Show Notes
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.
More from The PC Pro Podcast
The team discusses a major vulnerability in the ubiquitous PHP utility, mulls over the fallout of a Google Cloud outage in the UK and looks forward to a world where most AI workloads take place on our own devices rather than in data centres. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Synology DS925neo+, a desktop NAS appliance aimed at small businesses on a tight budget.
The team discusses Apple’s multi-pronged foray into AI smart home devices, welcomes Amazon’s new range of Google Play-enabled tablets and laments technology failures that could have prevented music students from getting the grades they deserved. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Jackery Explorer 2000 V2, a heavyweight portable power bank with enough juice to roast a whole chicken.
This week, the team chews over BT's potential rescue bid for TalkTalk and OpenAI's agents running amok on Wikipedia. We also chat about ArtCraft's similarities to Adobe Creative Cloud and the security vulnerability discovered in the ASOS shopping app. Our Hot Hardware of the Week candidate is the Bambu Lab A1 3D Printer.
The team tries to figure out what the hell ChatGPT’s new “Dots” are supposed to be, bids farewell to the Copilot+ PC and shares concerns over the rise of AI-powered dynamic pricing. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Acer Swift Air 14, a laptop offering a premium feel and decent performance for a penny under £700.
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.