NZ Tech Podcast

At Computex Asus grab attention with Zenbo home robot and Transformer 3 Surface Pro clone. MSI and HP hype backpack computers for Virtual Reality. Also Robots take 60,000 Jobs, Micro bee Drones, prosthetic limbs to sense touch and more Cyber Security news. Running time 00:44:27

Highlights from Google IO incl the marriage of Chrome OS and Android, Allo, Duo, Wear 2 and Google Home. Also, Joseph Parker’s fight streamed via Facebook Video, Run the Empire game, an Alcohol monitoring wearable, NZ Hi-Tech Awards, Lumia 650, Huawei P9. Running time 00:59:44

YouTube pranksters get jailed, Apple’s $1B Chinese ride sharing investment, Oracle vs Google, Govt’s $15m tech startup investment, Mamaroo baby tech, European Union could take Google for €3B, Hyperloop trial, driverless car congestion. Running time 00:49:11

This week we discuss Figure. NZ, StretchSenses power by walking, Cyber Security Summit, SpaceX and Blue Origin rocket landings, design space suits, VoLTE, Spark Arena, Netflix gets into Reality TVand first hands on with Huawei P9. Running time 01:06:50

This week we discuss Electronic voting, the $80 Child GPS tracker, Telsta’s network fail, Windows 95 on an Apple Watch, Eye tracking, 2degrees funding, Panasonic Wings Bluetooth earbuds and ponder if Craig Stephen Wright invented Bitcoin or not. Running time 34:42

Uber ignores rules as NZ Taxi rules changes announced, the $1B Bangladesh SWIFT hack, EU takes on Google while Microsoft buddies up, Opera’s free VPN/Proxy, Minecraft for Gear VR, lifelong batteries, Elon Musk on autonomous driving safety. Running time 46:40

Paul Spain is joined by Myriam Joire (aka TnkGrl - Tech Pundit, ex-Editor Engadget) to learn about LeEco’s new self-driving electric vehicle concept, LeEco’s high end but budget Android phones and experiences with the new HTC 10 smartphone. Running time 35:47

We drill down into the topic of planned obsolescence and a possible solution called The Module Project, Amazon vs Netflix, Google Play Podcasts, Sony SRS-XB3 Bluetooth speaker, Alibaba and NZ, drama for Spark and Chorus Running time 57:58

Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence drama, Holoportation, Maps error gets wrong house demolished, Occulus Rift lands, iOS 9.3 issues, Toyota safety tech goes mainstream, Samsung Smart Windshield, Huawei Mate 8, Spark grabs more mobile spectrum. Running time 51:20

Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence drama, Holoportation, Maps error gets wrong house demolished, Occulus Rift lands, iOS 9.3 issues, Toyota safety tech goes mainstream, Samsung Smart Windshield, Huawei Mate 8, Spark grabs more mobile spectrum. Running time 22:56

Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence drama, Holoportation, Maps error gets wrong house demolished, Occulus Rift lands, iOS 9.3 issues, Toyota safety tech goes mainstream, Samsung Smart Windshield, Huawei Mate 8, Spark grabs more mobile spectrum. Running time 1:00:53

Apple's new iPhone 5 SE and iPad Pro, Sophia the humanoid Robot, Email encryption, Sony PlayStation VR, Snakk Media's $215k mistake, NZ's new Fibre link to the world (via Australia), Pizaa Robot and more. Running time 0:51:46

For this NZ Tech Podcast, Paul Spain joins Vodafone's worldwide CTO Johan Wibergh for a discussion that delves into future tech such as communications devices that will run for 10-years without charging and mobile broadband speeds approaching 10gb/sec. Running time 0:36:46

The Imortalist, Amazon Alexa stories, Microsoft Surface reliability issues, Obama hits South by South West, Russian Bitcoin users face 7-years jail, HP ZBook Studio G3 Mobile Workstation, Microsoft killing Skype on Smart TVs Running time 1:04:39

This week we meet the founder of SenCbudds smart earphones and try the new Fitbit Blaze and Fitbit Alta. Other topics - Mac Ransomware, 15TB SSD, Amazon Echo Dot and Tap, Microsoft’s new Advanced Threat Protection for Windows and the past/future of email. Running time 0:50:25

A first hand report from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona including the focus on virtual reality and Gigabit plus 4.5G vs 5G mobile networks. Also Google Loon, UFB uptake hits 20%, Windows 10 rollout to business, Auckland Councils $1.2B IT spend. Running time 0:55:40

Mobile World Congress in Barcelona - news from Samsung (including Galaxy S7 which we’ve spent some time with), HP, HTC, Huawei, LG and Sony. Also 5G mobile trials begin, Hoverboards, Hasbro, Tidal + 2degrees, Apple vs FBI, Xero outage. Running time 0:38:22

Bryce Boland (FireEye) and James Bergin (ASB) join Paul Spain to discuss cyber security, ransomware, banking tech, robots vs employment, shooting down drones, Telstra’s free mobile data day, UFB update and the Asia Pacific Podcast Conference. Running time 0:54:32

UK Health Service to embrace wearable and provide patients free Wi-Fi, Augmented Reality futures, DeLorian’s comeback, Twitter stream change, Fitbit and Harvey Norman, Asia Pacific Podcast Conference, Apple’s Error 53 and $625m Patent Lawsuit Running time 0:43:36

Discussed this week – Japan Police capturing 3D mugshots, Huawei aces Samsung in China, a drones that flies/floats/dives, Microsoft’s underwater datacentre, Plan B buys ICONZ, Samsung ad blocking, Microsofts licensing shuffle, Windows Phone vs the world Running time 0:35:12

This episode we talk about Cybersecurity topics including the most common passwords of 2015. Also featured – flash back to 1996 with NetGuide, the new HP Envy laptop, Netflix blocking, along with Microsoft – Surface Book, Word Flow, Windows 10 Mobile. Running time 0:43:42

This week Paul Spain and Bill Bennett discuss Netflix and the potential threat to Proxy users, hands on with cheap fast 4G Broadband, the slick Brydge iPad keyboard, US puts $4B into autonomous cars, Southern Cross Cable, Hololens and TradeMe’s fee hike. Running time 0:45:53

Our first in studio podcast is all about CES 2016. We discuss news on car tech, drones, wearables and a range of other gadgets. Are you ready for the smart fridge which orders your food? Or maybe a drone which will carry you across town double quick? Running time 0:42:10

In this special Paul Spain talks with Laura Butler about the journey from student to Microsoft in 1989 to present day. Hear stories of sleeping at the desk, Joe Belfiore’s last minute start menu change in Windows 95 and Steve Ballmer’s toilet gaff. Running time 0:42:27

This week we discuss Xero MD’s bid for Auckland Mayoralty, Police intercept drones, Commerce Commission’s copper ruling, Samsung Galaxy S7, odd Solar opinions, Microsoft Lumia 950 phone come PC, Sony’s new 4K projector and Christmas tech gifts. Running time 0:45:57