TechCentral TalkCentral

TalkCentral

Your hosts Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg talk about all things technology, local and international.
Weekly English South Africa Technology · Tech News
167 Episodes
12 – 32

TalkCentral: Ep 260 - 'Angry (about) Wasps'

In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg discuss MTN's decision to back down, under consumer pressure, over its plan to introduce an opt-out-only out-of-bundle service. Also this week, Donald Trump's war on Huawei; Naspers told it can't buy WeBuyCars; and the big WhatsApp exploit. Listen…
19 May 2019 52 min

TalkCentral: Ep 259 - 'It's bitcoin, beaches!'

In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the astonishing comeback of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. What's driving it? And what happens next? Also on the show this week, Duncan talks about telecommunications in Mauritius; Regardt reflects on Google's I/O conference; Duncan explains why…
12 May 2019 49 min

TalkCentral: Ep 258 - 'Takealot gets physical'

In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg discuss Takealot's decision to open a flagship customer collections centre in Midrand and two dozen other pick-up points around the country. What does it say about the future of e-commerce in South Africa and why, in Duncan's view,…
5 May 2019 47 min

TalkCentral: Ep 257 - 'Breaking the Fold'

In this episode of the podcast, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg take to YouTube for their first-ever live video discussion to talk about Samsung's breaking Galaxy Fold smartphone. What do Samsung's problems mean for the future of foldable phones - and will anyone buy a Fold in light…
22 Apr 2019 52 min

TalkCentral: Ep 256 - 'Bitcoin's back, baby'

On the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the sudden surge in the value of bitcoin. Also this week, Huawei launched the P30 series in South Africa; Apple's iPad turns nine; and the meaning behind The Matrix's green "falling rain" code. Listen to the…
7 Apr 2019 52 min

TalkCentral: Ep 255 - 'Services, services, services'

On the TalkCentral podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack Apple's big services event and wonder if the company has done enough to be a meaningful competitor to Netflix. Also on the show, they look at why EOH's share price continues to plumb new depths; the…
31 Mar 2019 55 min

TalkCentral: Ep 254 - 'Ad-free YouTube'

On TalkCentral this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack the South African launch of YouTube Premium and YouTube Music. What does it mean for Spotify? Are users prepared to pay for an ad-free YouTube experience? Will it grow the streaming market in South Africa? Also this week,…
24 Mar 2019 1 hr 06 min

TalkCentral: Ep 253 - 'Ripley, believe it or not'

In this episode of the podcast, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about some of the consumer electronics highlights from MWC 2019, including Huawei's foldable phone and Energizer's insane battery phone. Also on the show this week, Vodacom fumbles the ball; Blue Label Telecoms' rough week; and another…
3 Mar 2019 1 hour

TalkCentral: Ep 252 - 'EO-Eish!'

In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack what has been a dramatic two weeks for JSE-listed technology services group EOH. Also on the show this week, Samsung's Galaxy S10 series of smartphones; Mobile World Congress kicks off in Barcelona; billionaire Jonathan Beare to buy…
24 Feb 2019 53 min

TalkCentral: Ep 251 - 'How Stella lost her groove'

In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg discuss Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams' altercation with an SABC news crew at the weekend, and her subsequent apology. Also on the show this week, Microsoft really wants you to stop using Internet Explorer; MTN's Jumia is said to planning an…
10 Feb 2019 52 min

TalkCentral: Ep 250 - 'Please (don't) call me'

In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg unpack the soap opera that is the fight between Vodacom and its former employee, Nkosana Makate, over the "please call me" service. What's the background to the dispute? Why has Makate rejected Vodacom's offer, which, according to reports,…
3 Feb 2019 58 min

TalkCentral: Ep 249 - 'WhatsApp, Facebook?'

In the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg discuss why Facebook is planning to make WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram interoperable and the implications of the move - could it make the social network too dominant in electronic messaging? Also this week, they look at reports that…
27 Jan 2019 1 hr 11 min

TalkCentral: Ep 248 - 'Whipping the llama'

On the podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg mourn the (not unexpected) passing of Windows Mobile and delve into what we know so far about the upcoming Android Q. Also in the show, minister promises no job losses in the merger of the departments of communications…
21 Jan 2019 1 hr 01 min

TalkCentral: Ep 245 - 'The Best of Everything, 2018'

In this bumper year-end edition of the podcast, Nafisa Akabor joins Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg for a review of the year that was. We pick our best smartphones, gadgets, apps, television series and videogames of 2018. We also name our local and international newsmakers of the year,…
19 Dec 2018 1 hr 35 min

TalkCentral: Ep 244 - 'Bad polony'

On the TalkCentral podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about the rumours about a possible Telkom and Cell C merger. Also this week, Google's top trending search results in South Africa in 2018, the arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer, Microsoft Edge going Chromium and…
12 Dec 2018 49 min

TalkCentral: Ep 243 - 'Time to go off-grid?'

In the TalkCentral podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg, both load shedded, chat about the feasibility of disconnecting oneself from the Eskom grid. What's a good place to start, what would it take and would it be worth it? Also this week, is Netflix really hurting…
2 Dec 2018 1 hr 01 min

TalkCentral: Ep 242 - 'Stella's turn at the top'

In the TalkCentral podcast this week, hosts Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg talk about President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to reintegrate the departments of communications and telecommunications & postal services and his decision to name Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams to lead the merged ministry. Also this week, the US wants to…
25 Nov 2018 58 min

TalkCentral: Ep 241 - 'Roamin' in the gloamin''

After a short break, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg are back with a new episode of TalkCentral. In the podcast this week, the operators are all a'roamin'. Also this week, bitcoin falls out of bed, and then falls down the stairs; load shedding makes an ugly comeback; Telkom…
20 Nov 2018 53 min

TalkCentral: Ep 240 - 'Is Apple pricing itself out of the market?'

On TalkCentral this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about Apple's new iPad Pro models, the new MacBook Air and the new Mac mini. The conversation turns to Apple's pricing strategy, and they ask: is Apple at risk of pricing itself out of the market? Also this…
5 Nov 2018 59 min

TalkCentral: Ep 239 - 'Cell C rains on Vodacom's parade'

In the TalkCentral podcast this week, Duncan McLeod and Regardt van der Berg chat about Cell C's comments at a Competition Commission inquiry into the data services market about Vodacom's roaming relationship with Rain, and why Cell C believes the arrangement should not be allowed. Also this week, the latest…
21 Oct 2018 1 hr 01 min
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