Tech's Message

This week Nate & Ian discuss everyone's favourite computing essential: the dongle. Last episode of the year. SOURCES: Donglevision https://tedium.co/2020/08/21/weird-dongle-history-evolution/ NewScientist on dongles https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_EIZI3TDTGTsC/page/n25/mode/2up Byte on dongles https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1981-10/page/n133/mode/2up?q=dongle Commodore PET https:...

This week is a special episode in which we revisit Ian's 2007 CNET feature, Top Ten Off Switches. Do the selections stand up to modern scrutiny? And how have off switches evolved in a world of Wi-Fi, virtual assistants and touchscreens?  SOURCES: Top ten off switches (live) https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/top-ten-off-switches/ Top ten off switches (archived, with pictures) https://web.arc...

This week Nate and Ian discuss HD DVD, arguably one of the last global format wars to be fought -- and lost. The Patreon extended version also includes a lengthy discussion about the hypothetical future HD DVD might have had, were it to have won the format war against Sony's Blu-ray. SOURCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD https://www.reddit.com/r/HDDVD/comments/114cteq/hd_dvd_exclusives/ ht...

This week Nate and Ian discuss the dual-layered delight that is DVD -- it's history, and our memories of using it. SOURCES: The death of the DVD: Why sales dropped more than 86% in 13 years https://web.archive.org/web/20200329212906/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/08/the-death-of-the-dvd-why-sales-dropped-more-than-86percent-in-13-years.html PlayStation 2 Wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStatio...

Nate and Ian discuss the modern anxiety of calls from unknown numbers, repeated missed calls, and general caller ID-related terror. You might think this is a Halloween episode, such is the horror of the content. SOURCES AND LINKS: Mobile company customer forums https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Tech-Support/People-I-have-never-contacted-returning-my-calls/td-p/1626378 https://community.three.co.uk/t5/...

This week Nate's joined by  Andrew Lanxon  from CNET to discuss a rich history of games console controllers, from the bizarre to the innovative. SOURCES AND LINKS: PlayStation Multitap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Multitap Music 2000 https://www.mobygames.com/game/4945/mtv-music-generator/ https://psxdatacenter.com/games/P/M/SLES-02224.html DreamCast VMU https://en.wikipedia...

This week, the boys discuss and reminisce about Bluetooth, specifically its history and evolution as a conduit for wireless audio. SOURCES AND LINKS: Know A Little More Bluetooth episode https://shows.acast.com/know-a-little-more/episodes/about-bluetooth-5-updated Deep guide to Bluetooth codecs and qualities https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2023/03/bluetooth-sound-quality-guide-what-are-the-codec...

This week we discuss the history of online dating, from the 1990s web services, through the UK's Teletext and into the modern era of apps. Nate discusses how he met his wife through an app, and Ian complains about how he hasn't yet. And then comes the future: what do we expect is next for dating apps and related technologies? LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE: Teletext https://www.blunham.com/Radar/Teletext...

This week we are talking over our past, present and future relationships with the hard disk. Andrew Lanxon  from CNET joins for this one and in the extended version he brings you what he learned during a reporting trip to a tiny Scottish island that enjoys energy independence. Here are some links to various things we discussed in the show: Andy’s Eigg feature in CNET (check the embedded video...

Welcome back to Tech's Message! This week, in our inaugural episode of the new Tech's Message era, we're discussing the history of webcams. For Patrons, we also discuss Apple's recent announcements and Ian's decision to invest some serious cash in one of the products. Here are some links to various things we discussed in the show: Webcams look like balls:  https://www.reddit.com/r/vintagecomp...

Ian and I took nine months off from podcasting, but rest quite assured: it wasn't in order for him to gestate and pass our baby.  In this bonus episode, I'll explain the actual reason for our absence and our plan for a new era of Tech's Message, which begins on this very day -- look out for episode 323 in your feed shortly! We're really grateful to everyone who's kept our feed in their podcat...

This week on Tech’s Message : AI machine cannot be called an inventor, rules UK court https://www.ft.com/content/7bccf980-9eaf-40d9-92b6-ab3ffb43c98d https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ff6c264d3bf7f65d42209f9/consolidated-patents-act-1977.pdf   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-67772177 Police to be able to run face recognition searches on 50m driving licence holders https://...

This week on Tech’s Message : Bedfordshire Police use AI to save hours on admin duties https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-67680698 https://docdefender.net https://rivengroup.com https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14734000/officers Google Groups losing Usenet integration https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/14/24002220/google-groups-is-about-to-drop-sup...

This week on Tech’s Message : Mobile phones: Firms face £3bn legal claim for overcharging https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67649539 Unproven AI face scans may estimate age for porn access in UK https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/12/unproven-ai-face-scans-may-estimate-age-for-access-in-uk/ https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/05/uk_age_verifcation_proposals/ The extended, ad-free version av...

This week on Tech’s Message : We're joined by CNET's Andrew Lanxon -- find his photography YouTube channel here . Sony’s getting into the in-camera micropayments game https://pressroom.pixelshift.studio/sony-electronics-announces-custom-gridline-license-available-for-alpha-camera-bodies https://pro.sony/ue_US/digital-imaging/custom-gridline Regard: https://www.polygon.com/23399591/elder-scrolls-4-...

This week on Tech’s Message : Squid Game Contestants Considering Lawsuit Over Reality Show Injuries https://gizmodo.com/squid-game-the-challenge-contestant-possible-lawsuit-1851047311   UK's cookie crumble: Data watchdog serves up tougher recipe for consent banners https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/22/uk_ico_cookie_action/ Keep or cancel Freeview? The arguments https://rxtvinfo.com/2023/kee...

This week on Tech’s Message : Booths supermarkets to ditch self-checkouts in north of England stores https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/10/booths-supermarkets-to-ditch-self-checkouts-in-north-of-england-stores Apple Wallet account balances now available for 10 UK banks https://9to5mac.com/2023/11/10/apple-wallet-account-balances/ Apple to bridge message divide - but keeps green bubbles...

This week on Tech’s Message : Newport: Can AI help find lost £227m Bitcoin fortune? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67297013 Disney+ now has an ad supported tier like Netflix https://www.pocket-lint.com/disney-plus-subscription-tiers-uk-differences-price/ Facebook and Instagram launch a paid ad-free subscription https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/30/23938283/facebook-instagram-ad-free-subscripti...

This week on Tech’s Message : Rishi Sunak says AI has threats and risks - but outlines its potential https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67225158 60 Years of Doctor Who Will Stream All In One Place In the UK https://gizmodo.com/doctor-who-streaming-bbc-iplayer-classic-episodes-1850914346 The extended, ad-free version available via Patreon subscription includes extended sections, outtakes, as well as add...

This week on Tech’s Message : London mayor and Met boss urge phone firms to help tackle theft of mobiles https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67125411 EE is launching a customised Apple TV 4K box, offering live TV through EE TV https://www.pocket-lint.com/ee-apple-tv-4k-live-tv-eetv Ian's review from 2014: https://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/digital-tv-recorders/ee-tv-1275987/re...

Honestly, you take one several-month hiatus without really communicating why, your website expires and emails stop being delivered, and all of a sudden people thing the podcast has died.  We joke about things because it's easier than taking responsibility for them. But we are still a living, breathing podcast; Ian hasn't angered himself into an early grave, nor has Nate got bored of podcastin...

This week on Tech’s Message , with Andrew Lanxon: I Rode the World's First Autonomous Public Bus Service https://www.cnet.com/tech/i-rode-the-worlds-first-autonomous-public-bus-service/ Remote driver car rental service launches in Milton Keynes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-65768717 MySpace: 20 Years On The extended, ad-free version available via Patreon subscription also...

This week on Tech’s Message : Anger over airports' passport e-gates not working Train wi-fi at risk as part of cost-cutting move Netflix expands password sharing crackdown to UK The extended, ad-free version available via Patreon subscription also includes: Why you’re wrong about self-service checkouts https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/05/26/telegraph-readers-defend-self-service-checkouts/...

This week on Tech’s Message : Uber starts flight bookings for UK users Could Uber move into haulage, removals, childcare or more? Ofcom reveals results of improved text-to-switch service Do we need 10Gbps fibre in the UK yet? What about 2Gbps then? What is XGS-PON? 10Gbps fibre connections are on the way The extended, ad-free version available via Patreon subscription also includes: Folding phones...

This week on Tech’s Message : The failure of the UK’s emergency test system What network Three got wrong and why Goodbye, Covid tracing app, we hardly knew ye Nate’s back in New York filming Ian’s banana The extended, ad-free version available via Patreon subscription also includes: HMV’s reopening its biggest UK store Vinyl, merch and live music are back for retail Bananas Bagpipes Kilts Haggis O...