Christian Johnson with Foreflight, Lastpass v Bitwarden and AI Updates – HGG597
Christian Johnson is back this week and catch up with him and his quest to complete his pilot’s license. We also get an update on his thoughts on LastPass and Bitwarden and wrap the show with some updates on AI. Bonus: Christian was recently in the news, but not for what you think. Check it all out and thanks for listening!
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Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg597
Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #597 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.
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Show Segments
- Tech gadgets and news with guest Christian Johnson.[0:00]
- Christian Johnson joins Jim Collison on The Average Guy Network to discuss tech gadgets.
- Podcasting, pilot’s license, and AI.[1:48]
- Christian Johnson reflects on 13 years of hosting Home Gadget Geeks, including the evolution of podcasting and the impact of AI.
- Christian is currently working towards obtaining his private pilot’s license, with 106 hours of flight time and 214 takeoffs and landings completed so far.
- Christian Johnson is working on his instrument rating, which will expand the types of weather conditions he can fly safely in.
- He estimates it will take him about 9-12 months to complete the training, flying one to two times a week.
- Weather apps and their accuracy for pilots.[7:23]
- Jim Collison and Christian Johnson discuss the importance of understanding weather for pilots, with Johnson sharing his experience using ForeFlight for weather briefings and flight planning.
- Johnson explains how ForeFlight provides detailed and accurate weather information, including hourly forecasts up to 10 days out, and how it has changed the way he consumes and thinks about weather.
- Jim Collison and Christian Johnson discuss the importance of accurate weather forecasting for pilots, who need to know wind direction and speed to navigate safely.
- Johnson explains that commercial weather products, like ForeFlight, are held to a higher standard of quality and accuracy than general weather apps or news channels, which can help pilots make more informed decisions.
- Weather apps, weather stations, and password management.[13:05]
- Jim Collison and Christian Johnson discuss the usefulness of weather apps and weather stations, with Jim expressing interest in setting up a weather station at his home studio.
- Christian Johnson mentions he’s more interested in building a ham radio station first, but finds weather stations “super cool.”
- Christian Johnson and Jim Collison discuss their experiences with password managers LastPass and Bitwarden, with a focus on new features and security assessments.
- Christian Johnson discusses new password list technology and its evolution in the phyto framework.
- Christian Johnson expresses skepticism towards LastPass’s pricing model and features compared to BitWarden.
- Johnson highlights the open-source nature of BitWarden as a significant advantage, with the ability for security practitioners to review the source code and identify potential vulnerabilities.
- Password management and rotation.[23:06]
- Jim Collison segregates passwords by browser, intending to change them as he goes.
- Jim Collison and Christian Johnson discuss the idea of an auto-rotating password feature for password managers, with Jim expressing hope that this feature will become a standard in the future.
- Jim also considers deleting his LastPass account and moving his passwords to Bitwarden, but expresses uncertainty about the safety of doing so.
- Password management and technical debt.[27:26]
- Christian Johnson suggests prioritizing password rotation based on last use, rather than alphabetical order, to ensure important accounts are protected.
- Jim Collison agrees, highlighting the limited damage that can be done if an account is hacked, such as changing a credit card on a Disney+ account.
- Jim Collison mentions he has 225 accounts to clear out on Freshdesk, including banks, credit cards, and other sites.
- John says he’s only changed the major accounts, while Jim has more to delete, and John may have deleted some others.
- Password managers and accountability.[33:11]
- Jim Collison and Christian Johnson discuss the challenges of managing multiple password managers and the need for a common standard or approach to migrate web applications to an identity framework.
- Jim Collison expresses frustration with the thought of going through Bit Warden and deleting accounts, while Christian Johnson shares his experience of migrating off RoboForm and using a one-time backup of the vault file.
- Jim and Christian discuss password managers, with Jim sharing his experience using LastPass and HelloFresh.
- HelloFresh meal delivery service and AI technology.[38:10]
- Jim Collison and Christian Johnson discuss their experiences with HelloFresh, a meal kit delivery service, and share tips for using the service.
- Jim and Christian discuss HelloFresh meals, including shepherd’s pie, and Jim shares a dad joke.
- AI growth and its impact on technology.[42:30]
- Christian Johnson notes that AI is growing faster than the internet, with people becoming desensitized to the term despite its significance.
- Christian Johnson highlights the rapid growth of AI, with advancements in semiconductors driving innovation and change in chip manufacturing.
- Johnson believes the industry is still in the early stages of AI adoption, with significant potential for growth and development in the next 2-3 years.
- AI’s potential impact on technology and society.[47:17]
- Christian Johnson discusses the potential of AI in battery research, citing an article that reveals Microsoft AI discovered 18 new battery materials in just 80 hours.
- Former Open AI exec Zack Cass suggests AI could be the last meaningful thing humans invent, sparking a discussion on the implications of this statement.
- AI is rapidly advancing, with major tech companies retooling to keep up.
- Christian Johnson discusses Microsoft’s new minimum RAM requirements for AI PCs (16 GB) and Samsung’s competition in the AI smartphone race.
- Johnson notes the shift towards AI in various devices, including phones, desktops, and cloud infrastructure, and how it’s still early days for AI despite market hype.
- Using AI locally for automation and generating insights.[54:19]
- Christian Johnson suggests using AI locally for generative tasks, while Jim Collison is more focused on automating human aspects of maintaining the operating system.
- Johnson envisions AI-powered tools for automating tasks and improving productivity.
- AI ethics, personalized answers, and generative AI models.[58:05]
- Christian Johnson discusses the potential for AI to be personalized based on local culture and customs, raising ethical questions about how to distinguish between personalized and location-based answers.
- Jim Collison wonders if creating a local AI signature, combining personal history and preferences with cloud-based models, could provide a more accurate and personalized AI experience.
- Christian Johnson mentions that there are no meaningful guardrails in place for new versions of Windows, as people may have good intentions but there are no definitive requirements.
- Jim Collison questions the accuracy of a generative AI’s minimum requirements for Windows 12, as it provides conflicting information and struggles to keep up with current events.
- Collison and Johnson express concern about AI’s accuracy and transparency in addressing complex problems.
- AI, trusted sources, and a bear sighting in a ski resort.[1:05:20]
- Microsoft is planning to release Windows 12 in late 2024, but has not officially announced a release date as of February 2023.
- Christian Johnson shares his encounter with a rare black bear while skiing at Heavenly Resort in California.
- Bear encounters and musical hobbies.[1:09:08]
- Christian Johnson was 30 feet away from a bear while skiing and noticed the bear was more interested in the group standing slightly downhill than the person standing close by.
- Christian Johnson and Jim Collison discussed the possibility that bears are hibernating less due to the availability of food, with Christian suggesting that humans are not very good at keeping food away from bears.
- Christian Johnson has been playing violin for 25 years, including 15 years in a county orchestra.
- Christian Johnson: Playing in an orchestra is like being part of something greater, connecting people through music.
- Johnson: The richness and complexity of classical music is remarkable, with masterpieces frozen in time that we still recreate live.
- Music theory and violin playing with a focus on its expressiveness and technicality.[1:16:17]
- Jim Collison and Christian Johnson discuss the mystical nature of classical music, particularly the violin, and how it has evolved over 500 years.
- Christian explains that the violin is unique in that there are no set positions marked on the instrument, and the position of the finger on the string determines the note produced.
- Christian Johnson highlights the expressive range of the violin, noting it spans four and a half to 4.7 octaves, significantly more than the average vocalist.
- Johnson reveals he played the saxophone for a couple of years, but has since moved on to other instruments.
- Music, flying, and hosting with Christian Johnson.[1:21:37]
- Christian Johnson and Jim Collison discuss violin-making and flying, with Christian sharing his experience playing the instrument and Jim mentioning his neighbor who restores violins.
- Jim Collison and Christian Johnson discuss the use of Discord for family communication and hosting reliable high-speed hosting from Maple Grove Partners.
- Jim thanks listeners for their support and announces upcoming guests Bob and Ryan from think computers.org, who will discuss their findings at CES.
More from Chat GPT
My Question: What is the process for getting a pilots license and how long does it normally take?
The process of obtaining a pilot’s license involves several steps, and the duration can vary based on individual circumstances and the type of license you’re pursuing. Here is a general outline of the steps involved in obtaining a private pilot’s license in the United States:
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Be at least 17 years old.
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.
- Hold at least a third-class medical certificate issued by an FAA-authorized aviation medical examiner.
- Ground School:
- Attend ground school or take an online course to learn the theoretical aspects of flying, including navigation, aerodynamics, regulations, and weather.
- Flight Training:
- Log a minimum of 40 flight hours, including at least 20 hours of flight training with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flight time.
- Flight training covers various maneuvers, navigation, emergency procedures, and other essential skills.
- Written Exam:
- Pass the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test, which is a written exam that assesses your understanding of aviation principles.
- Solo Flight:
- Complete solo flight hours as part of your training, demonstrating proficiency in handling the aircraft on your own.
- Cross-Country Flights:
- Conduct cross-country flights, which involve navigation and planning longer flights to different airports.
- Night Flight:
- Complete a minimum of 3 hours of night flight training, including one cross-country flight and 10 takeoffs and landings at an airport with a control tower.
- Checkride (Practical Test):
- Pass the FAA Private Pilot Practical Test, commonly known as the checkride. This involves a flight portion with an FAA-designated pilot examiner who evaluates your flying skills and knowledge.
The total time it takes to obtain a private pilot’s license can vary, but many individuals complete the process in around 50 to 70 hours of flight time. Factors affecting the duration include the frequency of flight lessons, weather conditions, and individual learning pace.
My Question: Give me some testimonials from individuals how have gone thru the process and have given some advice on how to complete it successfully
While I don’t have specific testimonials from individuals in my database, I can provide you with some general advice and insights that are often shared by those who have successfully completed the process of obtaining a private pilot’s license:
- Consistency is Key:
- Many successful pilots emphasize the importance of regular and consistent flight training. Keeping a steady schedule for lessons helps build and retain skills effectively.
- Stay Committed to Ground School:
- Students often highlight the significance of dedicating time to ground school. Understanding the theoretical aspects of aviation is crucial for passing the written exam and being a knowledgeable pilot.
- Build a Good Relationship with Your Flight Instructor:
- A positive and communicative relationship with your flight instructor can greatly enhance your learning experience. Clear communication and trust contribute to a more effective training process.
- Take Advantage of Solo Flight Time:
- Pilots often advise making the most of solo flight hours. This is an opportunity to reinforce skills learned during training and gain confidence in handling the aircraft independently.
- Practice, Practice, Practice:
- Successful pilots stress the importance of regular practice, not only during lessons but also outside of formal training. Additional practice can help solidify skills and improve overall proficiency.
- Be Patient with Weather Constraints:
- Weather conditions can impact flight training schedules. Pilots often recommend patience and flexibility in dealing with weather-related delays, as safety always takes precedence.
- Actively Participate in Cross-Country Flights:
- Engaging in cross-country flights is seen as a valuable experience. It allows students to apply navigation skills in real-world scenarios and builds confidence in planning and executing longer flights.
- Prepare Thoroughly for the Checkride:
- Successful candidates stress the importance of thorough preparation for the checkride. Being well-prepared, both practically and theoretically, contributes to a smoother and more successful evaluation.
- Network and Learn from Peers:
- Connecting with fellow aviation enthusiasts and students can provide valuable insights and support. Learning from the experiences of others can offer additional perspectives on the training process.
- Enjoy the Journey:
- Pilots often emphasize the joy of learning to fly. Embrace the experience, enjoy the process, and celebrate milestones along the way.
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Popular Tags: Podcast, Home Gadget Geeks, Jim Collison, Christian Johnson, Foreflight, Lastpass, Bitwarden, AI, Maplegrove Partners, Hellofresh, Discord
