The Really Useful Podcast

 It's time for your weekly news of tech news and tips for technophobes. We look at the new Android app feature in Windows 11, how Microsoft Edge is dominating in the browser market, and understand the implication of Nintendo closing the eShop for Wii U and 3DS games. Plus, we have our usual recommendations for you to check out. Shownotes In this week's show, we look at: News You'll Need a Pretty B...

Microsoft Teams is widely used in business and other organizations, but will performance improvements make it a desirable alternative to Zoom? Will you Android phone or tablet get the new Material You theme on Android 12? What happened at the Nintendo Direct 2022 event? And will Call of Duty stay on PlayStation after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision? Click play to learn more about all of this...

 Looking for clarity on the latest tech news or want some technology topics explaining? In this podcast, we do just that. This week's Really Useful Podcast covers some easy performance boosts you can make to Windows 11, why you should trust Microsoft Defender, and explains data recovery. You'll also learn how to save money on Amazon Prime, and find out what we're recommending this week. Shownotes...

Sony was never going to let Microsoft's intended acquisition of Activision Blizzard through without a fight. Their retaliation? To buy Bungie, developer of the Destiny series. Meanwhile, Wordle gets too big for its creator and Facebook abandons the cryptocurrency everyone had forgotten about anyway. We also take a look at eBay scams and our usual recommendations. In this week's show: News Sony Buy...

It's been another busy week in the world of tech. But what does it all mean? The Really Useful Podcast is the tech podcast for technophobes, and we have the answers you need to make sense of the technological world. Shownotes This week, we discuss: News Microsoft to acquire Activision-Blizzard Call of Duty to remain on PlayStation Robot vacuum escapes hotel James Cameron warns of the dangers of de...

This week's show has it all: retro gaming, cyberattacks, ransomware, Reddit, YouTube's rich list, Meta/Facebook being taken to court in the UK, and even recommendations! This week, we discuss: REvil ransomware gang arrested in Russia Ukraine cyber-attack: Russia to blame? Meta faces billion-pound class-action case YouTube rich list 2021 What Is Reddit? What Game Consoles Are Released in 2022? Stea...

Planning on buying a new streaming device for your TV but not sure what to choose? Is there even any point when you have a Smart TV anyway?  In this week's show, we look at the pros and cons of Amazon Fire, Roku, Apple TV, and similar services, along with app-enabled TV boxes for satellite, cable, and even Blu-ray players. Oh, and there's a bit about Smart TV apps, too. One last thing: Christian i...

 In this week's show, we rely on the following resources: Funny Questions to Ask Google Home Funny Things to Ask Siri Funny Things to Ask Alexa The Funniest Questions to Ask Alexa MakeUseOf abandons Windows Phone Christian Cawley and Ben Stegner host this podcast. You can contact them on Twitter ( @thegadgetmonkey and @stegnersaurus ) with your suggestions for future topics. Look out for our other...

Ever felt that your current job or career doesn't quite satisfy you? While you can change direction at anytime, the start of a new year is a great time to make the changes in your life that you want to see. In this podcast, we look at how it is possible to change career, with a focus on freelancing. This week, we discuss: How to Quit Your Job to Pursue Your Passion Find Your Purpose With These Tes...

Is your home network fast enough? We're going to venture that it isn't - but why? Is it the position of the router, your cabling, or something else? In this podcast, we look at the various ways you can improve wired and wireless network speeds around the home. This includes the main living areas, attics, basements, and even outhouses.  Shownotes Ways to Fix Dropped Wi-Fi Speeds How to Improve Your...

You've heard about the "metaverse" but what is it really? Do you want to don a VR headset to attend meetings and other remote events, or would you prefer a different solution? In this week's show, we consider how the metaverse might change the world. To learn more, we're joined by Thomas Lorenz, the CEO and founder of Journee, a metaverse company that has been providing VR and AR solutions to big...

The term "supply chain" was largely unknown outside of manufacturing, shipping, and haulage until a couple of years ago. Now, we have a seemingly unending "supply chain crisis" which threatens to disrupt everything from Christmas to weddings to online shopping. In this week's show, Christian Cawley chats with David Savage of Geotab, a fleet telematics company in the UK. He explains the supply chai...

Welcome to the 100th edition of the Really Useful Podcast. To celebrate our centenary show, usual hosts Christian Cawley, Ben Stegner, and Gavin Phillips have got together to chat through a few thoughts about their preferred computer systems. Laptop, or desktop PC? Bought, or self-built? Along the way, they discuss everything from racing games to Raspberry Pi, game controllers to shuttle PCs, and...

Black Friday 2021 is set to be the longest yet. But with supply chain issues limiting the production of certain hardware, it could also be the most frought. Will you see the bargain land on your doormat before Christmas? In this Really Useful Podcast we take a look at how you can prepare for the biggest ever Black Friday, help you to grab the deals you want before they sell out, and show you the t...

If you've embraced home working, you've probably realised that the kitchen table isn't ideal. You need a dedicated space, which might be a spare room, in the attic, in the basement, or even in your garden. But when that space is set up, how do you get reliable Wi-Fi - and does your home office even have a power supply? This week, we take a look at the practicalities of networking a home office and...

ShownotesKeep hold of these links for Windows 11 coverage on MakeUseOf: How to Upgrade to Windows 11 Free How to Enable TPM and Secure Boot to Install Windows 11 Make an Unsupported Computer Compatible With Windows 11 Why Chinese Users Can't Upgrade to Windows 11 Get Windows 11 Features on Windows 10 Which Is Best for You: Windows 11 Home or Pro? Windows 7 Gadgets and Widgets on Windows 10 Christi...

Upgrading to a new iPhone? it can be expensive, not to mention time consuming with so many models to choose from. In this podcast we bring you all the information you need, from recognizing when it's time to upgrade and getting the best deal, to backing up your data and transferring it to a new iPhone. Shownotes In this week's show, we discuss: Signs It's Time to Upgrade Your iPhone The iPhone Upg...

Going green is tough, especially if you want to save money. In this episode, we look at the challenges and solutions around recharging phones and laptops. This week, you'll need the following references: How to Check Laptop Battery Cycle Count on Windows Should You Leave Your Laptop Plugged In? Battery Capacity vs. Charging Speed Monitor Battery Health on Android Doogee S95 Pro Review Save Energy...

We look at a selection of mobile and browser apps that can help you to improve your physical and mental health. This episode features a chat with Dr Angelica Kohlmann of Bloom Diagnostics, who tells us how their mobile app can be used to diagnose illness and find the right treatment. Shownotes Virtual Fitness Challenges Apps to Keep Fit at Your Desk Find Your Inner Space Boost Mental Fitness Bloom...

 In this week's show we discuss: Facebook Whistle-blower Goes Public Whistle-blower to Tell Senate Facebook Secrets Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram Go Offline Conspiracy Theories and Mistruths Reasons Online Gamers Should Use a VPN Can Games Consoles Use a VPN? Christian Cawley and Ben Stegner host this podcast. You can contact them on Twitter as @thegadgetmonkey and @stegnersaurus with your sug...

If you're buying a new computer, there is always the temptation to open it up, plug it in, and start using it. But what you should actually do is spend time installing the apps you'll need and setting up the hardware and peripherals. This week we talked about: Dell G5 5505 Gaming Laptop Review 15 Must-Have Windows Apps and Software for Any New PC Build a Raspberry Pi Cloud Drive With NextCloud 11...

You've heard of the Nintendo Switch, but what is the Nintendo Switch OLED? And why is Valve launching the Steam Deck portable gaming PC? Ths week's show looks at these two very different developments in mobile gaming, considers the rationale behind both, their potential strengths and weaknesses, and asks: which one would you buy? This week we discuss: Why the New Nintendo Switch (OLED) Is a Huge D...

When open-source software projects are bought by profit-driven software publishers, it's never an easy ride. With the introduction of telemtry to digital audio workstation Audacity, recently, its new owners have discovered just how tenuous a grip on their audience they really have. But what is all the fuss about? What is telemetry, anyway? This week's relevant links Audacity Introduces Controversi...

Ransomware is huge in 2021, taking down businesses, government departments, gas pipelines, and worse to come. Now is the time to familiarise yourself with ransomware, the risks, how it gets onto your system, what happens to your data if you don't pay, and the risks of actually paying the ransomware. These are the links we used for this week's Really Useful Podcast. What Is Ransomware? What Is Babu...

This week we take a look at some of the best DIY tech builds and fixes featured so far on the Really Useful Podcast. Featuring contributions from Christian Cawley, Ian Buckley, Gavin Phillips, and Ben Stegner Here are those all-important reference links for this week's show. Build Your Own HDTV Antenna DIY Computer Desk Projects to Save Money Fix a Scratched DVD How to Remove a Broken Headphone Ja...