The PC Pro Podcast

The team discusses the latest launches at IFA, including the new chips that Intel hopes will put it back on the map. We also ask whether the USB Type-A connector is finally on its way out, and whether we need to worry about a new vulnerability discovered in Yubikey security tokens. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the IcyBox IB-180MC-C31, a USB M.2 enclosure that’s every bit as versatile as its name implies.

Before we get to the worst hot hardware ever, you will discover the team's take on Telegram's CEO being arrested in France; non-buying-advice thoughts on Nvidia's latest share price; back doors baked into RFID passes; and discover exactly what the Plaud NotePin is. And then you will be swept up in amazement when Barry pitches a mechanical keyboard that he clearly doesn't like much as Hot Hardware of the Week.

https://www.plaud.ai/products/notepin
https://www.hhkeyboard.com/uk/products/hhkb-studio

The team discusses the untimely death of British tech mogul Mike Lynch, while Elon Musk flounces out of Brazil and Microsoft prepares to roll out its controversial Windows Recall AI feature. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the MSI Cubi NUC 1M, a powerful PC with a compact case and a (reasonably) modest price.

The team eyes up the new Pixel devices launched at Google’s annual “Made by Google” event, asks what Mozilla can do to stay relevant and ponders the news that fresh Windows 11 installations will now have full-device encryption enabled by default. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Keychron K8, a sturdy wireless keyboard with mechanical switches and a charmingly retro colour scheme.

Nicole Kobie joins the podcast to discuss her new book, “The Long History of the Future: Why Tomorrow's Technology Still Isn't Here”. We also discuss the government’s shelving of unfunded plans for an AI supercomputer, Elon Musk’s latest antics and the significance of a US judgment that finds Google used illegal means to maintain its monopoly on web searches. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Inateck BK2007, an affordable keyboard case for the 2024 iPad Air.

The team discusses awkward times for Intel as it sheds jobs and rushes to fix failing chips; we also ponder Reddit’s hard line on AI scraping, and welcome upcoming legal protections aimed at preventing companies from cloning our voices and appearances. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Netgear Nighthawk RS300, a Wi-Fi 7 router that you might actually be able to afford.

The team discusses the global CrowdStrike catastrophe, dissects the official word on Intel CPU hiccups and learns why some NVIDIA graphics cards are no longer cool.

Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Apple Vision Pro.

The team discusses reports of failing Intel processors, meets Samsung’s latest health-inspired wearable and looks forward to a future filled with AI-generated videos and presentations, courtesy of Google. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Unistellar Odyssey Pro Smart Telescope. What, would you have preferred another keyboard?

The team discusses Microsoft’s optimistic claim that all material published online is fair game for AI training; ponders reports of TeamViewer being hacked by the Russians; and looks at who’s still buying commercial antivirus software. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Tapo D230S1, a smart, subscription-free doorbell-cum-camera.

On this week’s podcast we discuss the EU’s legal action against Microsoft for bundling Teams with Office, debate the US government’s banning of Kaspersky Internet Security and look at what the UK’s major political parties are promising – technology-wise – in their election manifestos. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Surface Laptop 7, the flagbearer of Microsoft’s new ARM-powered Copilot+ PC range.