July Oddcast

Enjoyed that..thanks

The story’s locker ‘still’ that covers the video update reminds me of the film “primer” which I can heartily recommend. Time travel without the clichés. Made on a shoestring but is a first class outing.

Mat, I loved the strimmer review. My folk’s dogs’ produce a fair amount of “business” causing their patch of the yard to grow incessantly faster than the rest of it. Me dad due to injury from motorcycle accident can’t stand for long and I could see him or my mom using it to trim it down before that patch of grass goes all Tropic Thunder or Apocalypse Now. Food for thought: perhaps these little 8 minute missives could be called “Odds and Sods” or “Techmoan’s Laments” or maybe a “technology pairing” of say Ikea blinky thing and fixed up robot dog or “ark of the techmoan storage locker”? Where you catch up on topics or the state of things like bogus three-way speaker, degraded headphones, shrinkflation? Ok maybe a dumb idea? FWIW, I can relate to your feelings about the events happening, the environment, events, family, etc not to mention the difficulties with personal health on top of the former. It’s a real slog at times. If only life were as 1 dimensional as the fellow who creepily follows this gal around bragging about his soon to be huge Beatles record collection or wondering which double decker (club sandwich?) gets you to Trafalgar Square. FWIW, my dad got Jimmy Breslin’s autograph years ago because he rode on his bus. Breslin was surprised the driver of a bus wanted his John Hancock (I also think he was surprised my dad read more than sports or the betting line). So he signed the Daily News paper my dad had on him “thanks for reading” J Breslin. My dad still has that yellow crumpled paper in the family album. To the “giver” it probably seems weird, silly, and meaningless to write something pithy to a stranger but it’s these small gestures that serve as a reminder that we’re humans after all and it’s nice when someone thanks or shows appreciation as such. I’m certainly no expert here, just my unrequested 2 Fijian pence on the matter. Anyway, hope you and the Mrs don’t melt! All the best, in health.

Another “view” on the strimmer… https://youtu.be/iBWGNcoHv9s

I used to drive double decker buses. Leyland Atlenteans, Olympicans, later Scania, Bristol, Dennis and Volvos. And London Routemasters.

I wouldn't mind a (virtual) mutual interview/roundtable discussion amongst Techmoan, The 8-Bit Guy and Technology Connections. My two cents. [Hides-under-chair]

OH my!! So you also have the Amstrad Studio100? I have one too, so there are at least 2 in existence (27:54) I don't think I'll make a video on it, if you need mine as spare parts I'll send it to you.

Hey! I noticed that you have an ERS-11x Aibo there! If you ever need the software/batteries for them there is a big Aibo community out there that is repairing these and everything. If you need the battery for 11x they will actually work off of a normal Sony NP-F550 infolithium. You just need to get an extension 3D printed and stick it to the end of the battery (so that it fits into the battery compartment). You won't get the low battery alarm and graceful auto shutdown, but otherwise they work great. For the rest (2xx, 31x and 7) I've actually made totally new battery packs with new components. You can just buy lithium cells and stick them into the pack like normal batteries and that's it. Ebi from Germany is repairing almost all of the mechanical issues with them. Especially with 2xx where they have neck issues, ... So if you ever need any help or resources let me know.

I would have been so excited to get into that storage unit as a kid. I think I still would be now.

I just wanted to say, as a new Patreon after watching for 'free' for five years consistantly every Sunday morning (Australian time) over breakfast, that I'm very thankful for Techmoan. The content is such a great mix of new, old and down to earth 'everyday guy' look at things be that reviewing gear or giving a repair a go. Now that I get to see these behind the scenes free-form videos I feel very priveleged for being allowed to see a closer look at Mat's life. Keep it up.

As I saw that vhd I thought "that must be late 70s" but when I saw Metallicas album it clicked to the mid eighties

"I'm Key West in this analogy" hahahaha, I love these updates!

Oh ... "strimmer" ... I don't follow the lawncare industry or the state of the DIY lawncare tool industry, but I don't believe I've ever seen a trimmer that had an adapter to become a light-duty mower ... Maybe worth a (short, likely) review video for the masses?

Would this book cheer you up? “ The Illustrated Guide to Video Formats”. Link: https://archivesoftomorrow.com/books/

Hey Matt, was that a Sony Aibo robotic dog that i spotted in your very cramped office ? If so can we expect a review of it any time soon? I love that kind of tech !!

You’ve said in the past that you did not have much room in your “studio”- and Lordy you were not kidding! What a surprise thrill to see behind the scenes. Was not expecting that. And your old storage locker. The end of Raiders came to mind. Thanks for the update and tour. Good fun. Truly hope you feel right as rain soon.

Never heard the term "strimmer" before, which makes sense after looking it up – seems to be a UK trademark! Take it easy, great to hear what's on your mind as always.

That IS the British VHD "Information" girl in that lovely trip round HMV isn't it? Aged ten, I knocked down the entire wall of tapes in HMV Brighton. The following week I went back, and one assistant said "Be careful, some idiot knocked this lot down last week!" And complain all you like, Mat, but I've just upped my monthly Patreon subscription! I get more enjoyment out of your content than I ever would from any major brand named streaming service!

Great catch up. And surprises as usual! Wonderful. Stay safe Matt..

A gentle reminder to our hero, Mat, that he doesn't actually owe us anything. If he needs to put off an Oddcast for a week or two or a month, that's fine. We will live. If some Patreons believe that's beyond the pale, well ... the rest of us are still here. 1) Mat and family. 2) all this other nonsense.

I think the Las Vegas VHD could be interesting, as a “time capsule” given how much change happens there!

You’ll definitely want to plug something into it that’ll give you Atmos over HDMI - I believe even a Google “Chromecast With Google TV” *should* do this - and it’s only £40 at the moment. As for subs making you laugh - I remember vividly watching a movie late one night and in it the earth exploded - it sounded like an earthquake in the house - the Mrs ran in the room to find out what the heck was happening and all I could do was laugh as the insane bass drowned out whatever she was saying.

I don't like Youtube 'shorts' they defeat the purpose of Youtube for me. Re: strimmers - gawd my dad would like that, he's got about 5, there is nothing he seems to enjoy more than going out strimming for an hour or so (he lives very rurally so plenty of strimmer fodder). I was wondering though if anyone here had any suggestions for a good camera for my dad, he needs an easy to use one with big buttons or a big screen and some sort of stabilisation (as sadly he struggles to walk), that doesn't cost the earth, any suggestions? I'm in the UK

Finished watching and reading comments. Oops sorry. :P But now I wonder how many people I know who'd know Techmoan. I'm pretty sure someone at this job has seen you. I did end up buying that Sony set on Sunday. Been doing alright. Watched a couple movies on it, but found out the PS5 doesn't do atmos except off UHD/BD from bitstream so.. Dunno. The rear speakers weren't yet available. They had one demo unit still in a box, but couldn't walk off with it. So those are tba when they'll show up. Given this room, I think the soundbar wouldn't be its best here. The stucco ceiling probably doesn't do atmos upfirers and it's kind of open concept behind me so nothing to bounce the rears off.. Been awhile since I've used a sub and forgot what they can do :P I can't remember what I was watching, but I just started laughing :P I can tell you that the voice button helps with you being blocked up. Does your remote's voice button help irl? :P Once the rears come in, I'll throw Scott Pilgrim UHD in which is supposed to have a great audio mix according to highdefdigest and maybe get an Apple TV for Disney+? Maybe the MBA can output it, but the finagling to plug that in every time would get tedious. Also I'll tell you this only if it makes you happy: I enjoyed the video except for the part where this stupid git didn't thank me for watching :P :> But more seriously, I (and others) watch these to just see more of you being you. And it doesn't always have to be high energy social media posting or like you described on air TV personalities before. If I can solve my funk, I'll pass on what helped. I saw a comment above from yourboy_hampshire who said forcing yourself to do things helps him and I've heard therapists say the same thing. But I don't listen. But I did bring down my record player to connect to the Sony speakers via BT and that needed some clean up which felt good in ways. Anyway, that's it for the moment. Thanks for reading. :P <3 (ok maybe over the top and maybe only makes me laugh and so that either proves that it actually is funny and/or I'm crazy :P)

If they want an autograph, get Bob the dishwasher to oblige. He’s an outgoing sort. :)

I was also close to buying a drone. Just because we had some pointing work done on the chimney and wanted to look at it.

The thing that annoys me about shorts is I can't play them back while using chromecast... Which I guess makes sense because it's a different screen size, but there isn't a technical reason they couldn't play them back. This means I need to disconnect just to watch something that might be a few seconds long, only to reconnect again. Another solution might be to still to just play them back on the phone whilst I'm connected to another device... But to me right now, the implementation is broken, so I never use them

Patreon is so strange sometimes - your user image occasionally reverts to the prior one, and I do a double-take: https://ibb.co/hss7s73 (and yes it's that early but I woke up and can't go back to sleep).

I enjoyed it Matt. You are honest about the video and it was still more interesting than all those videos that started to emerge when new stuff dried up, like the history of this or the 10 best of that, just because they make money doing videos and rely on companies to do the creative thinking for them. your setup also reminded me of all the interviews I had to do for new jobs on zoom and meet. I have just moved house and my computer is in a similar room so I had to find an angle where I didn't show the mess around me every time. You're in a slump and still make a video that I enjoy more than most. BTW you are the only patron I still support and this might be the reason why.

You've discovered why those drone videos all are accompanied by tranquil music, because live audio would be a tad grating

Those piezo speakers do nothing at all except allow them to get away with marketing 3 way speakers that are no such thing for just a few pence on the manufacturing cost. Those piezo speakers were popular back in the 80s on cassette recorders and boom boxes and I remember covering them up and hearing no difference in the sound, so I disconnected them and heard no difference, then disconnected the main speakers and just left the piezo speakers and they do work but are very low in volume and just a very thin sound drowned out by the main speaker, which is just a full range speaker anyway. If anything just a placebo effect or snake oil, which used to be 90% of Hi-Fi marketing, and still is.

Hey Mat! I hate to be a pain but if you ever get time to upload some more of that VCD onto the 2nd channel, I would love to see the Las Vegas one.

Oh, please, if you can find a comfortable way to do it, please, give the caregivers an autograph. And don't burn yourself out on our account. We're here for the long run.

Make a warranty claim for your aeropex, they have a fantastic warranty. They will likely just send you a new pair for free and tell you to throw your old ones out.

Digging the trimmer frame. Hadn't seen one before either here in Canada. Are the short takes like this that you've done over the years too diverse to be grouped into a compilation of some sort?

hhuuuummmm trimmer? you mean weed Wacker. just joking.

It amazes me how every headline in "technology" is just some new trivial incremental iPhone feature. These articles will literally fill the Google news technology section and I always ask myself: who is reading this stuff? As a lover of technology, I definitely can relate to the sense of loss with regard to interesting things happening in the space these days. Sorry to hear that you've fallen into a rut after some rough life events. Don't worry too much though as you're an extremely interesting content creator. I enjoy even what you may think is a boring or low effort product. It's more about you as a content creating practitioner than the stuff you're talking about, to be honest. Your technique is engaging. People like you are basically my lifeline for keeping tech interesting. I think you might underestimate the value you provide to us. Hope you feel better soon.

that trimmer frame for lawn mower is amazing! anyone who has attempted to trip a bit of lawn with a string trimmer has created a number of circles.

A bit of a ramble ... I found your channel when you were doing dashcam reviews and appreciated how level-headed and thorough you were so I stuck around. Now you're among the "pseudo-acquaintences" I have e.g. you don't know me but I know you and "you" talk right at me like we know one another, filling my small need for social interaction (or, more properly, "social" "interaction"). In any case, I appreciate hearing the ramblings of someone almost exactly my age who grew up with the wonders of technology only to be discouraged at how bland it's all become. Unrelated to that, a friend of mine does a radio show (Graphic Ear on Thursdays 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time, WAYOfm.org, so middle of the night in England.) She interviews local artists and has them pick songs to play between interview sections. She does a full pre-interview off-air then literally writes a script including what the guest has said, so (a) there are no surprise questions, and (b) when they get flummoxed, the script is right in front of them when they're on the air to refresh their memory. The show works great and none of the guests sound like fools (except for when they're actually uninteresting and/or make uninteresting art, but that's not the fault of the show.) I would think that kind of interview structure would be much more amenable to you, but that's just a guess.

I saw an ad for this drone camera a few days ago and thought of you: https://www.pixy.com Wasn't going to suggest it though as it's really gimmicky and the camera seems not great, but since you mentioned drones and gimmicky cameras I'll point it out. If nothing else you might be able to get some comedy out of how it can follow you around. Thanks for showing the strimmer lawn mower attachment, it's pleasingly clever yet simple. Would be good for folks with a small yard, no point in having a big lawn mower for a tiny patch of lawn. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the storage lockers, neat to see the subjects of so many past videos. Also, it's always reassuring to see other people's cluttered offices, I'm not the only one like this! I hope you can get some good, restorative rest and that you feel better soon. We all need time off now and then.

Matt, even when you're plugged up and "not-interesting", you're still interesting. Keep up the good work.

As cavernous as your new storage space is now, I have a feeling that once everything is moved over from the old one it won't be long until it starts to seem like it's filling up all too soon. Hopefully not and also hope you gain some permanent space in your spare bedroom/studio.

TM preferred, I left that bit out

So now I'm wondering if the Hit The Road, London VHD has a scene with masses of people are shown walking down a sidewalk when all of a sudden we see "The Ponytail Guy" as he turns around to check out "The AHD Girl" walking in the opposite direction?

Last time I got frustrated with the world I got an Oculus Rift. Used it for 2 weeks!

You're known by millions, Heck if I could get a photo op with you that would be amazing, they want your autograph because you produced amazing stuff in an amazing talented way, so yeah if I seen you I would ask for your autograph and a photo with you, just being honest I believe I'm speaking for everyone else

The woman in the London VHD has got to be the same one who "starred" in the Kickstopper Android Home Device video.

I had an Aftershokz go rattly after throwing it to the ground, caught in the strap taking off my bike helmet. As was own fault purchased another set as could not be without them now. After a couple of months and some use in rain the buttons in that set started mis-behaving until they stopped working altogether. Put in a replacement claim and they were incredibly good to deal with. Described the fault, they requested purchase details, then a photo of the set with the headband cut, had to use side cutters as it is quite tough! A new pair arrived in a about a week which was good considering they sent from Australia to NZ. Have used the replacement ever since, including 7000km of cycling over summer in all sorts of conditions, and had no problems

Thanks for the behind-the-scenes view! To be perfectly honest, I would have been surprised if your work space didn't look like that in the background. (Mine does.) Keep on taking care of you and yours, and eventually the new tech will come.

I have never heard it called a sTrimmer before.

Thanks very, very much for posting this video; it calmed me after a very rough day at work. Do you have any surplus alcohol that I could use (from your non-drinking shopping spree) as I need to be unconscious right now. TM yard maintenance? That is something completely unexpected, but welcome. When you showed the opened speaker closer to the camera, I actually leaned toward the TV to get a better look 😛. When that bizarre-ass VHD documentary switched on I thought what the flip just happened to YouTube? 😑 Your studio looks as cluttered as my apartment. I am 100% convinced you would be surprised how many ladies watch your channel. Demographic statistical data from some AI junk science thingamajig is so wrong (in my highly non-educated opinion). I'll trade my 89° for your 66° tomorrow.

I'd like to see the strimmer review - I think that's the exact model I was looking at, hoping it would finally replace my 20+ year old Black & Decker GL340. Two subsequent strimmers have failed to dislodge it. Also fascinating to see the world behind the camera!

You are never uninteresting!

Component shortages have only really affected me in the last 6 months or so, I've had a pre-order in for a Nikon Z9 since November last year and still no sign of it. They can't build them fast enough. I'm impressed that the little Smart could handle 6 of those crates, there are concept pictures floating around for a new EV Roadster and I really hope they go ahead with it. Probably no storage space in that but it's not the point.

Couple of nurses want your autograph? Can't be bad! Love the headcam stuff, great behind the scenes footage. Your new storage unit is massive. I'd love to see a headcam summary of what you've got as you move it all from the old storage unit to the new one, one teeny car-load at a time.

Know what you mean about the drone thing, I bought one on a the same wim a few years ago, flew it till the battery went dead and then never looked the earth it was in again. If you’d like to have a play I’d be happy to send it on to you save it sitting gathering dust! How about having a look at tech for the motorbike again, l know you used to have the Honda nc dct in some camera videos?

What I got from today's oddcast: Cravings for -- - Key lime pie - Double-decker bus ride and/or a new record - Techmoan's autograph. Hope you feel better soon.