Welcome back one and all, it's Tech Talk 368! It's a bit crowded in Tech Talk Towers today, no room to swing the proverbial cat - not only do we have our regulars Steven Scott, Robin Christopherson, Tim Schwartz and Emails Andy, but we're joined by Dean Ormond, radio presenter extraordinaire, who comes pre-loaded with his own tech question... what's your preferred choice in 2021, phone or computer? When it comes to everyday tasks, like banking, shopping or social media, do you reach for the PC, ...
Feb 23, 2021•58 min•Ep. 368
Yes, it is us, the Tech Talk crew... We're back - they cant keep us away! Joining Steven today - Robin, Tim and Emails Andy... and speaking of emails, let's talk about our inbox - over the past few months we have been lamenting about how far behind we are; well, we've spent some time offline getting our ducks in a row - a spring clean, if you will. So some of your questions have been deliberately redirected to the RNIB's Technology for Life Team to tackle, and we'll be getting to those over the ...
Feb 16, 2021•58 min•Ep. 367
Hello everyone, it's Tech Talk o'clock! This week's show is split into two halves; firstly, Steven, Robin, and Tim are joined by David Ward, host of the Echo Tips podcast to talk all things smart speakers! The show is part of the New Vision Programme run by Goodwill Industries of the Valleys in Virginia in the US. What's the one thing that would make Robin leave the Echo family, and head over to Google? What annoys Steven the most about owning a smart speaker? What productivity skills available ...
Feb 09, 2021•58 min•Ep. 366
Good day to you all! We continue our Android theme this week inviting Steve Nutt from Computer Room Services to join Steven, Robin and Tim to talk about the benefits Android can bring to blind people, and the hot specialist tech that's flying out the door. Also, Yvonne Brooks from RNIB's Technology for Life team joins the guys to talk about the new LIDAR scanner in the iPhone 12 Pro range, and gives her views on the benefits of the new tech. Also, keep your ears peeled for a really bad acapella ...
Feb 02, 2021•58 min•Ep. 365
Here at Tech Talk Towers we are, on occasion, told we talk about Apple a little too much. In our defence, we do so because we own a lot of their products, and they are far and away leading the pack when it comes to accessibility in smartphone tech. But that doesn't mean we should brush Android under the carpet. This week, Steven, Robin and Andy welcome Dinos from RNIB's Technology for Life team cover Android with much more clarity than usual. Hot off the release of a new Samsung flagship smartph...
Jan 26, 2021•58 min•Ep. 364
Time for Tech Talk! On this week's show, Steven, Robin and Andy are joined by birthday boy David Woodbridge to talk all about Apple! With Steven and David having a selection of new Apple products, the guys talk about how they're finding the MacBook Air, the AirPod Max headphones, and Series 6 Apple Watch - has the MacBook and the M1 chip met expectations? Are the headphones comfortable to wear continuously? How does Braille Display support work on the Watch? Also, we ask the daunting question......
Jan 19, 2021•58 min•Ep. 363
Brand new year, same old Tech Talk! Welcome back everyone, we hope your Christmas and New Year was as good as current situations allow, and that 2021 has started as close to promising as possible. The team of Steven, Robin, Tim and Andy return for our first official TT of the new year (even though we have been on already... shhh). On today's episode, the team talk about the 'World' update to Seeing AI, which utilises the LIDAR tech found in the latest iPhones. Sadly this means the only person to...
Jan 12, 2021•58 min•Ep. 362
Happy New Year Tech Talk fans! Following on from the last episode, where we reviewed 2020, we now look ahead at what is ahead of us in 2021, and once again, we do it for two whole hours! Team STAR reunite, yes, Steven , Tim, Andy and Robin lay out their thoughts about what lies ahead - flip phones, phablets, ultrawide band, a little bit more WFH, better wearables, satisfying clicks, 5G and so much more!
Jan 01, 2021•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 361
What a year, eh? I'm sure many of you will be glad to have 2020 behind us; there certainly has been a lot to talk about, especially in tech! So much so in fact, we're with you for the next TWO HOURS! Yes, on this back-to-back Boxing Day Tech Talk extravaganza, Steven, Robin and Tim are joined by David Woodbridge from Vision Australia to reflect on the year in technology - Airpods, Narrator, Facebook Portal... and squeezy penguins.
Dec 26, 2020•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 360
It's time for a very special episode of Tech Talk! Yes, Steven has given Tim, Andy and Robin the day off to finish their Christmas shopping, and instead welcomes some of RNIB's Technology For Life team in instead! Joining Steven this week are Jo Fullerton, Madleen Mann, Mohammed Atif, and Ben Rendle; together, they discuss the most pertinent questions the team receive, some of the common answers and solutions, as well as the team's own top tech highlights of the year. Find out more about the Tec...
Dec 22, 2020•58 min•Ep. 359
Good day to you all, welcome back to Tech Talk! We've got a Steven, a Robin, a Tim and an Andy on today's show, the usual suspects. On today's show, we welcome Amazon Show and Tell to a UK audience, an accessibility feature that identifies common pantry items and other things using your Echo Show's camera. It's new to these shores, and we waste no time in discussing its usefulness and uniqueness - Steven spoke to Dennis Stansbury from Amazon UK to talk about how it all works. Speaking of Lady A,...
Dec 15, 2020•58 min•Ep. 358
Hello, all! We're back, and straight back into the Tech Talk email inbox! Joining RNIB Connect Radio's Steven Scott this week - Robin Christopherson from the wonderful AbilityNet, Tim Schwartz from the lovely lifeafterblindness.com , and of course emails Andy. Quite a few themes in the emails this week including lots on Lady A, such as: calling costs and VOIP calls, tripod mounts and a link with guide dogs. There's also plenty on Audible Sync problems. Some of the other topics we cover include: ...
Dec 08, 2020•58 min•Ep. 357
Iiiiiit's Tech Talk time! Okay, so you've done your festive gift shopping thanks to last week's gift guide episode of Tech Talk, so you should be feeling all festive and merry; so settle in, because Steven, Robin and Tim are here to answer your emails! Andy opens up the many pages saved up from you lovely listeners, and over this week and next we'll be reading them out, and discussing all the things you've messaged to us. This week, we cover: TW Blue, Lord of the Dance, TuneIn and the licensing ...
Dec 01, 2020•58 min•Ep. 356
Ho Ho Ho! Greetings Tech Talk fans, welcome to a special, festive episode - yes, we know it's still only November, and yes, many of us around the world are still in some kind of lockdown, but we're not letting it knock our seasonal spirit. In fact, we're combining our festive feelings with our love of shopping, and tech! Yes, in this episode, Steven, Tim, Robin and Andy have gathered a collection of festive treats that we think you - yes you, dear listener - should be adding to your present list...
Nov 24, 2020•58 min•Ep. 355
Welcome back Tech Talk fans, we hope this week's show finds you well. Steven, Robin, Andy and Tim return for another hour of tech-delight courtesy of RNIB Connect Radio.. Unsurprisingly, we begin this week with One More Thing, Apple's third event in as many months, which was broadcasting their new Mac range - the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini, now with the new M1 chips designed and built by themselves. So what does this mean, in the larger picture? Are these new products worth an investm...
Nov 17, 2020•58 min•Ep. 354
Hello friends! Team Tech Talk is here with you for another hour of accessible technology goodness! Steven is joined by Robin, Tim and Andy for a jam-packed show. First, we hear about a new talking microwave that has been launched by the RNIB that aims to simplify the cooking experience for blind and partially sighted people. Steven chats to Claire Maxwell from the RNIB Products Team about the new kitchen appliance, and also to Kim Jaye, a blind cook who has been testing it out. We also take a de...
Nov 10, 2020•58 min•Ep. 353
Hello, all, and welcome to a special episode of Tech Talk this week; Robin, Andy and Tim get the week off, and Steven instead sits down to talk accessible gaming with two guests! Joining Steven is Ian Hamilton , and Sightless Kombat . On the eve of the next era of console releases, with the Xbox Series X, and the PlayStation 5 due to be released this month, the world is about to take its latest step into modern console gaming - but what does that mean for those who are blind and partially sighte...
Nov 03, 2020•58 min•Ep. 352
Good day to you all, and welcome to Tech Talk! On today's podcast you'll be hearing from our regulars: Steven Scott, Robin Christopherson, Tim Schwartz, and Andy with the Emails. Speaking of emails, we begin this week's show with one that came in recently; regular listeners to the show will recall that Robin is now in possession of a Optelec Voyager refreshable Braille terminal, and has started using it as part of his daily life. Steven's also had lessons to relearn Braille over the last twelve ...
Oct 27, 2020•58 min•Ep. 351
We've made it to 350! Can you believe it?! 350 Tech Talk shows, amazing stuff - well done to all of you who have survived them all! Today's episode is a right Apple fest; Steven, Robin, Tim and Andy gather together to talk about the 'Hi, Speed' Apple event from last week. We're going to be getting four new iPhones - iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and a iPhone 12 Pro Max - which one is at the top of the guys shopping lists? We take a deep dive into all the features - improved displays, ...
Oct 20, 2020•58 min•Ep. 350
Welcome one, welcome all... to Tech Talk! Your weekly dose of accessible tech news, reviews and gossip from RNIB Connect Radio! Joining Steven Scott on this week's show - Robin Christopherson, Tim Schwartz and Andy with the emails, and boy what a show we've put together for you! Coming up, Steven and the team discuss the new arrivals in the Microsoft Surface range: the Surface Laptop Go, and the Surface Pro X tablet. If you're listening to this in the US, both of those devices are out today, for...
Oct 13, 2020•58 min•Ep. 349
Hello everyone! It's time for Tech Talk 348! Thank you for joining us. On today's episode, Steven, Robin, Tim and Andy discuss Google's #LaunchNightIn event of last week, and boy are they all underwhelmed! There was plenty of new techy stuff revealed - the new Pixel 5, a Pixel 4A 5G, Nest Audio, and Chromecast with Google TV... they try to wrap up what they liked most, and what they may end up buying. It's also National Braille Week this week, which gives us a chance to talk about both the Orbit...
Oct 06, 2020•58 min•Ep. 348
Hello, fellow geeks! Welcome to another terrific Tech Talk episode, full to the brim of everything you could wish for! Joining Steven on today's show - Robin from AbilityNet , Tim from Life After Blindness , and Andy from... er... Email Tower? Sure, let's go with that! On today's show you will hear the guys opinions on the latest products to be revealed from Amazon - if you're a fan of stopping home burglaries, or even just seeing what the dog is up to when you're out, you may be interested in t...
Sep 29, 2020•58 min•Ep. 347
Team Tech Talk is here to rock your socks off! Today, the team tackle the rather underwhelming #AppleEvent from last week - if you missed it, don't worry - not only did you not miss anything ground-breaking, but Steven, Robin, and Tim are here to round up all the semi-decent announcements and talking points. Are the new health features worth getting an Apple Watch 6 for? Is the new look iPad a decent investment? Why did we get nothing on the next model of iPhone? We also cover your emails today ...
Sep 22, 2020•58 min•Ep. 346
Plundering porpoises! The good ship Tech Talk sets sail once more, thank you for being aboard! On today's episode we welcome back a salty ol' sea-dog to the show... Tim Schwartz is here! Last heard on these particular airwaves on episode 266, Tim returns to turn the tricky threesome into the fearless foursome... or something like that. We catch up with what Tim's been up to, and try not to get too deep into either fires, American politics or the pandemic. This week, Cap'n Scott and his first mat...
Sep 15, 2020•58 min•Ep. 345
It's a Tech Talk Double Feature this week! Well, kind of.... Firstly, it's the return of RNIB Connect Radio's own Red Szell! A couple of weeks ago, on Tech Talk Episode 336, you may remember Red was in the market for a new laptop. Well, he's only gone and bought one! Steven recommended one from the Dell Inspiron range... did Red splash out on one of those, or something entirely different? In the second half, Andy finally decides to turn up, so we can finally get to your emails! This week... milk...
Sep 08, 2020•58 min•Ep. 344
Welcome to the 343rd Tech Talk! That's a lot when you really think about it, isn't it? Firstly, let's get to some housekeeping. If you've heard the show already you'll know we mentioned lots of different bits and bobs at the start, well, here's all the info you need. To fill in the Tech Talk Survey, which runs until the 9th September, click here . The next AbilityNet Accessibility Insights webinar will be on 8th September at 1pm with Paul Smyth of Barclays. For more info, and to register, click ...
Sep 01, 2020•58 min•Ep. 343
Oh look, it's you! Fancy seeing you here! Just in time for Tech Talk! Steven, Robin & Andy return to talk all manner of gadgets and gizmos, but not before Robin gives out an apology for a boo-boo from last week... He's only gone and mixed up his Williams and Bills! The trio discuss Google Lookout, which has seen some updates over the last week - it now offers two new features: the ability to identify food labels, and to scan documents. Is this the Seeing AI app that Android users were cravin...
Aug 25, 2020•58 min•Ep. 342
Greetings, Tech Talkees! Join Steven, Robin and Andy on this week's show to hear the fallout from Samsung Unpacked from a few weeks back, and what kind of pull Android has in 2020. We say goodbye to Toshiba tech, as they quietly exited the laptop business for good, after 35 years of great machines. The guys discuss what went wrong, why the sales dropped off, and who is now taking on their PC business. Also listener Will has sent us another Aira in the UK demo, this time to assist with his dinner...
Aug 18, 2020•58 min•Ep. 341
Are you here for Tech Talk? Well you're in the right place! Steven's here, Robin's there, and Andy's everywhere - on today's TT, plenty of topics to discuss, including 'Theia', a robotic guide dog prototype designed by Anthony Camu - would you switch out having a fluffy, cuddly (and sometimes smelly) real life guide dog, in exchange for one that you need to plug in and recharge every night? And where would the USB slot be?! Crikey! Also, Steven chats with Dave Williams, founder of the Braillists...
Aug 11, 2020•58 min•Ep. 340
Hello, friends! On this week's Tech Talk, Steven and Robin spend a bit more time discussing Aira now being available in the UK, and how it differs from services such as Be My Eyes. We also have a demo from listener Will trying out the service - thanks Will! (Plus, if you would like 60 minutes free upon signup instead of the usual 30, Will has also shared a referral code, so click this link here: https://link.aira.io/ref-v8n65 ) Also on the show, RNIB's very own Paulina Kuchorew chats to Linzi Sa...
Aug 04, 2020•58 min•Ep. 339
