The Big Tech Show

What is Web 3? What will this new era of the internet mean for the average web user? And what technologies will come with it? Alex Tapscott, who has just written a book on the top, peels back the layers of Web 3 jargon to explain what works and what’s hype.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you getting the most out of your iPhone 15? What are the unknown functions on the device that Apple doesn’t advertise? On the show today, Adrian runs through the features you probably didn’t know were available. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Big Tech Show this week, we investigate baby monitors. How much do they cost? What do they measure? And which are the top picks? One technology that has emerged to aid parents during this nervy time is the baby monitor. Adrian was joined on the show today by Freelance Lifestyle Journalist, Cat Hufton to discuss the parenting aid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of motorists' sensitive data was accessible to hackers in a major Garda towing firm IT breach. Over a half a million documents of drivers’, including vehicle registration certs, card details and insurance information were accessible. Joining Adrian to discuss the breach is international cyber-security researcher, Jeremiah Fowler, who discovered the issue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following claims last week by Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave that Israel was engaging in “war crimes” in the Gaza Strip, a number of big-name guests have withdrawn from the tech conference in Lisbon next month. On the Big Tech Show today Adrian speaks to Irish Independent reporter, Tabitha Monahan, about the impact that this will have on the organisation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What lessons did the downfall of Blackberry teach the tech sector? Is the next generation coming to unsettle the tech giants of today? Will Apple and Google become cautionary tales as Blackberry did? Reporter with the Globe and Mail and co-Author of ‘Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of Blackberry’, Sean Silcoff, joins Adrian to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are online reviews to be trusted, given the amount of fakes ones posted? Consumer affairs correspondent with the Guardian, Sarah Marsh, joins Adrian to talk about it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this weeks Big Tech show, is GoFundMe a vital resource for raising much needed funds, or a service that’s papering over the cracks in our creaking welfare and medical systems? GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan joins Adrian to talk about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the Big Tech Show, Adrian dives into the clandestine world of spyware. This follows the disclosure of the Predator files which is a new investigation into the global surveillance crisis by the European Investigative Collaborations media network, with technical assistance from Amnesty International’s Security Lab. Offaly native and head of the Security Lab at Amnesty International, Donncha O'Cearbhaill spoke to Adrian about the negative impact of the Predator spyware application. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's next for Apple? Who's the next CEO going to be? And are they still working on a car or are they facing trouble in China? And will its mixed reality headset the Vision Pro be a success? Journalist and founder of the price comparison platform Squirrel, Stuart Miles, joined me on the Big Tech show to discuss what are the next moves for the Tech See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The iPhone 15 Pro which has scarcely been out for two weeks has encountered issues with some users reporting the device is overheating. The tech company has blamed a bug in its operating system as a main reason for this problem. On the Big Tech Show, Adrian reviews the Ray-Ban Meta Smart glasses and how the technology become more seamless. Finally, Adrian dives into the tweets of Elon Musk over the past 72 hours (about 3 days) and their increasingly extreme nature. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent months it's emerged that a syndicate of Silicon Valley billionaires, including Ireland's Patrick and John Collison, have bought 55,000 acres of farmland in California with the purpose of starting a new city from scratch. Is this a dystopian idea or a fresh way to tackling San Francisco’s housing crisis? Adrian is joined by J.K Dineen from the San Francisco Chronicle to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s plenty to consider before adding a smart doorbell to your home – what brand to go for, what you’ll use it for, wired or rechargeable. It’s not quite as simple as sticking the bell on the door either, with some models coming with monthly subscription services. With the added security could come concerns around privacy. Is a smart doorbell right for you? Adrian Weckler is joined by Belfast Telegraph technology columnist Kurtis Reid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you run a successful startup while studying in college? And what happens when you try to pitch to one of the Collison brothers when you're doing so? On the Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by entrepreneur Robert Davitt who just won Trinity College's Launchpad competition with his startup Fam World, formerly known as HEBE Adventures. It's self-described as the Airbnb of student travel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While a lot of focus was on the new iPhone and Apple Watch releases last week, Apple also released a new AirPods Pro model. With the USB-C charging port the most obvious change, are the earbuds worth upgrading too? iOS 17 was also released this week with some notable updates for your current iPhone. Adrian takes a look at the updates, reviews the new AirPods and examines the new WhatsApp social media feed, Channels.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Apple held its annual launch at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. Among the releases is the new iPhone 15 Pro Max which offers an improved zoom function. Surprisingly, all iPhone euro prices have fallen, and the iPhone 15 Pro is cheaper than last year’s iPhone 14 Pro. There are also updates to the Apple Watch with a more powerful processor and a new way to control it. Are these latest releases worth your money? Adrian Weckler is joined by Stuart Miles and Leo Gebbie in Cupertino. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Ireland introducing the penalty of a thought crime? Could you be arrested and prosecuted for something you’ve written or drawn or just imagined, but never shared online or with another person? Irish Council of Civil Liberties Director Liam Herrick and Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward join Adrian for a spirited debate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new wave of crackdowns on TV ‘dodgy boxes’ is under way, with legal warnings being sent out in seven counties so will a garda be calling to your door? Adrian speaks to Irish Independent Business Journalist Caoimhe Gordon about the latest developments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this month, an IT blunder allowed Bank of Ireland customers to withdraw 'free' cash at ATMs. The incident gained global attention. But it’s not just the banks. The HSE, telecoms companies and all sorts of other Irish ultilities and pillar institutions seem to suffer from recurring IT problems. Irish Independent journalist Sarah Collins joins Adrian to find out why many Irish organisations are so bad when it comes to everyday service-oriented tech.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are seven deadly words you have never been allowed use for your website. The reason? Someone might be offended. Co-founder and CEO of Ireland’s biggest web domains company, Blacknight, Michele Neylon joins Adrian to explain the rules. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disney is going to hike the price of its online streaming service by around €2 following others like Netflix, which have done the same in recent months. Will consumers still pay when the prices go up? Are there any decent alternatives? Adrian speaks to Deirdre Molumby, Audience Editor at Independent.ie and arts journalist Dave Hanratty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will next month's iPhone 15 bring? Are there any interesting new features we should be getting excited about at this point? And what else of interest is there out there in the smartphone world? Adrian looks ahead to the next iPhone launch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland’s electric car charging network has come in for significant criticism over the years. As demand for EVs has risen, the number of public charging points has not increased fast enough to keep up. What's going on with Ireland's electric car charging network? Are we stuck with one of the worst networks in Europe or might things actually start to look up very soon. Adrian Weckler is joined by the CEO of EasyGo, Chris Kelly, to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since Elon Musk challenged Mark Zuckerberg to a cage fight back in June, there have been questions over whether the fight would ever actually go ahead. Now though, it looks like the battle of the tech bros is off, after Zuckerberg posting online that he was moving on, saying Musk “isn’t serious” about the bout. Is this whole thing the cringiest thing to happen in the tech world this year? Does it have any signals for what's happening with the companies involved? Adrian Weckler discusses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With artificial intelligence now a part of most people’s daily lives in some capacity, there are some that are using developments in the technology to have relationships with AI. Is love possible with an AI creation? Could you date one for example? Is there anything wrong with the idea of dating one? Adrian is joined by clinical psychologist Dr Malie Coyne to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls to Ireland’s emergency calls system rose by as much as 50pc this year because of a Samsung smartphone glitch that causes mistaken calls from pockets. Meanwhile, Zoom has asked its staff to return to the office at least two days a week, if they live within an 80km radius of the office. And Irish people spend €108m per month on video streaming services, with the average person spending €28.26 per month. Adrian takes a look at the latest tech news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From starting a TikTok house in Ireland to creating a payments company for influencers and then selling that company to an Irish unicorn, Jake Browne is on a very interesting trajectory through the marketing and tech world. Now he's building the next big ad startup. Jake Browne, founder and CEO of Veblen Giffen joins Adrian on the Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk says he wants X, formerly known as Twitter, to be a super app. But is Revolut getting there first? This week the payments app added car insurance to its list of offerings, which now includes things like credit cards, stock trading, crypto and loans. But things haven't been all positive in tech this week. Accenture has announced 890 jobs at its Irish operation, which is in addition to the 400 cuts announced earlier this year. Can we expect more layoffs in the tech industry or is the tide beginning to turn? Adrian takes a look at the story making headlines in tech this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Big Tech Show, Adrian is joined by one of the best-known tech entrepreneurs in Ireland, Bobby Healy, to discuss his vision for the future and how the next drone delivery trial in Blanchardstown will make Manna the biggest drone delivery operation in the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk has unveiled Twitter's new logo. X will now replace the famous blue bird. There are also plans for the name Twitter to retire and X to replace it as the new brand name for the platform. Meanwhile, TikTok is to introduce new text-only posts on its platform as a rival service to Twitter. And Spotify has announced it will increase the price of some of its most popular subscriptions. On the Big Tech Show, Adrian takes a look at the tech stories making the news this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the best most important gadgets that you may have overlooked in daily life? From home security to lost and found tags we go through the tech you might have missed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twitter has seen a 50pc drop in ad revenue since Elon Musk took over at the social media platform. Now, Twitter has begun paying part of its ad revenue to some profiles with large followings. Is this a way to generate income lost to dwindling advertisers? Meanwhile, Microsoft is set to face its first antitrust probe by the European Union in over a decade for how it has 'bundled' its teams app with the overall Office suite. What could this mean for Microsoft if it is found to have breached anti competition rules? Now that we are the other side of the ChatGPT hype, Google has launched its answer to the AI chatbot, called Google Bard. Is it any good and are the same concerns around misinformation as much a problem for Bard as it is ChatGPT? Adrian takes a look at the big tech stories making the news this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The sale of electric cars in Ireland has been on the rise in recent years, but for those who haven’t turned to EVs, it can be tricky figuring out what you need to know. Adrian is joined by Derek Reilly, founded of Nevo and the EV Ireland YouTube Channel to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been six days since Meta launched its new platform Threads. A rival to Twitter, it has already gained over 100 million users. What is Threads like and can Irish users sign up? Adrian Weckler takes a look at the much hyped new social media platform.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online safety is a topic that we’re yet to find the answer to. Self-regulation by the online platforms doesn’t seem to be cutting it. Now, Ireland has its own online safety commissioner who is tasked with bringing these tech companies in line. Adrian is joined by Ireland’s first online safety commissioner, Niamh Hodnett. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the transition from sports superstar to tech actually like? Bernard Brogan knows more than most. He has won four all-star awards, seven all-Irelands and had a glittering career in the GAA. Now he has just got funding for his startup PepTalk and is looking to grow the business in the US. Adrian is joined by Bernard Brogan for this week’s Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When people talk about quantum computing, they often move quickly to the science fiction area. Stuff like time travel or multiverses. But what is it actually really all about? Adrian is joined by Dr. John Goold, Associate Professor in Physics at Trinity College Dublin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are we so prone to panicking over new technology? Where once we freaked out about video games, the Internet and 5G, now it's artificial intelligence which we worry will cause the end of civilisation. Has our fear of AI gone too far or is it merely healthy scepticism? Adrian is joined by Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at TCD and Barry Lunn, Founder & CEO of Provizio AI. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wexford based Niall Kehoe started coding at the age of eight and developed his own apps when he was 10. Now the Enniscorthy teenager has made it into the world's top tech college, Stanford University, on a full scholarship. Adrian caught up with Niall on a visit to San Jose, California, where Stanford's main campus is. They discuss his journey getting into Stanford, what life there is really like, and what plans he might have next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple's vision of the future is finally here, and they called it the Vision Pro. Is the headset just another failed VR project in the making or can Apple truly succeed where everyone else has failed? From Apple HQ in Cupertino, California Adrian is joined by Stuart Miles and Leo Gebbie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A monorail, solar panels for all and a universal basic income are some of the things that Ireland could do with up to €60bn in extra tech cash from fines, budget surpluses and potential back tax rulings from Europe. But what should we sensibly do with all that money?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everything is changing in the crypto world. There's new regulations which have been broadly welcomed. So what's happened? Well, after years of trash talking crypto as a Ponzi scheme, regulators have now started to embrace it and give it rules to adhere to. Will this make crypto mainstream and what will it mean for those who trade in crypto? Host: Adrian Weckler. Guests: Lory Kehoe and Jon Ihle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a strange week in the world of multinationals, big tech companies and the Irish Exchequer. Ireland seems to be doing its best to turn away an awful lot of money. First, we have the news of Meta's €1.2 billion fine imposed by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner, which didn't want to impose that fine. Now we have the case of Apple and Ireland versus the European Commission, where Ireland doesn't want the €14 billion in back tax that the European Commission says we're owed. Adrian discusses the latest, including the Meta layoffs announced this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is lots of information out there about electric cars; from the grants available to the distance you can go before having to charge up again. Something that has gained in popularity though, are electric bikes. Are they worth the expense and what do you need to know before investing? Adrian is joined by Olivier Vander Elst, co-founder of Greenaer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've heard of the curse of Hello, but what about the curse of the Forbes 30 under 30? From Elizabeth Holmes to Sam Bankman-fried, getting name checked as the next big thing in tech could ironically turn out to be a shortcut to notoriety, prosecution, and maybe even jail. Adrian is joined by Jon Ihle to discuss why some high-profile young entrepreneurs get caught up in the law. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week the VAT on solar panels was scrapped, making them cheaper for those looking to invest. Is now the time to go solar and what do you need to know before you do? This week on the Big Tech Show, Adrian is joined by Brian McIntyre from the SEAI. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the next big thing in tech? A lot of people think Apple's new headset, set to be announced in June could be it. But can Apple make augmented reality a success where so many others have flopped? Adrian Weckler is joined by Stuart Miles, journalist and the founder of the price comparison widget, Squirrel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this month, the 43 year old founder of the Cash app, Bob Lee, was killed in San Francisco. It took police a few days to arrest another tech worker, Nima Momeni, who police say was known to the deceased. But by then, a narrative had spread across the media about Lee being a victim of San Francisco's decline into lawlessness, homelessness and chaos. This week Adrian is joined by the editor of San Francisco’s Mission Local news website, Joe Eskenazi to discuss the case and the coverage that it received. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the next generation of tech founders look like in Ireland? What are they making? How do they think? This week Adrian is joined by one such founder, Jack O’Regan Kenny. At the age of 20, Jack has already founded and exited one company and is now managing director of the Dublin based accelerator, Patch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the launch of GPT4 last month, the world over has been talking about ChatGPT and how it will change our lives as we know it. Aside from the potential negative sides that have been widely covered, are there everyday tasks that this AI tech can help us with? Adrian Weckler takes a look at some of the best examples of ChatGPT making life easier.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.