I've Seen The Light

[SPEAKER_02]: a factual data creation facility production. [SPEAKER_01]: In a world where some podcasts make millions of dollars, I bring you the OFNT podcast, which isn't one of them. [SPEAKER_01]: Now, here's your host, Jim Schafer. [SPEAKER_00]: Well, alright, welcome to episode 319 which I'm calling, I've seen the light.

[SPEAKER_00]: While putting together a cheapest way to fully enter the Google ecosystem list, not the Android system now, I finally get what Google is attempting to do with the Android desktop mode. [SPEAKER_00]: This might be the future of computing. [SPEAKER_00]: And the merger of Android and Chrome is starting to make more sense to me. [SPEAKER_00]: I guess this realization should have been apparent to me sooner, but that's the price you pay for being looking enough to become an old fart.

[SPEAKER_00]: What do you say we get going now? [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, yes! [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,

[SPEAKER_00]: The first story to arrive comes from Android Authority.com with the following headline. [SPEAKER_00]: Spotify takes on Apple Fitness Plus and Fitbit Premium with guided workouts, unquote. [SPEAKER_00]: you heard that correctly? [SPEAKER_00]: Spotify is now a fitness app too. [SPEAKER_00]: If you're not a premium subscriber, you'll be limited to mostly ad-supported yoga-curated workouts.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you can afford the price of a Spotify premium subscription these days, not only will you get [SPEAKER_00]: From the looks of it, these Peloton classes don't require any equipment like a Peloton bike or treadmill. [SPEAKER_00]: The article didn't say how or if any metrics from your workout would be recorded. [SPEAKER_00]: Now let's go back in time shall we? [SPEAKER_00]: I remember the days when Spotify concentrated on but one thing. [SPEAKER_00]: And that thing was music.

[SPEAKER_00]: Spotify didn't music very well. [SPEAKER_00]: Their algorithm was, and might still be the best for music discovery out there. [SPEAKER_00]: Spotify's app was polished and uncluttered at that time. [SPEAKER_00]: Way back when my son turned me on to Spotify and at the time, I thought I had finally found a replacement for Nokia music.

[SPEAKER_00]: Since then, Spotify has added podcasts, video podcasts, audio books, physical books, and even [SPEAKER_00]: I might have missed some additions, who knows. [SPEAKER_00]: Of course, with all these additional features, the subscription prices have ballooned, and the apps UI has become, in my opinion, a cluttered mess. [SPEAKER_00]: I guess eventually Spotify will add movies. [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, at this point, why not?

[SPEAKER_00]: Perhaps the company will go even further and add select accounts from only fans performers. [SPEAKER_00]: Hey, don't give them any ideas. [SPEAKER_00]: Spotify's original mission was to become the all-inclusive audio app. [SPEAKER_00]: I guess that's changed to becoming the content consumption app to rule over all content consumption apps. [SPEAKER_00]: However, there's an old scene that I'm sure you've heard old parts like myself say.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jack of all trades and a master at none. [SPEAKER_00]: What do you think about Spotify adding fitness to its ever-expanding portfolio? [SPEAKER_00]: The second shoot-a-drop came a little later in the morning. [SPEAKER_00]: Oracle from MacRumors.com ran this headline. [SPEAKER_00]: Open AI Reportly working on an AI Smartphone to rival the iPhone. [SPEAKER_00]: Unquote. [SPEAKER_01]: What?

[SPEAKER_00]: The Oracle Quote's former supply chain analyst supreme, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Ming-Chikuo. [SPEAKER_00]: You know, I had just mentioned how quiet Mr. [SPEAKER_00]: Qua has been lately during the last episode. [SPEAKER_00]: Perhaps he heard you? [SPEAKER_00]: Nah, at this point I'm lucky if anybody hears me besides myself. [SPEAKER_00]: But then again, I'm a good listener.

[SPEAKER_00]: Supposedly, Open AI is working with Luxshare, who currently depend on Apple from most of the company's business and would like to get from out under that dependency. [SPEAKER_00]: Chipmaker's media tech and Qualcomm have been chosen by Open AI as he exclusive silicon dividers for this future phone, so it will be an Android powered phone then. [SPEAKER_00]: Why are the interesting part?

[SPEAKER_00]: I've long predicted that eventually AI would become the operating system for computing devices, and that Apple would be the first to release a phone like this. [SPEAKER_02]: No, dear, that's wrong. [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I had a swing and a miss on that one. [SPEAKER_00]: Well, maybe a fell off.

[SPEAKER_00]: So could an open AI smartphone be the first to market within AI operating system powered [SPEAKER_00]: I know nothing phone has been taking baby steps in the same direction starting in late 2025. [SPEAKER_02]: Would the looks of this open AI phone be as controversial as the nothing phone? [SPEAKER_00]: Well, if you recall, open AI, participate company called IO products for $6.5 billion last year. [SPEAKER_00]: IO products was founded by a guy named Johnny Ive. [SPEAKER_00]: The?

[SPEAKER_00]: Johnny Ive? [SPEAKER_00]: The one and only? [SPEAKER_00]: We all know that Mr. Ive worked at Apple for many years, designing not only iPhones, but iPads and Max. [SPEAKER_00]: His designs kind of fell out of favor because of his apparent fixation on making every product as thin as possible. [SPEAKER_00]: So then, then current technology couldn't keep up with his designs, justly battery technology.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, if this mythical open AI phone becomes a reality, expect it to be well designed and definitely thin. [SPEAKER_00]: As far as operating systems go, on the same day that Mr. Quow published his analysis, Open AI CEO Sam Altman posted on X, quote, It feels like a good time to seriously rethink how operating systems and user interfaces are designed, [SPEAKER_00]: That sure seems like a shot fired over the bow to me, you know, this can get interesting.

[SPEAKER_00]: If this wonderphone is for real, and I think it may be, expect it to hit the market sometime in 2028. [SPEAKER_00]: Most likely, late 2028. [SPEAKER_00]: According to 95 Google, AirDrop Mania has started spreading amongst Android phone manufacturers. [SPEAKER_00]: Last year, Google took it upon themselves to support Apple's AirDrop file transfer protocol and make it compatible with their own quick-share protocol.

[SPEAKER_00]: Samsung quickly followed suit in last week, Chinese phone manufacturers OPPO and Vivo joined the party. [SPEAKER_00]: My question is, will Google keep on making more and more of these iOS features compatible with Android? [SPEAKER_00]: Is my theory that eventually they'll be only one government-controlled mobile operating system in the future becoming clearer? [SPEAKER_00]: Well not too long ago, the US Federal Communications Committee banned all-farmade routers from the market.

[SPEAKER_00]: Basically all routers really. [SPEAKER_00]: This decision came after intense lobbying by a cabal of U.S. base networking companies led by NetGear. [SPEAKER_00]: Like I've reported previously, this was mainly targeted at Chinese company T.P. [SPEAKER_00]: Link, who sell net working gear from much lower prices with similar features.

[SPEAKER_00]: T.P. [SPEAKER_00]: Link has since established its headquarters in California, making them a [SPEAKER_00]: Yes it is, and this is nothing new. [SPEAKER_00]: Many other companies have done this throughout the years. [SPEAKER_00]: Going forward, the FCC has to give their stamp of approval before a company can legally sell far-made networking gear within the United States.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, it's no surprise that NetGear was the first company to win approval from the FCC to sell routers and such within the U.S. Last week, another part of the lobbying cabal also won the right to sell their wares within the United States. [SPEAKER_00]: And that's Amazon's euro brand networking equipment, surprise surprise, ain't politicians grand? [SPEAKER_00]: I wonder when TB link will get their approval.

[SPEAKER_00]: According to 95 Google, the big G is considering renaming the Fitbit App to Google Health. [SPEAKER_02]: Didn't you recently report that a product called the Fitbit Air is coming out soon? [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, and I did express my doubts about the naming of that product. [SPEAKER_00]: I've been hearing rumors about Google killing off to Fitbit Brand for quite a while now, and I was surprised that a new product would be released, bearing that Fitbit name.

[SPEAKER_00]: This report is based on a logo found on Google's website with Google Health Premium Branding, and the Fitbit iOS app has been found to be using this branding while listing Google Health Premium prices. [SPEAKER_00]: The health premium branding was also seen when adding a Fitbit device to your cart for purchase. [SPEAKER_00]: This all points to the Fitbit brand eventually being discarded. [SPEAKER_00]: Another brand bites the dust.

[SPEAKER_00]: Isn't that the way of the tech world though? [SPEAKER_00]: Perhaps Google will license a brand name out to some startup in the future. [SPEAKER_00]: To you remember a little app called Vine? [SPEAKER_00]: Does anybody? [SPEAKER_00]: Well I remember, in fact I could be considered an early adopter of Vine. [SPEAKER_00]: You don't recall Vine with a short form video platform. [SPEAKER_00]: Hmm, that sounds familiar.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're probably comparing Vine to TikTok, but Vine only allowed you to record and share videos they were up to six seconds long. [SPEAKER_00]: That's despite Vime having over 200 million active users. [SPEAKER_00]: I hear another question for you. [SPEAKER_00]: Do you remember a guy named Jack Dorsey? [SPEAKER_00]: Ah, didn't he once head up Twitter? [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, he did.

[SPEAKER_00]: According to TechCrunch, none other than Mr. Dorsey is backing a relaunch of Vime through his non-profit other stuff. [SPEAKER_00]: That's the name of it other stuff. [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, how the tables turn, as the cool kids say. [SPEAKER_01]: Yes. [SPEAKER_00]: Well they say a variation of that anyway. [SPEAKER_00]: The new vine has been renamed Divine, Clevver Name, and it's available on both the Android and iOS AppStores.

[SPEAKER_00]: The one I was quite successful on Vine, and I must admit that I feel nostalgic knowing Vine is back. [SPEAKER_00]: I realize that the time for me on Vine has passed and I won't be rejoining the platform. [SPEAKER_00]: How about you? [SPEAKER_00]: What time is it now, A.I. [SPEAKER_00]: announcer voice guy? [SPEAKER_02]: Well, if I were to guess, I'd say it's Apple News Time. [SPEAKER_00]: You're absolutely right.

[SPEAKER_00]: According to an article from MacRumors.com, Apple has all but abandoned the company's vision pro virtual reality goggles. [SPEAKER_00]: Tell us something we don't already know. [SPEAKER_00]: Sighting inside sources, the decision came after Apple refreshed the expensive niche [SPEAKER_00]: That refreshed consisted of the M5 chip and a more comfortable headband. [SPEAKER_00]: Let's just face it.

[SPEAKER_00]: Not many people want to do their computing while wearing goggles on their face using hand gestures. [SPEAKER_00]: According to the article, the vision pro team has been redistributed to other teams within Apple. [SPEAKER_00]: I say good riddance. [SPEAKER_00]: Those reassigned employees need to work on other more mainstream products. [SPEAKER_00]: Can the Samsung XR virtual reality goggles be far behind?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's been widely reported that Apple is going to introduce an ultra-category for their devices. [SPEAKER_00]: The upcoming foldable iPhone is supposed to be part of this ultra-category along with a MacBook Pro Ultra, AirPods Ultra, and some other products. [SPEAKER_02]: Why don't we call it what it really is? [SPEAKER_02]: Too expensive for the peasants. [SPEAKER_00]: I agree.

[SPEAKER_00]: Another product supposed to be part of this new category was the Mysterious 20-inch foldable iPad. [SPEAKER_00]: According to Wable Rising Star Leaker, Instant Digital, Apple has decided to abandon plans for this particular iPad. [SPEAKER_00]: The giant fruit companies seem [SPEAKER_00]: And concluded that a foldable iPad wouldn't be worth the company's while. [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know if these recent product cancellations have anything to do with the new incoming Apple CEO.

[SPEAKER_00]: But if they are, I'd say he's off to a good start. [SPEAKER_00]: Can you imagine what this foldable iPad would sell for? [SPEAKER_00]: Estimate said the base model would start at $3,900. [SPEAKER_00]: Last week, Bloomberg's Mark German had something to say about what will probably be the first UltraPodut from Apple. [SPEAKER_00]: Talking about the AirPods Pro Ultra, what's so ultra about these AirPods? [SPEAKER_00]: Well, these particular AirPods are the ones with built-in cameras.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, these cameras won't be for things like video taking and the like. [SPEAKER_00]: They will be infrared cameras used to feed data to your phone. [SPEAKER_00]: This is tied to the new and improved Siri. [SPEAKER_00]: This data will track your surroundings. [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know about you, but this sounds sort of dystopian to me. [SPEAKER_00]: But I'm an old fart, so I guess it would sound that way to me. [SPEAKER_01]: Yes!

[SPEAKER_00]: German predicts that we'll be seeing these camera-equipped AirPods sometime in September of this year. [SPEAKER_00]: Now this next story could be the start of a troubling trend. [SPEAKER_00]: The base model Macmini has been discontinued. [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, what the hell? [SPEAKER_01]: I know. [SPEAKER_01]: Why? [SPEAKER_00]: Nine to five Mac discovered that the entry level $599 Mini is no longer available to order from the Apple Store website.

[SPEAKER_00]: Instead, Apple is selling a 512GB version for $799. [SPEAKER_00]: The old, base Mac Mini will be Apple's lowest entry point into the Mac desktop ecosystem. [SPEAKER_00]: This means that the $599 base model Neo has become the lowest price entry into the Mac ecosystem. [SPEAKER_00]: When I bought my base model Macmini, a little over three years ago now, I bumped up the RAM to 16 gigs and a storage to one terabyte.

[SPEAKER_00]: Shortly thereafter, Apple made 16 gigs of RAM standard, but the storage was still at 256 gigs, so how did that make you feel? [SPEAKER_00]: At the time, not good, but I've gotten over that now. [SPEAKER_00]: Backmini has become the darling of those that want to run AI modules locally and has made the Mini one of the best selling Apple Max. [SPEAKER_00]: And I'm sure that the current RAM shortage has had something to do with this.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I think Cupertino has been planning this move for a while. [SPEAKER_00]: Either way, this isn't good news. [SPEAKER_00]: Tikka I'm using, well I spoke too soon. [SPEAKER_00]: My aura smart ring has basically stopped tracking sleep in other things. [SPEAKER_00]: I've been in contact with aura and was informed that my aura fourth generation ring is not only broken, but also out of warranty.

[SPEAKER_00]: The company did offer me a replacement at a discounted price, though, so I pulled the trigger. [SPEAKER_00]: The new ring arrived Thursday and so far it's working as it should. [SPEAKER_00]: According to customer service, the old ring most likely had a damage sensor and its Bluetooth chip is probably failing also.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know it's when checking the aura app upon waking up in a morning that the ring was no longer connected to my iPhone and I had to place it back on its charger in order to reconnect it to my phone. [SPEAKER_02]: But wouldn't the sleep data still be stored in the ring's memory? [SPEAKER_02]: Ready to be downloaded to the app upon reconnection to your iPhone? [SPEAKER_00]: That's where the suspected broken sensor theory comes in.

[SPEAKER_00]: I also noticed that unlike in the past, none of the sensors would light up during the night. [SPEAKER_00]: I probably caused this by wearing the ring during kettlebell exercises. [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, well, live and learn. [SPEAKER_00]: I've stopped using my newly acquired portable monitor while recording podcasts. [SPEAKER_00]: Instead of being a convenient, it's more of a hindrance while recording.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's actually adding to the time it takes to record rather than shortening it. [SPEAKER_00]: Well, that was a waste of money. [SPEAKER_00]: Well, it only cost me 50 bucks, and I think the portable monitor will work better while using it with my laptop monitor for recording while on the road. [SPEAKER_02]: Recording on the road? [SPEAKER_00]: Actually, I'm planning on traveling with my lovely wife to Asia next January.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'll be recording a couple of episodes while there, just a couple. [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I'm only going to be staying for about two weeks. [SPEAKER_00]: See the podcasting section of how I'll be recording those episodes. [SPEAKER_00]: During the last episode, I ran down to list on how you can get into the complete Apple ecosystem on the cheap. [SPEAKER_00]: As promised, this week I'll do the same for Google's ecosystem.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now I'm sticking with mostly Google's own products because besides Samsung, it hasn't yet been confirmed about what brands are going to enable Android desktop on their devices. [SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure most Android branded phones will eventually support desktop mode, but it's a matter of when. [SPEAKER_00]: I did my best to mirror the Apple ecosystem list which appeared on MacRumors.com. [SPEAKER_00]: So, here we go.

[SPEAKER_00]: The Pixel 10A is Google's competitor to the iPhone 17E and comes in at $485. [SPEAKER_00]: I couldn't recommend any Google laptop because the big G hasn't released such a device in years. [SPEAKER_00]: Well, I went with an Acer 514 AI, which supports a 14-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen. [SPEAKER_00]: It's powered by an Intel Core i3 chip and it sells for $390. [SPEAKER_00]: The base storage is only 128 gigs and that's half of what the base Neo carries.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's the closest to an Apple Neo laptop I could find. [SPEAKER_00]: For a tablet, I picked the Samsung Galaxy A11 Plus for $269. [SPEAKER_00]: It has 8GB RAM in 256GB of storage. [SPEAKER_00]: I couldn't find a Samsung keyboard case, so I opted for a fine-tie case for $25. [SPEAKER_00]: I also added a do-gain stylus pen for 10 bucks. [SPEAKER_00]: A 41 millimeter pixel watch for is on the list for $349. [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I thought that was kind of stiff.

[SPEAKER_00]: Next, and still trying to stick with Google Made products is a pair of pixel buds [SPEAKER_00]: For a streaming box, of course I went for the Google TV box at $77. [SPEAKER_00]: For an air-tech competitor, I chose the Kiap 4-pack of Android Trackers for just $27. [SPEAKER_00]: And completing the list is a second-generation Google Nest Mini for $98. [SPEAKER_00]: The grand total for this list came to $1,859. [SPEAKER_00]: That's more than I thought it would be.

[SPEAKER_00]: Still, this would be $651 less than the $2,510 quoted by the MacRumors.com article for the equivalent Apple Gear. [SPEAKER_00]: The price of the Pixel Watch really surprised me. [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it's right up there with the Apple Watch. [SPEAKER_00]: Of course, you can go outside the Google brand and save even more money, but I tried to match the original Apple list as close as possible.

[SPEAKER_00]: A here's where you can save a whole bunch of money when Android desktop is released to the public. [SPEAKER_00]: a Pixel 4A for $485. [SPEAKER_00]: Along with an LG 24U 411A 24-inch FHD IPS monitor for $90, and it features a 120Hz display refresh rate and HDR capability. [SPEAKER_00]: Wow! [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's a good deal.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then add in a Logitech Signature Bluetooth keyboard and mouse for $62, and that would set you back only $637 total, and that gives you a complete mobile and desktop computing solution. [SPEAKER_00]: If I were financially strapped, this is what I'd be using. [SPEAKER_00]: Now you throw an H-EAP Android fitness band, and you'll have everything covered.

[SPEAKER_00]: I hear that many people are already doing this using Samsung's [SPEAKER_00]: And I finally see the convenes and understand a logic of this. [SPEAKER_00]: The Wonder Google is combined Chrome OS and Android OS. [SPEAKER_00]: wonder if the giant fruit company will offer a similar option in the future? [SPEAKER_00]: I think they should. [SPEAKER_00]: Look at those large, tri-fold phones. [SPEAKER_00]: Heck, even regular folding phones.

[SPEAKER_00]: Though hooking up a smartphone to an external monitor isn't anything new, it's being perfected in my opinion will be the way forward for most consumers. [SPEAKER_00]: entertainment news. [SPEAKER_00]: My household's main life television streaming service, we use Fubo. [SPEAKER_00]: The reason we chose Fubo was that these services focuses on sports, in particular, major league baseball. [SPEAKER_00]: And specifically, New York Yankees Baseball.

[SPEAKER_00]: While we have in U.D. [SPEAKER_00]: MLB app, certain games are not available to us. [SPEAKER_00]: Some reason the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds are considered local teams, but those two teams are located in different states, and neither of them are Tennessee. [SPEAKER_00]: Correct. [SPEAKER_00]: Hoping that my adoptive home state doesn't yet have a major league baseball team, those two other teams are considered local.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know how this consideration was arrived at, but for now we're stuck with it. [SPEAKER_00]: After paying my quarterly bill for Fubo last week, I have come to the conclusion that Fubo costs too much. [SPEAKER_00]: We hardly watch content using Fubo. [SPEAKER_00]: Just a few Yankee games that are blacked out on the MLB app. [SPEAKER_00]: Occasionally all of watch news channels using Fubo would, when either these news broadcasts stream live on YouTube anyway.

[SPEAKER_00]: So when my lovely wife turns from her travels later this month, we'll be having a serious [SPEAKER_00]: Well, I could stand missing a few games here and there. [SPEAKER_00]: My wife is not happy when not being able to watch every Yankees game, which streaming platform would you switch to? [SPEAKER_00]: Asking for a friend. [SPEAKER_00]: Speaking for myself, none. [SPEAKER_00]: I can watch everything I want without paying for a service like Fubo.

[SPEAKER_00]: When the Google TV streaming box dropped last year, I love the look, UI and price of it. [SPEAKER_00]: Then Google does what it usually does, and that's cramming ads anywhere they can. [SPEAKER_00]: An article from Android Authority.com written by C Scott Brown, details as journey from using an Apple TV streaming box to fully adopting the Google TV box.

[SPEAKER_00]: He states that using Google TV has become quote, an uphill battle on quote, and has let him to going back to his Apple TV. [SPEAKER_00]: I guess you can assume that Google was only making a razor-thin margins on the Google TV and to make up for it, monetize its user interface to the maximum. [SPEAKER_00]: I guess that's a good way to put it. [SPEAKER_00]: I wonder if Walmart's honest trimming box goes to the same links.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, some Chinese brands even put ads on their phones, lock screens. [SPEAKER_00]: It makes me wonder if Google will be doing the same in the future. [SPEAKER_00]: oddcast news I can't remember the last time I had any real news from podcasting incorporated or the podcasting industrial complex as the pod father [SPEAKER_00]: Adam Curry refers to the industry.

[SPEAKER_00]: This story comes from variety.com of all places and claims that iHard Radio and Sirius XM are in the early stages of talking about the merger of the two companies. [SPEAKER_00]: Besides, podcasts, this will also affect broadcast and streaming radio stations. [SPEAKER_00]: I Heart claims to reach a 250 million monthly list as well Sirius XM says it reaches 33 million subscribers per month. [SPEAKER_00]: I believe it's Sirius XM carries more podcasts than I Heart though.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not sure if Sirius carries my podcast but I do know that the OF&T podcasts available on Sirius owned Pandora as well as I Heart. [SPEAKER_00]: How would this merger affect this ministerial podcast? [SPEAKER_00]: Well, it wouldn't. [SPEAKER_00]: Sirius XM is the owner of several popular podcasts like the Call Her Daddy Podcast, for example.

[SPEAKER_00]: And Sirius is also the home of Howard Stern, the one's great, but now washed up shock-juck who claims he's the king of all media. [SPEAKER_00]: Yet he refuses to host a podcast. [SPEAKER_00]: If this merger winds up going through, how would it work? [SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure that you'd have to be some sort of subscriber in order to listen to the premium content from both companies.

[SPEAKER_00]: A week ago, so, during the annual National Association of Broadcasters Show, Road introduced Sonora, I'm in the school microphone chip that will be included in future road products. [SPEAKER_00]: To be honest, I don't know what this thing is supposed to actually do, but from what I gather, it's aimed at the video podcasting market. [SPEAKER_00]: road also introduced yet another wireless microphone system, a couple of new myc arms, and a mic flag for the company's pod mic.

[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, and also the Roadcaster Studio software. [SPEAKER_00]: The latter is what I'm most interested in because the way podnews.net describes a product it appears to be a digital audio workstation or go-off for audio recording. [SPEAKER_00]: This product [SPEAKER_00]: And of course be assisted by AI. [SPEAKER_00]: This has been all done before, but let's see if Rode has come up with a new take on this.

[SPEAKER_00]: From what I've been able to gather by reading the Rode website about it, it doesn't appear to have any groundbreaking features. [SPEAKER_00]: I signed up for the beta anyway, and I look forward to testing it out in the future. [SPEAKER_00]: As I mentioned in the tech I'm using section, I'm planning on traveling overseas for a couple of weeks early next year. [SPEAKER_00]: I'll be recording at least two episodes while there, and I've already assembled my kit.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'll be taking my M2 MacBook Air, which is already pre-loaded with my digital audio workstation plugins. [SPEAKER_00]: and I'll be preshipping my road pod mic and focus right vokaster to audio interface, along with an adjustable, this stand for the mics. [SPEAKER_00]: Red phones all preshipped my old audio technical M20s. [SPEAKER_00]: The only concern I'm having about doing all this is the noise.

[SPEAKER_00]: The vokaster doesn't have a built-in noise gate, so I'll be relying on digital noise gate plugins. [SPEAKER_00]: All but my MacBook will be left behind for future trips. [SPEAKER_00]: It'll be fun experimenting with audio while overseas. [SPEAKER_00]: I just hope I can get audio usable enough for releasing. [SPEAKER_00]: As always, time will tell. [SPEAKER_00]: The music is playing as this 319th episode of the OFNT podcast near its end.

[SPEAKER_00]: I hope you enjoyed this episode. [SPEAKER_00]: I enjoyed making it for you. [SPEAKER_00]: If you like what you heard, you can make a donation using the link in the show notes. [SPEAKER_00]: Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated. [SPEAKER_00]: You can always reach me at ofntpodcast at gmail.com, if you're so inclined. [SPEAKER_00]: I'd enjoy hearing from you. [SPEAKER_00]: Remember, don't listen to what they say, watch what they do.

[SPEAKER_00]: We had a lot of rain this past, we can expect the grass will start growing quickly. [SPEAKER_00]: So in the meantime, get off my lawn. [SPEAKER_00]: Stay sceptical. [SPEAKER_00]: Ahhhh, out. [SPEAKER_00]: Steer. [SPEAKER_00]: And that folks is the end of the show.