623: When Updates and Integration Go Awry: A Case Study

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts tackle a series of tech frustrations including missed live streams, troublesome iPhone camera features, and challenges with Apple TV and Hulu apps. They dive into a detailed rant about modern tech devices failing to work seamlessly, share personal anecdotes of encountering pop-up errors and software compatibility issues, and discuss potential solutions. Special segments include difficulties with remote work, the quirks of Notifications and Permissions in macOS, and the ongoing struggle with the Malwarebytes and Addigy integration. The discussion wraps with user interaction nuances and a nostalgic thank you to a decade-long listener.

00:00 Introduction and Apologies

00:19 Technical Difficulties and Live Stream Issues

00:34 Joe's Haircut and Visual Gags

01:31 Camera Control Button Rant

08:24 Dinner and Hulu Troubles

09:40 General Tech Frustrations

12:51 Coordination Problems in Tech

17:01 Malwarebytes and Agy Integration

17:50 Confusing Security Popups

19:00 User Reactions and Issues

20:23 Malwarebytes and Agy Coordination

20:40 Jerry's Experience with the Issue

25:01 Apple's Notification System

36:22 Remote Desktop Control Challenges

39:26 Listener Appreciation and Conclusion

622: Streamlining Revenue: Affiliate Insights and Network Solutions

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In this episode of Command Control Power, Joe and Jerry dive into the intricacies of network monitoring, leveraging affiliate programs for additional revenue, and the challenges of managing client relationships. They discuss Jerry's struggles with dermatological prescriptions and the importance of staying updated on tech services. The conversation shifts to the mechanics of Amazon's affiliate program, their frustrations with Amazon's strict rules, and how they incorporate other affiliate programs like Backblaze and Uptime Robot into their business models. The duo also shares insights on using tools like Choosy for managing multiple browsers and discusses the pitfalls of extensions like the Honey browser extension. Finally, they highlight the importance of offering network monitoring services to clients and the strategies they use to sell these essential services.

00:00 Introduction and Opening Banter

00:13 Prescription Woes and Dermatology Services

03:12 Amazon Affiliate Program Frustrations

05:25 Affiliate Marketing Strategies and Challenges

11:43 Leveraging Chat GPT for Business Efficiency

20:13 Backblaze Affiliate Success

24:48 Honey Browser Extension Controversy

28:03 Browser Extensions: Pros and Cons

28:38 The Camel Extension for Amazon

29:22 Streamy Yard and Browser Compatibility

30:14 Choosy App for Browser Management

32:00 Affiliate Links and Malware Concerns

36:16 Uptime Robot for Network Monitoring

45:13 Challenges with Network Monitoring

51:36 The Importance of Regular Network Updates

56:37 Subscription Benefits and Conclusion

Best Of CCP - 470: Beans In The Buckets

619: Mac Misfires, Backblaze Blues, and the Cost of Bad Support

In this episode, the hosts of Command Control Power discuss their personal lives and tech experiences, including outdoor activities and everyday tech issues. They delve into a peculiar issue one encountered with a MacBook Pro during an update, which turned out to be related to Dell Display Manager. The conversation also covers Backblaze backup anomalies, Apple's migration assistant quirks, and problematic customer service interactions with vendors like Microsoft and RingCentral. To wrap up, the team reflects on the importance of considering user behavior in quality assurance for tech products and services.

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up

00:54 Unexpected MacBook Pro Issue

03:33 Dell Display Manager Mystery

05:27 Annoying Software Bugs

08:48 Client Troubleshooting Story

17:55 Apple Watch Repair Misunderstanding

23:48 Backblaze Exclusions and Concerns

25:13 MacBook Air Story and Backup Issues

26:32 Backblaze Deduplication and Support

28:15 Trust Issues with Backblaze

30:48 Considering Alternative Backup Solutions

33:53 Client Concerns and Backup Costs

41:48 RingCentral and Phone Services

49:39 Quality Assurance in Tech

52:18 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Invitation

617: Interview with Adam Engst: Navigating AI, Tech Ethics, and Business Models

Interview with Adam Engst: Navigating AI, Tech Ethics, and Business Models

The hosts of Command Control Power are joined by Adam Engst of Tidbits Content Network for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of AI, the ethics of technology in business, and how evolving business models are influencing content creation. Topics include the 35th anniversary of Tidbits, the importance of maintaining human decency in business practices, the future of AI-based answer engines compared to traditional search engines, and the need for businesses to develop AI policies. Engst also shares personal anecdotes and offers insights on how to responsibly integrate AI into everyday professional tasks.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:09 Celebrating 35 Years of Tidbits

01:14 Navigating Current Events and Business Ethics

04:51 Challenges in Business and Academia

07:06 Handling Offboarding and Client Relations

10:12 The Impact of Media and Fiction on Real Life

12:12 A Lesson in Communication and De-escalation

18:15 The Rise of AI and Apple's Struggles

31:35 Introduction to Answer Engines

31:48 The Role of Original Sources

32:12 Impact of Answer Engines on Source Verification

33:03 Commercial Content vs. Non-Commercial Content

35:05 Challenges with Paywalls and Advertising Models

36:04 Micropayments as a Solution

37:07 The Evolution of Business Models

40:46 The Rise of AI Answer Engines

44:30 The Future of Search and AI Integration

58:40 The Importance of AI Policies in Business

01:01:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

616: Backblaze Blues, Alectrona Patch Updates & the MacBook Air That Took Flight

Cirrus Partners

The hosts of Command Control Power discuss recent issues with Backblaze, including failed updates and poor communication, which have eroded trust among users. They delve into the technical struggles with Apple's update processes and highlight improvements to the Electronic Patch software. Jerry shares a personal story about accidentally leaving his MacBook Air on top of his car and the ensuing repair saga, illustrating the importance of awareness and preparedness in the IT field. The episode wraps up with a reflection on the frustrations and foibles that come with managing tech in today's rapidly evolving landscape.

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:12 Backblaze Recap: Communication and QA Issues

01:32 Backblaze Update Problems and User Confusion

03:03 Backblaze's Compromised Credentials and Communication Breakdown

05:41 Inconsistent Communication and Crowdsourcing Solutions

18:18 Apple's QA Issues and Update Problems

33:01 General Frustrations with Technology and Education

35:45 AI Tools for Coders

36:14 Introducing Trona Patch 3.0

36:50 Customizing Patch Notifications

37:23 Client Reactions to Patch

39:39 New Features in Patch 3.0

46:51 Balancing Notifications and Updates

50:39 A Funny Anecdote

51:02 The MacBook Air Incident

55:04 Restoring from Backup

01:00:49 Final Thoughts and Thanks