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A look back at the technology news which broke in 2015; from the release of Windows 10, the demonisation of encryption as well as smart devices, drones, data breaches and more.

Topics talked about today:

• Windows 10 says hello, but not without controversy
• HP splits up with itself, and thousands of its own workers
• Rise of the drones, registrations open
• Apple Watch released with a whimper
• Android hit by multiple major security flaws
• Internet of Things makes its mainstream debut

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Is privacy at the forefront of consumers minds since the Snowden revelations? Elon Musk speaks about VW’s repercussions and CISA seeks in under a budget bill.

Topics talked about today:

• DuckDuckGo, the search engine that doesn’t track its users, grew more than 70% this year
• Elon Musk Has Some Thoughts On VW’s Punishment
• Budget bill heads to President Obama’s desk with CISA intact
• Lawmakers Have Snuck CISA Into a Bill That Is Guaranteed to Become a Law

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A failed Kickstarter project causes them to hire an investigative journalist, Netflix will have 31 new original shows in 2016 and Firefox OS Smartphones have ceased production.

Topics talked about today:

• Kickstarter hires investigative journalist to look into Zano’s failed drone project
• Netflix will have 31 new shows in 2016
• Firefox OS smartphones are dead
• Dropbox shutting down popular Mailbox email client and Carousel photo app

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Sweden refuses to block incriminating websites, does technology always work in harmony and is the Internet a truly resourceful tool?

Topics talked about today:

• Sweden refuses to order ISP to block Pirate Bay
• Popular Design App ‘Sketch’ Leaves Mac App Store
• Fairy lights could ‘slow’ wi-fi speeds warns Ofcom
• YouTube social experiment video exposed

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Black Friday see’s an anticipated surge in online spending in both the UK and US, Microsoft makes Windows 10 a little bit more irritating and could Amazon be building the cord cutter’s dream?

Topics talked about today:

• Black Friday: online spending surge in UK and US
• Microsoft Makes Windows 10 Automatic Spying Worse
• Amazon could be building the cord-cutter’s dream streaming service
• Rdio is shutting down and Pandora is buying up the scraps

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It’s Christmas time again! Join us for our 6th annual Christmas Gift Guide for 2015 to help you decide what to buy for friends, family and loved ones this holiday season!

Gift’s mentioned on this episode:

General

• Sphero BB-8 Droid (Amazon £129)
• Kano Kit (£89.99)
• 3Doodler 2 Drawing Pen (the3doodler.com £99)
• Raspberry Pi – (Amazon £25)
• Panasonic TX-40CX680B – (Amazon £579)

Portable Gadgets (Eg. Phones, Tablets, e-Readers etc) & Wearables

• Toshiba CB30-B-104 – “Toshiba Chromebook 2” – (Amazon £249)
• Fitbit Charge Wireless Wristband – (Amazon £50 – £160)
• XIAOMI Mi Smartband – (Amazon £10)
• Amazon Kindle Voyage – (Amazon £170 – 3G £230)
• Withings Activite – (Withings.com £320)
• GoPro Hero 4 Action Camera – (Amazon £250)
• GoPro Hero 4 Session Action Camera – (Amazon £225)
• Fujifilm X-T10 – (Amazon BO £480)

Peripherals (Accessories, Cases, Stands, Keyboards etc)

• Magic TrackPad 2 – (Apple £109)
• Logitech K380 Bluetooth Keyboard – (Amazon £34.99)
• Nomad Charge Key – (hellonomad.com – £20)
• Ollo Clip – (Amazon £57)
• Anker Astro 2 Portable Battery – (Amazon 13000mahi £16)

Home (Eg. Internet of things)

• Google Chromecast Audio – (Various Retailers £30)
• Nest Thermostat – (Nest.com £249)
• JBL Charge BT Speaker – (Amazon £114)
• Ruark Audio R1 Mk3 – (Amazon £199)
• Q-Acoustics 3020 Speakers – (Amazon £189)
• Dali Kubik One Soundbar £799
• Philips HTL2101A/05 Soundbar – (Amazon £48)
• Jam Bluetooth Wireless Portable Speaker – (Amazon £19)

Stocking Fillers

• Smart Watch bands/straps
• Touch Screen Gloves

Movies/TV shows

• Mr Robot Series 1 
• Community
• The Office (US)
• The IT Crowd

Other

Apple TV 4th Generation (£129 32GB/£169 64GB)

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Tim Cook warns the UK government against weakening encryption, how much longer will Flash survive and the iPad Pro is a hit, but not a replacement for it’s laptop counterparts.

Topics talked about today:

• Tim Cook warns UK government against weakening encryption
• How long will Flash survive?
• iPad Pro Now Available for Purchase From Apple
• Fast broadband for all by 2020 pledged by UK Government

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Are consumers informed well enough about the technology they’re using, is it time for Google to make their own hardware and the world’s first modular phone, can it prove to be appealing to consumers?

Topics talked about today:

• Are Consumers Informed Well Enough about the Technology they Use?
• Is it time for Google to make its own hardware?
• Details of UK website visits ‘to be stored for year’
• Fairphone 2 Is The World’s First Modular Smartphone

Link to Petition to “Reverse the decision to introduce the new surveillance bill”.

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Snapchat changes their privacy policy to allow them to store and use all photos taken through the app, Comcast spoil the streaming fun with their data caps and Apple’s latest generation TV is released and receives a great reception.

Topics talked about today:

• Snapchat just reserved the rights to store and use all selfies taken with the device
• Comcast data caps are just low enough to punish streaming
• BBC iPlayer app coming to Apple TV in coming months
• Apple Unlock: Judge compares request to execution order

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IBM saves money by employing the use of Macs, YouTube launches a subscription service resulting in content creators having reservations and concerns, and Tim Cook talks Apple TV.

Topics talked about today:

• Macs Saving IBM Money on IT Management Despite Higher Up Front Cost
• YouTube to launch subscription service
• ESPN Removes Most Videos From YouTube
• Tim Cook Talks Apple TV at WSJDLive

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Does DRM really stifle innovation and damage the legacy of a format? Popular smartphone apps might be partly to blame for poor battery lives and Google’s interest in data collection.

Topics talked about today:

• Twitter laying off 8 percent of employees & Announces Jack Dorsey as CEO
• There’s No DRM in JPEG—Let’s Keep It That Way
• How Popular Smartphone Apps Drain Your Battery
• Porsche chooses Apple CarPlay because Google reportedly asks for too much data

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Is an over-reliance on digital technology a recipe for disaster? Frustrations with the today’s digital devices and the latest from Microsoft.

Topics talked about today:

• Digital dependence ‘eroding human memory’
• Your smartphone can be taken over with just a text, says Edward Snowden
• Frustrations with today’s digital devices
• Surface Pro 4 Announced and Windows 10 is now on 110 Million Devices

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Instagram’s ambitious goal, the phone that’s all about privacy and self driving cars could have a huge impact on accident figures.

Topics talked about today:

• Instagram boss ‘not going to stop’ until everyone is using the photo sharing network
• Blackphone 2 aims to protect privacy
• Europe opens antitrust investigation into Android
• Self-driving cars could reduce accidents by 90 percent, become greatest health achievement of the century

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Amazon’s outage takes half of the internet down with it, millions of fingerprints stolen in a US government hack and what are Google’s plans for September 29th?

Topics talked about today:

• Amazon Web Services go down, taking much of the internet along with it
• Millions of fingerprints stolen in US government hack
• Google announces big event for September 29
• Netflix CEO: All TV to be Internet within 20 years

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AVG can do more than protect your computer, Microsoft are giving users an unwelcomed helping hand in installing Windows 10 and how much of a rip off are ink cartridges?

Topics talked about today:

• Adblockers shoot up iOS 9 app charts on day one
• AVG can sell your browsing and search history to advertisers
• Microsoft is downloading Windows 10 to your machine ‘just in case’
• “Empty” Epson ink cartridges, which cost £2,500 for a set, are still 20 percent full