AwesomeCast 727: Gotta Deduct ’Em All: PokeTax, ProArt, & Muppet Mayhem!
This week on AwesomeCast 727, we dive into the wonderfully weird world of tech! From filing your taxes Pokémon-style with PokeTax, to testing out AI that turns real-life photos into Muppet mayhem, we’ve got your geeky cravings covered. We explore the NFL’s shift from the chain gang to 8K camera tracking, Sorg reviews the color-accurate ASUS ProArt Display, and we question reality with Turner’s Ranch Milk. Plus, updates on Nintendo Switch digital game sharing and a big win for Slice on Broadway as the World’s Best Cheese Pizza!
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Show Notes
oin co-hosts Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar as they get geeky and awesome with this week’s wild ride of tech, pop culture, and AI-fueled adventures.
🔹 Awesome Things of the Week
• Sorg’s Pick: ASUS ProArt Display
• Sorg shares his experience upgrading to the ASUS ProArt Display, a color-calibrated monitor designed for creatives and video editors. With a unique 16:10 aspect ratio and ProArt Palette support, it’s a game-changer for his Final Cut Pro workflow.
• 🔗 Get the ASUS ProArt Display on Amazon
• Katie’s Pick: PokeTax
• Taxes meet Pokémon in the most unexpected way. PokeTax is an open-source Pokémon-style battle game that helps you file your tax return while facing off against tax-themed trainers. It’s weird, it’s real, and it’s definitely not an April Fool’s joke (they swear).
• 🔗 Read the TechCrunch article on PokeTax
• Dave’s Pick: NFL Embraces 8K Camera Tech
• Dave dives into how the NFL is upgrading its chain gang game with a Hawkeye-style tracking system using 8K Sony cameras for accurate ball placement. It’s a step into the 21st century for football officiating.
• (Link not provided in spreadsheet; reference article is from The Verge)
🧠 Other Topics Discussed
• AI-Generated Muppets from ChatGPT
• The crew tests out the latest GPT image features to transform real photos and wrestling posters into full-on Muppet parodies. It’s fun, chaotic, and surprisingly accurate — complete with character-specific tattoos and branding.
• Tax Haven 3000 — Dating Sim + Tax Filing
• A look back at last year’s tax prep/dating sim crossover game, complete with a limited-edition body pillow of the in-game avatar, Iris. Yep, that’s a thing.
• 🔗 Tax Haven 3000 details (from show notes)
• Ranch Milk? April Fool’s at its Weirdest
• Turner’s Dairy and Eat’n Park team up for “Ranch Milk” — an April Fool’s joke that’s either genius marketing or lactose-fueled horror.
• Cat Wars Calendar Update
• Katie shares the April edition of her favorite AI-generated Cat Wars calendar, complete with motivational meows and battle-ready felines.
• Robosen’s New Auto-Transforming Bumblebee
• A look at Robosen’s latest innovation — a programmable, auto-transforming Bumblebee from Transformers that walks, talks, and reacts via smartphone control.
• Nintendo Switch Digital Game Sharing Update
• Nintendo explores a unique solution for sharing digital games between consoles, possibly enabling game “eject” and “load” functionality for titles like Animal Crossing.
• Slice on Broadway Wins Best Cheese Pizza in the World
• Longtime show sponsor Slice on Broadway takes home the crown at the World Pizza Championship. Stop by their original Beachview location to see the trophy IRL.
• TikTok Ban Update
• A reminder that the U.S. deadline for TikTok’s forced divestiture looms on April 5th. While few expect an actual ban, creators remain watchful.
🎙️ Hosts:
• Michael Sorg – SorgatronMedia.com
• Katie Dudas – katiedudas.com
• Dave Podnar – iPhoneography Podcast
🎧 Support the show at: patreon.com/awesomecast
📺 Catch full video content and more at: AwesomeCast.com