October 2025 Video Oddcast

When I had cancer, I actually bought some new caps and even got myself a bandana for when I was able to play basketball with my mates, just before I started chemotherapy. Turns out my hair just went wirey only. Waste of money but I was grateful obviously. Nobody prepared me for the violent headaches I got though. Good god!! I think you should make your own ‘how to’ video on soldering. Obviously a parody ‘how to’, but that’d be hilarious.

Bad of me I know, but when you was talking about your condition, alls I had on my head was the end of a joke I heard years ago… ‘strapacocktome’ 😂😂 Man, I’m just glad you are doing ok and not dead. I wouldnt want you dead as I’d not have my YouTube dude to watch any more, and nobody would bring retro tech to the masses anymore. So don’t die. I’m selfish, need my regular Techmoan fix. Yes, I do watch your back catalogue of oddcasts 🤩 Lee

Random nugget I appreciate learning from you in this video - Purell hand sanitizer is moisturizing. So I just went to Disneyland in California and it was relatively cold and dry. My hands were cracked from washing them endlessly during thanksgiving cooking and my travel mates didn't have any lotion. But Disneyland has Purell hand sanitizer dispensers all over. They saved my cracked hands. The biggest life hack ever. Thank you!

Everyone likes a cat in a video 😁

I am a professional solder. I have never judged your soldering and are more interested in seeing you do your video repairs. Here is my linkedin page. https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamingiguere/

Also, I've been avoiding getting into printing pictures, as it is expensive but those prints look nice. If you ever need some pictures, as if you were in a digital frame review frenzy, and you find any of mine suitable, just give me a shout https://www.brokenlensimagery.com/

I don't think you got worse. You evolved. In m, opinion, your latest videos are absolutely brilliant.

Soldering! 😂😂 Hi Matt, fantastic to hear you are doing loads better and the death thing is gone 🤩 Sorry I have not messaged for a long time. Life has gone pretty crap. Love watching your Oddcasts. All the best, Lee.

Hi - just a few comments - not complaining, just love your stuff. I would have thought those dispenser cartridges for the sanitizer would be refillable - even if with something else similar. The Japanese power supply - would the 55Hz be a compromise for one end of the country using 60Hz and the other end 50Hz? From memory, wasn't the record player on the last video making a grinding noise anyway - did the fix pack up? Finally - the Cricket - and just as I was thinking that I needed to fix the Lip Sync on my videos.

It would seem that the EU is reviewing the Ethanol, which is the main ingredient in Purell, which is why it appears that they may have had limited items available in Europe at the time time.

Saw the LEGO Typewriter- would love to know your thoughts on that. I recently got the functional LEGO gumball machine myself.

Love that cat hoping he pops up more

I looked forward to getting and using an ink tank printer, given that I often go for months without printing anything. I figured I could save a lot on ink. Not using the ink for months==the ink cartridges not drying up==less cartridge replacing... Then I found out the downside: Not printing for months = the ink being drawn back into the tanks, requiring a procedure that pumps the ink back into the tubes, usually wasting so much that they warn you not to do it unless you have a good quarter of a tank of each beforehand....and then learning that there is an ink waste repository SOMEWHERE in the unit to absorb excess ink. Still don't know where that is.

That step-down converter likely uses an inverter, which may cause problems with noise and interference when you use it to power audio devices, just like years ago when you tried using a drill battery inverter to power a record player. And if it really is putting out 55 Hz, then obviously anything that depends on the 50 or 60 Hz line frequency will run at the wrong speed.

Brother and I are WW2 history buffs and Band Of Brothers fans (still best ww2 piece of entertainment ever) and got him one of those clickers last Christmas. It really has a starring role in episode 2. Was a hoot to see you bought one.

The most annoying thing you can be asked as you are getting old is "Are you still working ?" in a "are you a complete idiot?" tone. I'm sure Tom Cruise doesn't need the money from his work. Anyway many pensioners seem to start retirement by buying a overpriced, overpowered Motorbike. In contrast he gets given those as props.

Talking about inkjet printers lasting longer than expected. My Canon BJ-30 (black only portable sized Bubble-Jet) which I purchased new around 1996 is still working fine. It ought to be said however that for this printer, the print head is a user replaceable part and it has had a few. It got moved to my Dad's computer years ago as he didn't need colour so gets little use but I still thinks it's amazing it has lasted this long.

Wouldn’t mind changing life with techmoan for a day. Could manage without angry Carlsberg customers yelling their beers and so is late. Well think about it it’s Pepsi max delivery that’s their most important, Well if it’s not a Friday, then the beer is suddenly more popular

Unfortunately, the internet is a playground for people who get off on being derogatory. For years, for decades, we have been trying to understand their nonsense, but in reality, there is neither sense nor reason behind what they write. I just wish the internet would become more and more unwelcoming to those people. Oh, btw., about the CD belt. I thought maybe the metal case can be bend a bit outwards over the area of the wheel(s) to be able to get the belt past. But since i have not seen the device in person I didn't dare to comment :P

You have my sympathies with the toothache. I ended up having a wisdom tooth out in 2019. Hopefully yours won't come to that! Not that I'm a heavy drinker by any stretch of the imagination , but the GP did indicate drink certainly doesn't help this pre-diabetes diagnosis of mine. So, I'm cutting down! Had my Epsom Ecotank a year and not had to change any ink yet. It does refuse to print if the laptop's been on a few hours and I have to restart the laptop itself. My earliest memory of Laurel and Hardy is actually the cartoon version! Always shown on BBC1 just before the evening news, or early morning in the school holidays! Age stuff: Nice of Iceland to give me the over-60s discount recently, without even asking! I'm 48.

Great news you’re recovering Mat. Regarding your liver incident; I went through something similar with the old prostate last year; very high PSA readings, prepare yourself, doctors rummaging inside my colon, MRIs etc. then… nope, nothing there at all. Completely fine. I’m still being monitored but it was a relief I must say. I had been preparing as well, in a half-arsed manner, trying to feel ambivalent and grateful for the life I’d had. I’m not scared of dying, it’s as natural as birth, why be scared of it? But it was still a relief to know I’ve a few more years yet to be with my wife and daughter. And to watch video oddcasts!

Great video Matt. Really enjoyed it. Take this a a compliment. But your end of month videos are like stepping into really comfy slippers. Lovely. Oh and I see you are learning. Growing old is not for the feint hearted!

You could train the cat with the ACME cricket perhaps 🤔

For the Sony, Should have cut the belt in half (with scissors) and then tied a knot in it (using fingers) 😜

Oh, and it may be a stupid question, but what is the 6x4 and 7x4 about? Is that a UK format? It's probably something I should know.. 😂

To be honest, I'm very happy that's you're okay! I would really miss the oddcasts.. And yes, I was intregued to see someone today trying out one of those cables between a cassette deck and a turntable from 1981. I saw those, but nobody ever bought them. Cool! And yes, also 54. People started addressing me in the polite form (Dutch language). I guess i'm old now. And yes, people also ask me when i can retire. Well, in at least 14 years time. But yeah, always looked 10 years younger, but not any more 😂

The strange pricing of the HP ink cartridges is nothing compared to the "instant ink" subscription model they have with their current printers. You buy the printer but also take out a subscription and the printer must be connected to the internet to verify your subscription. They will send you new ink (good) but you have a monthly page print quota. If you go over the quota for the current month you pay extra per page (approx 15p/page) .. regardless that you have ink in your cartridge to print with. If you cancel the subscription they will disable the cartridge and you cannot print with it regardless of the ink inside it. If you do not use the printer during a month you will still pay the subscription fee. If you save up partly used cartridges (because they send new cartridges as part of the subscription) they will remotely disable them.

Well, I had a number of witty, intelligent and relevant points to make, but having skimmed the other 50+ comments, I see that everyone else got there before me. So, 'what they said' will have to suffice. As always, I enjoyed this video, as I do all your output. Have a great rest-of the week, Mat.

Re: Dremel-gate. It did look like that top belt wheel wasn't connected to the metal on the outer edge, it just looks like it's sitting in that little groove as a place to sit, maybe spring tensioned so it doesn't move around. When you wiggled it about, it did seem to move quite freely (much more freely than if it was fixed). I don't know this of course, just going off the few seconds shown in the video.

Maybe they could get the LedByDonkeys guys to demo that portable wheelie bin projector they seem to have a lot of use for something like that.....

I'm just 2 minutes in the video and very, very happy to hear about the liver update. So now I'm this guy commenting without watching the whole video.

Great update and fun too ! You seem to be alright. The nice 100V adapter can be bought from amazon Japan for only around 20€ + and about the same for AIR MAIL 2-3 days shipping, much cheaper than eBay. Also in black: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/MRJ201GU-WH-International-Transformer-Converter-Conversion/dp/B0F24GK83V

Good stuff, Mat. And good news about the liver, too. For stepdown transformers, the products from this company come recommended: https://airlinktransformers.com/

We’re never bored or fed up with your content Mat. End of.

Very happy to hear the good news about your liver! I've been waiting anxiously for an update. Your content is great, as it has always been!

Thank you for the systematic take down of my comment on your E ink display review. Lol (I know mine was probably less extreme than most echoing my sentiments). Re: photo printing. I do some photography and I've been absolutely impressed with color laser. In fact, I've had prints, framed, for now TWENTY YEARS on STANDARD LASER paper, hanging up on my wall. I occasionally still print new ones. If you haven't given it a try yours might be impressive. Most aren't. But some are very good. I have a 13x19 Pixma printer with TEN carts. It costs $150 to get new ink. It's about 7 years old now. My Brother inkjet is 15 years old now and it works fine. Takes half a cartridge to clean the jets but whatever. My Brother and HP laser printers are now 25 years old though. I think I have a drum problem on the Brother. But whatever. It's good that you use your normal manufacturer's ink cartridge. You're exactly right that after market ink ruins colors...I still buy them though. Lol. Just not for anything I care about how it looks. I love your weird cat. I also liked your old video about the Osmo. Are you going to do one about the Pocket 3? I know it's old now. I like your camera reviews. I think an editor who wants to edit your videos who can't tell that many (most?) of your videos come together in editing probably isn't that good of a video creator, though in your occasional posts of lightly edited videos you can tell that sometimes you have an idea of what you want the video to be as you're making it. I also think that your videos are better in a way - I think you are probably a better editor than you used to be. You can take a video with less content and make it as compelling, if not moreso, than some of your old videos. Some of your old videos are comprehensive in a way that maybe you don't do as much anymore, but I think your craft is better. Unfortunately, that means sometimes that the audience has to buy into it first, and because you've covered a lot of the really cool stuff already, and we're kind of in a more specific type of product review phase for your channel, it's hard to get the eyes on the video to start with. That's my hypothesis. You know, I think Bon Jovi's best album was Lost Highway from the 2000s. But nobody cared because it wasn't a bunch of fit dudes with perms and chick makeup in 1986. But once you buy into it (and you don't mind that it's a more laid back rock album than they used to do), it's better to actually listen to than Slippery When Wet. But it didn't go 9x platinum or whatever.

You underestimate yourself, and the people watching your videos. Your content is as satisfying as ever, and we’re with you on the journey. Techmoan is a singular pleasure for all of us out here. Honestly. And you’ve discovered a great secret: Laurel and Hardy can keep you young. They’ve been doing it for almost one hundred years.

just remember: we're all getting old together. your content changing or getting slower between releases or whatever you deem it to be is unnoticeable to me (and probably the majority of others here). in fact, these video oddcasts are your best videos for me these days. they make my month. you could stop with the other videos and i'd still be here supporting you and listening diligently to your blabbering about whatever is on your mind!

I was really hoping you were going to have to change a belt on that printer ... Also, I have some suggestions about your soldering, specifically, you ... . . . . . Nah, results count. What is it you folks say? "Job's a good'un"? This age thing ... man. Recently tried to get up on my steep metal roof (1890 farmhouse in the Ottawa River valley) in the hopes of being able to put up some antennas for my radios. Nope. Didn't fall off, which is good, but it wasn't exactly a *controlled* descent to the lower, flatter part of the roof. It looked *so easy* when the half-my-age-or-less chimney sweep scrambled up there. Oy. Really glad all the docs have stopped putting their hand on your shoulder. Really, seriously, very glad.

Given the good news on the health front, I'm sure everyone here will breathe a sigh of relief. After so many worrying months, it is probably normal for great news to seem too good to be true. Let's assume it is true :) It's good to know that inkjets are not complete rubbish anymore. I abandoned my last one in 2004 and have gone with black-and-white laser printers since then. Never looked back, especially in light of recent cloud-connected printers with mandatory ink subscriptions. On the other hand, apart from the occasional ticket or hotel reservation (as a backup), I rarely print anything anymore. I think I started watching your channel in earnest around 2018, and I have yet to notice a decline in quality. You could probably narrate a blank piece of paper and make it interesting. Jokes aside, it's obvious that you put a lot of effort into your videos. You have standards, and that sets you apart from a lot of folks in the content creator scene.

I hear bands talk about hits, sometime they are not , yet the after thought songs borderline to go an album end up being a massive hit. Similar to yourself on YouTube.

I haven't noticed any decline in quality of your videos over the years, so don't equate slowing down with declining quality. (Mind you I ain't getting any younger either). I mean, you recently posted a 17-year-old video and I'm thinking, "What the heck is a Chumby and who is that pimply-faced, teenager presenting it?!" Actually the kid did speak pretty well, if a bit too rapidly and covered all the major features of the gadget, but any of your more recent videos were just as detailed and delivered with more personality and humor.👍

Don't underestimate the utility of an old blanket or sheet for the chair to keep the cat hairs off it. I'm a cat person that hates cleaning and that kinda thing comes in handy. Easier to throw it in the wash.

Mat, you hit my funny bone with your suggestion of reviewing speedboats. The world will be your oyster if you did start it. 🤣 I can just imagine it.

POV changes with age, along with abilities. We value yours, and have for ages, hahaha 🤣

You are not the illest person in the world. That's the one of the beastie boys.

Your story about getting out of the chairs resonated with me. It’s shocking that I’m always looking out for “tall old-people furniture”. I’m visiting my sister for Christmas and I’m already worrying about getting out of her ridiculously-low trendy sitting-room furniture. Thanks for the information about the silent era comedians. Those names were a blast from the past. My goodness

The corollary to you getting older and stupider is that your audience is doing the same. I haven't noticed any degradation of the quality of your videos over the years, but considering the above, I guess that's not saying much. I also have an embarrassing confession to make: if, after running through every last piece of odd tech which interested you, you were forced to produce videos only of your cat and the occasional rescued hedgehog, you would hear no complaints from me, and I would still consider my Patreon money well spent.

"Someone correct me." NFC and RFID are at different layers. NFC is a protocol that runs over RFID. There are RFID cards that do not speak the NFC protocol, but (someone correct me) I believe NFC always uses RFID as its lower layer. RFID deals with how the devices are talking, whereas NFC deals with what they're saying.

Even if your videos are not as good as they were (which I don't agree with). Here's the thing, they're still a 100 times better than most of the rubbish on YouTube. Everytime i have to see another video titled someone destroys someone else or some politician has done something bizarre or dystopian, a little piece of me dies inside. In a world that's tearing itself apart, a man making a video about a wire/connector is a revolutionary act! And what my sanity needs tbh. P.S. Do you remember Harold Lloyd?

@Techmoan What you said resonated with me quite a lot. I had a mass on one of my boys. Doctor basically told me its testiticle cancer. After they removed and biopsied it, the results came back as a benign tumor. I was happy, obviously, however, I felt odd... almost like an imposter...hard to explain.

I bought one of those Selphie printers to print 1 photo for my passport. Anything to stop me having to go outside, go to a post office and use the machine there. Eventually (years later) I eventually used it again to print some photos of our cat who snuffed it a few months back. It kept the partner happy. You could try training Bees Knees with the clicker. lol.

On the subject of age i am 39, when I was 36 i went to my nephews christening with my Mum and the vicar asked if I was my nephews grandfather. At 36, yes i've got a lot of grey hairs but I didn't think I looked old enough to be married to my 62 year old mother. Don't worry about the videos, most of us are aligned with your views and interests and will watch anything you create. You never know the one item you think will make a mediocre video may end up being a viral hit. Also have you tried Irn Bru Xtra? I often describe it as the Irn Bru equivalent to Pepsi Max, it's sugar free but it's not the same as diet Pepsi.

I'd be careful of anything marked Acme, such things never went well for Wile E. Coyote. Click it and a huge boulder might fall on your head, or your chair launch you through the ceiling like a rocket.

I haven't been drinking for months now because I have discovered it's not beneficial to drink when your mentally a bit unstable. I must say I don't mind it at all. Don't really miss the hangovers and the fake joy that you regret later. Good luck, Mat 🍀

You might have mentioned it somewhere, but I think you used some editing trick on some of your videos in the last year or so where you sped up some of your dialogue to make it look snappier, is that true? And have you also stopped doing that more recently? If you haven’t done so already could you comment on that in a future update video?

I know you don't like platitudes about your health, so I'll just say hey it's great to know we have at least 6 more months of videos to look forward to and hopefully many more. Keep taking care of yourself Matt.

Any chance of a link to that Anker video please mat? I'm also really tempted by reflection frame

How did the slim printer print nice bold black text with the black cartridge not working? I know they combine the colours with black to make a bold black, but the black text looked good before replacing the cartridge. Cool printer, though.

Regarding the relatively-long length your reviews compared to other YouTubers, I'd point out that you've saved me, over the years, at least an hour of my life by not saying, at the start, "hey! what's up dudes!"

That's awesome news!! What a load off at least for a little while. I am very happy to hear it.

You Must be thankful that you are with us for longer, thankful that you didn't start to give your stuff away lmao... On a side note, the stopping drinking would have been mush better to help the liver self-regenerate itself a lot easier.

I'm coding at a coffee shop, like people I would otherwise hate. Just got an email notification for a new Techmoan Oddcast just as the last track of my Aphex Twin album finishes up. I'm swapping tenses in my writing with abandon. Looks like I'll get another hour and a half of work done!

One of the things I have enjoyed recently are tech YouTubers who just blur out thermal paste application so people won't comment about the quality of the work. Should you ever need to solder again, maybe just apply a slight blur of a so people can't give unsolicited critiques.

Touching on the liver stuff - my wife and I took care of her father who had cirrhosis. He went from being a regular guy who drank beer to dying of liver failure in a surprisingly short window - but seeing that absolutely made us switch up our habits. What a grim, grim illness.

Reply if you're still watching in 2054!