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The PC Pro Podcast

Every week the team behind the UK's biggest technology monthly discusses the latest news and issues in computing and mobile tech.

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The team gives a puzzled welcome to Google’s new “Googlebook” laptops, and a more cautious one to Meta’s new Muse AI assistant. We also explore why mobile coverage is actually getting worse in major UK cities, and look at a possible way to reduce the energy consumption and cooling requirements of data centres. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the iPhone 18 Pro Max, so calibrate your expectations accordingly.

Episode 808: Are you enthused by Muse?

This week, Barry Collins, Jon Honeyball and Lee Grant decide if the brakes need to be deployed on AI development. We also look at a study saying that teenage reading standards have dropped and then debate Baroness Benjamin's bill to apply licensing to social media.Our Hot Hardware of the Week candidate is the OpenRun Pro 2 from Shokz

Episode 807: Let's throw social media through the round window

The team discusses the newly unveiled iPhone Duo, along with other announcements from John Ternus’ first major event as Apple CEO. We also ponder whether employers are right to incentivise the use of AI, and debate whether OpenAI acted properly in the way it went about solving a major mathematical puzzle. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the TP-Link Archer BN800, a new high-end router with an integrated power supply.

Episode 806: An unfolding story

The team welcomes incoming Apple boss John Ternus, ponders warnings that AI could wreck financial systems and gapes incredulously at Sony’s attempt to argue in court that digital assets cannot be owned. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Coros Pace Pro, a serious sports watch with a long battery life and plenty of premium features.

Episode 805: Apple Inc. has been updated to CEO 8.0

The team discusses Meta’s $18bn settlement over claims its platforms are harmful to children, welcomes LinkedIn’s battle against “AI slop” and ponders a major new partnership for the privacy-focused GrapheneOS smartphone platform. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Asus ROG Strix GS-BE7200, a gamer-oriented router that’s fast and versatile enough to power any home network.

Episode 804: Don’t tell mum the babysitter’s Facebook

The team reveals what excited them from last week’s Google Pixel Event (spoiler: not much), engages in a thoroughly depressing game of The Price is Right and discusses how subtle word choices may expose AI-generated text. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Ugreen magnetic NVMe SSD enclosure, a neat little caddy that snaps onto the back of your iPhone for top-quality video capture.

Episode 803: AI watermarks CouLd be Almost UnDetectablE

This week the team discusses Google’s AI staffing shakeup, NVIDIA’s latest funding round and Amazon’s new gas-powered data centre. We find out what happens when you email noreply.net, why Meta glasses are under threat and examine the new EU Right to Repair Directive.Our Hot Hardware of the Week nominee is Valve’s Steam Machine.

Episode 802: Alexa, can you smell gas?

The team discusses the case of a US citizen who tricked border agents into wiping his seized phone; new ways to prove your identity with a video selfie; and a new generation of scam calls powered by frighteningly believable AI agents. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Home Assistant Green, a little box that brings together all your smart home services into one convenient, open-source platform.

Episode 801: What secret code do you have to enter to erase this podcast?

In a landmark episode the team discusses an alarming AI jailbreak, the EU’s continuing efforts to weaken Google’s monopolies and LG’s ingenious but deplorable trick of using Windows Update to distribute adware. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Devolo BE6500, the cheapest 6GHz Wi-Fi 7 router we’ve ever seen.

Episode 800: I am begging Sam Altman to read just one Isaac Asimov book

This week the team discuss proposed improvements to Windows Search, Apple goes to war against OpenAI, Meta's AI HR wrangle, social media curfews and a moratorium on data centres in New York.There is also a lot of talk about Lego.The link to the Microsoft Blog mentioned in our first story is here.Our Hot Hardware of the Week nominee is the Pebble Time 2 smartwatch.

Episode 799: Will Windows’ solution for searching finally be a searching solution?

The team discusses a hidden ID code in Windows that could be used to track your online activity; updated regulations that make it harder for Brits to object to new data centres; and a fine for Virgin, for making it unreasonably difficult for subscribers to cancel. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Lenovo Yoga Pro 27UD-10 QD-OLED monitor, a 4K OLED display with a clever adjustable webcam.

Episode 798: Want to be anonymous online? Start by ditching Windows

This week the team discusses Microsoft's stay of execution for Windows 10, a worrying report on social media's safety features and the return of Fable 5. We also chat about Epson's day in court to answer questions relating to planned obsolescence.Our Hot Hardware candidate is the FixHub Soldering Toolkit from iFixit.The two links mentioned in the show are:Broken, Buried or MissingHelp with HOP's legal fees

Episode 797: Windows 10 refuses to die...again

 The team discusses reports that AWS and Microsoft Azure may be classed as “gatekeeper” services by the European Commission; we also look at the first court case won by an AI-assisted legal firm, a new social-media addiction lawsuit and Google’s big investment in AI-powered film-making. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Ubiquiti Vape Detection & Air Quality Sensor – it’s more technically interesting than it sounds, we promise.

Episode 796: Can EU regulation really make it easier to switch clouds?

In a deviation from our usual format, the team sets out to nominate the top 50 apps of all time, with help from our live listeners on Discord. Listen in on the debate, and look out for our rundown of the final 50 in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

Episode 795: I’m-a let you finish, but these are 50 of the best apps of all time

In a rare double-header, Barry and Darien discuss the main announcements from Tim Cook’s final WWDC, what’s next for two of the biggest AI platforms and whether the EU was right to make Meta allow third-party chatbots back onto WhatsApp for Business. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Zenco Tiny T1, a matchbox-sized mobile phone that costs just £30.

Episode 794: Hey Siri, can you actually do AI now?

In a secluded hotel room somewhere in Taipei, Jon and Tim discuss the most interesting and promising products they’ve seen at Computex, plus some of the week’s other major news stories.

Episode 793: Live (sort of) from Computex

This week we discuss memory crisis profiteering, a new piracy clampdown, confusing roaming charges and an expensive accident with a MacBook Pro. The Hot Hardware of the Week is Acer's PD1520U ultra-short-throw projector.

Episode 792: Who's making money from the memory crisis?

The team discusses the throwing-out of Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, new product announcements at Google I/O 2026 and an investigation of Microsoft’s business software ecosystem by the UK Competition and Markets Authority. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Ultra R9X Pro Gaming PC, an elegant and powerful desktop system that manages to squeeze in 32GB of RAM for less than £4,500.Comment on the Microsoft investigation at: tinyurl.com/propodcma

Episode 791: Google is getting smarter (whether you want it to or not)

The team discusses how demand for new data centres is driving increased electricity bills and water shortages – sort of – and checks out the latest regulations for lithium-ion power banks on planes. We also welcome reports that future Apple computers might have Intel inside once more, and wonder whether Google’s new Googlebook concept could be the future of computing. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Apple AirPods Max 2, a pair of noise-cancelling headphones so quiet and comfy that Jon claims he can fall asleep on a plane wearing them.

Episode 790: The data centres are coming (and we’re all going to pay)

The team discusses a spate of major security flaws affecting Linux, Microsoft Edge and the cPanel web administration software. We also look at how kids are getting around online age checks, and ponder the US government’s plan to test and certify AI models. For this week’s Hot Hardware spot we completely rip up the rule book to showcase not one but two software tools, named FineTune and WhatCable. One helps you set volumes for different audio devices, while the other tells you the technical specifications of your USB cables and devices; there can be only one winner.

Episode 789: A bumper week for cyber-criminals

The team discusses the high-profile legal showdown between Sam Altman and Elon Musk; new Claude Design features that could transform the way we create websites and presentations; and a big step forward for China’s DeepSeek AI engine. As a palate cleanser after all that AI stuff, our Hot Hardware candidate is the TCL Nxtpaper 70 Pro, an Android smartphone that can switch between a regular IPS display and a “TruePaper” e-reader mode.

Episode 788: “It’s a bit like watching Chelsea play Arsenal”

This week the discusses the legacy of Tim Cook and his replacement as the CEO of Apple, John Ternus. Also on the agenda is Meta's plan to use staff to train AI and why some researchers are questioning the validity of survey data due to...you guessed it, AI. There is also news from Intel, Framework, Brave and Lidl (yes, that one).Our Hot Hardware of the Week nominee is the Acer ProCreator PE270XT monitor.

Episode 787: It's time to Ternus the page on Tim Cook's tenure at Apple.

The team discusses steep price hikes for Microsoft devices, argues over Amazon’s controversial cutting-off of old Kindle models and wonders exactly who would want to talk to an AI-powered virtual clone of Mark Zuckerberg. Our Hot Hardware candidate this week is in fact a piece of software, namely DaVinci Resolve 21, which builds on the package’s powerful video-editing capabilities with a new photo-processing module.

Episode 786: You wouldn’t download an ebook to your car

The gang discusses a new experiment to see how Welsh voters are exposed to political content on social media, waves an unsentimental farewell to the Mac Pro and laments the intrusion of ads into a) our open-source coding projects and b) our kitchens. In our regular Hot Hardware segment, Barry attempts to justify the purchase of his Apple MacBook Pro 16in with M5 Pro processor.

Episode 785: Cynnwys gwleidyddol ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol

The team discusses Microsoft’s plan to make Windows slicker and more user friendly, America’s ban on basically all foreign-made home routers and the closure of OpenAI’s Sora video-generation service. We also raise an eyebrow at Elon Musk’s characteristically ambitious decision to build the world’s biggest silicon fabrication plant. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Ugreen Nexode, a multi-port 500W desktop power supply that can simultaneously charge five laptops and an iPod.

Episode 784: Making Windows cool again (good luck!)

Let's start with what we finished on for a change: the Apple MacBook Neo, in the flesh. Jon Honeyball proposes it as the Hot Hardware of the Week, but not without opposition...Also this week, Barry explains what you need to know about Alexa+, which landed in the UK this week (you may want to mute your Echo!). Jon shares why he's so annoyed by the Companies House breach, Nik explains why brain-cell powered computers may be the future, and Tim reveals what's been happening at Nvidia's GTC 2026 event.

Episode 783: What we really think about the Apple MacBook Neo

The team looks at Amazon’s embarrassing AI-related outages, asks whether BBC iPlayer should join forces with other major UK broadcasters and weighs up a Norwegian initiative aimed at reversing the trend for everything in technology to gradually get worse and worse (you know the term). As occasionally happens, our Hot Hardware candidate is in fact a piece of software, specifically a real-time transcription tool called Typeless that uses AI to turn your spoken words directly into polished prose.And if you want to read the Forbrukerrådet report referred to by Lee, you can find the English version here: https://storage02.forbrukerradet.no/media/2026/02/breaking-free-pathways-to-a-fair-technological-future.pdf

Episode 782: Sure, the code took Amazon down for six hours, but at least it’s commented

The team discusses Apple’s latest product announcements, including the cheap and colourful MacBook Neo; we also look at Lenovo’s new modular laptop concept, and kick over the US government’s spat with AI developer Anthropic. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Sekonic C-800-U spectrometer, a useful device for checking colour consistency in creative environments.

Episode 781: Eight gigabytes ought to be enough for anybody (it never gets old)

This week the team chat about Claude Cowork, the change in leadership within Microsoft's XBOX division, rumours of a touchscreen Mac and Ofcom's fines for adult sites that don't implement age verification.Our Hot Hardware of the Week candidate is a Dell's 52" monster monitor.Jon's ZEISS Lens Wipes can be bought at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZEISS-Binoculars-Individually-Disposable-Spectacle-White/dp/B00IKGH2TI/

Episode 780: Claude would like to be your Coworker

The team discusses the growing impact of worldwide shortages of RAM and storage, new security alerts in Windows and a prediction that white-collar jobs could be on the way out. Our Hot Hardware candidate is Starlink Mini, a portable white rectangle that can get you online from anywhere.

Episode 779: PodcastPlayer.exe wants to access your podcast feed

The team discusses new research that analyses your personal shopping history for potential health issues; explores Moltbook, the new social media platform that’s strictly for AI agents; and debates the UK’s light touch on app store monopolies. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the RØDECaster Video S, a mini-production studio that lets you mix and stream multiple live video and audio feeds from a portable desktop console.

Episode 778: Could too many Jaffa Cakes lead to a call from the GP?

Barry, Olivia, Jon and Lee discuss whether Microsoft has finally realized that users don't want Copilot forced into every corner of Windows. The Data Use and Access Act 2025 is under the spotlight to understand what the legalisation of automated decision-making means for your privacy. The team also ponder why the 8K TV dream has ended.Our Hot Hardware of the Week nominee is the BenQ Halo 2 ScreenbarFor more information about the Chrysalis Backdoor for Notepad++: https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/tr-chrysalis-backdoor-dive-into-lotus-blossoms-toolkit/

Episode 777: Ejecting the Copilot?

The team discusses a class action lawsuit alleging that Apple Pay has pushed up banking prices for everyone, asks whether Microsoft was right to hand over encryption keys to the authorities, and ponders whether Mozilla’s “rebel alliance” of AI upstarts has a chance of defeating the dark side. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the ElevationLab Five-Year Compact Battery for AirTag, an expanded battery case for your Apple AirTags that lasts… wait, I wrote it down here somewhere…

Episode 776: Will Apple pay over Apple Pay?

The team discusses the ballooning cost of RAM, and a steep and sudden price hike for Rackspace email customers. We issue a cautious welcome to the newly rebooted Digg, and ponder a possible UK-wide social media ban for under-16s. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the XPJBKC heated mouse mat, an affordable desktop accessory designed to keep your fingers warm on those cold winter evenings.

Episode 775: The return of the 4GB laptop?

The team discusses reports of Elon Musk’s Grok platform creating non-consensual smut; Apple’s big AI partnership with Google; and dissatisfaction over Roblox’s attempts at age verification. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the UniFi Travel Router, a cheap, compact little hotspot that lets you replicate your home network (and even connect back to it) from anywhere in the world.

Episode 774: Grok, remove the new clothes from this emperor

In our annual dispatch from the world’s biggest consumer technology showcase, Tim Danton and Jon Honeyball battle jetlag to discuss the top technologies they’ve encountered in three long days of traipsing the halls, including Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 3 processors, the return of Dell’s XPS laptops and the continuing evolution of self-driving cars. Our pundits also look ahead to new developments in health-monitoring wearables, before signing off for a well-earned rest. The podcast returns to its usual weekly schedule next Thursday, 15 January.

Episode 773: Live (almost) from CES in Las Vegas

It's time for the annual PC Pro Podcast's festive quiz extravaganza!Dust off your Santa hats and grab a glass of eggnog! Darien Graham-Smith returns as our grand-quizmaster, presiding over a chaotic and hilarious battle of the wits. He’s challenging the elite PC Podcast team of Tim Danton, Rois Ni Thuama, Jon Honeyball, Nik Rawlinson, and Lee Grant on the biggest tech stories of 2025.Across 13 grueling rounds of abbreviations, classic computing, and the ever-evolving world of AI, our experts face off in two rival teams: Moore’s Outlaws vs. Control-Alt-Defeat. From the physical specs of 1980s Macintoshes to the inner workings of modern chatbots, this episode is a high-stakes, buzzer-beating test of technical dominance.Who will claim bragging rights for the next year?

Episode 772: Our 2025 Tech Quiz Extravaganza

The team debates Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s, the return of smart glasses and a US proposal to require tourists to hand over a trove of personal data – including social media posts. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Hoxe Air Tracker, a neat little tracking tile that does basically the same thing as an Apple AirTag for a third of the price.

Episode 771: Is the kids’ social media ban fair dinkum?

Joined by special guest Geoff Campbell, the team discusses the arrival of advertising in ChatGPT, Apple’s apparent defiance of the Indian government and whatever the hell is happening to RAM prices. In a podcast first we also pilot not one but two “Rants in Brief”; our Hot Hardware candidate is Geoff’s self-specified “Mega-UPS” system, which slashes server-room power costs by loading up on cheap energy in the middle of the night and discharging it by day.

Episode 770: ✅ If you like, I can generate hot singles in your area

After a six-month absence, we welcome back Rois Ni Thuama to the PC Pro podcast. What's she been up to? Well, it all started when she helped a woman who had collapsed on a beach... Joined by Tim Danton and Nik Rawlinson, the team dissects the good and the bad of the UK's budget from a tech perspective, argues about the role of supercomputers and discusses an EU proposal to stop kids from accessing social media, before Rois explains why the insider threat to data security can't be ignored.This week's Hot Hardware candidate is the Cherry Xtrfy K33 - could this (kind of) mechanical keyboard break the drought and win the award? Listen to the end to find out.

Budget 2025 for tech: the good, the bad and the missing

The team discusses new “agentic” features being added to Windows, debates the merits of AI-generated podcasts and asks how angry we should be with Cloudflare for accidentally taking down a significant proportion of the internet earlier this week. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Logitech Muse, an ingenious spatial stylus for the Apple Vision Pro that lets you point, trace and draw virtual objects in three dimensions.

Episode 768: You’ll have to talk to my agent

This week the team discuss the state of computing within the UK education sector, the forthcoming trio of gaming goodies from Valve: the Steam Controller, Steam Machine and Steam Frame then take a look at a new virtual production studio built by Sony Professional.Our Hot Hardware of the Week nominee is Blackmagic Camera ProDock

Episode 767: Steam Machine, ClickFix and Norfolk

The team discusses the pleasant surprise of Affinity making its creative software suite completely free, an unfortunate bug in Windows 10 and the smalltown data-centre boom. We also look at a new approach to manufacturing chips that packs in the transistors more densely than ever before, and welcome the Logitech MX Master 4 mouse as our Hot Hardware candidate.To learn more about the data-centre controversy, read the report that Lee was referring to: https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/sites/stpp/files/2025-07/stpp-data-centers-2025.pdf

Episode 766: A small church, two pubs and a data centre

There's no getting away from the march of AI this week, whether it's Elon Musk's AI-generated Grokipedia, how OpenAI is dealing with searches related to suicide (and more), the sweeping loss of jobs thanks to AI or Adobe's move to embrace other image-generation models beside its own.Too much AI for your liking? Luckily, our Hot Hardware this week has nothing to do with artificial intelligence. Instead, Barry nominates the Raspberry Pi 500+, a Raspberry Pi PC baked into a mechanical keyboard.

Episode 765: Grokipedia's a Wikipedia copy, right?

The team discusses the massive AWS failure that took down some of the internet’s biggest sites and services, and look forward to the AI-powered future of Windows. We also search our feelings about Amazon’s increasing use of automation to replace human workers, and try out OpenAI’s new ChatGPT-powered web browser. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the BOOX Note Max, an A4-sized e-Ink tablet for reading and note-taking.

Episode 764: Sorry, I can’t because of the Amazon outage

This week the team discuss Windows 10's role in the battle against software obsolescence, Clearview's slap down by the Information Commissioner’s Office, Equity's fight with AI and a return to pen and ink for British business.Our Hot Hardware of the Week nominee is the Unifi UNAS-2

Episode 763: Microsoft's potty training

The team discusses Qualcomm’s acquisition of Arduino, and AMD’s new partnership with OpenAI. We also look at the rise of AI-powered web browsing, plus Apple’s latest anti-Microsoft video. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Philips Brilliance 5K monitor, a feature-packed, high-quality display that costs less than you might expect.

Episode 762: Don’t blame me, the AI was controlling my browser

The team discusses new smart home devices from both Amazon and Google, Spotify’s crackdown on AI-generated content, an experimental digital DJ for YouTube and the snazzy Raspberry Pi 500+. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the HiMont Kids Camera Instant Print, a fun little digital camera that produces receipt-style thermal printouts of whatever you choose to snap.

Episode 761: Hey Google, are you actually going to be intelligent now?

The team discusses LinkedIn’s bid to use your professional data for AI training, Nvidia’s big partnership with Intel and Mark Zuckerberg’s latest attempt to get Facebook literally onto your face. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Devolo WiFi 6 Router 3600 5G, a fully featured Wi-Fi 6 router with a built-in SIM slot.

Episode 760: Not content with taking our jobs, AI is now taking our CVs too

The team discusses Google’s big investment in a new UK data centre – and the concomitant environmental cost. We also share frank opinions of Apple’s latest OS updates and find out what people are really using ChatGPT for. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the MSI Modern MD342CQPW, a dirt-cheap 34in widescreen monitor that’s perfect for working with multiple documents or driving a simulated truck across Europe.

Episode 759: The dirty future of AI comes to Essex

The team discusses the latest product unveilings at Apple’s annual iPhone event, plus Tim’s pick of the announcements at IFA. We also discuss two new court rulings against Google – they never seem to win one – and a potential employment crisis hitting tech graduates. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the UniFi SuperLink, strictly speaking not a product but a protocol that promises to simultaneously simplify and enhance IoT deployment and management.

Episode 758: For everyone who’s ever looked at an iPhone and thought “if only it were thinner”

The team discusses a court victory for Google and the company’s proposal to restrict sideloading of unverified apps onto mobile devices. We also look at Microsoft’s new in-house AI models, and its plans to make OneDrive the default destination for Office documents. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Google Pixel 10 Pro, the latest Android “flagship” smartphone (I hate that word).

Episode 757: In which Google doesn’t have to sell Chrome after all

The team discusses the UK government’s apparent climbdown over its previous demands for a back door into Apple users’ encrypted communications, and casts an eye over Google’s new range of Pixel 10 smartphones. We also look at who’s investing in Intel, and ponder how we feel about paying a subscription to unlock extra performance in your car. For the first time ever, we conclude with a “Hot Platform”, comprising the latest release of Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve video-editing software, the new URSA Cine Immersive camera and the Apple Vision Pro you’ll need in order to watch your immersive footage.

Episode 756: Life looks good at 100x zoom

The team discusses how OpenAI’s new GPT-5 model has proved disruptive in the worst possible sense, and how Starbucks in South Korea is fighting back against encroaching technology. We also look at Wikipedia’s failed legal challenge to the Online Safety Act, and the latest madness from Donald Trump. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Amazon Basics Adjustable Tablet Stand, a simple but highly effective solution for all your tablet-standing needs.

Episode 755: Just when you’re getting to know an AI…

The team discusses Microsoft’s vision for the future of Windows, bad news for Intel’s hopes of reclaiming the CPU crown, and a suggestion that Amazon might look to monetise Alexa, through subscriptions, adverts – or both. We also look at how some politicians have been using AI, and introduce our Hot Hardware candidate, the £75 Redmi Watch 5.

Episode 754: What might Windows look like in 2030? (And will it be running on Intel?)

Sorry, can we see your ID? Alright, you can listen as the team discusses the success - or otherwise - of the age-admission tests introduced by various adult sites in the UK in response to the latest legislation. Fortunately, we have lawyer and PC Pro contributor Olivia Whitcroft on hand to guide us through, while Jon Honeyball has put the tech to the test. Plus, Nik Rawlinson explains how Aeroflot was grounded by cyberattackers.Our Hot Hardware this week is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, starting at a bargain £1,799.

Episode 753: We’re over 18 and we can prove it

This week the team discuss Google’s latest move to resolve the Pixel4a battery saga and Anker’s recall of over a million products. There’s the latest in the UK government’s stare down with Apple, Microsoft’s Sharepoint misery and HP’s move to recoup money from the Lynch estate over the Autonomy debacle.Our Hot Hardware this week is the 60 GHz Building-to-Building Bridge from Ubiquiti.The Anker recall details can be found at: https://www.anker.com/product-recallsThe Lumafield long read is here: https://www.lumafield.com/article/what-went-wrong-inside-these-recalled-power-banks

Episode 752: Anker’s million product problem

The team discusses WeTransfer’s apparent grab for users’ data, a mooted merger of Android and Chrome OS and the industry fallout after a virtual band playing AI-generated music racked up a million streams on Spotify. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Erichsen Hardness Test Pencil Model 318, a mechanical implement designed specifically for scratching the screens on phones, tablets, etc.

Episode 751: All your files are belong to WeTransfer – plus, we scratch any screen

The team discusses a new security threat to the Chrome and Edge browsers, some mischievous uses of AI, the latest developments in the Getty Images copyright case and a new tool in Gmail that makes it easy to unsubscribe from – well, some mailing lists. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Uuna Tek iDraw H A1 plotter; if you’d like to see it in action (sounding alarmingly like a dentist’s drill), visit https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lx5o0UO-8MQ

Episode 750: Now no one can say we’ve lost the plot

The team discusses Microsoft’s latest attempt to get people to ditch passwords, a new memory technology that dissolves on contact with water and an interesting proposal to make AI web crawlers pay for the content they scrape. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Sony SRS-XB100, a compact Bluetooth speaker with a low price and a big sound.

Episode 749: Thanks for the (biodegradable) memory

The team discusses a new extended lifeline for Windows 10, a controversial court ruling concerning an AI firm’s use of copyright material and a novel scam that inserts malicious content directly into legitimate websites. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the TP-Link Archer BE550, a high-spec Wi-Fi 7 router at a reasonable price.

Episode 748: I did pirate it, your honour, but he pirated it first

The team laments the tale of a malfunctioning smart mattress that condemned its owner to a night of shivering misery. We also discuss Donald Trump’s surprise move into personal telephony, the latest update to the Apple Vision Pro and concerns over Chinese VPNs. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Chillblast Poseidon Ryzen 9 RTX 5090, a water-cooled gaming PC that costs as much as 17,500 Freddos.

Episode 747: Don’t sleep on this AI mattress

The team discusses the latest announcements from Apple’s annual developer conference, bids an uncertain welcome to Android 16, and debates a major lawsuit concerning the alleged misuse of stock images. We also look over Asus’ new Xbox-branded handheld gaming PC, and welcome the AI-powered Dia browser as our Hot Hardware candidate.

Episode 746: Don’t step in the liquid glass – plus, Stability vs Getty

The team dives into the spat between Apple, Google and the Met Police regarding phone theft in London, and debates whether IMEI blocking is the answer. We also look at CityFibre's rollout of 5.5Gbits/sec broadband and discuss the patchy state of UK connectivity. There's hope as Microsoft attempts to end the confusion around USB-C ports, and we ponder the impact of new Windows features landing in the EU. Our Hot Hardware candidate is a surprisingly good, but unbranded, motorised suction-cup phone mount bought from TikTok.

Episode 745: IMEI blocking, CityFibre's 5.5 Gigabit and an £87 bet to fix USB-C

The team discusses how AI is diminishing the role of human software developers, and asks whether Nick Clegg is justified in his comments on copyright – or whether he’s been done dirty by the media. We also ponder whether or not we want our robots to look like humans, and learn how a Star Wars fan site was secretly operated by the CIA. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the IUMAKEVP wireless lavalier microphone – not exactly a prestige brand, but for £22 who’s complaining?

Episode 744: Not everyone’s getting rich off the AI gold rush

The team discusses the latest announcements and innovations from the Google I/O conference, an unexpected acquisition for OpenAI and some new ideas for making online ads more obnoxious than ever. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the caberQU, a pocket-sized testing device that can tell you everything you could conceivably want to know about a USB cable.

Episode 743: Google gets smarter – and more intrusive

The team discusses Mark Zuckerberg’s prediction that AI bots will soon become your friends, and ask whether students’ use of services like ChatGPT is stunting their education. We also note that Microsoft is now offering extended support for Windows 10 – at a price – and that coffee shops are starting to crack down on extended use of laptops. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Onyx Boox Palma 2, a pocket e-reader that runs Android apps.

Episode 742: Just hangin’ with my bots

This week the team discusses the Apple AirPlay flaw, the latest releases in Microsoft’s Surface range and why military staff are parking their Chinese EVs away from the office. We also ponder the ramifications for Google of adding adverts into their AI products.This week’s Hot Hardware of the Week nominee is the Bambu Lab AMS

Episode 741: Apple’s Airplay Worm, Chinese EVs and Google's AI Ad Push

The team discusses a major legal smackdown for Apple; new plans to label smartphones with battery life and repairability scores; and the mysterious ongoing cyber-attack on M&S. We also bid a resentful farewell to the first-generation Google Nest thermostat, and vote on whether the Netgear Nighthawk RS100 has what it takes to be crowned Hot Hardware of the Week.

Episode 740: Is your phone more energy-efficient than a fridge?

The team discusses the ongoing fallout from the EU’s legal sanctions against Apple and Meta, then gets properly stuck into the issues raised by the idea of AI “employees”. We also discuss ongoing legal proposals to force Google to sell off the Chrome browser, and our Hot Hardware candidate is the Anker MagGo power bank, a portable battery that doubles as a MagSafe-compatible wireless charging stand.

Episode 739: Take a letter, ChatGPT

The team discusses a report urging UK authorities to get a grip on social media, along with the latest news from OpenAI and a controversial case of boxed, purchased software being disabled after a server shutdown. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the TP-Link PGW2440 kit, a (relatively) high-speed powerline networking system.

Episode 738: Can the law keep up with social media?

🎉 Celebrate 18 Years of the PC Pro Podcast! 🎉This week, the team dives into Donald Trump’s tariffs, unpacking their impact on tech companies across the globe. On a lighter note, sparks fly as they debate Bafta’s controversial pick for ‘The Most Influential Video Game of All Time’. Plus, don’t miss a cautionary tale about the dangers of using an AI avatar in court.Hot Hardware of the Week: The Epson ET-3850 Inkjet Printer.Framework’s statement on tariffs is here: https://frame.work/gb/en/blog/tariff-driven-price-and-availability-changes-for-us-customers 

Episode 737: Trump's Technology Tariffs

This week the team mull over Google’s plan for email encryption and the perils of being the best at Donkey Kong. Frankly, he’s not as good as Funky Kong, but that’s only my opinion.We also discuss the writing community’s retaliation to having their works used to train Meta’s AI whilst research about the impact of screen use on sleep health forces our hosts to make revelations  about their bedtime routine.The Hot Hardware this week is the Eizo FLT FlexScan 23.8” monitor packed with high impact sustainability credentials.The Society of Authors' letter is here

Episode 736: Email encryption, Donkey Kong and the LibGen fightback

The team discusses the US’ embarrassing Signal debacle, the latest boost to OpenAI’s image-generation capabilities and a proposal from Meta to offer Brits ad-free Facebook and Instagram services – for a price. We also explore a controversial update that wrecked battery life on out-of-support Pixel phones, and Barry pitches the £159 ErGear standing desk as this week’s Hot Hardware candidate.

Episode 735: You have been added to the group chat

Join the team this week as they unravel the thrilling spy narrative at the heart of the Deel and Rippling battle. Discover Europe’s strategic plans to diversify its tech infrastructure and get the latest scoop on Google Gemini’s exciting new features. Plus, our Hot Hardware pick is the ASUS Zenbook DUO laptop, a powerhouse with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, 32GB of RAM, and stunning dual 14-inch OLED 3K touchscreens.

Episode 734: Corporate Espionage, EuroStack and Google Gemini.

The team discusses Framework’s latest range of upgradeable, repairable computers, plus Intel’s new CEO and a company promising faster charging and a longer lifespan for lithium-ion batteries. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the ProtoArc Tri-Fold Keyboard and Mouse, a full-sized desktop set that folds away for easy portability.

Episode 733: A new CEO for Intel, and batteries get a boost

The team discusses ongoing cases of legal representatives relying on untrustworthy AI citations – while welcoming research suggesting that AI could help “deprogram” cult members and conspiracy theorists. We also look over Apple’s latest iPad, MacBook Air and Mac Studio models, and ponder how we feel about a new technology designed to neutralise regional accents on support calls. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7, a tiny but powerful internet gateway appliance.

Episode 732: AI vexes judges, but enlightens conspiracy theorists

The team discusses the “Make It Fair” campaign, which hopes to see strict rules on the use of copyright material to train AI systems. We also explore Amazon’s new Alexa Plus service, HP’s intentionally slow customer support and the removal of Apple’s data-protection tool in the UK. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Geekom A6, a tiny but powerful desktop PC.

Episode 731: Alexa, let’s talk about AI

Your quiz: which member of the PC Pro podcast crew became overexcited about Microsoft’s quantum chip? Who was damning about IT mis-spends by government bodies? Which team member thinks the most exciting thing about Apple’s iPhone 16e is its 5G modem? And who was grumpy about it all? As a clue, you have Jon, Barry, Tim and Rois to choose from. Plus, our Hot Hardware of the week is a NAS drive one podcaster bought that now includes 184TB of usable storage. But no prizes for guessing that one.

Episode 730: The quantum chip

The team discusses the UK’s demand for Apple to break its own encryption, an unexpected drop in average CPU power, Adobe’s amazing new AI-generated video platform, and the man hoping to recover a fortune in Bitcoins from a municipal landfill site. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the AirCard Pro, a credit-card-shaped Bluetooth tracker that’ll work with an Apple or Android phone – but not both.

Episode 729: Return of the Snooper’s Charter

The team discusses Microsoft's crackdown on those running Windows 11 on unapproved hardware, a new AI tool that can help make sense of legalese and Intel's admission that its next-generation AI chip isn't good enough to release. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Netgear Nighthawk RS200, a Wi-Fi 7 router at the knock-down price of £200.

Episode 728: If you don't like it, have an AI check your contract

The team discusses the disruptive emergence of China’s open-source DeepSeek AI engine, steep price hikes for Microsoft Office and Amazon’s vision for drones over Darlington. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Toybox, a user-friendly 3D printer aimed at kids.

Episode 727: Some AI engines are free; others come at a hefty price (whether you want them or not)

The team discusses the will-they-won’t-they drama of the US TikTok ban, the latest lunacy in the AI industry and UK government proposals to replace physical driving licences with an app. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Anker Prime 250W USB charger, a six-port power supply costing a cool £170.

Episode 726: Is time running out for TikTok?

The team discusses plans to force websites to check visitors’ ages, drones causing mayhem and Meta’s newly relaxed attitude as to whether social media posts are true or not. Our Hot Software candidate is NordVPN – not a new product, but one that Barry Collins recently found a big help on his travels.

Episode 725: You must be 18 or over to download this podcast

In a special podcast report – recorded in Las Vegas in the small hours of the morning – Barry Collins, Tim Danton and Jon Honeyball discuss what they've seen at the Consumer Electronics Show 2025. Topics include Nvidia's latest graphics chips, a new generation of mini PCs and upcoming developments in laptop screens, AR glasses and gaming handhelds. The delegates also nominate their Hot Hardware picks of CES – a gaming chair with integrated air conditioning, a hot-swap system for phone batteries and an innovative new desktop appliance for laser engraving.

Episode 724: Viva Las Vegas! Or, three go slightly loopy at CES

Get ready for the PC Pro Podcast's festive quiz extravaganza!Darien Graham-Smith returns as quizmaster, challenging podcast regulars Barry Collins, Tim Danton, Lee Grant, Jon Honeyball, and Rois Ni Thuama on 2024's biggest tech stories.From AI to product launches, our panel will put their tech knowledge to the test.

Episode 723: Our 2024 Tech Quiz Extravaganza

The team discusses the arrival of new, smarter AI systems – plus one that’s accused of endangering impressionable kids. We also welcome an innovative battery technology and cast an eye over the latest hardware offerings from Raspberry Pi. Out Hot Hardware candidate is the HP OmniBook Flip, a slim but versatile laptop that ticks all the boxes.

Episode 722: New chatbots – more intelligent than ever, and just as artificial

The team discusses the surprise ousting of Intel’s CEO, questions the planned merger between Vodafone and Three and asks what dangers might be lurking in an innocent-looking USB cable. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Smartech GoChess Mini, an intelligent chess board that plays against you.

Episode 721: Who can save Intel now?

The team discusses reports of yet another antitrust investigation in the offing against Microsoft, and the company’s latest attempts to get people off Windows 10. We also look at how Google is injecting content onto other people’s websites, and consider whether we’d buy a new phone from Huawei that ditches Android in favour of the company’s own HarmonyOS Next platform. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Showscreen 14in portable touchscreen, a slimline display that does precisely what you’d expect for under £100.

Episode 720: Microsoft in the crosshairs, just for a change

Microsoft announced that it would be selling companies a $349 black box that's ideal for big rollouts - all you need is a Windows Cloud subscription, a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Jon, Tim and Barry deliver their verdict. Plus all the other highlights from Ignite 2024, Flight Simulator 2024's failure to launch and a business-friendly Moto phone that might just win Tim a hot hardware of the week...

Episode 719: The good and the bad of Microsoft's $349 cloud PC

The team discusses the accelerating exodus from Elon Musk’s social media platform, the EU’s latest quarrel with Apple and what’s coming in Wi-Fi 8. Lee Grant also walks us through a quartet of sustainability-related news stories, and our Hot Hardware candidate is the tiny but powerful Mac Mini.

Episode 718: Tweeters head for bluer skies

The team asks whether Windows 10 users will pay $30 to keep using the OS for another year, discusses ChatGPT’s new search capabilities and ponders whether Intel’s latest financial losses are anything to worry about. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Apple Thunderbolt 5 cable, a pricey interconnect with a whole lot of bandwidth.

Episode 717: All right, you can keep using Windows 10 – but it’ll cost you

Tim, Rois and Jon dissect all the just-announced products from Apple, particularly the M4 Mac mini, before discussing why email remains such a danger. Plus, regular listener Geoff Campbell nominates a Raspberry Pi case as the Hot Hardware of the week. It went down rather well...

Episode 716: Mini PC spooktacular from M4 Mac mini to a Raspberry Pi case

Regular magazine contributor Olivia Whitcroft joins Barry, Darien and Jon as we discuss a new AI tool that can control your PC, proposals to ban smartphones at school and an acrimonious dispute at WordPress. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Krafted Connex, a pocket-sized multi-adaptor that can be used to charge a variety of devices from a regular USB socket.

Episode 715: Don’t blame me, the AI did it!

In the second part of our special live podcast, Barry Collins, Tim Danton, Darien Graham-Smith, Jon Honeyball and Rois ni Thuama look to the future and predict how technology will change the world in the next decade. We also nominate our Hot Hardware picks of the past 30 years, and take questions from the audience on quite a range of themes.

Episode 714: The PC Pro Podcast Live! – Part Two

Part one of a special two-part podcast with a live audience to celebrate 30 years of PC Pro. Barry Collins, Tim Danton, Darien Graham-Smith, Jon Honeyball and Rois ni Thuama look back and discuss the most significant tech innovations and events of the past three decades, before pitting their knowledge against audience members in a short, unseasonal quiz.

Episode 713: The PC Pro Podcast Live! – Part One

The team discusses all that’s new in the Windows 11 24H2 update, explores the innards of the latest iPhone and cautiously welcomes the arrests of four individuals believed to be major players in the murky world of ransomware. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, the biggest and most powerful iPhone ever.

Episode 712: Is Microsoft actually listening?

The team discusses a new law that should make it easier to cancel unwanted subscriptions, the latest announcements from Meta’s Connect conference and legal woes for celebrity YouTuber MrBeast. Our Hot Hardware candidate is Intel’s Lunar Lake SoC, which promises new heights of laptop performance and battery life.

Episode 711: I’m a subscriber – get me out of here!

The team explore some of the technical explanations to the exploding pagers detonated in the Middle East. We examine Apple's iOS18 efforts to satisfy right to repair legislation then try not exhaust ourselves from the excitement of Microsoft Copilot Wave 2.Our Hot Hardware candidate for this week is the Honor Magic 3 phone...or..camera with phone...you decide...