Home Theater Geeks 429: Improving Center Speaker Sound & Dealing With Hearing Loss

'It's Been Painful': What Jonah Peretti Says Went Wrong at BuzzFeed The first Pulitzer prize for tech journalism in a decade! Meet AdVon, the AI-Powered Content Monster Infecting the Media Industry Google is getting even worse for independent sites Heat Death of the Internet What's happening at Tesla? Here's what experts think. They Put a 65-Foot Hot Dog in Times Square, and It's a Blast Read the wild email Tesla is sending to suppliers amid Supercharger chaos Lithium-free sodium batteries exit the lab and enter US production TikTok Sues US Government Over Potential Ban Meet Pixel 8a YouTube's AI-powered 'Jump Ahead' feature rolling out widely to Premium users Google is changing how you set up 2FA Google Chrome Now Has a Gemini AI Shortcut Google TV's magic button is finally here, so what does it do? Number Of Search Results Dropped Google Search Results Page I Love Facebook. That's Why I'm Suing Meta. Jack Dorsey quits Bluesky board and urges users to stay on Elon Musk's X (God help us) Elon Musk's Plan For AI News The Forgotten War on Beepers AI-Voiced Audiobooks Top 40,000 Titles on Audible geospy.ai MacWhisper Is This the Most Boring Man in the World? Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-google. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: Melissa.com/twit YahooFinance.com

Microsoft is promising to put security first, again. Three features have been added to Windows 11 Canary build 26212. Microsoft shuts down some game developer studios under its Xbox Games Studios, including a popular one that published Hi-Fi RUSH. And Playstation recinds PSN account requirement for Helldivers 2 on PC. Microsoft & Security Microsoft promises to put security first. Again. Microsoft adds passkey support to Microsoft accounts. Windows 11 Windows 11 Canary build 26212 adds three features from the beta channel. Microsoft starts controlled feature rollouts (CFRs) on Windows Insider dev channel. Microsoft acknowledges VPN connection issues on Windows 11 and Windows 10. More improvements to Tiny11 Builder. Arc for Windows shipped last week. Armed and Ready Apple announces M4 along with new iPad Pros. Qualcomm earnings flat, but big promises for current quarter. AI Better prompt writing is coming to Microsoft 365 Copilot. OpenAI is allegedly testing its replacement for Google Search. Microsoft allegedly testing LLM that challenges OpenAI. Xbox Microsoft shuts down more Xbox studios, triggering a new round of angst. Starfield is getting the 60 FPS support it should have had at launch on Xbox Series X. Nintendo has now sold over 141 million Switch consoles, promises Switch 2. Just kidding on the PSN account requirement for PC Helldivers 2. Tips and picks Tip of the week: Build Blogger Bash App pick of the week: DesktopGPT Plus: Proton Pass gets much-needed account protection features. RunAs Radio this week: Identity Governance with Jef Kazimer. Brown liquor pick of the week: Shelter Point Cask Strength Single Malt. Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Sponsor: kolide.com/ww

The vulnerability of GPS Is the sky falling on all VPN systems? Multi-user Passkeys, YubiKeys? The iCloud Keychain The UK and Google's Topics Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-973-Notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Sponsors: Melissa.com/twit kolide.com/securitynow lookout.com bitwarden.com/twit

Apple held its iPad event early on Tuesday morning and announced new iPad Pros with M4 chips! The iPad Air 6 was also announced with a redesigned model. The iPad Pros also have nano-texture glass for their displays, but only for the 1TB and 2TB models. Plus, an Apple Pencil Pro with squeeze and roll gestures and Find My support! Apple announces new iPad Pro: OLED display, M4 chip, thinner redesigned chassis. Apple debuts Magic Keyboard for M4 iPad Pro with larger trackpad, function row, aluminum palm rest. Nano-texture glass for M4 iPad Pro only available on 1TB and 2TB models. Apple's new cellular iPad Air and iPad Pro models are eSIM only. iPad Air 6: Redesigned model available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, landscape front camera. Apple unveils M4: Its first chip made for AI from the ground up. Apple's new iPad Pro should turn device into true laptop replacement. Apple Pencil Pro launches, with squeeze gesture and roll, plus Find My support. New versions of Final Cut and Logic Pro for iPad take advantage of the power of the M4 chip. New iPad Pro lacks mmWave 5G and Ultra-Wide camera. Google paid Apple $20 Billion to be default search engine in 2022. Apple reports second quarter results. Apple mulling potential partnership with Rivian. Apple's Star Wars themed Precision Finding ad. Apple is developing AI Chips for data centers, seeking edge in arms race. Picks of the Week: Doc's Pick: GL.iNet GL-MT3000 Travel Router Mikah's Pick: Misting Pet Brush Andy's Pick: Portal Hosts: Leo Laporte and Andy Ihnatko Guests: Doc Rock and Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: fastmail.com/twit eufy.com wix.com/studio ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT

Apple unveiled a series of updates to its iPad lineup, introducing new models, features, and accessories. Redesigned iPad Air: The new iPad Air, available in 11-inch and 13-inch models, features the M2 chip, an updated camera layout, improved connectivity, and increased storage options. Next-Generation iPad Pro: The all-new iPad Pro boasts an ultra-thin design, advanced Ultra Retina XDR display, and the powerful M4 chip. It comes in 11-inch and 13-inch models. Introduction of the M4 Chip: Apple's latest silicon, the M4 chip, enables the iPad Pro's sleek design and impressive display capabilities while delivering significant performance improvements. Updates to Pro-Level Apps: Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro receive substantial updates, with new features like Live Multicam, Final Cut Camera, Session Players, ChromaGlow, and Stem Splitter. Debut of Apple Pencil Pro: The new Apple Pencil Pro offers an enhanced user experience with pressure sensitivity, haptic feedback, gyroscope-based control, and Find My integration. Redesigned Magic Keyboard: The updated Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is thinner, lighter, and includes a function row, aluminum palm rest, larger trackpad, and haptic feedback. Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/twit-news. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

In this episode of This Week in Tech, Leo Laporte is joined by Georgia Dow, Shoshana Weissmann, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, tackling a wide range of thought-provoking topics, from the ethical implications of AI in sensitive fields to the challenges of creating and consuming content in an increasingly commercialized digital landscape. The panel grapples with the potential risks and benefits of AI-powered therapists and priests, stressing the need for human empathy and discernment in these emotionally charged roles. They confront the harsh realities of the internet's "heat death," as the relentless pursuit of profits and engagement leads to a glut of low-quality content and erodes user trust. The group reflects on the double-edged sword of democratized media, celebrating the value of supporting emerging voices while acknowledging the importance of professional standards. As Twitter faces existential challenges, the panel surveys the social media horizon, evaluating alternative platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky, and weighing the implications of Jack Dorsey's departure from the Bluesky board. Elon Musk's reckless tweets about taking Tesla private have come back to haunt him, with the Supreme Court upholding an SEC settlement requiring his Tesla-related posts to be vetted by a lawyer. The FCC has cracked down on major telecom companies for the illegal sale of location data, while legislators push for reforms to prevent the government from exploiting privacy loopholes. Congress continues its misguided crusade to protect children online, with ill-conceived age verification mandates and privacy-eroding measures that threaten the very foundations of digital security. The panel offers an impassioned critique of these shortsighted efforts. The once-beloved video game Helldivers 2 serves as a cautionary tale of platform overreach, as a heavy-handed PlayStation Network login requirement sparks a massive player revolt and torpedoes the game's reputation. Apple's quarterly results are analyzed, and all eyes are on Apple's upcoming event, where new iPads and an enhanced Apple Pencil are expected to take center stage. But the real buzz surrounds the rumored M4 chip and its tantalizing AI capabilities, hinting at a potential game-changer for the iconic brand. The group geeks out over Disney+'s radical revival of X-Men '97 and Amazon's ambitious Fallout adaptation, complete with an immersive easter egg phone experience The freewheeling discussion also touches on Shoshana's ingenious Alexa hacks for Sabbath TV viewing, a UK council's apostrophe apocalypse, the looming cicada invasion, and Fr. Robert's role as a guardian angel for the Vatican's feral felines. Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Georgia Dow, Shoshana Weissmann, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: Stamps.com promo code TWiT kolide.com/twit IntouchCX.com/twit expressvpn.com/twit NetSuite.com/TWIT

The people are pushing for the ban of TikTok within the U.S. Trying to use your WiFi network while on your mobile hotspot. Why is my Safari browser constantly crashing on start up? Be aware when purchasing SD cards on websites like Amazon. What happens with data that is stored in your iCloud but not on your phone? Plus, Scott Wilkinson stops by to talk about the new TVs Sony announced recently. Arc Browser available for Windows. Heat Death of the Internet. Apple reports second quarter results. Meet the powerful tech insiders behind the push to ban TikTok Can you use a WiFi network when using a hotspot on the AT&T network? Scott Wilkinson and Sony's 2024 TV's. A caller suggests some novels for Leo & Mikah to read. A follow-up question to last week's show about images stored within BitWarden and the idea of a "secure delete." Talking about the AT&T security breach that happened recently. How does the iPhone manage files & data on your phone and within iCloud when handling older files and data from a previous iPhone? After upgrading to Sonoma OS on my Mac, why is the Safari browser constantly crashing on startup for me? How can I know when I'm purchasing a legitimate SD card on websites like Amazon? Are there any bank institutions that offer 2FA through applications such as Authy or Google Authenticator rather than text messages? How can I block outgoing traffic from Amazon's Alexa on my Ubiquiti network? If I have a bunch of HDMI cables from over the years, how can I test the cables to tell which is HDMI 1.0 and the other is HDMI 2.0? Why is my Windows Start menu disappearing after my machine goes to sleep mode? What's the best way to encrypt a USB drive? Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent Guest: Scott Wilkinson Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2023 Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/all-twittv-shows Sponsors: Stamps.com promo code TWiT eufy.com cachefly.com/twit

This week, it's a Wine release that fixes an ancient bug, a shiny new Nano with modern bindings, and a breaking bug fixed in VirtualBox. Then NeoFetch is officially retired, Adwaita breaks KDE apps, and run0 vies to replace sude. For tips, we have HyFetch to fill the neofetch gap, cpulimit to keep your system responsive, more tmux setup, and how to tell ping to use ipv4 or ipv6. You can find the show notes at https://bit.ly/3WsR2PD It's another great show, enjoy! Host: Jonathan Bennett Co-Hosts: Rob Campbell, Jeff Massie, and David Ruggles Want access to the video version and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

While we may not think of it very often, music has a long history of influencing how we think about spaceflight. From the scores of early silent films to the modern classics we all know, like 2001: A Space Odyssey and the never-ending franchises of Star Trek and Star Wars, we often have a riff going through our minds when we see a space image—few can hear Strauss' Blue Danube without thinking of the space station in 2001, or see a tilted yellow title scroll without hearing that first orchestral crash of John Williams' immortal Star Wars score. And, in real life, we had the talented astronaut Chris Hadfield performing David Bowie's classic hit Major Tom, augmented by upbeat lyrics. Space music is big, and Chris Carberry, CEO of Explore Mars and author of the recently released book The Music of Space, is here to tell us why! Headlines: China launches Chang'e-6 mission to the far side of the moon, aiming to collect and return the first-ever samples from this region Boeing completes final flight readiness review for the CFT crew flight test mission, set to launch on May 6th with a 95% chance of good weather James Webb Space Telescope successfully maps weather on exoplanet WASP-43 b, located 280 light years away, showcasing the telescope's potential for studying distant worlds Main Topic: The Music of Space Chris Carberry discusses his new book "The Music of Space: Scoring the Cosmos in Film and Television" and his motivation for exploring the connection between space and music Early examples of space-related music in film include the scores for "Metropolis" (1927) and the space documentary "Our Heavenly Bodies" (1920) The pivotal role of Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" in using classical music to depict space, and how it influenced future filmmakers John Williams' iconic score for "Star Wars" (1977) marked a turning point in film scoring and revitalized orchestral music in cinema The concept of music as a universal language and its potential for communicating with alien civilizations Chris Hadfield's rendition of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" on the International Space Station and the challenges of playing music in microgravity The role of music in future space settlements, its impact on mental health, and how it may evolve in different environments like Mars Chris Carberry's previous book "Alcohol in Space" and the history of alcohol consumption in space missions The need for studying the effects of alcohol on human physiology in space as commercial spaceflight advances Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Chris Carberry Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: wix.com/studio

Abrar Al-Heeti joins Mikah Sargent this week! Abrar talks about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Mikah talks about GM rolling out its own infotainment hub after no longer supporting Apple CarPlay in its vehicles. Reviews of the Rabbit R1 have rolled out this week. And can you remove bad AI data from AI models? Abrar Al-Heeti talks about how the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is winding down and the impact it will have on 1 in 5 US households, affecting the indigenous community the hardest. Mikah Sargent airs his grievances on GM's in-house infotainment hub after the company decided against using Apple's CarPlay in its vehicles. Lisa Eadicicco of CNET joins the show to discuss her review of the Rabbit R1 AI devices and whether this device could truly replace one's smartphone. And finally, Katyanna Quach of Semafor talks about how researchers from Amazon suggest that bad and harmful data can be removed from an AI model and the idea of 'model disgorgement.' Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Lisa Eadicicco and Katyanna Quach Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: eufy.com wix.com/studio YahooFinance.com