The PC Pro Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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 t...

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 lavali...

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.

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 Pa...

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

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.

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 stan...

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.

🎉 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...

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...

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.

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-inc...

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.

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 Hardw...

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.

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 p...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 pi...