Looking to buy a Raspberry Pi but overwhelmed by all the resellers? In this episode, we share Pi buying tips for the best experience and value. Learn the manufacturing story behind your board - where modern Pis are produced and how it shifted over time. We’ll recommend authorized distributors by region so you can avoid counterfeits. Discover where to find rare Pi models and how to score deals on kits. We’ll also discuss ethical concerns over labor practices and environmental sustainability. Know exactly where your Pi comes from and the optimal places to pick one up! Whether you need a starter kit or ten Pis for a cluster, this insider buying guide aims to maximize access and transparency.

Ready to start using your Raspberry Pi but not sure where to begin? Join us as we walk through getting operating systems up and running. See how to flash Raspbian, the go-to OS for Pi, onto your microSD card and boot up. We’ll also cover installing Android, Linux variants, and experimental Pi-optimized OSes. Get steps for basic configuration, connecting to the internet, updating packages, and customizing your environment. Not sure which OS is right for you? We’ll overview options to help you decide. Don’t let the hardware intimidate you - with the right software, the possibilities are endless! Let’s get your Pi powered on and ready for any project.

Are you considering buying an e-reader like the Kindle? While the days of actual books may be numbered, the case for owning a dedicated E Ink reading device is more nuanced. In this episode we objectively weigh the pros and cons of Kindles and competitors like Kobo. We’ll look at cost, reading experience, battery life, eye strain, content limitations, distractions, and more. You’ll learn about the alternatives like reading on tablets or phones. We’ll help you decide based on how and what you read whether an e-reader is the right investment. Don’t throw money away on unnecessary technology - tune in for a practical guide to navigating the world of digital reading!

Cash is disappearing in China, replaced by two huge mobile payment platforms. But convenient apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay also raise huge privacy questions. Join us as we dive deep into China’s mobile payments giants. We’ll compare their features, user bases, and ease of use for foreigners. Most importantly, we’ll analyze the privacy risks posed by their collection of personal data, links to government IDs, and increasing ubiquity in daily life. While mobile payments have transformed China’s economy, they’ve also given two private companies unprecedented insight into citizens’ activities. This episode explores the fascinating trade-offs around innovation, convenience, and personal privacy playing out in China’s mobile payment boom.

Ready to unlock the full potential of virtual machines? Join us as we go beyond VirtualBox to explore professional VM management. Learn to automate deployments of virtual environments using Vagrant and standardize configs with Packer. See how the Docker container system differs from traditional VMs. We’ll cover optimizing performance, clustering for high availability, disaster recovery tactics, and mitigating security risks. Gain deeper insight into virtual networking, storage allocation, resource pooling, and hardware compatibility gotchas. Level up your skills to create seamless virtual infrastructure for any use case. Whether for powerful development workflows or scalable production environments, this virtualization masterclass aims to make you a power user!

Have you ever wondered how computers learn to talk? In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of speech synthesis. Learn how text-to-speech technology converts written language into natural sounding verbal communication. We’ll trace the evolution from robotic-sounding voices to today’s nearly human-mimicking AI narrators. Explore groundbreaking advances letting anyone generate realistic speech. We’ll also discuss challenges still facing synthesizers, ethical concerns, creative use cases, and what futures might sound like as artificial voices become indistinguishable from real people. Made for audio format itself, this episode illuminates the nuts and bolts powering one of technology’s most human-like feats.

Ready to make the switch from PC to Mac? Our beginner’s guide will walk you through choosing the perfect Apple computer. We’ll compare portable versus desktop options, hardware specs, operating system versions, and pricing for MacBooks, iMacs, Mac minis and more. Learn how to determine the right amount of power and features based on your needs. We’ll also cover making the transition from Windows, must-have Mac apps to install, and getting the most out of Apple ecosystem integration. Feel empowered to join the Mac side! Whether for work, home or creative projects, we’ll help you pick the ideal Mac to bring home.

Wouldn’t it be nice to change the temperature at home before you even walk in the door? With smart AC control, you can adjust your air conditioner right from your smartphone! In this episode, we cover how to set up phone control for window, portable, and central AC units. See how smart plugs, infrared controllers, and WiFi adapters can connect your existing AC to an app. We’ll also explore integrated smart ACs you can adjust using voice assistants. From nestled inside on a hot summer day to breezy cool the moment you arrive, you’ll have climate control at your fingertips!

Want more control and customization of your smartphone? By installing Linux, you can transform your phone into a modular, open platform. In this episode, we walk through installing Linux distros like Ubuntu Touch, postmarketOS, and LineageOS on Android phones and tablets. Learn how Linux can breathe new life into old devices while enhancing privacy and security. We’ll cover the pros, cons, limitations, and things to consider with this power-user mod. Give your phone the freedoms of Linux! We’ll handle migrating data, optimizing performance, and tailoring the features you want. Take back your phone from big brands and unlock its true open potential.

Google Translate makes communicating across language barriers easy, but is convenience compromising your privacy? In this episode, we analyze what personal data is collected when using Translate, where it’s stored, and who has access. Learn how your translations, IP address, location, and device details are leveraged by Google’s algorithms and ad targeting. We share actionable techniques to use Translate more anonymously, like disabling connection logging and using VPNs. Understand the privacy risks, while still tapping into the benefits of this invaluable tool. Just because a tool is free, doesn’t mean you have to pay with your privacy. Let us help you translate more securely!