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Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos 2024 Review: AI Grannies, butter made from air, spying air fryers and much more

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos 2024 Review: AI Grannies, butter made from air, spying air fryers and much more
Steve Caplin looks back over the good, bad, ugly and bonkers of the tech world in 2024. He admired the AI scam-baiting granny, the rocket that eats itself, the underwater kite, butter made from air and the benefits of red wine and dark chocolate. He wasn't keen on Chinese spying air fryers, the flamethrowing robot dog, the airline computer that couldn't cope with a 101-year-old and AI cheating at Diplomacy. And he is still scratching his head at the bike lane sweeper that sits behind the bike and the billionaire who wants to launch a replica Titanic.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published:
Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos: Google's quantum chip, rocking beds, solar paint & a security football

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos: Google's quantum chip, rocking beds, solar paint & a security football
Steve Caplin updates Simon Rose on the latest tech. Sadly, OpenAI video generator Sora won't be available in the UK. However, Google's GenCast could soon be predicting weather more accurately while its quantum chip can do in 5 minutes what the fastest computers would take 10 septillion years, threatening the safety of encryption. The VR DropTower will give gamers an enhanced experience, including turning them upside down. A podcast lists the top 100 tech achievements: can you guess the top 5? A bed rocker imitates the motion of a train. A new security robot resembles a football. There's a thermal imaging camera that will plug into a phone. The Tank Pad adds ruggedness for tablet users in difficult environments. And Mercedes have developed solar paint to add range to your EV.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published:
Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos: Christmas gift guide

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos: Christmas gift guide
Steve Caplin gives Simon Rose a plethora of tech ideas for Christmas gifts, for others and for yourself. He finds some bizarre advent calendars. The top toy for kids appears to be a Fart Blaster. From the Chinese version of Amazon, Alibaba, he recommends heated gloves, a vacuum phone holder, a portable ceiling fan, sewing needles that thread themselves and a car charger with retractable cables. There's also a camera drone, an impressive iPhone case, rechargeable LED work lights, colour changing LED bulbs, magnetic tool holders and an avocado slicer. He was delighted with his game-playing SteamDeck and also recommends Bridge Command, where you can immerse yourself in a Star Trek-style experience.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published:
Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos: Powered legs, octopus-suckered dentures & spaghetti bandages

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos: Powered legs, octopus-suckered dentures & spaghetti bandages
In the world of tech, Steve Caplin looks at powered legs like "the electric bike but for walking". There's a 37mph electric surfboard while scientists have discovered patterns that make sharks less interested in surfers. The mosquito parasite that causes malaia has been genetically modified into a vaccine. The principle of octopus suckers is to be used to help retain dentures. The world's thinnest spaghetti, thinner than hair, can make bandages. High speed internet apparently makes us fat. Pigeon droppings trapped German drivers in an underground car park until 3am. And Korean scientists think ships could dock with suckers instead of rope.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published:
Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos: Stretchable screens, sterile mosquitoes & an AI scam-beating granny

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos: Stretchable screens, sterile mosquitoes & an AI scam-beating granny
Steve Caplin discusses the latest tech with Simon Rose. LG improve their bendable LED screens so they can now stretch too. Scientists improve the chances of sterilising mosquitoes. Glasses for the deaf will project text onto the lenses. AI headphones can make it easier to hear in restaurants. Virgin & O2 have invented an AI granny to waste scam callers' time. Dyson have filed a patent for a robo-dog to vacuum, mow, water plants & mop. There's an eScooter which is solar powered and a hand pump to desalinate water. There's also a spurious tech limerick.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published:
Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos: Replica Batmobiles, robotic art, repairable kettles & barcoding zebras

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos: Replica Batmobiles, robotic art, repairable kettles & barcoding zebras
Warners are making driveable Batmobiles, says Steve Caplin, though they aren't street legal. In California, there's a beautifully-designed solar-powered car. A picture painted by a robot has just sold at auction for over $1m. A Mattel doll from the Wicked movie had an unfortunate mistake on the packaging. A student has invented a repairable kettle. There's a crowdfunded thermal-imaging dashcam available now. A new retro eBike comes with a sidecar. And in Kenya, they're using drones to keep track of zebras, using their stripes as barcodes.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published:
Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos: Detecting spoiled milk, slow mobile internet & an inflatable toilet

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos: Detecting spoiled milk, slow mobile internet & an inflatable toilet
Steve Caplin dives into the world of gadgets. Rolls-Royce have produced a one-off car to celebrate 60 years of Goldfinger. An Australian app can detect if milk is off, while mathematicians there have proved that monkeys couldn't write the works of Shakespeare. The biggest Dutch publisher is using AI to translate books into English. The UK has the 49th worst mobile internet speed, behind Azerbaijan and Kosovo. If you're caught short, there's now an inflatable toilet. And Steve explains why your air fryer might be spying for China.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published:
Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos: Trapping CO2, Michael Parkinson to return & Google fined more than the world's GDP

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos: Trapping CO2, Michael Parkinson to return & Google fined more than the world's GDP
Steve Caplin explains how US scientists have found an impressive way of trapping CO2 while Australian boffins have worked out how to generate electricity from polystyrene. Airbus are to increase internal baggage space on planes by 60%. An AI version of Michael Parkinson will soon be hosting a new chat show. The largest prime number has been discovered. Steve explains how to conquer "Hi Dad" text fraud. There's a clever crowd-funded camera for kids that will project the images. And Russian judges have fined Google $20 decillion, many times the size of the global economy.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published:
Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos: AI generating TV programmes & podcasts and why video games boost your brain

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos: AI generating TV programmes & podcasts and why video games boost your brain
Steve Caplin talks health tech, including vein locators, speedier blood tests and AI spotting fractures doctors might miss. ITV is going to use AI to generate programme ideas: Steve got it to come up with a couple. But AI can also now generate complete podcasts; this example might put Steve and Simon out of a job. There's a colour Kindle and proof that video games are actually good for your brain. Prada are designing the new generation of NASA space suits. There's a foldable keyboard the size of a paperback book and a touch screen display in a suitcase. And Steve explains why Funexpo 2024 might not be as much fun as it sounds.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published:
Simon Rose

Gadgets & Gizmos: Standing desks, digital examinations & a robot orchestra conductor

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

Gadgets and Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos: Standing desks, digital examinations & a robot orchestra conductor
Steve Caplin delves into the world of tech. Tesla's Robotaxi disappointed investors. Standing desks turn out to be no better than being seated. A robotic finger can now be used for digital examinations. The Dresden Sinfoniker has a robot conductor – with three arms – to perform complex music. There's an electric version of the old BMW bubble car. You can buy Vespa scooters with 75mm anti-armour cannons attached. A bell has been designed for runners – at a price. And firemen at the Stadtallendorf fire station may be regretting not installing a fire alarm.
Guest:

Steve Caplin


Published: