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In this week's episode of Ask The Tech Guys, Leo and Mikah answer questions about streaming local news without cable, windows management on macOS, using eSIMs for international travel, improving TV antenna reception, and more. Dick Debartolo also joins to showcase photo backdrop kits that let you simulate exotic locations in your own home. AT&T Outage: Leo and Mikah delve into the recent nationwide AT&T outage, discussing its causes and broader implications for network reliability. SpaceX's Lunar Lander: The conversation shifts to SpaceX's lunar lander mishap and the creative solution that ensured its mission continued. Lunar Library: An exploration of the lunar library concept, aiming to preserve human knowledge on the moon, is discussed, highlighting its significance and contents. HomePod Alarm Sounds: A listener's question about customizing HomePod Mini alarm sounds leads to a discussion on using the Home app for customization. Pirate Ship Bedroom Decor: The Giz Wiz Dick Debartolo showcases how tapestry can be used for an inexpensive yet effective makeover. Google Speakers Management: Dick poses a question about managing responses from multiple Google speakers in different rooms, leading to advice on enhancing device response accuracy through settings adjustments. Cord-Cutting & Local News: A caller is looking for options for streaming local news like MSNBC without a cable subscription. Leo and Mikah recommend services like Peacock, YouTube TV, and Local Now. iOS Auto-Brightness: An iPhone user receives suggestions on resolving inconsistent auto-brightness problems, and Mikah shares his custom Auto-Brightness Shortcut. ISP Woes and Modem Upgrades: Annoyances when ISPs forcibly "update" modems and suggestions for replacements. Password Managers: Struggles exporting iCloud Keychain passwords from an iPhone to other password managers, pros and cons for Chome's password manager, and Leo demonstrates how passkeys improve login security. Over-the-Air TV: A caller running into issues with his TV antenna wire placement gets recommendations on antenna types and optimization tips. eSIMs for Travel: For a caller preparing for a trip abroad, Leo and Mikah recommend eSIM services like GigSky and Airalo for easy international cell data. macOS Window Management: A Mac user struggling to keep track of many open windows learns keyboard shortcuts and Mission Control tools, and Leo shows his preferred fullscreen app workflow. Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Guest: Dick DeBartolo Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2013 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys Sponsors: wix.com/studio for Ask the Tech Guys robinhood.com/boost

How can you manage and lower your tech anxiety and the need to examine and adjust the many settings on your tech devices? Why is my Android phone not connecting to my car? How can I access my old iPhotos library if the files are corrupted? And what iTunes alternatives are there for the Mac? Plus, Chris Marquardt goes over the month's photo assignment of Sparkling and assigns this next month's photo assignment! Why some of Apple's biggest fans are returning their Vision Pros. NBA Slam Dunk contest filmed for Apple Vision Pro. Apple to be fined over $500 million under EU antitrust law. Bored Apes' creator Yuga Labs acquires Proof, takes over Moonbirds NFT brand. Intel accused of inflating CPU benchmark results, Amazon argues National Labor Relations Board is unconstitutional. How can I break from the constant need to examine and adjust my settings on various tech devices? Why are my audio levels low going to my livestreams? Can I control the amount of information given to a company by having multiple computers set up for different purposes? Can I use Apple's Time Machine to back up an old Mac and access it similarly to an external drive? Why is my Android phone not connecting to Android Auto? Is there an easier way to control multiple Macs that isn't through Apple's Universal Control? How can I import my old iPhotos library to Photos if the files are corrupted? Is there a powerful outdoor WiFi extender I can use with Starlink? How can I back up information from an online family tree database to make it more easily accessible? What alternatives are there to Adobe's Fill & Sign after Adobe chose to discontinue the application? Chris Marquardt and the Sparkling photo assignment review! Susan from Save A Memory calls in with some suggestions to help with backing up family photos & data. What are some iTunes alternatives for listening to podcasts on the Mac? Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Guest: Chris Marquardt Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2012 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys Sponsor: wix.com/studio for Ask the Tech Guys

Is Canada going to ban the sale of Flipper Zero's in Canada? Why is Netflix going into weekly live sports following acquiring the broadcast rights to WWE Raw? Should you be updating your router's security? Plus, Sam Abuelsamid stops by to talk about EV vehicles! Canada declares Flipper Zero public enemy No. 1 in car-theft crackdown. Fake LastPass password manager spotted on Apple's App Store. What kind of changes can I make with my ISP service? What should I be looking for when making this kind of change? What are Leo and Mikah's thoughts on streaming services acquiring rights to broadcast certain events, like Netflix exclusively streaming WWE RAW? Should I use my Acronis backup to clone the bootable OS or use the backup drive on another machine? How can I prevent my credit card information from being stolen? Why is my iPhone contacts information duplicated in my contacts' memo section when uploaded to iCloud? Is there security concerns when my router isn't receiving security updates? Why can't I access my drives on my Linux machine through my Windows machine? Sam Abuelsamid and electric vehicles. Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Guest: Sam Abuelsamid Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2011 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys Sponsors: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT fastmail.com/twit

Mikah Sargent got the Apple Vision Pro headset and shows off the device! Is it worth buying an additional battery pack for the Vision Pro, or can you save some money and buy a 3rd party external pack? What cellular plans support the Apple Watch with cellular? Plus, we check in with Scott Wilkinson on TV deals to look out for before the Super Bowl, and Johnny Jet talks about the Boeing 737 Max planes! Mikah shares his thoughts and opinions on the new Apple Vision Pro headset. Scott Wilkinson and Super Bowl TV deals Should I buy a spare Apple Vision Pro battery, or can I use a 3rd party battery from a brand like Anker? Why is my Windows 10 machine constantly asking me to select a bootable device on startup? What other services are out there similar to TiVo? Is there another NVMO service like T-Mobile that supports Apple Watch cellular service? Why is my home WIFI network being brought down when I turn on my laptop? Johnny Jet and the Boeing 737 Max planes. And what you can do to protect yourself after being compromised online. Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Guests: Scott Wilkinson and Johnny Jet Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2010 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys Sponsors: robinhood.com/boost cachefly.com/twit

What are some downsides to an ultra-short throw projector? How can I recover data from an old MacBook when the battery is dead? What are Linux operating systems to use on a Raspberry Pi 5? Plus, Dick DeBartolo shares some expensive gadgets from CES 2024 and Padre's CES 2024 Recap Part 2! Car industry seeks to crush AM radio; Congress may rescue it. N.S.A. buys Americans' Internet data without warrants, letter says. Nearly 25,000 tech workers were laid off in the first weeks of 2024. Why is that? What are the downsides to ultra-short throw projectors? Dick DeBartolo and the expensive tech from CES 2024. Is AT&T in California looking to no longer offer landline telephone services to customers in the state? How can I recover data off an old MacBook Air if the battery is dead? What should I be prepared to do when reinstalling an operating system on a laptop? Why can't I reformat an encrypted hard drive? Is there a way to enable encrypted folder protection within iCloud, similar to pCloud's Crypto Folder feature? Padre's CES Recap Part 2 - Gadgets! What Linux operating systems can I use for the Raspberry Pi 5? After switching iPhones, why are my Airtags becoming an "unknown device," thus thinking that an unknown AirTag is following me? Can I still buy the older Apple power cables that originally came with the older MacBooks? Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Guest: Dick DeBartolo Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2009 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys

Who ordered the Apple Vision Pro? Why are my photos changing colors completely when I export them? Why can't I use specific 3rd party texting applications anymore when I switched cellular providers? And, the end of an era for Sports Illustrated. Someone at TWiT ordered the Apple Vision Pro! Who got it? Microsoft 'senior leadership' emails accessed by Russian SolarWinds hackers. Sports Illustrated thrown into chaos with mass layoffs. What should I be on the lookout for or be concerned about after getting a Macbook Pro repaired? Is there a way around some issues that I'm encountering when using Google Takeout? Rod Pyle and the micro-meteorite! How can I display specific images on a television for others to view? What's the best way to utilize my mesh routers to their more optimal utilization? Why am I losing connection to my media server upon startup with my machine? Chris Marquardt and the CLEAN photo assignment review. Why is my exported photo coming out in a different color completely? Why can't I use my 3rd party texting applications after switching cellular providers? Could a Starlink-type satellite service be the future of cellular networks? Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Guests: Rod Pyle and Chris Marquardt Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2008 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys Sponsors: meraki.cisco.com/twit ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT

Is there a way to play Call of Duty on my M3 MacBook Pro? Should I get a voice recorder to record my thoughts, or is my smartphone good enough to record audio? Can you upgrade from Windows 7 to 10 still for free? Plus, Sam Abuelsamid stops by to talk about the car tech at CES 2024 and Fr. Robert Ballacer, SJ shares his report from CES 2024 as well. You can now pre-order the Apple Vision Pro. Apple Vision Pro's lengthy sales pitch will include 25-minute demo. The Atari 400 is getting an awesome mini edition. Shutting down Artifact. How can I equalize the audio of my mp3's? Can I play the latest Call of Duty on my MacBook Pro? Is a voice recorder better to record my own thoughts, or can my smartphone do the job? Sam Abuelsamid and CES 2024. Will there be a new 27-inch iMac coming out in the near future? What secure messaging app should I use on a Samsung phone with Facebook Messenger dropping support for SMS messaging? How can I get off Google's blacklist of "bad" domains? Can I still upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free? Fr. Robert Ballacer, SJ, and his CES 2024 report on the trends seen at the convention. Is powerline networking a better option than using WiFi to connect multiple devices in my household? Is there a command line feature for managing information in text files? Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Guests: Sam Abuelsamid and Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2007 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys Sponsor: fastmail.com/twit

What can we expect from this year's CES event in Las Vegas? Apple has begun sending payments out for its "Batterygate" settlement. Is there a way to keep your calendar information private and secure? And why am I getting so many spam callers on my cellular network? What to expect at CES 2024. RIP: Software design pioneer and Pascal creator Niklaus Wirth. Apple starts sending "Batterygate" settlement payments to iPhone users. Logan Paul promises CryptoZoo refunds, as long as you don't sue him. Can I use my phone to transcribe my thoughts into a document? Scott Wilkinson and the TVs at CES 2024. How can I access a Samsung tablet if I don't have access to the recovery phone number or email account? How can I better secure other's online activity after possibly encountering a phishing attack? Is there a way to keep my calendar information private and secure without going over the cloud? With my Pixel 5 getting the update to Android 14, will the phone be getting support for one more year? In what ways can an iPad be used like a computer? How can I reduce the number of spam callers I'm getting on the Mint Mobile network (a sponsor of the TWiT network)? Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Guest: Scott Wilkinson Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2006 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys Sponsors: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT cachefly.com/twit

No new Ask The Tech Guys on December 24th or the 31st. We'll be back on January 7th, 2024, with all new episodes! In the meantime, you can send us your questions to be answered on-air (video questions especially!) to atg@twit.tv, or leave a voicemail at 1.888.724.2884. See you on January 7th! Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2005b Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys

How can I get emails sent to my Fastmail account to show up in email clients such as Apple's Mail app? What are the easiest methods to convert my old VHS tapes into digital files? Plus, Dick DeBartolo shares a cool beanie that you can wear with Bluetooth capabilities, and Chris Marquardt goes over the Unusual photo assignment review! Seven things we learned analyzing 515 million Wordle. Inside Mark Zuckerberg's top-secret Hawaii compound. Four men indicted in $80 million 'pig butchering' scheme. Is there a difference in quality when I watch Netflix on certain devices? What brand of keyboards would Leo & Mikah recommend that are quiet when using it? How can I convert old home movie tapes to digital? Dick Debartolo and the Bluetooth beanie! At what point is it an issue when connecting to public WiFi? Can I download my purchases from a streaming service like Apple TV+? How can I get emails sent to my Fastmail account to show up in email clients such as Apple's Mail app? Which free two-factor authentication app would Leo & Mikah recommend that uses the "push" functionality and not type in a code? What's a great budget Android phone to upgrade to? Chris Marquardt and the Unusual photo assignment review! What's the best way to prepare myself to do cold-weather photography and capture the Northern lights? What are some recommendations to get children started in computer programming? Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Guests: Dick DeBartolo and Chris Marquardt Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2005 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys

How can I allow someone on my Apple family account to make their own individual Apple purchases? Why am I not receiving any messages when correctly submitting my information to retrieve my Google account? Some last-minute gift suggestions from Leo & Mikah. Plus, Scott Wilkinson talks about the variety of online streaming TV options, and Sam Abuelsamid stops by to talk about Ample & its proposed car battery-swapping technology. Apple responds to the Beeper iMessage saga. Actors recorded videos for 'Vladimir.' It turned into Russian propaganda. Google's Gemini looks remarkable, but it's still behind OpenAI. Why am I not receiving a message from Google when I correctly enter my information to recover my Google account? The casualties of the Podcasting bloodbath. Scott Wilkinson and the streaming TV options. How you can keep someone on your Apple family account while allowing them to make their own Apple purchases. What are my best buying options for buying a MacBook in Brazil? What USB Fingerprint reader should I purchase for my Windows machine? Some last-minute gift recommendations from Leo & Mikah. Sam Abuelsamid, crash safety tests, and Ample's car battery swapping technology. What's going on with my Firefox browser? Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Guests: Scott Wilkinson and Sam Abuelsamid Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2004 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys Sponsors: discourse.org/twit GO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT cachefly.com/twit

Why might you still be getting notifications when using Apple's Focus mode? Can you call your iPhone from your Apple Watch if the watch has a cellular connection? Plus, Rod Pyle joins us to talk about a "cannibal" solar storm, and Johnny Jet breaks some news that Alaska Airlines is buying Hawaiian Airlines! When I have Focus Mode turned on between my Mac, iPhone, and iPad, why do I still get notifications when an email comes in? My RAW photos are out of focus when viewing them in Apple Photos. Has Apple made a fix for this yet? What's a good replacement device for Apple's AirPort Express to relay audio for two sets of speakers in different rooms? When using my new M3 MacBook Pro, why is my RAM usage so high when I believe I'm not using applications that would use so much RAM? A caller calls in to share a suggestion to hooking up Bluetooth headphones to your TV. Why aren't my podcasts being removed in Apple Podcasts after playing them? Is there a way to reset the iOS keyboard default key mapping? Is there a way to call your own iPhone from my Apple Watch if it has a cellular connection? Rod Pyle and the "Cannibal" solar storm. Why am I never getting a notification when getting a call or a text message? Why is my eero not maintaining its LAN connection when my ISP goes down? Why do my Apple Watch notifications persist when I clear them on my other Apple devices? Johnny Jet and Alaska Airlines are buying Hawaiian Airlines. What can I use to toggle two different computers on one keyboard/mouse setup? Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Rod Pyle and Johnny Jet Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2003 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys Sponsors: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT securemyemail.com/twit Use Code TWIT Melissa.com/twit mylio.com/TWIT25