Future File

Future File has taken a bit of an indefinite hiatus recently - but we're back for a one-off special edition show all about science!Science continues to progress at breathtaking speed and making sense of it all can be a bit tricky.Technological advancements face off against dangerous precedents and thanks to the internet, it can all be published, tracked and disseminated.Jeff Parsons and Shivali Best have welcomed a special guest to the Future File table to discuss all things science and debunk a couple of popular myths around the subject. Dr. Holly Reeve has a day job as a researcher in the University of Oxford's chemistry department, but has joined the Mirror team as a member of the British Science Association's annual Media Fellowship program. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The fact that Facebook is hoarding your data is nothing new. But you may be surprised at just how nefarious the big blue social network has become.That's the message from Mark Weinstein, a privacy advocate and the founder and CEO of an alternative social network called MeWe.Mark has been an outspoken critic of Facebook and joins Future File host Jeff Parsons to discuss the implications of the recent Cambridge Analytica scandal and the incoming GDPR law in Europe.He reiterates how his business makes money without requiring users to hand over all their information and also has some things to say about the different approaches to privacy on each side of the Atlantic.Join us for a lively discussion that will have you rethinking how you use Facebook and may make you want to check twice what you've agreed to in the settings options of your own account.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

You may play video games. You may even be quite good at video games. But are you good enough to compete against thousands of other players for prize money that runs to millions of pounds?Video gaming has grown up and the result is “eSports” a nickname for professional video gaming where the top players are celebrities in their own right. Although eSports got its start in strategy based games in Asia, it's now spread to western titles like Call of Duty, Counter-Strike and FIFA Ultimate Team.Joining host Jeff Parsons this week is Chuboi, a professional FIFA eSports caster and content creator on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.Chuboi is in London to commentate on the Gfinity Elite Series tournament taking place this evening – Friday, April 27 – but he's also knows A LOT about FIFA Ultimate Team. This week's episode of Future File peels back the layers of EA Sports' global hit and offers a few tips and tricks for anyone looking to improve their game. We also discuss what it takes to make it to eSports levels and what the future holds for the sport of competitive video gaming.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

With a Netflix or Amazon Prime subscription under your belt, you need never worry about finding something to watch.Both services are pumping millions into developing exclusive content and offering features like 4K resolution or offline viewing.The crucial question, though: which is better?Each one will set you back a monthly subscription but depending on what kind of content you like, you may be drawn to a particular one.Future File hosts Jeff Parsons and Shivali Best sit down with Mirror.co.uk's deputy audience growth editor (and bona fide streaming expert) Jo-Anne Rowney to debate the merits of the different streaming services.Perhaps you're already a subscriber, or have yet to dip your toe in the digital waters. Either way, you should come away from this episode with a few extra films and TV shows added to your watchlist.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Mobile apps as we now know them have been around for almost a decade. Apple launched the App Store to accompany the iPhone in July 2008 with the grand total of 500 apps. Now it has over two million.There's more choice out there than ever before but it seems the majority of people have only a small number of apps on their phones. Recent research suggests that the average person only interacts with around 30 different apps each month.Jeff Parsons and Shivali Best are back this week to talk about some of the apps they use themselves and offer a couple of suggestions for new ones to try. They also reveal which ones they're going to steer clear of.Along the way the discussion ranges from the gig economy to differences between iOS and Android and the new craze that is Fortnite.If you're interested in trying a couple of new apps then hopefully this episode will help you out and if you're short on storage then maybe you can delete a few of those older ones.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The Cambridge Analytica fallout is continuing for Facebook which this week released new information about the numbers involved in the data harvest.Chief technology officer Mike Schroeper also outlined new measures to limit data sharing with third-party apps and CEO Mark Zuckerberg will appear before a US committee.But despite the controversy, are people actually willing to delete their Facebook account? Could it still operate if switched to a paid-for model?Jeff Parsons and Shivali Best are discussing the state of the big blue social network in this week's episode. They touch on how Facebook collects data and whether alternatives like SnapChat or (Facebook owned) WhatsApp are enough to replace it.And, if all this privacy talk has just left you wanting out – Future File tells you how you can delete your account. Or, if you're not sure, just deactivate it for a little while.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Children born today will have a completely different upbringing than any previous generation thanks the explosion of personal information technology.From the constant connectedness of smartphones and social media to a wealth of entertainment provided through the likes of YouTube or video games. Children born in this decade will be immersed in touchscreens, cameras and the ability to access information 24/7.To dive into the benefits and drawbacks of this, Future File host Jeff Parsons is joined by two new fathers: Steve Myall, co-host of the Mirror's First Time Dads podcast and JC Sutton who previously appeared on our video game roundtable episode.Whether you're a new parent yourself or just interested to hear how tech has impacted a couple of guys trying to figure out fatherhood for themselves, you'll enjoy this week's episode.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Since launching in February 2005, YouTube has become one of the biggest websites on the planet. Over a billion users spending hours each day watching and uploading content.The company, which was sold to Google in 2006 for $1.65 billion, has given rise to a new way of consuming video. In doing so, it has spawned a new type of celebrity with the top stars drawing huge amounts of money from the platform. But there have also been missteps and controversies along the way as the numbers of views and uploads continues to climb.This week's Future File podcast sees Jeff Parsons and Shivali Best joined by Myles Dyer – a popular YouTuber who has been creating videos on the site for over a decade.They discuss Myles' own story as well as some of the positive and negative aspects of YouTube as a whole.There are also a few nuggets of advice for anyone wanting to get more from YouTube – whether that means finding the right kind of videos or even creating one themselves.Please subscribe and rate the Future File podcast, wherever you choose to listen to it and you can also find out more about Myles on his YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Space may be the final frontier but several private companies are making it their mission to turn space tourism into an affordable reality.SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic have poured millions of pounds into research and development, bringing with it a new kind of “space race” for the 21st century.This week's Future File podcast explores the current state of space tourism – from current space stations like the ISS and China's doomed Tiangong-1 to the proposed human settlements on the moon and Mars that Elon Musk hopes to create.Jeff Parsons and Shivali Best discuss whether they would be willing to journey into space and even manage to throw in a couple of book recommendations on the subject of space travel.We also pay a tribute to the late Professor Stephen Hawking who was undoubtedly one of the brightest minds in the scientific community.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Mobile World Congress is the giant Barcelona-based tech conference that runs for a few days at the end of every Feburary.It's a chance for industry types to mingle and journalists to get a look at some of the latest products. It's also the launch venue of choice for several technology titans.This year was no different as both Samsung and Sony launched new flagship smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and the Sony XZ2 are the top-tier Android alternatives to Apple's iPhone X and iPhone 8.Jeff Parsons and Shivali Best have both attended Mobile World Congress and spend this week's episode of Future File analysing the big talking points from this year's event.They touch on the big news from Sony and Samsung and question whether re-released retro phones, which continued in 2018 with the Nokia 8112, is a viable option for some people.There's also a special competition that you can enter to win your very own Samsung Galaxy S9+ and a trip up the BT Tower in London.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Video games had a stellar year in 2017.The likes of Super Mario Odyssey, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Forza Motorsport 7 dominated the Switch, PS4 and Xbox One respectively.Meanwhile, smartphones continue to become better gaming devices with better graphics and more complex titles.That's not to say there weren't controversies. Loot boxes hampered the release of EA's Star Wars blockbuster Battlefront 2 and have become a hot-button topic in the gaming world.This week's episode of Future File includes a roundtable discussion of the state of video games in 2018.We touch on some of the best upcoming titles, the aforementioned issues around loot boxes and the best place to start if you're entirely new to gaming.So hit the pause button for the next half-hour and join us for the discussion.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

If your New Year's resolution included trying out a new diet in a bid to get healthier then by now you're probably feeling the strain.To keep you on track, this week's Future File podcast is all about the science behind some of today's most popular health trends.Jeff Parsons and Shivali Best explore veganism, gluten-free, paleo and intermittent fasting in an effort to understand how these diets work and why they've become so popular.They examine the nutritional as well as the environmental effects of these diets and even discuss a recent experiment involving edible insects.Whether you're a die-hard diet fan or a nutritional novice, you'll find this week's episode informative and entertaining. Feel free to tweet us with any thoughts you had about the show.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Is love anything more complex than chemical signals in the brain? Can human companionship ever be replaced by a sentient robot?These are just some of the questions puzzling Jeff Parsons and Shivali Best in this week's episode of our Future File podcast.The presenters celebrate the fact the most romantic day of the year with a trip into the high-tech world of romance. They find out which dating app is the most popular, what a sex robot actually costs and why they'll both be taking their respective partners to Greggs.Whether you're looking for love or happily settled - this week's episode is best enjoyed with a bottle of wine and a box of your favourite chocolates.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Many of the technologies we take for granted today owe their existence to the world of cinema.Inventors frequently cite Hollywood spectacle as the driving force behind creating some shiny new piece of tech.And as real-world equipment begins to match what we see at the multiplexes, screenwriters have to dream up even more outlandish examples of on-screen gadgetry.In this week's episode of Future File, Jeff Parsons and Shivali Best list some of their favourite movie gadgets and explore their real-world alternatives.They also explore some of the gadgets that should best be left in the realm of fiction - paying special attention to the hit Netflix show Black Mirror.If you want to dive more deeply into Charlie Brooker's dystopian TV series, you should check out our sister podcast: Black Mirror Cracked. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Bitcoin is everywhere at the moment – but understanding what the so-called “cryptocurrency” is and how it works is no easy task.Created by a mysterious developer who uses the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, bitcoins exploded on to the financial scene in 2013, following enormous increases in their value.Late last year, the digital currency hit the mainstream and saw huge increases – followed just as quickly by massive drops . Some say it's the future of finance, others say it's nothing more than rampant speculation.Jeff and Shivali are joined this week by James Andrews, the Money Editor at Mirror Online to discuss what bitcoin is and how it works.We'll delve into the blockchain tech behind the trend and explain whether or not it's actually worth investing in.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Every year, hundreds of thousands of technology enthusiasts descend on Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show. It's a place where the great and the good of the technology industry have gathered each January since the 1960s.Alongside the quirky gadgets are emerging technological trends that come to define the next twelve months. Not every new product is a hit, but the show always provides plenty of talking points – and not just for the techies.In the first Future File of 2018, Jeff Parsons and Shivali Best dive into the genesis of CES and pick out what impressed them at this year's event.If you've never heard of CES, then this will serve as an excellent introduction to the tech industry's biggest and brashest annual shindig.Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Television viewing habits are changing at breakneck speed. In 2017 we have on-demand programming coupled with affordable tablet screens littering British homes. There's less emphasis on communal viewing but also a huge opportunity to embrace audience engagement and new technologies.This week's episode of Future File features special guest Craig Doyle, best known for presenting BT Sport's live rugby union and MotoGP coverage.Craig, who is also known for his time on seminal tech show Tomorrow's World, helps examine how broadcasters are adapting to the changing needs of consumers. Whether that's dealing with social media pressure or testing out virtual reality.Join us for this lively discussion that might make you stop and think for a second next time you settle down in front of the box. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Strapping a mini-computer to your wrist was once the realm of science fiction. Now, you can't walk down the street without spying an Apple Watch or a Fitbit band.These popular new gadgets offer an increasing number of features, including the ability to measure your heart-rate or pay for things on the go. But do they really warrant you ditching a regular Timex just so you don't have to pull your phone out of your pocket to check your notifications?In this week's episode of Future File, we delve into the state of the smartwatch scene, comparing the Apple Watch Series 3 against the Fitbit Ionic. We discuss whether glancing at your watch is ruder than glancing at your phone and uncover the meaning of the word “Phubbing”.If you're not sure what the fuss is about so-called “wearable technology” or aren't sure which smartwatch is worth your cash, then dive in and find out what you've been missing.Thanks for listening For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Technology companies are scrambling to win the war for your house.The Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple HomePod are examples of so-called "smart speakers" that answer questions, play music and in some cases even control other smart appliances.But if you're a consumer trying to decide which is the best option for you, it can all be a bit baffling. Should you side with Siri or answer to Alexa? In this week's episode of Future File, we delve into the different products on offer and discuss whether voice-controlled tech will become the norm for the next generation.So, whether you've taken the plunge with a smart speaker already or are just curious about the motives behind the new gadgets, this episode is for you. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Apple has unveiled its long-awaited iPhone X, boasting a stunning all-screen display, wireless charging capability, and an incredibly powerful depth-sensing selfie camera that can capture your facial expressions in astonishing detail.The company also revealed two other phones - the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus - as well as a new smartwatch, called the Apple Watch 3, which is the first to work independently from the iPhone, thanks to built-in 4G connectivity.While Sophie travelled to California for the launch event, and got her hands on the new Apple devices, Jeff was on his honeymoon, blissfully unaware of the whole thing. In this episode, they compare their first impressions of the new gadgets, and discuss which features are likely to catch on with consumers.Feel free to leave a review and let us know what technology product or service you'd like to hear about in future episodes. Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Perhaps more than any other gadget, the iPhone has changed our daily lives. And next week Apple is set to reveal the next generation of the smash hit product at the Apple Park campus in California.All signs point to a dramatic redesign as the technology titan seeks to fight off competition from the likes of Samsung, LG and Google.Rumours and leaks about the new smartphone have been filling the internet for months – so we've picked out some of the most likely ones and discussed their implications.We don't have long to wait – Apple's event is taking place on September 12 – so join Jeff and Sophie for this debut episode where they discuss what the new iPhone can bring to the table.Feel free to leave a review and let us know what technology product or service you'd like to hear about in future episodes. Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy