Supercharged

Latest Episodes:

72: Pencils and Ink Sep 10, 2015

Show notes

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about Apple's new crap. As usual, we’re also answering your questions, discussing your comments, and sharing our favorite tips and downloads of the week!

Links for this episode:

No, Your iPhone Was Never Only $200
Yesterday, Apple announced a new iPhone, but if you’re looking to pre-order it this weekend, you may find that it costs $650—a far cry from the $200 it cost on a lot of older phone plans. I have some bad news for you: your phone never cost only $200.
Every Carrier's Confusing Phone-Buying Plans, Explained
The next time you go buy a new cellphone, things are going to look a lot different. The subsidized two-year contract is all but dead, and the carriers have replaced it with a new heap of confusing options. Here’s what you need to know about buying a phone in 2015.
How Often Should You Upgrade Your iPhone? An Experiment
I’m a gadget nerd. I love having the latest and greatest phone. But my wife is more frugal—she’d rather run her phone into the ground before upgrading. But is upgrading every three years really more cost effective than upgrading every year? I ran some numbers to find out.
Everything Apple Announced Today that Actually Matters
Apple’s big Fall Event came in at over two hours today, and it was packed with a ton of announcements. If you didn’t spend your morning watching the whole thing, here’s what they announced that actually matters.

This week's episode was sponsored by the great mattress makers at Casper!

71: Instant Cardiac Explosion Sep 03, 2015

Show notes

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about annoying corporate decisions, Apple event rumors, and the basics of a healthy life. As usual, we’re also answering your questions, discussing your comments, and sharing our favorite tips and downloads of the week!

Links for this episode:

Android Wear smartwatches come to the iPhone
In a nondescript conference room at Google’s headquarters a few weeks ago, I paired my iPhone to a smartwatch running Android for the first time. I was there to ask Jeff Chang, the lead product manager for Wear, how he’d managed to get Android watches working with iOS and how much they could do with an iPhone. Then my first notification came in on my newly paired Huawei Watch and my carefully laid plans evaporated.
What graphic designers think about the Google logo
'I would change the name to Goo.'
Google OnHub review
Is this the router of the future?
Apple iPad Pro set to be announced on September 9th, report claims
The next attempt at an awesome enterprise tablet unicorn is upon us.
T-Mobile will now punish customers who abuse unlimited data
Don't try to hide your tethering from the Uncarrier.
Amazon Prime Is About to Get Worse (Update: Nah, It's Not)
We’ve generally considered Amazon Prime to be the best deal in technology. But, alas: It’s about to get slightly more annoying to use, and I am irrationally upset about it.
Kim Kardashian puts 'corrective' ad about drug's side effects on Instagram
If you were glued to the VMAs last night, you might have passed over an unrelated bit of Kim Kardashian news. Kardashian gained the FDA's attention earlier this month after posting glowing endorsements of a morning sickness drug, and last night, under the agency's orders, she posted a "corrective ad" with the drug's side effects.
My YouTube Channel with Supercharged and Awkward Videos
This is the YouTube channel I've been promising to post to lately. I finally did it!

This week's episode is brought you by the wonderful folks at Lynda!

70: Wet Heat and Dog Testicle Sushi Aug 25, 2015

Show notes

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about deleting political tweets, the Ashley Madison aftermath, and hacking your morning routine. As usual, we’re also answering your questions, discussing your comments, and sharing our favorite tips and downloads of the week!

Links for this episode:

Mozilla CEO threatens to fire person responsible for anonymous hate speech on Reddit
"If they are an employee, they will be fired."
Twitter shuts down 30 sites dedicated to saving politicians' deleted tweets
Twitter has shut down a network of sites dedicated to archiving deleted tweets from politicians around the world. The sites — collectively known as Politwoops — were overseen by the Open State Foundation (OSF), which reported that Twitter suspended their API access on Friday, August 21st. Twitter reportedly told the OSF that its decision was the result of "thoughtful internal deliberation and close consideration of a number of factors," and that the social media site didn't distinguish between politicians and regular users.
Ashley Madison's $19 'full delete' option made the company millions
Data from the hack is now easily searchable, so those people don't need go far to confirm whether Ashley Madison followed through on permanent account deletion — or if the company instead pocketed the $19 and profited from a false promise. In total, the Ashley Madison data dump covers 36 million accounts. "It was ALM that failed you and lied to you," the group behind the attack has told Ashley Madison's users. "Prosecute them and claim damages. Then move on with your life. Learn your lesson and make amends. Embarrassing now, but you'll get over it."
You know the stock market is in trouble when Tim Cook is emailing Jim Cramer
Stock markets around the world have been posting big losses for the last few days. The route was especially rough this morning, with the DOW Jones at one point falling 1,000 points in less than an hour. At the heart of the current slide is an issue which could impact many tech companies: economic weakness in China.
Top 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Morning Routine
Never feel like there's enough time in the morning? Find yourself struggling to get up or into work mode? We know the feeling. Try out these tips on waking up, getting energized, and getting things done in the early hours.
Start the Day Right with a Morning Routine That Feeds Your Mind
If your morning routine consists of a mad rush to get out the door on time, it's probably time for an upgrade so you can frame your day better. Weblog Daring to Live Fully details two methods for feeding your mind the best stuff and setting the tone for the rest of the day.
Create a Morning Playlist to Make Sure You Leave On-Time
If you have trouble getting up and out of the house in the morning on time every day, or just want an easy way to bump your schedule back a bit, try upgrading your morning routine with a playlist that's specifically built to let you know how much time you have left based on which song is playing and how close the playlist is to the end.

This week may or may not have been sponsored by our friends at Lynda.com!

69: Dirty Work Aug 20, 2015

Show notes

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about Alphabet, Amazon, and crappy jobs. As usual, we’re also answering your questions, discussing your comments, and sharing our favorite tips and downloads of the week!

Links for this episode:

Square Enix's 'Final Fantasy VII' Now Available for iOS
Square Enix today released a long-awaited port of Final Fantasy VII for iOS devices. Originally released in 1997, Final Fantasy VII was the first game in the Final Fantasy series created for PlayStation and it continues to be one of the most popular Final Fantasy games.
Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac Released With Windows 10 and Cortana Support
Parallels today announced the release of Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac with dual support for OS X El Capitan, Windows 10 and always-on access to Microsoft's intelligent personal assistant Cortana. Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac Business Edition and Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition were also released for business customers, developers, designers and power users.
Intel's Skylake Chips Will Drive Three 4K Monitors at 60Hz
Intel has shared new details about its faster, more power-efficient Skylake processors at IDF 2015 in San Francisco. PCWorld reports that Intel engineers have suggested the sixth-generation Core processors could launch in around "two weeks," setting the stage for a possible announcement of new chips appropriate for Macs at the IFA Berlin trade show on September 4-9.
Inside Amazon: Wrestling Big Ideas in a Bruising Workplace
The company is conducting an experiment in how far it can push white-collar workers to get them to achieve its ever-expanding ambitions.
Why Google Became Alphabet, Explained In 120 Seconds
What are the pros and cons of Google reorganizing itself as Alphabet? Well, Larry gets to play with the future, Google can focus on more ambitious projects, and it could help the company retain top talent. But will the independent Alphabet company CEOs get frustrated relying on Larry for resources? Here’s everything you need to know in a quick two minute video.

This week's episode is sponsored the wonderful folks at Lynda!

68: Bombproof Your Horse Aug 13, 2015

Show notes

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about a lovely LastPass upgrade, the post-PC area, and photography. As usual, we’re also answering your questions, discussing your comments, and sharing our favorite tips and downloads of the week!

Links for this episode:

There’s no such thing as post-PC
You use your smartphone as much as your laptop because it’s just another PC.
The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media (by Bruce Block)
If you can't make it to one of Bruce Block's legendary visual storytelling seminars, then you need his book! Now in full color for the first time, this best-seller offers a clear view of the relationship between the story/script structure and the visual structure of a film, video, animated piece, or video game. You'll learn how to structure your visuals as carefully as a writer structures a story or a composer structures music. Understanding visual structure allows you to communicate moods and emotions, and most importantly, reveals the critical relationship between story structure and visual structure.
Purse
Spend bitcoins. Save money.
Rite Aid Reverses Course, Will Accept Apple Pay Starting August 15
Rite Aid today announced that its 4,600 stores across the United States will begin accepting Apple Pay and Google Wallet starting August 15, nearly one year after the drugstore chain and CVS infamously disabled support for the iPhone-based mobile payments service nationwide. Rite Aid will also support Google's forthcoming Android Pay service when available.
LastPass Now Lets You Sync Passwords on Any One Platform for Free
LastPass is our favorite password manager, but to make the most of it, you need to pay for a premium subscription. Now, the service is bringing down some of the walls, and letting you use the mobile apps and sync your passwords on any one platform for free.
Manual (iPhone App)
Custom exposure for your iPhone camera with full independent control of shutter speed, ISO, white balance, focus, and exposure compensation.
The Basics of Photography: The Complete Guide
Adam's night school course on photography—with video!
Learn the Basics of Photoshop: The Complete Guide
Adam's lessons on using Photoshop. You may not need/want to watch all of them, but the first one takes you through all of Photoshop's tools in 20 minutes. That's worthwhile if you intend to use Photoshop for any reason, especially photo editing and/or manipulation.
Learn Photography: A Comprehensive Beginner’s Guide
Nowadays, most people have an amazing phone in their pocket at all times. People snap pictures left and right. Computer hard drives get filled with mostly unseen photographs. Basically, everyone is a photographer. This is great because just over a century ago, photography was a luxury. Photography is an amazing art form that can be done personally as a hobby or professionally as a side hustle or even a full-time job. In this tutorial, you’ll learn the basics of many aspects of photography. And you’ll be able to use these skills to take better photos and impress your friends on Instagram and beyond!
Episode 67 Ringtones/Clips from John
Four clips from last week. Thanks John!

No sponsor this week, but go try out Lynda at your local library (where available)!

67: They Filled the Most Holes Aug 06, 2015

Show notes

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about Apple Music’s inflated 11 million subscribers, Soylent 2.0, and security versus convenience. We’re also answering your questions and going over our favorite tips and downloads of the week.

Links for this episode:

Apple Music has more than 11 million trial subscribers
Apple Music has 11 million trial members just over a month after the service went live. "We're thrilled with the numbers so far," Apple internet services SVP Eddy Cue tells USA Today, noting that over 2 million users are opting for the $14.99 family plan that works for up to six people. Apple Music is free for the first three months and will then cost $9.99 a month; the real test will, of course, be how many of those 11 million keep paying. For comparison, Spotify said in June that it now has 20 million paid subscribers.
Soylent 2.0 is bottled, ready to drink, and made from algae
Soylent, the oddly named meal replacement with a niche following (particularly in the Valley) has announced its second product this morning: Soylent 2.0, which comes ready to drink in recyclable bottles. Each bottle represents one-fifth of a daily meal plan. Twelve bottles will sell for $29 when they go on sale in October; preorders go live today. Just like the original, it'll only be sold online, at least for the moment.
Amazon Prime Will Now Only Allow Sharing Between Two Adults, Four Kids
Before August 1st, you could share the cheap shipping benefits of Amazon Prime with up to four other adults. Now, the company will limit sharing Prime benefits to two adults and four children—unless you already signed up—in a new feature called Amazon Household that shares all Prime benefits, and even payment methods.
IrfanView
One of the most popular image editors worldwide!
AutoHotkey
AutoHotkey sends several tools into retirement. It unites hotkey and text macros and offers a scripting-language, which is more powerful than every batch-file.
Feedly Now Integrates With Google Search
If you're a Firefox and Google Reader user and you haven't yet installed the Feedly plugin, you're going to want to install it today after you hear this: Feedly has now integrated its own results - that is, links to the relevant posts from your Google Reader - right into your Google search results.
DaVinci Resolve 12
DaVinci Resolve 12 combines professional non-linear video editing with the world’s most advanced color corrector so now you can edit, color correct, finish and deliver all from one system! DaVinci Resolve is completely scalable and resolution independent so it can be used on set, in a small studio or integrated into the largest Hollywood production pipeline! From creative editing and multi camera television production to high end finishing and color correction, only DaVinci Resolve features the creative tools, compatibility, speed and legendary image quality you need to manage your entire workflow, which is why it is the number one solution used on Hollywood feature films.
LightWorks (Windows, OS X, Linux)
Lightworks is EditShare's Academy and Emmy award-winning, professional Non-Linear Editing (NLE) software supporting resolutions up to 4K as well as video in SD and HD formats. In the last 25 years Lightworks has been used to edit some of the finest films in cinema history: LA Confidential, Pulp Fiction, Heat, Road to Perdition, Hugo, The King’s Speech and many more! We’re proud of its heritage and we want to share it with you. Read more about Lightworks and discover why Oscar-winning editors around the world use it every day.
Sony Vegas Pro 13
Vegas™ Pro 13 is a contemporary NLE designed for complete creative control. New features include advanced archival tools, sophisticated audio metering, and the Vegas Pro Connect mobile iPad companion app. Vegas™ Pro 13 comes complete with DVD Architect™ Pro 6, Dolby® Digital Professional Encoder, and plug-in collections from FXHOME, NewBlueFX, and iZotope®.
Movavi Video Editor for Windows
Movavi Video Editor is a powerful yet easy-to-use video processing program for Windows. Cut and join video clips with zero quality loss, apply stylish video effects and filters, add music, titles, and much more!

This week's episode is brought to you by the wonderfully helpful folks at Lynda.com!

66: Adolescent Vacation Dentistry Jul 30, 2015

Show notes

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about Windows 10, Amazon Dash buttons, and drugs. We had lots of guests this week! In addition to Alan Henry and Darren Herczeg, we also had the pleasure of talking to Michael Brandt and Geoffrey Woo of Nootrobox.

Links for this episode:

Amazon Dash Buttons
Something so ridiculous people thought it was a joke (and I also bought four of them because they're so weird).
Hulk Hogan's Recent Remarks and Resulting Problems (Original Title Not Included for Language)
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. has cut ties with the professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, reportedly due to sealed transcripts quoted by the National Enquirer and Radar on Friday morning in which Hogan (real name: Terry Bollea) refers to black people as “fucking niggers” and admits that “I am a racist, to a point.”
Brooke Hogan Has Written A Poem In Defense Of Her Father
Brooke Hogan was so affected by her father’s recent firing from the WWE that she took to her writing chamber to pen a response in the form of a poem, the most crystalline vehicle for truth.
The Best New Features of Windows 10
Today’s the day that Windows 10 finally arrives! While the rollout will come in waves, we’ve been running the Insider Preview for months. Here are some of the best features you can look forward to when (or if) you decide to upgrade.
Should I Upgrade to Windows 10?
Windows 10 is finally here. You’ve seen some of its best new features, even heard what it’s like to use every day. But you might be wondering if you should upgrade. For some, it’s free, a great update, and a foregone conclusion. For others it’s better to wait, or think about other options. Let’s see where you fall.
The Best Windows 10 Features You Probably Haven’t Heard About
Windows 10 has arrived. Whether you’re jumping the line or still trying to decide if you should upgrade, chances are you’ve heard about some of the best new features of Windows 10. Here are some of the really awesome ones you might not have heard about.
Email Whitson a Banana
You'll find out where you can banana spam the entire Lifehacker staff from this page!
How to Skip the Line and Upgrade to Windows 10 Now
If you’ve reserved a copy of Windows 10 but haven’t gotten the upgrade prompt yet, here’s a secret: you can skip the line and upgrade right now.
I tried Silicon Valley’s favorite ‘brain-enhancing’ drugs
http://fusion.net/story/58131/i-tried-silicon-valleys-favorite-brain-enhancing-drugs/
Nootropics
Nootropics (/no?.??tr?p?ks/ noh-?-trop-iks)—also called smart drugs, memory enhancers, neuro enhancers, cognitive enhancers, and intelligence enhancers—are drugs, supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional foods that improve one or more aspects of mental function. Specific effects can include improvements to working memory, motivation, or attention. The word nootropic was coined in 1972 by a Romanian psychologist and chemist, Corneliu E. Giurgea, from the Greek words ???? nous, or "mind", and ??????? trepein meaning to bend or turn.

No sponsor this week! We overdid it on sponsors last week. Support the show by sending us a question or comment!

65: BAGL Jul 23, 2015

Show notes

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about security breaches, bad movie ideas, and privacy. We’re also answering your questions and going over our favorite tips and downloads of the week.

Links for this episode:

Sony wants to make an emoji movie, so I've written the perfect emoji screenplay
Universal has Minions. Warner Bros. has Lego. In the world of yellow-tinted cartoon franchises, where does that leave Sony? With smiley faces, apparently.
Pixels review: Adam Sandler must be stopped
Just like Back to the Future 2 predicted, here in 2015 we seem to be obsessed with nostalgia. It’s nowhere more obvious than in our movies, with some of the most (Jurassic World) and least (Terminator Genisys) successful films of the summer betting squarely on people’s love for looking backward.
Ashley Madison's data breach is everyone's problem
Late last night, the 37 million users of the adultery-themed dating site Ashley Madison got some very bad news. A group calling itself the Impact Team appears to have compromised all the company's data, and is threatening to release "all customer records, including profiles with all the customers' secret sexual fantasies" if Ashley Madison and a sister site are not taken down.
The Gawker meltdown, explained
Vox wrote a good explainer to provide the basics of the story with plenty of links to the details.
We Live in Public
A documentary focusing on the life of dot-com entrepreneur Josh Harris, and his exploits over the last decade.

This week's episode is sponsored by Lynda.com and Casper.

64: TMT (Too Much Technology) Jul 16, 2015

Show notes

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about SIM cards, location-based depression, and too much technology! We’re also answering your questions about battery conditioning, backing up, and a little more time tracking.

Links for this episode:

Apple and Samsung may help make the SIM card disappear
The SIM card as we know it may be about to disappear. According to the Financial Times, Apple and Samsung are in discussions with mobile carriers to help develop and implement a new SIM card standard that could make it easier to switch between service providers. The report refers to the new standard as an embedded SIM — or an e-SIM — which would remain inside the phone and give consumers the ability to switch carriers without getting a new card, rather than locking them into a specific carrier, as they do now. That means no more swapping SIMs to switch phones or carriers; it would all be done through an interface on the device.
Can your smartphone's sensors reveal if you're depressed?
GPS data and phone usage information could be used to track mental health — but scientists still have a lot to figure out.
Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data
This support document explains where to find your Firefox bookmarks (and other personal data) so you can back them up, move them onto your new computer, or whatever else you can think to do with them.
HBO Nows arrives on Android and Amazon devices
Expect to see it on Chromecast and Fire TV soon...

None this week, but we will be making up for it next week! So buy my book or something.

63: The Gumball Poodle Rocket Club Jul 09, 2015

Show notes

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about the Amazon Echo, internet comments, and starting a business. We’re also finally answer’s Abigail’s question about orzo! Well, one of us is.

This weeks guests include Erica Easley, Erik Chan, Alan Henry, and Darren Herczeg

Links for this episode:

You can now subscribe to Showtime online
Showtime is now offering an online subscription, allowing customers to watch its shows and movies without also getting cable. The subscription is being offered through a few different apps and sites, including Showtime's iPhone and iPad apps, the Apple TV, Roku, Hulu, and PlayStation Vue. The subscription costs $10.99 — although some services, like Hulu, are offering it for less — and grants access to Showtime's back catalog, its currently screening films, and even some of its live feeds.
The Amazon Echo Is Available for Purchase
I love it!
The original smartwatches: Casio's history of wild wrist designs
Today's features, decades ago.
The Verge is turning off their comments for a bit
Something every blog does eventually...and it's only a bandage.
RocketClub
Discover cool startups, give feedback, and earn shares.
Gumball Poodle
Let your legs do the talking.

This week's episode was sponsored by Lynda.com.

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