The Really Useful Podcast

We start off this week looking at how Big Tech is helping families deal with the unscheduled school holidays happening across the Northern Hemisphere

• Rent movies still playing in theatres
• Use Scribd free for 30 days
• Get Audible Stories for free
• Enjoy Amazon Prime Video free

We've got some personal ideas on how to cope with lockdown as a family and as individuals, too.

• Get your kids fit daily with Joe Wicks, The Body Coach
• Chill out daily with your kids thanks to Cosmic Kids Yoda
• Learn daily with Maddie Moate and Greg Foot
• Astronaut Scott Kelly shares his self-isolation tips
• How Sir Walter Raleigh coped with incarceration in the Tower of London

This week, MakeUseOf is giving away an awesome customizable electronic pixel art backpack

You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners. You'll find us on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Transistor.fm
• Player.FM
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher.com
• YouTube

See you next week for the final show of the current run.

We take a look at some ways big tech has been helping Joe Public cope with COVID-19 coronavirus:

• Use your gaming PC to fight COVID-19
• Disney+ releases Frozen 2 early
• MSI offers warranty extension for coronavirus sufferers

We've also put together some tips and tricks for home working

• Strategies and tools for remote work
• Be more productive when working from home

PLUS: a list of things to do in self-isolation:

• Play Call of Duty: Warzone (battle royale game)
• Play steam games
• Fix old photos with mobile apps
• Save money by cutting the cable
• Do online surveys
• Home schooling
• Use Udemy, Khan Academy, YouTube and other resources to learn new skills
• Do some DIY or redecorate
• Get fit---you can still go outside

In short, there's no reason to be bored! We also take a look at the latest tech giveaways and reviews on MakeUseOf:

• Creative Super X Fi Air Headphones
• MegaModz PS4 Controller

Rating or reviewing us on iTunes will help us reach more listeners. So you don't miss a show, subscribe for notifications:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Transistor.fm
• Player.FM
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher.com
• YouTube

See you next week!

This week's news:

• Google Assistant reads the internet aloud
• Alexa can tell you all about the US Election 2020

We have a single recommendation this time:

• The Heimatdamisch on YouTube

Some tech tips and tricks:

• Get fit with these video games
• Bitcoin email scams
• Affordable Windows 10 upgrade options

We also take a look at the latest giveaways and reviews:

• Creality LD-002R resin printer
• Simbans TangoTab (Android tablet)
• MegaModz PS4 Controller

Leave us a rating or review on iTunes will help us reach more listeners. So you don't miss a show, subscribe for notifications:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Transistor.fm
• Player.FM
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher.com
• YouTube

See you next week!

This week's news highlights:

• Sony 2020 Phone lineup
• Spotify mobile app becomes easier to use
• Find out what's popular on Netflix

Our recommendations:

• Christian: WhatNerd's Tech Geeks Quizzes
• Megan: Every Kid Gets a Robot

These techy tips and tricks might change your life:

• The best two-player mobile games
• Should you switch to Facebook Like?
• Ways to reuse that old internet router 
• What you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S20 phones 

We also take a look at these awesome giveaways and reviews:

• Creality resin printer
• TangoTab budget Android tablet

In this week's show:

• The Moft-Z "Invisible" Laptop Stand and Standing Desk
• Redbox Free Live TV

Our recommendations:

• Christian: Theo Cooks
• Ben: DekuDeals

These tips and tricks should help you improve your tech life:

• Optimize your Wi-Fi reception at home
• Ways to legally download movies and watch them offline
• Windows 7 hits End of Life - what next?!

And there's a look at these awesome giveaways and reviews:

• VAV 4K UHD Dashcam
• XP Pen Note Plus

• Blocks Decoded
• Coinbase

Help us help more people by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. In just a few seconds you can help us find a bigger audience and with a higher rating we can help more listeners. We'll also read out some of the reviews you leave.

Don't miss the Really Useful Podcast---subscribe for automatic downloads and notifications:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Transistor.fm
• Player.FM
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher.com
• YouTube

See you next week!

This week, Christian Cawley and Megan Ellis bring you news of:

• Steam Link for iOS
• YouTube Originals Unlocked
• Messenger Kids Parental Control

They also have a pair of excellent recommendations for you to follow:

• Peter McKinnon's YouTube Channel
• Glad You Asked on YouTube

You should also check out this week's tips and tricks to make your tech work better for you:

• Improve Your Mobile Data Speed
• What's the Difference Between a Modem and a Router?
• Choosing a Chromebook vs Tablets

Meanwhile, these MakeUseOf giveaways are still running:

• Insta360 One R action cam
• Doogee S95 Pro modular phone

Help us help more people by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes a minute and with a bigger audience and higher rating we can expand our reach and scope. And so you don't miss a show, remember to subscribe for notifications:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Transistor.fm
• Player.FM
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher.com
• YouTube

See you next week!

Christian Cawley and Gavin Phillips have a packed show for you this week, looking at:

• How to watch YouTube TV on PS4
• Try on makeup with Pinterest
• Clear your off-Facebook activity
• How to remove a broken headphone jack from your phone
• Fix image burn-in on your LCD or plasma TV
• Video game-themed Valentine's Day gifts

We've also got some recommendations for you to check out:

• Paul Davids guitar tutorials and reviews on YouTube
• Tifo Football informative analysis

We also take a look at two current giveaways on MakeUseOf that you can enter now:

• Insta360 One R action cam
• Doogee S95 Pro modular phone

Your rating or brief review on iTunes can help us reach more listeners and if you find something useful in the show, share the Really Useful Podcast with your friends on social media. 

So you don't miss a show, subscribe for notifications: 

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Transistor.fm
• Player.FM
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher.com
• YouTube

See you next week!

James Frew and Christian Cawley bring you a wealth of Black Friday topics and tricks this week:

• Find the best Black Friday deals with these curated links
• Make sure your Black Friday deal is a massive bargain
• Watch out for these Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams
• Our pick of the best Black Friday deals
• Great VPN deals this Black Friday

Your rating or brief review on iTunes can help us reach more listeners. Or share the Really Useful Podcast via email and social media. We're available wherever you can listen to podcasts, including:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Transistor.fm
• Player.FM
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher.com
• YouTube

Happy holidays---we'll be back in 2019!

This week's Really Useful Podcast features Christian Cawley and Megan Ellis discussing:

• Google helps you pronounces foreign words
• Google Maps translates place names
• Apple Music compiles your favorite songs
• Spotify creates a soundtrack for your journey
• Twitter lets you follow topics
• Recommendations:
  • Christian: Colin Furze on YouTube
  • Megan: SciShow on YouTube
• Run Android apps on Windows
• Find the most affordable rent with Rentometer
• The best way to scan old photos
• Print your own board games

Your rating or brief review on iTunes can help us reach more listeners. Or share the Really Useful Podcast via email and social media. We're available wherever you can listen to podcasts, including:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Transistor.fm
• Player.FM
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher.com
• YouTube

Don't miss next week's Black Friday special!