Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Trish Adudu on her drivetime show on BBC Radio CWR about Jailbroken Streaming Devices. In the golden era of television, our choices were simple, defined by the limited channels available through traditional broadcast. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has dramatically shifted. The digital revolution …

In this latest episode of The Gadget Man, Matt unravels the long-standing myth about using rice to dry out wet mobile phones. Despite its popularity, this method is debunked as ineffective and potentially harmful. The Gadget Man – Episode 178: Rice, Phones, and Chili Con Carne: Debunking Tech Myths with Malcolm Boyden Apple itself has issued guidan…

Note: Listening to the attached Podcast is a must for this article. *UPDATE* Correct link updated! Hello, fellow gadget lovers and tech enthusiasts! It’s me again, your friendly neighbourhood Gadget Man, diving into another thrilling tech adventure. Today, I’m stepping into the futuristic realm of text-to-speech technology. But hold onto your hats,…

I was delighted to talk to Vic Minett on BBC Radio CWR this morning about app trends in 2023. Building on that exciting conversation, welcome to our tech blog, where we delve into the dynamic world of mobile apps in the UK. Today, we explore the prevailing trends of 2023, spotlighting the most popular apps and an exciting service from Starling Bank…

This morning, I had an enlightening discussion with Tammy Gooding on BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester regarding the ongoing broadband infrastructure enhancements, particularly in light of the Copper Switch-off as announced by Openreach. This move is all about transitioning from the traditional copper wire systems to a more robust and faster digital…

In the rapidly evolving world of technology, it’s easy to forget the gadgets and gizmos that once dominated our lives. Today, we’ll take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the tech tools that have faded into the annals of history. Floppy Disks and CD-ROMs: Once, the clunky floppy disks and shimmering CD-ROMs were our only recourse…

I’m back again for a new episode of the podcast which features me chatting to Lesley Dolphin at BBC Radio Suffolk about Apples plans to allow their devices to be repaired. Pretty much everyone is in shock at this decision, which isn’t quite as welcome as it could be. Listen in to the stream to find out more! The post Gadget Man – Episode 173 – Repa…

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of talking to Tim Shepherd, Senior Director of Bullitt Group. Bullitt is the sole manufacturer and license holder of CAT Smartphones and Feature-phones. You can also read the announcement of the CAT S42 Smartphone The S42 can be cleaned with soap and water During the interview, Tim talks in-depth about the ‘Anti-Microb…

It’s a day of celebration for gaming fans as Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) launches its next-generation console, PlayStation®5 (PS5™), in the UK. Today, I spoke to James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk about the new console, listen in to the attached audio to hear more, otherwise, read on! “Today marks a historic moment for the PlayStation brand…

Welcome to Gadget Man Episode 170, here I talk to James Hazell at BBC Radio Suffolk about the CAT S62 Pro mobile phone with FLIR thermal imaging camera, the Humax Aura Android TV 4K Freeview Play Recorder, and the issues that some owners of Ring doorbells have been experiencing due to incorrect installation. Cat S62 Pro FLIR Lepton Thermal Imaging …

In this episode, I chat to James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk about the ban on locking mobile phone handsets in the UK. Mobile phone companies will be banned from selling ‘locked’ handsets, under a range of new rules from Ofcom that will make switching even simpler. Some companies – including BT/EE, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone – still sell mobile phon…

This is the slightly delayed episode from 15th October 2020. Packed with lots of news and comment. Here I discuss the Snakebyte E-Sports Starter Kit Package , Covid Track and Trace, the Ordo Sonic+ Toothbrush and the iPhone 12 (in four different sizes!). You can listen in to the recording above or subscribe using your favourite podcast player. Don’…

Having spent the summer starting new businesses, building websites and gadgets, as well as building global distribution networks and running the home for a short while, I return with my latest review and podcast episode. This week I am talking to James Hazell at BBC Radio Suffolk about the NHS England Track and Trace App (part ii) and most exciting…

Following up on my previous blog post avoiding phishing emails, I present the audio version, but is it really me at all? Tune in and listen, and do let me know what you think? See you next time! Stay Safe, Matt The post Gadget Man – Episode 166 – Is that really you? Three ways to avoid phishing email, the audio version appeared first on Matt Porter…

Today, I spoke to Rob Dunger on Radio Felixstowe about getting going with video calls using Zoom, Houseparty, Skype, Messenger or Google Meet! You can listen to the segment via the attached file or read the Is was great to catch up with Rob after so long! Matt Porter: [00:00:00] Well, we, we start with, I think familiar, tools that we might already…

Yesterday myself and industry expert, Dario Talmesio, Principal Analyst & Practice Leader at Omdia spoke to James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk about the COVID-19 / 5G Conspiracy Theory. You can listen to the stream above or read on to find out more. 5G has been under attack by conspiracy theorists for as long as it has existed. Every conceivable dis…

The Coronavirus / Covid-19 crisis continues to affect the entire world. With the newly introduced restrictions of movement of people in the UK, today I spoke to James Hazell at BBC Radio Suffolk about how such a large increase in people at home can affect our Broadband Speeds and what we can do to get the best out of our connections. In the second …

Such are the strange times we live in, many of us now face working from home for the first time along with caring for our children. I have worked from home extensively over the past 20 years and I thought I would try and share some tips on how I have been able to work effectively in a home environment. This morning I spoke to James Hazell at BBC Ra…

In this week’s Gadget Man, I talk to James Hazell about phantom phone calls when phones are set to silent, Zombie Bot Networks, Dyson Hair Straighteners and VAT is finally removed from eBooks! You can listen to the stream (above) or play the video (below) James Hazell: [00:00:00] It’s time. We looked at technology, several things to discuss, not le…

This week’s Podcast / Vlog-cast comes from the second floor of Gadget Towers! In this episode, I talk to James Hazell at BBC Radio Suffolk about Apple’s class action settlement regarding the perceived slowing down of older iPhone models. Running a website with an SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt? Check that you don’t need to request a new one as …

This morning was the final of my Mix Tape tracks played by James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk. I’ve attached the YouTube playlist yet again below which will play the interview followed by the track. Two Tribes, by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, is a truly incredible track which absolutely blew the music scene away back in 1984 and launched the band into…

“I think that there are great ideas which sometimes are rolled out by the wrong people.” This morning was the third of my Mix Tape tracks played by James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk. I’ve attached the YouTube playlist again below which will play the interview followed by the track. This is a track which I find I go to when I need to wind down and r…

This morning was the second of my Mix Tape tracks played by James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk. I’ve attached the YouTube playlist again below which will play the interview followed by the track. This is probably one of my favourite pieces of music ever, I don’t know quite where I first heard it, but it is a very, very, very popular dance track. I w…

Motor manufacturer, Kia, have today released a report detailing two pieces of customer research in November 2019 and January 2020, speaking to 3000 UK residents between 16 and 60 about their views on moving to Electric from Petrol or Diesel cars. The research revealed that almost half of those interviewed admitted to over-exaggerating their green c…

This morning was the first of my Mix Tape tracks played by James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk. I’ve attached the YouTube playlist below which will play the interview followed by the track. The transcript of the interview follows below. Gadget Man Mix Tape – Part 1 James Hazell: The mixed tape all this week features the gadget man himself, Matt Porte…

More and more businesses are being targeted by criminals who are hijacking there websites and online accounts in order to blackmail them. Here I am talking to Georgie Jameson on BBC Radio Suffolk about what small businesses can do to protect themselves from these kinds of attacks. The post Gadget Man – Episode 154 – Protecting Small Businesses from…

This morning I spoke to James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk about the benefits of Dash Cams in cars. During the interview, we discussed both the negatives and positives of these devices and how they can be used as an Independent Witness of an accident or other car-related crime. I’ve been reviewing the Nextbase 422GW Dash Cam over the past two weeks,…

This week I travelled to London to take part in the Hyundai Drive Different Test. In my previous post, I provided details on the thinking behind this initiative. Today, I spoke to James Hazell on BBC Radio Suffolk about my experience and what I think made driving each car different. Listen to the stream above and view the cockpit videos below to se…

I was hugely excited to be invited to London yesterday to take part in the Hyundai Drive Different Test. During the day, I had the opportunity to drive both a Petrol and Electric powered Hyundai Kona around the streets of Finsbury Park and Highgate. You can watch the video below or listen in to the podcast episode! During the test, my eyes and head…

Apparently using your Laptop in a Cafe at the weekend is no longer a ‘thing’. According to the Daily Mail, a cafe owner in Belsize Park has placed a ban on the use of laptops during weekend hours because it takes up valuable space during busy periods. The ban has caused a regular customer to accuse the owner of bullying. Francesca Specter said, “th…

Welcome to Episode 149 – It’s all go again with the mobile phone market in the UK, the confusion surrounding Mobile Virtual Network Operators and actual network operators becomes confusing again! Virgin Mobile is currently carried by EE which in turn is owned by arch-rival BT, so now Virgin is moving to Vodafone. It shouldn’t affect your service, b…

Yikes!!! From a few weeks back! Here is Episode 148 where I spoke to James Hazell about Three, Vodafone and Samsung… Oh, I also got cut off from Facetime during the conversation. All the issues are resolved now, but it should make informative listening. From Thur 18th October 2019 Image Credit: By comedy_nose under CC BY License The post The Gadget…

In the final episode of my Retro Gadget of the Week, I bring you the Nintendo Game Boy. This is an exclusive episode which was never broadcast. I’d like to be able to say it was too hot for broadcast, but in reality, it never made it because of time constraints on BBC Radio Suffolk. But here it is in all its glory, exclusively available to your ple…

So what has been happening in the Electric Car market over the past couple of years? Well, since my slew of Electric and Hybrid car reviews a couple of years back and our mega-exciting East-West Road Trip in the Tesla Model S 100D, we’ve been quiet on that front. The absolute opposite of what has been happening in the EV marketplace. I spoke to Gra…

In our penultimate episode of Retro Gadget of the Week, we take a look at one the most revolutionary moments in computer history, where an explosion of homegrown talent changed the very face of the personal computer marketplace and faced up directly the power of Silicon Valley with low-cost home computers designed in the UK Commodore VIC20 Personal…

All intelligent science is informing us that it is now past the time to start thinking about our planet and how we should be treating it before we reach its tipping point, the time when we can no longer begin to undo the damage that the human race has inflicted upon it. Our oceans are strewn with millions of tons of plastic, so it is good to read t…

We’re now on the home straight with the Retro Gadgets Series and what better classic gadget to feature but the legendary Nokia 3310 mobile phone. This is certainly a gadget that needs very little introduction, after being introduced in 2000, the handset went on to sell more than 126,000,000 units. What’s more, the handset continues to be used in ma…

The UK Government’s ‘Department for Health and Social Care’ have today announced a collaboration between themselves and Multi-Billion Dollar tech firm Amazon to provide NHS website information via the popular Alexa platform. Amazon Dot running Alexa can now assist with NHS based medical information With immediate effect, UK owners of the Alexa base…

Before the age of privatisation of utility companies in the United Kingdom, the General Post Office (GPO) of the United Kingdom was responsible solely for the provision of telecommunication services for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The notable exception was Kingston Upon Hull which has been granted the licence to provide it’s own …

We’re now at part six of the Retro Gadget series. This week I spoke to Matt Marvell at BBC Radio Suffolk about the absolutely amazing Breville Sandwich Toaster! Many a Saturday lunchtime in my youth was provided by this gadget. Where I would mostly find my toasted sandwich contained ham, cheese and tomato, I found in later years there was a myriad …

Keeping backup copies of your data has never been so important and only this week it has been revealed that a fire at Universal Music has resulted in the loss of the original master tapes of some of the worlds most famous artists. To compound the issue, the backups were kept in the same vaults and seemingly perished resulting in the total loss of t…

We reach the fifth part of our series on Retro Gadgets and in this one, we focus on the 1st Format Wars where VHS fought Betamax for dominance in the VCR format battle for supremacy. During the ’80s, video entertainment came home with the introduction of the Video Cassette Recorder and with it came competing standards. The Format Wars – Betamax vs …

Apple has now officially announced that they are splitting the iTunes app into THREE different services in the next few months. The 3 apps will focus on Music, TV and Podcasts and will finally separate these services from the iTunes app which was initially written synchronise copy-protected music to and from the first iPods. Apple WWDC19 – Image Cr…

In this episode, I talk to Matt Marvell at BBC Radio Suffolk about the SodaStream. The SodaStream is a fizzy drink machine which uses CO2 gas forced under pressure into an attached bottle of fresh water. After fizzing has taken place, the user adds their choice of flavoured concentrate to the water and thus create their own home-made carbonated dri…

Now we have reached the third part of our Retro Gadget series, we go left-field by selecting something that has been a part of peoples dining rooms for many many years. Hostess Trolley Yes, I’m talking about the Hostess Trolley, a dining gadget that has been keeping our dinner party food warm for many years. Listen in to the podcast by clicking on …

In this podcast episode, I speak to Mark Murphy at BBC Radio Suffolk about reports that Smart Speakers are now taking parents places by reading stories to children. Intelligent Smart Speakers are now taking over parental responsibilities in some cases. BookTrust surveyed 1000 parents and discovered that 25% have used Alexa or Siri to read stories t…

In the second of my 10 Retro Gadgets of the Week, I talk about arguably one of the most important inventions of the 20th century! Don’t forget to listen in to the podcast link above where I talk about the gadget and its functions. Sony Walkman The Sony Walkman was a portable cassette player launched in 1979, it started a revolution in personal audi…

This week begins a 10 week series of Retro Gadgets. Technology which has featured in my life and evokes childhood memories. Listen in on the audio recording above. I have included a surprise at the end which wasn’t recorded at the time. If you grew up in the ’70s or ’80s, you may have experienced some of these gadgets. You might be still using them…

Many of us will remember the halcyon days when upgrading our mobile phone handsets was a six-month event. No so now it would seem, instead, we are waiting much longer and are clearly looking for greater incentives to part with our beloved devices and even more importantly, our money. You can listen into my interview with James Hazell on BBC Radio S…

It was great to be on BBC Radio Suffolk this morning, talking with Wayne Bavin about Gadgets used in the home. Following the first episode of Hard to Please OAP’s on ITV1, I spoke to Wayne about Gadgets which are used regularly and less regularly in our homes. It was fun to chat about Soda-Stream, Amazon Alexa, Sandwich Toasters, Waffle Irons and a…