AwesomeCast 723: Sleep Tracking, Festival Tech & Toyota’s Woven City

This week’s episode brought to you by Indy Wrestling US, Slice on Broadway, Sidekick Media Services and listeners like you at www.Patreon.com/AwesomeCast

Join Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar as they dive into the latest in tech, gadgets, and geeky goodness on AwesomeCast! This week, we cover cutting-edge sleep tracking apps, a unique festival gadget that keeps you connected with friends, the revival of TweetDeck for BlueSky, and Toyota’s ambitious vision for the future of urban mobility. Plus, we explore AI-powered face swaps, new iPads, and a social media alternative for images and videos.

🔗 Show Links from Our Discussion:

• 🎟 412 Thrive Red Carpet Event: 412thrive.org

• 🎧 Support the Show on Patreon: patreon.com/awesomecast

• 🍕 Podcast Sponsor: Slice on Broadway: sliceonbroadway.com

• 📹 Production Services by Sidekick Media Services: sidekickmediaservices.com

• 🏆 Top Rope Tabletop (Pro Wrestlers Play D&D): indiewrestling.us YouTube

• 🚀 BlueSky Multi-Account TweetDeck Alternative: deck.blue

• 📍 Totem Compass for Festivals: totemlabs.com

• 🚗 Toyota’s Woven City Project: toyota.com

• 🤖 Pika AI Face Swaps & Headshots: pika-ai.com

• 📱 New iPads with M3 Chips: apple.com/ipad

📰 News Stories & Tech We Discussed:

1️⃣ Sleep Tracking with Audio Recording - Sleep Cycle Tracker & Sounds

• This app records your sleep sounds, snoring, coughing, and sleep talking while tracking your sleep cycles.

• Local storage for privacy, no cloud uploads.

• Helps identify sleep apnea, restlessness, and nighttime habits.

• Cost: $40/year subscription with free trial option.

• Link: sleepcycle.com

2️⃣ Festival Must-Have: Totem Compass

• A wearable gadget that helps you locate friends in large events without relying on Wi-Fi or cell networks.

• Uses a mesh network with color-coded indicators for each person in a group.

• Features an SOS mode for emergencies.

• Works in a 1,000-meter range and has 10-24 hours battery life depending on settings.

• Ideal for concerts, amusement parks, or large gatherings.

• Link: totemlabs.com

3️⃣ Bringing Back TweetDeck for BlueSky - Deck.blue

• Deck.blue recreates the TweetDeck experience for BlueSky users.

• Manage up to three BlueSky accounts in one dashboard.

• Features column-based views, notifications, and scheduled posts.

• Free to use with a Patreon option for more features.

• Link: deck.blue

4️⃣ Toyota’s Woven City – The Future of Smart Living

• Toyota’s prototype city in Japan designed for walkability and smart mobility.

• Underground roads for deliveries, AI-powered transportation pods, and no personal vehicles.

• First phase completed in October 2024 with official launch this fall.

• Residents are called Weavers and the city aims to test sustainable urban living.

• Link: toyota.com

5️⃣ AI Face Swaps & Headshot Generator – Pika AI

• AI-powered tool for face swaps, enhanced portraits, and professional headshots.

• Costs $2.99 for a standard headshot or $6.99 for high-resolution versions.

• Also offers photo restoration and enhancement tools.

• Link: pika-ai.com

6️⃣ New iPads with M3 Chips Announced

• Apple reveals M3-powered iPads starting at $599 for an 11-inch model.

• Faster performance, longer battery life, and Apple Intelligence integration.

• Available from May 12, 2025.

• Link: apple.com/ipad

7️⃣ BlueSky Alternatives for Instagram & TikTok - Flashes & Blue Screen

• Flashes: An Instagram-like app that pulls photo posts from BlueSky.

• Blue Screen: A TikTok-like app for videos & GIFs shared on BlueSky.

• Helps decentralize social media content while keeping engagement high.

• Link: blueskyweb.org

8️⃣ SAE Baja & UCLA Formula SAE Team Visits

• Mike Sorg shares plans to visit UCLA’s Baja & Formula SAE teams for exclusive interviews.

• Stops include a visit to the SEMA Garage in SoCal for automotive tech discussions.

• Link: sae.org

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

• YouTube: youtube.com/sorgatronmedia

• Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/awesomecast

• Spotify: spotify.com/awesomecast

• Website: awesomecast.com

• Patreon for Bonus Content: patreon.com/awesomecast