Episodes
As much as we have loved YouTube TV as a live TV streaming service, the recent price hikes (along with several other services) have led us to look for more cost-effective ways of accessing TV content. With a few one-time purchases, some software, and a reasonable distance to some TV towers, Brian explains and shows off his plan to stick it to the man
Published 11/03/23
Published 11/03/23
What could be better than hearing about one of the Brothers’ struggles with technology-related issues?... That’s right, hearing about struggles from both Brothers! Well, if hearing us vent about our frustrations is your thing…this episode is for you.
Published 10/26/23
If you have listened to the podcast before, you know that the Brothers love automation. We are all for ways of increasing our efficiency (i.e., why use 2 steps when you can do it with 1?)…especially when there is some cool tech we can use to do it. Well, this week Alan introduces NFC tags as a way of using your phone as a way of trigging automation tasks. He walks through the process of programming the tags using Shortcuts, and we brainstorm about possible uses. As a bonus, the Brothers...
Published 10/19/23
If you are anything like us, you have what seems to be a never-ending list of things to do. How do you keep track of it all? Sticky note? Write on your palm? String on the finger? Whatever the method…if it isn’t working for you, it might be time to look for a creative solution.
Published 10/13/23
Well, it has been a while…but the Brothers are back. No, Alan’s beard has not grown any longer…and Brian still doesn’t have hair. But, they do have opinions! Watch/listen as the Brothers break down their initial thoughts on Apple’s iOS 17 release. Are there any show-stopper features? Any issues/concerns with upgrading? Any hidden features that you may need to search to find? You will hear about widgets, passwords, voicemail, AirTag sharing, Recovery/Legacy contacts, and more. Plus, you get to...
Published 10/05/23
To our busy fan base…we hear you. The Brothers tend to talk…and talk. We know that some of you love to hear us ramble on and deep dive into our tech topics…but we also know that sometimes you just want a quick BYTE (you see what we did there?) of tech information that you can consume on your breaks. Well, let us introduce you to the Brothers in Tech BYTES.
Published 08/31/23
After a couple of weeks of testing out the new messaging, browser, email, and social apps we presented in the previous episode(s), the Brothers are back to give their verdicts. Which apps are still in the regular rotation, and which have been moving to app purgatory and why?
Published 08/24/23
In this episode, the Brothers discuss not one, but two exciting new apps which aim to rethink the way you perform some of our most common computing tasks…web browsing and messaging. With some very intriguing features, these (currently) free apps may be worth a try.
Published 08/17/23
After a few weeks off, the Brothers are back to share their latest tech suggestions that could benefit you and your family. Home automation, weight loss, harnessing the sun, and creating images…this episode covers some exciting apps and hardware. Although this episode runs a bit long (what’s new?), you will want to stick around to see which one of the Brothers will be a Jedi Knight riding a dragon. Spoiler alert…it’s Alan…but I think you probably guessed that.
Published 08/10/23
Although home automation is not a new topic for the Brothers (see the Home Automation series from 2020…including Convenience, Security, & Safety)…there are quite a few changes that have occurred across this market that are worth discussing. With both of the Brothers having recently set up or adapted their automation ecosystems, it is time to share those experiences, successes, and frustrations. If you have been thinking about using/migrating to HomeKit, you will want to listen to this...
Published 07/20/23
In case you haven’t been following the s%!t-show that is Twitter as of late…you might not know that there is yet another attempt at replacing the social media service. Will this “newcomer” actually have what it takes to become the new social media town square? Well, 100 million users in the first week is a pretty good start…. In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers discuss Meta’s new Threads service…how it works, pros and cons, and expectations for the future. Plus, you get to see...
Published 07/13/23
You may be completely happy with the native calendar app on your phone or computer…and if so, you may not need to listen to this episode (but of course you should…just for sheer entertainment). But, if you are like us, you may have a need for more than the standard features to keep up with all of your events. Features such as scheduling availability, weather integration, and natural language input may be enough to warrant trying something new. The Brothers discuss their must-haves and ideal...
Published 07/06/23
It is time for the June Brothers in Tech Suggestions (BiTS) episode, and well…let’s just say the Brothers were “greased up” and ready to go. What kind of show do you get when both of the Brothers consume a few drinks beforehand? Well, you will have to watch/listen to find out. Although we are still questioning whether Alan re-gifted one of his BiTS from earlier…he certainly seems to win this battle. Some solid suggestions along with some additional tips to make your digital life more...
Published 06/29/23
Which streaming services should you be subscribing to/paying for? Well, that depends on what content is available on each…and that is constantly changing. But, the Brothers are here to give you their rundown of the current quality of each of the major streaming platforms. What shows & movies do we feel are worth your attention? What services would be worth cancelling/pausing your subscription for a month? Most importantly, which service provides quality movies like the 1987 classic...
Published 06/22/23
After an extended break and some soul-searching, the Brothers are back…and have decided to fully lean in to their passion for all things Apple. And what better way to kick off the Apple-focused version of Brothers in Tech than to discuss the new Apple updates! WWDC brought a number of hardware and software announcements that certainly have us intrigued, and we are here to give our initial reactions and thoughts of what you should be excited about. Time for an upgrade? Any game-changing...
Published 06/13/23
If you watched/listened last week (and, of course you did!), you will remember the 1980’s tv show-like cliffhanger that Alan left us with. He got us so excited to see the AI-generated headshots that he ordered…but alas, we were all left unsatisfied when they didn’t arrive. But now they are here…and we get a chance to see whether they are worth the $17 he paid for them, or the trainwreck that many expect (or hope?). As a bit of a spoiler…it is the prior. But don’t worry…for those who are...
Published 04/20/23
Thanks to all of you who wrote in and expressed how much you loved having Brian as the host last week…Bueller? Bueller? Well, Alan is back…and now all is right with the world. So, you would think that this would mean we would have a well-designed and organized show right? Not…so…fast. The Brothers decide to bring a mixed bag of topics…from maps to movies, documents to headshots. How are they all connected? No idea…but some interesting topics that you won’t want to miss. The real question is...
Published 04/13/23
In what some are calling the smoothest and most well-run episode we have ever done (and by “some”, we mean Brian), Brian takes the wheel as Alan is away. But, have no fear…we are still living up to the Brothers in Tech name with the addition of friend of the show (and brother from another mother), Jeff Hartman (Professor of Exercise Science @ Gardner-Webb University & tech enthusiast). The “Brothers” discuss Jeff’s recent entry into the world of eBikes/pedal assist, and provide some...
Published 04/06/23
It is time for the March Brothers in Tech Suggestions (BiTS) episode, and well…let’s just say the Brothers were “greased up” and ready to go. What kind of show do you get when both of the Brothers consume a few drinks beforehand? Well, you will have to watch/listen to find out. Although we are still questioning whether Alan re-gifted one of his BiTS from earlier…he certainly seems to win this battle. Some solid suggestions along with some additional tips to make your digital life more...
Published 03/31/23
Anytime one of the Brothers gets a new gadget…we try to put it through its paces to see if it lives up to the billing. Well, this week Brian has the new tech…and he is able to provide his initial reviews (aka, rub it in Alan’s face). How do Apple’s Airtags compare to Tiles? How does the Samsung Galaxy S23 compare to the iPhone? Brian has thoughts…Alan has questions…and you get the benefit. All of this, AND we finish the episode in “under” an hour!
Published 03/23/23
If you thought that the Brothers couldn’t possibly have anything else to say about email (based on several previous episodes)…well, you just don’t know us too well. We are not giving up the fight to find the best (or at least adequate) email client, and this week Alan has taken it to a whole different level. Using spreadsheets and ranking systems (yes, really), he gives us his thoughts and experiences with a variety of email clients. Did he come to a resolution? Is the search over? You will...
Published 03/16/23
Before you say anything…yes, we know that we are always singing the praises of YouTube TV as the best way to enjoy live TV content. But, as the prices of streaming TV services continue to grow, it may be time to look for other, less expensive alternatives. Well, if local TV is one of the key reasons that you are paying for cable or streaming TV…you may want to consider taking advantage of the free over the air (OTA) TV signals that may be available in your area. But, this isn’t your parents’...
Published 03/09/23
It’s ALIVE..it’s ALIVE!!! Well, not really…but the Brothers are getting a chance to play mad scientists by attempting to design the perfect email application. Spoiler alert… it doesn’t exist yet. By pulling our favorite (and required) features from the countless applications we are tested…we create our Frankenstein of email apps, just waiting for someone to build it and get all of our money. What features are must-haves/deal breakers? What features would make us lean toward a specific client...
Published 03/02/23
If you are a regular listener (and if you aren’t…it is time to step it up!), you know that we will often discuss cord-cutting and the various streaming service options. However, we haven’t specifically focused on what remains one of the most important factors in the cord-cutting decision…sports. Well, it is time to remedy that! In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers discuss the leap of several streaming services into the playing field of sports content. From broad/general sport...
Published 02/23/23