Then Sorg brings stories back from California: a visit to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizzeria in Santa Monica, a wild experience aboard Universal Studios Hollywood’s new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster, and a useful Nissan Rogue CarPlay setup that let him run Waze and Apple Maps at the same time.

The crew also celebrates astronaut Ellen Ochoa and her Barbie tribute, discusses a $1.5 million Haas Foundation commitment to SAE University Programs, reacts to the incredible Street Fighter Guile popcorn hat, and gets into the growing problem of low-effort AI graphics appearing everywhere from small businesses to major corporations.

Show Notes

Apple Shortcuts automation demo:
https://youtu.be/cKg04R2hMxk?is=wQoUs9u6GvQSZvDO

Dave’s Instagram shortcut:
https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/2a97e0b460d44bbdae0e035f495c0ba2

TMNT Pizzeria:
https://tmntpizzeriala.com/pages/locations

Sorg’s TMNT Pizzeria video:
https://www.tiktok.com/@sorgatron/video/7688173127259458829

Ellen Ochoa:
https://depauliaonline.com/79461/artslife/ellen-ochoa-lifts-off-on-her-fifth-space-flight-this-time-in-barbie-form/

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/05/03/ellen-ochoa-sdsu-graduate-and-first-latina-to-travel-in-space-awarded-presidential-medal-of-freedom/

CarPlay multitasking:
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10176102977150724&set=gm.28688724114056113&idorvanity=323401861015051

2027 Haas registration information:
https://fullsight.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CMPRGSPRT/pages/2384789512/2027+HAAS+Registration

Guile popcorn hat:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1558537736313992&set=pcb.1558537776313988

Support AwesomeCast at https://www.patreon.com/AwesomeCast.

On AwesomeCast 795, Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar explore gaming news, gadgets, apps, and geek culture from Pittsburgh.

• Xbox Cloud Gaming limits: Sorg explains why he moved his Xbox Series S back downstairs. The hosts discuss the impact of monthly streaming allowances on long games and cloud-focused devices, plus a follow-up on Xbox’s disc-to-digital licensing preview.
https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-announces-big-changes-to-xbox-cloud-gaming-switches-to-monthly-hour-limits

• Next-generation Xbox affordability: An interview about Project Helix sparks a conversation about efficiency, console prices, PC game compatibility, and unanswered disc-drive questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txuYKwrbq1M

• Retro cartridges on modern computers: Sorg discovers Epilogue’s GB Operator and SN Operator. The discussion covers playing existing Game Boy and Super Nintendo collections, preserving cartridge saves, and a Game Boy Camera connection.
https://apple.news/A9oaGgCU0QpqcvQLP7ttlKQ

• MapQuest’s 8-bit personality: Katie shares her experience with pixel-style maps, Questies character avatars, playful navigation voices, CarPlay, and live radio.

• Star Trek at 60: Dave reflects on the franchise’s cultural impact, diverse vision of the future, and connections to real-world technology, from communicators to tablet-like PADDs.

• John Snow and disease mapping: Dave’s Awesome History explores the Broad Street cholera outbreak and connects historical mapping with modern wastewater surveillance and community preparedness.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1854_Broad_Street_cholera_outbreak

• Panic’s tariff refunds: ChachiSays covers the Playdate company’s decision to return tariff charges to customers.
https://www.al.com/news/2026/08/tariff-refunds-sent-to-video-game-customers-not-our-money.html

• The Tetris Company responds: Chachi discusses the company’s statement about a Tetris-like game on the White House website.
https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/tetris-company-trump-white-house-build-the-wall-game-copyright-1236851993/

• Zelda anniversary reactions: Sorg discusses the presentation’s movie reveal, music-tour news, and Ocarina of Time remake footage. The hosts weigh remake pricing, revisit Nintendo memories, and talk Twilight Princess, Star Fox, and Super Mario Sunshine.
https://www.theverge.com/games/991265/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-direct

• Street Fighter 6 meets the movies: Movie-actor challenger screens, including Roman Reigns as Akuma, spark excitement and memories of Street Fighter’s earlier film and game crossover.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1755856245623451

• Snoopy at Starbucks: Katie highlights Great Pumpkin-inspired Peanuts merchandise, including mugs, travel cups, bags, and pins.
https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2026/starbucks-and-peanuts-celebrate-fall-with-a-global-merch-collection-inspired-by-the-great-pumpkin/

• Dungeon Crawler Carl LEGO Ideas: Two fan proposals bring Carl, Princess Donut, and friends into brick form. The hosts explore a dungeon scene and larger character builds seeking community support.
https://ideas.lego.com/product-ideas/eb3c3057-8646-45b4-86ba-dfc08ba7e7e8
https://ideas.lego.com/product-ideas/6e47b028-7cba-48bc-81d9-a1461bdd4d08

• Clucky’s demanding wake-up call: Sorg sets up a rooster alarm app with snooze challenges, samples its loud sounds, and chooses a tilt-game mission. Katie explains how the app turns getting out of bed into an interactive routine.
https://tryclucky.com

Plus, Dave shares his Steelers 5K experience, and the hosts bring their usual mix of hands-on discoveries, gaming opinions, and Pittsburgh personality.

One issue with supersonic air travel is the sonic boom. This X plane is trying to minimize that We talked with one of the guys working on it at Aero Design! https://www.tiktok.com/@sae_universityprograms/video/7226713920218746154 NASA's sci-fi-looking X-59 'quiet' supersonic jet roll out of the hangar https://www.space.com/nasa-x-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-hangar-video

iOS 17 Updates to CarPlay sharing and Visual Voicemail Previewhttps://9to5mac.com/2023/06/30/ios-17-carplay-apple-music-shareplay/#:~:text=The%20process%20of%20initiating%20a,that%20other%20people%20can%20scan

https://9to5mac.com/2023/07/15/iphone-live-voicemail-how-to-use-turn-off-on/

Open sourcing AudioCraft: Generative AI for audio made simple and available to allhttps://ai.meta.com/blog/audiocraft-musicgen-audiogen-encodec-generative-ai-audio/

Sorg has access to Beeper: an all in one messaging service (like Trillian! https://www.beeper.com/

Sorg is on Blue Sky and it feels like twitter! When no one was on yet . https://bsky.app/profile/sorgatron.bsky.social

GM’s Ultium-based EVs will be able to power your home by 2026 https://techcrunch.com/2023/08/08/gms-ultium-evs-v2h-bidirectional-charging/

Premiere Pro has a transcript optionhttps://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/speech-to-text.html

What is keeping some industries like banking and health to dig into AI?

Sorg just got an offer for the Whistle pet tracker. https://www.whistle.com/

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Dudders is away on super secret assignment, so Producer Missy steps in to talk some tech with Sorg and Chilla.  This week the crew is talking about:

• Chilla is sharing CarPlay on iOS 13 as his Awesome Thing of the Week!
• Sorg is updating us on his PokemonGO adventures and Team Rocket integration as his Awesome Thing of the Week.
• Producer Missy is sharing Facebook's brain-typing project as her Awesome Thing of the Week.
• AR is enabling people to take walks to experience art throughout the city.
• Apple is looking to add AR experiences to your local Apple Store!
• Sorg has been checking out TikTok videos - - thanks to Chilla.
• TikTok has plans to introduce their own smartphone.
• Dragalia Lost is now the 2nd most successful mobile game for Nintendo.
• Poolside.FM makes your playlist look like it's from the 80s!
• Is Dayflash the next Instagram?
• Have any UltraViolet movies? Not after Wednesday!
• Apple's Apple Card is coming in August.
• Wyze has a pair of smart plugs for controlling home appliances.

After the show remember to:

Eat at Slice on Broadway (@Pgh_Slice) if you are in the Pittsburgh area! It is Awesome! (sliceonbroadway.com)

Want to be part of our studio audience?  Hit us up at awesomecast@sorgatronmedia.com and we’ll save you a seat!

Join our AwesomeCast Facebook Group to see what we’re sharing and to join the discussion!

Follow these awesome people on Twitter: John Chichilla (@chilla), and Michael Sorg (@Sorgatron)

You can support the show at Patreon.com/awesomecast!

Remember to check out our friends at the River’s Edge (@RiversEdgePGH) and The 405 Media (@The405Radio) who replay the show on their stream throughout the week!

Also, check out sorgatronmedia.com and awesomecast.com for more entertainment; and view us livestreaming Tuesdays around 7:00 PM EST

Chris Whitlatch is back with some VR updates this week. He is joined by Sorg and Chilla as we talk this week in tech news, including:

• Sorg is sharing CarPlay as his Awesome Thing of the Week.
• Chris is sharing more VR interaction with Feelreal as his Awesome Thing of the Week.
• We're a step closer to Ready Player One with more advances in technology.
• Chilla selected his new TV! He's sharing the Samsung Series 8 65" as his Awesome Thing of the Week.
• PlayStation 5 plans have been released.
• Microsoft announces their disk-less Xbox One S all digital edition.
• Sorg experienced Nashville scooter wasteland firsthand over the weekend.
• Blackmagic has released a free video editing app.
• Gaming as a therapy tool for mental illness?
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance is coming to Nintendo Switch.
• Capcom has a plug-and-play arcade controller loaded with classic games.
• Twitch is debuting karaoke with Twitch Sings.

After the show remember to:

Eat at Slice on Broadway (@Pgh_Slice) if you are in the Pittsburgh area! It is Awesome! (sliceonbroadway.com)

Want to be part of our studio audience? Hit us up at awesomecast@sorgatronmedia.com and we’ll save you a seat!

Join our AwesomeCast Facebook Group to see what we’re sharing and to join the discussion!

Follow these awesome people on Twitter: Christopher Whitlatch (@cswhitlatch), Chilla (@chilla), and Sorg (@Sorgatron)

Have you seen our AwesomeTips videos?

You can support the show at Patreon.com/awesomecast!

Remember to check out our friends at the River’s Edge (@RiversEdgePGH) and The 405 Media (@The405Radio) who replay the show on their stream throughout the week!

Also, check out sorgatronmedia.com and awesomecast.com for more entertainment; and view us livestreaming Tuesdays around 7:00 PM EST