TalkCentral

TalkCentral episodes:

• 04.19.2020

  TalkCentral: Ep 273 - 'What would Picard do?'

  Against all expectations, your hosts Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg are back for another lockdown episode of TalkCentral. On the podcast this week: why e-commerce companies should be allowed to trade on an unfettered basis; why the hard lockdown...

  
• 04.09.2020

  TalkCentral: Ep 272 - 'The final episode?'

  TalkCentral is back for what may be the final episode of the long-running podcast. Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg catch up on the latest technology news, including the suspension of communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams as well as the national...

  
• 09.15.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 271 - 'Pro to the power of Max'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack Apple's big keynote, looking at everything from the new iPhones to the surprise price of the company's new Netflix competitor. Also this week, a preview of Blue Label...

  
• 09.01.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 270 - 'Fourways in, no ways out'

  General chaos ensues on the podcast this week as Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg are joined by Louis Du Pisani, the CEO of the company behind the South African videogame Boet Fighter. Du Pisani talks about what's involved in...

  
• 08.18.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 269 - 'Attack of the tardigrades'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the week's big technology news, including fresh details on Huawei's HarmonyOS and how criminals are destroying South Africa's mobile infrastructure. Also this week, Samsung's Galaxy Note10, Vodacom...

  
• 08.04.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 268 - 'Putsonderfibre'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about Telkom's plan to kill off copper - and that means DSL. Is this a good thing or not, and what does it mean for those who...

  
• 07.28.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 267 - 'Only a decade late'

  On TalkCentral this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg talk about government's spectrum policy direction to communications regulator Icasa. Also this week, a new Windows 10 start menu may be coming, Apple's acquisition of Intel's cellular modem business and...

  
• 07.07.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 265 - 'Sorry, Bill, it's all Linux now'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the woes at Econet Media and what they might mean for the launch of Kwese Free TV in South Africa. Also on the show this week, Bill...

  
• 06.23.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 264 - 'Jobs axe swings at MultiChoice'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the looming layoffs at MultiChoice and what precipitated the move. Also this week, Naspers names its new European-listed Internet giant Prosus, bitcoin goes ballistic and - not...

  
• 06.16.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 263 - 'Attack of the abbreviations'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg discuss the new department of communications & digital technologies - is it more of the same, or will it be the "department of action"? Also this week, Huawei's foldable...

  
• 06.09.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 262 - 'Return of the cheese grater'

  In this episode of the podcast, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the big announcements from Apple's developer conference, including the new Mac Pro, dark mode in iOS and the great features in the new iPadOS. Also in...

  
• 05.26.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 261 - 'Techpocalypse'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack the developments around Huawei and what they might mean for the future of the company and smartphones as we know them. Also on the show, Facebook's plan to...

  
• 05.19.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 260 - 'Angry (about) Wasps'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg discuss MTN's decision to back down, under consumer pressure, over its plan to introduce an opt-out-only out-of-bundle service. Also this week, Donald Trump's war on Huawei; Naspers told it...

  
• 05.12.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 259 - 'It's bitcoin, beaches!'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the astonishing comeback of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. What's driving it? And what happens next? Also on the show this week, Duncan talks about telecommunications in Mauritius;...

  
• 05.05.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 258 - 'Takealot gets physical'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg discuss Takealot's decision to open a flagship customer collections centre in Midrand and two dozen other pick-up points around the country. What does it say about the future of...

  
• 04.22.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 257 - 'Breaking the Fold'

  In this episode of the podcast, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg take to YouTube for their first-ever live video discussion to talk about Samsung's breaking Galaxy Fold smartphone. What do Samsung's problems mean for the future of foldable phones...

  
• 04.07.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 256 - 'Bitcoin's back, baby'

  On the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the sudden surge in the value of bitcoin. Also this week, Huawei launched the P30 series in South Africa; Apple's iPad turns nine; and the meaning behind...

  
• 03.31.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 255 - 'Services, services, services'

  On the TalkCentral podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack Apple's big services event and wonder if the company has done enough to be a meaningful competitor to Netflix. Also on the show, they look at why...

  
• 03.24.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 254 - 'Ad-free YouTube'

  On TalkCentral this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack the South African launch of YouTube Premium and YouTube Music. What does it mean for Spotify? Are users prepared to pay for an ad-free YouTube experience? Will it grow...

  
• 03.03.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 253 - 'Ripley, believe it or not'

  In this episode of the podcast, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about some of the consumer electronics highlights from MWC 2019, including Huawei's foldable phone and Energizer's insane battery phone. Also on the show this week, Vodacom fumbles...

  
• 02.24.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 252 - 'EO-Eish!'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack what has been a dramatic two weeks for JSE-listed technology services group EOH. Also on the show this week, Samsung's Galaxy S10 series of smartphones; Mobile World Congress...

  
• 02.10.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 251 - 'How Stella lost her groove'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg discuss Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams' altercation with an SABC news crew at the weekend, and her subsequent apology. Also on the show this week, Microsoft really wants you to stop using...

  
• 02.03.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 250 - 'Please (don't) call me'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack the soap opera that is the fight between Vodacom and its former employee, Nkosana Makate, over the "please call me" service. What's the background to the dispute? Why...

  
• 01.27.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 249 - 'WhatsApp, Facebook?'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg discuss why Facebook is planning to make WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram interoperable and the implications of the move - could it make the social network too dominant in...

  
• 01.21.2019

  TalkCentral: Ep 248 - 'Whipping the llama'

  On the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg mourn the (not unexpected) passing of Windows Mobile and delve into what we know so far about the upcoming Android Q. Also in the show, minister promises no job...

  
• 12.19.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 245 - 'The Best of Everything, 2018'

  In this bumper year-end edition of the podcast, Nafisa Akabor joins Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg for a review of the year that was. We pick our best smartphones, gadgets, apps, television series and videogames of 2018. We also...

  
• 12.12.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 244 - 'Bad polony'

  On the TalkCentral podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the rumours about a possible Telkom and Cell C merger. Also this week, Google's top trending search results in South Africa in 2018, the arrest of...

  
• 12.02.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 243 - 'Time to go off-grid?'

  In the TalkCentral podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg, both load shedded, chat about the feasibility of disconnecting oneself from the Eskom grid. What's a good place to start, what would it take and would it be...

  
• 11.25.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 242 - 'Stella's turn at the top'

  In the TalkCentral podcast this week, hosts Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg talk about President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to reintegrate the departments of communications and telecommunications & postal services and his decision to name Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams to lead...

  
• 11.20.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 241 - 'Roamin' in the gloamin''

  After a short break, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg are back with a new episode of TalkCentral. In the podcast this week, the operators are all a'roamin'. Also this week, bitcoin falls out of bed, and then falls down the...

  
• 11.05.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 240 - 'Is Apple pricing itself out of the market?'

  On TalkCentral this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about Apple's new iPad Pro models, the new MacBook Air and the new Mac mini. The conversation turns to Apple's pricing strategy, and they ask: is Apple at risk...

  
• 10.21.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 239 - 'Cell C rains on Vodacom's parade'

  In the TalkCentral podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about Cell C's comments at a Competition Commission inquiry into the data services market about Vodacom's roaming relationship with Rain, and why Cell C believes the...

  
• 10.14.2018

  TalkCentral: 'Ten trillion photos a second'

  In the latest episode of TalkCentral, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the seemingly better news on ICT emerging from government. Telecommunications & postal services minister Siyabonga Cwele has promised to speed up the licensing of radio frequency...

  
• 10.05.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 237 - 'Live from Rage 2018'

  This week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg bring you the TalkCentral podcast from the Rage expo in Johannesburg. On the show this week, they look at everything that's happening at this year's rage, from cosplay to the latest games...

  
• 09.30.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 236 - 'Elon Stark'

  We have a great show this week. On TalkCentral, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about spectrum licensing getting into high gear and Facebook's major security breach. Also this week, Africa has a new undersea cable and Microsoft is...

  
• 09.23.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 235 - 'MultiChoice 2.0'

  On TalkCentral this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpacks Naspers's decision to unbundle MultiChoice to shareholders and list it on the JSE. What does this mean for the future of the pay-television operator? Also this week, could Telkom...

  
• 09.16.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 234 - 'iPhone Excess Max'

  In the TalkCentral podcast this week, your hosts Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack the big Apple keynote, when the world's most valuable company revealed the new iPhones and a new Watch. Their verdict? The new iPhones aren't terribly...

  
• 09.02.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 233 - 'Gather round'

  On the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about former communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda’s startling claims about why he was fired by Jacob Zuma. Also this week, a discussion about the problems at underserviced agency Usaasa,...

  
• 08.26.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 232 - 'Blustery'

  On the TalkCentral podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg talk about Nvidia's new ray-tracing GPUs. Also on the show, Telkom is very upset with the communications regulator, Icasa, over proposed new call termination rates; Nikon has debuted...

  
• 08.19.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 231 - 'Give us gigarays!'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg preview Nvidia's big graphics card announcement happening on Monday. The company is expected to announce a series of new graphics cards, including the high-end ray-tracing GeForce RTX 2080ti....

  
• 08.12.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 230 - 'Take Note'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the launch of Samsung's new flagship "phablet", the Galaxy Note9. Also on the show this week, MTN and Vodacom are squabbling at the Advertising Standards Authority again,...

  
• 08.05.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 229 - 'Slapped with a smelly trout'

  In this episode of TalkCentral, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the week's biggest tech news. In the show this week, Apple is now a trillion-dollar company and Huawei is the world's second largest smartphone maker. Also this week,...

  
• 07.29.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 228 - 'Lego, cameras and foldable phones'

  In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about rumours of a new foldable Samsung flagship smartphone and the growing importance of WhatsApp as a communications platform in South Africa. Also in the show, they chat...

  
• 07.22.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 227 - 'Attack of the EU Vogons'

  In this episode of TalkCentral, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack the European Union's record €4.3-billion fine against Google over Android - is it justified, or is the EU simply interfering in a market that doesn't need regulating? Also...

  
• 07.15.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 226 - 'Where to next for DStv?'

  In the TalkCentral podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg ask whether South Africa's digital migration project is finally getting kicked into high gear. Also in the show this week, a wide-ranging discussion on the future of DStv...

  
• 07.08.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 225 - 'Home automation special'

  On TalkCentral this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg are joined by special guest - and veteran podcaster - Glen Verran for a wide-ranging discussion on home entertainment and home automation. In the podcast, Glen talks about why he...

  
• 07.01.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 224 - 'More bandwidth!'

  On TalkCentral this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the week's big technology news - with a South African flavour. On the menu, a new submarine cable system - the first to cross the southern Atlantic Ocean...

  
• 06.24.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 223 - 'On the future of television'

  On TalkCentral this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg are joined by special guest Aki Anastasiou to talk about the week's big technology news, and plenty more besides. On the podcast, the trio have an in-depth discussion on the...

  
• 06.17.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 222 - 'Special guest Lars Reichelt'

  On TalkCentral this week, your regular show hosts Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg are joined by former Cell C CEO Lars Reichelt all the way from Switzerland to talk about the week's big technology news. In the podcast, Lars...

  
• 06.10.2018

  TalkCentral: Ep 221 - 'Unravelled'

  On TalkCentral this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg discuss the big Vumatel sale to Remgro's Community Investment Ventures Holdings. Also in the show, telecommunications operators, led by Cell C, take communications regulator Icasa to court over the new...