The Big Tech Show - podcast cover

The Big Tech Show

Irish Independentwww.independent.ie
Irish Independent Tech Editor Adrian Weckler hosts this award-winning business podcast which dives deep into the biggest industry advances and tracks the key movers and shakers behind the innovation. From interviewing Big Tech CEOs to investigations into how tech affects our working lives, the show has become Ireland’s most listened-to technology podcast.
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Episodes

The real reason to buy an iPhone 15 – the cheaper prices

This week Apple held its annual launch at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. Among the releases is the new iPhone 15 Pro Max which offers an improved zoom function. Surprisingly, all iPhone euro prices have fallen, and the iPhone 15 Pro is cheaper than last year’s iPhone 14 Pro. There are also updates to the Apple Watch with a more powerful processor and a new way to control it. Are these latest releases worth your money? Adrian Weckler is joined by Stuart Miles and Leo Gebbie in Cuperti...

Sep 14, 202330 min

Ireland’s new hate speech law ‘will create thought crimes’

Is Ireland introducing the penalty of a thought crime? Could you be arrested and prosecuted for something you’ve written or drawn or just imagined, but never shared online or with another person? Irish Council of Civil Liberties Director Liam Herrick and Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward join Adrian for a spirited debate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 07, 202317 min

Dodgy box crackdown: can you expect a visit from the gardaí?

A new wave of crackdowns on TV ‘dodgy boxes’ is under way, with legal warnings being sent out in seven counties so will a garda be calling to your door? Adrian speaks to Irish Independent Business Journalist Caoimhe Gordon about the latest developments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 05, 202315 min

Why does Ireland keep failing on basic tech infrastructure?

Earlier this month, an IT blunder allowed Bank of Ireland customers to withdraw 'free' cash at ATMs. The incident gained global attention. But it’s not just the banks. The HSE, telecoms companies and all sorts of other Irish ultilities and pillar institutions seem to suffer from recurring IT problems. Irish Independent journalist Sarah Collins joins Adrian to find out why many Irish organisations are so bad when it comes to everyday service-oriented tech. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...

Aug 31, 202323 min

The four-letter words you can’t use for Irish websites

There are seven deadly words you have never been allowed use for your website. The reason? Someone might be offended. Co-founder and CEO of Ireland’s biggest web domains company, Blacknight, Michele Neylon joins Adrian to explain the rules. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 30, 202321 min

With streaming services hiking their prices what are the alternatives?

Disney is going to hike the price of its online streaming service by around €2 following others like Netflix, which have done the same in recent months. Will consumers still pay when the prices go up? Are there any decent alternatives? Adrian speaks to Deirdre Molumby, Audience Editor at Independent.ie and arts journalist Dave Hanratty. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 24, 202326 min

What the new iPhone 15 will have — and what it will leave out

What will next month's iPhone 15 bring? Are there any interesting new features we should be getting excited about at this point? And what else of interest is there out there in the smartphone world? Adrian looks ahead to the next iPhone launch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 22, 202325 min

Ireland’s EV charging network is awful. But things are finally starting to look up?

Ireland’s electric car charging network has come in for significant criticism over the years. As demand for EVs has risen, the number of public charging points has not increased fast enough to keep up. What's going on with Ireland's electric car charging network? Are we stuck with one of the worst networks in Europe or might things actually start to look up very soon. Adrian Weckler is joined by the CEO of EasyGo, Chris Kelly, to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Aug 17, 202325 min

Musk v Zuck fight: the tech bro showdown we can’t look away from

Since Elon Musk challenged Mark Zuckerberg to a cage fight back in June, there have been questions over whether the fight would ever actually go ahead. Now though, it looks like the battle of the tech bros is off, after Zuckerberg posting online that he was moving on, saying Musk “isn’t serious” about the bout. Is this whole thing the cringiest thing to happen in the tech world this year? Does it have any signals for what's happening with the companies involved? Adrian Weckler discusses. See omn...

Aug 15, 202321 min

Is it ok to date an AI chatbot?

With artificial intelligence now a part of most people’s daily lives in some capacity, there are some that are using developments in the technology to have relationships with AI. Is love possible with an AI creation? Could you date one for example? Is there anything wrong with the idea of dating one? Adrian is joined by clinical psychologist Dr Malie Coyne to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 10, 202317 min

A smartphone glitch that rings emergency services and Zoom asks staff to return to the office

Calls to Ireland’s emergency calls system rose by as much as 50pc this year because of a Samsung smartphone glitch that causes mistaken calls from pockets. Meanwhile, Zoom has asked its staff to return to the office at least two days a week, if they live within an 80km radius of the office. And Irish people spend €108m per month on video streaming services, with the average person spending €28.26 per month. Adrian takes a look at the latest tech news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Aug 08, 202321 min

Jake Browne: from TikTok House creator to building the next big ad startup

From starting a TikTok house in Ireland to creating a payments company for influencers and then selling that company to an Irish unicorn, Jake Browne is on a very interesting trajectory through the marketing and tech world. Now he's building the next big ad startup. Jake Browne, founder and CEO of Veblen Giffen joins Adrian on the Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 03, 202325 min

Revolut car insurance launches in Ireland and Accenture announces job cuts

Elon Musk says he wants X, formerly known as Twitter, to be a super app. But is Revolut getting there first? This week the payments app added car insurance to its list of offerings, which now includes things like credit cards, stock trading, crypto and loans. But things haven't been all positive in tech this week. Accenture has announced 890 jobs at its Irish operation, which is in addition to the 400 cuts announced earlier this year. Can we expect more layoffs in the tech industry or is the tid...

Aug 01, 202318 min

Bobby Healy on building “the biggest drone delivery operation in the world”

This week on the Big Tech Show, Adrian is joined by one of the best-known tech entrepreneurs in Ireland, Bobby Healy, to discuss his vision for the future and how the next drone delivery trial in Blanchardstown will make Manna the biggest drone delivery operation in the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 27, 202324 min

Twitter's rebrand, TikTok's text-only posts and Spotify ups its prices

Elon Musk has unveiled Twitter's new logo. X will now replace the famous blue bird. There are also plans for the name Twitter to retire and X to replace it as the new brand name for the platform. Meanwhile, TikTok is to introduce new text-only posts on its platform as a rival service to Twitter. And Spotify has announced it will increase the price of some of its most popular subscriptions. On the Big Tech Show, Adrian takes a look at the tech stories making the news this week. See omnystudio.com...

Jul 25, 202322 min

Twitter's blue tick revenue schemes, Microsoft's antitrust probe and Google Bard launches

Twitter has seen a 50pc drop in ad revenue since Elon Musk took over at the social media platform. Now, Twitter has begun paying part of its ad revenue to some profiles with large followings. Is this a way to generate income lost to dwindling advertisers? Meanwhile, Microsoft is set to face its first antitrust probe by the European Union in over a decade for how it has 'bundled' its teams app with the overall Office suite. What could this mean for Microsoft if it is found to have breached anti c...

Jul 18, 202322 min

Buying second hand to the best apps: what you need to know about EVs

The sale of electric cars in Ireland has been on the rise in recent years, but for those who haven’t turned to EVs, it can be tricky figuring out what you need to know. Adrian is joined by Derek Reilly, founded of Nevo and the EV Ireland YouTube Channel to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 13, 202332 min

Does Threads spell the end for Twitter?

It's been six days since Meta launched its new platform Threads. A rival to Twitter, it has already gained over 100 million users. What is Threads like and can Irish users sign up? Adrian Weckler takes a look at the much hyped new social media platform. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 11, 202320 min

Ireland’s new Online Safety Commissioner on preparing to lay down the law

Online safety is a topic that we’re yet to find the answer to. Self-regulation by the online platforms doesn’t seem to be cutting it. Now, Ireland has its own online safety commissioner who is tasked with bringing these tech companies in line. Adrian is joined by Ireland’s first online safety commissioner, Niamh Hodnett. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 06, 202323 min

Bernard Brogan: how I went from sports star to tech founder

What's the transition from sports superstar to tech actually like? Bernard Brogan knows more than most. He has won four all-star awards, seven all-Irelands and had a glittering career in the GAA. Now he has just got funding for his startup PepTalk and is looking to grow the business in the US. Adrian is joined by Bernard Brogan for this week’s Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 29, 202335 min

From multiverses to teleportation: Is the reality of quantum stranger than fiction?

When people talk about quantum computing, they often move quickly to the science fiction area. Stuff like time travel or multiverses. But what is it actually really all about? Adrian is joined by Dr. John Goold, Associate Professor in Physics at Trinity College Dublin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 22, 202324 min

Beyond the hype: has panic over AI gone too far?

Why are we so prone to panicking over new technology? Where once we freaked out about video games, the Internet and 5G, now it's artificial intelligence which we worry will cause the end of civilisation. Has our fear of AI gone too far or is it merely healthy scepticism? Adrian is joined by Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at TCD and Barry Lunn, Founder & CEO of Provizio AI. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 15, 202323 min

From Enniscorthy to Stanford University: Niall Kehoe on studying in the world's top tech college

Wexford based Niall Kehoe started coding at the age of eight and developed his own apps when he was 10. Now the Enniscorthy teenager has made it into the world's top tech college, Stanford University, on a full scholarship. Adrian caught up with Niall on a visit to San Jose, California, where Stanford's main campus is. They discuss his journey getting into Stanford, what life there is really like, and what plans he might have next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jun 12, 202312 min

Apple Vision Pro: Will VR finally go mainstream?

Apple's vision of the future is finally here, and they called it the Vision Pro. Is the headset just another failed VR project in the making or can Apple truly succeed where everyone else has failed? From Apple HQ in Cupertino, California Adrian is joined by Stuart Miles and Leo Gebbie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 08, 202327 min

Richard Curran on how to spend Ireland's growing tech billions

A monorail, solar panels for all and a universal basic income are some of the things that Ireland could do with up to €60bn in extra tech cash from fines, budget surpluses and potential back tax rulings from Europe. But what should we sensibly do with all that money? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 01, 202332 min

Bitcoin is back: Regulators take control from crypto scammers and cowboys

Everything is changing in the crypto world. There's new regulations which have been broadly welcomed. So what's happened? Well, after years of trash talking crypto as a Ponzi scheme, regulators have now started to embrace it and give it rules to adhere to. Will this make crypto mainstream and what will it mean for those who trade in crypto? Host: Adrian Weckler. Guests: Lory Kehoe and Jon Ihle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

May 25, 202326 min

Meta fines, layoffs and Ireland’s legal fight to avoid getting €14bn in Apple back taxes

It's been a strange week in the world of multinationals, big tech companies and the Irish Exchequer. Ireland seems to be doing its best to turn away an awful lot of money. First, we have the news of Meta's €1.2 billion fine imposed by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner, which didn't want to impose that fine. Now we have the case of Apple and Ireland versus the European Commission, where Ireland doesn't want the €14 billion in back tax that the European Commission says we're owed. Adrian disc...

May 24, 202312 min

Electric Bikes: everything you need to know from grants to battery charge

There is lots of information out there about electric cars; from the grants available to the distance you can go before having to charge up again. Something that has gained in popularity though, are electric bikes. Are they worth the expense and what do you need to know before investing? Adrian is joined by Olivier Vander Elst, co-founder of Greenaer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 18, 202324 min

Is the Forbes 30 under 30 list cursed?

You've heard of the curse of Hello, but what about the curse of the Forbes 30 under 30? From Elizabeth Holmes to Sam Bankman-fried, getting name checked as the next big thing in tech could ironically turn out to be a shortcut to notoriety, prosecution, and maybe even jail. Adrian is joined by Jon Ihle to discuss why some high-profile young entrepreneurs get caught up in the law. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 11, 202326 min
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