Solid State Podcast

Episode 20 - What’s in the box... Samsung Flip 4

Sometimes… you just have a false start. For us here at Solid State, a false start looks like an episode starting with aggressively mediocre audio quality because one host forgets to hit the record button on the main feed… 
But when you’re a multi-Billion dollar international technology brand, a false start looks a bit different… 
More along the line of thousands of devices recalled, millions spent in re-engineering, and a brand supposedly left in tatters…
The thing is though, when the brand you’re talking about is SAMSUNG, they are both experienced and accomplished at rising to that challenge. 
With the storied launch of the original Galaxy Fold in 2019, that should have been where the story both began and ended. But here we are just three years later with the newly minted Galaxy Z Fold and Flip 4… 
Is this even a comeback anymore or are we actually approaching a power-move for dominance? Let’s go hands-on and find out what’s in the box....

Episode 19 - The thing about camera tech

On this show, it’s become something of a recurring theme that “gadgets” are so much bigger than just your smartphone or laptop…
In past episodes we’ve covered the tech around everything from headphones to vinyl records, and this week we keep that theme up with the true and honest gadget-tech around modern day cameras and broader photography…
It’s one to really take in if the genuine art behind the scene is of interest to you, and even if not I have to at least suggest listening very closely in the last 10-15 minutes… because you might just hear the sound of Eric and I buying the same camera “live” on-show with no pre planning and less than no permission… 
Why do I feel like we’re starting a bit of a trend here…

Episode 18 - What’s in the box... Apple M2 MacBook Air

Often enough when it comes to consumer electronics, the equation is pretty simple… when the “next generation” comes out it should be better, faster, stronger and probably a little more expensive. But, we tell ourselves credit-card-in-hand, it’s worth it for the “new one”, right?
All kidding aside, that very rough math normally holds up whether it’s the latest phone, the biggest new TV, or the shiniest smart watch. With this year’s much-anticipated MacBook Air refresh, though, things just don’t feel that “cut and dry”, with it’s predecessor hanging out on the Store page right alongside with an often-discounted price tag to boot. 
This week, we’re hands-on with Apple’s newly minted M2 MacBook Air and dive through all of its updates, upgrades, and occasionally controversial features.
And in the end, that simple equation from earlier is met with an equally age-old question… is it worth it?

Episode 17 - The many faces of Android

The history of technology and gadget culture is one of debates and ideologies… “VHS or Betamax”… “I’m a Mac, and I’m a PC”… “Red vs. Blue”…
Today, though, no such standoff may be more present or far-reaching than that of iOS versus its age-old nemesis… Android…
But just saying something “runs Android” is kind of like saying a car “has an engine”… there are countless shapes, sizes, and takes on features that in a lot of ways vary based on the badge on the back of the device. 
So this week let’s take a look at what can only be described as the “many faces of Android”, and see which might suit you best?  

Episode 16 - The thing about High Quality Audio

On this show, nothing is ever quite good enough… we can’t help ourselves! Battery life can always be longer, load times can definitely be shorter, and in the case of this week’s episode the clear, crisp audio can always be refined just that little bit more…
Audio tech is every bit as much a “gadget” as your Xbox or Surface Pro, and really transcends so much of our gear because, at the end of the day, what good is a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-Ray if you can barely hear the action on screen? 
It’s time to deep dive the world of the aptly named (and priced) “High Quality Audio” tech, while trying not to spend our entire year’s budget in a single episode of browsing and wishful thinking…

Episode 15 - Parts Bin: Meta Quest news, Apple’s M2 MacBook Pro, and Atari Turns 50

If you’ve been with us since the beginning, you’ve probably at least figured out we’re just a little bit passionate about the tech we talk about each week…
And for better or for worse, we figured the only thing better than one piece of tech to chat on is… maybe three or four?
Okay, we admit it, you’re in for a bit of a roller coaster this week as we take a brisk run through the latest going on at Meta... first reactions to Apple’s “new” M2 MacBooks Pro… Atari celebrates 50 years… and finally wrap it up with some “what’s in the box” action with Asus’ new Zephyrus G14… 
All that, and maybe even a few other bits sprinkled in because we can’t help ourselves… welcome to our very first Solid State “Parts Bin” episode…

Episode 14 - The thing about Subscription Services...

The words “click to subscribe” may be one of the more immortalized of this generation… let’s face it, it’s everywhere!
Most of the time it’s a hook… to ensure that content garners someone’s attention not just once, but hopefully many times down the road…
But if we take a step above the “harmless” transaction of subscription… the economies in question quite literally change the moment actual currency enters the equation…
Yep, we’re talking subscription services this week… from the ubiquitous red envelop in every mailbox on your street (once upon a time) to vacuum-packed food cooked with a button-press so simple maybe you should have just had it cooked for you and delivered in the first place? 
So this week let’s take stock of where those credit card charge are actually going in $9.99 increments, while remembering to go hit “subscribe” on this show while you’re at it?

Episode 13 - Solid Bytes on... Digital Security

If you’ve listed to this show for more than a minute, you know we love this tech and the possibilities it opens up to the world every day…
But as with quite literally everything else in life, all of that wonder and amazement comes at the price of responsibility and an imperative to try and stay one half-step ahead of those out to do you harm… be it for profit, hate, or sadly even simple boredom…
We strive to keep it positive here on Solid State, and in the end this week is no different, so join us as we take a first of probably many looks at getting the most out of that tech while also keeping you, your family, and your work safe in an ever-evolving digital world…

Episode 12- Apple WWDC 2022

This week on the Solid State Podcast, it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for, if what you’ve been waiting for is a pair of mostly brand new laptops… that you can’t buy yet…
A tour de force of highly sought-after features for your phones, tablets, and computers… that you can’t download yet…
And a thousand-dollar “solution” to the Studio Display’s basically un-usable webcam…
It’s an over-sized episode that’s even willing to be broken up into 4 easy installments at 0% interest…
Let’s dive right in, it’s time to take a walk through Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference 2022…

Episode 11 - iPod... a History

Throughout tech, there have been category-defining products since Day Zero…
A lot of Nintendo Switch owners remember their first Game Boy, performing a web search is too commonly called “Googling”, but very few have both disrupted an industry AND held onto relevance long after their sales fell off the proverbial cliff…
Today, we’re here to bit adieu to an old friend, while also considering how it’s been sticking with us for the long haul all along… 
True, Apple has finally shuttered the sale of it’s last branded “iPod”, but let’s take a look at it’s past, affirm it’s impact on the present, and admit that maybe iPod’s effect will carry well into our future…