Find podcast notes (if any) here: https://dexjohnspc....

What's important?: We don't need an app for that. Sometimes putting where it's not needed makes a product difficult to use, a car more confusing or a home a privacy risk. Manufacturers, tech giants and coders -- can WE do better? Links: - - ********** Find podcast notes (if any) here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

Many think this is a purposeful move from Elon to make users utilize the default Twitter app, which uses ads, algorithms and can be monetized. I hope this is it for the platform. What's important?: Links: https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/13/23553161/third-party-twitter-clients-apps-outage-twitterific-tweetbot - - ********** Find podcast notes (if any) here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

What's important?: EVs and their technology will be used to spy and we have a government that'll take advantage of this...meanwhile, Tesla and other manufacturers lazily hide controls behind a touchscreen without offering industry standards such as CarPlay. Links: - - ********** Find podcast notes (if any) here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

What's important?: LastPass was breached in the summer of 2022, they admitted it but as of the past few weeks we've gotten damping details about all that's been in the breach. Is it time to switch? Links: - https://www.cloudwards.net/the-best-lastpass-alternative/ - ********** Find podcast notes (if any) here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

What's important?: Twitter (clearly at the demand of Elon crybaby Musk) is banning the sharing of links to other social media sites, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social and more.... It's falling apart fast there. Links: - - ********** Find podcast notes (if any) here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

What's important?: The TikTok-ification of every app...From YouTube Shorts to Reels and now a shopping feed, named Inspire (seen by clicking a light bulb in the Amazon app) are upon us. We didn't ask for this!!? Links: - https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/8/23500077/amazon-inspire-social-shopping-short-form-video-feed-tiktok - ********** Find podcast notes (if any) here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podca...

Art is generated from a human after thought and is a deep expression of their existence. Is that the same as typing into a box what you want to see? I don't think so. I think it's nice to tear down a barrier, but art is expressed not derived. What's important?: Links: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DALL-E - ********** Find podcast notes (if any) here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

Could Mastodon be the next great social network? Yes. Is Mastodon a direct Twitter replacement? No. Is Mastodon incredibly rough around the edges? Yes. This has been a crazy podcast to make and I still say give it a try before you write it off, you may find a unique bunch of people to follow. What's important?: Links: - https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/twitter-migrants-flock-to-mast...

What I'm Into Fridays (WIIF), intersecting tech with my life! This week I discuss: Such a fun computer and going over the power of a KVM switch. Links: - Find podcast notes here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

I wonder why.... Given the recent screw up of Twitter Blue and spam accounts, advertisers are bullish on if the platform can meet their needs. What's important?: Links: - - ********** Find podcast notes (if any) here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

What's important?: The world's biggest ego manic crybaby himself, Elon Musk, has become CEO of Twitter, axing leadership and making wild demands of it's engineering team. Links: https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/30/23431931/twitter-paid-verification-elon-musk-blue-monthly-subscription https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-twitter-says-it-will-close-deal-with-elon-musk-again-111501200.html?src=...

Why? Are we getting more? Are we getting substantially better quality? In what world should consumers ALWAYS pay more when CEOs make millions?? What's important?: Links: https://www.cultofmac.com/795270/apples-hikes-prices-of-apple-tv-apple-music-and-apple-one/ - Find podcast notes (if any) here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

What I'm Into Fridays (WIIF), intersecting tech with my life! This week I discuss: The latest flagship from Apple, iPhone 14 Pro Max! Links: - Find podcast notes here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

What's important?: Pixel 7, Pixel Watch and tablets have been announced! Great prices and value for interesting products. Links: https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/6/23385161/google-pixel-7-watch-tablet-event-announcements-products - Find podcast notes (if any) here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

Social media has made us devolve in a frightening way. What can we do when we get irritated or become irrational online? - Find podcast notes here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

I warned you guys about this...Google has too much going on to commit to gaming and while "they still are committed to gaming", Stadia is shutting down January 2023 with full refunds to hardware and content. Links: https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/29/tech/google-stadia-shutting-down/index.html - Find podcast notes here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

It's sad. I really wanted to like Rumble, but a quick scroll through its content, creators and comments section told me I should leave. Links: - Find podcast notes here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

Be vigilant about you location. Do not share it. Links: - Find podcast notes here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

Apple caused a bit of a stir with all iPhone 14 models -- they are eSIM only. What is an eSIM? Are they easy to use? Let's talk about it. Links: https://www.mintmobile.com/blog/what-is-esim/ - Find podcast notes here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

New iPhones and accessories are here!! Should you upgrade? Are these new devices even worth it? Links: https://www.theverge.com/23341046/apple-iphone-14-plus-pro-max-notch-event-announcements-watch-8-se-ultra-airpods-pro - Find podcast notes here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

As suggested by Google, we need to educate our young generation on online life and give them the foundation they need to be safe in our connected world. Links: https://blog.google/technology/families/when-should-you-talk-to-kids-about-online-safety/ - Find podcast notes here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

RCS a new text standard is being pushed by Google and carriers, instead of adopting this messaging standard, Apple stupidly forces any non-Apple messaging to fall back to SMS. Grow up, Apple! Links: https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/09/google-new-campaign-pressure-apple-adopting-rcs/?guccounter=1 https://www.androidcentral.com/what-rcs-and-why-it-important-android https://www.phonearena.com/news/rcs-...

I thought Truth Social was all about freedom and saying what you want? I guess you can say and do what you want when it aligns with Donald Trump's ideals, huh? Links: https://www.businessinsider.com/truth-social-is-shadow-banning-posts-despite-promise-of-free-speech-2022-8 - Find podcast notes here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/

Tesla, BMW and others, do not put car features in your cute little connected cars behind a paywall -- it's lazy and pathetic. Links: https://www.thedrive.com/news/bmws-subscription-fee-will-start-a-fight-with-hackers - Find podcast notes here: https://dexjohnspc.com/podcast/