Stay ConnectedTechnology podcast that both experts and novices can enjoy.
Pop culture you love. Tech you dream about.
Shelly Palmer and Seth Everett cover topics that mean a lot to those in the tech space and those who just love tech.
Learn what’s new, what’s next, and what it means for you and your business.
Could Batman’s toys exist in the real world? Is Star Trek still science fiction, or has it become science fact?
Copyright: © 2021
At long last, Amazon's purchase of MGM finally closed. While there's no new “news,” there are big questions: What did Amazon get from the $8.5 billion it spent? And, more importantly to us: What does it mean for Amazon Prime subscribers? “If you build it, they will come” simply isn't true for content. We talk about what that means, why that fact benefits Amazon and the ways in which Amazon could revolutionize your viewing experience. We also discuss the acquisition in terms of buying a back catalog vs. acquiring franchises for future releases, and whether or not Amazon will be able to transform these beloved IPs in a similar way to what Disney has done with Star Wars.
We've made it to 50 episodes! We've been doing Techstream for just about a year, yet we've never met each other in person. This podcast has provided the two of us a little bit of stability over the past tumultuous year, and we hope it's done the same for you, too. Want to help the people in Ukraine? Go to shellypalmer.com/ukraine to learn about verified charities you can safely and comfortably donate to. Apple just held its first event of the year, and it was a little underwhelming. We break down the new announcements, including the one new piece of hardware that's worthy of your attention and the “must know” piece of buying advice before you spend way too much money you don't need to spend.
As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, the topic of “cyber warfare” continues to be discussed in the media. In today's episode, we discuss the concept of cyber warfare, and how anyone who doesn't believe cyber warfare is going on right now doesn't understand what it is. Plus… Do any of us really need a new phone? Samsung just unveiled new flagship devices and Apple is set to refresh its SE line. We discuss the real benefits of buying a new device, and when the “right” time to upgrade your device is. Then… Seth thinks he's going to hate The Batman. (Tune into Hall of Justice or next week's episode of Techstream to hear the verdict!) We discuss how we don't really reflect “normal people with normal tastes” anymore… or do we?
It's a crazy time in the world right now, and a combination of 24-hour news networks and social media is putting the situation in Ukraine directly (virtually) in front of us. Today, we talk about the tech in play and the kind of cyber warfare on display that no one ever thinks about. On the domestic side of things… Seth talks about some self-proclaimed “first-world problems.” What happens when your phone is the only way you can connect to the internet… and it loses all internet access? How do you check the web, find phone numbers, or… well… do anything? It's a first-hand experience of what a “real” cyberattack would look like. Spoiler: we're not ready. How do you prepare for serious events? What should you download? What should you save for offline use? What should you print out? Should you write down phone numbers? Should you have contingency plans in place to pay bills? Living in a world where data is so critical… what is the best way to prepare? We have lots of questions.
Techstream is back after a week off. Both Shelly and Seth suffered personal losses, and - for one of the first times in a while - Seth found real comfort in social media. We often talk about the toxicity of platforms like Facebook and Twitter, but today we chat a bit about their benefits. It's been a big-time for sports, too, since we last recorded. We chat about the Olympic figure skating doping scandal - and what, exactly, “performance-enhancing” means, as well as what it means to be human. We also talk about the challenges of watching the Olympics this year and the complicated “behind the scenes” television advertising machinations. Plus, we talk about the Super Bowl. Coinbase's commercial “broke the internet.” The halftime show polarized viewers. The game was itself, pretty good. We discuss.
Techstream's audience is growing. Facebook's audience, for the first time ever, is not. It was inevitable that this would happen, but there's something worse that's happening in the world of Facebook, and it's bad news for all advertisers and marketers, not just Facebook. While you may think that “Facebook is for your grandparents,” the truth is that just about everyone on the internet is on Facebook. While a Yogi Berra aphorism may come to mind - “No one goes there anymore. It's too crowded.” - the truth of the matter is that as goes Facebook, so goes the advertising industry. We talk about why that's the case. Also: Got questions? We're planning to do a listener mailbag! Tweet or DM your questions to @Techstream on Twitter, and we'll answer them on-air.
We've been covering a lot of CES-adjacent tech over the past few weeks, and we're continuing that trend in this episode with a deep dive into the world of television. We talk about why QD-OLED TV sets are so breathtaking, whether it's time to upgrade your TV, and what TV tech you should invest in (and what you shouldn't.) Shelly explains why he's annoyed by HDMI 2.1a, Seth offers some “real life” TV advice, and we share some “bottom line” TV buying tips (plus tips on upgrading your home audio situation, too). Then, we do a quick roundup of what we've been watching, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Superman, and more. What are YOU watching? Share it with us on Twitter @Techstream!
Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard for about $70 billion. How does that impact moderate gamers? We talk about the evolution of the gaming industry and how we play games. Microsoft is expert in this. Meta is getting ready. Are we about to see a shift in the way Microsoft views its business? No idea is more powerful than the idea whose time has come. Peloton had its moment, but now it's struggling to predict the public's need for its products. They're facing more competition than ever before, with lots of amazing tech on display at this year's CES. How will they rebound? Netflix is all about growth. That's been their story since Day 1. This past quarter, they grew, but… not as much as they thought they'd grow, and they're far from the only player in town. Is Netflix investing billions of dollars enough to sustain growth? It's a news roundup on this week's edition of Techstream!
It seems like everyone these days wants to aspire to become an influencer, but many people may not realize the true power they have within their network. We talk a bit about influence, virality, and why there's more to your social network than mere size. One of the most powerful influencers in the world, Kim Kardashian, has been in the news lately for a tweet she sent a while back about Ethereum Max. Shelly explains what the lawsuit is about - and why he's keeping a close eye on it. We also talk about Wikipedia wading into the waters of NFTs, Gap's “NFT hoodie,” and the importance of knowing what's actually “in” your digital wallet. Plus, Shelly previews Metacademy.xyz, launching soon, which will help you earn while you learn about Web3.
CES 2022 is officially in the books, and we're offering a recap of the show's coolest and most important takeaways, plus the practical tech and best uses of the best innovations that we saw. Then, we share audio from Shelly's Innovation Series Summit 2022 (available to watch in full on YouTube), where he talked to Stephanie Latham, Meta's Head of the Entertainment, Technology, and Mobile & Connectivity industries. They covered tough topics, such as whether Facebook or Instagram, or WhatsApp cause harm to young people and whether or not Meta puts profit over safety. After Stephanie's fireside chat, we talk about how parents must balance their children's safety with their ability to learn the social norms of human interaction, the socioeconomic digital divide, and other new issues that parents in past generations didn't have to deal with. We partner with AI every day. We must teach our children to grow up in the world we live in. The big question is… how?
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