Category: Mobile Devices

• Thanks to Walter Eccles who, in MobileViews mini-podcast 50,  helped me test a sound level meter and wireless lav mic system by recording a podcast in a busy restaurant. Google NotebookLM summarized the podcast using only the audio discussion.
• Jon experimented with ChatGPT & NotebookLM and discovered how ChatGPT hallucinates journal articles.
• OBSBOT Meet SE 1080P 100FPS Webcam & its microphone were tested.
• Apple Macintosh celebrated its 41st birthday.
• The new Google Photos for iOS “Ask” feature is horrible, but has a temporary “Switch to classic search” option.
• The accuracy of weather data was questioned, and Forecast Advisor was used to determine the best weather source for a specific ZIP code.
• 1Password now allows users to freeze their accounts.
• Orbitime World Clock Widget offered a free lifetime upgrade.
• Google Docs introduced a new “Write with Gemini” option.

Available via Apple iTunes.
MobileViews YouTube Podcasts channel
MobileViews Podcast on Audible.com

I’m joined by a former colleague (prior to my retirement), Walter Eccles, for this podcast. Although I’ve known him as a technologist over the past decade or so, I learned about his involvement in local theater and TV in various capacities including acting. In this podcast, we discuss the intersection of technology in the performing arts in his decades of activities.

We recorded this podcast in the Fête restaurant during lunch so I could test both a new Decibel Meter and a new set of wireless lavalier microphones. The lav’s receiver was connected to an iPhone using a USB-C cable and recorded using the Just Press Record app. Although the lav mic system has a built-in noise reduction setting, I left this off to allow me more post-production granular control. This resulted in what I consider a very good voice recording of our conversation. However, I decided to post-process using Adobe Podcast Studio at 75% enhancement to reduce the background restaurant sounds and music (which was in the 65 to 75 dB level).

Available via Apple iTunes.
MobileViews YouTube Podcasts channel
MobileViews Podcast on Audible.com

Jon Westfall and I discuss:

• Microphone hardware noise cancellation
• ByteDance also turned off CapCut as well as TikTok (briefly)
  
• Adobe Podcast Studio (beta) new AudioGram feature
• Microsoft Office apps unsupported on Windows 10 after Windows 10 sunsets on Oct. 14 2025
• Microsoft Copilot now included in Microsoft 365 (Office) personal & family editions
• Google Adds Gemini AI to Workspace Apps, But There’s a Catch
• Jon’s Time Tracking using the self-hosted TimeTagger

Available via Apple iTunes.
MobileViews YouTube Podcasts channel
MobileViews Podcast on Audible.com

I had Google NotebookLM write this podcast summary using the actual audio podcast that Jon Westfall and I recorded. I also had it generate a 9 minute audio podcast summary of the original podcast using NotebookLM’s audio summary feature.

NotebookLM generated summaries (with Todd’s edits)

Todd Ogasawara and Dr. John Westfall discuss their underwhelming perception of CES 2025, focusing on the prevalence of vaporware and concepts over readily available products (as is normal for CES announcements).  They highlight a few items of interest though, including an **AI-powered fan**, a **robot vacuum with a robotic arm**, and a **petal-shaped camera**,  comparing these to existing technologies.  The podcast also features discussions on **older technologies**,  **consumer tech blind spots**, and the importance of **disaster preparedness**.  Finally, they share anecdotes about their experiences with various tech products and companies.

Timeline of Main Events Discussed in the Podcast

• Pre-January 12, 2025:
• Past CES Events: The speakers, Todd and John, discuss previous CES events, noting a trend of companies showing concepts and vaporware that often don’t ship, or ship with major changes. They recall the Mudra band being announced for the Apple Watch, but its features were made redundant by Apple itself by the time it shipped.
• Previous Technology: Todd and John had various experiences with technology, such as earlier Bluetooth headsets, earlier versions of Apple Watch, Microsoft Surface products, various earbuds and more, and recall Microsoft’s push of ActiveX technology.
• January 12, 2025:
• CES 2025: The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) of 2025 takes place, and is found by Todd and John to be underwhelming as many of the devices seem to be recycled concepts from years past, or things that don’t make it to market.
• Todd’s Observations: Todd identifies two interesting items at CES: a Dreo “Poly Fan 707s” with AI to detect and follow people and adjust airflow and a RoboRock robot vacuum with a robotic arm that picks up objects.
• John’s Observations: John finds the Petal Camera from Wonder, which is similar to the bird feeders with built-in cameras he has seen advertised recently, to be interesting, although unnecessary.
• Other CES Mentions: There is mention of a laptop with a “rolling screen” that expands vertically. Nvidia’s new mini PC with its AI engine is also mentioned.
• Podcast Recording: Todd and John record podcast episode 544, discussing their experiences at CES 2025 and the state of tech.
• Earbud Review: Todd describes reviewing a unique pair of over-the-ear earbuds that have a touchscreen on the case and UV sanitization feature.
• Headphone Test: Todd mentions testing over-the-ear Bluetooth headphones and evaluating their microphone quality, in preparation for the podcast.
• Microsoft Money Mention: There is an aside about how some people still use old software, like Microsoft Money 2002.
• Recent Past (within the past month):
• AirPods Pro 2 Experience: Two of John’s friends purchased AirPods Pro 2 during holiday sales and were impressed, leading to a conversation about tech “blind spots.”
• Todd’s Surface Pro 11 Issues: Todd’s relatively new Microsoft Surface Pro 11 experienced a battery drain issue and is now only used sparingly, partially due to incompatibility issues with software like Insta 360 Studio. He discusses the poor history he has had with the Surface line of products.
• Google AI Studio Discovery: Todd discovers Kevin Stravik’s video on Google AI Studio and notes its features for analyzing and manipulating spreadsheets.
• Recent Power Jetties: Todd’s home in Hawaii has experienced ten multi-hour power outages in 2024, making him think about disaster preparedness.
• Recent California Wildfires: The LA wildfires prompt discussion about disaster preparedness.
• Recent Personal Disasters: Todd mentions that a 25-year food bucket he had been storing had passed its expiration date, and he purchased a new one. He also recalls a personal experience preparing for a tsunami in the past where he made a list, and when it was needed, he realized that he had forgotten to add in that he had a child since the time that list was created.

For this end of 2024 podcast, I’m joined once again by the Google NotebookLM podcast bots. And, once again, I used the beta-release interactive chat mode to interject during the podcast bots discussion. Note: the image used for this podcast was generated by Meta’s Messenger AI.

Note: Jon Westfall will rejoin the podcast for the first podcast of 2025.

NotebookLM’s summary of the podcast:
MobileViews Podcast 541, Part 2, focuses on listener tech complaints. Adam Lein criticizes the inconsistencies of USB-C charging, while Todd Ogasawara suggests improvements to USB-C cable standardization. Jason Dunn expresses frustration with limitations of the Google Pixel 9 Pro’s Gemini AI, particularly regarding locked-screen voice access. Finally, Ogasawara lists further grievances, including Google’s discontinuation of Google Podcasts and its VPN service, and the lack of a Pixel Tablet 2 and wider availability of Microsoft’s Recall feature.

Available via Apple iTunes.
MobileViews YouTube Podcasts channel
MobileViews Podcast on Audible.com

In this podcast, Jon Westfall and I discuss:

• iPadOS 18.2 public beta 2 – Image Playground
• Google Gemini app now available for iPhone
• YouTube Premium new AI “Ask” function for YouTube Android app
• Todd’s M4 Mac mini impressions
• Jon’s M4 Pro MacBook Pro impressions
• Homebrew package manger for Jon’s new Mac installation
• Jon finally got around to trying the WorkOutDoors app
• Jon subscribed to ChatGPT Premium to make custom GPTs. His first project: Constructive Student Paper Feedback

Available via Apple iTunes.
MobileViews YouTube Podcasts channel
MobileViews Podcast on Audible.com