The PC Pro Podcast

The team discusses the UK government’s new proposals to keep the internet safe, the unwelcome appearance of advertisements in Windows and the latest tech fallout over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Out Hot Hardware candidate is the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500, the first standalone Wi-Fi 6E router to reach our Labs.

The team discusses the new hardware unveiled at Apple’s “Peek Performance” event, a dramatic hack attack on Nvidia and controversy over a hidden performance-management feature on Samsung phones. Out Hot Hardware candidate is the Vissles V84, a mechanical keyboard with hot-swappable keys.

The team discusses the tech industry’s responses to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a warning from gaming luminary Sid Meier and the latest announcements from the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Elgato Stream Deck 2, a programmable controller that can streamline almost any task.

The team discusses Intel’s newest range of laptop chips, how sport and sex are moving into the Metaverse and the end of 3G. Our Hot Hardware candidate is Samsung’s newest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S22 Ultra.The BBC’s exposé of the lack of child protections in the Metaverse: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-60415317

How do you protect children when they’re using online platforms such as Roblox? Jon, Tim, Lee and Barry tackle this contentious issue, before giving Chrome OS Flex a workout, pouring cold water on a BCS “call” to extend the life of smartphones to ten years, and discussing Starlink’s loss of 40 satellites. Finally, our Hot Hardware candidate - the Amazon Echo Show 15 - gets something of a roasting.

The team discusses the new products unveiled at Samsung’s “Unpacked” event, Microsoft’s belated move to properly block macros in Office and a kerfuffle over Meta’s apparent threat to pull out of Europe. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E, a mesh system with support for the new 6GHz networking standard.

The team discusses the controversial case of a man facing prison for a tasteless tweet; the WWF’s planned move into NFTs; and a mysterious new laptop that promises to do away with physical connectors. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Astro Slide 5G, a classic 1990s-style PDA with a modern Android operating system.Check out the unlikely Craob X laptop for yourself: http://craob.com

The team discusses rumours of a new Google AR headset, the latest breakthroughs in quantum computing, an initiative from the UK government to help small businesses shore up their security and some good news – at last – for Intel. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Logitech POP Keys, a keyboard with customisable emoji keys.And if you want to buy the Microsoft Surface Duo for £679 while stocks last, here’s the link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/d/surface-duo-unlocked/8p98gbqkdzl5

The team discusses airline safety fears over 5G telecoms, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision and Intel’s apparent plans to launch a new dedicated Bitcoin-mining chip. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Ubiquiti Switch Pro Aggregation, a huge Layer 3 switch at a remarkable price.

The team discusses a chip shortage affecting Canon’s printer cartridges, the arrival of PCI-E 6 and a new way of identifying cyberattacks from their electromagnetic signatures. Editor Tim Danton delivers his first-hand impressions of CES 2022, and our Hot Hardware candidate is the GeoFlex 340, a low-cost convertible laptop.Featured link: That Microsoft Surface SE repair video – https://youtu.be/fVjjSqfp75g