361 Podcast

This week we tackle another '1 question, 3 answers', combining requests from listeners who asked for advice on reading, books and the written word. Ben, Ewan and Rafe each give their best answer... The only rule being that they can't agree with any previous answer. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast). Extended until Christmas: Leave us an iTunes podcast review, tell us (by email or Twitter) and Rafe will send you an exciting (and probably concrete-themed) postcard. One lucky reviewer could also win the last ever Blandford Estate limited-edition mug.

This week the team discuss: The state of voice assistants and the devices we use at home. How Amazon's Alexa, Google's Assistant and Apple's Siri perform and their strengths and weaknesses. The future of voice assistants - are they a passing fad or destined to be built into everything? Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast). Extended until Christmas: Leave us an iTunes podcast review, tell us (by email or Twitter) and Rafe will send you an exciting (and probably concrete-themed) postcard. One lucky reviewer could also win the last ever Blandford Estate limited-edition mug.

This week we tackle another question in our new '1 question, 3 answers' format. Combining requests from several listeners who asked for advice on: Wearable devices that don't look masculine? A great 'first' smart watch? Which is the 'best' smart watch? Wearables that aren't for sport? Ben, Ewan and Rafe each give their best answer... The only rule being that they can't agree with any previous answer. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast). Also, 'leave us a podcast review and Rafe will send you a postcard'... Leave us an iTunes podcast review, tell us (by email or Twitter) and Rafe will send you an exciting (and probably concrete-themed) postcard. One lucky reviewer could also win the last ever Blandford Estate limited-edition mug.

This week the team discuss: Subscription services from XBox to washing machines and Volvos to magazines, we look at how many firms are experimenting with providing their services as subscriptions. Long-term reviews on our most important working from home kit, including desks, chairs, screens, lights and more. What turned out to work well and what would we recommend? Video conferencing tips for people working from home. We discuss tips for better video calls and some interesting experiments in making video conferencing work better. We also launch our 'leave us a podcast review and Rafe will send you a postcard' campaign (the PR team are still working on the name). Leave us an iTunes podcast review (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201859#more), tell us (by email (https://www.361podcast.com/contact) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast)) and Rafe will send you an exciting (and probably concrete-themed) postcard. One lucky reviewer could also win the last ever Blandford Estate limited-edition mug (https:/

This week we tackle another question in our new '1 question, 3 answers' format. Long-time listener @martineyles (https://twitter.com/martineyles) asks: I see lots of rollout of 5G going on, but there are still populated areas where I can't get any data coverage at all. Other listeners wrote in to ask if 5G handsets were good buys. We combined them all into a single question: Is 5G worth it? Ben, Ewan and Rafe each give their best answer... The only rule being that they can't agree with any previous answer. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

This week the team discuss: Apple's early-Autumn (OK, 'Fall') announcements including their new Fitness+ service and One bundle (plus some new iPads and Watches). The things we've crowdfunded and kickstarted, including Ewan's tendency to be the kiss of death to any business he backs. Also, are these campaigns about more than fundraising now and are they worth backing? App recommendations - inevitably shaped by spending more time at home - the new services we're finding useful. This episode was recorded before the merger of Crowdcube and Seedrs was announced (https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/05/crowdcube-and-seedrs-agree-to-merge-creating-a-significant-private-equity-marketplace/). Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

This week we tackle the first question in our new '1 question, 3 answers' format. Twitter user @monkeyandweasel (https://twitter.com/monkeyandweasel) asks: Will Fortnite (Epic) win against Apple, and what will be the impact? Ben, Ewan and Rafe each give their best answer... The only rule being that they can't agree with any previous answer. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

We're back and as we start our 19th season (and is it 8th or 9th year...?) the team discuss: How robots, clever sensors and AI are revolutionising some unexpected industries Taking health and fitness apps to the next level with machine learning An update on how our automated homes have responded to us being.. well... home more. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

It's the last episode of the season and in an extended episode the team discuss: Why we're abandoning out Tik Tok trial and the ongoing concerns with the platform's approach to privacy. The apps (and 'not apps' in Rafe's case) that we're using as we spend more time at home. Our online 'identities' via websites and profiles. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

This week, in addition to Rafe Blandford's pet duck (please use the official #duckfollowup hashtag for follow-up), the team discuss: Apple's annouced Macs running on its own ARM-based chips dubbed 'Apple Silicon'. Wirecard, the fintech world's 'secret' plumbing that suddenly became very visible when a UK financial regulator forced it to stop its services. HEY (yes, it's all capitals...) the 'opinionated' email service from the team behind Basecamp Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

This week the team discuss: Follow-up on photo back-up, Disney+, budget syncing, news, 'good' screens and more. Ewan's success with 'photo healing' on his iPhone and iPad that enabled him to 'fix' and share photos 'in the moment. Our hopes for WWDC, incluing what Apple might announce and the effect on teh mobile industry that might have. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

This week the team discuss: Listener follow-up on robot vacuum cleaners (including finding one under your hotel bed), mobile banking and a cool personal finance app recommendation. How we - definitely not health and fitness enthusiasts - are trying to use apps to keep fit (or at least a bit fitter) during lock-down and working from home. We talk about apps to try and when to use them. Backing-up important photos, including how to use the cloud but retain access to your most valuable photos if the service you use breaks or stops working. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

This week the team discuss: Using the excellent Watchsmith app to customise the Apple Watch beyond Apple's built-in widgets (called complications). How can you use layouts that change during the day and what is the future of presenting our own custom-data? Lenovo's announcement of a new Smart Frame digital picture frame that will be launched (and discounted initially) via IndieGoGo. Lenovo don't need to fund the product this way (traditionally why this platform's been used), but plan to recruit early adopter users to feedback on its development. How old is the oldest data you're hanging onto (we look at email and photo archives) and why? Have services like Gmail made us digital pack rats and is there any value in archiving 20 years of email or hundreds of gigabytes of email? Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

Many thanks to Mark, the Audio Wrangler (https://about.me/mcfontaine), our editor for the last 5 years. Here's to the next 5 (and sorry for all you put up with). This week the team discuss: The best microphones for video conferencing whilst home working - What works best from home for both comfort and performance, what products have the team chosen and some pitfalls to avoid. Satya Nadella's observation that Covid-19 has produced "2 years digital adoption in 2 months" - How has this rapid change in working arrangements for many been a "massive forced experiment" and what behaviour changes might be permanent? Real-time banking and money management - How some FinTech products and challenger banks are now providing real-time data to connected services, and how this makes money management quicker and more effective. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

This week the team discuss: Amazon Echo accessories. Amazon's range looks baffling from the outside, including gaming buttons and a microwave oven. What do they make, why and is any of it any good? Covid-19 apps. As governments around the world look to technology to help manage the Covid-19 crisis how do the various solutions being developed differ and will people trust a Google / Apple partnership over their local public health officials? Til Tok. What is it? No really, what is it and why is Rafe so keen we try it. We're coming to this social media phenomenon late, but it's far from clear (to us) what it all means and how it's different from what came before. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

The team celebrate 9 years of podcasting together and discuss: Ben's (ongoing) smart lighting disaster. How Philips Hue hasn't turned out to be the perfect smart lighting solution, a serious (known) product defect and how complex it all gets when deployed in large numbers. Walking and way-finding apps that are helping us enjoy the outdoors when we can. How to go beyond Google Maps to explore the footpaths around our homes with specialist mapping apps and guided routes. The best video calling and conferencing apps for working from home. What do the team use and what should you consider when choosing? Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

This week the team discuss: The networking and connectivity challenges of setting up a home office. What can you do if your new desk has terrible WiFi coverage or you need something faster, but don't want to run new cabling? The team talk options, including using TV cabling you may already have installed. How we're 'self improving' during lock-down. Given the restrictions, what can we do that makes the most of not commuting (or going out at all). The team recommend options they're trying. The iPad Magic Keyboard. It's heavy and expensive, but is it... good? Yes. Yes, it is. We'll tell you why. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

This week the team discuss: Ewan's new job and his family's move to Oman. Turns out he could find somewhere less convenient than Denmark to live. How we've upgraded our workspaces to equip them for an extended period of working at home. We talk about ergonomics, productivity and kit that will remain useful if / when things get back to 'normal'. Options for 'budget' robot vacuum cleaners as Ewan picks a Eufy (made by popular tech accessory maker Anker) device for his new home. Can something without AI mapping and clever sensors be 'good enough'? The launch of Disney+ and how it's changed the landscape of streaming services. Is the content catalogue enough to overcome some of the lack of polish on their apps? Will we all need given all the shows and brands Disney owns? And can Disney somehow get its original content to benefit from the live venues it also operates? Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitte

This week the team discuss: A German artist's (successful) attempt to 'hack' Google Maps traffic data with a cart of 2nd hand phones, tricking the mapping service into reporting a traffic jam on an empty road. Customer 'outrage' at Sonos's announcement that some older devices will soon be unsupported and prevent newer devices from receiving upgrades if used together. This came shortly after the firm was criticised for 'bricking' devices people chose to recycle. The announcement of the end of mobile handset manufacturing under the Blackberry brand. The team reminisce about the firm at their best and how Blackberry changed mobile email. Also, hear Mark the editor for the first time ever in a 'behind the scenes' live edit session. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).

This week the team discuss: Why everyone should have a robot vacuum cleaner, the difference between radar and camera-based navigation and how to choose. Also virtual walls, cameras that can spot pet poo and automated mops. Our two recommended models of noise cancelling over-ear headphones and the joy of reducing noise fatigue when travelling or working in open-plan offices. Ewan's 'terrible' (this is not a consensus view, to be fair, especially by Ewan) choice to buy his children a Dell desktop PC. The challenges of first-time 'chargeable car' ownership and how Ben's chosen his new car charger. Let us know your thoughts on these subjects or anything you'd like to hear covered in future via the website (https://www.361podcast.com/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/361podcast).