The PC Pro Podcast

The team discusses growing security concerns over Microsoft’s new Windows Recall feature, a storm in a toothmug over Oral B’s discontinued smart bathroom products, and Intel and AMD’s latest salvoes in the unfolding TOPS war. As sometimes happens, our Hot Hardware candidate is actually a piece of software, namely the latest release of the free LibreOffice suite.

The team is split over Google's wisdom in selling a smartwatch - plus subscription fee - for kids. Plus, our take on what's going on at OpenAI, why iFixit has broken up with Samsung and what we can learn from the "leak" of Google's search algorithm. And our Hot Hardware candidate is the Panasonic Toughbook 55 Mk3, a semi-rugged but portable laptop.Links:https://blog.google/products/fitbit/fitbit-ace-lte-smartwatch-kids/https://www.ft.com/content/ccbdff7c-ede3-4d62-968d-189fb0205075Custom GPTs open for free ChatGPT users - The VergeHUGE Google Search document leak reveals inner workings of ranking algorithm (searchengineland.com)Why turning motherboards to jelly could be a sustainability breakthrough thanks to vPCBs | TechFinitivehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqee727vnzmoTape is so dead, 152.9 exabytes of LTO shipped in 2023 • The RegisterPanasonic Toughbook FZ-55 Full HD Touch Screen Mk3 14" Rugged Windows 11 Pro Notebook. From £2115.00 plus VAT (ultima-computers.co.uk)

The team explores Microsoft’s new Arm-based, AI-focused vision for Windows PCs; we also discuss the postponement of the UK landline switch-off, and ask how worried we should be about old web pages dropping offline. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Pixel 8a, the cheaper, smaller version of Google’s flagship smartphone.

The team discusses the latest announcements from Google’s I/O conference, leaked details of upcoming ARM-based Windows laptops and OpenAI’s new smarter-than-ever large language model. Our Hot Hardware candidate is Barry’s brand-new 13in iPad Pro – the latest M4 model with all the trimmings.

The team discusses Apple’s new M4-powered iPads, Ofcom’s proposals to keep kids safe online and Jack Dorsey’s quiet departure from the Twitter rival he founded. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Pokit Pro, a handy Bluetooth tool that serves as a multimeter, oscilloscope and more.

The team discusses new UK legislation that outlaws insecure default passwords, questions Google’s enormous payments to Apple and learns very little from Tim’s trip to Hungary. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Lenovo Legion Go, a handheld gaming PC that runs full Windows.

The team discusses the latest generative AI features added to Photoshop, considers the prospect of a US-wide ban on TikTok and revisits the eternal debate as to whether 8GB of RAM is enough for a laptop. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Passmark USB Power Delivery Tester, a clever tool that measures just how many watts your USB power supply is really putting out.

The team discusses new adverts popping up in Windows, an attempted deepfake attack on LastPass and the latest AI gaming innovations from Nvidia. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Asus RT-AX57 Go, a fully functional Wi-Fi 6 router that fits in your pocket.

The team discusses Google’s new video presentation tool, AI-based exam marking and how the UK police plan to use facial recognition to crack down on shoplifting. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Gurgle Apps Wi-Fi Word Clock, a fun and (just about) practical project based on the Raspberry Pi Pico W.

The team refuses to talk AI this week, instead focusing on a hack that bypasses hotel door locks, the latest Spotify price rises and why Samsung believes that Bixby is still worth backing. Plus, how much it costs to keep Windows 10 running, 20 years of Gmail and Barry tries to convince the panel that a pair of smart glasses should be Hot Hardware of the Week.Links mentioned in this week's episode:https://predr.ag/blog/wifi-only-works-when-its-raining/https://ee.co.uk/smart-tech/smart-tech/tcl-nextwear-s-plusAnd finally, our thanks to Nick Gassman for his much-needed help with the recording!

The team discusses Microsoft's Surface devices with AI capabilities, Oregon's new right-to-repair legislation, Affinity software's acquisition by Canva and X’s upcoming chatbot, Grock. Our Hot Hardware candidate is Seagate's 20TB Exos X20 enterprise hard drive.To get your hands on a signed copy of Stuart Turton's latest book - The Last Murder at the End of the World - click this link to the Waterstones bookshop.

The team discusses Microsoft’s appointment of a new CEO of AI, the shocking story of a SIM-swapper and the truth about recyclable plastic packaging. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the HP Spectre Fold 17, a tablet-cum-laptop with a huge folding screen that can be yours for just cough-mumble pounds.

The team discusses Apple’s plans to lower the fences on its walled garden, Airbnb’s ban on surveillance cameras and Tim Berners-Lee’s future tech predictions. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Synology BeeStation, a simple, low-cost NAS appliance designed to replace Google Drive and other cloud storage services.

The team discusses a new milestone in Linux adoption, Apple’s bad-tempered compliance with new EU gatekeeping law and the latest spats in the world of AI. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Keychron C3 Pro keyboard; honestly, I can’t remember what’s supposed to be special about this one but Barry loves it.

The team discusses the latest product launches at MWC in Barcelona, the end of Apple’s long-rumoured electric car project, AI coding predictions and a chocolate-themed disaster in Glasgow. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Millennium Falcon Multi-Tool, a compact multi-tool in the shape of – well, you figure it out.

The team discusses Microsoft’s new chipmaking deal with Intel, and rounds up the latest developments in the world of AI. We also discuss the DoJ’s controversial “white-hat” hacking of infected routers, and Amazon’s new Echo Hub smart-home controller. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Cetaitun Firewall Mini PC, a cheap, compact, silent computer with six Ethernet ports…And if you like the sound of that, you can buy it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CJC4J5RC

In a week where Mark Zuckerberg declares the Meta Quest 3 is better than the Apple Vision Pro, the team - Rois, Jon, Barry and Tim - beg to disagree. Plus, why proving that you’re the creator of Bitcoin is tricky, Barry’s take on Otter’s attempt to usurp Copilot in Teams and Barry attempts to persuade everyone (including himself) that the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 should be Hot Hardware of the Week.

The team discusses skyrocketing investments in AI and cloud hardware; a collapse of employee morale at Google; and a clever trick that breaks Microsoft’s BitLocker disk encryption. We also ask how worried we should be by reports of electric toothbrushes being absorbed into malicious botnets, and round up the latest developments in right-to-repair legislation. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Ubiquiti UniFi Enterprise 8 PoE, a high-speed Layer 3 network switch costing under £500.Finally, as promised, here’s a guide to enabling a BitLocker PIN in Windows 11: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/enable-or-disable-bitlocker-to-unlock-os-drive-at-startup-with-pin-and-usb-in-windows-11.4140/

The team discusses the first full reviews of Apple’s Vision Pro headset, new moves to regulate AI abuses, dissatisfaction over the UK government’s security plans and the serious consequences of “swatting”. Out Hot Hardware candidate is the Ubiquiti U7 Pro, the first wireless access point we’ve seen with Wi-Fi 7.

The PC Pro team discuss the implications of Amazon Ring sharing information with the Police and how Apple is reacting to the implementation of side-loading apps onto its devices. We look at Microsoft's planned upgrade of USB4 and chat about HP's plans to turn PCs into a subscription business. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Samsung S24 Ultra

The team discusses a pending lawsuit over ChatGPT’s notorious hallucinations, a mixed reception for Apple’s mixed-reality – sorry, “spatial” – headset, and independent confirmation that Google’s search results are getting worse. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Fairphone Fairbuds XL, an environmentally friendly pair of over-the-ear headphones.

In an on-location special, the team reports back from Las Vegas with their picks of the products and technologies unveiled at CES 2024.

The team is joined by CTA director Brian Comiskey for a look ahead to next week’s CES 2024 expo. We also discuss the technologies and companies that we said goodbye to during 2023, explore the US’ brief Apple Watch ban and consider new features coming to Windows. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the HP Envy Move, a “luggable” all-in-one PC with a 24in screen and a four-hour battery.

It’s time for the PC Pro podcast's festive quiz: Darien Graham-Smith takes the chair and subjects podcast regulars Barry Collins, Tim Danton, Lee Grant, Jon Honeyball and Rois Ni Thuama to a thorough grilling on the big tech stories of 2023.

The team is in a reflective mood, discussing the key AI developments of 2023, including how its use is crossing into the legal world. We celebrate landmark Right to Repair victories and chat about how fibre broadband has powered the work-from-home revolution. We ask why Spotify is laying of 17% of its workforce and look at VR for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Hot hardware for this week is the TCL NXTPAPER 11 tablet.

The team discusses new proposals for age verification on adult websites; a security threat affecting almost every Windows and Linux computer; predictions of doom for the Firefox browser; and the latest developments in quantum computing. Once again we have two Hot Hardware candidates – a tiny pocket spot welder and a compact torch capable of beaming out a dazzling 4,000 lumens.

In a packed show, the team discusses topics including Samsung’s acquisition of smart music streaming service Roon, British Library data leaking onto the dark web, a possible fraud investigation into Elon Musk and some unfortunate misdirection in Google Maps. As if that weren’t enough, we look at two Hot Hardware candidates – the Dremel 3-in-1 Multi-Vise and the Divoom Timebox.And here’s the video of the AirJet laptop cooler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0k46Wnq3Rk

The team discusses a turbulent weekend for OpenAI’s senior management, new developments in the battle of blue vs. green messaging bubbles, and Google’s latest moves to put pressure on ad-blockers. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Honor Pad X9, a big-screen Android tablet costing just £140.

The team discusses the big announcements from Microsoft’s Ignite conference, including new in-house chips for Azure, a name change for Bing Chat and custom apps for Copilot Studio. We also consider Meta’s call for parental controls in app stores and Google’s new experiment in allowing users to annotate search results. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Eero Max 7, the first Wi-Fi 7 mesh to reach these shores.

The team discusses the first indications of how the UK’s online safety measures will be enforced; the launch of new user-configurable GPT bots; and discontent over Apple’s dubious RAM claims. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Bambu Lab P1P, an affordable and easy-to-use 3D printer.

The team discusses steps towards the global regulation of AI systems, Apple’s new “scary fast” M3 Macs and criminal charges for the SolarWinds CISO who was at the helm during a disastrous cyberattack. Our Hot Hardware candidate is VisiWave Site Survey 7, a nifty tool for mapping out wireless network coverage.

The team asks whether Microsoft was right to abandon its mobile phone platform; looks forward to faster ARM chips for Windows; and ponders new efforts to defeat fake reviews. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 – it’s been out for a little while, but have we grown to love it?

The team is joined by Fiona Dear of the Restart Project to discuss the upcoming International Repair Day; we also consider plans to offer GCSE exams on laptops and Qualcomm’s new Android chip based on the open-source RISC-V architecture. Our Hot Hardware candidate is an iPhone 12 Mini, originally released in 2020 but newly acquired by real-worlder Lee Grant.LINKS:International Repair Day is on Saturday 21 October 2023 and there are events all over the planet, many of them in the UK. There’s an interactive map so you can find out what is happening in your area: https://openrepair.org/international-repair-day/2023-events/ If you can’t attend in person, Global Fixers are running an online repair cafe on Saturday between 11am and 2pm - https://discord.gg/WZd4xWd To find other Restart Parties and community repair events in your area, visit: https://therestartproject.org/parties/ Fiona Dear (https://therestartproject.org/about/who-we-are/) is the Co-Director of The Restart Project (https://therestartproject.org)

The team discusses Google’s plan to phase out passwords, proposals aimed at improving the trustworthiness of AI-generated images and a new OS that puts your personal PC in the cloud. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, one of the first ChromeOS laptops to bear the new “Plus” branding.

The team discusses a competition probe into Amazon and Microsoft’s cloud services, new phones and software from Google, and an unusual upgrade that converts an Intel laptop to AMD. As happens from time to time, our Hot Hardware candidate is a piece of software, namely the AI-powered Arc Max browser.

The team discusses the latest product releases and updates from Microsoft’s AI and Surface event – plus all the news from Meta Connect. Meanwhile, a major bank bans cryptocurrency payments and the Raspberry Pi 5 makes its debut. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Rolling Square AirCard, an Apple-compatible location tag that fits in your wallet.

The team discusses product chief Panos Panay’s departure from Microsoft, the latest software and device launches from Amazon and mixed news on tech sustainability. Our Hot Hardware candidate is Linksys’ Velop Pro 6E, the cheapest Wi-Fi 6E mesh currently on the market.

The team discusses a critical bug in a popular online image format, a ransomware attack that shut down a string of major hotels, and the latest news from Apple’s “Wonderlust” event. Our Hot Hardware candidate is Adobe Firefly, the AI-powered image-generation tool that’s now fully built into Photoshop.

The team discusses the UK government’s climbdown on banning end-to-end encryption, a welcome change in Windows 11 and the prospect of Apple’s first iPhone with USB Type-C charging. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Geekom Mini IT 13, a compact and powerful PC for a very modest price.

This week the team is joined by airline pilot Gavin Hall to discuss the recent collapse of the UK’s air traffic control system. We talk about Elon’s plan to add voice calling to X and Apple’s sudden support for Right to Repair. Additionally we look at the new Fairphone 5 and reveal why it can be so hard to order a McFlurry. Our hot hardware this week is the WiPry Clarity from Oscium.

The team discusses plans to float chip designer Arm on the Nasdaq stock exchange; the latest twist in Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision; and a report suggesting that 40% of workers will need AI training in the coming years. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, the company’s latest, shiniest, most waterproof Android tablet.

Real-World contributor Rois Ni Thuama joins the podcast as we discuss reports of defective SanDisk SSDs, Google and Amazon’s latest plans for generative AI and the legal fallout from recent data breaches in Northern Ireland. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, a clamshell-style smartphone.

The team discusses a concerning spate of institutional data leaks, asks whether Facebook really affects your mental health, and raises an eyebrow at Zoom’s demand for employees to start coming into the office. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Hak5 Packet Squirrel Mark II, a pocket-sized network-monitoring device.

The team discusses Intel’s return to profitability, warnings that a discarded printer could leak your Wi-Fi password, and an under-the-bonnet refactoring for Chrome OS. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Asus RT-AX59U, a compact Wi-Fi 6 router that’s crammed with high-end features for a very reasonable price.

The team discusses the new products launched at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event, the abrupt renaming of Twitter and the potential dangers of overheating e-bike batteries. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP, a USB microphone aimed at podcasters, streamers and anyone else wanting to capture high-quality vocal recordings.

The team discusses Microsoft’s AI-powered Copilot service, a new type of wireless networking based on infrared light, and the unexpected consequences of Netflix’ crackdown on password sharing. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Ubiquiti WiFiMan Wizard, a tiny portable Wi-Fi scanner that works with an iPhone to analyse and troubleshoot network connections in any location.

The team discusses a potentially significant resignation in the emerging XR market, says farewell to Intel’s diminutive NUC platform, and looks back over a huge first week for Threads. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Inventr.io Adventure Kit 2, a pack of components that introduces kids to electronic engineering through a series of hands-on challenges themed around a thrilling space adventure.

The team discusses Twitter’s latest travails and the arrival of Meta’s new Threads app; controversy over the use of facial recognition to crack down on shoplifters; and the latest accomplishments of AI researchers. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Synology DVA1622, a NAS appliance with built-in security camera support and machine-learning functions for smart surveillance capabilities.

The team discusses the Australian PM’s surprisingly on-point cybersecurity advice; a new privacy-focused browser from DuckDuckGo; more criticism of the UK’s proposed anti-encryption laws; and how Wimbledon is using AI to analyse player pairings. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Cherry UM 9.0 Pro RGB, a multicoloured microphone aimed at streamers – check out some sample recordings at pcpro.link/347cherry.

The team asks whether Amazon makes it unreasonably difficult for customers to unsubscribe from Prime. We also cautiously welcome quantum breakthroughs from Intel and Microsoft, and ponder Lenovo’s new initiatives aimed at making its laptops greener and more repairable. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Geekom AS 6, a mini-PC with a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 processor.