- It’s been a decade and so Windows 10 is officially done. What are your options is you’re still running it? We’re joined by Mark Linton, Vice President, for Windows and Devices at Microsoft
- Speaking of computers, the Arduino Uno Q is only $44. Find out what it’s used for – plus the company was acquired by Qualcomm
- I chat about “smart home” tech and “smart office” tech in two separate segments, highlighting some pics for both places you spend time in
- Thank you to Visa, Norton, and Sandisk for your support!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the ever changing world
of technology? Check it Out can help make some sense
of it all, breaking down geeksbeak into street speak. Technology columnist, author,
and TV personality Mark Saltzman covers consumer technology each week
for every listener, Mark tackles the latest news, reviews, and
how toos to help you understand what's hot, what's not
(00:22):
and why.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Hey, everyone, welcome to Teck it Out Episode four sixteen,
powered by Norton, fitting as its cybersecurity awareness month in October. Right,
Norton joins Visa as a partner on this show. Coincidentally,
Visa also protects you from fraud in a different way,
so there's a natural synergy there. We're going to get
(00:45):
to that a little bit later on. Hey, I hope
you're all doing great today, and thank you for making
tech it Out a small part of it. We have
a very busy show for you with four different segments.
We're going to kick things off with Microsoft in a
moment now that support for Windows ten is a fually over,
and so we're going to hear what you need to
know to stay protected. After that, I'll share some smart
(01:06):
home suggestions based on some TV interviews I did this
past week, also on Wednesday, and speaking of TV, I
did some interviews about smart office technology to help give
your business an edge, and so we're going to get
to that, and finally on this show today, Qualcomm has
acquired our Dwino, best known for those affordable little computers
(01:26):
like forty four dollars. Affordable that's used by hobbyists and
students to create devices that can read inputs like sensors
and produce outputs like lights or motors. So we're going
to hear what's new from them, all of this and
more on a brand new tech it out. Let's get
this show into first gear. In case you weren't aware,
support for Windows ten ended last week on October fourteenth,
(01:49):
and so to explain what that means exactly if you're
still using Windows ten, we're very fortunate to have on
the show for the first time, Mark Linton. He's vice
president for Windows and Devices at Microsoft, to discuss your options.
Welcome to the show, market to chat with.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
You, Mark, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Before we talk about support ending for Windows ten and
what our listeners options are going forward. Let's perhaps start
with why support is coming to an end for this
very popular operating system. I guess it's just been out
for a very long time.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
And look, Windows is about the turn forty. So Windows
is such a critical part of our customers' lives around
the world, and like all operating systems and all devices,
we have a standard support period there which is ten years,
and so Windows ten came out in July of twenty fifteen,
and so after a decade, our support has officially ended
on October fourteenth, as you noted. And again this is
(02:45):
a standard operating system life cycle that we have, and
as technology evolves, we need to do things like stronger
security in the hardware and new features in the software
as well, and so that life cycle has tommon.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
So now it's time to take action to move forward. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Fair, A decade is a long time in the OS space.
But that's amazing that you've been supporting it all this time.
And so what exactly changes here? Let's just break it
down in plain English. Now that support has ended for
Windows ten, what does that mean for our listeners?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, so what that means it's pretty simple.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
The Windows ten PCs will no longer receive security and
feature updates from Microsoft.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Or technical support, and so.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Without those ongoing updates, devices can be more vulnerable to
cyber threats online like malware and viruses, and so we
want to make sure that customers are aware to take
the next steps there and to really they have a
few options here to upgrade the operating system if the
hardware is capable, to get a new PC that has
modern hardware and Windows eleven, or they can extend the
(03:49):
time if they need a little bit more time to
get security updates, for up to another year.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
So we have three options there, but it's important to
make a plan.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yeah, okay, perfect, and we should unpack each of those options.
Thank you for that. So to be clear, those who
run Windows ten no longer can receive free technical support
or feature updates, and then most importantly perhaps security patches.
So whenever there is a vulnerability found, Microsoft's engineers would
send out an update, whether it was done automatically or
(04:17):
you had to manually update it, but it fixed up
vulnerabilities that inevitably happen with any operating system. And so
this is all coming to an end. Just to be clear,
if you are still on Windows ten, your files and
such aren't going to just disappear.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Right.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
If people are hearing this and they're panicking, they need
not panic.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Yeah, that's right. So it's important to understand the Windows
ten PCs will still operate, so your PC will still run, Okay,
You'll still have access to your files and applications. It's
really any new security or feature updates that you will
no longer receive, so that's the important point.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I've received a bunch of messages since the summer about this,
so good to know. All right, let's discuss the first option,
upgrading your existing Windows ten machine two Windows eleven if
it can support it. How do we know if it can?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yes, it's actually a pretty simple process, and believing there
are still many many piecs out there where customers just
haven't upgraded. But it's a free upgrade. So the first
thing there is it's available to all customers free of charge,
and so all you need to do is click the
start button, head to settings, then choose update and security,
and then if you're able to update through Windows Update,
(05:24):
the PC will say upgrade now and you'll get the.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Windows eleven bits.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
The Windows eleven operating system will upgrade in place, so
you go from Windows ten to Windows eleven.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Again, it's free.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
It did you access to the latest operating system and
you'll be covered for security and feature updates moving forward.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
All right, So that's an ideal solution, especially for those
on a tight budget. Not only easy to do it.
Windows itself will tell you if it's able to update
to Windows eleven and then so if you find out
that your machine cannot support Windows eleven, another option is
to buy a new Windows eleven PC permitting, and it
is a good time to do so, right we're heading
(06:02):
into the holidays, lots of sales Black Friday coming up.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah, that's right, and so it may be time to
consider upgrading to a new PC. And not only will
you get the new operating system, but the performance and
if you're on a laptop, the battery life is that
much better as well. And we know that customers who
upgrade to new hardware on Windows eleven, they're the most
satisfied Windows customers we have, And so it's a really
good opportunity to just get a more performance machine. And
(06:29):
as you mentioned, Mark, we have PCs at every price point.
If you've got three hundred dollars, we have PCs for you.
If you're a gamer, and you want to get a
gaming read we can do that too, and everything in between.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
But we really have PCs there that span.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
All price points and they all support the latest security
standards and they have Windows eleven on them as well,
So we have you covered if you need a new PC,
and as you mentioned all of the retailers, we'll have
fantastic deals here coming into the holiday period as well,
So it's a great time to.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Look for that new PC.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
More so than any other computer operating system like mac
os and Chrome, Windows has the most options for you.
So many partners with computer companies, whether you're partial to well,
Microsoft's own line of surface branded computers, but also you
know the likes of Dell and HP and Lenovo and
Acer and a Seuss and Samsung and LG and MSI.
(07:21):
The list goes on and on, not just in brands,
but also as you mentioned, in price points, and if
it's been a while since you've bought a new PC, wow,
you're going to be blown away, not just by the
performance as you hinted at Mark, but also the screen quality,
the number of ports on the side. There'll be now
smaller USBC instead of the legacy USBA which has some
extra advantages as well, not just the size, the memory,
(07:43):
the storage, the you know everything. We haven't even talked
about Copilot or Copilot plus. Like the AI is just
mind blowing. So if it's been a while since you've
updated your computer, you are definitely going to be blown away,
for sure. We are chatting with Mark Linton, he's VP
at Microsoft for Windows and Devices. We are talking about
(08:04):
your options now that Windows ten I believe the world's
most popular operating system for now. Correct me if I'm wrong. Mark,
that support for Windows ten came to an end last week,
and so you've got some options. One is to see
if your existing PC can support a free update to
Windows eleven. If not, you may consider buying a Windows
eleven machine. And there's another option, Mark, actually two. One
(08:25):
of them is that you could pay to extend the
support for Windows ten for a while longer.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Yeah, we have a program called Extended Security Updates, and
we've made that available for both businesses as well as
individual users. And so for businesses sometimes they just need
more time to migrate. If you have thousands of PCs
and you have applications that you run in house as well,
the migration can often be a full plan that you
need to build, and so we offer business business extended
(08:53):
security updates over a three year period. For consumers, we've
announced that there's a one year period offering that's really
easy to get access to. Again, we're actually letting customers
know a pop up in Windows and of supporters here,
but you can enroll your PC in extended security updates
quickly and easily. So really all we ask customers to do,
(09:14):
and we'll guide customers through in that on screen prompt,
is to use Windows back up to synk your settings
to the cloud and then you can really just enroll
your PC there. You can use Microsoft Reward points, so
if you use bing or if you shop at our store,
you can exchange some points there. Or if you just
want to pay thirty dollars US for that year, you
can do that as well.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Again, simple and easy ways. Some are free, others are quick.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
And relatively low cost, and you get another year to
consider your options and maybe get ready to make that
PC purchase.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Okay, great, and then finally, Mark, what about using third
party cybersecurity software like Norton that can also protect you.
But the other things like the Windows updates and tech
support that won't work. But on the cybersecurity side, that
could help, right, Yeah, I think.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
It's important to have cybersecurity software for viruses and malware.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
But it actually isn't enough.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
It doesn't replace the need to have a current operating system.
So I'd say if you have some of the popular
antivirus and system protection software.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Great, keep that going.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
But again you need to make sure that the operating
system is patched with the latest security updates. So it's
insufficient to keep you secure. So again, you've got three options.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
If you can.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Upgrade in place, it's free, please do it. If you
refresh your device to the latest modern hardware. And then
if you need a little bit more time, we've got
a year of extended security updates.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Okay. And then finally, is there a place like a
landing page where our listeners can learn more about these
different options?
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Yeah, Microsoft dot Com slash Windows and really everything is
there for information and resources on Windows end of support,
and then also links to some of the top offers
there for new PCs if you're ready to.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Refresh excellent Microsoft dot Com Slash Windows. There are also
links on how to best recycle your old PCs. Thank
you so much, Mark thanks man, I appreciate it. Are
you still on Windows ten? Let me know if you
have any questions. I'm on social media. It's Mark Saltsman,
Mark with a C, Saltsman with a Z. When we
return on check it Out, I'm going to chat about
(11:13):
some smart home solutions, including a robotic vacuum and mop
that washes itself with hot water when it gets back
to the base to charge up. How cool is that?
Stick with us. We'll be right back.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Listen to check it Out whenever you want to find
the Check it Out podcast? Did I too, or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
That sound you just heard, that's the sound of an
era ending. As you heard in the last segment. Windows
ten's extended support came to a close this month. That
means no more security updates from Microsoft. Think of it
like an old house. If you stop patching the roof,
those little leak turn into big problems. And in the
digital world, those leaks are security vulnerabilities. But you don't
(12:06):
have to be left completely exposed. You've got an option
to stay protected from malware or malicious software even as
your operating system grows older. You can rely on Norton
for years Norton has been synonymous with digital defense. Its
comprehensive cybersecurity software is designed to protect you wherever you are,
from your files and your finances to your personal identity.
(12:28):
Consider it digital armor for your aging OS. While Windows
ten entered its twilight, Norton is working around the clock
providing real time threat protection against viruses, ransomware, malware, and
other online dangers. It's the essential layer of security that
keeps protecting you even when Microsoft has stopped its updates.
Don't wait for a digital disaster to fall through the roof.
(12:50):
The security landscape is always changing, and your protection should too.
Keep your PC running safely with the confidence of Norton.
Visit Norton dot com today and stay protected. Norton the
power to protect your digital life. As I mentioned earlier
in the program, I was on TV a handful of
times over the past couple of weeks talking about smart
(13:12):
home innovations, some solutions to help you save time or
money or aggravation adding some modern conveniences to your day
to day life. So I wanted to walk you through
some of the products that I chatted about. It received
a ton of mail from viewers who ask for more details.
So thought I would go through them now with you.
If you want to jot them down, make a mental note,
(13:33):
or you can always replay this on demand online. Here
are some of the smart home innovations that I chatted
about and showed on TV. I kicked things off with
I would call it the granddaddy of all robotic vacuum
in mop hybrids. It's the Ecovas d bot X eleven
omni cyclone. It even sounds powerful, right, So it's got
(13:54):
this four wheel drive, huge treads as it grips the floor, carpet, tile,
hardwood floors, navigates around your home with very powerful suction.
It has some of the longest run times out of
any robot vac especially ideal for larger homes because that's
a pain point where it runs out of juice and
has to go and charge itself up and nowhere near
(14:14):
done the job that it needs to do. Plus there's
fast charging technology with this Ecovax model. And of course
it has AI to learn your home. It maps out
your space in an app and when it does detect
that it's running low on battery, it navigates itself back
to the base. And get this, it washes the mop
underneath the robot vack with hot water in the base station,
(14:36):
which is great, and then it empties the dust and
debris and pet hair into that base station without you
needing to buy bags. So with many other models they
don't tell you this. There are often non reusable bags
that you have to replace inside of the base station,
so this has no bags to buy. Love it again.
It's the Ecovas d bot. That's deebot X eleven Omnis
(15:00):
cyclone at ecovax dot com. The next side of my
showed was the Mowenflow smart water monitor and shut off.
As the name suggests, this is a valve that you
connect to your home's main water line and it monitors
your home's water twenty four to seven. So if it
detects a leaking pipe, a burst pipe, or if someone
(15:20):
left the tap running, it will not only notify you
over an app about the problem, but automatically shut your
water supply off to minimize damage. So smart. So that's
from Mowen Moowen dot com. If you're just joining us now,
I'm chatting about some smart home solutions. Next up from
the company Works that's Woorx. They've got several products for
(15:42):
the home, all of which work with the apply named
power Share battery system, so you can use the same
battery for all your jobs. For example, the Works twenty
volt brushless blower sweeper is a slim and light yet
powerful leaf blower. Great four yard cleanup this time of year,
super light even with the battery on it very impressive.
Also from Works is the Nitro cordless eighteen ga brad
(16:05):
nail gun, which fires up to eighty brad nails per
minute and up to five hundred shots per charge. If
you have larger tools from Works, then those batteries are stackable.
The tool may take two of those twenty volt batteries,
or even three if it's something larger like a lawnmower
or something Works dot Com has more. So after you've
done some leaf blowing or other tours around the home,
you may want some fun and relaxation and so finally,
(16:29):
Cobo has launched all new color eReaders, including the Cobo
Claric Color now in white. So this is a six
inch eReader that features a glare free color touchscreen. The
color is especially ideal for books with illustrations and graphics.
Kids books, of course, are great for color and your
book covers pop in color as well, whether they're in
(16:50):
your library or you're at the Cobo bookstore and shopping
digitally for books. I love the way I look. And
as a bonus, this Clara Color can play audiobooks. You
just need a pair of Bluetooth headphones or a speaker
nearby to play audiobooks when you want to close your
eyes and have a book read to you. The Claric
Color eReader is waterproof, so you can slip into a
bubble bath or if you're going to a beach or
(17:12):
a pool, maybe on vacation, you can bring this no problem.
Battery lasts for weeks and it holds thousands of books.
Cobo dot com has more. Well, there you have it,
a few suggestions for those looking for smart home innovations,
and then ending off on a color and waterproof eReader
that can also play audiobooks to you. Love it all right.
(17:32):
When we return on tech, it out the Arduino uno Q,
which is the latest forty plus dollars PC designed for
programmers and butting engineers. They were just acquired by Qualcoms,
so we're going to get the skinny on that, and
then we're also going to talk later on in the
show about smart office tech and tools, including the latest
laptop from Asus that has a lot of cybersecurity like
(17:55):
a web camera shield and biometrics log in options including
using your fingerprint. We're going to talk about the Quickened
app for small businesses, and a high tech coffee maker
that can make thirty five different hot and cold types
of coffee for you. So a lot more tech it
out coming right up. Stay with us. We'll be right
back with more.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Want to follow Mark Google, Mark with a Z and
Saltzman with a Z breaking down geeks peak into street speak.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
This is check it Out to check it out with.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Technology columnist, author, and TV personality Mark Saltzman.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Welcome back to check it out. I've been arguing for
years it's important to get kids excited about coding, electronics,
and engineering, not just to spark their imagination and experience
the joy of creating something, but also that it builds
critical skills that they can use down the road, perhaps
in their career. And there's a new and affordable product
(18:59):
that's garnering a lot of buzz right now called the
Arduino uno Que that you're going to want to hear about,
especially as the company has some big news to share.
Joining us on the line is Fabio Violante, CEO of Ardueno.
Nice to chat with you, Fabio, Thanks for your time.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
Nice to meet you and your audience Mark. It's a
great pleasure to be here.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Thank you. So why don't we dive right in Fabio
at a high level, what is the Arduino Uno Queue?
Speaker 5 (19:25):
So uno que is the latest product that we just
released in collaboration with Welcome, and it is an Arduino,
a microprocessor to an Arduino. Just for your audience to
to know, so Arduino. It's basically a small computer that
can be used to add intelligence to physical objects. So
(19:46):
that's the way Ardueno started. So it's something that can
be used if you want to create a small robot
to just program it and have the robots becoming functional.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
All right. So it kind of looks like a motherboard,
like all these little circuits and stuff, right, a lot
of circuits. Yes, there's no case, right unless I'm mistaken.
There's no external mice or keyboards or anything you can
add some of this, is that right? Or a monitor?
Speaker 5 (20:10):
Yeah? So in the past, so what is called the Arduouno,
for example, used to be without a mouse and keyboard,
so you needed to connect it in order to program
it to a computer. So once you finish programming, then
you plug it into your application and you don't need
a computer. So it's just for programming that you need
a computer.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Who would you say this is for fabio? Is it
for hobbyists? For coders? As I hinted that off the top,
I was saying that it's great for encouraging programming skills
among teenagers. Is that fair?
Speaker 5 (20:40):
The beauty, yes, the beauty of the product of Arduino
as a philosophy as a company, so it is to
lower the barrier to entry to technology. So this means
that this product has been designed from the very beginning
phase as a way to introduce to computing and to
what we call physical computing, so the combination of physical
objects and computing to any so that you don't have
(21:01):
to have a PhD in computer science in order to
get to something working.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
That's great. So, if I may, the brand I'm going
to bring up has been around for a while and
I think some of our listeners would be familiar with it,
and I'm referring to Raspberry pie Pi. Is this similar
in the sense the know Q and why would somebody
consider this new product opposed to a Raspberry Pie.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
Yeah, you know, this is an interesting thing. So are
do we know and Raspberry Pie? We're working on two
separate things, so we were working more close to the
sensing and actuation part and Raspberry was mainly the high
level brain with more computing capability, more similar to a
laptop or a computer in general. What is UNO Q
(21:45):
and why it's very interesting for our users is that
Q is the combination of both. So you have a
part that is more close to the sensing and actuation
measuring stuff or other type of sensors, and there is
also a microprocessor that is more similar to a computer.
So it's the combination of both beast to both worlds. Yeah, absolutely, yeah, awesome.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Can you please tell us about this new partnership or
maybe it's an acquisition between our Doueno and Qualcomm, which
is of course a very popular chip maker, not just
for smartphones but also now for laptops and other devices.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
So Quacom is a big player of course in the
in the on the market, so they basically power the
majority of advanced Android devices for mobile phones and those
laptops and things like that, and Quacom acquired are do
we know we're still in the process because we are
waiting for regular actory approval. But basically this was an
acquisition and we are combining and joining joining forces because
(22:48):
what we have seen in the market is that there
is an evolution towards what is called EDGEAI, so bringing
artificial intelligence very close to where things are so very
close to the robots, so think about your rumba, there
is a lot of intelligence there. So basically these acquisition
is meant to provide more intelligent capabilities to our devices
(23:10):
and welcome very well positioned towards the objective.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
No doubt, and congrats on the acquisition, even though I
know it hasn't gone through one hundred percent yet. And
I will ask you more about AI in a moment
and software as well, what you get with the Arduino
huo q. And so we're going to continue learning more
about the ar huo q in a couple of moments
from now. But first I wanted to give a shout
out and a thanks to Visa. We cover cybersecurity a
(23:37):
lot on this program and how you can best protect
yourself in the digital age, even if you're not super
tech savvy. One part of the solution is securely shopping online,
and so I'm thrilled about my partnership with Visa on
Tech it Out, as they've made some significant investments in
fraud prevention over the past five years, as much as
ten billion dollars yes that's billion with a B, to
(23:58):
support Visa's brand promise to protect the financial information of
individuals and businesses. Zero liability means peace of mind when
you shop online using your Visa card. There can be
no half measures when it comes to cybersecurity, which is
why the company takes an aggressive and multi layered approach
to combating the rising threat of malicious software and other
(24:19):
threats by well funded and global criminal enterprises. Read more
about Visa and how securing the world's payments is priority
one at Visa dot com slash Security. That's Visa dot
Com slash Security. So Visa has been a sponsor for
a couple of years. If you're a longtime listener of
tech it Out, then you likely know that, and more recently,
(24:39):
Norton came on as a partner, which I'm thrilled about
as it kind of completes the circle of cyber protection
not just for those who shop or those who sell
and want to protect themselves, but now all kinds of
protection against malicious software, identity theft, other kinds of scams
out there. So I'm really proud of the partners on
this program and what information we can deliver to you.
(25:02):
If you have any questions for me, you can hit
me up on social media. I'll spell my name in
a moment, but you'll find me on x formally Twitter,
as well as Instagram, Facebook threads, blue sky, LinkedIn, YouTube
and TikTok. It's Mark Saltzman, m aar c s a
(25:22):
l t z m a n. Again, that's Mark Saltzman
mar C instead of m aark. You know my mom
wanted to be different in nineteen seventy. I don't know
what to tell you. We're not French, but hey, and
Saltsman is with a z sa l t z m
a N. All right. You can ask me tech questions,
maybe tied to our first couple of guests about Windows
(25:44):
ten support coming to an end. I'm happy to help
you out. Or if you've got suggestions for upcoming guests
or topics on tech it Out, I'm all yours. Maybe
something you don't like about the program. I'm always open
to constructive feedback for sure. So when we return on
tech it Out, we're going to continue learning out the
Arduino Uno Q and how the company was acquired by Qualcomm,
(26:04):
but most importantly what this forty four dollars device can
do for you crazy And then after that, as promised,
I'm going to share some smart office solutions if you
run a small or home office, so stick with us
more Teck it Out kind of right up after this short.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Break breaking down geek speak into street speak Check it
Out hosted by Mark Saltzman.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Welcome back to teck it Out. We are chatting with
Bobbio Violante. He is CEO of Arduino. These are the
folks behind the brand new Uno Q. It's spelled just
as it sounds Uno and then the letter Q. This
is ideal for creating and experimenting with electronic projects. So
it's a platform that can be used to manage various
(26:57):
elements like LEDs, sensors, motors using code, which again faster
is learning and innovation. Can you tell us more about
the software you get with Q. It's a Linux based machine,
which is also what Android is based on right.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
Yes, absolutely, it is a computer on one side and
it is an Arduino on the other side. So for
the Arduino, of course, and probably in your podcast there
is a lot of people that are familiar with the
Arduino coding. We provide a development tool that allows you
to allows you to create code for sensing the environment,
for actuation, for blinking LEDs and all all those kinds
(27:35):
of things. But there is also a Linux part, and
Linux part means you have a full operating system, the
possibility for people to develop using their preferred programming language.
So in order to lower the barriers to entry to coding,
because Linux is not easy and all those environments are
(27:57):
very sophisticated Android you mentioned that sophisticated, what we have
done is creating what is called the Arduino app Lab
that basically provide a possibility for users to develop code
in Ardueno and have more sophisticated code on the link
on the Linux side, and also AI models that can
(28:19):
be plugged and tested and used as they are for
example face recognition, object recognition, audio recognition. So we combined
altogether in a way that even my mom can take
one of these products and create an application where the
(28:40):
trigger for the activation is a video for example, seeing okay,
it's a cat, I opened the door for the cat.
This kind of application.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Yeah, I was going to ask you about some real
world applications for this, so you could program it for
it to recognize your cat as outside of the door
and it opens up maybe a small pet door for
the cat to get back inside. Yeah, that's that's really neat,
and I like that it passes the mom test, even
though I know there are some very tech savvy moms
(29:08):
out there, of which my mom isn't one of them.
But this is great so that you know, I didn't
know if it was a dumb question to ask you
that along with programming real physical items sensors and blinking
lights and all that, if it can be used like
a regular computer like email or web browsing, or it's
not for.
Speaker 5 (29:25):
That, No, it can, so fortunately we can allow also these.
In fact, we have two ways of using the product,
so as a sort of board connected to you to
your laptop, or as a standalone device. I see, So
you can just use a mouse and keyboard and a
monitor and it becomes your small PC on which you
can run as no code or also other type of task.
(29:47):
So you can send email, you can connect it, use
it as a web server, you can use it as
a normal computer.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
And I think people will be surprised at the price,
which I'll ask you about in one minute. But you
started to talk a little about AI. That's of course
a big buzzword today. So this hardware does support artificial intelligence, right,
it does.
Speaker 5 (30:06):
So the CPU that we have on board as also
a GPU for AI acceleration. Of course you cannot expect
to have chat GPT five running on that.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Now, of course that's not boards.
Speaker 5 (30:19):
But you can do simple to video the complexity.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Like you said, even video recognition that's pretty advas. Finally,
how much does the R doino who know Q cost?
And how do we get going? What's the best website
to learn more?
Speaker 5 (30:33):
It's very affordable. It's forty four dollars that if you
think that it's a computer with also the capability to
handle sensors, and it has also included memory, so you
don't need other things. You're just all in one kind
of thing. Because we have a sort of storage like
the SD cards that you use to plug on your
laptop or your era. It's already embedded on the board,
(30:56):
so it's mounted on the board, so you don't need
extra things. So it's very affordable and it's very practical, honestly.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yeah, wow that you can't beat that price forty four dollars.
And what's the best website to get going, Fabio.
Speaker 5 (31:08):
So it's Ardueno dot CC and we have a store
there and it can be used.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
All right, our Dueno dot CC. Our Dueno is ar
d Ui n O dot CC, ar d Ui n
O dot CC. Congratulations Fabio on not just the launch
of this latest Ardueno device, but also the partnership or
acquisition with Qualcom. Very exciting. Thank you so much for
your time, Fabio. Thank you very much, Mark, what a
(31:34):
packed show so far. We chatted with Microsoft about the
end of Windows ten support last week on the fourteenth
of October. Then we shifted gears and I chatted about
smart home innovations like robotic mops and vacuums and shut
off valves that detect water in your home, and high
tech tools like leaf blowers and nail guns. Then we
(31:55):
spoke with ar Dueno about its latest computer and how
the company was acquired by Qualcomm. It's still in the works,
but there's still more. So after this short break, we're
going to talk about smart office innovations based on a
series of TV interviews I did on Wednesday from New York.
That was a lot of fun chatting with over twenty
stations across the country, which you can see by the
(32:16):
way at Inthnews dot TV if you want to see this.
But after this short break, I'm going to chat with
you about some of my favorites, including I gotta admit it,
I'm a big coffee fan. So the latest Jura machine.
That's Jura. It's the X ten. This is a high
tech coffee machine that can make thirty five different hot
and cold drinks. And even though they do have some
(32:37):
models for the home, this one is for the office
or a waiting room if you are I don't know,
a mechanic, or you've got anybody that sits and waits
for some service to be done. It could also be
for your guests, not just for the employees, so not
just for the breakroom, but for the waiting room as well.
So we're going to get to all of that when
we return to wrap up another new episode of tech
it Out. If you want to hear any previous ones.
(32:59):
By the way, simply go your favorite podcast platform and
do a search for the words check it out. You'll
find episodes dating back weeks, months, and years. All right,
stick with us, We'll be right back with more in
a moment.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Follow Mark Saltzman on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram, listen
to check it out whenever you want.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
So, as I mentioned earlier in the program, I had
a lot of fun on Wednesday live from New York
doing a number of TV interviews across the country, all
to talk about smart office tech tools and essentials, from
managing finances and keeping data secure to fueling productivity. There's
no shortage of awesome smart office tech to make work easier,
(33:49):
and so I thought I would share with you what
I talked about on the air. And if you want
to see the items that I chatted about and see
my TV spot, you can go to Inthnews dot tv.
That's in thenews dot tv. But I first started talking
about ways that small businesses can simplify their finances quick.
In business and personal help, small business owners, entrepreneurs, freelancers,
(34:12):
gig workers, and the self employed manage their professional and
personal finances without having to switch between multiple and often
disconnected tools. In fact, it automatically categorizes business and personal expenses,
really saving you time and aggravation. Along with managing tax
related info. Quick in Business and Personal also gives you
(34:33):
access to the features and capabilities of the award winning
app Quick and Simplify for managing saving schools, tracking investments,
creating personalized spending plans, and planning for retirement. Quicken dot
com has more. I then showed a smart laptop for
busy professionals that's also secure. After all, October is cybersecurity
(34:54):
Awareness month, and for small business owners and remote workers,
securing sensitive data is more critical than ever. The Asus
Expert Book P three is a mobile workstation that features
commercial grade security with fingerprint login options and a built
in web camera shield for added privacy so you cannot
be seen when you're not on a video call. Love
(35:15):
that along with a stellar display and long lasting battery.
There are AI powered tools like Asus Ai Expert Meat
and Windows Copilot that automate tasks to boost productivity. You
can learn more about the Asus Expert Book P three
at Asus dot com. That's Asus dot com. And then, finally,
we all know that we need to fuel our business efforts.
(35:38):
And yes, I'm referring to good coffee to stay productive
all day. From Jura, the global innovation leader in fully
automatic coffee machines, comes the Jura X ten. I would
call it the ultimate workplace coffee station. To keep employees,
clients and guests energized and satisfied. Bring the Barisa to
the breakroom with thirty five different hot and cold brew
(36:01):
coffee specialties from Americano and espresso to cappuccino and latte machiato.
It has an integrated grinder for fresh bean to cup brewing,
while Jura's cold extraction process creates authentic cold brew love
that in the afternoon. Actually visit Jura dot com For
more that's Juur dot com. And again for everything that
(36:22):
I've covered here today, head on over to Inthnews dot TV.
So earlier in the show, I gave a shout out
to Norton and Visa talking about how their partners on
tech it out and they protect you in different ways.
But there is one more and it's a company that
also protects you in yet another way. I'm referring to
sand Disc of course, best known for their storage solutions
(36:44):
both external and internal, but mostly solid state drives and
USB thumb drives, flash memory, and so I wanted to
just spend a moment telling you about them, including its
new SanDisk Creator Series. It's a new line of storage
solutions designed specifically for content creators, the driving force behind
(37:05):
the content that we consume online, from videos and blog
posts to podcasts and social media updates. These external sand
disc SSDs and other flash based products help to streamline
the creative workflow from start to finish. There are five
main features of the sand Disk Creator series. Number one
high speeds, plug and play solutions that offer fast read
(37:26):
and write speeds, ensuring smooth workflows and quick transfers of
large files. Number two durability. These products are designed to
withstand the riggers of on the go use with features
like drop protection and resistance to water and dust. Number
three Portability. This SanDisk series includes several portable SSDs and
other flash drives, making it easy to take your storage
(37:48):
with you wherever you go. Number four compatibility. These sand
Disk products are designed to work with a range of devices,
including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, cameras, and more. Number five
high capacity. There's no longer a trade off between the
durability of solid state drives and capacity for those who
need a lot of storage, as you can have it
(38:09):
all now with drives that can store several terabytes of data.
More info is at sanddisk dot com slash creator. That's
SanDisk dot com slash creator. Hey, thank you so much
for tuning into tech it Out everyone. Hope you like
the variety with the four different topics. If you want
to reach out over social media to ask any questions,
(38:31):
especially as I've seen messages already about Windows ten support
ending last week, so you can hit me up on
Twitter or Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, you name it, LinkedIn whatever.
Mark Saltzman M A r C s A l t
z m A N or for my fellow Canadians SA
l t z m an have a great rest of
(38:52):
your day. Everyone. Thank you for making tech it Out
a small part of it and I look forward to
catching up with you next weekend for another brand new
episode of Check it Out. Bye bye everyone, shout for now.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the ever changing world
of technology? Check it Out can help make some sense
of it all, breaking down geeksbeak into street speak. Technology columnist, author,
and TV personality Mark Saltzman covers consumer technology each week
for every listener, Mark tackles the latest news, reviews, and
how toos to help you understand what's hot, what's not
(00:22):
and why.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Hey, everyone, welcome to Teck it Out Episode four sixteen,
powered by Norton, fitting as its cybersecurity awareness month in October. Right,
Norton joins Visa as a partner on this show. Coincidentally,
Visa also protects you from fraud in a different way,
so there's a natural synergy there. We're going to get
(00:45):
to that a little bit later on. Hey, I hope
you're all doing great today, and thank you for making
tech it Out a small part of it. We have
a very busy show for you with four different segments.
We're going to kick things off with Microsoft in a
moment now that support for Windows ten is a fually over,
and so we're going to hear what you need to
know to stay protected. After that, I'll share some smart
(01:06):
home suggestions based on some TV interviews I did this
past week, also on Wednesday, and speaking of TV, I
did some interviews about smart office technology to help give
your business an edge, and so we're going to get
to that, and finally on this show today, Qualcomm has
acquired our Dwino, best known for those affordable little computers
(01:26):
like forty four dollars. Affordable that's used by hobbyists and
students to create devices that can read inputs like sensors
and produce outputs like lights or motors. So we're going
to hear what's new from them, all of this and
more on a brand new tech it out. Let's get
this show into first gear. In case you weren't aware,
support for Windows ten ended last week on October fourteenth,
(01:49):
and so to explain what that means exactly if you're
still using Windows ten, we're very fortunate to have on
the show for the first time, Mark Linton. He's vice
president for Windows and Devices at Microsoft, to discuss your options.
Welcome to the show, market to chat with.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
You, Mark, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Before we talk about support ending for Windows ten and
what our listeners options are going forward. Let's perhaps start
with why support is coming to an end for this
very popular operating system. I guess it's just been out
for a very long time.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
And look, Windows is about the turn forty. So Windows
is such a critical part of our customers' lives around
the world, and like all operating systems and all devices,
we have a standard support period there which is ten years,
and so Windows ten came out in July of twenty fifteen,
and so after a decade, our support has officially ended
on October fourteenth, as you noted. And again this is
(02:45):
a standard operating system life cycle that we have, and
as technology evolves, we need to do things like stronger
security in the hardware and new features in the software
as well, and so that life cycle has tommon.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
So now it's time to take action to move forward. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Fair, A decade is a long time in the OS space.
But that's amazing that you've been supporting it all this time.
And so what exactly changes here? Let's just break it
down in plain English. Now that support has ended for
Windows ten, what does that mean for our listeners?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, so what that means it's pretty simple.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
The Windows ten PCs will no longer receive security and
feature updates from Microsoft.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Or technical support, and so.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Without those ongoing updates, devices can be more vulnerable to
cyber threats online like malware and viruses, and so we
want to make sure that customers are aware to take
the next steps there and to really they have a
few options here to upgrade the operating system if the
hardware is capable, to get a new PC that has
modern hardware and Windows eleven, or they can extend the
(03:49):
time if they need a little bit more time to
get security updates, for up to another year.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
So we have three options there, but it's important to
make a plan.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yeah, okay, perfect, and we should unpack each of those options.
Thank you for that. So to be clear, those who
run Windows ten no longer can receive free technical support
or feature updates, and then most importantly perhaps security patches.
So whenever there is a vulnerability found, Microsoft's engineers would
send out an update, whether it was done automatically or
(04:17):
you had to manually update it, but it fixed up
vulnerabilities that inevitably happen with any operating system. And so
this is all coming to an end. Just to be clear,
if you are still on Windows ten, your files and
such aren't going to just disappear.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Right.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
If people are hearing this and they're panicking, they need
not panic.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Yeah, that's right. So it's important to understand the Windows
ten PCs will still operate, so your PC will still run, Okay,
You'll still have access to your files and applications. It's
really any new security or feature updates that you will
no longer receive, so that's the important point.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I've received a bunch of messages since the summer about this,
so good to know. All right, let's discuss the first option,
upgrading your existing Windows ten machine two Windows eleven if
it can support it. How do we know if it can?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yes, it's actually a pretty simple process, and believing there
are still many many piecs out there where customers just
haven't upgraded. But it's a free upgrade. So the first
thing there is it's available to all customers free of charge,
and so all you need to do is click the
start button, head to settings, then choose update and security,
and then if you're able to update through Windows Update,
(05:24):
the PC will say upgrade now and you'll get the.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Windows eleven bits.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
The Windows eleven operating system will upgrade in place, so
you go from Windows ten to Windows eleven.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Again, it's free.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
It did you access to the latest operating system and
you'll be covered for security and feature updates moving forward.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
All right, So that's an ideal solution, especially for those
on a tight budget. Not only easy to do it.
Windows itself will tell you if it's able to update
to Windows eleven and then so if you find out
that your machine cannot support Windows eleven, another option is
to buy a new Windows eleven PC permitting, and it
is a good time to do so, right we're heading
(06:02):
into the holidays, lots of sales Black Friday coming up.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah, that's right, and so it may be time to
consider upgrading to a new PC. And not only will
you get the new operating system, but the performance and
if you're on a laptop, the battery life is that
much better as well. And we know that customers who
upgrade to new hardware on Windows eleven, they're the most
satisfied Windows customers we have, And so it's a really
good opportunity to just get a more performance machine. And
(06:29):
as you mentioned, Mark, we have PCs at every price point.
If you've got three hundred dollars, we have PCs for you.
If you're a gamer, and you want to get a
gaming read we can do that too, and everything in between.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
But we really have PCs there that span.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
All price points and they all support the latest security
standards and they have Windows eleven on them as well,
So we have you covered if you need a new PC,
and as you mentioned all of the retailers, we'll have
fantastic deals here coming into the holiday period as well,
So it's a great time to.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Look for that new PC.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
More so than any other computer operating system like mac
os and Chrome, Windows has the most options for you.
So many partners with computer companies, whether you're partial to well,
Microsoft's own line of surface branded computers, but also you
know the likes of Dell and HP and Lenovo and
Acer and a Seuss and Samsung and LG and MSI.
(07:21):
The list goes on and on, not just in brands,
but also as you mentioned, in price points, and if
it's been a while since you've bought a new PC, wow,
you're going to be blown away, not just by the
performance as you hinted at Mark, but also the screen quality,
the number of ports on the side. There'll be now
smaller USBC instead of the legacy USBA which has some
extra advantages as well, not just the size, the memory,
(07:43):
the storage, the you know everything. We haven't even talked
about Copilot or Copilot plus. Like the AI is just
mind blowing. So if it's been a while since you've
updated your computer, you are definitely going to be blown away,
for sure. We are chatting with Mark Linton, he's VP
at Microsoft for Windows and Devices. We are talking about
(08:04):
your options now that Windows ten I believe the world's
most popular operating system for now. Correct me if I'm wrong. Mark,
that support for Windows ten came to an end last week,
and so you've got some options. One is to see
if your existing PC can support a free update to
Windows eleven. If not, you may consider buying a Windows
eleven machine. And there's another option, Mark, actually two. One
(08:25):
of them is that you could pay to extend the
support for Windows ten for a while longer.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Yeah, we have a program called Extended Security Updates, and
we've made that available for both businesses as well as
individual users. And so for businesses sometimes they just need
more time to migrate. If you have thousands of PCs
and you have applications that you run in house as well,
the migration can often be a full plan that you
need to build, and so we offer business business extended
(08:53):
security updates over a three year period. For consumers, we've
announced that there's a one year period offering that's really
easy to get access to. Again, we're actually letting customers
know a pop up in Windows and of supporters here,
but you can enroll your PC in extended security updates
quickly and easily. So really all we ask customers to do,
(09:14):
and we'll guide customers through in that on screen prompt,
is to use Windows back up to synk your settings
to the cloud and then you can really just enroll
your PC there. You can use Microsoft Reward points, so
if you use bing or if you shop at our store,
you can exchange some points there. Or if you just
want to pay thirty dollars US for that year, you
can do that as well.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Again, simple and easy ways. Some are free, others are quick.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
And relatively low cost, and you get another year to
consider your options and maybe get ready to make that
PC purchase.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Okay, great, and then finally, Mark, what about using third
party cybersecurity software like Norton that can also protect you.
But the other things like the Windows updates and tech
support that won't work. But on the cybersecurity side, that
could help, right, Yeah, I think.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
It's important to have cybersecurity software for viruses and malware.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
But it actually isn't enough.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
It doesn't replace the need to have a current operating system.
So I'd say if you have some of the popular
antivirus and system protection software.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Great, keep that going.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
But again you need to make sure that the operating
system is patched with the latest security updates. So it's
insufficient to keep you secure. So again, you've got three options.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
If you can.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Upgrade in place, it's free, please do it. If you
refresh your device to the latest modern hardware. And then
if you need a little bit more time, we've got
a year of extended security updates.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Okay. And then finally, is there a place like a
landing page where our listeners can learn more about these
different options?
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Yeah, Microsoft dot Com slash Windows and really everything is
there for information and resources on Windows end of support,
and then also links to some of the top offers
there for new PCs if you're ready to.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Refresh excellent Microsoft dot Com Slash Windows. There are also
links on how to best recycle your old PCs. Thank
you so much, Mark thanks man, I appreciate it. Are
you still on Windows ten? Let me know if you
have any questions. I'm on social media. It's Mark Saltsman,
Mark with a C, Saltsman with a Z. When we
return on check it Out, I'm going to chat about
(11:13):
some smart home solutions, including a robotic vacuum and mop
that washes itself with hot water when it gets back
to the base to charge up. How cool is that?
Stick with us. We'll be right back.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Listen to check it Out whenever you want to find
the Check it Out podcast? Did I too, or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
That sound you just heard, that's the sound of an
era ending. As you heard in the last segment. Windows
ten's extended support came to a close this month. That
means no more security updates from Microsoft. Think of it
like an old house. If you stop patching the roof,
those little leak turn into big problems. And in the
digital world, those leaks are security vulnerabilities. But you don't
(12:06):
have to be left completely exposed. You've got an option
to stay protected from malware or malicious software even as
your operating system grows older. You can rely on Norton
for years Norton has been synonymous with digital defense. Its
comprehensive cybersecurity software is designed to protect you wherever you are,
from your files and your finances to your personal identity.
(12:28):
Consider it digital armor for your aging OS. While Windows
ten entered its twilight, Norton is working around the clock
providing real time threat protection against viruses, ransomware, malware, and
other online dangers. It's the essential layer of security that
keeps protecting you even when Microsoft has stopped its updates.
Don't wait for a digital disaster to fall through the roof.
(12:50):
The security landscape is always changing, and your protection should too.
Keep your PC running safely with the confidence of Norton.
Visit Norton dot com today and stay protected. Norton the
power to protect your digital life. As I mentioned earlier
in the program, I was on TV a handful of
times over the past couple of weeks talking about smart
(13:12):
home innovations, some solutions to help you save time or
money or aggravation adding some modern conveniences to your day
to day life. So I wanted to walk you through
some of the products that I chatted about. It received
a ton of mail from viewers who ask for more details.
So thought I would go through them now with you.
If you want to jot them down, make a mental note,
(13:33):
or you can always replay this on demand online. Here
are some of the smart home innovations that I chatted
about and showed on TV. I kicked things off with
I would call it the granddaddy of all robotic vacuum
in mop hybrids. It's the Ecovas d bot X eleven
omni cyclone. It even sounds powerful, right, So it's got
(13:54):
this four wheel drive, huge treads as it grips the floor, carpet, tile,
hardwood floors, navigates around your home with very powerful suction.
It has some of the longest run times out of
any robot vac especially ideal for larger homes because that's
a pain point where it runs out of juice and
has to go and charge itself up and nowhere near
(14:14):
done the job that it needs to do. Plus there's
fast charging technology with this Ecovax model. And of course
it has AI to learn your home. It maps out
your space in an app and when it does detect
that it's running low on battery, it navigates itself back
to the base. And get this, it washes the mop
underneath the robot vack with hot water in the base station,
(14:36):
which is great, and then it empties the dust and
debris and pet hair into that base station without you
needing to buy bags. So with many other models they
don't tell you this. There are often non reusable bags
that you have to replace inside of the base station,
so this has no bags to buy. Love it again.
It's the Ecovas d bot. That's deebot X eleven Omnis
(15:00):
cyclone at ecovax dot com. The next side of my
showed was the Mowenflow smart water monitor and shut off.
As the name suggests, this is a valve that you
connect to your home's main water line and it monitors
your home's water twenty four to seven. So if it
detects a leaking pipe, a burst pipe, or if someone
(15:20):
left the tap running, it will not only notify you
over an app about the problem, but automatically shut your
water supply off to minimize damage. So smart. So that's
from Mowen Moowen dot com. If you're just joining us now,
I'm chatting about some smart home solutions. Next up from
the company Works that's Woorx. They've got several products for
(15:42):
the home, all of which work with the apply named
power Share battery system, so you can use the same
battery for all your jobs. For example, the Works twenty
volt brushless blower sweeper is a slim and light yet
powerful leaf blower. Great four yard cleanup this time of year,
super light even with the battery on it very impressive.
Also from Works is the Nitro cordless eighteen ga brad
(16:05):
nail gun, which fires up to eighty brad nails per
minute and up to five hundred shots per charge. If
you have larger tools from Works, then those batteries are stackable.
The tool may take two of those twenty volt batteries,
or even three if it's something larger like a lawnmower
or something Works dot Com has more. So after you've
done some leaf blowing or other tours around the home,
you may want some fun and relaxation and so finally,
(16:29):
Cobo has launched all new color eReaders, including the Cobo
Claric Color now in white. So this is a six
inch eReader that features a glare free color touchscreen. The
color is especially ideal for books with illustrations and graphics.
Kids books, of course, are great for color and your
book covers pop in color as well, whether they're in
(16:50):
your library or you're at the Cobo bookstore and shopping
digitally for books. I love the way I look. And
as a bonus, this Clara Color can play audiobooks. You
just need a pair of Bluetooth headphones or a speaker
nearby to play audiobooks when you want to close your
eyes and have a book read to you. The Claric
Color eReader is waterproof, so you can slip into a
bubble bath or if you're going to a beach or
(17:12):
a pool, maybe on vacation, you can bring this no problem.
Battery lasts for weeks and it holds thousands of books.
Cobo dot com has more. Well, there you have it,
a few suggestions for those looking for smart home innovations,
and then ending off on a color and waterproof eReader
that can also play audiobooks to you. Love it all right.
(17:32):
When we return on tech, it out the Arduino uno Q,
which is the latest forty plus dollars PC designed for
programmers and butting engineers. They were just acquired by Qualcoms,
so we're going to get the skinny on that, and
then we're also going to talk later on in the
show about smart office tech and tools, including the latest
laptop from Asus that has a lot of cybersecurity like
(17:55):
a web camera shield and biometrics log in options including
using your fingerprint. We're going to talk about the Quickened
app for small businesses, and a high tech coffee maker
that can make thirty five different hot and cold types
of coffee for you. So a lot more tech it
out coming right up. Stay with us. We'll be right
back with more.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Want to follow Mark Google, Mark with a Z and
Saltzman with a Z breaking down geeks peak into street speak.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
This is check it Out to check it out with.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Technology columnist, author, and TV personality Mark Saltzman.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Welcome back to check it out. I've been arguing for
years it's important to get kids excited about coding, electronics,
and engineering, not just to spark their imagination and experience
the joy of creating something, but also that it builds
critical skills that they can use down the road, perhaps
in their career. And there's a new and affordable product
(18:59):
that's garnering a lot of buzz right now called the
Arduino uno Que that you're going to want to hear about,
especially as the company has some big news to share.
Joining us on the line is Fabio Violante, CEO of Ardueno.
Nice to chat with you, Fabio, Thanks for your time.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
Nice to meet you and your audience Mark. It's a
great pleasure to be here.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Thank you. So why don't we dive right in Fabio
at a high level, what is the Arduino Uno Queue?
Speaker 5 (19:25):
So uno que is the latest product that we just
released in collaboration with Welcome, and it is an Arduino,
a microprocessor to an Arduino. Just for your audience to
to know, so Arduino. It's basically a small computer that
can be used to add intelligence to physical objects. So
(19:46):
that's the way Ardueno started. So it's something that can
be used if you want to create a small robot
to just program it and have the robots becoming functional.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
All right. So it kind of looks like a motherboard,
like all these little circuits and stuff, right, a lot
of circuits. Yes, there's no case, right unless I'm mistaken.
There's no external mice or keyboards or anything you can
add some of this, is that right? Or a monitor?
Speaker 5 (20:10):
Yeah? So in the past, so what is called the Arduouno,
for example, used to be without a mouse and keyboard,
so you needed to connect it in order to program
it to a computer. So once you finish programming, then
you plug it into your application and you don't need
a computer. So it's just for programming that you need
a computer.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Who would you say this is for fabio? Is it
for hobbyists? For coders? As I hinted that off the top,
I was saying that it's great for encouraging programming skills
among teenagers. Is that fair?
Speaker 5 (20:40):
The beauty, yes, the beauty of the product of Arduino
as a philosophy as a company, so it is to
lower the barrier to entry to technology. So this means
that this product has been designed from the very beginning
phase as a way to introduce to computing and to
what we call physical computing, so the combination of physical
objects and computing to any so that you don't have
(21:01):
to have a PhD in computer science in order to
get to something working.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
That's great. So, if I may, the brand I'm going
to bring up has been around for a while and
I think some of our listeners would be familiar with it,
and I'm referring to Raspberry pie Pi. Is this similar
in the sense the know Q and why would somebody
consider this new product opposed to a Raspberry Pie.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
Yeah, you know, this is an interesting thing. So are
do we know and Raspberry Pie? We're working on two
separate things, so we were working more close to the
sensing and actuation part and Raspberry was mainly the high
level brain with more computing capability, more similar to a
laptop or a computer in general. What is UNO Q
(21:45):
and why it's very interesting for our users is that
Q is the combination of both. So you have a
part that is more close to the sensing and actuation
measuring stuff or other type of sensors, and there is
also a microprocessor that is more similar to a computer.
So it's the combination of both beast to both worlds. Yeah, absolutely, yeah, awesome.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Can you please tell us about this new partnership or
maybe it's an acquisition between our Doueno and Qualcomm, which
is of course a very popular chip maker, not just
for smartphones but also now for laptops and other devices.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
So Quacom is a big player of course in the
in the on the market, so they basically power the
majority of advanced Android devices for mobile phones and those
laptops and things like that, and Quacom acquired are do
we know we're still in the process because we are
waiting for regular actory approval. But basically this was an
acquisition and we are combining and joining joining forces because
(22:48):
what we have seen in the market is that there
is an evolution towards what is called EDGEAI, so bringing
artificial intelligence very close to where things are so very
close to the robots, so think about your rumba, there
is a lot of intelligence there. So basically these acquisition
is meant to provide more intelligent capabilities to our devices
(23:10):
and welcome very well positioned towards the objective.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
No doubt, and congrats on the acquisition, even though I
know it hasn't gone through one hundred percent yet. And
I will ask you more about AI in a moment
and software as well, what you get with the Arduino
huo q. And so we're going to continue learning more
about the ar huo q in a couple of moments
from now. But first I wanted to give a shout
out and a thanks to Visa. We cover cybersecurity a
(23:37):
lot on this program and how you can best protect
yourself in the digital age, even if you're not super
tech savvy. One part of the solution is securely shopping online,
and so I'm thrilled about my partnership with Visa on
Tech it Out, as they've made some significant investments in
fraud prevention over the past five years, as much as
ten billion dollars yes that's billion with a B, to
(23:58):
support Visa's brand promise to protect the financial information of
individuals and businesses. Zero liability means peace of mind when
you shop online using your Visa card. There can be
no half measures when it comes to cybersecurity, which is
why the company takes an aggressive and multi layered approach
to combating the rising threat of malicious software and other
(24:19):
threats by well funded and global criminal enterprises. Read more
about Visa and how securing the world's payments is priority
one at Visa dot com slash Security. That's Visa dot
Com slash Security. So Visa has been a sponsor for
a couple of years. If you're a longtime listener of
tech it Out, then you likely know that, and more recently,
(24:39):
Norton came on as a partner, which I'm thrilled about
as it kind of completes the circle of cyber protection
not just for those who shop or those who sell
and want to protect themselves, but now all kinds of
protection against malicious software, identity theft, other kinds of scams
out there. So I'm really proud of the partners on
this program and what information we can deliver to you.
(25:02):
If you have any questions for me, you can hit
me up on social media. I'll spell my name in
a moment, but you'll find me on x formally Twitter,
as well as Instagram, Facebook threads, blue sky, LinkedIn, YouTube
and TikTok. It's Mark Saltzman, m aar c s a
(25:22):
l t z m a n. Again, that's Mark Saltzman
mar C instead of m aark. You know my mom
wanted to be different in nineteen seventy. I don't know
what to tell you. We're not French, but hey, and
Saltsman is with a z sa l t z m
a N. All right. You can ask me tech questions,
maybe tied to our first couple of guests about Windows
(25:44):
ten support coming to an end. I'm happy to help
you out. Or if you've got suggestions for upcoming guests
or topics on tech it Out, I'm all yours. Maybe
something you don't like about the program. I'm always open
to constructive feedback for sure. So when we return on
tech it Out, we're going to continue learning out the
Arduino Uno Q and how the company was acquired by Qualcomm,
(26:04):
but most importantly what this forty four dollars device can
do for you crazy And then after that, as promised,
I'm going to share some smart office solutions if you
run a small or home office, so stick with us
more Teck it Out kind of right up after this short.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Break breaking down geek speak into street speak Check it
Out hosted by Mark Saltzman.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Welcome back to teck it Out. We are chatting with
Bobbio Violante. He is CEO of Arduino. These are the
folks behind the brand new Uno Q. It's spelled just
as it sounds Uno and then the letter Q. This
is ideal for creating and experimenting with electronic projects. So
it's a platform that can be used to manage various
(26:57):
elements like LEDs, sensors, motors using code, which again faster
is learning and innovation. Can you tell us more about
the software you get with Q. It's a Linux based machine,
which is also what Android is based on right.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
Yes, absolutely, it is a computer on one side and
it is an Arduino on the other side. So for
the Arduino, of course, and probably in your podcast there
is a lot of people that are familiar with the
Arduino coding. We provide a development tool that allows you
to allows you to create code for sensing the environment,
for actuation, for blinking LEDs and all all those kinds
(27:35):
of things. But there is also a Linux part, and
Linux part means you have a full operating system, the
possibility for people to develop using their preferred programming language.
So in order to lower the barriers to entry to coding,
because Linux is not easy and all those environments are
(27:57):
very sophisticated Android you mentioned that sophisticated, what we have
done is creating what is called the Arduino app Lab
that basically provide a possibility for users to develop code
in Ardueno and have more sophisticated code on the link
on the Linux side, and also AI models that can
(28:19):
be plugged and tested and used as they are for
example face recognition, object recognition, audio recognition. So we combined
altogether in a way that even my mom can take
one of these products and create an application where the
(28:40):
trigger for the activation is a video for example, seeing okay,
it's a cat, I opened the door for the cat.
This kind of application.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Yeah, I was going to ask you about some real
world applications for this, so you could program it for
it to recognize your cat as outside of the door
and it opens up maybe a small pet door for
the cat to get back inside. Yeah, that's that's really neat,
and I like that it passes the mom test, even
though I know there are some very tech savvy moms
(29:08):
out there, of which my mom isn't one of them.
But this is great so that you know, I didn't
know if it was a dumb question to ask you
that along with programming real physical items sensors and blinking
lights and all that, if it can be used like
a regular computer like email or web browsing, or it's
not for.
Speaker 5 (29:25):
That, No, it can, so fortunately we can allow also these.
In fact, we have two ways of using the product,
so as a sort of board connected to you to
your laptop, or as a standalone device. I see, So
you can just use a mouse and keyboard and a
monitor and it becomes your small PC on which you
can run as no code or also other type of task.
(29:47):
So you can send email, you can connect it, use
it as a web server, you can use it as
a normal computer.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
And I think people will be surprised at the price,
which I'll ask you about in one minute. But you
started to talk a little about AI. That's of course
a big buzzword today. So this hardware does support artificial intelligence, right,
it does.
Speaker 5 (30:06):
So the CPU that we have on board as also
a GPU for AI acceleration. Of course you cannot expect
to have chat GPT five running on that.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Now, of course that's not boards.
Speaker 5 (30:19):
But you can do simple to video the complexity.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Like you said, even video recognition that's pretty advas. Finally,
how much does the R doino who know Q cost?
And how do we get going? What's the best website
to learn more?
Speaker 5 (30:33):
It's very affordable. It's forty four dollars that if you
think that it's a computer with also the capability to
handle sensors, and it has also included memory, so you
don't need other things. You're just all in one kind
of thing. Because we have a sort of storage like
the SD cards that you use to plug on your
laptop or your era. It's already embedded on the board,
(30:56):
so it's mounted on the board, so you don't need
extra things. So it's very affordable and it's very practical, honestly.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yeah, wow that you can't beat that price forty four dollars.
And what's the best website to get going, Fabio.
Speaker 5 (31:08):
So it's Ardueno dot CC and we have a store
there and it can be used.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
All right, our Dueno dot CC. Our Dueno is ar
d Ui n O dot CC, ar d Ui n
O dot CC. Congratulations Fabio on not just the launch
of this latest Ardueno device, but also the partnership or
acquisition with Qualcom. Very exciting. Thank you so much for
your time, Fabio. Thank you very much, Mark, what a
(31:34):
packed show so far. We chatted with Microsoft about the
end of Windows ten support last week on the fourteenth
of October. Then we shifted gears and I chatted about
smart home innovations like robotic mops and vacuums and shut
off valves that detect water in your home, and high
tech tools like leaf blowers and nail guns. Then we
(31:55):
spoke with ar Dueno about its latest computer and how
the company was acquired by Qualcomm. It's still in the works,
but there's still more. So after this short break, we're
going to talk about smart office innovations based on a
series of TV interviews I did on Wednesday from New York.
That was a lot of fun chatting with over twenty
stations across the country, which you can see by the
(32:16):
way at Inthnews dot TV if you want to see this.
But after this short break, I'm going to chat with
you about some of my favorites, including I gotta admit it,
I'm a big coffee fan. So the latest Jura machine.
That's Jura. It's the X ten. This is a high
tech coffee machine that can make thirty five different hot
and cold drinks. And even though they do have some
(32:37):
models for the home, this one is for the office
or a waiting room if you are I don't know,
a mechanic, or you've got anybody that sits and waits
for some service to be done. It could also be
for your guests, not just for the employees, so not
just for the breakroom, but for the waiting room as well.
So we're going to get to all of that when
we return to wrap up another new episode of tech
it Out. If you want to hear any previous ones.
(32:59):
By the way, simply go your favorite podcast platform and
do a search for the words check it out. You'll
find episodes dating back weeks, months, and years. All right,
stick with us, We'll be right back with more in
a moment.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Follow Mark Saltzman on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram, listen
to check it out whenever you want.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
So, as I mentioned earlier in the program, I had
a lot of fun on Wednesday live from New York
doing a number of TV interviews across the country, all
to talk about smart office tech tools and essentials, from
managing finances and keeping data secure to fueling productivity. There's
no shortage of awesome smart office tech to make work easier,
(33:49):
and so I thought I would share with you what
I talked about on the air. And if you want
to see the items that I chatted about and see
my TV spot, you can go to Inthnews dot tv.
That's in thenews dot tv. But I first started talking
about ways that small businesses can simplify their finances quick.
In business and personal help, small business owners, entrepreneurs, freelancers,
(34:12):
gig workers, and the self employed manage their professional and
personal finances without having to switch between multiple and often
disconnected tools. In fact, it automatically categorizes business and personal expenses,
really saving you time and aggravation. Along with managing tax
related info. Quick in Business and Personal also gives you
(34:33):
access to the features and capabilities of the award winning
app Quick and Simplify for managing saving schools, tracking investments,
creating personalized spending plans, and planning for retirement. Quicken dot
com has more. I then showed a smart laptop for
busy professionals that's also secure. After all, October is cybersecurity
(34:54):
Awareness month, and for small business owners and remote workers,
securing sensitive data is more critical than ever. The Asus
Expert Book P three is a mobile workstation that features
commercial grade security with fingerprint login options and a built
in web camera shield for added privacy so you cannot
be seen when you're not on a video call. Love
(35:15):
that along with a stellar display and long lasting battery.
There are AI powered tools like Asus Ai Expert Meat
and Windows Copilot that automate tasks to boost productivity. You
can learn more about the Asus Expert Book P three
at Asus dot com. That's Asus dot com. And then, finally,
we all know that we need to fuel our business efforts.
(35:38):
And yes, I'm referring to good coffee to stay productive
all day. From Jura, the global innovation leader in fully
automatic coffee machines, comes the Jura X ten. I would
call it the ultimate workplace coffee station. To keep employees,
clients and guests energized and satisfied. Bring the Barisa to
the breakroom with thirty five different hot and cold brew
(36:01):
coffee specialties from Americano and espresso to cappuccino and latte machiato.
It has an integrated grinder for fresh bean to cup brewing,
while Jura's cold extraction process creates authentic cold brew love
that in the afternoon. Actually visit Jura dot com For
more that's Juur dot com. And again for everything that
(36:22):
I've covered here today, head on over to Inthnews dot TV.
So earlier in the show, I gave a shout out
to Norton and Visa talking about how their partners on
tech it out and they protect you in different ways.
But there is one more and it's a company that
also protects you in yet another way. I'm referring to
sand Disc of course, best known for their storage solutions
(36:44):
both external and internal, but mostly solid state drives and
USB thumb drives, flash memory, and so I wanted to
just spend a moment telling you about them, including its
new SanDisk Creator Series. It's a new line of storage
solutions designed specifically for content creators, the driving force behind
(37:05):
the content that we consume online, from videos and blog
posts to podcasts and social media updates. These external sand
disc SSDs and other flash based products help to streamline
the creative workflow from start to finish. There are five
main features of the sand Disk Creator series. Number one
high speeds, plug and play solutions that offer fast read
(37:26):
and write speeds, ensuring smooth workflows and quick transfers of
large files. Number two durability. These products are designed to
withstand the riggers of on the go use with features
like drop protection and resistance to water and dust. Number
three Portability. This SanDisk series includes several portable SSDs and
other flash drives, making it easy to take your storage
(37:48):
with you wherever you go. Number four compatibility. These sand
Disk products are designed to work with a range of devices,
including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, cameras, and more. Number five
high capacity. There's no longer a trade off between the
durability of solid state drives and capacity for those who
need a lot of storage, as you can have it
(38:09):
all now with drives that can store several terabytes of data.
More info is at sanddisk dot com slash creator. That's
SanDisk dot com slash creator. Hey, thank you so much
for tuning into tech it Out everyone. Hope you like
the variety with the four different topics. If you want
to reach out over social media to ask any questions,
(38:31):
especially as I've seen messages already about Windows ten support
ending last week, so you can hit me up on
Twitter or Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, you name it, LinkedIn whatever.
Mark Saltzman M A r C s A l t
z m A N or for my fellow Canadians SA
l t z m an have a great rest of
(38:52):
your day. Everyone. Thank you for making tech it Out
a small part of it and I look forward to
catching up with you next weekend for another brand new
episode of Check it Out. Bye bye everyone, shout for now.
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