Refresh Computers Tech Talk

David Leavitt
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  • Technology
  • Updated Weekly

Audio files of our weekly radio show on WDBO where we talk about your electronic life. Help and advice are given on a range of technical issues from computers to everything internet-related.

  1. 1d ago

    EVs And The New Cost Of Driving

    Send us Fan Mail Gas prices rise, Florida heat hits triple digits, and somehow your car and your laptop are dealing with the same enemy: heat and cost. We’re Greg Rhodes and Adam Littlefield from the Refresh Computer Superstore, and we walk through what’s changing right now in the electric vehicle market and what it means for everyday drivers who just want a reliable commute and fewer surprise expenses. We talk EV tax credits in plain language, including what changed with the federal incentive for new EVs and why the used EV tax credit can still be a real deal if you qualify. Adam shares how EV ownership can translate into measurable fuel savings, why leasing can be a smart “test drive” for the lifestyle, and how modern EVs behave like computers on wheels with over-the-air updates that can improve capability long after you buy. Then we switch gears to a practical summer tech checkup for Central Florida: dust-packed fans, laptops shutting down from thermal events, and swollen “spicy pillow” batteries that can become a safety issue. We cover common heat mistakes like leaving phones, power banks, and battery tire inflators in a parked car, plus better habits like optimized charging and checking battery health. To close, Adam gives a simple Windows tip that helps your PC clean up after itself: enabling Storage Sense to clear temp files, manage the Recycle Bin, and keep storage from quietly disappearing (with a quick Mac cleanup path too). Subscribe for more real-world tech advice, share this with a friend who keeps gadgets in the glove box, and leave a review so more listeners can find Tech Talk. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

    41 min

  2. 2d ago

    A Cheap Charger Can Kill A Laptop

    Send us Fan Mail A “deal” can be a discount, a distraction, or a straight up illusion and the only way to know which one you’re looking at is to check the receipts of the internet: price history, seller behavior, and review quality. We walk through the most common online pricing tricks that show up around major sales events, including sudden pre sale price increases that make a markdown look dramatic. If you’ve ever wondered why an item seems “on sale” every week, we give you the mindset and the tools to confirm what’s real before you click Buy. We also share our favorite practical defenses for smarter online shopping. We talk about CamelCamelCamel and Keepa for Amazon price tracking, why wishlists and price alerts can beat impulse buying, and how to spot AI generated reviews that read like marketing copy. From there, we get into renewed and refurbished listings and why third party refurb standards can be all over the map, especially when the seller vanishes after the purchase. Then we hit one of the most expensive “cheap” mistakes we see: mystery chargers. A no name laptop charger can damage charging ports, kill batteries, or even take out a whole device, which is why we explain when OEM chargers matter and what risks counterfeits introduce. We also tackle digital legacy planning with clear, step by step guidance on Apple Legacy Contact, Google Inactive Account Manager, and how to think about memorializing or deleting social accounts. We wrap with Google Lens tips you can use today for visual search, translation, and copying text from paper into your phone. Subscribe for more practical tech advice, share this with someone who loves a bargain, and leave a review with the online shopping mistake you want us to cover next. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

    40 min

  3. Jul 5

    New Smart Watch Tech + Road Trip Tech: Apps and Gear for Summer Driving

    Send us Fan Mail Your wrist can do more than show the time now. We talk through how today’s smartwatches are evolving into practical safety tools, including fall detection that can automatically call 911, crash and collision alerts, and location sharing that helps first responders find you fast. If you have ever wondered whether an Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, or other smartwatch is actually worth it, this conversation lays out what the tech can do in real life, not just on a spec sheet. We also get honest about the limits. Features like heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and on-watch ECG can be incredibly useful for spotting patterns and creating a report you can share with a doctor, but they are not a medical diagnosis. The goal is a timely warning, a nudge to follow up, and better awareness of your own health data over weeks and months. Then we shift gears to a listener-favorite topic: why buying local tech beats the big box store and giant website experience when something breaks. Real people, real warranty help, and diagnostics you can bring in person can save you time, money, and a lot of frustration. We wrap with summer road trip tech, including iExit for fuel and food by exit, iOverlander for RV stops, PlugShare and ChargePoint for EV charging, plus navigation tips with Waze, offline maps, dash cams, phone mounts, and driving modes that auto-reply to texts so you stay focused. If you get value from practical tech advice like this, subscribe, share the show with a friend who needs an upgrade, and leave a quick review so more drivers and gadget owners can find us. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

    40 min

  4. Jul 4

    A Gaming Computer Might Be The Best Work Computer

    Send us Fan Mail The sky is getting smarter and so is your tech. We talk through the real mechanics behind modern Fourth of July spectacles, where drone light shows can paint flags and eagles in midair with hundreds of synchronized aircraft, and why so many cities are now blending drones with classic fireworks for that can’t-miss grand finale. You’ll hear what makes these shows work, what can make them fail, and why safety planning like launch paths, geofencing, and radio reliability matters more than most people realize. Then we switch from the sky to your desk. “Gaming computer” sounds like a toy until you look at what the GPU and faster components actually enable. We break down why architects, engineers, contractors, creators, and editors often benefit from the same horsepower, how a graphics card can transform a system, and what to consider if you want a machine that handles real workloads without wasting money. We also zoom out to the supply chain and your budget. The conversation covers the push to expand US semiconductor manufacturing, including major investments like TSMC’s Arizona buildout and Intel’s growing US production, plus why robotics and demand might make today’s chipmaking wave more sustainable than past attempts. To wrap up, we share easy ways to cut another bill with free streaming TV options like Pluto TV, Tubi, and The Roku Channel, plus a reminder that the best tech choice is often the simplest one. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find it. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

    41 min

  5. Jun 28

    You Can Preserve Family Memories With Tools You Already Own

    Send us Fan Mail Your family memories are sitting on borrowed time. Those shoebox photos fade, VHS tapes get sticky, and the players you need to watch old camcorder footage are getting harder to find every year, especially in Florida heat and humidity. We walk through a realistic, do-it-now approach to digitizing old photos and home movies so you can preserve them, share them, and stop worrying that one failed device will erase decades. We also get specific about tools and workflows that actually work. We talk about the Google PhotoScan app for glare-free photo capture, when a flatbed scanner is the better move, and how AI photo restoration can help clean up scratches, creases, and blur after you digitize. If DIY is not your thing, we discuss mail-in digitizing services and the big tradeoff that comes with shipping your originals. From there, we zoom out to the “keep it safe and easy” side of tech: why cloud backup (think OneDrive-style syncing) beats a single external drive for most people, plus the surprisingly advanced technology running Orlando theme parks. We compare park apps for live wait times, maps, mobile food ordering, Lightning Lane, Universal’s newer Express Pass Now, virtual queues, and even facial recognition style entry options. We close with a simple but crucial reminder: turn on Find My iPhone or Find My Device before your phone gets lost or stolen. Subscribe for more practical tech help, share this with someone who has a box of photos in a closet, and leave us a review with the one memory you most want to protect. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

    40 min

  6. Jun 27

    When Tech Moves Faster Than People Can Learn

    Send us Fan Mail DJI is getting pulled off US shelves, and that’s not just “drone hobbyist” news. We walk through what the DJI ban means for anyone who flies for fun, shoots video at weddings, inspects roofs and job sites, or depends on drones for fast situational awareness. Adam shares why DJI became the go-to brand in the first place, and we dig into the real reason this story keeps coming back: national security concerns tied to data, GPS location, video capture, and how regulators treat connected hardware on covered lists.  We also connect the ban to the bigger drone ecosystem, including FAA realities like registration thresholds, pilot licensing, and the Remote ID era where newer drones broadcast identifying info. Then we zoom out to the future: drone delivery is expanding through programs like Amazon Prime Air and Walmart’s partnership with Wing, rolling into more cities and reshaping expectations around “get it to my yard in 30 minutes” convenience.  To balance the big-picture news, we shift into practical, everyday tech help. We share “hidden” accessibility features on iPhone, Android, and Windows that make devices easier for everyone: magnifier and zoom tools, shortcut buttons, live captions for calls and videos, hearing aid integration, sound recognition alerts, and voice control for anyone who struggles with small screens or dexterity. We wrap with a money-saving Windows tip: the built-in Snipping Tool can record your screen as a video, great for training or showing a tech exactly what’s going wrong.  If you found this useful, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share the episode with a friend who’s stuck on a tech problem, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

    41 min

  7. Jun 21

    Florida Lightning Season Tech Survival Guide For Homes And Small Businesses

    Send us Fan Mail One lightning flash down the street can quietly take out a TV, a router, and the computer you rely on for work and you won’t always know why it happened. We live in Florida, where thunderstorms are frequent and the power grid is constantly fluctuating, so we decided to get practical: what actually hurts electronics, what protects them, and what mistakes people keep making without realizing it. We break down the three big culprits: nearby lightning strikes that send surges through power, cable, and older phone lines; everyday grid spikes and dips that slowly degrade sensitive parts; and the surge that can hit when power comes back after an outage. We also talk about how heat and humidity shorten the life of laptops and phones, why swollen batteries are a serious safety issue, and why a cheap power strip is not the same thing as a surge protector. If you want better uptime, fewer fried components, and less risk of corrupted storage, we explain when a UPS battery backup makes sense and why you should never daisy chain power strips or surge protectors. Then we tackle a wallet-drainer: printer ink. We dig into why ink can cost absurd amounts, how some manufacturers block third-party cartridges, and what actually saves money long term, including laser printers with toner and tank style inkjet printers like EcoTank and MegaTank. We close with a simple tip that could genuinely save your life: setting up Medical ID on iPhone or Android so first responders can see critical information from your lock screen. If this helped, subscribe for more weekly, real-world tech advice, share it with someone who lives through storm season too, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

    40 min

  8. Jun 20

    Your TV Takes Screenshots Unless You Turn It Off

    Send us Fan Mail Your smart TV isn’t just “smart” anymore, it may be reporting back what’s on your screen. We walk through how Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) works, why it can track far more than streaming apps, and why that data is valuable enough to help drive down TV prices. Then we get practical: we share where these settings hide, what they’re often called by brand, and the extra privacy switches that matter like interest-based ads and voice remotes with always-listening microphones. From there, we zoom out to the bigger problem: home network security. We explain why locking down Wi‑Fi is more than changing a password, and why putting smart TVs, doorbells, cameras, speakers, printers, and thermostats on a guest network can add real device isolation. If you’ve got a home office or a small business setup, we also talk about why conference room TVs and “connected” displays deserve the same privacy attention as your computers. We also dig into the end of cell phone dead zones as satellite-to-phone service expands, what it can do now (including richer messaging), what still blocks it (like roofs and tunnels), and where it’s heading next. Finally, we wrap with a Windows 11 favorite: Phone Link, which lets you text from your keyboard, see phone photos instantly, share clipboard items, and even take calls from your PC. Subscribe, share this with a friend who just bought a new TV, and leave us a review so more people can find these privacy and security tips. What device in your house do you trust the least right now? Support the show Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RefreshComputers/ Track us on X at https://x.com/RefreshStores

    41 min
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About

Audio files of our weekly radio show on WDBO where we talk about your electronic life. Help and advice are given on a range of technical issues from computers to everything internet-related.

Information

  • Creator
    David Leavitt
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    164
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Refresh Computers Tech Talk
  • Show Website
    Refresh Computers Tech Talk