This week we explore how Microsoft is making cloud gaming work, and why it might be planning to bring a free VPN into Microsoft Edge. With that in mind, we compare free VPNs and paid VPNs, as well as explore the different types of HDMI cables. There is also a look at the various media that NFTs are sold as. This week, we chat about the following tech news that matters: Cloud Gaming Is Not a Fad, Says Microsoft Microsoft Edge May Introduce a Free VPN Check out these tips and tricks: Free VPNs vs ...
May 04, 2022•34 min•Season 11Ep. 7
This week, we look at the following news, tips and tricks, and recommendations: News: 5 Things About Twitter Elon Musk Is Likely to Change Microsoft Bing Ethical Shopping Hub Launched Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish Released Microsoft Defender Flags Google Chrome Update as Suspicious Tips and tricks: Why Computer Security Is Your Responsibility How to Block Scam Likely Calls Windows Cold Caller Scam Recorded Different Types of VPN Explained Recommendations: The Fudge Kitchen Whisperify Christia...
Apr 28, 2022•32 min•Season 11Ep. 6
This week's news: Why Elon Musk Bought a Big Stake in Twitter Elon Musk Asks: "Is Twitter Dying?" Why Elon Musk Isn't Joining the Twitter Board Elon Musk makes Twitter takeover bid Some tips and tricks: Connect a Nintendo Switch to Your TV Without the Dock What Is the Point of Mini PCs? How to Optimize PC Airflow How to Say Sorry in an Email This week's show is hosted by Christian Cawley and features Ben Stegner and Gavin Phillips. Follow them on Twitter ( @thegadgetmonkey , @stegnersaurus and @...
Apr 20, 2022•26 min•Season 11Ep. 5
This week's news: Remember the Windows 11 Default Browser Update? Yeah, It's Optional Leaks Have Appeared Online About a Surface Laptop Go Successor Some tips and tricks: Turn Your Phone into a PC Fix Windows 10 Freezing Issues Looking Back at Windows XP A single recommendation: The A500 Mini review This week's show is hosted by Christian Cawley and features Ben Stegner and Gavin Phillips. Follow them on Twitter ( @thegadgetmonkey , @stegnersaurus and @gavinspavin ) for updates and even make sug...
Apr 13, 2022•28 min•Season 11Ep. 4
Want to fix your own phone? Samsung is giving you the tools to do it. Meanwhile, why are Raspberry Pi computers hard to get hold of, and why is Windows 11 adoption tailing off? All this and our usual tips and tricks (covering Netflix, Chromecast, and Windows) in this week's Really Useful Podcast, the tech podcast for technophobes. In this week's show, we cover the following news: Samsung Galaxy Self Repair Program Raspberry Pi Shortages Explained Windows 11 Growth Plateaus Using Internet Explore...
Apr 06, 2022•42 min•Season 11Ep. 3
This week, we examine whether Apple could be forced by the EU to allow sideloading and what the Bing source code actually means. We also discover installing Amazon apps on Windows 11, the best tracks to test your headphones with, and look at the best smartphone cameras in 2022. Here are references for the key topics we discuss in this week's show. News EU to Force Apple to Allow Sideloading? 3D Printed Portal Turret Windows 11 Spinning Cog Easter Egg Microsoft Bing Source Code Leak Tips and tric...
Mar 30, 2022•37 min•Season 11Ep. 2
Here's a collection of links to almost everything we discuss this week: News Microsoft Wants to Know Your Favorite App Store Apps Microsoft Edge Gets AI Image Captions Heineken Launches Virtual Beer for Metaverse What Is the Metaverse and Will it Change Your Life? Tips What Is Creative Commons and Non-commercial Use What You Should Do After Cracking Your Smartphone Display How to Say Sorry By Email Recommendations Nokia XR20 Doogee S95 Review Unihertz TickTock Review How Long to Beat Christian C...
Mar 23, 2022•39 min•Season 11Ep. 1
Why is Microsoft planning to roll out adverts to Windows 11? Is the ClipChamp video editor as bad as Redditors claim? And why are DuckDuckGo users annoyed by its decision to prevent them seeing "Russian misinformation?" We find out about these things and more in this week's Really Useful Podcast, as well as tell you why you should be using Microsoft Word Online, how to identify unusual symbols, and learn about the best operating systems for building a home media center or HTPC. Shownotes In this...
Mar 16, 2022•31 min•Season 10Ep. 11
Shake Shack is giving away free Bitcoin with orders, but what does this actually mean? Should you use an iPad with Wi-Fi or one with cellular mobile networking? And did you know you've been answering security questions for your online accounts completely wrong? This week's tech podcast for technophobes explains why, and gives you the latest news, tips, and tricks. Shownotes This week we discuss news, tips, tricks, and offer some recommendations: News Get Free bitcoin from Shake Shack DOOM II Des...
Mar 09, 2022•27 min•Season 10Ep. 10
Windows 11 won't let you reset your computer properly, but Microsoft is improving the Bluetooth menu. The Steam Deck plays games it shouldn't, and we tell you about the return of Anonymous. PLUS: how to avoid collaboration tool burn-out and build a laptop. It's all here in this week's Really Useful Podcast. Shownotes In this week's show, we talk about: News Anonymous Returns Windows 11 PC Reset Issue New Bluetooth Settings in Windows 11 Steam Deck Runs Crysis Remastered Tips/Tricks Avoid Overuse...
Mar 03, 2022•35 min•Season 10Ep. 9
It's time for your weekly news of tech news and tips for technophobes. We look at the new Android app feature in Windows 11, how Microsoft Edge is dominating in the browser market, and understand the implication of Nintendo closing the eShop for Wii U and 3DS games. Plus, we have our usual recommendations for you to check out. Shownotes In this week's show, we look at: News You'll Need a Pretty Beefy PC to Run Android Apps on Windows 11 Watch Out, Safari Users: Microsoft Edge Will Soon Take Over...
Feb 24, 2022•32 min•Season 10Ep. 8
Microsoft Teams is widely used in business and other organizations, but will performance improvements make it a desirable alternative to Zoom? Will you Android phone or tablet get the new Material You theme on Android 12? What happened at the Nintendo Direct 2022 event? And will Call of Duty stay on PlayStation after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision? Click play to learn more about all of this and learn why Google is killing a bunch of its services in 2022 - including YouTube Originals. Show...
Feb 17, 2022•32 min•Season 10Ep. 7
Looking for clarity on the latest tech news or want some technology topics explaining? In this podcast, we do just that. This week's Really Useful Podcast covers some easy performance boosts you can make to Windows 11, why you should trust Microsoft Defender, and explains data recovery. You'll also learn how to save money on Amazon Prime, and find out what we're recommending this week. Shownotes This week we talk about: News Built In Apps Slow Down Windows 11 Microsoft Defender Is Better Than Yo...
Feb 09, 2022•32 min•Season 10Ep. 6
Sony was never going to let Microsoft's intended acquisition of Activision Blizzard through without a fight. Their retaliation? To buy Bungie, developer of the Destiny series. Meanwhile, Wordle gets too big for its creator and Facebook abandons the cryptocurrency everyone had forgotten about anyway. We also take a look at eBay scams and our usual recommendations. In this week's show: News Sony Buys Bungie Wordle Sold to New York Times Facebook Quits Crypto Cyber Attack Hits German Fuel Supplier ...
Feb 03, 2022•31 min•Season 10Ep. 5
It's been another busy week in the world of tech. But what does it all mean? The Really Useful Podcast is the tech podcast for technophobes, and we have the answers you need to make sense of the technological world. Shownotes This week, we discuss: News Microsoft to acquire Activision-Blizzard Call of Duty to remain on PlayStation Robot vacuum escapes hotel James Cameron warns of the dangers of deepfakes Grindr scammer jailed for blackmailing men Tips and tricks What Is the Difference Between US...
Jan 26, 2022•32 min•Season 10Ep. 4
This week's show has it all: retro gaming, cyberattacks, ransomware, Reddit, YouTube's rich list, Meta/Facebook being taken to court in the UK, and even recommendations! This week, we discuss: REvil ransomware gang arrested in Russia Ukraine cyber-attack: Russia to blame? Meta faces billion-pound class-action case YouTube rich list 2021 What Is Reddit? What Game Consoles Are Released in 2022? Steam Deck TheA500 Mini Astro City Mini V Intellivision Amico Playdate Recommendations EvanEra TV (learn...
Jan 20, 2022•43 min•Season 10Ep. 3
Planning on buying a new streaming device for your TV but not sure what to choose? Is there even any point when you have a Smart TV anyway? In this week's show, we look at the pros and cons of Amazon Fire, Roku, Apple TV, and similar services, along with app-enabled TV boxes for satellite, cable, and even Blu-ray players. Oh, and there's a bit about Smart TV apps, too. One last thing: Christian inexplicably pronounces Roku as "rock-you" instead of "roh-koo" throughout this show. No one knows why...
Jan 13, 2022•29 min•Season 10Ep. 2
In this week's show, we rely on the following resources: Funny Questions to Ask Google Home Funny Things to Ask Siri Funny Things to Ask Alexa The Funniest Questions to Ask Alexa MakeUseOf abandons Windows Phone Christian Cawley and Ben Stegner host this podcast. You can contact them on Twitter ( @thegadgetmonkey and @stegnersaurus ) with your suggestions for future topics. Look out for our other shows - subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube (be sure to hit the bel...
Jan 05, 2022•31 min•Season 10Ep. 1
Ever felt that your current job or career doesn't quite satisfy you? While you can change direction at anytime, the start of a new year is a great time to make the changes in your life that you want to see. In this podcast, we look at how it is possible to change career, with a focus on freelancing. This week, we discuss: How to Quit Your Job to Pursue Your Passion Find Your Purpose With These Tests How to List Your Services on Fiverr Top Tools for Budding Entrepreneurs Christian Cawley and Ben ...
Dec 30, 2021•30 min•Season 9Ep. 12
Is your home network fast enough? We're going to venture that it isn't - but why? Is it the position of the router, your cabling, or something else? In this podcast, we look at the various ways you can improve wired and wireless network speeds around the home. This includes the main living areas, attics, basements, and even outhouses. Shownotes Ways to Fix Dropped Wi-Fi Speeds How to Improve Your Router Speed Op timize Wi-Fi Reception with Wireless Feng Shui Christian Cawley and Gavin Phillips h...
Dec 15, 2021•24 min•Season 9Ep. 11
You've heard about the "metaverse" but what is it really? Do you want to don a VR headset to attend meetings and other remote events, or would you prefer a different solution? In this week's show, we consider how the metaverse might change the world. To learn more, we're joined by Thomas Lorenz, the CEO and founder of Journee, a metaverse company that has been providing VR and AR solutions to big names in technology for the past few years. Thomas has a slightly different view of the metaverse to...
Dec 08, 2021•36 min•Season 9Ep. 10
The term "supply chain" was largely unknown outside of manufacturing, shipping, and haulage until a couple of years ago. Now, we have a seemingly unending "supply chain crisis" which threatens to disrupt everything from Christmas to weddings to online shopping. In this week's show, Christian Cawley chats with David Savage of Geotab, a fleet telematics company in the UK. He explains the supply chain and how it has come to be in crisis, as well as offer some thoughts as to how long the crisis migh...
Dec 01, 2021•32 min•Season 9Ep. 9
Welcome to the 100th edition of the Really Useful Podcast. To celebrate our centenary show, usual hosts Christian Cawley, Ben Stegner, and Gavin Phillips have got together to chat through a few thoughts about their preferred computer systems. Laptop, or desktop PC? Bought, or self-built? Along the way, they discuss everything from racing games to Raspberry Pi, game controllers to shuttle PCs, and a whole host of other things. They also recall their favorite chats from the past 99 episodes of the...
Nov 24, 2021•40 min•Season 9Ep. 8
Black Friday 2021 is set to be the longest yet. But with supply chain issues limiting the production of certain hardware, it could also be the most frought. Will you see the bargain land on your doormat before Christmas? In this Really Useful Podcast we take a look at how you can prepare for the biggest ever Black Friday, help you to grab the deals you want before they sell out, and show you the tools that will help you grab a genuine bargain. All the items in this week's Black Friday 2021 speci...
Nov 17, 2021•29 min•Season 9Ep. 7
If you've embraced home working, you've probably realised that the kitchen table isn't ideal. You need a dedicated space, which might be a spare room, in the attic, in the basement, or even in your garden. But when that space is set up, how do you get reliable Wi-Fi - and does your home office even have a power supply? This week, we take a look at the practicalities of networking a home office and ensuring a reliable power supply. Shownotes Useful links for this week's show: How to Set up Powerl...
Nov 10, 2021•29 min•Season 9Ep. 6
ShownotesKeep hold of these links for Windows 11 coverage on MakeUseOf: How to Upgrade to Windows 11 Free How to Enable TPM and Secure Boot to Install Windows 11 Make an Unsupported Computer Compatible With Windows 11 Why Chinese Users Can't Upgrade to Windows 11 Get Windows 11 Features on Windows 10 Which Is Best for You: Windows 11 Home or Pro? Windows 7 Gadgets and Widgets on Windows 10 Christian Cawley and Gavin Phillips host this week's show. Contact them on Twitter: @thegadgetmonkey and @g...
Nov 03, 2021•27 min•Season 9Ep. 5
Upgrading to a new iPhone? it can be expensive, not to mention time consuming with so many models to choose from. In this podcast we bring you all the information you need, from recognizing when it's time to upgrade and getting the best deal, to backing up your data and transferring it to a new iPhone. Shownotes In this week's show, we discuss: Signs It's Time to Upgrade Your iPhone The iPhone Upgrade Program Should You Buy You iPhone from Your Carrier or Apple? Reason to Buy Your iPhone Straigh...
Oct 28, 2021•29 min•Season 9Ep. 4
Going green is tough, especially if you want to save money. In this episode, we look at the challenges and solutions around recharging phones and laptops. This week, you'll need the following references: How to Check Laptop Battery Cycle Count on Windows Should You Leave Your Laptop Plugged In? Battery Capacity vs. Charging Speed Monitor Battery Health on Android Doogee S95 Pro Review Save Energy at Home Christian Cawley and Gavin Philips host this week's show. Contact them on Twitter: @thegadge...
Oct 20, 2021•27 min•Season 9Ep. 3
We look at a selection of mobile and browser apps that can help you to improve your physical and mental health. This episode features a chat with Dr Angelica Kohlmann of Bloom Diagnostics, who tells us how their mobile app can be used to diagnose illness and find the right treatment. Shownotes Virtual Fitness Challenges Apps to Keep Fit at Your Desk Find Your Inner Space Boost Mental Fitness Bloom Diagnostics Bloom mobile app Is Telemedicine a Security Risk? Medical Technologies and the Future o...
Oct 13, 2021•35 min•Season 9Ep. 2
In this week's show we discuss: Facebook Whistle-blower Goes Public Whistle-blower to Tell Senate Facebook Secrets Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram Go Offline Conspiracy Theories and Mistruths Reasons Online Gamers Should Use a VPN Can Games Consoles Use a VPN? Christian Cawley and Ben Stegner host this podcast. You can contact them on Twitter as @thegadgetmonkey and @stegnersaurus with your suggestions for future topics. Look out for our other shows---subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on ...
Oct 06, 2021•34 min•Season 9Ep. 1
