The PC Pro Podcast

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 product launches at MWC, Apple's electric car project rumors, AI coding debate, a disastrous Willy Wonka event in Glasgow, optical disc storage advancement to store 200 terabytes, and tech products pricing strategies.

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. They also explore the worry over electric toothbrushes being absorbed into malicious botnets and the latest developments in right-to-repair legislation. The episode covers the Ubiquiti UniFi Enterprise 8 PoE as the Hot Hardware candidate. Additionally, they discuss the capital expenditures of hyper cloud companies and the risks and benefits associated with investing in AI technologies. AI-enabled insights and job search on LinkedIn, a user information leak on the Spoutable platform, the opening of Blue Sky microblogging site, account control and switching for Wi-Fi access, and the limitations of Wi-Fi 7 chipsets are also discussed.

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.