The PC Pro Podcast

The gang discusses a new experiment to see how Welsh voters are exposed to political content on social media, waves an unsentimental farewell to the Mac Pro and laments the intrusion of ads into a) our open-source coding projects and b) our kitchens. In our regular Hot Hardware segment, Barry attempts to justify the purchase of his Apple MacBook Pro 16in with M5 Pro processor.

A lively chat about Microsoft’s push to streamline Windows and trim Copilot clutter. A major US proposal would ban most foreign‑made home routers and stir up ISPs and consumers. OpenAI shutters its Sora video tool as product consolidation looms. Ambitious plans to build the world’s largest silicon fab spark supply‑chain and feasibility debate. A 500W multiport charger gets a hands‑on spotlight.

Let's start with what we finished on for a change: the Apple MacBook Neo, in the flesh. Jon Honeyball proposes it as the Hot Hardware of the Week, but not without opposition...Also this week, Barry explains what you need to know about Alexa+, which landed in the UK this week (you may want to mute your Echo!). Jon shares why he's so annoyed by the Companies House breach, Nik explains why brain-cell powered computers may be the future, and Tim reveals what's been happening at Nvidia's GTC 2026 event.

They dig into Amazon’s six-hour AI coding outage and the new human-approval rule. They debate whether AI-generated comments can hide risky code and recount AI-created fake references on Wikipedia. The idea of a unified UK streaming iPlayer and Norway’s manifesto to fight tech decline are discussed. They also spotlight an AI live-transcription tool that turns speech into polished prose.

They debate Apple’s colourful low‑end MacBook Neo, its A‑series chip choice and constrained 8GB RAM. Lenovo’s modular ThinkBook concept and improved repairability get a close look. The panel covers the Anthropic vs US government spat and OpenAI’s involvement. Android’s new desktop mode, Duolingo’s AI pivot, Windows 12 rumors, and a pro spectrometer make the tech roundup lively.

This week the team chat about Claude Cowork, the change in leadership within Microsoft's XBOX division, rumours of a touchscreen Mac and Ofcom's fines for adult sites that don't implement age verification.Our Hot Hardware of the Week candidate is a Dell's 52" monster monitor.Jon's ZEISS Lens Wipes can be bought at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZEISS-Binoculars-Individually-Disposable-Spectacle-White/dp/B00IKGH2TI/

The team discusses the growing impact of worldwide shortages of RAM and storage, new security alerts in Windows and a prediction that white-collar jobs could be on the way out. Our Hot Hardware candidate is Starlink Mini, a portable white rectangle that can get you online from anywhere.

The team discusses new research that analyses your personal shopping history for potential health issues; explores Moltbook, the new social media platform that’s strictly for AI agents; and debates the UK’s light touch on app store monopolies. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the RØDECaster Video S, a mini-production studio that lets you mix and stream multiple live video and audio feeds from a portable desktop console.

They debate Microsoft pulling back Copilot integrations and why businesses are wary of built-in AI. New UK rules on automated decision-making and what that means for data and compliance get unpacked. The panel explains why 8K TVs failed to catch on and how energy rules finished them off. Rumors of Google’s Aluminium OS and a Notepad++ backdoor incident round out the tech roundup.

The team discusses a class action lawsuit alleging that Apple Pay has pushed up banking prices for everyone, asks whether Microsoft was right to hand over encryption keys to the authorities, and ponders whether Mozilla’s “rebel alliance” of AI upstarts has a chance of defeating the dark side. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the ElevationLab Five-Year Compact Battery for AirTag, an expanded battery case for your Apple AirTags that lasts… wait, I wrote it down here somewhere…