361 Podcast

This week the team re-visit the topic of phablets, reflecting on recent changes and the impact of Apple's (arguably) late entry into this market. We discuss what phablets really are, their impact on the mobile market, where they are popular, how they sell and give proper attribution to the person (we think) coined the term long before the date Wikipedia credits.

The team catch-up on the successes (few) and problems (more) with their $100 phones. We reflect on what it's like to live with our chosen devices and how we've dealt with the limitations. Ewan is unrepentant about his cheating, but has a surprise...

This week the team talk wearables. Apple's Watch (don't call it a 'smart watch') is exciting the press but consumer awareness of fitness trackers is also surprisingly high - even if usage isn't. We discuss wearable tech from specs to socks and consider the future for this emerging type of device.

This week the team answer a listener's question: When is the best time to buy a flagship phone? We consider what constitutes a 'flagship', share some research on price changes for different products and explore the best options for where to buy.

This week the team discuss everything Apple - new iPhones, new iOS and - possibly - a change in strategy. We reflect on Apple's late conversion to larger phone sizes, 'bend-gate' (but only briefly) and Rafe uses the phrase "price inelasticity".

It's our 100th episode so to celebrate the team have each bought the best phone they can find for $100. Arguments and cheating ensues.

In an episode recorded before IFA and the Apple iPhone 6 / Apple Watch announcements the team answers listeners' questions in a 'bonus' end of season special. Topics include smart TVs, the future of Microsoft and platform preferences if the 'app gap' wasn't a thing. READ MORE AND COMMENT: http://361podcast.com/episodes/s07e11-end-of-season-bonus-qa-special

It's our final week of season 7 and the team turn their attention to tablets. Rafe's gathered some research (so we know the numbers are right) showing the iPad has lost its market-dominating position with overall sales of tablets slowing too. Samsung is catching Apple fast with its broad range of tablets and price-points but the smaller, lower-cost devices are the real winners cumulatively beating...

The team are back together this week and updating their 'good kit' guide - the equipment we use and love daily. It's not the best and it may not be the newest, but it's the gear that keeps us productive when mobile. In this season's update we focus a lot on power supplies and batteries, as keeping devices charged stays at the top of our worry list. In other news Ewan's bought a new family car (it'...

We're a man down this week. As Ewan discovers he actually has something better to do than visit the 361 studio he 'calls in' to set the rest of the team a challenge... To coincide with the 100th anniversary of the start of the 1st World War, to look back over the huge changes to wireless communication that coincided with that period and to pick out key points from the following hundred years. It's...

This week the team talk change and manufacturer's efforts to get us to change devices, platforms and even ecosystems. Ewan highlights an effort by Microsoft in the US to get Macbook Air owners to trade-in their laptops in favour of Surface tablets. Conversation moves on to the wider challenges of switching and the increasing use of cloud services to 'lock' users in to ecosystems as 'stealing' cust...

This week the team discuss the impact mobile technology will have on our relationships and use of cars. Special guest Ilicco Elia from (our generous studio hosts) DigitasLBi joins to describe some of the issues and opportunities his team are examining through work with vehicle manufacturers. Discussions quickly move from in-vehicle entertainment to look at ways vehicle data could usefully be provi...

This week the team talk about the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and a recent beneficiary of that platform - Amazon and their new Fire Phone (like their Kindle tablets before). This week's discussion is kicked off with a (pre-announcement) blog post about an Amazon smartphone from an influential analyst's blog. The team discuss the background and usage of AOSP and consider how firm's like Amaz...

This week the team consider security: how to secure your devices; keeping your data safe; and how to achieve the right balance of security and convenience. Special guest and security expert Terence Eden joins the team and offers his 'top 5' tips for mobile security. The team discuss the security apps and techniques they use, recommending their favourites and considering how they fare against the '...

This week the team consider the challenges of building the 'biggest' apps out there for banks, retailers and beyond. They're joined by previous 361 Live guest Ed Hodges - the brains behind Tesco's original app and Royal Bank of Scotland's apps for small businesses. There's some tech talk but things quickly move on to decisions and processes. It's a lively episode this week - Ewan calls Rafe an 'ap...

This week the team are amazed at the way media consumption - driven by 'cord cutters' using services like Netflix - dominate use of both mobile and fixed-line broadband connections. If streaming media is now the primary use for mobile networks in some circumstances will they be able to cope? Can they sustain the service they offer? And how does the team's usage mirror a recent survey? READ MORE, C...

After a slightly longer break than planned the team are back with a new-look season 7. This week we talk to Dan Lane, COO at Simwood and previously Head of Special Projects at Truphone, for his view on the future of mobile networks. We discuss 'apps in the network' and making mobile networks 'open' with interfaces that allow external services to control and interact with them. Could we be in for a...

After a short break the team are back to highlight some mobile-relevant news from the (now almost completely forgotten CES) and to anticipate some of the big topics we expect to come out of Mobile World Congress 2014 later in February. SHOWNOTES & COMMENTS: http://361podcast.com/episodes/s06e11-bonus-mwc-preview

In the final episode of season 6 the team look back over all they've discussed. Starting with wearables and ending with apps they re-visit the topics that generated the most comments over the season. Ewan does a Scottish accent. Ben (possibly) offends some Iranians and there is some more singing which will probably upset everyone. SHOWNOTES & COMMENTS: http://361podcast.com/episodes/s06e10-all...

This week the team reflect on what one of us probably at some point calls 'the app store economy', but essentially means 'what apps cost and how you pay for them'. The team marvel at polished software sold for less than a coffee and wonder how (or even if) they could be good business. SHOWNOTES & COMMENTS: http://361podcast.com/episodes/s06e09-the-price-of-an-app

This week the team look back over the (mobile-related) highs and lows of 2013 and get excited about what 2014 will hold. SHOWNOTES & COMMENTS: http://361podcast.com/episodes/s06e08-looking-back-looking-forwards ** Sponsored by Phones 4u. **

This week the team talk about the apps and services they use and recommend. What works well, what do we rely on for our own data and which apps don't get the recognition they deserve? SHOWNOTES & COMMENTS: http://361podcast.com/episodes/s06e07-a-very-appy-christmas ** Sponsored by O2 Refresh is the tariff which lets you get the latest phone whenever you want. **

This week we re-visit our regular pre-Christmas topic - shopping for mobile gifts. This year we think is the 'year of the tablet' and with a huge number of retailers, models and prices to choose from we discuss how to choose a 'first tablet' gift. SHOWNOTES & COMMENTS: http://361podcast.com/episodes/s06e06-christmas-tablets ** Sponsored by Phones 4u. **

This week the team revel in the terrible... the disappointing... the mis-fires and the hopelessly lost. We review 3 candidates for the good ideas that the mobile industry has managed to butcher. Which is your favourite lost cause? SHOWNOTES & COMMENTS: http://361podcast.com/episodes/s06e05-your-best-worst-idea ** Sponsored by O2 Refresh is the tariff which lets you get the latest phone wheneve...

This week the team are talking security and privacy... In the light of recent revelations about mass internet data collection by intelligence agencies what can we learn about the safety of our internet use and (especially) our mobile data? Are we even aware of the data we generate? SHOWNOTES & COMMENTS: http://361podcast.com/episodes/s06e04-can-you-keep-a-secret ** Sponsored by Phones 4u. **