Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin updates Simon Rose on the latest tech. Sadly, OpenAI video generator Sora won't be available in the UK. However, Google's GenCast could soon be predicting weather more accurately while its quantum chip can do in 5 minutes what the fastest computers would take 10 septillion years, threatening the safety of encryption. The VR DropTower will give gamers an enhanced experience, including turning them upside down. A podcast lists the top 100 tech achievements: can you guess the top 5? A bed rocker imitates the motion of a train. A new security robot resembles a football. There's a thermal imaging camera that will plug into a phone. The Tank Pad adds ruggedness for tablet users in difficult environments. And Mercedes have developed solar paint to add range to your EV.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Tim Price of Price Value Partners explains why, despite the US market's Trump optimism, US debt has gone from a problem to a predicament. Most western governments are technically bankrupt but Tim points out that, contrary to popular belief, there is no real link between economies and stock markets. He explains his investment philosophy which stresses the importance of not losing money, ignoring the latest hot thing like the tech sector and investing in real assets such as gold and silver, now 20 years into a bull run. Silver, he says, is essential for industry and the green revolution but demand is greater than is being mined. He discusses long-term inflation and why he feels money is too important to be messed about with by central bankers and politicians.
Guests: Tim Price
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University wonders if the French Fifth Republic can continue much longer, with its politics increasingly polarised. With the German economy in free fall, even the survival of the Euro may be in doubt. Tim finds Keir Stamer less the heir to Blair than to Wilson and Callaghan, believing he is a catastrophically bad PM who is avoiding anything meaningful while doubling down on his worst ideas. But the Conservatives may not benefit. Badenoch is not doing well enough and Reform could soon surge past the Tories as they professionalise and purge the nasties. Why should they do a deal with the Conservative Party if they could be elected on their own, asks Tim?
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson reports that UK box office is up for an amazing 7th week in the row with Disney's Moana 2's £12m opening at #1 being four times that of the original. While the animation is sublime and the music great, it lacks a cohesive storyline. At #5 is Conclave with Ralph Fiennes excellent in a surprisingly thrilling and insightful adaptation of Robert Harris’s novel about the election of a new Pope. James was gripped throughout, finding it a cinematic masterpiece. Although Netflix's second screen version of The Piano Lesson, with Samuel L. Jackson, is a well-made and acted tale, it can't shake off its theatrical roots. He also revisited the John Grisham adaptation A Time To Kill online, finding it has well stood the test of time.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Steve Caplin gives Simon Rose a plethora of tech ideas for Christmas gifts, for others and for yourself. He finds some bizarre advent calendars. The top toy for kids appears to be a Fart Blaster. From the Chinese version of Amazon, Alibaba, he recommends heated gloves, a vacuum phone holder, a portable ceiling fan, sewing needles that thread themselves and a car charger with retractable cables. There's also a camera drone, an impressive iPhone case, rechargeable LED work lights, colour changing LED bulbs, magnetic tool holders and an avocado slicer. He was delighted with his game-playing SteamDeck and also recommends Bridge Command, where you can immerse yourself in a Star Trek-style experience.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Russ Mould of A J Bell discusses the Bloomberg piece pointing out that 45 firms have left the UK market this year through mergers and acquisitions. But is it such a bad thing that almost £50bn has gone to investors or that UK assets are both cheap and desired? It's true that the number of companies quoted in the UK has halved in 30 years but the decline has been true in the US and Australia too. We have too few tech and growth companies and too much stodge but the real problems have come from cheap debt – making riskier shares less attractive – and unduly tightened reporting requirements, making listing more laborious.
Guests: Russ Mould
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James Cameron-Wilson says that not only has the box office climbed for the 6th time in a row, but that #1 Wicked has had the biggest opening of the year, £13.7m. Although just the first part of the adaptation of the stage musical, James found it hugely entertaining with great comedy timing. Although down to #16 in the charts, James is rooting for Steve McQueen's Blitz in awards season, which he found an engrossing and visually amazing movie. He could not recommend Netflix's Joy more, a true-life tale of the first test-tube baby with the likes of James Norton and Bill Nighy. It is pitch perfect, being beautifully English and understated.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
In the world of tech, Steve Caplin looks at powered legs like "the electric bike but for walking". There's a 37mph electric surfboard while scientists have discovered patterns that make sharks less interested in surfers. The mosquito parasite that causes malaia has been genetically modified into a vaccine. The principle of octopus suckers is to be used to help retain dentures. The world's thinnest spaghetti, thinner than hair, can make bandages. High speed internet apparently makes us fat. Pigeon droppings trapped German drivers in an underground car park until 3am. And Korean scientists think ships could dock with suckers instead of rope.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses Kim Leadbeater's assisted dying bill. Will Starmer's authority be damaged if it doesn't pass? Will it affect his releationship with Wes Streeting, who is against it? Mike reckons that, pass or not, assisted dying is likely to be law in 10 years or so. He also discusses the upwards revision in net migration to almost a million in a year. Although Labour weren't in power, it will be used as a lever to attack them. How can they get it under control? He also, briefly, looks at the mass petition for a re-run of the General Election and Ed Davey's bid for a Christmas #1 record.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Neil Shah of Edison Group discusses two companies he feels might be of interest to private investors. Focusrite, with a global market, has two divisions: content creation sells hardware and software while audio reproduction is driven by live music. Despite a torrid year or so they are investing in new product lines, have sound management and a good long-term record. Accsys Technologies has a technique to give softwoods the durability of hardwood for sustainable construction. While demand is never an issue, they were hit by delays with production. They've started to open up the US market, however, and their first half results were really positive. Although still only at breakeven, they seem now to have things right and are a company on the turn.
Guests: Neil Shah
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