In this episode of Ask The Tech Guys, Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent dive into the recent CrowdStrike security update disaster, discuss the end of Google's URL shortener, and address listener questions about Apple Music libraries and Mac upgrades. The hosts also share insights on the show's upcoming studio changes and the importance of Club TWiT memberships for the network's sustainability.

• CrowdStrike security update causes widespread Windows crashes, affecting airlines, hospitals, and major companies
• Google announces "goo.gl" links will stop working in August 2025, potentially breaking many existing services
• Matthew asks about moving his Apple Music library to an external drive and keeping the most recent versions of files
• Leo discusses the upcoming closure of the current TWiT studio and transition to home-based production
• The evolution of studio equipment and how consumer technology now enables high-quality home production
• Fransisco inquires about using an older MacBook Pro with Big Sur for online banking and purchasing
• Hosts advise using third-party browsers for security and discuss the timing of purchasing new Macs
• Dan wants to know how to best preserve his father's microcassette tapes
• Jim can't hear the text tone on his Apple Watch and wants to know how to change the sound.
• Jeff from Michigan asks about recording high school marching band events, with Leo suggesting using smartphones or the Sony ZV-1 camera for better quality and ease of use.
• Ann from Antioch inquires about allowing Bluetooth permissions for a garage door opener app.
• Richard from Tennessee reports issues with his new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra crashing when opening YouTube.
• Bill from Tarzana asks if leaving devices plugged in constantly is harmful, with the hosts reassuring that modern devices have circuitry to manage battery health.
• Mark from Racine inquires about Leo's switch from Authy to 2FAS for two-factor authentication, with Leo explaining his reasons for preferring 2FAS.

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent

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Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2034

Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys

Is there an easy way to convert an email into an audio file? Why can't I back up my files using both iDrive and iCloud? Why aren't banks using proper two-factor authentication methods? Plus, Sam Abuelsamid talks about the Cadillac CELESTIQ display and how manufacturers are leaning in more to software-driven features.

• FTC fires a warning shot at eight companies over 'Right To Repair' violations.
• Goldman Sachs: AI is overhyped, wildly expensive, and unreliable.
• This is the fastest object ever made by humans, and it's not slowing down.
• Toll of Snowflake hack widens with theft of AT&T text, calling data.
• Micah from the Airplane Geeks podcast calls in to ask if there's a proper lightning to USB-C adapter that he can use with his Shure microphone, which has a lightning connection and no USB-C connection.
• Dan emails the show asking for alternatives to Amazon Echo devices for his parents, who aren't very tech-savvy, that can stream music throughout the home on various devices.
• Sam Abuelsamid joins Leo and Mikah on the show this week. Sam talks about how car manufacturers are utilizing more software-driven features in their vehicles.
• Genet writes in, wondering what it means to "Sign In with Apple" on various websites and if it's safe to use this. Miakh explains how "Sign In with Apple" works.
• Patch has a 2015 MacBook Pro, and the battery is nearing its end of life, which is affecting some of its laptop functions. What can he do about the battery issues?
• Jay writes in, wondering if there's an app that can translate an email into an audio file for his mother.
• Charles calls in with a follow-up to Jay's question and suggests using Siri's VoiceOver function on the iPhone / iPad to do exactly what Jay is looking for.
• Ken is wondering why he's getting errors when trying to backup his files through both iDrive and iCloud, as he's trying to back up his files to multiple locations.
• Mel is in the market for a new computer for general computing needs, such as email and document writing, and is wondering what Mikah and Leo would recommend.
• Aaron has a simple question for the Tech Guys: why do the banks continue to avoid using 2FA applications like Google Authenticator?

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent

Guest: Sam Abuelsamid

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2033

Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys

Leo and Mikah tackle a wide range of tech questions from viewers, covering everything from backup strategies to AI's impact on creativity. The hosts are joined by the Home Theater Geek Scott Wilkinson, who shares an impressive DIY home theater, and travel expert Johnny Jet with essential tips for renewing your passport online and staying cool while traveling in Europe. Don't miss Leo and Mikah's thought-provoking discussion on the future of AI and human creativity!

• Google research paper suggests AI "breaking reality" is a feature, not a bug. The team discusses the implications.
• Mathematicians discover the fifth "busy beaver" number after 40 years. Leo attempts to explain this computational math milestone.
• Cloudflare launches tool to block AI bots from scraping websites, as 85% of Cloudflare customers want to block AI.
• Saudi Arabia aims to be the eSports capital of the world with a $60 million prize pool.
• Martin asks for advice on replacing his Drobo Mini for backing up 8 family members' computers. Leo and Mikah recommend using a NAS for network backups, Time Machine for local backups, and cloud services like Backblaze for offsite backup.
• Richard wonders if he needs to convert his hard drives from NTFS to APFS when moving from Windows to Mac for his large video collection. The hosts explain NTFS works fine on Mac and recommend using a Synology NAS with Plex as a centralized media server.
• Jeremy wants to set up cloud backup with versioning for his daughter's MacBook before she heads to college. Mikah suggests using Time Machine locally and Backblaze for cloud backup.
• The Home Theater Geek Scott Wilkinson showcases an impressive DIY basement home theater built for under $24K.
• Jim, a movie sound professional, is looking for a Windows word processor that can handle his 2000+ page book with many illustrations. The hosts caution against trying to run macOS on a PC and recommend trying LibreOffice.
• Matthew asks if using the Google Photos app on iPhone will create duplicates. Mikah doesn't think so but suggests running a short test.
• Graham wants to play Apple Podcasts on his Google Nest speakers. Leo recommends using Spotify instead since it's supported by Google speakers.
• Hans, a multimedia artist, shares a fascinating discussion with Leo and Mikah about AI's impact on creative jobs. While some see AI as a threat, Hans embraces it as a tool to enhance creativity.
• Paul troubleshoots an issue where he's not getting play-by-play audio on certain sports streams through his TV speakers, but it works through his soundbar. The hosts suggest it's likely an encoding compatibility issue with his TV.
• Johnny Jet shares his unfortunate tale of catching hand, foot and mouth disease right before a big trip to Europe. He offers tips on travel insurance, the risks of posting your info publicly, and renewing your passport online.
• Vidak from Montenegro is experiencing audio cut-outs when using his Focusrite Scarlett audio interface with his M2 MacBook Pro. Mikah suspects a software conflict and suggests troubleshooting steps to isolate the issue.

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Mikah Sargent

Guests: Scott Wilkinson and Johnny Jet

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Show notes and links for this episode are available at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys/episodes/2032

Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/ask-the-tech-guys

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