User Friendly - The Podcast

The team looks at timing on buying your next iPhone.  The result? Wait a few weeks. We also look at preparing for conventions and trade shows in this "post?" Covid period. This week's show also features an extended Q&A and a look at Google Doodles William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Bill Snodgrass

Chaz Wellington covers the 2022 Black Hat security conference with live interviews from the presenters in Las Vegas!  Also this week we talk about selling on Amazon and discuss the Disney + “Light and Magic”. William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Chaz Wellington, Bill Snodgrass

James Simmons is the Founder and CEO of GameApart, a remote culture building platform designed to keep fully remote teams connected and in-sync. He joins us this week to talk about what was involved in creating his technology and what it can do. Chaz Wellington joins us to give a preview of this year's Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas. Finally, we bring your questions to Steve Mehler. William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Steve Mehler, Chaz Wellington

Steve Mehler interviews guest Demetria Lionakis, a screenwriter-actress and Holly wood wardrober. Most people who have used computers have lost valuable information. Whether it's user error or mechanical breakdown, losing that photograph or document that can't be replaced is a major bummer. But what if you lost $176,000,000.00 (One hundred seventy six million dollars) by accidently throwing away a hard drive? Someone has and we look at their quest to get it back. Finally Comic Con International is back! We talk this year’s highlights as well as the Comic Con Museum. William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Bill Snodgrass, Steve Mehler

This week guest D.K. (Darla) Boljat joins us to talk about her art.  We discuss where and how she started and what she loves about her work.  Seeing is believing! Check out her work at dkboljat.com. The team revisits the topic of Crypto Currency and its recent crash.  Also, it's hot out there! Water is running short in some places and the technology behind desalination is back on the table. William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Bill Snodgrass

The team discusses tech this week!   First off, a sci-fi idea that is becoming a reality.  Metasurfaces allow you to manipulate objects with your mind.  This isn't an episode of "Stranger Things" but is something that is in a proof-of-concept stage. The James Webb Telescope has sent back its first color images and they really impress.  We discuss the details and what's next for this new scientific instrument. Finally, a lot of you have been having trouble with Android Auto.  We discuss some of the bugs and possible solutions. William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler

Steve Mehler and his guest Michael Placencia discuss discuss producing a new animated show. Our own Steve is a co-producer on this one! Later we take a look at the new nReal AR glasses and answer your questions. Steve Mehler, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Bill Sikkens

Happy 4th of July from the team at User Friendly 2.0!

Steve Mehler joins us this week with his guest Geno Romo.  Geno was on a few weeks ago and is back after listen requests. We discuss Crowdfunding.  These sites might be a way for your to raise money.  They are different and do charge for their services. We also discuss a real-life scam story that could of cost a victim thousands of dollars.   William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Steve Mehler

Guest Irete Hamdani joins us this week to talk about shopping sustainable products. Her company has created a way to make this very easy to do. Later the team talks online security. Firefox is enabling several security features by default now. How can you make sure you are as secure as possible? William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Bill Snodgrass

This week the team discusses the new Star Wars Kenobi series. This new series on Disney + has people talking; but, they don't all agree. Steve Mehler interviews his guest Patreck Farley. Patreck is a 28 year old filmmaker and martial artist. In his role as writer / director, he is currently finishing principal phtography on the 3rd installment of the Fatal Encounter triliogy. William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Bill Snodgrass, Steve Mehler

Bill Snodgrass joins us this week as we talk tech. Topics including Gaming Computers, Windows 11, 3-D Printing and more. William SIkkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Bill Snodgrass

Steve Mehler interviews his guest radio personality and actor Geno Romo. Apple has embraced "Right to Repair". We look at an iPhone battery replacement. We discuss power surges and blackouts and how to protect your equipment from damage. William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Steve Mehler

This week we cover the McMinnville Oregon UFO Festival. This is a very unique and fun event. Also this week we go over the announcements from the annual Google I/O.  If you use an Android phone or really any Google products there are some changes coming.   William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler

Guest Brandon Leibowitz of SEO Optimizers talks on how to get your website listed including some of the tricks of the trade. Renee Brouse of the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce joins us to talk about the return of the Crusin' Sherwood classic car show. The team also brings an extended Q&A answering your questions. William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler

This is the week of Star Wars Day! "May the 4th be with you" and "revenge of the fifth". The team takes a look at the Star Wars universe and discusses details. We also talk online privacy this week. Google has announced a way to request personal information be removed from search results. How do you know what the Internet says about you? William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler

Bill Snodgrass joins us to review the new D&D series, Vox Machina, on Amazon Prime. Also we discuss the Optimus Robot (Tesla) and ask "Are the changes in the tech industry to remote work permanent?" William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Bill Snodgrass

This week the team presents a look back at onsite coverage from recent in-person events. William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler

Reporter Yavor Shekerdzhiev joins us this week to talk about new delivery drones in Europe. This new technology may actually make drones a viable way to deliver goods. We also discuss smart homes in our other segment. Details on the basics of what a smart home is to some new technology we will see this year. William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler, Yavor Shekerdzhiev

This week we talk 3D printers and some of the good/bad experiences we have had. We also look at the history of Operating Systems going back to the 1950's. William Sikkens, Jeremy and Gretchen Winkler