The 361 Degrees Podcast

MWC13 E08 The 361 Awards

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:43:30 +0000

The team stage a lavish (and largely imaginary) award ceremony giving awards for things such as 'best use of mobile', 'best future tech', 'best mode of transport' and 'best in show'.

MWC13 E05 Day 4

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:43:05 +0000

The team wind-down after the final day of MWC 2013 and catch-up on some of the things they missed... Ben finally gets to see Sony's new hardware (and is impressed), Ewan looks at things behind the scenes (and is impressed) and Rafe finds some sapphire glass (and is impressed). Impressive stuff.

MWC13 E07 The NFC argument

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:45:49 +0000

The team discuss (well... argue) about the merits of NFC, which was very visible at MWC 2013. Ben argues it "doesn't work" and Ewan points out that it clearly does. Rafe suggests a longer-term view...

MWC13 E06 Audio Tour

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:29:34 +0000

The team tour hall 3 - home to all the biggest exhibitors including Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, Huawei, ZTE and hosts GSMA to describe the stands and crowds.

MWC13 E04 Day 3

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:53:34 +0000

The team review their 3rd day at MWC 2013: Ben and Ewan see the HTC One and are impressed, the Q10 is spotted despite Blackberry's absence, Chinese knock-offs surprise us and Rafe finds a lone Symbian handset on a stand.

MWC13 E03 Day 2

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:32:17 +0000

Ewan argues MWC is less exciting this year, Ben complains about his feet and Rafe explains it's the low-key news that matters. The team cover the interesting things they've spotted on the 2nd day of the show and realise how much there still is to see.

MWC13 E02 Day 1

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:01:05 +0000

The team review day one of Mobile World Congress including the Nokia, Sony, Firefox, busses and the panel that Ben and Ewan did.

MWC13 E01 Preview

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 07:58:24 +0000

Live from Mobile World Congress the team preview the event and the trends we expect to see. Recorded live on the street.

S04 E10 - BB10: Don't call it a comeback (yet)

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 02:32:23 +0000

It's the last show in season 4 but don't worry we have a very special guest in the shape of The Voicemail Podcast's own James Whatley and we're talking about Blackberry (again). Could Ewan be even a little right about a come-back? Is there anything possibly left to announce after all the leaks? We're not sure but the 'mood in the room' is warming to them (a bit). Don't worry - you won't have to wait long for more 361-goodness. We'll be reporting daily from Mobile World Congress - the world's biggest mobile event thing (in Barcelona) - with daily updates in a special mini-series. Checkout Whatley and The Voicemail: http://thevoicemail.net/

S04 E09 - Ubuntu Mobile: What and why? (and again, why?)

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:50:20 +0000

We're back and - after re-capping some of the big news whilst we've been gone - this week we talk about Ubuntu Mobile. Ewan's enthused, perhaps even keen. Rafe is dubious the small firm can make a dent in the world of mobile ecosystems and Ben is - well - flat out confused why they're bothering.

S04 E08 - Christmas 2012 Mobile 'Naughty or Nice' Review

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 02:40:08 +0000

This week the team are in a festive mood, assessing who's been 'naughty or nice' in the mobile industry: Ewan celebrates 'Snapchat' and puts Apple on the naughty step. Ben enthuses about 'good' high-speed 3G and savages Vodafone's SureSignal. Rafe dreams of a winter wonderland without handset subsidies and puts coal in Google's stocking for the loss of Exchange ActiveSync for Gmail users. Thanks to everyone for their support in 2012. See you next year!

S04 E07 - 361 Live "Mobile Question Time for Internet Week Europe" [PART 2]

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:53:49 +0000

Our 'Question Time' event '361 Live' returns celebrating Internet Week Europe with a panel taking questions on the subject "Desktop Internet is Dead: Long Live Mobile Internet". On the panel: Tony Blake of Millenoki, Andrew Grill of Kred, Ilicco Elia of LBi , 361's own Rafe Blandford & Ben Lethbridge of 4G network EE. Ben chairs and Ewan takes the questions. In this part - 2 of 2 - the panel take questions on: - whatever happened to 'one web'; - whether Facebook could launch again today as a mobile service; - the impact of the move to mobile on hardware manufacturers; and - the future for fixed-line operators in a mobile world.

S04 E06 - 361 Live "Mobile Question Time for Internet Week Europe" [PART 1]

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 01:12:37 +0000

Our 'Question Time' event '361 Live' returns celebrating Internet Week Europe with a panel taking questions on the subject "Desktop Internet is Dead: Long Live Mobile Internet". On the panel: Tony Blake of Millenoki, Andrew Grill of Kred, Ilicco Elia of LBi , 361's own Rafe Blandford & Ben Lethbridge of 4G network EE. Ben chairs and Ewan takes the questions. In this part - 1 of 2 - the panel take questions on: - the reliability of mobile internet; - mobile data and device management for enterprise; and - pricing high-speed mobile data.

S04 E05 - "Mobile First"

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 01:49:39 +0000

This week the team ask themselves, "If smartphones are so great shouldn't more things be available first (or better… or quicker) on mobile?" We discuss the candidates for being 'mobile first' and the challenges. We also discuss our 'things of the week' (in-store wifi, using VoIP to ditch international calling charges and the HTC / Apple patent settlement) and anticipate the next '361 Live' on 16th November: http://361degre.es/361-live-desktop-internet-is-dead-long-live-m

S04 E04 - More tablets, but what (and who) for?

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 02:09:41 +0000

There you were waiting for someone to come and shake-up the tablet market and then an iPad Mini and a Microsoft Surface both come along at once... The team wonder what (and who) they're all for. We also chat about Ewan's recent Android rejection, Rafe's enthusiasm for Windows Phone 8 (it's here at last) and EE's terrible launch (see http://lc.tl/eefail - h/t to @AndrewGrill).

S04 E03 - What do you buy on your phone?

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:00:39 +0000

This week the team discuss mobile shopping, mobile payments (again) and how retailers are working around the challenges of payments and security. Ewan berates Ben for choosing the wrong mobile tariff and Ben invents a mobile credit card service that already exists: http://card.io We all like the BBC's "The Thick Of It": http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qgrd

S04 E02 - 4G from EE via LTE... OMG

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:51:47 +0000

This week we talk about 4G as it arrives - at last - in the UK. Surely faster is better… isn't it? And if it won't be super fast why else might it be better? Rafe explains. Ben and Ewan complain. We also chat briefly about phone insurance, Snapjoy and contact-less payments.

S04 E01 - Apple, Maps & Rafe's 6 Year Rule

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:21:04 +0000

We're back! Late... but back. This week we catch-up on all the Apple news and ponder whether their recent maps problems show the 'perfect' image is beginning to slip. Back in season 2 we'd asked if Apple was the new Nokia... Not because they are suffering the same OS problems, but because eventually firm's past decisions begin to catch-up with them. Was the rushed tie-up with Google Maps before the original iPhone launch now hiding some unexpected down-sides? Cumulatively are the issues for consumers reaching the levels it will deter some buyers? If not now, how soon? As ever, we'd love your views...

S03 E11 - End of Season 'Bonus Special'

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 20:40:46 +0000

In an end-of-season double-length 'bonus special*' we re-cap the topics covered in season 3, reflect on how those stories have developed and (crucially) argue about who was right over a few celebratory drinks. * we think it's special.

S03 E10 - Intel Inside or 'Shoulda got a Snapdragon'?

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:06:10 +0000

In the final episode of series 3 pause (briefly) to celebrate and then talk about Qualcomm's Uplinq event and the rise of the 'chipset brand'. Does it matter if a device has 'Intel Inside' or a 'Snapdragon'? For listeners struggling with British slang at the beginning: 'Pop' = Soda 'Sweeties' = Confectionary

S03 E09 - Connected Living

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:35:03 +0000

This week we talk about 'Connected Living' following Rafe's recent meet-up with the GSMA. We cover 3G trash cans, connected fridges, traffic monitoring cars and the potential for 'm-Health' in treating long-term conditions such as diabetes. Ben's dubious about milk-ordering fridges and Ewan's impatient for his life to be more connected. Rafe notes it's an appealing new source of income for mobile operators. For more information on the GSMA's programme see: http://www.gsma.com/connectedliving/

S03 E08 - Surface Surprise

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 01:41:21 +0000

This week the team discuss Microsoft's surprise announcement of the 'Surface' tablet, who's building it and why. We're split over the strategy and the impact on the firm's 'usual' hardware partners (and where this leaves Nokia), but in agreement on one thing - it's the first time we've been surprised by Microsoft for a long time.

S03 E07 - 361 Live "Mobile Question Time" [Part 2]

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:49:09 +0000

Last week we held the first public '361 Live' event "Mobile Question Time" sponsored by Nokia and LBi at LBi's HQ on Brick Lane in London. This episode is part 2 of 2. On the panel were: Ed Hodges - Head of Mobile, Business & Commercial for Royal Bank of Scotland. Mark Squires - Nokia's Head of Communications for Western Europe. Stephen Pinches - Head of Emerging Technologies at the FT Group. Ilicco Elia - Head of Mobile, LBi. Rafe Blandford - Editor of All About Symbian and All About Windows Phone. Ben chaired the session and Ewan handled questions.

S03 E06 - 361 Live "Mobile Question Time" [Part 1]

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 01:45:34 +0000

This week we held the first public '361 Live' event "Mobile Question Time" sponsored by Nokia and LBi at LBi's HQ on Brick Lane in London. This episode is part 1 of 2. On the panel were: Ed Hodges - Head of Mobile, Business & Commercial for Royal Bank of Scotland. Mark Squires - Nokia's Head of Communications for Western Europe. Stephen Pinches - Head of Emerging Technologies at the FT Group. Ilicco Elia - Head of Mobile, LBi. Rafe Blandford - Editor of All About Symbian and All About Windows Phone. Ben chaired the session and Ewan handled questions.

S03 E05 - This week is Samsung week

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:09:23 +0000

This week it's Samsung week... a firm we've neglected so far on the podcast despite recently it becoming the world's largest phone manufacturer. As the Galaxy S3 launches around the world to record pre-orders the team discuss Samsung, its recent stellar performance and the challenges of the future. Are 9m pre-orders 'enough'? What does Samsung stand for? Can they repeat the success of the Galaxy S2? And can they continue to grow using Google's Android as a platform?

S03 E04 - Can Facebook make money from mobile? [plus #361live preview]

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Sun, 27 May 2012 23:31:15 +0000

This week we're 'live' from Nokia's Summer Party near Trafalgar Square: http://twitter.com/bensmithuk/status/205728224259477505 [pic] We 'audio unbox' a Nokia Lumia 610, discuss our forthcoming event and talk about how Facebook can make money with mobile (and why it matters). Register for our event in London on the 11th June: http://361live-june2012.eventbrite.co.uk/ Get the inside-track with the newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/361degrees

S03 E03 - Ewan wants a better phone than you...

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:35:26 +0000

This week Ewan's unhappy... everyone has an iPhone 4 or 4S now. Massive network subsidies mean anyone willing to take a reasonably expensive monthly contract can buy one. The exclusivity, the prestige and his image as a connoisseur are being eroded away. He asks why the market doesn't offer more exclusive devices above the price point of a top-end iPhone (noting Vertu's place in the market) and we discuss how brands and styling could return mobile devices to the status symbols they once were. Rafe also points out the economics behind manufacturers' decisions about the devices they market and explains materials science may be the answer in the not-too-distant future. Don’t forget to sign-up to our new newsletter to discuss the podcast and get some ‘behind the scenes’ news: https://tinyletter.com/361degrees

S03 E02 - All things 'cloudy'

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:48:53 +0000

This week we talk about (consumer) cloud services… what we use, why we use it plus our priorities and concerns. We talk about 'quality of service' and how it needs to relate to privacy and customer support just as much as the software and - crucially - how it's different to security. Rafe mentions the challenges of cloud data storage for those with slow internet connections, Ewan worries about his approach to back-up and Ben kicks himself about giving Path his data (again). We'd love to get your views on what you want from cloud services and whether 'lock-in' to one platform's solution worries you. Also, don't forget to sign-up to our new newsletter to discuss the podcast and get some 'behind the scenes' insight: https://tinyletter.com/361degrees

S03 E01 - While we were gone...

podcast@361degre.es (Ben Smith) — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:31:03 +0000

After a longer than planned break we're back with season 3. This week we re-cap the news whilst we've been away... * We discuss Mobile World Congress - disappointing or just full of hidden gems?  * Get distracted briefly by Apple's absence from other people's events and their lack of support for their developer ecosystem   * Re-visit Nokia (and Windows Phone) and RIM's trials and tribulations