The PC Pro Podcast

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.

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 podcast discusses a lawsuit involving false accusations made by ChatGPT, Apple's upcoming mixed-reality headset, and Google's declining search results. They also review the Fairphone Fairbuds XL, environmentally friendly over-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.