To buy or not to buy…that WAS the question. Now, most computer/mobile software have changed the question to whether you should buy or subscribe. Which is the better option for you? Which will be more cost-effective over time? The Brothers discuss the pros and cons of software subscriptions and provide suggestions for the variables you should consider when making that decision. In addition, Alan helps to “flush” out some exciting new tech announcements, and the Brothers give updates on their Chri...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Season 4Ep. 1
If you have been listening to Brothers in Tech…or happen to know us personally, you will know that we love to use technology to find efficiencies. Why spend a lot of time doing something that could be done automatically (or with little effort)? Have a task or process that you do regularly…but would like to find a way to have it occur on its own, or with minimal clicks/steps? Do you want to send a text to your partner to let them know you are on your way home? Block off an hour in your calendar t...
Dec 22, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Season 3Ep. 45
WARNING: Brothers in Tech are not responsible for any actions you take following our explanation of the process of backing up (aka, ripping) your DVDs. This process may be illegal, and we are not encouraging you to do it. Of course, we encourage you to listen to us tell you how to do it…but not to actually do it. In fact, we have never done this ourselves…just read about it and are passing along the information. But, IF you knew someone who was interested in backing up their DVD collection and p...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 44
Whether it be an upgrade/improvement to a built-in app or just a cool tool that you might want to show off to friends…there are a lot of nice features that have quietly snuck into Apple products recently that deserve more attention. Well, have no fear…the Brothers have you covered! In this episode of Brothers in Tech, we discuss some of our favorite new and upcoming features in the Apple ecosystem, as well as a BiTe (Brothers in Tech Efficiency) or two. As a bonus, you get to hear which of the B...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Although we rarely need a special occasion to shop for technology…it is nice to have some extra incentive. And, the discounts offered on Cyber Monday are usually a pretty good excuse to open the wallet. Now that the 2022 Cyber Monday has come and gone, the Brothers are ready to discuss the purchases that they made, and what was left behind in their shopping cart. Did the Brothers branch out from their go-to tech companies…or stay in their comfort zone? You will have to watch/listen to find out! ...
Dec 06, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 42
It is almost the holiday season…the time for sharing. And what better way to show your loved ones you care than to share some digital files with them. Ok, that was a bit of a stretch…but file sharing is an essential process in today’s digital world. The only question is, what service should you use? Well, the Brothers are acting like true brothers in this episode, as they provide conflicting views on the matter. So, listen in and see who is more convincing. Plus, we get an update on Alan’s NAS s...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Season 3Ep. 41
Elon Musk has purchased Twitter? Wow...we all must be super excited about that! Well, not really...so maybe it is time to talk about alternatives for your twitter-like fix. Alan breaks down some of the possible alternatives for Twitter, their potential and limitations, and what to be on the lookout for if you are trying to make the switch. In addition, we get an update on MacOS 13 (Ventura) and whether it is worth the upgrade at this point...as well as bring a couple of BiTs to the table. A lot ...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 26 min•Season 3Ep. 40
Well, if you are a fan of the show…you will know that Alan has a real thing for back-ups. I mean…it is a borderline unhealthy relationship with backing up his files. But, for this episode, that obsession may just benefit all of us as he explains his latest step in backing up his files via a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device…and its additional use of it for a Plex server. What is a NAS? What can you do with one? Why might you want one? Will this turn you into a backup freak like Alan? Well, y...
Nov 07, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 39
Well, you have probably heard of a “slow news week”…and for Brothers in Tech, this was our version of that. We didn’t have a new topic to cover, so we decided to update each other on our own current tech projects. Did Alan’s computer survive its bath? Has Brian had any luck setting up Homebridge to begin using Homekit? You will have to watch/listen to find out! Plus, we bring a few nice tips/suggestions that you won’t want to miss! Products/Services mentioned in the episode: Homebridge Lock Laun...
Nov 01, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 38
New Apple products were announced this week, and the Brothers are here to give you the full rundown! New iPads and Apple TVs... Are they worth a purchase? Any features should you be excited about? Compatible with your current equipment? Watch/listen for the overview, and get some BiTes (Brothers in Tech Efficiencies) as a bonus! Hint, hint…one of the timely tips is to not get water close to your brand-new laptop. Trust us…one of us recently learned this the hard way. Products mentioned in the ep...
Oct 24, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 3Ep. 37
Although we have discussed the Mac computer line-up before (see the “Mac Buying Guide” episode from May, 2022), now we actually have hands-on experience to share! Both Brothers have recently purchased/acquired new Apple laptops, and are ready to share their thoughts on likes, dislikes, and advice for those in the market. Do the Brothers agree on the deciding factors were on which machine they chose (hint, hint…they purchased the same model)? Were there features that would have changed their mind...
Oct 13, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 36
Have you ever thought about all the time that you spend on your computer...not actually doing work, but rather taking steps in order to be able to do work? Want to open or switch to an application?...there is a few steps you have to take for that. Want to add bullets in a document?...there are a few clicks needed for that. Want to do some simple (or not so simple) math?...a few more steps. What if you could cut the time that each of those steps takes? In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Bro...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Season 3Ep. 35
OK, if you listened live to last week’s show, we are sorry! Audio issues sunk the BiTs episode, which is a bummer as we had a friend of the show Bill Carrigan back with us! But, that just means we will have to bring him back for another episode…And we get a chance to do another BiTs for you. So, listen in to the replacement BiTs episode for September 2022…and you will notice that since Alan is back in control, all went smoothly. This month’s suggestions focus a bit more on home business needs bu...
Sep 29, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Season 3Ep. 34
Apple just released its latest mobile operating system ( iOS 16 , for iPhone), and although it is not our recommendation for you to be the first/early adopters of any software update...the Brothers have thrown caution to the wind and installed and tested the update so that we can give you a first-hand look at the new features. From editable lock screens to editing/unsending messages, to additional destinations/stops in Maps, to the new layout of notifications (which seemed to trigger some of our...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr 30 min•Season 3Ep. 33
As much as the Brothers have tried to wean themselves off paper (see previous BiT series on “Going Paperless”), we admit that there is still a need for printed documents in our personal and professional lives. So, even though it may seem like a technology that has joined the likes of fax machines, VCRs, and CD players...the printer industry is alive and kicking (and innovating), and the Brothers are here to provide both an overview of the current home solutions and some suggestions for finding t...
Sep 19, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 32
You might be thinking...haven’t the Brothers already discussed streaming services? Yep...twice in fact. But, this is a topic that requires periodic revisiting...which is why the Brothers are discussing their current views on the current streaming services. How do the Brothers’ rankings compare? Well, obviously there is Alan’s list..and then the correct one. Watch or listen to see if you agree...and to see who put Disney+ at the bottom of their list! Streaming services mentioned in this episode: ...
Sep 15, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Season 3Ep. 31
Have you been wondering when we might get to watch Alan make a fool of himself by wearing a headset and exploring the virtual world that he has been living in recently? Yeah, me too. Well, our wish is finally coming true! In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers (well, Alan) take Facebook’s Meta Quest VR headset for a spin, and discuss the possible current and future uses for the technology. Are there uses outside of gaming? Is it worth the price? Can you wear glasses in the headset? Wh...
Sep 01, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Well, for all of those who were really excited to hear Brian on his own last week…I am sorry, but Alan is back. But, let’s just say…he totally made up for his absence with his BiTs in this episode. I mean, how often can you listen/watch an episode and get to watch 80’s TV…save yourself some money…determine whether you are going to watch a movie or not…and know whether or not your local McDonalds ice cream machine is down? And those are just part of the BiTs from this episode. You won’t want to m...
Aug 26, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Well…this is either the episode you have been waiting for…or your worst nightmare. Alan is no longer with us. Well, let me rephrase that…he is still alive, just wasn’t able to join for this episode. It is all Brian. The “Brother” in Tech. So, if you are interested in trying out meal delivery services, have tried some but thinking about getting back in the game…or you just want to see whether Brian falls on his face trying to host an episode on his own, this one is for you! Learn about the types ...
Aug 11, 2022•52 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Although the process of bad actors attempting to scam someone has been around since the beginning of time (actually, we don’t know if that is true…but it sounds good), but the use of technology to accomplish those goals has become rampant over the past 30-40 years. From calls on your landline to see if anyone is home…to emails to suggest that the Prince of Nairobi wants to send you a lot of money…to messages claiming that you need to provide your financial information in order to stop a mistaken...
Aug 02, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Although we have discussed automation and digital assistants in the past (see previous episodes), we haven’t discussed the actual process of setting up those automations to increase your home/life efficiency. In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the brothers walk through several examples of how to pair up some triggers and actions in both Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s HomeKit apps. Tune in to learn about the process, and hopefully spark some ideas of ways of bringing automation into your home. And,...
Jul 27, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 26
Summer is here, and the time is right….to talk about A/C! You may be thinking that there have not been a lot of advancements in home climate control options, but the Brothers are here to make sure you are up to date on alternatives to the standard HVAC (which we now know what the letters stand for…). So, listen/watch to learn about some potentially more efficient options for not only cooling down your home this summer…but controlling your cooling system. Plus, you get to hear us brainstorm about...
Jul 15, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 25
As per Alan’s suggestion, we are going to give this a try… Well, if you were looking for an episode that will inspire you…this isn’t it. I mean, we really weren’t very good in this one. You could use the term “train wreck”, but that might just be an understatement. That being said, we did bring our monthly suggestions for you…ho hum. So go ahead and listen to it…if you are really bored. Alan’s Picks · News Explorer ($9.99 for MacOS version, $4.99 for iOS, included in SetApp). Sync your news stor...
Jul 07, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Interested in making your own website? The Brothers In Tech will discuss tools and tips for building your own website whether it be for personal or professional reasons. Learn about domain names, website building software, and other things to help you get your website up and running! Brian Jackson (the younger Brother) is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at Pacific University and Product Director/Consultant at Senaptec, Inc. Have any feedback for the Brothers regarding this topic (or future...
Jun 30, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 23
Although we think the days of creating and remembering hundreds of passwords are numbered, this is still very much a part of our day to day lives. So, how do you keep track of all of these passwords? In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers discuss the pros and cons of a variety of password management options. From sticky notes to biometrics…we have you covered! And, although you may still choose to use “password” or “12345” as your passwords, at least we will have a more secure way of ...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 22
Apple has made great strides over the past few years/software updates with their health and fitness monitoring. However, given that Apple doesn’t do a very good job of informing/educating their users of their features, it is likely that you are unaware of some of the great features that you have baked right into your phone. So…we figured we would do it for them! In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers discuss the features of Apple’s Health app…what it can do, and how to get the most ou...
Jun 21, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Season 3Ep. 21
It’s that time again…time for the Brothers to show off their tech suggestions! In this BiTs episode, we have a little bit of everything…hardware, accessory, & software…free, pricey, and even a techie way of giving to charity. And, as you watch/listen to the first part of the episode…don’t panic, Alan didn’t have to do the whole episode on his own. I mean, Brother in Tech doesn’t really have the same ring to it… Alan’s Picks: · Hunter Cavera Simple Connect Wi-Fi Fan with HomeKit (~$160 Amazon...
Jun 17, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Although we love to talk about new technologies that we think you should consider, sometimes you need to give some love to the apps, devices, and services that have been around a while…especially when they have recently gained some new features. In this episode of Brothers in Tech, the Brothers each bring a couple of software/service updates that they are excited about. Whether to help you keep your hands on your mouse and keyboard while working, find the movie you are looking for, listen to TV ...
Jun 14, 2022•58 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Apple announced some new computers and features for their upcoming iPhone, iPad, and Mac software at their annual developer's conference ... so the Brothers in Tech are here to talk about those announcements and what could make a difference in your computing life in the near future! Alan Jackson (the older Brother) is a producer of online content with Jackson Creative and a survey researcher with J ackson Insight. Brian Jackson (the younger Brother) is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at Pa...
Jun 10, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Do you ever have a need to use a computer platform other than the one that you own? Maybe you have a PC but like to occasionally dabble in Linux…or own a Mac but have a need to run a PC-only program? Well, you could go and buy a whole new second machine…or you could try and emulate that platform on your current machine. Computer emulators are programs that will use your current computer’s resources to experience other computer systems. In this episode of Brothers in Tech, Alan reviews the pros a...
May 26, 2022•32 min•Season 3Ep. 17
