The Really Useful Podcast

You've heard about the "metaverse" but what is it really? Do you want to don a VR headset to attend meetings and other remote events, or would you prefer a different solution?
In this week's show, we consider how the metaverse might change the world.
To learn more, we're joined by Thomas Lorenz, the CEO and founder of Journee, a metaverse company that has been providing VR and AR solutions to big names in technology for the past few years. Thomas has a slightly different view of the metaverse to that you may have read about, and he's here to outline the possibilities of the technology. He'll also tell us why you may not need a VR helmet in a few years' time.

Shownotes

Some reference notes for this week:

• Journee - The Metaverse Company
• Metaverse vs. Virtual Reality - Key Differences
• Reasons to Worry About the Facebook Metaverse

Christian Cawley and Gavin Phillips host this podcast. You can contact them on Twitter: @thegadgetmonkey and @gavinspavin, with your suggestions for future topics.
Don't forget to subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube (be sure to hit the bell icon to be notified of new episodes) for more tips. 

The term "supply chain" was largely unknown outside of manufacturing, shipping, and haulage until a couple of years ago. Now, we have a seemingly unending "supply chain crisis" which threatens to disrupt everything from Christmas to weddings to online shopping.

In this week's show, Christian Cawley chats with David Savage of Geotab, a fleet telematics company in the UK. He explains the supply chain and how it has come to be in crisis, as well as offer some thoughts as to how long the crisis might last.

Shownotes

• Geotab Fleet Telematics

Christian Cawley and Gavin Phillips host this podcast. You can contact them on Twitter: @thegadgetmonkey and @gavinspavin, with your suggestions for future topics.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube (be sure to hit the bell icon to be notified of new episodes) for more tips. 

Welcome to the 100th edition of the Really Useful Podcast. To celebrate our centenary show, usual hosts Christian Cawley, Ben Stegner, and Gavin Phillips have got together to chat through a few thoughts about their preferred computer systems. Laptop, or desktop PC? Bought, or self-built?

Along the way, they discuss everything from racing games to Raspberry Pi, game controllers to shuttle PCs, and a whole host of other things. They also recall their favorite chats from the past 99 episodes of the Really Useful Podcast, just to crown the occasion.

Shownotes

• WeeCee mini PC for running MS-DOS and Windows 9x software
• Championship Manager
• SteamOS
• Should You Buy a Nintendo Switch?

Christian Cawley, Gavin Phillips, and Ben Stegner host this podcast. You can contact them on Twitter: @thegadgetmonkey, @gavinspavin, and @stegnersaurus, with your suggestions for future topics. 

Look out for our other shows - subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube (be sure to hit the bell icon to be notified of new episodes) for more tips. 

Finally, thanks so much for being with us for the past 100 episodes!

Black Friday 2021 is set to be the longest yet. But with supply chain issues limiting the production of certain hardware, it could also be the most frought. Will you see the bargain land on your doormat before Christmas?

In this Really Useful Podcast we take a look at how you can prepare for the biggest ever Black Friday, help you to grab the deals you want before they sell out, and show you the tools that will help you grab a genuine bargain. 

All the items in this week's Black Friday 2021 special are linked below.

• How to Use Amazon Lists
• Best Black Friday Deals 
• Why You Shouldn't Buy an Amazon Fire for Your Kids
• Make Sure You Get a Bargain on Black Friday
• Find Black Friday Deals
• Really Useful Podcast show page
• Best Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals for Gamers
• Amazon Order Scams
• Things to Buy on Black Friday to Save Money

Christian Cawley and Ben Stegner host this podcast. You can contact them on Twitter as @thegadgetmonkey and @stegnersaurus with your suggestions for future topics.
Look out for our other shows---subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube (be sure to hit the bell icon to be notified of new episodes) for more tips. 

If you've embraced home working, you've probably realised that the kitchen table isn't ideal. You need a dedicated space, which might be a spare room, in the attic, in the basement, or even in your garden.

But when that space is set up, how do you get reliable Wi-Fi - and does your home office even have a power supply?

This week, we take a look at the practicalities of networking a home office and ensuring a reliable power supply.

Shownotes

Useful links for this week's show:

• How to Set up Powerline Adapters
• Powerline Adapters vs. Mesh Wi-Fi
• How Ring Doorbell Works
• Spotcam Video Doorbell

Christian Cawley and Gavin Phillips host this week's show. Contact them on Twitter: @thegadgetmonkey and @gavinspavin.
Look out for our other shows - subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube (be sure to hit the bell icon to be notified of new episodes) for more tips.  

ShownotesKeep hold of these links for Windows 11 coverage on MakeUseOf:

• How to Upgrade to Windows 11 Free
• How to Enable TPM and Secure Boot to Install Windows 11
• Make an Unsupported Computer Compatible With Windows 11
• Why Chinese Users Can't Upgrade to Windows 11
• Get Windows 11 Features on Windows 10
• Which Is Best for You: Windows 11 Home or Pro?
• Windows 7 Gadgets and Widgets on Windows 10

Christian Cawley and Gavin Phillips host this week's show. Contact them on Twitter: @thegadgetmonkey and @gavinspavin.
Look out for our other shows---subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube (be sure to hit the bell icon to be notified of new episodes) for more tips. 

Upgrading to a new iPhone? it can be expensive, not to mention time consuming with so many models to choose from. In this podcast we bring you all the information you need, from recognizing when it's time to upgrade and getting the best deal, to backing up your data and transferring it to a new iPhone.

Shownotes

In this week's show, we discuss:

• Signs It's Time to Upgrade Your iPhone
• The iPhone Upgrade Program
• Should You Buy You iPhone from Your Carrier or Apple?
• Reason to Buy Your iPhone Straight from Apple
• Save Money When Buying an iPhone
• How to Backup iPhone and iPad
• Transfer Data from an Old iPhone
• How to Replace a Broken Phone Display

Christian Cawley and Ben Stegner host this podcast. You can contact them on Twitter as @thegadgetmonkey and @stegnersaurus with your suggestions for future topics. 
Look out for our other shows---subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube (be sure to hit the bell icon to be notified of new episodes) for more tips. 

Going green is tough, especially if you want to save money. In this episode, we look at the challenges and solutions around recharging phones and laptops.

This week, you'll need the following references:

• How to Check Laptop Battery Cycle Count on Windows
• Should You Leave Your Laptop Plugged In?
• Battery Capacity vs. Charging Speed
• Monitor Battery Health on Android
• Doogee S95 Pro Review
• Save Energy at Home

Christian Cawley and Gavin Philips host this week's show. Contact them on Twitter: @thegadgetmonkey and @gavinspavin.
Look out for our other shows---subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on iTunes and YouTube (be sure to hit the bell icon to be notified of new episodes) for more tips. 

We look at a selection of mobile and browser apps that can help you to improve your physical and mental health. This episode features a chat with Dr Angelica Kohlmann of Bloom Diagnostics, who tells us how their mobile app can be used to diagnose illness and find the right treatment.

Shownotes

• Virtual Fitness Challenges
• Apps to Keep Fit at Your Desk
• Find Your Inner Space
• Boost Mental Fitness
• Bloom Diagnostics
  • Bloom mobile app
• Is Telemedicine a Security Risk?
• Medical Technologies and the Future of Healthcare

 Christian Cawley and Gavin Philips host this week's show. Contact them on Twitter: @thegadgetmonkey and @gavinspavin.

Look out for our other shows---subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on iTunes and YouTube (be sure to hit the bell icon to be notified of new episodes) for more tips. 

 In this week's show we discuss:

• Facebook Whistle-blower Goes Public
• Whistle-blower to Tell Senate Facebook Secrets
• Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram Go Offline
  • Conspiracy Theories and Mistruths
• Reasons Online Gamers Should Use a VPN
• Can Games Consoles Use a VPN?

Christian Cawley and Ben Stegner host this podcast. You can contact them on Twitter as @thegadgetmonkey and @stegnersaurus with your suggestions for future topics.

Look out for our other shows---subscribe to the Really Useful Podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube (be sure to hit the bell icon to be notified of new episodes) for more tips