Home security cameras are more capable than ever and more affordable. Dom Bettinelli, Victor Lams, and Pat Scott discuss what to consider when buying cameras, including video quality, storage, connection, and more. Plus: Are gamers less attractive?

The post Smart Home Security Cameras on a Budget appeared first on StarQuest Media.

How are podcasts and YouTube videos changing? How are our habits changing them? Dom Bettinelli and Joanne Mercier discuss the state of online media and the changes in the business side and on the way consumers use them are changing the product.

The post The Shifts in Online Media appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Apple revealed its latest software strategy this week, including its latest approach to artificial intelligence. Dom Bettinelli and Joanne Mercier take an in-depth look at the announcements as indicators of where consumer application of this tech could go.

The post Is Apple Intelligence Enough? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Camping gear is tech and Dom Bettinelli and Thomas Sanjurjo revisit the topic to discuss more essential gear like backpacks, clothing, sleeping bags and more. Plus, a strange Vatican foray into NFTs; death online; and subscribing to your car's options.

The post More Tech for Camping appeared first on StarQuest Media.

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

The post Jeff Geerling appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Is putting a deceased loved ones voice in your smart assistant a step too far? Dom Bettinelli, Jack Baruzzini, and Victor Lams discuss the ethical and tastefulness limits of deepfaking, plus more tech news and picks of the week.

The post Grandma Alexa in the Box appeared first on StarQuest Media.

With claims that a Google AI is sentient and has a soul, Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss whether this is possible and what a Catholic understanding of personhood would say about this.

The post Can Artificial Intelligence Have a Soul? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Not only do billions of people use Apple tech, they have a huge influence on the industry. Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jack Baruzzini discuss Apple's announcements, particularly those that would appeal to this audience.

The post Apple’s 2022 OS Announcements appeared first on StarQuest Media.

You don't have to be a super-geek to build your own computer. Dom Bettinelli, Victor Lams, and Fr. Joseph Sund discuss the pros and cons, benefits and potential pitfalls of building your own computer from individual components.

The post Build Your Own PC appeared first on StarQuest Media.

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

The post Delete Yourself from the Internet appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Google I/O 2022 is complete and Dom Bettinelli, Jack Baruzzini, and Thomas Sanjurjo talk about all the new announcements and sift out what's most interesting. Plus, CDC tracking phones; mental health app privacy; and swarming and submarine drones .

The post What’s New From Google appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Spam is a scourge of modern communications. Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Jack Baruzzini discuss their strategies for dealing with unwanted communications and scams that come in via email. text, and calls. Plus, the Vatican's new VR gallery and the end of the iPod.

The post Stop Spam appeared first on StarQuest Media.

It's never been easier or cheaper to make beautiful music in your home. Dom Bettinelli, Victor Lams, and Fr. Joseph Sund discuss how to get started, the software and hardware to consider, and how to share your creations with others. Plus Kindle changes, Apple abandoned app policies, and your data in the Facebook lake.

The post Make Music with Technology appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Protect yourself. Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Patrick Mason discuss tips for keeping you safe and private on the web, from VPNs to public wifi to avoiding social media scams and more. Plus the problem of web rot and link decay; an anti-scam coalition; and more.

The post Master Safe Surfing: Tips for Secure and Private Internet Browsing appeared first on StarQuest Media.

If you've got an old Mac you'd like to extend the life of, why not install Linux on it? Fr. Cory Sticha, Dom Bettinelli, and Joanne Mercier discuss the why and the how, the benefits and potential pitfalls of installing Linux especially on older Macs that no longer receive macOS updates.

The post Linux on a Mac appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Camping is as old as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, but Dom Bettinelli and Thomas Sanjurjo have some tech gadgets, gear, apps, and web sites that will make your next trip safer, more convenient, and more comfortable, whether on a backcountry hike or car camping with the family.

The post Tech for Camping appeared first on StarQuest Media.

If you're looking to get outdoors more, whether after winter or after lockdown, Dom Bettinelli and Pat Scott have apps and web sites to recommend that will help you find great walking trails, look at the stars, learn more about that mountain, bird, or plant nearby, or play a fun game.

The post Tech for Getting Outdoors appeared first on StarQuest Media.

What are the biggest software and hardware flops? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund, and Victor Morton discuss their choices for the dubious award and note how often the flops were just ahead of their time and showed up as successful products later in a different form.

The post Biggest Tech Flops of All Time appeared first on StarQuest Media.

A good power backup can not only keep you working in a blackout, but can extend the life of your delicate electronics. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss how to choose a UPS and tips for making the most of it. Plus, more headlines and picks of the week.

The post Choosing, Buying, and Using a UPS For You appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Alexa, Google Home, and Siri are all good at hearing their names called, but one listener wants to know how to stop them from listening to his toddler. Dom Bettinelli, Jack Baruzzini, and Thomas Sanjurjo give their advice and then also discuss weaponizing open source and drilling into the Earth for unlimited energy.

The post Kids and Home Assistant appeared first on StarQuest Media.

If you're looking for a search engine that censors less or protects privacy more, Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Fr. Andrew Kinstetter have some suggestions. Plus, stay on top of your kids' screentime without taking down your town's internet and is it wrong to make the Amazon driver dance for TikTok?

The post Search for a New Search Engine appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Is old music killing new music? Dom Bettinelli, Victor Lams, and Pat Scott discuss how streaming music up-ended the music industry, including what kinds of music people listen to; Apple's latest Silicon announcements; wireless electric roadways; and patients left stranded when a bionic implant company closes.

The post Streaming Completely Changed Music appeared first on StarQuest Media.

As the war in Ukraine grabs our attention, Dom Bettinelli, Joanne Mercier, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss how tech is shaping coverage and how we can use (and not use) our tech to stay connected without doomscrolling. Plus, the FBI warns on QR codes and then more on tracking tags.

The post Tech Connects Us to World Events appeared first on StarQuest Media.

A Catholic techie was removed from a public crypto project for an old tweet expressing his beliefs. Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jack Baruzzini discuss what happened and how we can be openly Catholic without running afoul of the crowd. Plus, what is the digital dollar and why should we care?

The post Catholic Beliefs in the Tech Space appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Pastoral care is a person-to-person ministry, but as Dom Bettinelli, Joanne Mercer, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss, tech tools from remote meeting software to streaming video boxes to online messaging apps all provide essential assistance to parish staffs in reaching more people.

The post Tech for the Faithful: Empowering Parish Pastoral Care with Modern Tools appeared first on StarQuest Media.

VR tech is more exciting than ever, so Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Fr. Andrew Kinstetter have revisited their discussion of the Oculus Quest with more hints, tips, and techniques for getting the most out of it. Plus, the new Samsung Galaxy S22 and more.

The post What’s New in Oculus VR? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

The IRS has backtracked on its plan to require facial recognition to access your tax data, but Dom Bettinelli, Victor Lams, and Fr. Joseph Sund discuss why the plan was so controversial and problematic. Plus, how much faster our computers are today; a Linux smartphone; and crypto to help those in need around the world.

The post The Government Wants Your Face appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Should we have an expectation of privacy in prayer apps? Dom Bettinelli, Joanne Mercier, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss reports that some faith-related apps are collecting and even sharing how people are using the apps. Plus, Google v. Apple on messages; autonomous car liability; and recycling appliances.

The post Privacy and Prayer Apps appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Keeping your car secure can involve lots of high and low tech. Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jack Baruzzini discuss the rings of security and the cost-benefit balance of various tech to guard your vehicle. Plus Meta's new AI supercomputer; Intel's new chip plant; and Alexa going to the moon.

The post Car Security Tech appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Which cloud storage service is best? Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the various options for personal cloud storage and their pros and cons, and then offer their own recommendations. Plus, whether government should default to choosing free, open-source software.

The post Choosing Personal Cloud Storage appeared first on StarQuest Media.

What are our favorite videogames of all time and now? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund, and Victor Lams discuss their favs, why games aren't just frivolous, and what makes a good game. Plus, cryptomining, 3-d printed homes, and weird CES announcements.

The post Our Favorite Videogames appeared first on StarQuest Media.

As VR becomes more real and accessible, will virtual reality experiences replace real world experiences? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Andrew Kinstetter, and Joanne Mercier discuss the good and the bad, the potential consequences, and what a Catholic worldview has to say about living in the metaverse.

The post Will Virtual Disney Replace the Real Things? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Is the Elf on the Shelf teaching kids bad privacy hygiene? Dom Bettinelli, Jack Baruzzini, and Thomas Sanjurjo discuss some security experts warnings, plus the faith-based concerns as well. Also, a weird Alexa challenge; the world's biggest nuke; and a half-billion in Bitcoin in the trash.

The post Big Brother on the Shelf appeared first on StarQuest Media.

With so many beeps and dings from our devices, Dom, Fr. Andrew, and Pat discuss the distraction problem and strategies for mitigating them, including in our prayer lives. Plus Google locking down files; Facebook live chat support; and the internet's effect on our memory.

The post Notification Distraction appeared first on StarQuest Media.

As the pace of tech change increases, Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Cory Sticha, and Joanne Mercier discuss how the Church and Christians need to adapt to keep up. Plus Big Apple updates to recent stories; a DJ goes AI; and using VR for older drivers.

The post Is Tech Moving Too Fast? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

You probably have a music streaming service but is it the best one for you? Dom Bettinelli and Thomas Sanjurjo discuss the 4 big music streamers (and a couple small ones), their prices and features, and how to decide which one is best for you.

The post Stream Smart: Comparing Music Services for Every Budget and Need appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Rounding out the 2021 Christmas tech gift guide, Dom Bettinelli, Jack Baruzzini, and Thomas Sanjurjo offer up ideas for presents for the tech head in your life that may be off the beaten path. Plus they discuss NunTok, AirTags as theft tools, and Grinch bots.

The post Christmas Gift Guide with Jack and Thomas appeared first on StarQuest Media.

In our second installment of the 2021 Christmas tech gift guide, Dom, Fr. Andrew, and Pat make some suggestions at various price points, including one super nostalgic pick. Plus the singing cactus toy to avoid at all costs.

The post Christmas Gift Guide with Pat and Fr. Andrew appeared first on StarQuest Media.

It's the first part of our annual Christmas tech gift guide with Dom, Joanne, and Fr. Cory, plus Dom shares some tech lessons recently learned; Youtube dislikes dislikes; and 3G going away could affect more people than we realize.

The post Christmas Gift Guide with Joanne and Fr. Cory appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Will a new policy by Meta prevent Catholic orgs and businesses from targeting their ads? Jack Baruzzini, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Fr. Joseph Sund discuss what has really changed and why Catholics should probably not be concerned.

The post No More Catholic Ads? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Facebook is becoming Meta and proposes a metaverse for us all. Jack Baruzzini and Pat Scott discuss the trend of Big Tech wanting to curate our culture, but also looking at some positive potential.

The post Does Meta Matter? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

It's clear social media is broken. Fr. Cory Sticha and Joanne Mercier explore advice for not just how to fix our own use, but how it can be fixed by regulation. Plus, strong-arming by a cable company; AI composing Beethoven; and Alexa in care facilities.

The post How to Fix Social Media appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Looking at a pair of stories in the news, Thomas Sanjurjo and Fr. Joseph Sund discuss what hacking and cheating with tech really mean, including the moral, ethical, and legal questions. Plus new Macs, new Pixels, and an AI Bill of Rights.

The post Is It Really Hacking or Cheating? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

What are we as Christians to do when the tech companies we patronize promote laws and policies and social change that are opposed to our moral standards? Jack Baruzzini, Fr. Andrew Kinstetter, and Pat Scott discuss the principles we ought to follow.

The post When Tech Companies Cooperate with Evil appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Starlink promises to provide high-speed Internet access anywhere on Earth. Fr. Cory Sticha and Joanne Mercier discuss Fr. Cory's experiences as a beta tester of the service. Plus Facebook's woes, Windows 11, and Apple shares Charlie Brown with PBS.

The post Should You Consider Starlink? appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Some say the console wars are effectively, but there's still decisions to be made. Jack Baruzzini, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Fr. Joseph Sund discuss the different kinds of video gaming and all the various options, now and in the future. Plus they discuss sourcing computer parts ethically.

The post Which Game System to Buy appeared first on StarQuest Media.

With identity theft and data breaches becoming more common, Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Thomas Sanjurjo discuss proactive security measure to protect yourself and what to do if your identity or privacy are compromised or if you think it has.

The post Digital Shields Up: Defense Against Identity Theft and Breaches appeared first on StarQuest Media.

The Wall Street Journal has revealed Facebook's internal files on a variety of areas. Dom Bettinelli and Pat Scott discuss the revelations and how they affect and perhaps should affect in the future how we use their and other's services.

The post WSJ’s The Facebook Files appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Apple's latest phones are here and they're an incremental update. Dom, Joanne, and Fr. Cory discuss the latest iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watch and who will want them. Plus, resurrecting the woolly mammoth; tech companies buying up houses; and goodbye to the magnetic stripe.

The post iPhone Lucky 13 appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Most people are renting their modems from the internet providers, but Dom, Jack, and Thomas explain how you can save a lot of money, by buying your own modem. Plus, they discuss AIs and personhood and more.

The post Buy Your Own Cable Modem appeared first on StarQuest Media.