Tech's Message

This week Nate and Ian discuss the dual-layered delight that is DVD -- it's history, and our memories of using it.SOURCES:The death of the DVD: Why sales dropped more than 86% in 13 yearshttps://web.archive.org/web/20200329212906/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/08/the-death-of-the-dvd-why-sales-dropped-more-than-86percent-in-13-years.htmlPlayStation 2 Wikihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2Bouncing DVD logohttps://www.bouncingdvdlogo.comDVD Frequently Asked Questionshttps://web.archive.org/web/19970329103433/http://www.videodiscovery.com/vdyweb/dvd/dvdfaq.htmlDVD industry in crisis as sales slumphttps://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/nov/29/dvd-industry-sales-slump-blu-rayHMV boss says more people buying DVDs and Blu-rayhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c99wngrw4nxoDVD and Blu-ray sales statisticshttps://www.avforums.com/threads/dvd-and-blu-ray-sales-statistics.2004986/British Video Association press release archivehttps://web.archive.org/web/20100623045015/http://www.bva.org.uk/news-press-releases/2009-news-release-sales-robust-transitional-year-british-video-industryDVD Commercial from 2000https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xn8m9KLYQgYahoo DVD Player reviewhttps://www.cnet.com/reviews/yahoo-ydp-530-review/ Become a supporter to unlock bonus content and listen live — join our Patreon.Full show notes, subscription options and more available at https://www.uktechshow.com.TECH’S MESSAGE IS:Hosts: Nate Lanxon, Ian MorrisProduction and Editing: Nate LanxonMusic: Audio Network & Pond5Copyright © Nate LanxonAds (on free version) are not endorsements, nor controlled by Tech’s Message. Read Nate’s ad policy.

Nate and Ian discuss the modern anxiety of calls from unknown numbers, repeated missed calls, and general caller ID-related terror. You might think this is a Halloween episode, such is the horror of the content.SOURCES AND LINKS:Mobile company customer forumshttps://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Tech-Support/People-I-have-never-contacted-returning-my-calls/td-p/1626378https://community.three.co.uk/t5/Account-and-services/Scammer-using-my-number/m-p/32346https://community.bt.com/t5/Home-phone-including-Digital/Receiving-calls-from-people-saying-I-called-them-but-I-haven-t/td-p/2173030Mumsnethttps://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4972436-to-have-anxiety-from-this-missed-callCaller anxietyhttps://www.reddit.com/r/Anxiety/comments/17fis4j/just_completing_ignored_an_important_phone_call/Apple will launch a Business Caller ID service next yearhttps://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-will-launch-a-business-caller-id-service-next-year-223913262.htmlBecome a supporter to unlock bonus content and listen live — join our Patreon.Full show notes, subscription options and more available at https://www.uktechshow.com.TECH’S MESSAGE IS:Hosts: Nate Lanxon, Ian MorrisProduction and Editing: Nate LanxonMusic: Audio Network & Pond5Certain Artwork Elements Designed By: macrovector / FreepikPublisher (Free Version): AcastCopyright © Nate LanxonAds (on free version) are not endorsements, nor controlled by Tech’s Message. Read Nate’s ad policy.

This week Nate's joined by Andrew Lanxon from CNET to discuss a rich history of games console controllers, from the bizarre to the innovative.SOURCES AND LINKS:PlayStation Multitaphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_MultitapMusic 2000https://www.mobygames.com/game/4945/mtv-music-generator/https://psxdatacenter.com/games/P/M/SLES-02224.htmlDreamCast VMUhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMU Sony PocketStationhttps://playstation.fandom.com/wiki/PocketStationManhunt 2https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2007/10/halloween-review-manhunt-2-wii/ Fishing controller (and there are others)https://segaretro.org/Fishing_Controllerhttps://www.videogamesage.com/forums/topic/8783-n64-fishing-rod-controller-info/#comment-222306Godzilla Generations screenshothttps://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/373544883983482884/1294970656412274750/godzilla-dreamcast-1160x653.png?ex=670cf2e7&is=670ba167&hm=137a8d005ef963c21f7e691de7d0d5099a9a5079e3c8a8ba2a77427fd82353a7& Become a supporter to unlock bonus content and listen live — join our Patreon.Full show notes, subscription options and more available at https://www.uktechshow.com.TECH’S MESSAGE IS:Hosts: Nate Lanxon, Ian MorrisProduction and Editing: Nate LanxonMusic: Audio Network & Pond5Publisher (Free Version): AcastCopyright © Nate LanxonAds (on free version) are not endorsements, nor controlled by Tech’s Message. Read Nate’s ad policy.

This week, the boys discuss and reminisce about Bluetooth, specifically its history and evolution as a conduit for wireless audio.SOURCES AND LINKS:Know A Little More Bluetooth episodehttps://shows.acast.com/know-a-little-more/episodes/about-bluetooth-5-updatedDeep guide to Bluetooth codecs and qualitieshttps://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2023/03/bluetooth-sound-quality-guide-what-are-the-codecs-and-how-do-they-work.htmlWeirdest Bluetooth gadgetshttps://www.tomsguide.com/us/weirdest-bluetooth-gadgets-stuff-roundup,review-2369.htmlMore weird gadgetshttps://www.androidcentral.com/weird-bluetooth-gadgetsAnd yet more still!https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/2a2rv4/what_are_some_unique_bluetooth_accessories/Brittanica guide to Bluetoothhttps://www.britannica.com/technology/BluetoothManual for the early Nokia headsethttps://www.manualslib.com/manual/1562633/Nokia-Hs-12w.html?page=6#manualHistory of Nokia Bluetoothhttps://blogs.windows.com/devices/2012/02/03/all-ears-a-pictorial-history-of-bluetooth-headsets-part-1/B&W article about Bluetooth audiohttps://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-us/blog/sound-lab/is-bluetooth-audio-worse.htmlAirPods Maxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirPods_Max#OverviewSonos headphoneshttps://www.sonos.com/en-gb/shop/sonos-aceBecome a supporter to unlock bonus content and listen live — join our Patreon.TECH’S MESSAGE IS:Hosts: Nate Lanxon, Ian MorrisProduction and Editing: Nate LanxonMusic: Audio Network & Pond5Certain Artwork Elements Designed By: macrovector / FreepikPublisher (Free Version): AcastCopyright © Nate LanxonAds (on free version) are not endorsements, nor controlled by Tech’s Message. Read Nate’s ad policy.

This week we discuss the history of online dating, from the 1990s web services, through the UK's Teletext and into the modern era of apps. Nate discusses how he met his wife through an app, and Ian complains about how he hasn't yet. And then comes the future: what do we expect is next for dating apps and related technologies?LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE:Teletexthttps://www.blunham.com/Radar/Teletext/WebAlbums/P182S01=Dial_a_Date.htmlSex.com in WIREDhttps://www.wired.com/2003/08/sex-com/Match.com in WIRED 1995https://www.wired.com/1995/09/love-and-money/Hater Daterhttps://web.archive.org/web/20200208062220/https://www.haterdater.com/Gluten-Free Singleshttps://web.archive.org/web/20131106133442/http://www.glutenfreesingles.com/Bristlrhttps://www.bristlr.comFarmers Onlyhttps://www.farmersonly.com/Dating studyhttps://9to5mac.com/2024/09/16/dating-apps-havent-helped-us-find-better-partners-suggests-research/ Iceland apphttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/some-icelanders-are-accidentally-dating-a-relative-and-now-theres-an-app-for-that-25175819/ Become a supporter to unlock bonus content and listen live — join our Patreon.Hosts: Nate Lanxon, Ian MorrisProduction and Editing: Nate LanxonAds (on free version) are not endorsements, nor controlled by Tech’s Message.

This week we are talking over our past, present and future relationships with the hard disk. Andrew Lanxon from CNET joins for this one and in the extended version he brings you what he learned during a reporting trip to a tiny Scottish island that enjoys energy independence.Here are some links to various things we discussed in the show:Andy’s Eigg feature in CNET (check the embedded video) https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/this-stunning-remote-island-took-control-of-its-energy-destiny-i-got-a-first-hand-look/Acorn magazine https://archive.org/details/AcornUser105-Apr91/page/n94/mode/1upIBM hard disk history https://www.ibm.com/history/ramacDeath if the disk https://www.pcgamer.com/hard-drives-predicted-to-be-history-after-2028/ Seagate hikes drive prices https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/23/seagate_hdd_prices/Seagate 32TB drive https://www.seagate.com/gb/en/products/enterprise-drives/exos-x/x-mozaic/2007 in tech https://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/2007/ Eigg history https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/EiggTECH’S MESSAGE IS:Hosts: Nate Lanxon, Ian MorrisProduction and Editing: Nate LanxonMusic: Audio Network & Pond5Certain Artwork Elements Designed By: macrovector / FreepikPublisher (Free Version): AcastCopyright © Nate Lanxon

Welcome back to Tech's Message! This week, in our inaugural episode of the new Tech's Message era, we're discussing the history of webcams. For Patrons, we also discuss Apple's recent announcements and Ian's decision to invest some serious cash in one of the products.Here are some links to various things we discussed in the show:Webcams look like balls: https://www.reddit.com/r/vintagecomputing/comments/18lzalf/not_sure_if_1999_counts_as_vintage_already/ Intel Easy PC Web Cam:  https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/mf0zea/first_webcam_i_purchased_early_2000sWebcam reviews and prices from CNET circa 2000: https://web.archive.org/web/20000411021102/http://cnet.com/hardware/search/results/0,10238,0-1085-402-0-1,00.html?tag=st.co.1078.dir.1085-402-0Wirecutter guide to modern webcams: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-webcams/Computer Chronicles webcam episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4mxg4pBgIwThe greatest defunct Web sites and dotcom disasters: https://web.archive.org/web/20080607211819/http://crave.cnet.co.uk/0%2C39029477%2C49296926-2%2C00.htmApple VideoPhone: https://www.reddit.com/r/VintageApple/comments/1due7sk/apple_videophone_video_conferencing_1996_style/#lightboxThe complete, ad-free episode is available via Patreon subscription and includes our weekly news discussion, extended segments, outtakes and more. Become a supporter to unlock bonus content and listen live — join our Patreon.Full show notes, subscription options and more available at https://www.uktechshow.com.TECH’S MESSAGE IS:Hosts: Nate Lanxon, Ian MorrisProduction and Editing: Nate LanxonMusic: Audio Network & Pond5Certain Artwork Elements Designed By: macrovector / FreepikPublisher (Free Version): AcastCopyright © Nate LanxonAds (on free version) are not endorsements, nor controlled by Tech’s Message. Read Nate’s ad policy.

Ian and I took nine months off from podcasting, but rest quite assured: it wasn't in order for him to gestate and pass our baby. In this bonus episode, I'll explain the actual reason for our absence and our plan for a new era of Tech's Message, which begins on this very day -- look out for episode 323 in your feed shortly!We're really grateful to everyone who's kept our feed in their podcatchers and stuck with their Patreon membership until we were ready to return. We've got some cool plans for the show and we'll welcome your feedback.Onwards!Nate & Ian