Secrets of Technology

The old way of acquiring technology was through a straightforward purchase, but in recent years, subscriptions have become the norm. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss the pros and cons of each approach, as well as some tech subscriptions they deem worthwhile. The post Subscriptions vs. Purchases appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Google's latest announcements of new hardware and software show where personal tech is going. However, Dom Bettinelli and Jack Baruzzini discuss the ethics and philosophy of how we use that technology in general. Plus, copyright's limitations on the internet and more. The post Google IO 2023 Highlights appeared first on StarQuest Media.

To-do lists, calendars, contacts, notes, and knowledge manager apps are the backbone for our productivity. Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Fr. Joseph Sund discuss their favorite productivity apps in these categories, how they use them, and some other options as well. The post Favorite Productivity Apps appeared first on StarQuest Media.

There are many ways to stay in touch these day. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund, and Victor Lams discuss what's available for email, messaging, video calls, VOIP, and more and their favorites for each. Plus, the end of Netflix DVDs, Amazon warnings, and future Windows plans. The post Favorite Communications Apps appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Whether you're single, a couple, or a big family, managing your finances can be tricky. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss personal finance software, including free and paid and desktop, mobile, and cloud options. The post Tech for Your Finances appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Are you the go-to person for all things tech in your family? Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jack Baruzzini have tips for how to make the most out of Family Tech Day, to help you maintain all your family's gadgets but also teach them best practices to use them safely and efficiently. From laptops to smartphones, they'll provide you with all the expert advice you need to keep your family's tech gear up to date and optimized. The post Family Tech Day appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Now is a great time to start prepping for the next school term, so Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Andrew Kinstetter, and Pat Scott discuss tech for students, including hardware and software for notetaking, studying, and more. Plus lunar data centers and Tik Tok time limits. The post Tech for Students and Studying appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Are you a fan of vintage video games? Well, get ready to take a trip down memory lane because the retro gaming scene is booming, especially when it comes to handheld devices! Dom Bettinelli, Jack Baruzzini, and Victor Lams explore the ins and outs of portable retro gaming. So grab your favorite classic game and join us as we dive into the world of handheld retro gaming and learn how to start your own adventure! The post Handheld Retro Gaming appeared first on StarQuest Media.

April 1 is a great opportunity to use your tech for some fun pranks. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier bring some ideas for harmless pranks and remember some of their favorite tech company pranks of the past. The post April Fool’s Tech Ideas appeared first on StarQuest Media.

You can get a lot of free software as alternatives to the pricey commercial apps, so Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jack Baruzzini discuss options across many categories that work on Linux, Windows, and Mac. The post Free and Open Source Software appeared first on StarQuest Media.

What basic steps can you take to protect your computer, phone, and tablet from hacks, malware, and ransomware? Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Fr. Andrew Kinstetter discuss software and best practices for basic security. The post PC and Mobile Security Basics appeared first on StarQuest Media.

As spring arrives in the global north, Dom Bettinelli, Victor Lams, and Fr. Joseph Sund discuss tech that wll help with gardening, whether indoors or outdoors. Plus followups on ChatGPT and iPhone security, and new teen social network, curated news app, and a solar law. The post Tech for Gardening appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Tech belongs in the kitchen, and so Dom Bettinelli, Joanne Mercier and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss tech for finding and organizing recipes, grocery lists. menu planning, plus cooking gadgets. Also, protecting yourself from identity theft, Amazon's healthcare offering, TikTok ban, and trashing MacBooks. The post Tech in the Kitchen appeared first on StarQuest Media.

As everything else goes up in price, TVs have been going down. Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jack Baruzzini discuss the economic, privacy, and technology reasons why TVs are getting cheaper. Plus Bing's new AI has promise and pitfalls. The post Why Are TVs So Cheap? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Some tech upgrades just leave us worse off than before. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund, and Victor Lams discuss some of the worst tech upgrades they've experienced, plus mysterious antennas popping up on Utah's remote hills; password manager follies; and a pillow to stop snoring. The post Worst Tech Upgrades in History appeared first on StarQuest Media.

There's been an increase of scammers targeting people looking for jobs. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss the current state of job scams and the best tips for avoiding getting scammed. Plus foldable iPad rumors, automated McDonald's, and more. The post Avoid Job Scams appeared first on StarQuest Media.

After the LastPass debacle, former users need a new password manager. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund, and Thomas Sanjurjo discuss four alternatives, plus what to look for in any password manager. Also, saying no to meetings and family update night. The post How to Leave LastPass appeared first on StarQuest Media.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show is often a peek into where tech manufacturers think tech is headed, so Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Fr. Andrew Kinstetter dive into what were the most interesting categories, concepts, and products at the 2023 show. The post Best of CES 2023 appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Farming is among the oldest vocations, but it is surprisingly high-tech today. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Victor Lams are joined by farmer Matthew Clark to discuss his family farm, how tech plays a key role, and what farming means to him. The post Tech for Farming appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Sometimes newer is not better. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund, and Victor Lams discuss tech where new versions were a step back in quality or utility and where it may be better to be happy with what we have already. The post When Old Tech is Better Than New appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Chat AIs and art AIs are all the rage; Do they signal a great leap forward in AI? Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jack Baruzzini discuss the potential and pitfalls, the possible benefits and problems of the latest AI gizmo. The post ChatGPT and the AI Great Leap Forward? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

The final week of our Christmas gift guide, and this time Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Fr. Andrew Kinstetter discuss gift ideas related to virtual reality. Plus, why shopping on Amazon has gotten worse; Are police robots really robots?; and the future of movie theaters. The post Christmas Gift Guide for VR appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Week 3 of our Christmas gift guide and this time Dom Bettinelli, Victor Lams, and Fr. Joseph Sund are discussing gifts ideas for Every Day Carry, all those items we would want carry with us when out and about. Plus headlines and picks of the week. The post Christmas Gift Guide for Every Day Carry appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Week 2 of our Christmas gift guide for tech features gifts for our hobbies. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss gifts related to various hobbies that use tech. Plus headlines and picks of the week. The post Christmas Gift Guide for Hobbies appeared first on StarQuest Media.

It's an annual tradition. Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jack Baruzzini give some Christmas gift ideas in wearable tech, then discuss the future of voice assistants, brain scanning at work, and the disinformation police. The post Christmas Gift Guide for Wearables appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Dom Bettinelli, CEO of StarQuest, has a special Advent and Christmas greetings for all listeners and an important message about the mission of StarQuest. The post Blessed Advent, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year from StarQuest appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Linux isn't just for servers any more, but is it a good gaming platform. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund, and Victor Lams discuss the rise of Linux gaming, including new dedicated Linux gaming hardware. Plus, high-tech auto repair, the passkey promise, and content moderation panels. The post Gaming on Linux appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Big changes are coming to Twitter, one of the big social networks. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss what the changes mean to the average user and even what it means to those who don't use the network. The post What’s Going On At Twitter? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

We all have to deal with misinformation online, but how? Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss what misinfo/disinfo are, why it's a problem, and how to combat it with charity and truth. Plus, people cutting luxuries over subscription service; Amazon's no-mo-robos; and more. The post Managing Misinformation appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Futurists predict that one day our relationship with AI will be a religious one. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Andrew Kinstetter, and Pat Scott discuss why they think that, why that won't work, and what a Catholic response to such ideas would be. The post The Future of AI Religion? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Most devices now include Focus Modes to help us avoid distractions. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund, and Victor Lams discuss how to set them up and give examples and tips for how to use them best, including in church and while driving. Plus the latest Amazon hardware. The post Focusing on Focus Modes appeared first on StarQuest Media.

We pay a lot of money to our phone carriers. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss whether low-cost Mint Mobile is really a better deal than the Big Three competitors. Plus, the morality of an AI mistress; the EU's love for USB-C; and the muzzle microphone. The post Should You Switch to Mint Mobile? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Can we trust Big Tech? Dom Bettinelli and Thomas Sanjurjo welcome Kailash Duraiswami of Fidei.email to discuss his email service aimed at Christians as well as why we should be concerned about doing business with tech firms not aligned with our values. The post Kailash Duraiswami and Fidei.email appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Instagram can be a fun way to share photos and videos, but you and your kids need to use it safely. Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Victor Lams are kicking off a series of episodes on using social media safely and securely, beginning with Instagram. The post Deep Dive into Instagram Safety and Security appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Apple announces new iPhones, AirPods, and Watches. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier talk about a new feature that will be attractive to couples practicing NFP, as well as other features to keep you safe when traveling. The post Apple Goes Ultra Adventure appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Starlink and T-Mobile are teaming up for satellite coverage of mobile phone dead zones. Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Fr. Andrew Kinstetter discuss what it might mean for future mobile connectivity. Plus Facebook's economic graph; data centers v. homes; and Amazon's Roomba. The post A Match Made in the Heavens appeared first on StarQuest Media.

More and more employers are using technology to track workers' every moves. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund, and Victor Lams discuss the tech limits of the approach as well as how it can ignore the human elements of employment and the dignity of the worker. The post Who Watches the Workers? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

The latest survey tells us how teens are using the Internet and tech. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss the implications for families, society, and the Church. Plus, green v. blue bubbles; the Bitcoin treasure hunt; and the AI philosopher. The post What’s Up With Teens and Tech? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

More and more of our tech has become unrepairable and disposable. Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jack Bazruzzini discuss how to determine the inevitable death date of tech, how to mitigate these losses, and what we all should do about it. The post Your Tech Has A Death Date appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Are AI art generators creating art? Who is the artist in this case? Dom Bettinelli and Pat Scott discuss art and technology and the limits of artificial intelligence in creating art or assisting artists in its creation. Plus Amazon dark patterns and smart thermostat's unexpected strains. The post The Question of AI Art appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Should autonomous weapons ever be developed? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund, and Victor Lams discuss the morality and ethics and the Church's response, and perhaps the inevitability of weapons that think for themselves. The post Here Come the Killer Robots appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Some churches have been relying on free cloud services that are going away. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss the alternatives and why they're better anyway. Plus a Find My failure; Meta accounts; ADT and Google; and Amazon ditching Basics? The post Cloud Services for Your Church appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Camping gear is tech and Dom Bettinelli and Thomas Sanjurjo revisit the topic to discuss more essential gear like backpacks, clothing, sleeping bags and more. Plus, a strange Vatican foray into NFTs; death online; and subscribing to your car's options. The post More Tech for Camping appeared first on StarQuest Media.

We talk to Jeff Geerling, a popular Tech YouTuber who is also Catholic. Dom Bettinelli and Fr. Cory Sticha ask him about his mission, how he grew his channel, the Church's relationship to tech, and his favorite tech topics. Plus headlines and picks of the week. The post Jeff Geerling appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Is putting a deceased loved ones voice in your smart assistant a step too far? Dom Bettinelli, Jack Baruzzini, and Victor Lams discuss the ethical and tastefulness limits of deepfaking, plus more tech news and picks of the week. The post Grandma Alexa in the Box appeared first on StarQuest Media.

With claims that a Google AI is sentient and has a soul, Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss whether this is possible and what a Catholic understanding of personhood would say about this. The post Can Artificial Intelligence Have a Soul? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Not only do billions of people use Apple tech, they have a huge influence on the industry. Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jack Baruzzini discuss Apple's announcements, particularly those that would appeal to this audience. The post Apple’s 2022 OS Announcements appeared first on StarQuest Media.

You don't have to be a super-geek to build your own computer. Dom Bettinelli, Victor Lams, and Fr. Joseph Sund discuss the pros and cons, benefits and potential pitfalls of building your own computer from individual components. The post Build Your Own PC appeared first on StarQuest Media.

For most of us, our presence is all over the internet after years of using it. Dom Bettinelli, Joanne Mercier, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss how we can remove ourselves or even just reclaim a little bit of our privacy by removing our data from the Internet. The post Delete Yourself from the Internet appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Google I/O 2022 is complete and Dom Bettinelli, Jack Baruzzini, and Thomas Sanjurjo talk about all the new announcements and sift out what's most interesting. Plus, CDC tracking phones; mental health app privacy; and swarming and submarine drones . The post What’s New From Google appeared first on StarQuest Media.