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Byteside

Don’t let anyone pretend 8K matters

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This is the week Seamus loses it over the push to sell us 8K TVs. Don’t miss it!

But first, Seamus and Nic talk about whether Covid-19 will be the moment when remote working and remote presence technologies are permanently elevated beyond novelty or nuisance value. They explore the discovery of fun mobile games and the rediscovery of classic titles and the magic of playing a beloved series again back to back all the way through.

Then Seamus goes spare on 8K, as a long held position based on the science of living room viewing conditions gets added firepower thanks to a Warner Bros double-blind test that leaves nothing to chance. The result? Yes, Seamus feels vindicated and will keep shouting about it as the resolution wars continue.

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Melbourne + esports = $$$$$!

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Melbourne is taking over all the esports. Why is it the one place that sees it’s big business and not just ‘kid stuff’? That kicks off this week’s Byteside with Seamus and Nic, plus so much more.

This week’s Byteside also dips into the Oscars and why we didn’t even watch some of the big movies that have been on Netflix for months.

Plus more serious topics like the growing PTSD issues for content moderators at the likes of Facebook and YouTube, and why these internet giants need to do much better at looking after these staff.

Plus a dash of Safer Internet Day advice!

Find Nic on Twitter: @dr_nic
Find Seamus on Twitter: @seamus
And, as always, subscribe in your favourite podcast apps or via Spotify.

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How long should our tech last?

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This week Seamus and Nic explore ten years of iPad, how Sonos is struggling to kill old products, and the return of the Motorola Razr… all somehow revolving around questions of how our tech is meant to evolve, to last and to be the right tool for the right job.

On the ten years of iPad, we think about how we both dismissed it at launch but have had very different perspectives on it in the years since. Has the tablet market grown? Have laptops changed?

Seamus is a massive Sonos nerd so he’s right in the thick of the tension between the need to kill old tech in the name of new features but the faith Sonos lovers have in the company always supporting its speakers. Is there something unique about audio tech that makes it feel wrong to see it die?

Motorola’s new folding screen Razr hits the market in February so we debate if it’s the right kind of folding screen or not, and whether folding screens really are the future.

Plus a look at Activision Blizzard’s new YouTube deal for its esports broadcasts – is this going to hurt Twitch?

Some links related to our conversations:
https://www.ejectejecteject.com/statistics/24-tablet-market-share-statistics-and-analysis/
https://www.imore.com/history-ipad-2010
https://www.imore.com/10-years-gaming-ipad-how-its-changed
https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/27/21083369/apple-ipad-10-years-launch-steve-jobs-tablet-market
https://killedbygoogle.com/

Plus this great thread from Steven Sinofsky:

Send us your thoughts on our amazingly accurate predictions and opinions, or ask us for our thoughts on something that is on your mind. Email via ask@byteside.com or reach out on the socials. @byteside on Twitter, /byteside on Facebook and @TheByteside on Instagram.

And catch Seamus and Nic on Twitter via @seamus and @dr_nic.

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This isn’t the 2020 we remember

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Byteside Prime is back for a new year, nay, a shiny new decade! Seamus and Nic are back together to discuss just how different this 2020 we’re now living in is from the 2020 we expected in our childhoods, plus a whole lot more.

The TV they watched over the holidays, the robotic limbs they don’t have, and why CES is a bit confused about what we actually need in our lives and our homes. Sorry, Ballie – you’re cute, but we’re not your biggest fans.

Plus some thoughts on where we’re going next, from AI to privacy to the fun and free Internet we’ve lost along the way.

Send us your thoughts on our terrible opinions, or ask us for our thoughts on something that is on your mind. Email via ask@byteside.com or reach out on the socials. @byteside on Twitter, /byteside on Facebook and @TheByteside on Instagram.

And catch Seamus and Nic on Twitter via @seamus and @dr_nic.

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Streaming TV killed the cinema star (and Byteside’s best of 2019)

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What does Xbox Series X mean for the future of consoles? And why are Michael Bay and Martin Scorsese going direct to Netflix?

Does their latest work compare favourably to the greatest era of television ever – and which shows have had the best single season drops of all time?

All this and more, including Nic and Shay giving a mixed bag of their biggest moments of 2019.

Find Nic on Twitter: @dr_nic
Find Seamus on Twitter: @seamus
And, as always, subscribe in your favourite podcast apps or via Spotify.

We’ll be back in 2020!

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From sublime TV to ridiculous fandoms

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Nic’s been watching the fantastic Watchmen while Seamus has been annoyed at just how few people will get to watch Tokyo 2020 in 4K.

But then they’re both annoyed at Star Wars ‘fans’. Plus two happy anniversaries – RunPee at 10, and Playstation at 25!

All that and another bewildered look at the Cybertruck.

Find Nic on Twitter: @dr_nic
Find Seamus on Twitter: @seamus
And, as always, subscribe in your favourite podcast apps or via Spotify.

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Cybering the drones for a dead queen

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It’s a week of nuisances for our intrepid hosts this week. Nic wants to see the death of calling anything cyber again, and Seamus is bemused by Facebook’s PR talking points chatbot for its workers.

And do drone noise regulations need federal rules before it all gets out of hand?

Plus queen conspiracies, Star Citizen and can’t we get a ‘just right’ phone plan that doesn’t apply the cinema popcorn pricing rule?

Find Nic on Twitter: @dr_nic
Find Seamus on Twitter: @seamus
And, as always, subscribe in your favourite podcast apps or via Spotify.

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Too much Star Wars?

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This week Nic and Seamus talk Minecraft Earth and get a little sidetracked reminiscing about the first days of Pokemon Go.

Plus Seamus delivers a double dose of good security hygiene with Brave browser 1.0 and Yubikey (by Yubico), and Nic explores the state of subscription services in gaming, including the new Telstra deal.

And the big question – is Disney giving us too much Star Wars?

Find Nic on Twitter: @dr_nic
Find Seamus on Twitter: @seamus
And, as always, subscribe in your favourite podcast apps or via Spotify.

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Death Stranding aka The Postman 2

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This week we talk about why Seamus has quit Facebook (but not exactly deleted it), how Nic is preparing to automate his new home, and the Disney+ 4:3 ratio Simpsons problem.

Plus we talk Outer Worlds, Death Stranding, and loving games because they exist even if we never want to play them. And some breaking news around the launch of a new 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Also… while recording the show it was officially revealed that The Simpsons will indeed be on Disney+ at local launch. So ignore Seamus when he talks about it not being on there when it launches next week.

Follow Byteside on Twitter, Facebook (haha, but for realz), and Instagram (@thebyteside), and follow Seamus and Nic on Twitter too (@seamus and @dr_nic).