The PC Pro Podcast

The team gives a puzzled welcome to Google’s new “Googlebook” laptops, and a more cautious one to Meta’s new Muse AI assistant. We also explore why mobile coverage is actually getting worse in major UK cities, and look at a possible way to reduce the energy consumption and cooling requirements of data centres. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the iPhone 18 Pro Max, so calibrate your expectations accordingly.

This week, Barry Collins, Jon Honeyball and Lee Grant decide if the brakes need to be deployed on AI development. We also look at a study saying that teenage reading standards have dropped and then debate Baroness Benjamin's bill to apply licensing to social media.
Our Hot Hardware of the Week candidate is the OpenRun Pro 2 from Shokz

The team discusses the newly unveiled iPhone Duo, along with other announcements from John Ternus’ first major event as Apple CEO. We also ponder whether employers are right to incentivise the use of AI, and debate whether OpenAI acted properly in the way it went about solving a major mathematical puzzle. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the TP-Link Archer BN800, a new high-end router with an integrated power supply.

The team welcomes incoming Apple boss John Ternus, ponders warnings that AI could wreck financial systems and gapes incredulously at Sony’s attempt to argue in court that digital assets cannot be owned. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Coros Pace Pro, a serious sports watch with a long battery life and plenty of premium features.

The team discusses Meta’s $18bn settlement over claims its platforms are harmful to children, welcomes LinkedIn’s battle against “AI slop” and ponders a major new partnership for the privacy-focused GrapheneOS smartphone platform. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Asus ROG Strix GS-BE7200, a gamer-oriented router that’s fast and versatile enough to power any home network.