Geek News Central Podcast Todd Cochrane

Apple announced the macOS 15 Sequoia at WWDC 2024, featuring the Apple Intelligence AI suite, iPhone mirroring, and Continuity updates. The new OS introduces automatic window tiling, a cross-platform Passwords app, and enhanced Safari features. macOS Sequoia is compatible with Apple Silicon and select Intel-based Macs

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Show Notes and Full Summary:

In this episode of Geek News Central, host Todd Cochrane discusses several critical topics primarily focusing on Apple’s announcement of macOS 15 Sequoia during WWDC 2024. The new operating system introduces several innovative features, including the Apple Intelligence AI suite, iPhone mirroring, and enhanced continuity updates. MacOS Sequoia supports automatic window tiling, a cross-platform Passwords app, and improved Safari features. It is compatible with Apple Silicon and select Intel-based Macs.

Todd Cochrane seamlessly transitions into sponsor promotion, specifically highlighting GoDaddy as Geek News Central’s primary sponsor. He encourages listeners to take advantage of special deals provided through his GoDaddy affiliate link. He emphasizes the importance of supporting the podcast by signing up to become a GNC insider or using modern podcast apps that allow listeners to contribute directly through the value-for-value model.

Cochran shares anecdotes from his travels in the Philippines, reminiscing about his experiences in the Subic Bay area. He provides a rundown on notable spots and changes in the Olongapo area, reflecting on the region’s transformation.

The episode shifts back to tech topics, delving deeper into the features of macOS Sequoia. Todd discusses Apple Intelligence at length, describing how the AI will enhance functionality across Apple devices by introducing new capabilities in writing tools, Siri, and user interactivity between Mac and iPhone.

Further, Todd covers a variety of additional tech news stories, including NATO’s funding for a German startup developing autonomous war robots, Google’s settlement over an antitrust lawsuit, and a piracy lawsuit filed by significant publishers against Google. He also briefly touches upon personal internet security tips and wraps up with news of Tesla’s door design issues potentially affecting car windows.

Throughout the episode, Todd encourages listener interaction through emails and sharing feedback on modern podcast apps. He also mentions significant contributions from dedicated listeners who support the podcast through financial donations or streaming sats with modern Podcast Apps.

To conclude, Todd outlines the upcoming changes and challenges related to his podcast setup, sharing his transition from a studio to potentially building a new working space at home and ending with acknowledgments for the ongoing support from the Geek News Central community.



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SpaceX’s Starship rocket completed its first successful full test flight, returning to Earth without exploding. Standing nearly 400 feet tall, this marked the fourth launch and the longest flight of the world’s largest and most powerful rocket. Despite some damage and the loss of tiles, the spacecraft managed a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean after a flight reaching 130 miles in altitude and speeds of 16,000 mph. This milestone is crucial for SpaceX’s plans to reuse the rocket for missions to the moon and Mars.

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DJI Ban

DJI Hit Piece

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Show Notes Summary and Links:

In this episode of Geek News Central, hosted by Todd Cochrane, the primary focus is SpaceX’s recent achievement with its Starship rocket. The rocket completed its first successful full test flight without exploding, marking a significant milestone for SpaceX’s plans to use the missile for lunar and Martian missions.

Todd starts the episode by highlighting the rocket’s controlled splashdown after reaching high speeds and altitude despite some damage and loss of tiles. He emphasizes the importance of this advancement in the context of SpaceX’s future missions.

The discussion then shifts to other topics, including ongoing antitrust investigations into major tech companies like Microsoft, OpenAI, and NVIDIA by US regulators. NVIDIA’s recent surge in valuation, making it the world’s second most valuable company, is also mentioned.

Todd transitions to other news, including Microsoft’s investigation over monopoly concerns, Apple’s commitment to security updates for iPhones, and a new homepage design tested by Netflix. Other discussions cover the end of Best Buy’s Samsung repair program, a study related to misinformation on Twitter, and controversy over Adobe’s content scanning practices.

The episode also covers the opposition to a new telescope on Haleakala by Maui’s council, Lyft’s growth forecasts, and details about Instacart’s stock buyback. Additionally, Todd discusses a U.S. Justice Department move to recover funds stolen from a trade union, a U.S. news app accused of publishing fake stories, and Apple’s internal radio in its new Macs and iPads intended for smart home functionalities.

Todd also engages with the audience, reminding listeners about their sponsorship with GoDaddy and encouraging them to support the show through various platforms and promotional codes provided.

This engaging and informative episode, filled with a mix of technological advancements and regulatory ch...

After operating Geek News Central for the past five years from the current studio, I was forced to vacate the space I’d called home for so long.

About 18 months ago, The Mint, a weed shop, moved in next door, and while it wasn’t without its quirks—like the morning aroma of weed in my kitchen area—they’ve been good neighbors. For the past six months, I’ve been on a month-to-month lease after the building was acquired more than a year ago by the owners of said weed shop, and I never thought about renewing it. The landlord seemed content having me there, especially since the place had been vacant for years before I moved in back in 2019. But, that was my mistake.

On Sunday, May 28th, I received a termination notice of my lease from the owners of the building based out of Arizona. My lease termination date was set for June 28th, and as you know, I had a trip planned that extended beyond that date. With no time to lose and not wanting a legal battle, I spent two days vacating the studio, thanks to a miraculous 48-hour effort over Monday on Memorial Day and Tuesday.

So here I am, with no place to operate from when I return. My studio was never open to the public, as you know, but served as the backbone of my podcast,

Finding a new location will be challenging and may even require moving to a community that understands and supports this type of creative work. It reminds me of my mantra: never build your brand on rented land. While my .com is safe, my creative space isn’t, and this reality has been a soul-crushing experience.

I have no idea who will move into my old space—perhaps no one, in this challenging commercial market. My rent was always paid on time, but maybe weed sales are doing so well that they need a bigger store.

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Google I/O 2024 introduced significant advancements in AI with the new Gemini 1.5 Flash, which can efficiently handle high-volume tasks. Enhancements in Gemini Nano and the debut of Project Astra highlight multimodal capabilities, allowing interaction through text, images, and spoken language. The event also showcased Imagen 3 for photorealistic image generation and Veo for high-quality video creation. Updates in Google Search with AI Overviews and new Android features like real-time phishing detection and advanced AI integrations were also announced.

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Show Notes Summary and Story Links:

In this episode of Geek News Central, host Todd Cochrane gives a shout-out to the show’s primary sponsor, GoDaddy, acknowledging their longstanding partnership. He then shares his personal updates, mentioning his upcoming travel plans to London and discussing the implications of Google’s changes on search on businesses, particularly the shift toward AI-driven results, which might sideline traditional search results. He voices concern over how these changes could impact small businesses and content creators, including his site, Geek News Central.

Moving forward, Cochrane touches on industry reactions to other tech developments, including a new Samsung ad and updates concerning internet tariffs affecting military families. He also notes a new helicopter design and shares coverage of ongoing congressional debates over who should report foreign election interference.

Cochrane then encourages listeners to stay subscribed and proactive, emphasizing the importance of maintaining openness in internet standards and podcasting. He concludes with a reminder about the importance of supporting sponsors like GoDaddy, which helps keep the podcast thriving and independent.

**Key Points Covered:**

1. Overview of Google I/O 2024.

2. Introduction of new AI technologies and Android features.

3. Impact of Google’s shift to AI-driven search results on businesses.

4. Cochrane’s upcoming travel and schedule adjustments.

5. Various tech updates and industry reactions.

6. Advocacy for open internet standards and the value of podcast independence.

This episode serves as a comprehensive guide to the latest in technology, especially Google’s innovations. It also discusses the broader implications of these technologies for different aspects of digital life and business, as listed below.



* –1/2 of ACP users are military families that would be affected with the end of ACP

* –NASA bids farewell to the ‘flying laboratory’

* –What is social engineering?

In this episode of Geek News Central, hosted by Todd Cochrane, the primary focus is the latest release from OpenAI, the GPT-4o model, which enhances text, vision, and audio functionalities. Todd starts the episode by discussing the features of GPT-4o, which include improvements in API access, cost efficiency, and the introduction of a more interactive voice mode. He emphasizes the strategic timing of the release, just a day before the Google I/O conference, positioning OpenAI favorably against its competitors.

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Show Notes Summary and Story Links:

Todd acknowledges the episode’s sponsors, especially highlighting GoDaddy, the longest-running sponsor. He casually shares his personal experiences from his recent trip to the Philippines for Podfest Asia, where he engaged with other media creators and savored local beers and rum.

After discussing his travel schedule, which includes upcoming trips to London and potential disruptions to the podcast schedule due to his travels, Todd delves deeper into technological updates. He explores various tech-related topics ranging from Apple’s controversial ad campaign and geomagnetic storms affecting Starlink and GPS systems to advancements in quantum navigation technology for unjamable positioning systems.

The episode covers various other subjects, such as healthcare cybersecurity, the environmental review of SpaceX’s Starship launches from Kennedy Space Center, and labor actions by Apple store workers in Maryland. Todd also highlights the potential coming updates in Google’s I/O conference, focusing on AI initiatives.

In the latter part of the episode, Todd speaks about data privacy issues with ProtonMail and impending U.S. tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. The episode closes with a mention of discussions on AI safety between the U.S. and China, a brief look ahead to the next episode, and gratitude to the financial supporters of the podcast, urging listeners to become insiders by contributing financially to ensure the continuity of Geek News Central.

Overall, Todd Cochrane’s episode “Exploring OpenAI’s GPT-4o: A Leap in AI Technology” encapsulates an array of tech advancements, personal anecdotes, futuristic propositions, and community engagements blended seamlessly with updates and thoughts on recent technological controversies and developments.



* –Amazon’s robotaxi company is under investigation

* –TCL’s 115-inch 4K TV for $27,000

* –More geomagnetic storms remain likely for today

* –Microsoft Places and AI

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, equipped with Deep Space Optical Communications technology, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully transmitting data from over 140 million miles away using space lasers. This achievement, which included sending ultra-high-definition video and engineering data at unprecedented speeds, marks a significant advancement in deep-space communication technologies. Such capabilities pave the way for more complex and faster data transmission, which is crucial for future missions, including potential human trips to Mars.

Subscribe to the Newsletter.

Join the Chat @ GeekNews.Chat

Email Todd or follow him on Facebook.

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Download the Audio Show File

New YouTube Channel – Beyond the Office



Show Notes Summary and Story Links:

In this episode of Geek News Central, host Todd Cochrane discusses several topics, with the highlight being NASA’s Psyche spacecraft and its achievement in transmitting data from over 140 million miles away using space lasers. This feat marks a significant advancement in deep-space communication technologies.

The episode starts with a shout-out to the primary sponsor, GoDaddy, and an acknowledgment of the show’s supporters. Todd mentions the show’s availability on modern podcast apps and encourages listeners to become GNC insiders.

Todd informs listeners that this will be the last show before a break due to his upcoming trip to the Philippines for Podfest Asia. He explains that he will be absent for a week and a half, resulting in no new episodes until his return.

The deep space communication story breaks down the details of NASA’s experiment, including transmitting ultra-high-definition video and engineering data at unprecedented speeds.

In a brief diversion from the main topic, the host touches on Mercedes Benz’s decision not to allow Apple CarPlay to take over all vehicle screens, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a holistic software architecture.

The episode delves into various news items, including Google Play Store updates, NASA’s call for public input on technological shortfalls, and a data breach that affected Kaiser Permanente.

Todd encourages listener engagement by sharing a feedback email from a listener named Brad, who had listened to all past podcast episodes during his recovery from a brain tumor. Todd also reads an email from Bob regarding the earning model on the Fountain app and addresses pronunciation feedback from Keith, who corrected Todd’s pronunciation of “Maita.”

Other topics covered include a hit piece on Apple over fraudulent apps, the risk of AI in critical infrastructure, a price hike for Peacock, and a leaked iPhone 16 case model. Todd also touches on the investigation into Ford’s BlueCruise system following a fatal crash. He rounds out the news with discussions about Getir’s focus shift, Verizon’s smartwatch plans price increase, FCC fines for carriers, GitHub’s new AI-powered software engineering tool, and a potential new feature for the Apple Pencil.

Towards the end of the show, Todd discusses the importance of media companies like The Onion and the vital role o...