Tech's Message

This week is a special episode in which we revisit Ian's 2007 CNET feature, Top Ten Off Switches. Do the selections stand up to modern scrutiny? And how have off switches evolved in a world of Wi-Fi, virtual assistants and touchscreens? 

SOURCES:

Top ten off switches (live)

https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/top-ten-off-switches/

Top ten off switches (archived, with pictures)

https://web.archive.org/web/20071114120435/http://crave...

This week Nate and Ian discuss HD DVD, arguably one of the last global format wars to be fought -- and lost. The Patreon extended version also includes a lengthy discussion about the hypothetical future HD DVD might have had, were it to have won the format war against Sony's Blu-ray.

SOURCES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD

https://www.reddit.com/r/HDDVD/comments/114cteq/hd_dvd_exclusives/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-defini...

This week Nate and Ian discuss the dual-layered delight that is DVD -- it's history, and our memories of using it.

SOURCES:

The death of the DVD: Why sales dropped more than 86% in 13 years

https://web.archive.org/web/20200329212906/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/08/the-death-of-the-dvd-why-sales-dropped-more-than-86percent-in-13-years.html

PlayStation 2 Wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2

Bouncing DVD logo

https://www.bouncing...

Nate and Ian discuss the modern anxiety of calls from unknown numbers, repeated missed calls, and general caller ID-related terror. You might think this is a Halloween episode, such is the horror of the content.

SOURCES AND LINKS:

Mobile company customer forums

• https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Tech-Support/People-I-have-never-contacted-returning-my-calls/td-p/1626378
• https://community.three.co.uk/t5/Account-and-services/Scammer-using-...

This week Nate's joined by Andrew Lanxon from CNET to discuss a rich history of games console controllers, from the bizarre to the innovative.

SOURCES AND LINKS:

PlayStation Multitap

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Multitap

Music 2000

https://www.mobygames.com/game/4945/mtv-music-generator/

https://psxdatacenter.com/games/P/M/SLES-02224.html

DreamCast VMU

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMU 

Sony PocketStation

https://...

This week, the boys discuss and reminisce about Bluetooth, specifically its history and evolution as a conduit for wireless audio.

SOURCES AND LINKS:

Know A Little More Bluetooth episode

https://shows.acast.com/know-a-little-more/episodes/about-bluetooth-5-updated

Deep guide to Bluetooth codecs and qualities

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2023/03/bluetooth-sound-quality-guide-what-are-the-codecs-and-how-do-they-work.html

Weirdest Blue...

This week we discuss the history of online dating, from the 1990s web services, through the UK's Teletext and into the modern era of apps. Nate discusses how he met his wife through an app, and Ian complains about how he hasn't yet. And then comes the future: what do we expect is next for dating apps and related technologies?

LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE:

Teletext

https://www.blunham.com/Radar/Teletext/WebAlbums/P182S01=Dial_a_Date.html

Sex...

This week we are talking over our past, present and future relationships with the hard disk. Andrew Lanxon from CNET joins for this one and in the extended version he brings you what he learned during a reporting trip to a tiny Scottish island that enjoys energy independence.

Here are some links to various things we discussed in the show:

Andy’s Eigg feature in CNET (check the embedded video) https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and...

Welcome back to Tech's Message! This week, in our inaugural episode of the new Tech's Message era, we're discussing the history of webcams. For Patrons, we also discuss Apple's recent announcements and Ian's decision to invest some serious cash in one of the products.

Here are some links to various things we discussed in the show:

Webcams look like balls: https://www.reddit.com/r/vintagecomputing/comments/18lzalf/not_sure_if_199...

Ian and I took nine months off from podcasting, but rest quite assured: it wasn't in order for him to gestate and pass our baby. 

In this bonus episode, I'll explain the actual reason for our absence and our plan for a new era of Tech's Message, which begins on this very day -- look out for episode 323 in your feed shortly!

We're really grateful to everyone who's kept our feed in their podcatchers and stuck with their Patreon me...

This week on Tech’s Message:

AI machine cannot be called an inventor, rules UK court

https://www.ft.com/content/7bccf980-9eaf-40d9-92b6-ab3ffb43c98dhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ff6c264d3bf7f65d42209f9/consolidated-patents-act-1977.pdf  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-67772177

Police to be able to run face recognition searches on 50m driving licence holders

https://www.theguardia...

This week on Tech’s Message:

Bedfordshire Police use AI to save hours on admin duties

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-67680698

https://docdefender.net

https://rivengroup.com

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14734000/officers

Google Groups losing Usenet integration

https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/14/24002220/google-groups-is-about-to-drop-support-for-posting-to-or-browsing-usenet

https...

This week on Tech’s Message:

Mobile phones: Firms face £3bn legal claim for overcharging

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67649539

Unproven AI face scans may estimate age for porn access in UK

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/12/unproven-ai-face-scans-may-estimate-age-for-access-in-uk/

https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/05/uk_age_verifcation_proposals/

The extended, ad-free version available via Patreon subscription includes...

This week on Tech’s Message:

We're joined by CNET's Andrew Lanxon -- find his photography YouTube channel here.

Sony’s getting into the in-camera micropayments game

https://pressroom.pixelshift.studio/sony-electronics-announces-custom-gridline-license-available-for-alpha-camera-bodies

https://pro.sony/ue_US/digital-imaging/custom-gridline

Regard: https://www.polygon.com/23399591/elder-scrolls-4-oblivion-horse-armor-video-game-cos...

This week on Tech’s Message:

Squid Game Contestants Considering Lawsuit Over Reality Show Injuries

https://gizmodo.com/squid-game-the-challenge-contestant-possible-lawsuit-1851047311 

UK's cookie crumble: Data watchdog serves up tougher recipe for consent banners

https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/22/uk_ico_cookie_action/

Keep or cancel Freeview? The arguments

https://rxtvinfo.com/2023/keep-or-cancel-free-to-air-terrestrial-...

This week on Tech’s Message:

Booths supermarkets to ditch self-checkouts in north of England stores

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/10/booths-supermarkets-to-ditch-self-checkouts-in-north-of-england-stores

Apple Wallet account balances now available for 10 UK banks

https://9to5mac.com/2023/11/10/apple-wallet-account-balances/

Apple to bridge message divide - but keeps green bubbles

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-674...

This week on Tech’s Message:

Newport: Can AI help find lost £227m Bitcoin fortune?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67297013

Disney+ now has an ad supported tier like Netflix

https://www.pocket-lint.com/disney-plus-subscription-tiers-uk-differences-price/

Facebook and Instagram launch a paid ad-free subscription

https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/30/23938283/facebook-instagram-ad-free-subscription-eu

Plus: Paramount+ has stopped working...

This week on Tech’s Message:

Rishi Sunak says AI has threats and risks - but outlines its potential

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67225158

60 Years of Doctor Who Will Stream All In One Place In the UK

https://gizmodo.com/doctor-who-streaming-bbc-iplayer-classic-episodes-1850914346

The extended, ad-free version available via Patreon subscription includes extended sections, outtakes, as well as additional discussions about:

Monitors: How ...

This week on Tech’s Message:

London mayor and Met boss urge phone firms to help tackle theft of mobiles

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67125411

EE is launching a customised Apple TV 4K box, offering live TV through EE TV

https://www.pocket-lint.com/ee-apple-tv-4k-live-tv-eetv

Ian's review from 2014: https://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/digital-tv-recorders/ee-tv-1275987/review

The extended, ad-free version availab...