The team discusses WeTransfer’s apparent grab for users’ data, a mooted merger of Android and Chrome OS and the industry fallout after a virtual band playing AI-generated music racked up a million streams on Spotify. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Erichsen Hardness Test Pencil Model 318, a mechanical implement designed specifically for scratching the screens on phones, tablets, etc.

The team discusses a new security threat to the Chrome and Edge browsers, some mischievous uses of AI, the latest developments in the Getty Images copyright case and a new tool in Gmail that makes it easy to unsubscribe from – well, some mailing lists. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Uuna Tek iDraw H A1 plotter; if you’d like to see it in action (sounding alarmingly like a dentist’s drill), visit https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lx5o0UO-8MQ

The team discusses Microsoft’s latest attempt to get people to ditch passwords, a new memory technology that dissolves on contact with water and an interesting proposal to make AI web crawlers pay for the content they scrape. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Sony SRS-XB100, a compact Bluetooth speaker with a low price and a big sound.

The team discusses a new extended lifeline for Windows 10, a controversial court ruling concerning an AI firm’s use of copyright material and a novel scam that inserts malicious content directly into legitimate websites. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the TP-Link Archer BE550, a high-spec Wi-Fi 7 router at a reasonable price.

The team laments the tale of a malfunctioning smart mattress that condemned its owner to a night of shivering misery. We also discuss Donald Trump’s surprise move into personal telephony, the latest update to the Apple Vision Pro and concerns over Chinese VPNs. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Chillblast Poseidon Ryzen 9 RTX 5090, a water-cooled gaming PC that costs as much as 17,500 Freddos.

The team discusses the latest announcements from Apple’s annual developer conference, bids an uncertain welcome to Android 16, and debates a major lawsuit concerning the alleged misuse of stock images. We also look over Asus’ new Xbox-branded handheld gaming PC, and welcome the AI-powered Dia browser as our Hot Hardware candidate.

The team dives into the spat between Apple, Google and the Met Police regarding phone theft in London, and debates whether IMEI blocking is the answer. We also look at CityFibre's rollout of 5.5Gbits/sec broadband and discuss the patchy state of UK connectivity. There's hope as Microsoft attempts to end the confusion around USB-C ports, and we ponder the impact of new Windows features landing in the EU. Our Hot Hardware candidate is a surprisingly good, but unbranded, motorised suction-cup phone mount bought from TikTok.

The team discusses how AI is diminishing the role of human software developers, and asks whether Nick Clegg is justified in his comments on copyright – or whether he’s been done dirty by the media. We also ponder whether or not we want our robots to look like humans, and learn how a Star Wars fan site was secretly operated by the CIA. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the IUMAKEVP wireless lavalier microphone – not exactly a prestige brand, but for £22 who’s complaining?