Many people are “tech-savvy” these days, but most people really don’t care about the technical details of the technology they love so much. There is nothing wrong with that: you can love fast cars without even knowing how they work under the hood, but there will always be curious tech geeks who need an extra layer of knowledge.
It used to be difficult for you to find such information. Buying niche books written in inaccessible jargon might be your only option. Perhaps a careful study of online message boards or forums can help you gain the necessary technical knowledge.
Either way, delving into the surface specs and marketing fake was a worthy Middle-earth adventure! Things could be different today. Media platforms like YouTube are ideal for introducing desired content to niche audiences.
So if you’re craving a little more meat than the mainstream technology channels have to offer, why not reserve a table at one of these excellent online establishments and dig into the good order of the dirty parts, with some degree of geek satisfaction.
Digital Foundry
If you’ve ever stared blankly at a list of graphical options menus and didn’t understand what they mean, then Digital Foundry is the channel for you. It is linked to the respected Eurogamer website and provides videos that dive deeply into technologies such as computer graphics, physics simulation, audio, and all the hardware that makes it possible.
The site is mainly focused on graphics and video game equipment, but anyone interested in computer graphics or computer technology in general will find many practical explanations for the most complex cutting edge technology.
– /
There are a fair share of retro focus videos as well, so if you’ve ever wanted to know what’s really going on under the hood of the old computers and consoles you grew up on, Digital Foundry can help you.
Techmoan
There are over 800k subscribers at the time of writing, so it would be wrong to call Techmoan a “hidden gem” on YouTube. However, Techmoan provides a unique mix of tech reviews that feature both new and retro new and downright weird hardware. Techmoan looks at everything, including some incredibly obscure yet very interesting technology.
Have you ever heard of VHD Videodisc? How about a pen with a built-in calculator? How about a digital clock from the 70s? There are technological oddities here for every tendency, all captured in videos with clear, welcoming explanations and excellent manufacturing value.
8 Bit Guy
If you are a fan of the golden age of home computers, the 8-bit guy is an absolute must-have destination. A presenter is someone who really understands the details of computer technology from the 80s to the 2000s. 8-Bit Guy is mostly retro porn tech, but you learn so much while drooling over old beige boxes that it feels almost like a free course in computer history.
The channel is good at showcasing some of the most interesting and influential devices of those three (or so) decades, but the host also excels at creating really interesting and original projects.
For example, a series of videos attempting to use “legacy†products to see if they can be used today. There are also many educational recovery projects that are also a great way to see and understand the internals of computers.
Louis Rossman is a unique personality on YouTube. Working in his computer repair shop in New York, this outspoken tech guru never had an opinion he didn’t want to share. Some people may find his personality somewhat cocky, but don’t argue with the purely technical know-how hidden in this often foul-mouthed brain.
The production values ??in his videos are mostly missing, and most of them are either a lengthy recording of Louis fixing diabolical problems with electronics by talking to ordinary peasants through it, or the person himself sits in a chair and talks to the camera.
On paper, this may sound inconclusive, but take your time to judge. Nobody else is going to give the general public a chip-level look at what lies behind the shiny facade of the latest MacBook. Many of the Macs he comes across are clearly decommissioned, but Louis will repair them even if Apple doesn’t want to!
Technology Contacts
In some ways, Technology Connections is a bit like Techmoan, but the focus here is on the theory of how specific technologies work. Could you please explain exactly how a VCR works?
Watch this video and you will feel like a newfound electronics engineer. The channel really shows how the technologies around us work, and perfectly explains the amazing inner world of devices that are out of date.
The production and editing quality is also head and shoulders above most YouTube channels, and in the 90s it would have been a must on television, giving it a unique charm. If you’ve ever looked at your TV or air conditioner and thought, “How does it actually work?†“Connectivity technologies†is the place for you.
Discover Tech Diamonds on YouTube
While these five channels represent some of the best the YouTube tech community has to offer, that’s just the tip of the iceberg! It seems that there is no such esoteric topic that someone does not find an audience for it.
Pro YouTubers have reached the point where they can run networked TV programs for their money, even if the channel is run by one person! If you have a favorite tech YouTube blogger that everyone should know about, disconnect on social media and share the love. You can never watch too many good tech videos!
–