The Gadget Man - Technology News and Reviews

Today, I’m addressing a significant issue affecting numerous Windows users worldwide. Reports have emerged of widespread crashes, commonly referred to as the “blue screen of death,” impacting various critical sectors, from transportation to banking and media. I spoke with Sarah Julian at BBC Radio WM about the worldwide problems that continue to persist Understanding the Issue: The root cause of these crashes has been traced back to an overnight software update for CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sensor. For those unfamiliar, Falcon Sensor is a security tool designed to act as a sentinel for your computer, monitoring and protecting against malicious activities. A single corrupted system file from this update is causing Windows systems to crash upon booting. Why This Matters: Windows holds a substantial market share, with 72% of global computers running this operating system. The automatic update to Falcon Sensor has inadvertently introduced a fault, leading to these severe crashes. The update, once applied, seems to corrupt system functionality, causing the dreaded blue screen on countless machines. Impact Across Sectors: The ripple effect of this issue is profound. The update has disrupted services across various sectors: Transportation: Both train and plane operations have been hampered. Banking: Financial institutions are facing operational challenges, with payment systems affected. Media: Broadcast systems have been affected, causing interruptions, including Sky News and CBBC. Healthcare: NHS GP surgery systems are impacted, with reports of doctors having to handwrite prescriptions. Emergency Services: Even essential services like emergency call centres have not been spared. Airports: Airports, including Birmingham Airport, have reported issues with check-in services, and operations at the Port of Dover are also impacted. Al Lakhani, CEO of IDEE, said: “Many people might be thanking Microsoft for their accidental day off, but countless businesses are suffering due to Microsoft’s and their partners’ failure to maintain their services. This incident underscores the importance of businesses thoroughly researching and vetting their cybersecurity solutions before implementation. Microsoft clearly fell short in this regard, and we are witnessing a cascade of operational failures around the world as a result.” “CrowdStrike’s platform approach, which relies on a single agent focused on detection, might seem good at first glance, but as we can see, it can create significant issues. For instance, agents require installation and maintenance of software on multiple different OSes, adding layers of complexity and potential points of failure. Moreover, agents can become a single point of failure, as a bad update can compromise the entire network, as seen with the SolarWinds attack. “The lesson here is blindingly obvious: investing in cybersecurity is not just about acquiring the latest or most popular tools but ensuring those tools are reliable and resilient. This is why businesses must prioritise agentless solutions like MFA 2.0, which reduce the risk of widespread failures and ensure more resilient defences.” Cloudstrike Falcon Sensor Blue Screen of Death BSOD Global Outage Current Status and Actions: Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and stated that a fix is in place. However, this does not immediately rectify the situation for all affected devices. Many computers remain non-functional, and a manual fix may be required. One proposed solution involves removing the corrupted update link to restore system operations. Security Concerns: This incident raises critical questions about our reliance on third-party providers and the level of access they have to our systems. The Falcon Sensor update had kernel-level access, the deepest level of system access, which allowed it to cause such widespread disruption. Tech Alert Windows Crashes Related to Falcon Server Moving Forward: As we navigate this challenging situation, it’s essential to stay informed and take proactive steps to secure our systems. Further updates will be provided as new information becomes available and solutions are implemented. For now, if you’re experiencing issues, consult with your IT department or follow the suggested manual fix to remove the problematic update. Manual intervention is likely to be needed to address the corrupted system file causing the crashes. Stay vigilant and prioritise your system’s security. The post Global Windows Crash Crisis: Crowdstrike Falcon Sensor Update “Defect” Disrupts Key Sectors Worldwide appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

In this post, we utilise Google’s LM Notebook to create a Deep Dive into this article. Listen in to the deep dive and let me know what you think!!! This article explores the surprisingly captivating experience of watching a 3D printer at work, delving into the perspectives of both the creator of a 3D model and casual observers. It questions whether this act is genuinely satisfying or simply hypnotic, examining the emotional, practical, and psychological elements at play. Key Themes and Ideas: Dual Perspectives: Creator vs. Viewer: The Creator: For those who have designed a 3D model, the act of watching it print is a deeply personal and often emotional experience. It’s likened to watching a sculptor carve marble and it’s directly tied to their creative vision and anticipation of the final product. Quote: “For those of us who have spent hours—sometimes days—designing a model, watching it come to life can feel akin to witnessing a sculptor carving marble. The experience is deeply personal, tied to the creative process and the anticipation of seeing your vision materialise.” Practicality for Creators: Beyond the emotional aspect, watching a print can also provide invaluable insight into potential design flaws, allowing for refinement of the process. The creator can observe issues like poor filament flow or miscalculations. The Viewer: For those not involved in the design, watching a 3D printer can be a mesmerising experience due to the rhythmic movement of the print head and the slow transformation of filament into a physical object. This is often compared to watching a campfire – soothing and meditative. Quote: “For the uninitiated, the spectacle of a 3D printer at work can be downright mesmerising. There’s something hypnotic about the rhythmic movements of the print head, the hum of the stepper motors, and the slow but steady transformation of raw filament into a tangible object.” The Element of Satisfaction: Creator Satisfaction: For creators, satisfaction can stem from witnessing the culmination of their design efforts and from the troubleshooting and learning aspects of observing the print. It is also admitted that the novelty of watching a large print wear off and can become monotonous after a while. Viewer Satisfaction: Viewers find satisfaction in the precision of the printing process and the visual transformation, often condensed into time-lapse videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. The real-time experience is described as relaxing, if not always engaging for long periods. Quote: “These videos are undeniably satisfying, combining the visual appeal of precision engineering with the gratification of seeing a project completed in record time. But is the live experience equally captivating?” The Role of Time: Patience vs. Anticipation: Watching a print in real-time requires patience, and the article compares this to “watching a pot boil” where anticipation can sometimes outweigh the actual event. Time-lapse vs. Real-Time: Time-lapse videos significantly enhance the viewing experience for casual observers, condensing hours of printing into seconds or minutes, therefore providing an instant gratification. The live experience, while relaxing for some, might not hold the same level of engagement. Remote Monitoring and its Impact: Convenience: Remote monitoring via webcams or software like OctoPrint allows creators to oversee the printing process without being physically present. This is a practical benefit but potentially removes the immersive aspect of watching in-person. Enhanced Time-lapse: Modern printers often feature built-in cameras and time-lapse functions, and open-source tools like OctoPrint enhance the quality of time-lapse footage by homing the print head during capture. This also allows for cleaner and engaging footage to be shared. Connecting Creators and Viewers: Remote monitoring and live streaming open up opportunities to share the process with a wider audience, bridging the gap between creators and viewers. The Subjective Nature of the Experience: No Definitive Answer: Ultimately, the article concludes that whether watching a 3D print is satisfying or not is subjective. It depends on individual perspectives, personal interests, and the context of the print. Quote: “So, is watching a 3D print satisfying? The answer, unsurprisingly, is subjective. For creators, the process can be a blend of satisfaction, anticipation, and anxiety. For viewers, it’s often a mix of curiosity and relaxation, with the level of engagement varying based on personal interest.” A Shared Appreciation: The real value is perhaps found in the shared appreciation for the technology, whether you’re a maker looking for flaws, a viewer enjoying the process, or someone enjoying the condensed versions of the prints online. Conclusion: Watching 3D prints is a multi-faceted experience that engages different emotions and interests depending on whether you are a creator or a viewer. While creators find satisfaction in seeing their design come to life and spotting potential issues, viewers are captivated by the precision and mesmerising process. The use of time-lapses and remote monitoring adds another layer to how individuals experience the act of 3D printing. Ultimately the article concludes that appreciation for the process lies in the intersection of art and engineering and is down to the individual viewer.   The post Deep Dive : The Art of Watching 3D Prints with LM Notebook appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Trish Adudu on her drivetime show on BBC Radio CWR about Jailbroken Streaming Devices. In the golden era of television, our choices were simple, defined by the limited channels available through traditional broadcast. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has dramatically shifted. The digital revolution has ushered in an age where streaming platforms are king, offering a cornucopia of content that was once unimaginable. Yet, with this abundance comes a new set of challenges for consumers navigating the costs and legalities of accessing their favorite shows and movies. Enter the controversial world of jailbroken or “dodgy” fire sticks. These modified devices promise a world of free content, bypassing the subscription fees of mainstream streaming services. At first glance, the allure is undeniable. Who wouldn’t want access to endless entertainment without the hefty price tag? But as we peel back the layers, the darker implications of these devices come to light. The Legal Grey Zone First and foremost, it’s crucial to acknowledge the elephant in the room: jailbroken fire sticks are illegal. Despite their widespread availability and the somewhat cavalier attitude some may have towards using them, they pose significant legal risks to users. Beyond the risk of fines or legal action, there’s a deeper issue at play here—the ethics of content consumption. In our quest for convenience and cost-saving, we must ask ourselves: at what price does this come to the creators and distributors of the content we consume? The Cost of Convenience The debate over streaming platforms’ pricing structures is valid, especially in a world grappling with rising living costs. However, turning to illegal alternatives like jailbroken fire sticks isn’t a victimless crime. It undermines the very industry that entertains us, potentially stifling the creation of new content. Moreover, the risks extend beyond legal ramifications. Using these devices can expose users to cybersecurity threats, including theft of personal and financial information. Trusting one’s digital safety to the hands of unknown, potentially criminal entities is a gamble few should be willing to take. A Fragmented Marketplace The current streaming landscape is indeed fragmented, with exclusive content spread across numerous platforms. This exclusivity can lead to subscription fatigue, as consumers find themselves subscribing to multiple services to access all the content they desire—a costly endeavor. This fragmentation fuels the temptation to seek out illegal alternatives. Yet, it also calls for a discussion on the sustainability of the current model and the need for more consumer-friendly solutions. Looking Forward As we navigate the evolving world of digital content consumption, it’s clear that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. While the allure of free content is undeniable, the risks and ethical implications of jailbroken streaming devices cannot be overlooked. It’s a reminder of the need for a balanced approach that respects the rights of content creators while also considering the affordability and accessibility for consumers. Perhaps the future will bring more innovative solutions to this dilemma, but until then, the debate rages on. The gadget world is vast and ever-changing, but as we venture into its depths, let’s tread carefully, mindful of the legal and ethical boundaries that govern our digital playground. The post The Gadget Man – Episode 179 – Navigating the Murky Waters of Jailbroken Streaming Devices: A Cautionary Tale appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

Note: Listening to the attached Podcast is a must for this article. *UPDATE* Correct link updated! Hello, fellow gadget lovers and tech enthusiasts! It’s me again, your friendly neighbourhood Gadget Man, diving into another thrilling tech adventure. Today, I’m stepping into the futuristic realm of text-to-speech technology. But hold onto your hats, because this isn’t just any text-to-speech; we’re talking about cloning your own voice using the latest AI systems! Remember those sci-fi movies where characters would replicate their voices using high-tech gadgets? Well, guess what? That future is now, and I’ve just had a mind-blowing experience with it. Imagine creating audio that sounds almost 100% identical to your real voice. Sounds like something out of a dream, right? But it’s real, and I’ve done it! https://www.thegadgetman.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/animate_seed6898830117836334_upscaled.mp4 I used a cutting-edge tool from Eleven Labs – yes, the name already sounds like it’s straight out of a sci-fi novel. This technology is so advanced that it can capture the unique nuances of your voice, and then, using AI, it replicates it to create eerily accurate audio. The result? A voice clone that sounds just like me! Now, you might be wondering, “Is he pulling our leg? Is this for real?” Well, to prove it, the audio you’re hearing in this blog post was created using this very technology. That’s right, you’re not actually hearing me but my digital voice twin! Amazing, isn’t it? But here’s the kicker – if you’re as excited about this as I am and want to clone your own voice, you can do it too. And here’s how: through our unique affiliate link. That’s right, we’ve teamed up with Eleven Labs to bring you this fantastic opportunity. By using our link, you can jump straight into creating your voice clone. https://www.thegadgetman.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/animate_seed3950021203508335_upscaled.mp4 A little heads-up, though. If you decide to sign up for their paid subscription, we may earn a small commission. But hey, that’s just a small part of supporting our journey to bring you the coolest, most cutting-edge tech insights. So, why would you want to clone your voice? Well, the applications are endless. From personalizing your digital assistant to creating your podcast episodes, even when you’re too busy to record – the sky’s the limit! And the best part? You don’t need to be a tech wizard to do it. The process is user-friendly and quite intuitive. In conclusion, stepping into the world of AI voice cloning has been an absolute thrill. It’s not just about the fun or the novelty; it’s about embracing a technology that’s reshaping how we interact with our digital world. Voice cloning might sound like a small step, but believe me, it’s a giant leap in the realm of personal digital expression. https://www.thegadgetman.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/animate_seed7246279345379017_upscaled.mp4 So, what are you waiting for? Click on our affiliate link and start your voice cloning adventure. Who knows, maybe your AI clone will be writing the next blog post for you! Until next time, this is the Gadget Man, signing off – or should I say, my digital twin is signing off! For more information, click or scan the QR Code below or simply visit https://revw.uk/elevenlabs https://revw.uk/elevenlabs The post The Gadget Man, Episode 177 – My Incredible Journey into Text-to-Speech and Cloning My Voice with AI Magic. appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

In this episode, I chat to James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk about the ban on locking mobile phone handsets in the UK. Mobile phone companies will be banned from selling ‘locked’ handsets, under a range of new rules from Ofcom that will make switching even simpler. Some companies – including BT/EE, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone – still sell mobile phones that can’t be used on other networks unless they are unlocked. But this is a potentially complicated process which can also cost around £10. Ofcoms research shows that more than a third of people who decided against switching said this put them off. Switching between mobile networks should now be simpler following Ofcom ruling Almost half of the customers who try to unlock their phone have difficulties doing so. For example, they might experience a long delay before getting the code they need to unlock their phone; the code might not work, or they could suffer a loss of service if they did not realise their phone was locked before they tried to switch. So, following consultation, Ofcom has confirmed that mobile companies will be banned from selling locked phones. This will allow people to move to a different network with their existing handset, hassle-free. The new rules will come in from December 2021. The post Gadget Man – Episode 169 – Ofcom orders Phone Networks to Stop Locking Phones + Advice and Tips about Switching Networks appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

I’m back again for a new episode of the podcast which features me chatting to Lesley Dolphin at BBC Radio Suffolk about Apples plans to allow their devices to be repaired. Pretty much everyone is in shock at this decision, which isn’t quite as welcome as it could be. Listen in to the stream to find out more!   The post Gadget Man – Episode 173 – Repair your own Apple devices? appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

It’s a day of celebration for gaming fans as Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) launches its next-generation console, PlayStation®5 (PS5™), in the UK. Today, I spoke to James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk about the new console, listen in to the attached audio to hear more, otherwise, read on! “Today marks a historic moment for the PlayStation brand, and all of us at SIE are pleased to celebrate the release of PlayStation 5 together with our community of fans, game developers, and industry partners,” said Jim Ryan, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Spiderman Mile Morales PS5 “PS5 is a truly next-generation console representing the beginning of a new era for gaming. I’m thrilled for the new worlds that players will begin to experience today, and I’m equally excited for the lineup of games still to come for PS5 that will continue to propel the gameplay experience forward. We are humbled to work with a talented community of world-class game developers. Their creativity will bring limitless possibilities to what the future of gaming can look like on PS5.” Fans and Sony Celebrate as the PS5 Launches in the UK SIE is welcoming this new generation of gaming by lighting up iconic buildings and popular sites in 25 territories around the world, projecting images of the PlayStation® shapes, the PS5 console, the DualSense wireless controller, and other PlayStation brand imagery. The projections which started on the 12th November saw activations in cities including  Tokyo, New York, Auckland, Toronto, Seoul and Mexico City, with more iconic sites being lit up this week to celebrate the launch. Playstation 5 Digital Edition The PS5 Digital Edition will be available for a recommended retail price (RRP) of £349.99 and PS5 with an Ultra HD Blu-ray™ disc drive will be available for an RRP of £449.99. . With the exception of the Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive, both PS5 models offer the same specifications, so players will enjoy the same transformative gameplay experiences regardless of which PS5 they choose. Playstation 5 The breadth of PlayStation 5’s game library represents the best lineup in PlayStation console history, led by launch day titles from SIE Worldwide Studios, including Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon’s Souls, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, and Astro’s Playroom. PS5 owners can enjoy more than three dozen new games this holiday, including highly anticipated games from SIE’s publishing partners such as Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War (Activision), Fortnite (Epic Games), FIFA 21 (EA), NBA 2K21 (2K), Godfall (Gearbox Publishing), Watch Dogs®: Legion and Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla (Ubisoft), and many more. Meanwhile, new titles from independent developers, such as Bugsnax (Young Horses) and The Pathless (Giant Squid/Annapurna Interactive) demonstrate the breadth of diverse content coming to PS5. Spiderman Mile Morales PS5 PS5 owners can look forward to even more incredible games coming soon. Upcoming Worldwide Studios exclusives include Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Returnal, Destruction AllStars, Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo™ 7, and a new God of War game. Additional games launching first on PS5 include DEATHLOOP™ from Arkane Studios/Bethesda Softworks, Ghostwire™: Tokyo from Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks, Project Athia (Working Title) from Luminous Productions/Square Enix, and Final Fantasy® XVI from Square Enix. Resident Evil™ Village from Capcom and Hogwarts Legacy from Warner Bros. Games round out the lineup of highly anticipated PS5 titles. Sackboy on PS5 At launch, this November, PlayStation Plus members can enjoy a curated lineup of 20 PlayStation®4 games that defined the generation with the PlayStation Plus Collection*, available to download and play on PlayStation 5. The PlayStation Plus Collection features critically acclaimed games, including Batman™: Arkham Knight, Bloodborne, Call of Duty®: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicle Edition, Fallout® 4, God of War, Monster Hunter: World™, Final Fantasy®XV, Resident Evil®7 Biohazard, Persona 5, The Last of Us Remastered, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and more. Spiderman Mile Morales PS5 Inspired by a global community of creators, PS5 will bring players into game worlds with unprecedented speed, visual fidelity and sensory immersion. Gamers will enjoy near-instant load times thanks to PS5’s ultra-high-speed solid-state drive (SSD), as well as breathtaking 4K graphics and silky-smooth gameplay up to 120 frames per second. With the enhanced haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of the DualSense wireless controller and the immersive soundscapes made possible by Tempest 3D AudioTech, PlayStation 5 heightens players’ senses, making them feel transported into their game world. PS5 Dual Wireless Charging Station In addition to transformative gaming experiences, PlayStation 5 offers plenty of entertainment experiences, with a curated lineup of some of the most popular streaming services** available at launch, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock, Spotify, Twitch, YouTube, and more. There will be a dedicated space exclusively for media entertainment on PlayStation 5, making it fast and easy to switch between games and movie/TV. We may earn a commission from sales when you click on our links. The post Gadget Man – Episode 171 – Fans and Sony Celebrate as the PS5 Launches in the UK appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

Welcome to Gadget Man Episode 170, here I talk to James Hazell at BBC Radio Suffolk about the CAT S62 Pro mobile phone with FLIR thermal imaging camera, the Humax Aura Android TV 4K Freeview Play Recorder, and the issues that some owners of Ring doorbells have been experiencing due to incorrect installation. Cat S62 Pro FLIR Lepton Thermal Imaging Camera I will be adding full reviews of the CAT S62 Pro and Humax Aura over the coming days. The Humax Aura 4K Freeview  can be purchased through Amazon here The CAT S62 Pro can also be purchased from Rugged Mobiles We earn a commission from Amazon for sales made through our links. Stay well Matt The post Gadget Man – Episode 170 – Cat S62 Pro with Thermal Imaging, Humax Aura 4K Freeview Box and problems with Ring appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

This is the slightly delayed episode from 15th October 2020. Packed with lots of news and comment. Here I discuss the Snakebyte E-Sports Starter Kit Package , Covid Track and Trace, the Ordo Sonic+ Toothbrush and the iPhone 12 (in four different sizes!). You can listen in to the recording above or subscribe using your favourite podcast player. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, share or comment! See you presently! Matt. Ordo Sonic+ Toothbrush Snakebyte E-Sports Starter Kit Apple iPhone12, iPhone12 Pro, iPad Air – Image Apple Inc   The post Gadget Man – Episode 168 – Snakebyte E-Sports Starter Kit – Covid Track and Trace – Ordo Sonic+ Toothbrush – iPhone 12 appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

More and more businesses are being targeted by criminals who are hijacking there websites and online accounts in order to blackmail them. Here I am talking to Georgie Jameson on BBC Radio Suffolk about what small businesses can do to protect themselves from these kinds of attacks. The post Gadget Man – Episode 154 – Protecting Small Businesses from Cyber Attacks appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

Such are the strange times we live in, many of us now face working from home for the first time along with caring for our children. I have worked from home extensively over the past 20 years and I thought I would try and share some tips on how I have been able to work effectively in a home environment. This morning I spoke to James Hazell at BBC Radio Suffolk about the trials and tribulations about working from home. Listen in to the stream to hear what I had to say and especially the advice at the end. Stay Safe and Healthy If you have been given a laptop to use at home, then there is a danger that you may find yourself sitting in an armchair trying to work and you will soon find this isn’t going to work well. Set up a work environment in a spare room or even your bedroom where you can away from disturbances and distractions as best as possible. Find a comfortable chair and if possible sit near a window so you can get fresh air while you are working. Set up your computer, so that is a semi-permanent environment and will allow you to separate work from home and give you a place to ‘go to work’ Get dressed, you don’t go to your place of work in your pyjamas, so again, getting dressed gets your prepared for work. Take plenty of breaks. If you have children at home, you will need to be able to give them attention. If you can set specific times during the day to stop work, get up and walk around and make yourself a drink. Try to begin and end your work-day as you would if you were going to your place of work. Let your employer know that these are your work times. Setting these boundaries will mean that you aren’t on-call 24/7. Most home-working requires an internet connection. Over the coming months, our communications links are going to be under a great deal of strain. The video streaming services are going to be used extensively and this will put a great deal of pressure on internet connection speeds. Home internet is very different to work internet due to what’s called ‘contention ratios’, so you should be prepared for slower than normal connection speeds. Ask your employer to provide you with a mobile device that can be used as a ‘tether’. This means that should traditional broadband experience issues, you can fall back onto connecting to the internet by connecting via a ‘personal mobile hotspot’. Make sure all of your internet-connected devices are up to date. This means ensuring anti-virus is updated where applicable and any operating systems updates on your computers, set-top boxes, TV’s, IpCams etc are updated Keep all of your battery-powered devices charged up, but don’t leave mobile phones plugged in all of the time as the batteries don’t work as effectively if they all continuously charged. Use a trusted VPN connection to secure your broadband connection further. I recommend Ivacy VPN. Using a VPN or Virtual Private Network secures your connection. Finally, regardless of whether you are working at home or not, you WILL find the number of scam calls you receive will increase, mainly because you will find yourself at home so much more. NEVER give out any personal bank details over the phone including PIN numbers or passwords. Ignore all automated calls and just hang up. These people care little for the health or financial wellbeing of their victims. If in doubt, speak to a trusted friend or member of your family before taking any action that will cost you money. Stay Well and see you soon! Matt www.thegadgetman.org.uk The post The Gadget Man – Episode 162 – Working From Home During the Coronavirus / Covid-19 Crisis appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

In this week’s Gadget Man, I talk to James Hazell about phantom phone calls when phones are set to silent, Zombie Bot Networks, Dyson Hair Straighteners and VAT is finally removed from eBooks! You can listen to the stream (above) or play the video (below) James Hazell: [00:00:00] It’s time. We looked at technology, several things to discuss, not least of which can scammers really make your phone ring when it’s set to silent cause mine just did that is find out more from the gadget guru Matt Porter of Matt thought a web designer. Hi Matt. Matt Porter: [00:00:23] Hi, James Hazell: [00:00:24] good to speak to you. As always, my friend. Now I’ve just read this and I don’t know if it’s true or not, but my phone, Jeff definitely just rang in the middle of an interview and it is set to silent and this particular website says, Oh yes, banners can do that. They can make your phone ring even if it’s on silent. Is that true, Matt? Matt Porter: [00:00:44] I’ve certainly heard of strange things occurring with phones and things like that. there are. I think particular codes, which can override these kinds of silent system so that you are contacted if necessary, in an event of an emergency. What happens James Hazell: [00:01:03] despite it said, yeah, emergency call. but it was just an ordinary number, some, you know, a one, three, three or something. So, you know, Matt Porter: [00:01:12] interesting. It’s, James Hazell: [00:01:13] yeah. Matt Porter: [00:01:14] It’s similar to the traffic. the traffic alert system on cars that even if you have them switched off, there are certain, instances where they will switch on even if you don’t want them to. So then you can, the idea of being, you can be alerted to something that’s very urgent. James Hazell: [00:01:30] Well, I guess what we can learn from this is that if your phone rings. And it’s set to silent and you don’t recognize the number. Then as every Bob possibility could be spat, but then if I go say that people won’t answer the emergency calls, so ignore that advice. Matt Porter: [00:01:44] Well, this is the problem yet. James Hazell: [00:01:46] Yeah. Okay. anyway, look, yesterday the budget and that map included a VAT scrap. On eBooks and newspapers. It’s quite specific that, Matt Porter: [00:02:00] yeah, this has been something that’s been going on for quite a while where, the, the, I mean there’s, it’s very contentious, the sale of eBooks and things like that, or eat publications. But the fact that we. don’t have to pay VAT. If we buy newspapers, books, journals, magazines, et cetera. It’s VAT exempt, I believe, but eBooks and eat papers and all of those other things aren’t. This has been, now overturned or, or abolished so that from the 1st of December, we won’t have to pay VAT on our eBooks, magazines, et cetera, which is. A great thing. What it doesn’t cover, unfortunately, is audiobooks. So you still pay VAT on audiobooks, the nib set. That was disappointing. James Hazell: [00:02:40] Yeah. They, have, issued a statement to say that they find that very disappointing. Is this, do you think an oversight? Because I, I can’t imagine any politician is going to want to deliberately upset a group of people such as the IB. Matt Porter: [00:02:55] It, it surely must be an oversight, I guess. and I, I, I listened to audio books all the time. I’m not disabled. However, I’m still having to pay a 20% premium on my audio book that I wouldn’t be if I bought the book from a store. So I think that maybe it needs to be looked at. we’ve got a bit of time before this comes into effect of the 1st of December, so hopefully it will be. but yeah, I don’t see there’s any difference between, reading something online or reading in a book form. In fact, it’s probably. Less, environmentally damaging to read it online, hopefully. James Hazell: [00:03:27] Yeah, absolutely. And that’s the basis behind this a VAT Carson environment thing, right? Yeah. Matt Porter: [00:03:34] Hopefully. Yeah. Gotcha. Alright. James Hazell: [00:03:35] from Matt Porter: [00:03:36] the bedroom James Hazell: [00:03:37] to the bathroom and specifically hair straighteners and something new from Dyson. Matt Porter: [00:03:43] Yes. Dyson, wanting to be the forefront of all things, domestic with their vacuum cleaners and all kinds of other things. Hand dryers, they’ve now, announced a cordless hair straightener, which apparently, requires less heat, so it’s less damaging on, on the person’s hair. And it also. apparently the straighteners are 65 microns thick, which is the width of a human hair. And thus, can effectively, from what I understand, it almost straighten each individual follicule or each individual hair individually so you don’t have to keep going over and over and over and over the hair repeatedly and thus damaging it. so it’s made from. Ah, goodness me. I did write it. And McEleney manganese, copper alloy. It’s slightly flexible as well, guys. Yeah, James Hazell: [00:04:32] they, I had no idea how important has straighteners were until quite recently. Actually. I failed to Matt Porter: [00:04:40] pack them James Hazell: [00:04:41] and then I said, why or what do you need those for? Put them in the bag now won’t go anywhere without the hair. Straighteners Matt Porter: [00:04:48] wow. We live in a, we live in a world where looks and appearance are very important to people. And you know, some people, it helps them with their self confidence. So you can’t really argue against these things. If it makes people feel better, I’m sure they feel delighted to know that this is around 400 pounds less hair straightener but 400 pounds. Yeah. But conveniently just to lessen that blow. It’s available apparently in dark nickel and fuchsia, or purple and black. So that should make people fill out all the holes. It better make one purchase James Hazell: [00:05:20] a difference. Vic, would you spend 400 pounds on air? Straighteners. Matt Porter: [00:05:24] Well, Joe. James Hazell: [00:05:25] Oh my goodness. She’s thinking about an Matt Porter: [00:05:28] eight. James Hazell: [00:05:28] I do have a Matt Porter: [00:05:30] inexpensive pair of straighteners James Hazell: [00:05:31] and they’ve lasted me Matt Porter: [00:05:32] years and they are brilliant. James Hazell: [00:05:33] So I would consider that what? Consider yes hundred pounds on her splints. Matt Porter: [00:05:39] Yes, but then I would on my own a flight if that much, James Hazell: [00:05:42] here’s what’s going to be the problem though, Matt. People are going to be straightening their hair like on the bus and on the tube and things like that. Only now if they are going to be cordless. Matt Porter: [00:05:50] Maybe, who knows? James Hazell: [00:05:52] if they do, I’ll start saving. I’ll start shaving. That’s what I’ll do. Matt Porter: [00:05:55] Yeah. I may be going to have people having, instead of having the expensive headphones stolen on the tube, they’ll be having their hair straighteners stolen James Hazell: [00:06:02] out. That’ll be the next crime wave. Yeah, Matt Porter: [00:06:04] that’s right. You will not, in no way, even in fact, because the  crime straight James Hazell: [00:06:13] on a crime, which I’m finally in Microsoft have said they are part all they are responsible. for dismantling a large international network of zombie bots that were causing 9 million computers, problems accessing or facilitating crime. And goodness knows what is this story man. Matt Porter: [00:06:37] Yeah. This is a, this is something that’s been apparently eight years in the planning with 35 countries, partners in 35 countries around the world. Basically, there were these, automated systems. A botnet is an automated system that does generally unpleasant things. In this case, it was finding and registering domain names automatically building websites and then uploading. Infected software onto those websites. The emails would then be sent out to people unsuspected saying, please connect to your X, Y, Zed, and reset your password. They would unwittingly click on those, which would send them to these. Malicious websites, which would then do things such as steel, identity, gain, access to your bank accounts, and all of those kinds of unpleasant things as stinging passwords, sell you pharmaceuticals and all of that kind of unpleasant stuff. what Microsoft managed to do here was they used an algorithm, which I assume was some kind of artificial intelligence, which could. In advance, predict the domain names that were going to be registered next and block them before in advance so that people actually couldn’t access them at all, which is really, really good use of technology where you’re blocking stuff before even becomes a problem. And apparently this has resulted in the dismantling of this, this zombie botnet. So they’ve James Hazell: [00:08:06] obviously had some success. I do worry though, and Microsoft, I’m by no means alone in this, but their product outlook will frequently put emails from my producer Vick into the spam folder. And you know, there’s, there is a, a balance to be drawn. If we’re too strict with all of this stuff, we end up missing stuff. Matt Porter: [00:08:27] Yeah. Listen, I, I manage, email delivery for, for dozens and dozens and dozens of customers and many, many times I’m having to contact different providers and not pleading with them, but trying to sort of explain to them that this email shouldn’t be put into spam. That’s billions of emails are sent. Spam emails are sent on a daily basis, and the fact that these systems are in place that can, you know, we would have, our mailbox is absolutely full with rubbish. Yeah. Well more rubbish to the normal. if the systems weren’t in place and he’s just, you know, you’re chasing your tail because you get these folks positives all the time. And I get them, I get people, I’m fat. I had a company ring up and berating me saying, why did you delete our email when you asked? You told us we were interested, and I go look in my

This week’s Podcast / Vlog-cast comes from the second floor of Gadget Towers! In this episode, I talk to James Hazell at BBC Radio Suffolk about Apple’s class action settlement regarding the perceived slowing down of older iPhone models. Running a website with an SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt? Check that you don’t need to request a new one as there has been issues with a large number over the past couple of days. Boston Dynamics are at it again, this time they have their ever advance automation working in warehouses. Watch the videos after the Vlog to find out more. The post Gadget Man – Episode 160 – Apple Settles for $500m – SSL Issues – Boston Dynamics appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

This morning was the final of my Mix Tape tracks played by James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk. I’ve attached the YouTube playlist yet again below which will play the interview followed by the track. Two Tribes, by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, is a truly incredible track which absolutely blew the music scene away back in 1984 and launched the band into super-stardom. “From the railway station in the distance came the sound of shunting trains, ringing and rumbling, softened almost into melody by the distance.” – H. G. Wells – War of the Worlds   Transcript of the interview is below. James Hazell: The mixtape all this week has featured Matt Porter, our very own gadget guy from Matt Porter web design. We’ve been chewing the cud of technology all this week and the fascination with gadgetry and life in the future. Is there one thing, Matt, we talked yesterday about, uh, where the technology may have gone down the wrong route. Is there one area where you think it might be behind and needs to pick up? The pace of it? Is there. A strand of life that technology Matt Porter: has yet to improve. I’ve got very poor eye sight to where we’ll go out very thick glasses for years and I now wear contact lenses and therefore when I use things like a virtual reality headset, so when I play with them, unless I’ve got my contact lenses in, I can’t because I’ve got a pair of glasses that get away in all of this sort of stuff. And it seems like a first world problem. I think that they’ve, there have just been developments made in. Putting displays on building displays into a contact lens, and when that finally becomes mainstream, that would just be amazing. I mean, I’ll wear contact lenses and have anyways on use to put in them in my yard. James Hazell: It’s odd, isn’t it? Wearing glasses does seem very. Victorian almost way beyond that. We’re still doing it. That can be, I’m not, all right. You can have a call, Tina Mark three air filter over your face like they haven’t stopped. Yeah. Yeah. Apart from that, Matt Porter: Yeah. I think that it’s, that would be super, but I think that you know, I absolutely love the fact that I could, um, uh, shut my eyes and watch your film. James Hazell: Um, it feels like it’s a natural extension to the smartphone. Matt Porter: I mean, I, I was, I had a, a virtual reality headset on. I can a head-up display. I had a hit. I actually had a headset on, um, a couple of years ago, and I was looking for stuff that supported it so you could turn your head around and it would. Turn your head around and it would, um, uh, move accordingly. And, um, and I was watching these things and YouTube supports it. If you say you’ve got a headset on, it’ll show you stuff. So you can see it will move things around. And I remember sitting there and, um, suddenly. It was a, it was someone doing yoga and I didn’t know what could do with myself and where to put myself because suddenly I’m looking like real. Yeah. I’m looking at this woman in some strange yoga position and I couldn’t cover my eyes because they were covered by this. Certainly. If it’s done well, you know, it’s fantastic. And yes, so contact lenses with built-in displays would be, that’s the future James Hazell: Right there. Alright. We’ll wrap up with a set of questions, which we may have borrowed from a certain TV show. We don’t need to go into that. So, Matt Porter, uh, your all-time favourite word. Difficult. Yeah. We never tell guests about these questions. Matt Porter: Um, sarcasm. Sarcasm. James Hazell: Okay. Your least Matt Porter: a favorite word or least favourite phrase is “This One”. Really? Yeah. Everybody seems to be putting pictures on social media and saying had a lovely afternoon. People James Hazell: refer to Matt Porter: people as this, this one. Yeah. James Hazell: What would you say was your best Matt Porter: quality? I’m very caring. Very caring. James Hazell: Good for you, and your worst quality. Matt Porter: Um, I don’t pick up some social cues when it’s time to stop and go. Yeah. So from around someone’s house. Yeah. Don’t get that social cue that it’s now they’re standing there in their pyjamas, within the lights out, James Hazell: and I’m still Matt Porter: talking like that. James Hazell: Uh, ‘Trek or ‘Wars. Careful how you answer. Matt Porter: Well, isn’t it? Isn’t it? It’s so divisive because they are so entirely different. James Hazell: They are entirely Matt Porter: Different because in fairness, Trek is, is utopian. James Hazell: Trek is a nice place. Matt Porter: Yes, utopian, clean air, pleasant, a bit more space, that’s why Star Wars is all kind of dirty and used. So it’s difficult to say, Oh, I’ll say Trek at the moment, because there’s a particular because a Picard’s just come on and it’s nice to see it back. James Hazell:  You’re right. Yes.  A sound that you love? Matt Porter: Trains Passing in the Night in the Distance! That’s a great noise! Oh my God! James Hazell: Always loved the reference in Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds. Uh, trains, uh, in the distance, softened almost into melody by the disc. that’s a lovely phrase. Matt Porter: I used to hear the trains at night when I was young and I think I did actually look it up. And apparently it is a ‘thing’, most people find than the sound of trains passing in the night calm. James Hazell: It is a thing. Yeah. Most surprising. A sound or noise that you hate. That ‘dong’ that windows used to make when something went wrong. Matt Porter: The Blue Screen of Death. Yeah. James Hazell: Uh, and if heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates. Do we need a website? Matt Porter: No, God. Oh no! That’d be the worst thing! I’m glad you are here. My computer’s got a problem. Yeah., I think, um, uh, you’ve done a great job. James Hazell: You are a caring guy. Matt Porter: Welcome and great. Yeah. Yeah. Brilliant. Yeah. James Hazell: Matt Porter. Great to catch up. And you will know that, again, beyond the show with us talking technology as the weeks go by of Matt Porter Web Design, final song. is an app salute stonker, it’s Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Two Tribes, for what reason, Matt? Matt Porter: Um, when Frankie Goes to Hollywood, appeared, it was in 1984, 83-84. That time was quite frightening for people. Eh, you know, we have scary now because we’ve, it’s all to do with the doomsday clock, and we’re closer than ever now. But back then there was a real, uh, it seemed like it could happen. There were broken down relationships between the Soviet Union and the United States. Reagan had just come in and he was quite boisterous at the time. Um, and. It was a scary time. It really felt I think there were a few movies came out, threads the day after they all kind of nuclear war movies, which are quite frightening. Threads were very, very scary because it was so much more real. Um, so there was this feeling of impending doom that we really didn’t have much time.  summed it up, some great lyrics in it. Um, and. I, it was a tough time around that time for me. You know, I’d have, we had a bereavement. My sister died a year or so before. And, uh, it was pretty tough going and, and you kind of become involved listening to particular music and really, really enjoying it. So it was kind of a bit of escapism listening to this band. So. It was, and this track, you know, it was one of the first ones to be sort of heavily remixed and different versions. James Hazell: 4 different mixes? Matt Porter: Different 12” version, Annihilation, Carnage, Hibakusha and Cassette and things like that. It was a fantastic, fantastic track. Nine weeks at number one, and I actually speak to, a couple of the members of the band as well now. Yeah. Um. Holly Johnson, not so much now. I used to have a bit of communication with him on Facebook. Brian Nash, the guitarist, he’s a real, real, real nice guy and had a few conversations with him as well. James Hazell: Interesting. Mark O’Toole. He was another one was Matt Porter: Mark O’Toole was the bass player. He lives in America. He’s kind of quite out of the public eye now. It doesn’t really have much to do with anything social media. Paul Rutherford was the backing singer. He lives in New Zealand. Yes, Ped was the drummer who lives in London. I think I’m friends with him on Facebook, but he doesn’t say very much. His son’s quite an avid, surfer. James Hazell: But back in the day, they all got together with the help of Trevor Horn of course. Matt Porter: Trevor horn, who James Hazell: did a remarkable job. Matt Porter: I went to his house, actually. Yes. So to his house for a Christmas party, 27 years ago. Yeah. So, one of my friends, her uncle. Worked for Stiff Records, right. And stiff was bought by ZTT Records, which was owned by Trevor Horn and Jill Sinclair, they were invited to his Christmas party, which was a place called Hook End Manor in Oxfordshire, right, which was owned by Dave Gilmore, he had just bought it from Dave Gilmore. James Hazell: You hang about with all the big guys don’t ya! Matt Porter: They said, we know you’re a great fan. Will you drive us? My friends and her family said, you drive us and you can come along. So, I did. I drove. I drove out, and it was, um, Wendy and Lisa were there from Prince and the Revolution. Yeah., and Wendy, I think Wendy or no, Lisa Coleman has got a twin, so she was there as well. So there were sort of two Lisa’s and then there was Lol Crème. James Hazell: They are big mates. Matt Porter: Stephen Howe from, Yes. Was there, there was a few other people’s, Seal was meant to be there, but he didn’t come. Um, same record label. Of course. Yeah. He was, yeah, he was time. Uh, yeah, it was, it was, it was James Hazell: It was a great night that was? Matt Porter: Day. Yeah, a whole day thing. Yeah. Well, playing table tennis in the recording studio and played pool and snooker. There you go. James Hazell: Final song from Frankie goes to Hollywood with the genius of Trevor Horn behind it an

“I think that there are great ideas which sometimes are rolled out by the wrong people.” This morning was the third of my Mix Tape tracks played by James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk. I’ve attached the YouTube playlist again below which will play the interview followed by the track. This is a track which I find I go to when I need to wind down and relax. It’s great reflection music, good to chill out to. Transcript of the interview follows. James Hazell: The mixtape. All this week featuring Matt Porter of Matt Porter Web Design our gadget guy, who regularly is on the show talking about technology and the like. We spoke yesterday about, cars and autonomous vehicles and, and changes in our attitude to technology. Matt. It’s everything. Is every advance in technology, in your perspective being a welcome and violence? Are there routes that we’ve gone down that have not sat come to me with you? Matt Porter: It’s a very interesting question. Rarely. Yeah, sure. I think that, James Hazell: right. Obviously medical technology is always to be applauded and you know, any technology, I guess that makes our lives easier. I just don’t know if it’s all been.., ..in the right direction. Matt Porter: I think that there are great ideas which sometimes are rolled out by the wrong people. James Hazell: That’s a good response. Matt Porter: They don’t necessarily understand what the implications of fact technology is or the decisions about which equipment to use may not have been made for the. Right reasons, rather than our thought maybe a financial reason. So you might not be getting the best results that you could be because of their strengths of budgets and other things. So James Hazell: You think of the gaming, which is massive in this country, in many countries in the world, the gaming profession, which it is. but many people are now citing that. As the reason behind obesity in children not getting exercise and daylight and friendships. Would that be an example of where technology has let us down a bit? Matt Porter: I think so. I think one of the things that. Many of us would agree with that, although they’re all seem to be a double edge sword to everything and smartphone technology, mobile smart technology is an amazing invention. However, the, negativity, negative sides of, there are so many people becoming so antisocial through something that’s meant to make you. So it’s almost as if you’ve channelled your… James Hazell: Towards bringing out personal something in us rather than the technology itself Matt Porter:  into something and like, yeah, so you’re sitting there with a phone stuck against your face, ignoring people whilst talking to somebody else who’s a hundred miles away or a thousand miles away, and it’s actually caused this seems to have caused people to become less social. People are less happy to pick a phone up and speak to you. They’d rather message you, or they’d rather send a, a text message. And I did actually watch it. It was a  documentary or a piece of a news piece about, the traditional telephone effect that people aren’t using plugged in landline, no, no phones anymore. And they interviewed people and, and people were, people were saying, well, actually making phone calls makes me anxious, so I’d draw this and now what happened there? You know where I think it James Hazell: Probably always has. Some people just don’t like going on the telephone and do the button. So if there’s, and I don’t suppose there ever was a real alternative, so they had to do it. Matt Porter: I think that now there is that telephones are fantastic. Voice communication is fantastic, that you don’t have to have this tech tennis match of emails and texts me example conversation. You can hear somebody how they actually mean something. You don’t have to look at it and try and read into what they’re saying. And then through James Hazell: Arguments in the workplace are caused by, so, you know, text, not conveying a smile. Matt Porter: Communication beats. Exactly. James Hazell: Yeah. Okay. When you see documentaries about the future and obviously into Sci-Fi stuff, there’s always a dystopian kind of future that we seem to be headed for. Because we become slaves to technology. Do you think that’ll ever be the case where we become so entwined with it that Matt Porter: Actually without it, we stop James Hazell: Functioning as a, as a species? Matt Porter: I mean, you James Hazell: Could argue that Matt Porter: That day is already around you. I was going to say, I think that we, I think we might’ve even passed that tipping point now where we become so reliant on, on this technology that we would struggle James Hazell: to without, Matt Porter: without it, that a dangerous place to be. I think it probably, yes, I think he is. I think James Hazell: That one CME from the sun, all the power goes off and we’re back to the stone age. Well, that’s very Matt Porter: True! And we’ve seen that to a smaller extent where you have power cuts and we had a power cut last year and trains stopped running. Everything just stopped running. Whereas, you know, there was a time when there were power stations running specifically to back up the electricity on the railway and the underground systems in London and things like that. Purely for that reason, that reason. and we had a situation where people just suddenly didn’t know what to do. And the first. The alternative they had was to be angry and upset and stamp their feet and say, why am I late home now? This is not on. Well, it’s what would happen if there was a, an outage which wasn’t quite as easily read. It didn’t have such an easy remedy as, yeah, it’s a failure in some, protects, it was a test that went wrong and shunned down. So, yeah. How would people cope without these things? I think we would struggle. I guess James Hazell: We are the last generation who can remember life before the internet. Matt Porter: Yeah. So we could James Hazell: Probably just about, you know, go back to our child. I think, well when we were child children, this is what we did. Matt Porter: Yeah. James Hazell: But children now have no idea of life without the internet. And it just worries me that they’re not such suggesting for one moment that it will ever all go off. But you don’t know. You know, that could be a major, massive fault one day, and all of a sudden. It’s off for a week and you wonder how people are going to cope. Matt Porter: I always, always think of the Truman show. Yeah. The film, the Truman show where if anyone hasn’t seen it, where it’s like a giant, almost like a world, a town-sized, version of big brother really isn’t aware whereas someone’s born and grown up in a, in a reality show and doesn’t know they’re in that reality show. But has, I, I think. Feeling they might be. but the thing that always made me chuckle is at the end of that,  then effectively, it finishes and that’s the end of the show. They switch it off and everybody just carried back to something else. Went back to their normal lot. Alex James Hazell: Is on the telly. Yeah, exactly. Oh, right. A song choice for this Wednesday. Matt Coldplay. What if for what reason? Matt Porter: This is, Interesting one, because I used to take our children to nursery when they were younger, and one day, I particularly liked the album that this distracts on. but I remember dropping them off one day. My wife taking them in and I was standing outside the car and it was quite a sunny day and the doors were open on the car, and then this came on and it kind of grew. Echoed around the street where we were parking, but it was kind of quite a nice, it was a lovely, lovely song. and this particular verse in that, in this song, which is really thought-provoking, you know, it, it’s one of those songs where you could read into your, something out. You could put something out of your, something that’s happened to you in your life, and maybe draw it out of this song. “Every step that you take Could be your biggest mistake It could bend or it could break That’s the risk that you take What if you should decide That you don’t want me there in your life That you don’t want me there by your side” I think it kind of encompasses everything. And my son James has a sleep disorder. bless him, terrible trouble getting him to sleep since he was born and he’s nearly 10. We used to have sleepless nights over and over again. And one of them, if I look at my playlists on, on my phone, I, it shows which track has been played the most. We used to play music, all kinds of music, but this one, this one’s just this one has been played about 796 times or something to him. it’s a great track. Yeah. “What if?” by Coldplay? Brilliant. Yeah.   The post Gadget Man – Episode 158 – James Hazell Mix Tape Part 3 – Coldplay – What If? appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

In the latest episode of The Gadget Man, I joined Lorna Bailey on BBC Radio CWR to explore a topic that’s close to all our smartphones — apps. From checking our health and managing our money, to securing our homes and snapping hundreds of photos we never quite get around to backing up, apps have become the digital wallpaper of our lives. But here’s the big question: Have we become too reliant on them? And are there risks lurking in our seemingly innocent app folders? During this episode, we chat candidly about the app overload many of us experience. Whether it’s a dozen different parking apps or a folder full of CCTV apps just for one house (guilty as charged), we’ve all felt the weight of digital clutter and the anxiety of deleting an app in case we “might need it someday.” We also talk about the very real risks of having so much of our data connected to apps and the internet — and how tech companies benefit from our every tap and swipe. While some of this data helps deliver useful services, like live traffic info, it also opens doors to targeted ads, invasions of privacy, and even scams. Tips for Staying Safe in an App-Heavy World: Only download apps from reputable sources like Apple App Store, Google Play, or Amazon’s App Store. Avoid sideloading apps from unknown third-party websites — that’s where trouble can start. Keep apps up to date — security patches are often part of these updates. Use antivirus apps to scan for threats, especially on Android devices. Be mindful in public when making payments with your phone — contactless tech can be abused. Back up your photos and data regularly to avoid heartbreak if your device is lost or damaged. There’s also a moment of digital self-reflection: Are we hoarding apps the same way we hoard random kitchen gadgets — “just in case”? You’re not alone. I’ve got folders of unused apps, too. And while we’re talking about clutter, let’s not forget the thousands of photos we store and forget — until it’s too late. If there’s one takeaway from this episode, it’s this: Back. Up. Your. Photos. Whether it’s to iCloud, Google Photos, or any other cloud service, it could save your most precious memories. Listen to the full episode to hear all the laughs, insights, and a few home truths about our app obsessions — and maybe get inspired to finally sort out your own digital drawers! Want to chat more about this topic? Drop a comment below or ping me on social media @gadgetmanblog — I’d love to hear about your app habits, fears, and favourites! The post The Gadget Man – Episode 183 – Are We Addicted to Apps? appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

The We Love Hitchin Interviews 2024 were conducted by Gadget Man, Matt Porter, the founder of We Love Hitchin. Matt took the initiative to interview each candidate running for the Hitchin Constituency in the General Election, providing an in-depth look at their visions and plans for the community. Welcome to the We Love Hitchin Interviews 2024! As part of our series, we are sitting down with each candidate running for the Hitchin Constituency in the upcoming General Election on the 4th of July 2024. In this interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with Will Lavin, the Green Party candidate. Join us as we delve into Will Lavin’s vision for Hitchin, exploring his plans for sustainable development, environmental protection, and community well-being. Discover his stance on key issues such as climate change, local economy, and social justice. Will shares his passion for creating a greener, fairer future for Hitchin and beyond. Interview Breakdown 00:00 Opening Titles 00:12 Introduction by Matt Porter, Founder of We Love Hitchin 01:07 Welcome Will Lavin 01:19 Background and Motivation: Will Lavin discusses his background and what motivated him to run as a candidate for Hitchin. 03:10 Cost of Living Crisis 03:26 Q1: What new policies will the Green Party introduce to help families struggling with the cost of living? 03:30 A1: Will’s response detailing the proposed measures. 06:40 Q2: NHS and Healthcare 06:56 A2: Will outlines the Green Party’s plans to address issues within the NHS, including appointment wait times and staffing shortages. 09:35 Q3: Economy 10:00 A3: Strategies to address inflation, unemployment, and ensure economic stability. 13:10 Q4: Climate Change and The Environment 13:30 A4: Measures to promote environmental sustainability in Hitchin. 17:54 Q5: Crime 18:10 A5: Plans to enhance public safety and improve law enforcement effectiveness. 21:03 Q6: Housing 22:01 A6: Measures to address housing affordability and availability, especially for younger people and those on lower incomes. 24:36 Q7: Roads 25:09 A7: Addressing the appalling state of the roads and infrastructure improvements. Community Questions 26:55 Andrea’s Question on Water Companies 27:31 CQA1: Will’s response to bringing water companies back into public ownership. 29:11 Nyland and Lauren’s Question on Gaza War 29:26 CQA2: Will’s stance on providing arms or assistance in the Gaza conflict and recognizing Palestine. 30:36 Jeremy’s Question on Digital Currency 30:48 CQA3: Will’s perspective on digital currency and its implications. 32:03 Vanessa and Nicola’s Question on Special Education Needs 33:00 CQA4: Will addresses concerns regarding SEN provision and pledges improved support and resources. 35:38 Will Addresses the Voters 35:47: Will makes his closing appeal to the voters, explaining why they should vote for him on the 4th of July. 36:47 Thanks and Wrapping Up 37:49 End Titles Election Results for Hitchin Constituency 2024 The General Election results for the Hitchin Constituency have been announced. Here are the final tallies: Bim Afolami (The Conservative Party Candidate): 14,958 votes Charles Bunker (Reform UK): 6,760 votes Sid Cordle (Christian Peoples Alliance): 181 votes Will Lavin (Green Party): 2,631 votes Chris Lucas (Liberal Democrats): 4,913 votes Alistair Strathern (Labour Party): 23,067 votes – Elected Congratulations to Alistair Strathern, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Hitchin! His victory marks a significant shift in the constituency, and we look forward to seeing his plans for Hitchin come to fruition. The post The Gadget Man General Election Special Part Five – We Love Hitchin Interviews – Will Lavin Green Party Candidate for Hitchin Constituency appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

The We Love Hitchin Interviews 2024 were conducted by Gadget Man, Matt Porter, the founder of We Love Hitchin. Matt took the initiative to interview each candidate running for the Hitchin Constituency in the General Election, providing an in-depth look at their visions and plans for the community. Welcome to the We Love Hitchin Interviews 2024! As part of our series, we are sitting down with each candidate running for the Hitchin Constituency in the upcoming General Election on the 4th of July 2024. In this interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with Chris Lucas, the Liberal Democrat Party candidate for Hitchin. Join us as we delve into Chris Lucas’s vision for Hitchin, exploring his plans for economic stability, public safety, and community development. Discover his stance on key issues such as infrastructure, business support, and education. Chris shares his dedication to fostering a prosperous and secure future for Hitchin and its residents.   Interview Breakdown 00:00 Opening Titles 00:15 Introduction 01:13 Background and Motivation: Chris Lucas discusses his background and what motivated him to run for election in the new Hitchin Constituency. 03:23 Q1: Cost of Living Crisis 03:43 A1: Chris Lucas outlines measures to help families struggling with the rising cost of living. 06:04 Q1A: Do the Lib Dems want to rejoin the EU? 06:20 A1A: Chris Lucas addresses the party’s stance on rejoining the EU. 11:20 Q2: NHS and Healthcare 11:40 A2: Chris’s plans to improve healthcare services, reduce waiting times, and address staffing shortages. 16:40 Q3: Economy 17:13 A3: Strategies to address inflation, unemployment, and ensure economic stability. 19:53 Q4: Climate Change and Environment 20:08 A4: Measures to promote environmental sustainability in Hitchin. 24:10 Q5: Crime 24:25 A5: Plans to improve personal safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement in the community. 31:00 Q6: Housing 32:05 A6: Addressing the housing crisis, particularly focusing on affordability and availability for younger people and those on lower incomes. 40:32 Q7: Roads 41:05 A7: Plans to improve the condition of roads and address issues like potholes. Community Questions 44:44 Andrea’s Question on Water Companies 45:18 CQA1: Chris’s response to bringing water companies back into public ownership. 47:17 Caroline’s Question on Waspies Compensation 48:30 CQA2: Chris discusses the issue of compensation for ‘Waspies’. 50:34 Nyland and Lauren’s Question on Gaza War and Palestine Recognition 50:49 CQA3: Chris’s stance on providing arms or assistance in the Gaza conflict and recognizing Palestine. 53:31 Vanessa and Nicola’s Question on Special Education Needs 56:30 CQA4: Chris addresses concerns regarding SEN provision and pledges improved support and resources. 01:03:21 Chris Addresses the Voters 01:03:36: Chris makes his closing appeal to the voters, explaining why they should vote for him on the 4th of July. 01:05:12 Thanks and Wrapping Up 01:06:46 End Titles Election Results for Hitchin Constituency 2024 The General Election results for the Hitchin Constituency have been announced. Here are the final tallies: Bim Afolami (The Conservative Party Candidate): 14,958 votes Charles Bunker (Reform UK): 6,760 votes Sid Cordle (Christian Peoples Alliance): 181 votes Will Lavin (Green Party): 2,631 votes Chris Lucas (Liberal Democrats): 4,913 votes Alistair Strathern (Labour Party): 23,067 votes – Elected Congratulations to Alistair Strathern, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Hitchin! His victory marks a significant shift in the constituency, and we look forward to seeing his plans for Hitchin come to fruition. The post The Gadget Man General Election Special Part Four – We Love Hitchin Interviews – Chris Lucas Liberal Democrats Party Candidate for Hitchin Constituency appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

The We Love Hitchin Interviews 2024 were conducted by Gadget Man, Matt Porter, the founder of We Love Hitchin. Matt took the initiative to interview each candidate running for the Hitchin Constituency in the General Election, providing an in-depth look at their visions and plans for the community. Welcome to the We Love Hitchin Interviews 2024! As part of our series, we are sitting down with each candidate running for the Hitchin Constituency in the upcoming General Election on the 4th of July 2024. In this interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with Charles Bunker, the Reform Party candidate for Hitchin. Join us as we delve into Charles Bunker’s vision for Hitchin, exploring his plans for economic stability, public safety, and community development. Discover his stance on key issues such as infrastructure, business support, and education. Charles shares his dedication to fostering a prosperous and secure future for Hitchin and its residents.   Interview Breakdown 00:00 Opening Titles 00:12 Important Message regarding the video recording 01:12 Introduction by Matt Porter, Founder of We Love Hitchin 01:07 Welcome Charles Bunker 01:51 Background and Motivation: Charles discusses his background and what motivated him to run as a candidate for Hitchin. 06:50 Cost of Living Crisis 06:53 Q1: What new policies will Reform UK introduce to help families struggling with the cost of living? 07:10 A1: Charles’s response detailing the proposed measures. 11:23 Q2: NHS and Healthcare 11:42 A2: Charles outlines Reform UK’s plans to fix issues within the NHS, including appointment wait times and staffing shortages. 18:04 Q3: Economy 18:20 A3: Charles discusses strategies for addressing inflation, unemployment, and economic stability. 22:26 Q4: Climate Change and The Environment 23:01 A4: Charles’s vision for tackling climate change and improving environmental policies. 29:10 Q5: Crime 29:30 A5: Plans to enhance public safety and improve law enforcement effectiveness. 33:30 Q6: Housing 34:12 A6: Measures to address housing affordability and availability, especially for younger people and those on lower incomes. 40:48 Q7: Roads 41:22 A7: Addressing the appalling state of the roads and infrastructure improvements. Community Questions 42:50 Andrea’s Question on Water Companies 43:10 CQA1: Charles’s response to bringing water companies back into public ownership. 43:39 Martin’s Question on Artificial Intelligence 43:50 CQA2: Charles’s thoughts on AI and ensuring its safe use. 45:40 Nyland and Lauren’s Question on Gaza War 46:28 CQA3: Charles’s stance on providing arms or assistance in the Gaza conflict and recognizing Palestine. 49:34 Jeremy’s Question on Digital Currency 50:00 CQA4: Charles’s perspective on digital currency and its implications. 52:50 Vanessa and Nicola’s Question on Special Education Needs 53:53 CQA4: Charles addresses concerns regarding SEN provision and pledges improved support and resources. 57:33 Reform UK Questions 57:33 Nigel’s Question on Bureaucracy 59:00 RUKA1: Charles’s response about reducing bureaucracy. 01:00:00 Question on Bureaucracy 01:00:38 RUKA2: Additional plans for reducing bureaucratic hurdles. 01:02:00 Charles Addresses the Voters 01:02:36: Charles makes his closing appeal to the voters. 01:03:20 Thanks and Wrapping Up 01:04:07 End Titles Election Results for Hitchin Constituency 2024 The General Election results for the Hitchin Constituency have been announced. Here are the final tallies: Bim Afolami (The Conservative Party Candidate): 14,958 votes Charles Bunker (Reform UK): 6,760 votes Sid Cordle (Christian Peoples Alliance): 181 votes Will Lavin (Green Party): 2,631 votes Chris Lucas (Liberal Democrats): 4,913 votes Alistair Strathern (Labour Party): 23,067 votes – Elected Congratulations to Alistair Strathern, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Hitchin! His victory marks a significant shift in the constituency, and we look forward to seeing his plans for Hitchin come to fruition. The post The Gadget Man General Election Special Part Three – We Love Hitchin Interviews – Charles Bunker Reform UK Party Candidate for Hitchin Constituency appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.

The We Love Hitchin Interviews 2024 were conducted by Gadget Man, Matt Porter, the founder of We Love Hitchin. Matt took the initiative to interview each candidate running for the Hitchin Constituency in the General Election, providing an in-depth look at their visions and plans for the community. You can view the interview below or listen to the podcast episode by clicking the play-head above.   Welcome to the We Love Hitchin Interviews 2024! As part of our series, we are sitting down with each candidate running for the Hitchin Constituency in the upcoming General Election on the 4th of July 2024. In this interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with Bim Afolami, the Conservative Party candidate. Join us as we delve into Bim Afolami’s vision for Hitchin, exploring his plans for economic stability, public safety, and community development. Discover his stance on key issues such as infrastructure, business support, and education. Bim shares his dedication to fostering a prosperous and secure future for Hitchin and its residents. Interview Breakdown 00:00 Opening Titles 00:09 Welcome from Matt Porter, Founder of We Love Hitchin Facebook Group 01:09 Welcome to Bim Afolami 01:16 Background and Motivation: Bim shares his background and explains his motivation for running in the new Hitchin Constituency. 02:06 Q1: Cost of Living Crisis 02:33 A1: Bim discusses measures to alleviate financial pressures caused by the rising cost of living. 08:05 Q2: NHS and Healthcare 08:37 A2: Bim outlines his plans to improve healthcare services, reduce waiting times, and address staffing shortages in the NHS. 12:40 Q3: Economy 13:14 A3: Bim’s strategies for addressing inflation, unemployment, and ensuring economic stability. 17:44 Q5: Crime 17:58 A5: Bim’s plans to enhance personal safety and improve the effectiveness of law enforcement in the community. 20:41 Q6: Housing 20:57 A6: Measures to address the housing crisis, particularly focusing on affordability and availability for younger people and those on lower incomes. Community Questions 23:32 Andrea’s Question on Water Companies 24:45 Bim’s Response: Bim answers Andrea’s question about voting on a motion to bring water companies back into the public sector. 27:45 Nyland and Lauren’s Question on Gaza War and Palestine Recognition 28:06 Bim’s Response: Bim discusses the provision of arms or assistance in the Gaza conflict and the recognition of Palestine as an independent state. 30:58 Vanessa and Nicola’s Question on Special Needs Education and Care 31:49 Bim’s Response: Bim addresses the concerns of SEN families, pledging improved support and resources. 36:01 Bim’s Closing Appeal 36:17 Bim asks for your vote: Bim Afolami explains why he should be chosen as the representative for Hitchin on the 4th of July. 39:11 Matt Porter’s Thanks and Closing Remarks 40:19 Closing Titles Election Results for Hitchin Constituency 2024 The General Election results for the Hitchin Constituency have been announced. Here are the final tallies: Bim Afolami (The Conservative Party Candidate): 14,958 votes Charles Bunker (Reform UK): 6,760 votes Sid Cordle (Christian Peoples Alliance): 181 votes Will Lavin (Green Party): 2,631 votes Chris Lucas (Liberal Democrats): 4,913 votes Alistair Strathern (Labour Party): 23,067 votes – Elected Congratulations to Alistair Strathern, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Hitchin! His victory marks a significant shift in the constituency, and we look forward to seeing his plans for Hitchin come to fruition. The post The Gadget Man General Election Special Part Two – We Love Hitchin Interviews – Bim Afolami Conservate Party Candidate for Hitchin Constituency appeared first on Matt Porter, The Gadget Man - Creative Technologist - AI & Tech News and Reviews.