Hrkn to .. Gadgets & Gizmos

Steve Caplin looks back over the good, bad, ugly and bonkers of the tech world in 2024. He admired the AI scam-baiting granny, the rocket that eats itself, the underwater kite, butter made from air and the benefits of red wine and dark chocolate. He wasn't keen on Chinese spying air fryers, the flamethrowing robot dog, the airline computer that couldn't cope with a 101-year-old and AI cheating at...

Steve Caplin updates Simon Rose on the latest tech. Sadly, OpenAI video generator Sora won't be available in the UK. However, Google's GenCast could soon be predicting weather more accurately while its quantum chip can do in 5 minutes what the fastest computers would take 10 septillion years, threatening the safety of encryption. The VR DropTower will give gamers an enhanced experience, including...

Steve Caplin gives Simon Rose a plethora of tech ideas for Christmas gifts, for others and for yourself. He finds some bizarre advent calendars. The top toy for kids appears to be a Fart Blaster. From the Chinese version of Amazon, Alibaba, he recommends heated gloves, a vacuum phone holder, a portable ceiling fan, sewing needles that thread themselves and a car charger with retractable cables. Th...

In the world of tech, Steve Caplin looks at powered legs like "the electric bike but for walking". There's a 37mph electric surfboard while scientists have discovered patterns that make sharks less interested in surfers. The mosquito parasite that causes malaia has been genetically modified into a vaccine. The principle of octopus suckers is to be used to help retain dentures. The world's thinnest...

Steve Caplin discusses the latest tech with Simon Rose. LG improve their bendable LED screens so they can now stretch too. Scientists improve the chances of sterilising mosquitoes. Glasses for the deaf will project text onto the lenses. AI headphones can make it easier to hear in restaurants. Virgin & O2 have invented an AI granny to waste scam callers' time. Dyson have filed a patent for a robo-d...

Warners are making driveable Batmobiles, says Steve Caplin, though they aren't street legal. In California, there's a beautifully-designed solar-powered car. A picture painted by a robot has just sold at auction for over $1m. A Mattel doll from the Wicked movie had an unfortunate mistake on the packaging. A student has invented a repairable kettle. There's a crowdfunded thermal-imaging dashcam ava...

Steve Caplin dives into the world of gadgets. Rolls-Royce have produced a one-off car to celebrate 60 years of Goldfinger. An Australian app can detect if milk is off, while mathematicians there have proved that monkeys couldn't write the works of Shakespeare. The biggest Dutch publisher is using AI to translate books into English. The UK has the 49th worst mobile internet speed, behind Azerbaijan...

Steve Caplin explains how US scientists have found an impressive way of trapping CO2 while Australian boffins have worked out how to generate electricity from polystyrene. Airbus are to increase internal baggage space on planes by 60%. An AI version of Michael Parkinson will soon be hosting a new chat show. The largest prime number has been discovered. Steve explains how to conquer "Hi Dad" text f...

Steve Caplin talks health tech, including vein locators, speedier blood tests and AI spotting fractures doctors might miss. ITV is going to use AI to generate programme ideas: Steve got it to come up with a couple. But AI can also now generate complete podcasts; this example might put Steve and Simon out of a job. There's a colour Kindle and proof that video games are actually good for your brain....

Steve Caplin delves into the world of tech. Tesla's Robotaxi disappointed investors. Standing desks turn out to be no better than being seated. A robotic finger can now be used for digital examinations. The Dresden Sinfoniker has a robot conductor – with three arms – to perform complex music. There's an electric version of the old BMW bubble car. You can buy Vespa scooters with 75mm anti-armour ca...

Steve Caplin explains why the BBC has been forecasting record winds & temperatures. Tesla are to unveil their Robotaxi. Google Japan have produced a Möbius strip keyboard with 208 keys. A virtual dog lead is somewhat shocking. What will happen to the Chagos Islands' internet domain? A Harvard student has produced smart glasses with real-time facial recognition. The Ask Silver scam checker gets the...

Steve Caplin laments the demise of the car CD player. But he looks forward to flying shopping trolleys which can even handle stairs. A powerwash simulator apparently improves people's mood. A traditional ladies' fan converts into a tactical defence baton, for a price. There's a kayak with an electric motor you can pedal, if you can deal with one of the worst websites Steve has ever encountered. A...

Tech talk with Steve Caplin. He demonstrates the iPhone's way of filtering out unwanted background noise. OpenAI are to produce an AI hardware device to be designed by Sir Jony Ive. AI can now fool CAPTHA into thinking it's human. Tetris can apparently help treat PTSD. Magic mushrooms can help with chronic depression. Spanish scientists have developed a superfood yellow lettuce. For some reason Wo...

Steve Caplin explains how patients in rural America can now consult specialists using holographs. There's a less intrusive brain-to-computer interface. Scientists have found a way to help the voiceless speak. A car, unstable at high speeds, can expand its wheels to go faster. A new paint can be peeled off. A novel phone alarm makes sure you get out of bed. People are getting mules to do their exer...

Tech maven Steve Caplin says that South Korean scientists have discovered that fish guts can inhibit the effects of ageing. Swiss doctors performed a remote endoscopy on a pig in Hong Kong. Tartrazine can make skin transparent. Apple's new iPhone will appeal particularly to those keen on photography and has clever new auto-generated emojis. There's a keenly-priced new photography drone. Honda are...

Steve Caplin discusses the astronauts whose space stay of 8 days has turned into 8 months. Nuclear power could be safer if the power stations are buried one mile underground. Water cremation is coming to the UK soon. There's an e-ink computer which will work in sunlight – though not for very long. Italian scientists have a humanoid jetpack robot to rescue people on mountains – with a few drawbacks...

Tech talk with Steve Caplin. A blimp with GPS has been developed to beam high speed internet to remote places. Steve Jobs' 1976 Apple 1 computer is up for auction. Jonny Davies has set a new world record for being dragged behind a motorbike. Korean scientists have reinvented the wheel for bumpy ground. Scientists testing fruit flies prove we are happier drinking with friends. There's a £134,000 wa...

The man who knows tech stuff, Steve Caplin, discusses a household robot with a terrifying featureless face and the first autonomous dentist, apparently much faster than the real thing. There's a mosquito tracker, an AI-powered golf trolley, a necklace to jog your memory and a mobile factory that can make bricks from rubble, which is being sent to Ukraine. To solve the problem of moths in museums a...

Steve Caplin's love for Perplexity deepens. OpenAI's rival to Google is almost ready but ChatGPT apparently makes up URLs. BA's hilarious new safety video has been watched on YouTube half a milion times. Fruit – but not veg – reduces age-related depression. There's a new supermarket delivery robot, while a Japanese supermarket uses AI to standardise smiles and Simon warns about Sainsbury's illusor...

Tech buff Steve Caplin explains the global IT outage caused by a Crowdstrike software update and Microsoft's extraordinary advice. There's an Italian litter-picking robot dog. Small aerial drones can learn to navigate by studying ants. Other drones can mimic geckos to cling to things. Spray-on trainers for athletes are now a reality, while athletes can also run faster if shielded from wind resista...

Steve Caplin delves into the world of tech, where Tokyo scientists have made the world's smallest chariot, pulled by algae. Carmarker Stellantis have patented an "improvement" to the steering wheel. VR gamers will soon have a way to walk in the games they play. There's an inflatable tent, though you may not be able to stand up in it. A PhD student has produced a way of monitoring the old and infir...

Steve Caplin explains how Elon Musk will be destroying the International Space Station. There's a flying car that's a cross between a go-kart and a helicopter, while another helicopter gives tours without a pilot. Renault cars will soon score your driving performance while Bill Gates is investing in a company that will make butter from air. Chinese scientists have grown human brain cells that can...

Steve Caplin says executive oneupmanship comes with Sirius Aviation's CEO eVTOL jet powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Ferrari has produced its first electric car, while Volkswagen is to sell solar panels to reduce charging costs. Swedish scientists have invented a weightless carbon fibre battery that can be built into cars or planes. The Pillbot is a dirigible pill to help with gastrointestinal prob...

Steve Caplin discusses the importance of cheese, red wine and chocolate for living longer. Artificial leather just got better by using pineapples. The $400,000 Genesis III helmet can make the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning jet invisible – while you're piloting it. There's a deflatable bike helmet which is safer than the hard type. And instead of autonomous vehicles, the University of Tokyo has dev...

Steve Caplin explains to Simon Rose what Apple Intelligence will do on its newest phones. He has been quizzing the AI candidate standing in the General Election and discusses what he would ask the older version of himself, as being developed at MIT. He points out that Elon Musk's Starship is the biggest rocket in history, with the entrepreneur building a Starfactory to turn out one rocket every si...