SouthGeek News – Details, episodes & analysis

In this week’s SouthGeek News, the guys dive deep into tech, AI, aliens, and all things absurdly geeky. Donovan’s upgrading networks like a mad scientist, Ben’s turning his studio into a low-budget EDM lab, and Sam’s exploring Fallout 76 because apparently the apocalypse is more relaxing than real life. They geek out over Wi-Fi 8 (“faster, but not that fast”), real estate agents using AI to catfish homebuyers, and Georgia Tech launching drones that’ll “respond in 90 seconds or less—whether you called them or not.” We also learn that your gaming mouse might be spying on you, SpaceX satellites are falling from the sky like cosmic junk mail, and ChatGPT is auditioning to be your next operating system. Then Sam steals the show with a spine-tingling tale of Kentucky’s Kelly-Hopkinsville Goblins—because nothing says “tech podcast” like glowing eyes in the Appalachian dark. Oh, and yes, someone inevitably made a genital-warts joke. It’s SouthGeek News. You were warned.

LINKS

TP-Link confirms successful Wi-Fi 8 trials — next-gen wireless standard to usher in advances in reliability and latency | Tom's Hardware

Why perfect-looking homes for sale may be too good to be real

Concerns grow after spate of social media posts showing SpaceX Starlink satellites burning in the sky — we are currently seeing a ‘couple of satellite re-entries a day,’ says respected astrophysicist | Tom's Hardware

Georgia Tech’s drone first responder program cuts emergency response time to 90 seconds or less – WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta

OpenAI wants to make ChatGPT into a universal app frontend - Ars Technica

Synology comes to its senses, removes all HDD limitations from 2025 DiskStation models | Android Central

Waymo pulled over by police officer during DUI enforcement operation | KRON4

Harvard study claims AI is manipulating users in terrifying warning

Motion sensors in high-performance mice can be used as a microphone to spy on users, thanks to AI — Mic-E-Mouse technique harnesses mouse sensors, converts acoustic vibrations into speech | Tom's Hardware

ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team | WIRED

Weird File

Did you Know? The Pokemon Sableye was inspired by the Hopkinsville Goblin : r/Cryptozoology

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Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
• Ben:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)

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Donovan and Ben hold down the fort without Sam, who’s apparently still wrestling zoo alligators. Ben drops a hard drive (RIP 10TB of forgotten MP3s), debates whether $1,300 iPads are just overpriced sketchpads, and confesses his Bitcoin stash started as free Monero mining. Donovan rants about Windows 11 upgrades, registry hacks, and Microsoft’s uncanny ability to make File Explorer even worse.

The duo also roast Amazon’s latest “who asked for this?” gadgets, DoorDash’s delivery robots frying in the Phoenix sun, and the rise of AI-generated actresses like Tilly Norwood—because Hollywood definitely needed Scarlett Johansson without the salary. Other stops include Microsoft cutting Israel’s cloud access, Amazon coughing up $2.5 billion in “Prime shenanigans” refunds (a whole $51 each—don’t spend it all at once), Trump’s TikTok fire sale to his billionaire buddies, and a startup peddling psychedelics without the trip.

They wrap up with nostalgia for landline phones—because apparently the hottest new gadget for kids in 2025 is… a corded phone that only calls grandma.

It’s geek news, southern fried, with just enough cynicism to pair with a Reese’s and a Kit Kat.



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Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
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Episode 15 of SouthGeek News kicks off with Donovan and Ben catching up on their recent tech trials and domestic adventures. Ben dives into ongoing frustrations with sluggish Hyper-V VMs running on a weak RAID 5 setup and discusses experimenting with open-source surveillance tools like Shinobi and ZoneMinder, both of which fall short of expectations. Donovan shares his own camera setup woes, eventually conceding that consumer-grade NVRs like Lorex might be the way to go. They swap updates about property searches, lawn rehab, and an ailing Ford Explorer with a famously finicky sealed transmission. A trip down memory lane follows, from the high price of Tift County land to the painful rise of automotive repair costs and the need for backup vehicles—especially when yours might refuse to reverse. The pair shift gears into tech support talk, covering a voicemail transcription upgrade in 3CX and the odd mystery of why forwarded calls started showing up with no caller ID. Spoiler: the fix involved a SIP binding tweak that somehow wasn’t in the documentation. They also take shots at clunky modem suggestions from ISPs and share opinions on Hitron versus ARRIS hardware, SonicWall’s lingering legacy in modern networks, and how WireGuard is quickly becoming the gold standard in VPN tech—especially for those ditching slower protocols like IPSec and OpenVPN. The second half of the episode dives into the tech headlines: OpenAI’s rumored social network ambitions, Claude’s new Gmail integration (with some side-eye), Android 15’s storage requirements, and the absurdity of Microsoft breaking security patches with a missing empty folder. There’s also a nostalgic (and surprisingly passionate) moment where they debate the correct pronunciation of GIF—and retell the arcane saga of archive formats from the BBS era. They wrap up the show with laughter over someone actually paying for WinRAR, and OpenAI's "new" memory feature that everyone thought was already a thing. Along the way, there's snark, cookies, and the eternal struggle between dog lovers and people who just want a clean house. In short, it’s a classic SouthGeek blend of tech, humor, and real-world absurdity—all served with a strong side of geeky storytelling.


Links
OpenAI considering own social network to compete with Elon Musk's X
Anthropic's Claude can now read your Gmail | TechCrunch
Android 15 has a new requirement that could leave your phone behind | ZDNET
Microsoft warns that anyone who deleted mysterious folder that appeared after latest Windows 11 update must take action to put it back | TechRadar
Someone actually paid for WinRAR—here’s how the company reacted
OpenAI updates ChatGPT to reference your past chats | TechCrunch
Mark Cuban backs Skylight, a TikTok alternative built on Bluesky's underlying technology | TechCrunch
China unveils GPMI, an HDMI and DisplayPort rival with 192 Gbps bandwidth and 480W power delivery | TechSpot

Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
• Ben:  Instagram

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southgeek-news--6576669/support.

Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
• Ben:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)

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In Episode 14 of SouthGeek News, Donovan, Ben, and guest host Sam Lewis return with a low-energy but content-packed discussion on recent tech happenings and personal adventures. Donovan opens with an update on the podcast’s move from Substack to Spreaker, triggered by a frustrating account suspension that Substack blamed on a false spam flag. An accidental annual payment to Spreaker sealed the deal, and now all of Donovan's podcasts—including Call Me Donovan and Tifton Talks—are hosted there, complete with dynamic ad insertion. Sam brings the gaming spotlight with a deep dive into inZOI, a new hyper-realistic life sim game positioned as a potential “Sims killer.” He breaks down the character customization, AI-generated textures, and a wild 3D scanning feature that lets users bring real-world objects into the game. While promising, Sam notes it lacks the whimsy that made The Sims a cultural hit. AI takes center stage again as the crew talks about ChatGPT’s massive revenue growth—$415 million a month and counting—and its expanding capabilities in image generation, video, and more. They test out creating strange image prompts (like an alien humanoid centipede in a space suit) and joke about how powerful and unsettling the AI is becoming. Ben also shares his experiments using AI to auto-generate prompts and notes the surreal ease of working with such tools. In other tech news, Amazon is rolling out Nova Act, an AI agent designed to control browsers and perform basic web tasks like making reservations—an effort to catch up to OpenAI and Anthropic, ironically both companies Amazon also invests in. Meanwhile, Microsoft is doubling down on requiring users to sign into Windows 11 with a Microsoft account, removing the popular “bypass NRO” command from upcoming builds—a move the team sees as another step toward locking down user control. Security concerns arise around Google Chrome’s password manager as researchers demonstrate how AI can now generate malware capable of stealing credentials, even without any coding experience. The group strongly advises against saving passwords in browsers and recommends Bitwarden or other secure managers. The episode also touches on Apple TV+ bleeding over $1 billion annually despite its subscriber base, and the hosts debate shows like Severance. As if to cap the vibe, a thunderstorm knocks out Ben’s power mid-recording, leaving him running on battery backup, which only adds to the show’s chill, improvised tone. From podcast platform migrations and image-generating AIs to operating system annoyances and centipedes in space suits, this episode proves that even when the energy is low, the geek content stays strong.

ChatGPT generated images discussed in the show

Centipede 1
Centipede 2
Doctor Who


Article Links
ChatGPT's subscribers and revenue soar in 2025 - here's why | ZDNET
Amazon unveils Nova Act, an AI agent that can control a web browser | TechCrunch
New Windows 11 build makes mandatory Microsoft Account sign-in even more mandatory - Ars Technica
OpenAI says ‘our GPUs are melting’ as it limits ChatGPT image generation requests | The Verge
Google Chrome Password Manager Compromised By New AI Code Attack
How to Avoid US-Based Digital Services—and Why You Might Want To | WIRED
Apple Streaming Losses Top $1 Billion per Year for Apple TV+: Report

Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
• Ben? Unplugged as always.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southgeek-news--6576669/support.

Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
• Ben:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)

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SouthGeek News has moved to Spreaker due to an irritating issue I’ve had, for the 2nd time, with Substack. Please make sure your RSS feeds have updated in your favorite podcast app.

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Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
• Ben:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)

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In this episode, the hosts dive into various tech topics, starting with Samuel’s experience as a beta tester for the Bee wearable AI assistant, a device designed to summarize conversations and transcribe notes in real-time. He shares how it has helped him with podcasting and studying, despite its early-stage quirks. He also introduces Brick, a physical device that locks down distractions on an iPhone by utilizing Apple's Screen Time settings, requiring users to physically tap it to unlock access to apps.Ben discusses his ongoing tech projects, including fixing and breaking his article summarizer tool (used for SouthGeek News) and dealing with UPS package delays. Donovan shares insights into setting up SIP trunks for clients, highlighting frustrations with outdated procedures and corporate bureaucracy in the telecom industry. He also talks about upgrading firewall equipment for improved network performance and navigating the challenges of dealing with tech support for hardware exchanges. The team also discusses the rising costs of health insurance, government clawbacks, and the absurdity of modern ad-supported technology.The show covers several news topics, including Plex increasing prices and limiting remote playback behind a paywall, Roku testing autoplay ads on the home screen, and a malware campaign exploiting fake CAPTCHA prompts to trick users into running malicious scripts. They also discuss a Windows 11 update that inadvertently removed Copilot from the taskbar—something the hosts see as a feature rather than a bug.The conversation wraps up with thoughts on AI, including Google's new Gemma 3 model and the broader implications of AI in consumer tech, as well as reflections on gaming consoles, Linux, and the future of Windows. A lighthearted moment arises when Donovan rants about his struggle to find a non-smart TV and reminisces about classic gaming consoles.This episode is packed with humor, deep technical insights, and the usual candid banter among the hosts, making for an entertaining and informative listen.

Sam’s Tech Suggestions

Bee

Links
Apple will soon support encrypted RCS messaging with Android users | The Verge
Gemini Live will learn to peer through your camera lens in a few weeks - Ars Technica
Google calls Gemma 3 the most powerful AI model you can run on one GPU | The Verge
FBI Warning—Gmail, Outlook And VPN Users Need To Act Now
Windows 11 update accidentally erases Copilot for some users - here's how to get it back | ZDNET
That weird CAPTCHA could be a malware trap - here's how to protect yourself | ZDNET
Microsoft's Remote Desktop app is being killed soon | PCWorldhttps://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/they-curdle-like-milk-wb-dvds-from-2006-2008-are-rotting-away-in-their-cases/
“They curdle like milk”: WB DVDs from 2006–2008 are rotting away in their cases - Ars Technica
Does the World Even Want Digg in 2025?
Important 2025 Plex Updates | Plex

Hosts
Donovan Adkisson
Ben Rehberg
Samuel Lewis

How to contact the show
Email: podcast@southgeeknews.com
Text: (229) 234-1307 
Voicemail:  Voicecast

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southgeek-news--6576669/support.

Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
• Ben:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)

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After a few weeks off, Donovan and Ben are back with stories of surprise houseguests, home repairs, and getting pulled over for expired tags. From leaking windows to the rising costs of cars, they share their latest life updates before diving into the tech news. This episode covers Twitter/X blocking Signal links, Windows 11’s latest update headaches, Starlink’s growing pains, and the growing role of AI in government. Plus, they say a not-so-fond farewell to Skype and debate just how much worse the internet can get. It’s classic SouthGeek News—a little bit of tech, a little bit of real life, and plenty of laughs along the way.

Hosts
Donovan Adkisson
Ben Rehberg

How to contact the show
Email: podcast@southgeeknews.com
Text: (229) 234-1307 
VM;  https://voicecast.app/sgn



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southgeek-news--6576669/support.

Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
• Ben:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)

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A quick note on why we haven’t repleased an episode recently. Thanks for for your patience.



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Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
• Ben:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)

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In this episode of SouthGeek News, Donovan and Ben catch up on the unpredictable South Georgia weather and discuss recent IT projects, including network setups and dealing with frustrating Wi-Fi hardware. Ben shares his unexpected recognition with a Volunteer of the Year award for his hands-on work at a nonprofit.They dive into major tech stories, starting with OpenAI's launch of ChatGPTGov, designed for government agencies, sparking discussions on AI security and efficiency. Congress’s outdated tech is also a topic, with their new flag-tracking app finally catching up to technology Pizza Hut had in 2017.AppleCare’s shift to a subscription-only model raises questions about long-term costs, while the increasing use of subtitles in TV and movies highlights how poor audio mixing has become a growing issue. The conversation moves to DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that claimed to train a model for just $6M—later revealed to have spent over $1.6B on infrastructure.The hosts discuss the impact of state-level adult content bans on VPN usage, noting massive spikes in demand. Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Ring patent suggests gesture-based controls for devices, and Microsoft’s removal of an official workaround for installing Windows 11 on unsupported PCs leads to a debate about unnecessary hardware restrictions.Cybersecurity concerns come up as North Korean malware is found targeting Mac users through fake job interview scams. They also touch on the FCC’s latest move allowing ISPs and landlords to enforce bulk internet deals, limiting consumer choice and competition.The episode wraps up with thoughts on NVIDIA’s stock dip and ongoing GPU pricing chaos. Tune in for the latest in tech news and how it affects everyday users.Links*
ChatGPT Gov: OpenAI launches chatbot for US government agencies* The technology that runs Congress lags so far behind the modern world that its flag-tracking system just caught up to 2017-era Pizza Hut* Apple reportedly phasing out option to purchase multi-year plans of AppleCare+ - 9to5Mac* A lot of angry movie fans seem to be in agreement over why subtitles have become more of a necessary go-to in recent years. | Cinemablend* DeepSeek might not be as disruptive as claimed, firm reportedly has 50,000 Nvidia GPUs and spent $1.6 billion on buildouts | Tom's Hardware* Porn Ban—Millions Of iPhone, iPad, Android Users Now At Risk* Apple’s new Invites app is a showcase for iPhone ecosystem strengths - 9to5Mac* The Next Samsung Galaxy Ring Could Make One Sci-fi Dream Come True* Microsoft removes guide for installing Windows 11 on unsupported PCs - but this hack still works | ZDNET* Macs under attack from North Korean malware stealing passwords and more — how to stay safe | Tom's Guide* FCC chair helps ISPs and landlords make deals that renters can’t escape - Ars Technica

Hosts
Donovan Adkisson
Ben Rehberg

How to contact the show
Email: podcast@southgeeknews.com
Text: (229) 234-1307 
Voicemail:  https://voicecast.app/sgn



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southgeek-news--6576669/support.

Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
• Ben:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)

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South Geek News - Episode 10🎙️ Recorded January 22, 2025In this episode of South Geek News, Ben and Donovan cover a winter storm surprise in South Georgia, tech news highlights, and some personal stories. Here's what we discuss:❄️ Winter Wonderland in Georgia?* Winter Storm Enzo left South Georgia with 4–6 inches of snow! Ben and Donovan recount their snowy adventures and how rare this is for the area.🔧 Tech Talk & News Highlights* Apple Privacy Lawsuit: Details of Apple’s $95 million settlement over Siri privacy violations.* Mac Malware Alert: New Banshee Stealer malware targeting 100 million Apple users—what you need to know.* Affordable Internet Debate: AT&T halts 5G services in New York over broadband pricing laws.* AI in Office Apps: Microsoft 365's AI integration and its controversial price increase.* Intel Graphics Cards: Exploring the new Arc B570 graphics card and its competition with NVIDIA.🚗 OnStar Controversy* GM and OnStar settle an FTC case over selling user geolocation and driving data without consent.🌱 Longevity Research* OpenAI’s collaboration with Retro Biosciences to extend human lifespan by 10 years.🤖 Star Trek Tech?* Meta is working on real-time language translation tools akin to the Star Trek Universal Translator.🎮 Gaming Corner* Updates on GPUs and gaming rigs, including whether the Intel Arc B570 is worth it.🏡 Personal Stories* A chaotic cat moment leads to an unexpected injury and home repair adventure for Donovan’s family.Links* Hey Siri, are you recording?': Apple agrees to pay $95M to settle privacy lawsuit* Critical Warning For 100 Million Apple Users—New Hack Attack Confirmed* AT&T Is Stopping Its 5G Internet Air Service in NY Because of New Broadband Law* It's official: All your Office apps are getting AI and a price increase* Intel Arc B570 review: At $219, the cheapest good graphics card - Ars Technica* OpenAI is trying to extend human life, with help from a longevity startup | TechCrunch* Meta takes us a step closer to Star Trek’s universal translator - Ars Technica* TSMC's Arizona Fab 21 mass produces 4nm chips at a higher price than Taiwan | Tom's Hardware* GM faces ban on selling driver data that can be used to raise insurance rates - Ars Technica* Microsoft just renamed Office on everyone's PCs, and the new name isn't great* Proposed New York Law Could Require Background Checks Before Buying 3D Printers - Slashdot* Apple Intelligence, previously opt-in by default, enabled automatically in iOS 18.3 - Ars Technica* Netflix Q4 2024 Earnings: NFL and Jake Paul Help Drive Subscribers

Hosts
Donovan Adkisson
Ben Rehberg

How to contact the show
Email: podcast@southgeeknews.com
Text: (229) 234-1307 
Voicemail:  https://vociecast.app/sgn



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southgeek-news--6576669/support.

Where to Find Us:

• SouthGeekNews.com
• Leave a voicemail: Voicecast
• Donovan: Socials
• Sam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socials
• Ben:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)

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