This week the team discuss proposed improvements to Windows Search, Apple goes to war against OpenAI, Meta's AI HR wrangle, social media curfews and a moratorium on data centres in New York.

There is also a lot of talk about Lego.

The link to the Microsoft Blog mentioned in our first story is here.

Our Hot Hardware of the Week nominee is the Pebble Time 2 smartwatch.

The team discusses a hidden ID code in Windows that could be used to track your online activity; updated regulations that make it harder for Brits to object to new data centres; and a fine for Virgin, for making it unreasonably difficult for subscribers to cancel. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Lenovo Yoga Pro 27UD-10 QD-OLED monitor, a 4K OLED display with a clever adjustable webcam.

This week the team discusses Microsoft's stay of execution for Windows 10, a worrying report on social media's safety features and the return of Fable 5. We also chat about Epson's day in court to answer questions relating to planned obsolescence.

Our Hot Hardware candidate is the FixHub Soldering Toolkit from iFixit.

The two links mentioned in the show are:

1. Broken, Buried or Missing
2. Help with HOP's legal fees

 The team discusses reports that AWS and Microsoft Azure may be classed as “gatekeeper” services by the European Commission; we also look at the first court case won by an AI-assisted legal firm, a new social-media addiction lawsuit and Google’s big investment in AI-powered film-making. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Ubiquiti Vape Detection & Air Quality Sensor – it’s more technically interesting than it sounds, we promise.

In a deviation from our usual format, the team sets out to nominate the top 50 apps of all time, with help from our live listeners on Discord. Listen in on the debate, and look out for our rundown of the final 50 in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

In a rare double-header, Barry and Darien discuss the main announcements from Tim Cook’s final WWDC, what’s next for two of the biggest AI platforms and whether the EU was right to make Meta allow third-party chatbots back onto WhatsApp for Business. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Zenco Tiny T1, a matchbox-sized mobile phone that costs just £30.

In a secluded hotel room somewhere in Taipei, Jon and Tim discuss the most interesting and promising products they’ve seen at Computex, plus some of the week’s other major news stories.

This week we discuss memory crisis profiteering, a new piracy clampdown, confusing roaming charges and an expensive accident with a MacBook Pro. The Hot Hardware of the Week is Acer's PD1520U ultra-short-throw projector.

The team discusses the throwing-out of Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, new product announcements at Google I/O 2026 and an investigation of Microsoft’s business software ecosystem by the UK Competition and Markets Authority. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Ultra R9X Pro Gaming PC, an elegant and powerful desktop system that manages to squeeze in 32GB of RAM for less than £4,500.

Comment on the Microsoft investigation at: tinyurl.com/propodcma

The team discusses how demand for new data centres is driving increased electricity bills and water shortages – sort of – and checks out the latest regulations for lithium-ion power banks on planes. We also welcome reports that future Apple computers might have Intel inside once more, and wonder whether Google’s new Googlebook concept could be the future of computing. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Apple AirPods Max 2, a pair of noise-cancelling headphones so quiet and comfy that Jon claims he can fall asleep on a plane wearing them.