It may seem like the bath is a bad place to inject tech into, but we say that's wrong. We love a bath here at Queens of the Drone Age and refuse to limit our tech to the outside of its warm sudsy waters. While we may not recommend you ruin your Nintendo Switch with condensation like Tegan did, we are big advocates for bath tech in general. So in this episode, we're looking at the innovations in this space - from super fancy baths with inbuilt aromatherapy, to ones that you walk into somehow? Ama...
Aug 17, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 120
It's been a great week for game releases and the Queens got some sneak peeks so they can give you the low down. Tegan fulfilled her destiny by becoming a cult leader. No, not in real life. Yet. She's gotten heavy into Cult of the Lamb and we're surprised she stopped playing to record the episode. A cross between a cult management sim and a roguelike, you'll probably like it if you're a Stardew Valley fan with a dark sense of humour. Meanwhile, Amanda has been shaping young minds with Two Point C...
Aug 14, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 119
In celebration of LEGO's 90th anniversary this week, we take a look at some of the wonderful things LEGO has inspired: from velcro-covered building blocks to thermal storage blocks that could (potentially) end fossil fuel usage altogether. Rae also goes digging in human poo to find swallowed LEGO pieces (metaphorically). Join us for this exploration of the engineering and creativity that LEGO has sparked! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener ...
Aug 10, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 118
In this gadget chat, Rad checks out the WHOOP 4.0 - the fitness band, not the loud excited sound. And for those of you who love gaming and/or productivity, Amanda and Rad check out the SteelSeries Aerox 9 wireless mouse, up to and including its casual 12 side buttons, while Rae checks out the Aerox 5, with slightly fewer side buttons. Rae also takes a look at Our Pure Planet's Bluetooth Headphones, which are both 100% carbon neutral and 125% plastic regenerative. Full show notes can be found on ...
Aug 07, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 117
With more and more of our lives being lived online, the way we represent ourselves in digital spaces is becoming more complex. While many of us have been using avatars and connecting with online representation for years, the looming metaverses of the future raise an array of important questions. Is it okay to wander around as an idealised version of yourself online or should you portray yourself more realistically? What are the ethical implications of using an avatar that portrays someone of a d...
Aug 03, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 116
In this catch-up, Rad tells the Queens about her recent trip to Coonabarabran, NSW, to check out the Huntsman Telescope - the first (and only!) of its kind in the southern hemisphere (which you could technically build yourself for a cool $30k). She also got to take a Canon R7 mirrorless camera with her, in celebration of the Canon lenses used on the Huntsman. Also, Amanda gives us the lowdown on a game that's basically a playable horror game: The Quarry. And Rae laments that she has to send back...
Jul 31, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 115
Artificial Intelligence is a term thrown around so much that it can be difficult to know what it actually means and how it’s used in the real world. Spoiler alert - it’s not just Skynet (even though it is sometimes Skynet). So this week the Queens are looking at some of the different types of AI and what it's doing - from saving the turtles to Tesla's autonomous vehicles. They also look at some of the problems with how AI is programmed, and the biases this can lead to. So join us for this intell...
Jul 28, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 114
The Queens get aggressively clean as Rae explains the genius and therapeutic nature of Powerwash Simulator. Meanwhile, Tegan gets back on her mid-range phone soap box with a review of the brand new Google Pixel 6a. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 24, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 113
Apps are great, except for when they're not. And some are just downright dodgy. So in this episode, the Queens put some unethical apps under the microscope as well as some of the practices that have allowed them to stay live and make money on the App Store and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 20, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 112
Rad reviews the very fancy SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset, Rae checks out the wholesome farming (and witchy!) mobile game Wylde Flowers, and Tegan takes issue with BMW announcing a subscription service for heated seats. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 17, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 111
In the wave of Roe V Wade being overturned, the Queens cover how to keep your phone and computer data more secure - from VPNs and end-to-end encryption to signal-blocking Faraday bags for your device. The Queens also take a look at Google announcing auto-deletion of sensitive data, and whether that might actually be a red flag. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...
Jul 13, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 111
In this episode Rad and Tegan are left to their own devices, quite literally. Tegan breathes heavily over the brand new flagship Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones while Rad takes a look at the much smaller Sony LinkBuds S - the ones without the hole in them. Rad also adds to her Vibe Kingdom with the Philips Hue Play Gradient Light Strip and Play HDMI Sync Box . We may earn a small commission on some links. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 10, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 109
In this Deep Dive special from our archives, it's all about the plants! The Queens explore grow lights, hydroponic herb gardens, historical beauty poisons, modern medicinal discoveries – and even how they respond to music. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 07, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 108
In this Deep Dive special from the archives, the Queens fire up the old dial-up modem to regale us with tales of their early years on the internet. Embarrassing childhood email addresses, roleplaying in Yahoo Chat, scamming people on Neopets… it’s a wild ride. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 04, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 107
The Queens go on a tour of one of Australia's most haunted locations - the Q Station at Manly. Armed with some ghost hunting tech and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, they try their hardest to record a ghost without actually bringing one home. This episode is sponsored by Samsung. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 29, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 106
Later this week, we've got a super special ep where we go ghost hunting (cause bustin' makes us feel good). In preparation, please enjoy this vintage QOTDA episode that's all things paranormal. The only thing we didn't discuss was Paranorman (2012). It was a surprisingly good film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 26, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 105
We take a look back at an early episode of QOTDA where we chatted about the pinnacle of cinema: video game movies. Move over Cannes and eat dirt Sundance, because the Queens have the real cinematic masterpieces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 22, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 104
As part of Not E3, the Queens flew down to Melbourne to experience the Xbox Bethesda showcase at the very normal time of 3am because Australia. Rad couldn’t make it, so Amanda and Tegan make her real jealous with tales of new games, green fairy floss, and what they’re most excited to see from Xbox Bethesda over the next 12 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 20, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 103
Colour plays a huge role in the way we perceive the world, and in more ways than one. We use colour to signal our identity or membership of particular groups, to induce certain feelings or emotions in ourselves, and to tell when certain animals may not be safe to pick up and pet. So in this episode, we're talking about colour, how we use it, and how it uses us - from Vanta black to Baker-Miller Pink and even how the colour gamut in televisions works. Full show notes are available on the Queens o...
Jun 15, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 101
Rae unwinds with city-building ‘game’ Townscaper, while Amanda tries out the extremely shiny EPOS H3PRO hybrid headphones. Rad also reaches her final form by inadvertently trying out the Boost Charger Pro portable wireless charger and the Boost Charge 20K power bank in the emergency room. Classic. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 12, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 101
From the history of geography to Google Maps, sat-nav systems, geocaching, and international security issues - in this episode the Queens take a deep dive into the wide world of Map Tech. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 08, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 100
Rad answers a listener's question with a review of the Apple HomePod Mini. Will it fit into her vibe kingdom? Or will it be too large of a tennis ball? Plus, Tegan tests out instant grocery apps like MILKRUN and Voly that promise delivery in 10 to 15 minutes. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 05, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 99
The Queens deep dive into tech...for our pets! What works? What doesn't? What do we wish we had? Also: can those buttons really teach your dog to "talk"? This episode is one of our new deep dive specials, where we dig into the archives and pull out the segments our OG listeners have loved the most. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 01, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 98
The Queens dive deep into some retro-futurism; what people in the past thought the future would look like! Featuring the 'house of the future' from 1950s Disneyland, electro-shock haircuts, Lunar Olympics and VR cycling from the 1890’s. That's not a typo. This episode is one of our new deep dive specials, where we dig into the archives and pull out the segments our OG listeners have loved the most. Warning: we were just over a month into lockdown at the time of recording, so things get a bit...l...
May 30, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 97
In this episode, we answer a question from one of our loyal listeners - and it's all about how we came to do what we do! Please enjoy the Origin Stories of the Queens of the Drone Age, filled to the brim with tips and tricks about some of the many ways to be a STEM journalist. And if you have a question for us for a future episode, send us an email at info@queensofthedroneage.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 27, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 96
In this week's gadget chat Amanda learns to stop worrying and love wireless tech with the Belkin 2-in-1 Wireless Charger. Meanwhile, Rae tries out A Kinder World, aka therapy disguised as a mobile game, and Rad’s freakishly sensitive ears compared Sonos’ Arc and Beam soundbars. Full show notes are on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 22, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 95
This week the Queens reveal their best online bargain-hunting tips, from websites and browser extensions to visiting the decrepit bowels of Facebook Marketplace. This episode is one of our new deep dive specials, where we dig into the archives and pull out the segments our OG listeners have loved the most. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 18, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 94
With Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) coming up, the Queens chat cool accessibility tech out in the world right now. Rae checks out a handless gaming bracelet, while Tegan falls in love with the Dot braille watch. Rad also looks at some of the iPhone’s accessibility features, and Amanda attends a virtual concert because real-world ones can be risky with epilepsy. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...
May 15, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 93
While Rad froths over the very fancy STM Dux backpack, Tegan deep dives into the Oppo Find X5 Pro. That’s right, backpacks count as tech - because we said so. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 11, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 92
The Queens delve into fitness tech - beyond just exercise tracking. From accelerometer and GPS tech, to how analytics and vitals monitoring brought Tegan and Rad peace of mind during Covid. Amanda also looks at sleep tracking while Rae swears she isn't possessed. This episode is sponsored by Whoop. Full show notes are available on the Queens of the Drone Age website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 08, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 91
