This week the team discuss: Follow-up on photo back-up, Disney+, budget syncing, news, 'good' screens and more. Ewan's success with 'photo healing' on his iPhone and iPad that enabled him to 'fix' and share photos 'in the moment. Our hopes for WWDC, incluing what Apple might announce and the effect on teh mobile industry that might have. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website or Twitter . Support 361 Podcast Links: Tyler Hall'...
Jun 28, 2020•1 hr 5 min
This week the team discuss: Listener follow-up on robot vacuum cleaners (including finding one under your hotel bed), mobile banking and a cool personal finance app recommendation. How we - definitely not health and fitness enthusiasts - are trying to use apps to keep fit (or at least a bit fitter) during lock-down and working from home. We talk about apps to try and when to use them. Backing-up important photos, including how to use the cloud but retain access to your most valuable photos if th...
Jun 21, 2020•51 min
This week the team discuss: Using the excellent Watchsmith app to customise the Apple Watch beyond Apple's built-in widgets (called complications). How can you use layouts that change during the day and what is the future of presenting our own custom-data? Lenovo's announcement of a new Smart Frame digital picture frame that will be launched (and discounted initially) via IndieGoGo. Lenovo don't need to fund the product this way (traditionally why this platform's been used), but plan to recruit ...
Jun 12, 2020•59 min
Many thanks to Mark, the Audio Wrangler , our editor for the last 5 years. Here's to the next 5 (and sorry for all you put up with). This week the team discuss: The best microphones for video conferencing whilst home working - What works best from home for both comfort and performance, what products have the team chosen and some pitfalls to avoid. Satya Nadella's observation that Covid-19 has produced "2 years digital adoption in 2 months" - How has this rapid change in working arrangements for ...
Jun 06, 2020•1 hr 3 min
This week the team discuss: Amazon Echo accessories. Amazon's range looks baffling from the outside, including gaming buttons and a microwave oven. What do they make, why and is any of it any good? Covid-19 apps. As governments around the world look to technology to help manage the Covid-19 crisis how do the various solutions being developed differ and will people trust a Google / Apple partnership over their local public health officials? Til Tok. What is it? No really, what is it and why is Ra...
May 28, 2020•53 min
The team celebrate 9 years of podcasting together and discuss: Ben's (ongoing) smart lighting disaster. How Philips Hue hasn't turned out to be the perfect smart lighting solution, a serious (known) product defect and how complex it all gets when deployed in large numbers. Walking and way-finding apps that are helping us enjoy the outdoors when we can. How to go beyond Google Maps to explore the footpaths around our homes with specialist mapping apps and guided routes. The best video calling and...
May 21, 2020•1 hr 8 min
This week the team discuss: The networking and connectivity challenges of setting up a home office. What can you do if your new desk has terrible WiFi coverage or you need something faster, but don't want to run new cabling? The team talk options, including using TV cabling you may already have installed. How we're 'self improving' during lock-down. Given the restrictions, what can we do that makes the most of not commuting (or going out at all). The team recommend options they're trying. The iP...
May 13, 2020•51 min
This week the team discuss: Ewan's new job and his family's move to Oman. Turns out he could find somewhere less convenient than Denmark to live. How we've upgraded our workspaces to equip them for an extended period of working at home. We talk about ergonomics, productivity and kit that will remain useful if / when things get back to 'normal'. Options for 'budget' robot vacuum cleaners as Ewan picks a Eufy (made by popular tech accessory maker Anker) device for his new home. Can something witho...
May 06, 2020•52 min
This week the team discuss: A German artist's (successful) attempt to 'hack' Google Maps traffic data with a cart of 2nd hand phones, tricking the mapping service into reporting a traffic jam on an empty road. Customer 'outrage' at Sonos's announcement that some older devices will soon be unsupported and prevent newer devices from receiving upgrades if used together. This came shortly after the firm was criticised for 'bricking' devices people chose to recycle. The announcement of the end of mob...
Feb 10, 2020•46 min
This week the team discuss: Why everyone should have a robot vacuum cleaner, the difference between radar and camera-based navigation and how to choose. Also virtual walls, cameras that can spot pet poo and automated mops. Our two recommended models of noise cancelling over-ear headphones and the joy of reducing noise fatigue when travelling or working in open-plan offices. Ewan's 'terrible' (this is not a consensus view, to be fair, especially by Ewan) choice to buy his children a Dell desktop ...
Jan 29, 2020•42 min
See Rafe fully committing to a visual gag in an audio medium on Instagram. Ben, Ewan and Rafe recap some of the big themes we've covered this year and some new news including smarthome, 999 (911) emergency response, Apple's Express Transit, streaming content discovery, the (new) Motorola Razr, gear bags and home networking. Support 361 Podcast Links: Connected Home over IP Vacuum Wars - YouTube Ikea’s big bet on smarthome tech - YouTube Roborock S5 Max robot vacuum Arlo Ultra security cameras An...
Dec 27, 2019•43 min
This week the team discuss: A complex suspected GPS hack in the port of Shanghai that has experts and researchers baffled. Has someone developed the ability to manipulate GPS signals and, if so, who? Apple's Express Transit mode has arrived in London allowing travellers to pay for Transport for London tubes, busses and trains without unlocking your phone. This is doubly useful when paired with a smart payment option like Citymapper Pass. Christmas gift ideas with a techy (ish) slant, including f...
Dec 09, 2019•37 min
This week the team discuss: eSIMs and buying data packages when overseas direct to your handset. Rafe buys one from a 'global eSIM store' when travelling to India and it works rather well... The 2019 folding Motorola Razr which attention-grabs with a clever screen and nostalgia for the original Razr design. At £1500 can this attractively designed (but mid-spec) handset attract buyers? Apple TV+ and big-tech's move into 'content'. As the TV streaming wars heat-up what has Apple got to offer? (spo...
Nov 25, 2019•41 min
This week the team discuss: Apple's new Airpods Pro and Amazon's Echo Buds. How do they compare and what's the future for smart assistant-enabled headphones? Hackers that have discovered a way to make untraceable calls across mobile networks and the police response. Phone cameras vs 'real cameras'. Have we reached the stage now where only the pros are better off with an SLR? Does the advent of computational photography on phones make them superior? Let the team know your thoughts on these subjec...
Nov 10, 2019•39 min
This week the team discuss: Google's new Nest Aware offering, AI-based analysis of home security camera in the cloud. Ewan's tempted by the low price but he's heavily invested in Arlo devices. Monzo's withdrawal of it's 'Plus' premium account offering (for now). The start-up bank's acknoweldged the product (and subsequent changes) wasn't popular with customers, but Ben and Rafe signed-up. Whether it's worth buying 5G devices at the moment... Do handsets really benefit from the speed increase and...
Oct 28, 2019•35 min
This week the team discuss: Ikea's new SYMFONISK speakers powered by Sonos. Cheaper, but similarly specced to the Sonos One are these good value for consumers and a good idea for Sonos? Ewan (and others') concern that Facebook (and Google... and Amazon...) are recording our typed and spoken conversations to target advertising to us. Requested by a listener, our opinions on the UK, US and Australian governments' requests to firms like Facebook to build 'backdoors' into their messaging products' e...
Oct 22, 2019•37 min
This week the team discuss: Ewan's robot lawn mower (RIP - it didn't survive the winter) which cost about the same as a small car, but less than a Danish gardener. The iPhone 11 and tough questions like "is it good" and "should you buy it"? (spoilers: yes, but probably) Bags, rucksacks and briefcases which Ben is adamant are a valid and useful subject of discussion. He and Rafe school Ewan. Let the team know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the...
Oct 14, 2019•40 min
After an extended break the team are back with a new(ish) format and recording arrangements. This week the team discuss: Ben's new home networking setup as he replaces the Apple equipment he's used for years. In the spirit of always making a simple job difficult he's selected Ubiquiti's 'prosumer' products. The 'Huawei problem' that is part cyber security and part trade war. The team discuss the difference between the firm's infrastructure equipment (like that for 5G under scrutiny for its secur...
Oct 03, 2019•46 min
This week the team discuss the return of Palm with the, er, "Palm" companion device. Is this a new category of device and could they really replace our smartphones sometimes? Support 361 Podcast Links: Netgear Arlo Cameras Apple Watch 4 The Thick of It (BBC Show) Norsemen (Norwegian TV comedy) Withings Smart Scales Dark Sky SmartThings V3 The Palm Vue smart glasses...
Nov 30, 2018•52 min
This week the team talk about self-driving cars, Ewan's recent briefing by Waymo in 'the valley' and how autonomous vehicle technology will change the world (probably). Corrections In the episode Ben says that iD Mobile is 'operated by Three'. That's not correct - whilst it uses Three's network, the mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse is behind it. Support 361 Podcast Links: Tile trackers — The Bluetooth trackers that now come with replaceable batteries. Google smart display Dual-SIM suppor...
Nov 12, 2018•52 min
The team discuss the tech they've added to their 'smart homes' since last year's challenge. They discuss what stayed and the new items that have been added. Support 361 Podcast Links: Apple AirPods — Apparently all the rage in Copenhagen now. Geofency — Location tracking and geo-fencing app for iOS. Formula 1 mobile app — New mobile apps for F1 enthusiasts that Rafe worked on. Bosch Indego 350 — Ewan's recommended robot lawn mower. Roomba i7 — New self-emptying robot vacuum cleaner. Arlo Pro 2 —...
Oct 19, 2018•50 min
After some time away the team are back to (prematurely) end the crypto-currency challenge. We talk about why and the challenges for using things like Bitcoin for anything other than speculation. Support 361 Podcast Links: Firefox Reality — A virtual reality web browser for Oculus, Daydream and Viveport devices. Glint — The payment card backed by gold. Netgear Arlo Pro 2 cameras — Netgear's highest-spec wireless security cameras. Oculus Go — Stand-alone VR headset Bosch 'Robo Mower' — Bosch's ran...
Oct 05, 2018•38 min
** Nothing in this podcast is investment advice. ** Recorded in mid December 2017, the team talk about their progress with their 'Crypto Challenge' and the dawning realisation that Bitcoin (and the like) might not be as usable as money. We learn a little about how this technology works, how (and why) its value might change, and share our own tentative first steps of buying and selling for ourselves. Support 361 Podcast
Jan 25, 2018•1 hr 1 min
This week the team tell bad Christmas cracker jokes and discuss gift ideas for last-minute shoppers. We look back at the topics we discussed in December 2012 (including - would you believe - Snapchat) and confirm with Ewan that, yes, it's also Christmas in Denmark. You heard it here first... Support 361 Podcast
Dec 20, 2017•46 min
This week the team discuss 'FinTech' - the apps and services hoping to displace traditional banks and their products. We look at some of the most interesting offerings for consumers for everyday spending, foreign exchange and borrowing, considering which firms have what it takes to be successful. We also talk about AirPods, briefly. Support 361 Podcast
Nov 21, 2017•49 min
This week the team discuss the ways apps and services fail to keep our data safe. From deliberate data theft to bad design we discuss the worst we've known and how the Apple and Android ecosystems are adapting to these threats. We also launch this season's challenge on crypto-currencies. This episode was recorded in late September 2017. Support 361 Podcast
Nov 13, 2017•39 min
This week the team talk about the state of social media and how it's changed since we were early adopters. We talk about how and why we use various networks and how that's changed over time and our reactions, from quitting to shopping. We cover the services we know well and some newer ones we - well some of us - struggle with. Could it be Snapchat isn't for us? Support 361 Podcast
Nov 05, 2017•55 min
We're back (sorry for the wait) and this week we're re-visiting our smart home challenge. What's the long-term verdict on the products we bought last season, what have we changed and would we recommend? Also, were you aware of the 'neat hair' situation in Nordic banking? Ewan has the latest. Support 361 Podcast
Oct 25, 2017•45 min
After a short break we’re back with the final episode of the season. We’re looking at smart ‘stuff’ again… Ben’s been on the Citymapper smartbus trial run in central London and Ewan’s been doing an extended comparison of Google Home to Amazon’s Alexa. Rafe’s also been messing about with bees. Support 361 Podcast
Jun 05, 2017•52 min
This week the team talk about mobile working… Do we still need laptops or is it possible to do ‘real’ work on an iPad. Does the device even matter or is it the software that drives users’ behaviour. We talk about ‘transformer’ devices, young people, keyboards and clipboards. Rafe also provides a duck-house update (so you can stop emailing to ask). Support 361 Podcast
Mar 22, 2017•59 min
