Modern Geek

Do you prefer streaming or owning your media? We tackle the question from a couple of angles, arguing both sides in order to better understand the question and market. We also discuss Leo Laporte’s recent frustrated rant about the Windows naming scheme. Could their Win RT/Win Phone/Windows 8.1 naming debacle scuttle the Surface Pro, despite the Pro’s unique niche market placement? Finally, we take some listener calls on music organization and holiday virus threats.

We take a look at the current status and future of three up-and-(maybe)coming technologies: smartwatches, electronic wallets, and 4K TVs. We also take a first look at the recently-release Google Play Newsstand, which combines RSS feeds, magazines, and news searches into a single stream-style reading app. We lament the passing of WinAmp and ponder the causes of its demise (potentially including our own behavior). And we worry about the clash between the app-ization of Android and delayed Android OS releases — and the problems this can cause in an auto-update environment.

We enjoy Windows 8.1’s fixes and discuss what the update means in terms of Microsoft’s (surprisingly functional) positioning of Windows across the tablet and PC market. We run down Steam OS and consider its potential in the connected home. We round up some of the most recent OS X Mavericks troubles. We study the specs and reviews of the new Nexus 5, revisiting our thoughts about jumping between the Google and Apple walled gardens. We take a look at the most recent Skype announcements — critical to both podcasters and small businesses. And we walk you through a slick file-transfer solution we developed to push production files painlessly between offices (and countries).

We enjoy Windows 8.1’s fixes and discuss what the update means in terms of Microsoft’s (surprisingly functional) positioning of Windows across the tablet and PC market. We run down Steam OS and consider its potential in the connected home. We round up some of the most recent OS X Mavericks troubles. We study the specs and reviews of the new Nexus 5, revisiting our thoughts about jumping between the Google and Apple walled gardens. We take a look at the most recent Skype announcements — critical to both podcasters and small businesses. And we walk you through a slick file-transfer solution we developed to push production files painlessly between offices (and countries).

A much belated episode of Modern Geek! Chuck and Juan talk about the new iPhone(s), discover that RaspyFi has duplicated their MPD/Raspberry Pi music server setup, and discuss DIY hardware and its role in outside-the-box innovation.

This week Juan reviews his latest acquisition (Logitech T400 mouse), a deeper look is taken at the iPad app “Mr. Reader”, and Chuck gives us an update on his waterproof camera.

It’s been a month between Modern Geeks, and Chuck and Juan deliver a bonus-length episode! Chuck takes us through his latest purchase (a weatherproof/sportproof camera), Juan finds yet another use for a Raspberry Pi (a sprinkler automation system), and both have a lot to say about the recent developments with Microsoft and XBOX One.

Juan and Chuck continue their deep dive into deploying Raspberry Pi’s for home use, this week getting a music server going using the open-source project MPD. They also take a look at the XBOX One (Juan?) announcement.

Juan’s moved into his new place, and has discovered yet another use for a Raspberry Pi – as a Plex media frontend using Rasplex. Chuck and Juan also take a look at some of the recent iOS app updates.

Chuck and Juan take a look at some practical applications for the Raspberry Pi, including a low-cost print server and a unique take on a home audio solution. Also, we discuss some recent community feedback.

Project time! In this episode, Chuck and Juan take a look at the pros and cons of replacing Juan’s aging desktop with a Macbook Air, Macbook Pro, or another Mac Mini.

With a new announcement of the eventual expiry of Windows XP support, Chuck and Juan discuss the long-term viability of Windows 8, comparing the current situation to the previous “issues” resulting from the Windows Vista licensing options. Continuing the search for a Google Reader replacement, a couple options are reviewed, including Tiny Tiny RSS, Flipboard, and Feedly.

After wading through a slew of hardware failures, Chuck and Juan get an episode recorded! We wonder how we’ll move on from Google’s recent decision to retire Reader, and consider the long-term consequences of using the “experimental/beta” projects that Google offers. We also discuss the recent meetup and the Modern Geek roundtable.

Modern Geek is going live! As the meetup approaches, we talk about the alterations to the recent schedule in preparation for the GWC meetup, and lay out the subject of our upcoming roundtable discussion.

We respond to some user feedback about configuring and purchasing an Apple computer, ponder over Best Buy’s “interesting” response to the ongoing showrooming issue, and try to figure out why phones are carrier-locked at all anymore.

Canadia time! We discuss Juan’s online-tax-filing woes, and take a look at Canada’s retirement of the penny, discussing the impact from a consumer standpoint, and wonder at the round-to-five-cents coding nightmare most point of sale software must now be facing. We also revisit the discussion of the Surface Pro after receiving some great feedback from listeners.

We discuss the closure of numerous Canadian Best Buy locations (without knowledge of the staff!). We (sorta) lament the passing of Stickam. We marvel at Microsoft’s ever-worse marketing plan for the Surface with the release of a 64G model–with only 23G usable.

We have some fun with the latest IE commercial, which seems both apologetic and nostalgic at the same time. We talk through Google’s Chrome-based cloud print system. We note the (almost unnotable) iOS 6.1 update. We wonder if the sun is setting on the universal remote. We discuss Netflix’s potential new profile system. And we wonder if a software update will help un-ground the 787 fleet.

We confess to some of our tech hoarding problems (and solutions). We talk about the difference between crappy and excellent WiFi routers. We laud the new, revamped Harmony remote website and configuration system. We go over some of the recent updates to the awesome Press RSS reader app for Android. And we ask some listener questions involving music syncing under Jelly Bean and note-taking on the Nexus 7.

We respond to listener feedback including a number of questions and comments about the Nexus 7, discuss in detail the process of using Google Voice as a (potential) Apple Messages replacement (and a killer home phone problem solver), and hear about one listeners awesome use of mobile videoconferencing for labeling his circuit breaker box.