April 26, 2016 at 7:15PM •
1 hour 54 minutes
TOPIC: Finding stories and insights hiding in your data.
This week, Dan and Merlin dive deep into the new world of personal tracking. Dan has a new FitBit, and Merlin has a surprisingly complicated system involving many devices and apps. Great stuff you can try for yourself.
Also discussed: Merlin's weird cat, Deadpool, Pek Pongpaet the Professional Podcast Pundit, Alexa on Fire TV, a defense of Reed Richards, and Dan's advice on how to setup your own VPN.
April 19, 2016 at 5:15PM •
1 hour 46 minutes
TOPIC: Putting an Overt Stake in the Ground.
This week, Dan and Merlin end up talking about the surprising stuff a Fitbit can do for you. Dan even buys one.
Also, some discussion of pope hats, NASCAR, (the amazing) Screens 4, and that failing restaurant by Dan's office that kinda looks like Terminus.
April 12, 2016 at 3:15PM •
1 hour 39 minutes
TOPIC: But, alas.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about Smile's updated announcement about TextExpander and the ugly problem of blind internet rage.
Also, lots of talk about ponderous 80s movies and old TV shows, including Dan learning which program had that tiny tabletop robot.
Also, we are endeavoring, ma'am, to construct a mnemonic memory circuit using stone knives and bearskins.
April 5, 2016 at 4:15PM •
2 hours 4 minutes
TOPIC: Wow, times change.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the challenges and opportunities of subscription-based payment models. When do they work (or not) and how quickly does autopay fatigue kick in?
March 29, 2016 at 4:45PM •
2 hours 4 minutes
TOPIC: Welcome to Costco. I love you.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about breakfast sandwiches, the pain and suffering of dealing with Apple IDs, managing kids and their iOS devices, Merlin's weird week with Playstation Vue, and the science (or otherwise) behind iOS's Night Shift.
The main topic this week focuses on quality, values, and self-improvement. Are Dan and Merlin just cloud-yelling old men for wishing writers (and everyone for that matter) would try a little harder? Maybe. Maybe not.
March 22, 2016 at 5:00PM •
1 hour 59 minutes
TOPIC: Serving the super-motivated super-fan.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about:
- a modest request from Merlin
- some interesting new options for viewing OTA broadcast television on Apple TV
- the evolution (and often lost opportunities) of media delivery
- highlights of yesterday's Apple event
March 15, 2016 at 3:30PM •
2 hours 7 minutes
TOPIC: No one cares about your demo anymore.
This week Dan & Merlin talk about realizing when life isn't all about you and getting better at learning how to say "thank you."
Also, lots of great practical (and philosophical) suggestions for getting started with or back into comics.
March 8, 2016 at 4:30PM •
2 hours 23 minutes
TOPIC: Staying out of Technology Detention
This week, Dan and Merlin do another giant-size grabbag episode that covers a lot of ground, including:
- movies, kids, and ratings, oh my!
- better text editing on iPad, faster typing on iOS
- complexities of picking the right pairings of Apple devices
- what's up with apps not launching in iOS?
- Hound, and the future of voice-controlled computing
- staying provisionally joyful about the possibilities of new technology
- exploring Merlin's early experience with a Synology NAS
March 1, 2016 at 5:45PM •
2 hours 2 minutes
TOPIC: That's Not How the Future Works.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about evolving technology culture, the weird landscape of semi-smart devices, and why Merlin does and kinda doesn't do Getting Things Done so much anymore.
February 23, 2016 at 4:15PM •
2 hours 1 minute
TOPIC: Grab Bag.
This week, Dan and Merlin cover the waterfront. This wide-ranging episode covers lots of listener feedback, corrections of egregious errors, D&D alignment, the danger of guessing why people are how they are, some fun Tumblr recommendations, considering the yak-shaving ordeal of time-shifting broadcast TV, plus further discussion of last week's topic re: kids and computer access.
